do what you love Page 87 of 94

saving time

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Time is precious

We try to save it, to make it, to manage it.

But sometimes it just seems to slip away.

Someone told me the word ‘chronophage’ means ‘time eater’?

I’m not sure if it is really a word, but I like it.

I think the online world is a chronophage.

So I made on little change in the organisation of my day, and it has made a huge difference.

I just separated my to-do list into ‘online’ and ‘offline’.

Now I get distracted a whole lot less.

And I have more precious time to spend on precious things.

How do you manage your time?

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saving time crescendoh

I am Guest Curating on Crescendoh.com all this week. Pop over to read my Art Saves story, and see my collection of inspiring posts from other artists and writers.

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saving time

Join us in the stunning English countryside for the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat (May 11-15 2011).  Combining creativity, enterprise and community, it will give you the time, space, tools and inspiration to help you do what you love.  Choose from art workshops with outstanding teachers including painter Flora Bowley, mixed media artist Priscilla Jones and book artist Rachel Hazell, and put your burning creative business questions to successful entrepreneurs. See here for more details and registration.

Give yourself a gift

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Dreamy

The gift of permission

The gift of time

The gift of space

The gift of community

The gift of creating

The gift of dreaming

The gift of belief

The gift of making it happen

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Give yourself the gift of a break from it all, to indulge in art workshops and to grow that creative business dream, in the company of a community of like-minded souls.

Give yourself the gift of a place at the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in the stunning English countryside, May 11-15 2011.  Tomorrow (Jan 21) is the last day to sign up and recieve the gift of a £50 (approx $75) early bird discount.

Give yourself a gift you deserve and register now.

Gratitude

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thank-you
I have been completely blown away by the response to my new creative business venture, and am feeling slightly overwhelmed with gratitude.

My old blog had a healthy following of lovely souls, but I have had more visits here in 10 days than I had there in 10 months.

I have had a flood of emails containing both support for my dream, and shared stories of how this new site and Do What You Love philosophy has already inspired people to rethink what they are doing with their lives.

The first person signed up for the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat within the first hour of going live. We have have creative souls signed up to travel thousands of miles to join us here in England in May, and I am so happy that so many individuals recognise the importance of investing in ourselves.

It is one thing to dream, but another thing for people to share that dream – and make something really special happen – that ultimately benefits us all.

I believe we all need each other to help each other to make ourselves the best we can be.

I really believe that if we are doing what we love, we can make a more positive and meaningful contribution to the world, and be happier as a result. I have believed this for a long time, but I cannot tell you what it means to me to know that there are so many of you out there who believe it too.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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Friday is the last day to take advantage of the £50 off Early Bird Discount for the retreat. What are you waiting for?  Sign up and join us!  It is going to be AWESOME (and it might just be the most important investment you ever make in yourself and your creative business).

Get a sneak peek of our gorgeous accommodation here.

Sew Somerset feature

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Sew Somerset feature sew somerset

 

Priscilla Jones, one of the incredibly talented artists who will be teaching at the Do What You Love art retreat in May, is featured on the front page of the latest edition of Stampington’s Sew Somerset.

Priscilla’s mixed media work is gorgeous – she fuses wax, wire, paper, canvas, paint and stitch to create delicate fun 3d sculptures and paintings. Priscilla will be teaching ‘structure and surface: creating 3D sculptures with wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials’. A delicious, hands-on, dive-in workshop. Not to be missed!

You have until Friday to take advantage of the special £50 early bird discount when registering for the Do What You Love art retreat.  It is going to be so special. Register here!

Get a sneak peek of our gorgeous accommodation here.

Sneak peek at our gorgeous retreat accommodation

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Shhh… don’t tell everyone or they’ll all want to come…

Here is a sneak peek of our gorgeous cosy accommodation at the Do What You Love art retreat venue, situated in the stunning Yorkshire Dales, deep in the English countryside.  Imagine yourself here with new friends, relaxing after three amazing days of creating, and processing your new-found inspiration and ideas to realise your creative business dreams.

lodge-at-night_credit-Natural-Retreats1

Sneak peek at our gorgeous retreat accommodation sofa credit Natural Retreats1

Sneak peek at our gorgeous retreat accommodation lodge interior credit Natural Retreats1

Sneak peek at our gorgeous retreat accommodation bedroom photo credit Natural Retreats1

Sneak peek at our gorgeous retreat accommodation lodge exterior credit Natural Retreats

And did I mention, this* is where we will meet, dine, laugh, learn and play:

Sneak peek at our gorgeous retreat accommodation dining tipi photo credit Papakata1

*This is an example of the kind of Papakata tipi we will use, inspired by the Sami people of Lapland.

Come and join us!

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Only one week left to benefit from the early bird discount – register by Friday (21 Jan) to save £50. Do what you love. Register now.

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Photo credits: top four photos – Natural Retreats, end photo – Papakata

Winning Marie Claire award…

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Winning Marie Claire award... Marie claire

A few months ago I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the UK’s 16 most exciting young female entrepreneurs, and awarded a place on glossy magazine Marie Claire’s groundbreaking Inspire & Mentor programme. Brainchild of Marie Claire UK’s editor Trish Halpin, the programme pairs participants with some of Britain’s most successful and influential businesswomen, including interior designer Kelly Hoppen, founder of ethical clothing company People Tree Safia Minney, and fragrance guru Jo Malone.

It felt like all my Christmasses had come at once when I was paired up with an incredible mentor – Kanya King, founder of the MOBO Awards. Kanya has been helping me strategise for my new business, and has been an incredible voice of support and constructive challenge.

KanyaMy mentor Kanya King (Image courtesy of MOBO)

I met with Kanya for another session in London yesterday, and it made me realise the importance and value of having a mentor who has been there, done it, and come through shining. They can help you see the bigger picture, share industry knowledge, steer you away from or around obstacles, inject fresh ideas, give you a totally different perspective, and also, perhaps most importantly, remind you that you really are making great progress.

I came away from yesterday’s session energised and inspired. Thank you Kanya, thank you Marie Claire.

Everyone needs a mentor – have you found yours yet?

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Making time for coffee and cake

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coffee hipsta print

(Taken at Monmouth Coffee, Covent Garden, with hipstamatic on my new ipod touch)

One of the best things about not working a ‘normal 9-5 job’ is being able to sit and discuss life and art with friends over coffee and apple tarts*.  The funny thing is, sometimes it is when you switch off from your work that you get the most inspiration for it.

Do you find that a-ha moments turn up in the strangest places?

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* Today’s lovely friend of choice was illustrator Tanja Wilmot

Welcome!

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Beach - do what you love

Welcome to my new home!

Do take some time to have a look around, pour yourself a cup of tea and stay for a chat – I’d love to know what you think of the new place. I hope you’ll come and visit me often!

After nearly a year at the old place, I decided it was time for a fresh start to coincide with the launch of the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreats.  Registration is now open for the first retreat, which will take place in a stunning countryside venue in Yorkshire, England in May. More about this very special event here.

Besides a new home for my blog, I wanted to create a space to share inspiration and tools to encourage more people to do what they love.  This space will also play host to the first Do What You Love e-course (launching in early spring).

Thank you to all of you who have provided amazing encouragement and support along this road, including everyone who followed my old blog. It is wonderful to be able to share the experience with you and I hope you know how much your friendship is appreciated!

2011 is full of promise and opportunity – and I hope you will join me for the adventures along the way.

Beth

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Thank you to Jessica Swift for the logo and ‘look’, thanks to Christine Castro at darling for the website design, and to Brianna Privett at Utopian for building it

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New beginnings

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sky

2011 came a little early for me, and it showed in my first post of the year. I was expecting it, but not quite yet. Like when your dinner guests turn up while you’re still tidying up and peeling the potatoes, finding you with wet hair and no make up. 

After a rollercoaster 2010 I had soaked deeply into the goodness of the festive bubble and slowed right down… So I was taken a little by surprise when it was suddenly January. I hadn’t captured my big vision on paper, unjumbled my ideas, worked through my planning, cleared out or organised. But now I have. 

Now I am ready. 

The dreaming is done. 

The plans are laid. 

The fire is stoked. 

2011?  Bring it on!

Don’t you just love new beginnings (when you’re ready for them)?

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By the way, I have been busy working with some talented folks on a shiny new website for the Do What You Love retreat, and my blog will be moving there shortly. So excited to share this with you – stay tuned for the new address – I hope you’ll join me there very soon.