do what you love Page 80 of 94

Do What You Love interview – Madeleine Casey

Posted on 2011-06-30 at 8:30 am.

Today I am delighted to share an interview with visual artist, designer and filmmaker, a fellow participant in the Marie Claire Inspire & Mentor campaign last year, who won a mentorship from interior design guru Kelly Hoppen. Madeleine was born in England but emigrated to New Zealand with her family when she was 10 where she grew up. She now divides her time between London and Perth, Western Australia. Today Madeleine shares her thoughts on juggling three careers, and on the highs and lows of setting up her own design label.

(more…)

Papery discoveries

Posted on 2011-06-29 at 8:15 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Here are a few of the lovely stationery and supplies finds I made at the gorgeous Salts Mill in Saltaire. Just love the way they are displayed…

See here for yesterday’s post about the lovely building that houses all these finds.

This is my kind of shop… what’s yours?

Converted beauty

Posted on 2011-06-28 at 2:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

One of the things I love about the north of England is the old industrial beauty of some of its buildings. This place used to be a thriving hub for the textile and other industries, and many of the old buildings have been saved and converted – and are still very much loved. I lived in Manchester for several years, firstly in a converted cotton mill and then in a lovely area of the city by its working canal, where the old wharfs now serve restaurant goers and picnickers. Now I live in Leeds I have fallen for buildings like the Corn Exchange, a 150 year old Victorian building which used to be centre for trade and is now a beautiful home for independent shops, delis and cafes. Today I wanted to share another gorgeous building with you – the Salts Mill in Saltaire, which has been converted into an art gallery (featuring David Hockney) and huge open space selling paper, books, stationery – all things I love!

I love the way they use a hotchpotch of furniture – from this designer sofa…

… to this old school desk

… and even a garden bench.

Their displays are wonderful, with everything laid out as if it is in someone’s home being shown to friends.

They sell all sorts of things – from artists’ palettes to potted plants.

If you ever find yourself near Leeds it is definitely worth a visit, and if you are feeling energetic it can be reached by a lovely long cycle up the canal towpath…

Pop back tomorrow to see what gorgeous papery finds I discovered…

On perspectives

Posted on 2011-06-22 at 11:21 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Is the blue paint peeling away or being revealed? Depending on how you screw your eyes up, either could be true. It depends which way you look at it.

Ahh perspective. Been thinking a lot about this lately, and how important it is to seek out and listen to other people’s perspectives, and then make your own call on things.

There is so much wisdom all around us – and so much inside. It sometimes just takes a few words from someone else to make us think about things in a different way, or from a different angle, and that can be so valuable.

***

What about you? Have you found someone else’s perspective helpful lately?

The Creative Connection Event

Posted on 2011-06-21 at 9:32 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

So excited to have been invited to moderate a panel at The Creative Connection Event featuring inspiring artist Kelly Rae Roberts and creative business mentor Kathy Hansen. We will discuss ‘The Nuts and Bolts of Launching a Creative Business’. It will be a fantastic opportunity to draw out real insights and practical advice from three women who have achieved so much in a relatively short time, learning some incredibly valuable lessons along the way.

The event is the brainchild of Jo Packham, the creative force behind Where Women Create. It will be in Minneapolis in September (more details here). Will I see you there??

Why you don’t have to do what you love to make a living, but you need to do what you love to truly live: Kat Sloma shares her story

Posted on 2011-06-20 at 11:03 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from American photograher Kat Sloma.

You don’t have to do what love to make a living, but you need to do what you love to truly live.

A few years ago, I had a conversation with a good friend. She and I worked together at the large corporation where I’ve earned a living as an engineer for the last 19 years. She asked, “Do you want to stay working here forever?” I laughed and said, “I don’t know, I don’t have anything I’m passionate about. I don’t know what I’d rather do. I guess I’m here until they don’t want me anymore.”

Looking back, that conversation is a significant indicator of how I was living (or not living) my life. I was floating along, letting other people plot my course. I was expecting someone else to fulfil me. Was I alive or just going through the motions of life? I had given up my power. The power to choose, to decide, to own my life. I wasn’t even seeking to find what I would really love to do.

Since then, much has transpired. Layoffs at work made me realize I couldn’t float along any longer. Watching the same friend leave the company for something she truly loved forced me to acknowledge there are other ways to approach life. Such as, approaching life with intention. I was ripe for a change, so when the opportunity to live and work in Italy for two years came along, I took it. And it cracked me wide open.

I finally did the work I needed to do, digging through the hidden corners of my soul, to find what it is I love. I discovered I love to create. I love to capture the beauty of the world around me, through my camera lens, words, paint and pencils. I also discovered, more than anything else, I love to teach and encourage others to create too.

Today, I’m still at the same corporate job. It is still how I make my “living” and support my family. But I’ve found what I love to do as well. I’ve taken back my power and the ownership of my life’s happiness. Along this journey, I’ve found it is doing what I love that makes me truly alive.

[All images courtesy of Kat Sloma]

Kat is an artist and photographer with a passion for inspiring others to find their unique vision of the world. For the last two years, she has been living in Italy and traveling Europe with an eye to finding the beauty of the everyday, whilst also working in the corporate world. You can see more of her photographs, read about her creative journey and learn about her e-courses at The Kat Eye Studio.

***

Would you like to share your story on Do What You Love and reach a new audience of creative souls?

Please contact me for details.

Cafe life

Posted on 2011-06-17 at 3:10 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I spend far too much time in cafes.

When I go travelling I tend to gravitate towards cosy, welcoming places and love sitting with a steaming coffee watching the world go by.

This picture is of one my latest discoveries, in Oia on the Greek island of Santorini.

***

What about you? Where is your favourite cafe and why do you like it so much? Recommendations are always very welcome…

***

You are your own muse

Posted on 2011-06-15 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Something Vivienne McMaster said in a recent lesson in her photography e-course ‘You are your own muse’ really struck me. She said that when you take self-portrait photos you have all the control. Kind of obvious, but I had never thought about it before. It’s a really powerful thought if you don’t normally like pictures taken of yourself. So with that in mind I have been experimenting.

Here are a couple from my recent trip to Greece – I loved the way the shadows from my floppy sun hat fell on my face.

What do you think about taking pictures of yourself? Have you taken any lately?

[Images edited and altered using Picnik and Camerabag]

***

PS – Read my new interview with Vivienne HERE!

Doing what I love has led me to Oprah: Kristin Dudish shares her story

Posted on 2011-06-13 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from New York-based artist , who shares her experience of how doing what she loves led her to Oprah!

For me, doing what I love means living a creative life both in and out of my art studio. It means staying open to opportunities, both big and small. It means developing awareness, taking chances, using talents, sharing gifts, and endless possibilities… Doing what I love means living the life I’ve always dreamed of!

As a shy child, art was my way of expressing myself. Thanks to the encouragement and support of family, friends, and some wonderful teachers, my creative journey began at an early age. When I was 10 years old I painted my first “mural”. My fifth grade teacher hung paper floor to ceiling the length of our classroom wall and told me to “Go for it!”. Looking back, that was a pivotal moment in my artistic career. It was the moment it started to become clear that my art might be valued by people other than my family and myself. Throughout school I continued to use my art as a form of communication. Instead of passing notes, I drew pictures for my classmates, and by the time I reached high school I knew that I wanted to turn my passion into a career.

When I was in art school, I worked as a waitress. In addition to serving the hungry masses, I also created paintings and signs for the restaurants I worked in. I was thrilled… It was the beginning of being able to make a living doing what I love!

After receiving my BFA, I took art education certification classes, student taught, and even spent some time working in the framing department at a craft store. Even though I really enjoyed teaching and working in a craft store kept my toe dipped in the creative water, eventually it became clear that I was yearning for more… I realised it was time to take control of my artistic future, so I took an enormous leap of faith with a friend and fellow artist (Zoe Kothe)!

[All images courtesy of Kristin Dudish]

From 2000 to 2007, I was the proud co-owner of “Brush of Class”, a mural and decorative painting company. It was during that time that my confidence grew exponentially. I was able to do what I love full-time and I finally accepted that being an artist and supporting yourself don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It was also during that time that I realised that while I was doing what I love, I could also be helping others. It was that realisation that led to one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life… my Oprah adventure!

The path to doing what I love has been a winding one, but the one constant has always been a desire to infuse every aspect of my life with creativity. Whether it’s doodling in my sketchbook, painting on canvas, or even decorating a cake, I believe opportunities for doing what I love are everywhere!

Kristin is an artist living a creative life and “doing what she loves” with her family in Buffalo, New York. She is also the co-host of Paint Party Friday – an art co-op where painters gather weekly to share their latest painting endeavors.

Find out more about Kristin by visiting her website or blog.

***

Would you like to share your story on Do What You Love and reach a new audience of creative souls?

Please contact me for more details.

Do What You Love interview – Cori Dantini

Posted on 2011-06-09 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

American Illustrator Cori Dantini’s gorgeous images caught my eye and drew me in some time back. Cori’s whimsical illustrations have been featured on design*sponge and she sells her work across the USA and internationally via her thriving Etsy shop. I talked to Cori about life as a professional illustrator and young mum, and asked her advice for people who think they can’t draw.

‘Give’

(more…)