ENTERPRISE + INITIATIVE Page 16 of 22

Getting paid to do what you love: Alison Yule & Brandy Walker share their stories

Posted on 2012-06-11 at 9:00 am.

Getting paid to do what you love: Alison Yule & Brandy Walker share their stories DWYL BLOG SHAREDSTORIES 650X250PX LR

Today’s shared stories come from Alison Yule and Brandy Walker.

Alison Yule

I was 6 when I realised that fabric could be constructed – my sister, seven years older than me, came home from school with a small piece of hand woven fabric. From the moment my parents gave me my first loom (when I was eight) all I’ve wanted to do is weave. I was lucky to go to the same school as my sister and obtained an “O” and “A” level in Craft, Design and Practice – Weaving. I didn’t got to Art College as I’d originally planned, but I did leave school with a 4 shaft table loom on which I wove fabric for myself, friends and family.

Over the years I’ve had a number of different jobs, but weaving has always been there keeping me grounded. In 2002 I want to Bradford Collage, taking an HNC in Hand Woven Textile Design and when I graduated in 2004 I won two awards from Bradford Textile Society. The awards gave me the impetus to set up my own business in designing and hand weaving bespoke fabrics for interiors and fashion. A large part of the attraction of weaving is its sustainability, using mill ends, very little fuel and water – just for a little dyeing and the finishing process.

Weaving has been with me for such a long time, bound up with my life, as a hobby, as a profession, as a job. When I’ve had difficulties in life, weaving has been what’s “glued” my life together, keeping me grounded so that problems could be sorted. If I couldn’t weave my life would not be my life! I’d lose the stabilising force that it’s become and would have to find something to replace its influence, but what I don’t know!

In a nut shell “doing what I love” means happiness, fulfilment, making things with love, sharing what I love and enthusing others with it, being passionate about it and being the best I can be!

In 2009 a life changing event happened. My husband of nearly 25 years died and I soon realised that all my working life I’d been taking care of people – family, people in my keep-fit classes – and I suddenly felt I needed to take care of me. This was going to be my time! I enrolled on the Bradford course and haven’t looked back. Occasionally I’ve wobbled – I felt I couldn’t go and seek out clients while my Mum was ill and needed my sister and I. I couldn’t go and seek out new clients while my youngest daughter was at school, etc. Now I’ve no excuses. My daughter is an independent woman at university. I’ve found a new life partner, a new home in a new area and life is good!

I don’t regret anything in my life. It’s been full of weaving, spinning and dyeing, I’ve taught lots of people new skills that have opened their lives to new experiences. I’ve had high praise for my work and I’ve loved every minute of it! My big plan? To have work in permanent collections or in the home of someone famous! Oh, and earn a little more money so that we can go on holiday!

[All images courtesy of Alison Yule.]

Find out more about Alison on her website here.

***

Brandy Walker

A couple of years ago, I had a tear-filled episode on my drive home from school. I felt God was calling me to be a pastor. This was before the other tear-filled moment where I realized that men and women are equal. So you can imagine the pickle I was in. How was I supposed to pastor a congregation if I wasn’t even a spiritual head in my own household?

Everything I learned about what it means to be a woman is socially constructed.

I didn’t know it at the time, but those two episodes would deeply shape who I am now and how I run my budding business. I don’t talk a lot about gender on my blog. I have used feminine pronouns in reference to God, siting that divinity is much larger than a gendered perspective and saying “she” instead of “he” wakes up my brain and reminds me of that.

In my writing, and in life, I talk a lot about the restoration of shalom on earth. Which makes people think I’m Jewish. A lovely thought, but I’m not. At the same time, I find it more and more difficult to call myself Christian. Not because I don’t believe in Jesus, he’s wonderful. But, Christianity is a loaded term. It’s become a kind of weapon, also loaded. And it gives me the runs.

I believe, like many other people, that the Christian religion has reached a crossroads, not unlike the Great Reformation of Martin Luther’s time. Some have called it the Great Emergence and there are many people, more wise than I who would be a better resource on that topic. For me personally, it’s relevant because if I hadn’t found out about it, I might have left the faith entirely. Also, it’s helped me re-frame the word pastor, for which a new definition is long overdue.

When you hear words like “pastor” or “Christian” or “sermon”, do you think “fresh”, “enlightened”, “open-minded and accepting”, “passionately loving toward people and the earth”? No? I want to help change that.

That’s what I love. And what I’m doing. With blog posts about placenta pills and dreaming big. With public speaking and spoken word. And with a new offering called Shalom Sessions where I help people dig into what they are passionate about and what comes easy to them and then sift through their gems to create a custom compass to guide them to the next right step.

Because your dreams will save you. And you will save the world.

And that’s how I’m restoring shalom on my little plot of earth. By helping people realize and fulfill their dreams.

And my big dream? Besides getting paid to write and speak and guiding people into their big, vivacious dreams: A safehouse. For those who have survived human trafficking or abusive relationships or addictions or all three. My husband and I want to build a cafe that has cupcakes, fair trade coffee, and t-shirts on the menu with free wi-fi so that people can come and eat and read and play. And, part of the income from our shop will help to fund our safehouse.

But for now, I am more than content to write and speak, and offer Shalom to anyone wanting to explore what it means to fully live.

Today I conducted my first paid Shalom Session. Recounting how it went to my husband, my 10-year-old chimed in, “Oh wow, you just got paid to do what you love?”

Why, yes. Yes, I did.

[Images courtesy of Brandy Walker.]

Find out more about Brandy on her blog or connect on Facebook or Twitter @brandyglows

Changing lives and doing what you love: two amazing ladies share their stories

Posted on 2012-05-21 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Tracy Brandt and Jane Davenport.

Tracy Brandt

For some, doing what they love is a simple straight-line process. “I love to paint” + I find a way to paint = I do what I love.

For me, I honestly don’t love much of what I do.

I do what I do because I love the outcome.

Let me explain: for me, having a dream and doing what I love requires being inside the stringent and often corrupt parameters of a chaotic third world country. You see, in 2005, I founded a home for orphan children in Nepal, called Rising Lotus Children’s Village.

Although I realize nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy, I have to say that nothing could be more difficult than trying to create and effectively run a program and policy in a third world country when you live halfway around the globe. Every tiny step in this process is a lesson in frustration. There is never enough money. There is never enough time to get it all done. There is always some glitch or delay in every transaction. It’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out … to just give up! … to say “Screw this!! Let someone else do it. Let someone else care.”

And that’s when you remember: “Oh wait. I care!”

So I keep trudging forward. Why? Because though the work itself is anything but loveable, I love the possibility of changing the life of an orphan for the better. I love the possibility of helping a child escape the horrid cycle of abject poverty, to give that child a chance! Because an orphan child is as deserving of love and opportunity as any other child on the planet, including my own,

I don’t know when I first realized that I wanted to do this and/or that this work is what I love. I only know that the moment I first stepped foot in Nepal, I knew I was meant to be there forever. And that when I saw the hundreds upon hundreds of orphan children literally discarded in the streets, I knew I had to do something to help.

Have I started a global powerhouse organization? No. Some revolutions are quiet ones. I founded a small, grassroots children’s home with a handful or orphans. Over the years, we’ve grown to 12 kids, then to 20. We have a waiting list of nearly 200. Those truly needing services like ours number in the thousands. It’s enough to knock you down the need is so great.

How did I make this a reality? I tempted fate. I told everyone who laughed at me to go to hell. I carried on. I continue to carry on. I refuse to give up.

I don’t know. My “Do What You Love” story isn’t very glamorous. It’s filled with a lot of stress and frustration and worry. It’s filled with no time for myself because managing this work, along with two boys, and a husband with his own complex company to run (who gets to his wits end with the time and energy running Rising Lotus takes from me) … there just never seems to be much time for me that’s just mine.

But, I carry on because in my soul I feel called back time and time again to Nepal: to these children and to the people there and to the country.

I don’t love it all. Does anyone ever love ALL of the aspects of doing what they love? Is it only worth loving when things go smoothly and right?

We do what we love because we love what comes out of our love. We love the product of our love.

For me, the product of my love is that a child that was entirely without one … now has a positive chance! Not a guarantee, but a chance! Now that’s powerful.

So, I’m sticking with it. Sometimes doing what you love means finding your rainbow and sliding down it. But for others, doing what you love sometimes means staying true to your dream, come hell or high water.

The impossible only seems so until you do it.

[All images courtesy of Tracy Brandt.]

Find out more about Rising Lotus Children’s village here.

Jane Davenport

I took the leap to be a “Professional Artist” in 2000. It was a monumental decision and seemed very sudden to the outer world.

I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t possible for me to NOT do what I love…

And what I LOVED doing was looking at ladybirds. So I ditched a burgeoning fashion photography career in London and Paris for taking photographs of bugs. I even came up with a term for what I do : Artomology. ( yep, I swapped photographing the human type of stick insect and social butterfly for the real thing!)

Over the past 12 years I have built my reputation as an internationally exhibited photographic artist, prize-winning author and gallery owner. I have also work with fantastic companies who license the rights for my images to create calendars, stationery ranges, textiles and homewares.

I discovered Art Journaling 2 years ago, and for the first time, really felt the creative dots within me connecting. I have since become a bit of a journaling evangelist! I know what a joyful transformation untangling myself in in Art Journal has had for me, and I am rather gung-ho about sharing the benefits of creating a dedicated space for artistic outpouring!

I was asked to teach in an collaborative online workshop about Art Journaling called “21 Secrets” last year and nearly said no, I was too busy with my Gallery, writing a book, painting etc etc… but I adore and respect the person who invited me, so on a whim I said “yes”… then nearly melted with panic!

I created a mini online workshop called ” Draw Happy”, which focuses on the bizarre fact that drawing seems to terrify people, even incredibly creative, arty ones! And as soon as the doors to the class opened, students rushed in and BANG! ! Joy for teaching and empowering women through harnessing their creative potential absolutely exploded in my chest. Serious volcano!

Once I discovered I had a superpower for teaching people to draw from their imagination, the rest of the world kind of dropped away, as my attention turned to this new adventure. I gather so much fun and love from my students and I become ever more creative as a result. To say we have a love inferno going on, is a bit of an understatement!

I run my workshops on two of my own School sites now. They have been a huge success and the results my beloved students get for themselves are amazing quite frankly. A day never goes by where someone makes me feel like jumping on the table and doing a can-can at their creative progress. To help grow another persons confidence is an amazing gift to both parties. I ‘get’ teaching. I heart it.

My big dream now is to continue growing as an Online Creativity Leader. I have so many ideas for workshops! I am also working on some of my own art products, things that are missing from my art supply arsenal – and let me tell you, if I don’t have it as a degenerate art supply junkie, it doesn’t exist!

I also had the immense pleasure of teaching my art heroine, Teesha Moore at her Artfest Annex earlier this year, and I want to combine more live workshops with travel. I have the first of my Escape Artist retreats in Bali this year. Next July will be Paris. The future holds many more fun, juicy events…

[Images courtesy of Jane Davenport.]

To find out more about Jane visit her website.

Pattern course contributor spotlight: Helen Stevens

Posted on 2012-04-22 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Just look at this work – isn’t it beautiful? British designer Helen Stevens is the talented surface pattern designer and illustrator behind the Surfacephilia brand.

Helen works through layering of illustration, collage and paintings with a unusual combination of geometrics and natural forms. We are thrilled that Surfacephilia is one of our fantastic contributors for the Surface Pattern Design E-course.

Surfacephilia has recently launched a new wallpaper collection and will be selling in Liberty’s of London. Helen’s designs have an uber cool edge with a level of beautiful detailed sophistication.

You can visit the Surfacephilia website HERE and connect on Facebook and follow on Twitter@surfacephilia.

FREE access to leading trend forecasting tools and insight from Stylesight with Module 3!

Posted on 2012-04-19 at 8:18 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

We are jumping up and down with excitement over here – Rachael Taylor and I have decided to take the plunge and invest a significant amount (many thousands of dollars) in providing our pattern students with free access to industry leading trend forecasting website Stylesight! As the industry leader, Stylesight offers “visionary content and compelling technology for style, fashion and design professionals”. We met the team at the Indigo trade show in Paris back in February, and were blown away by what the site offers.

All students on Module 3 of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design will be offered free access to the site for a limited period of time.

This means that if you join us you will have full access to ALL the site’s incredible resources including:

The industry’s largest image library where you can search more than 8 million zoom-able, hi-res images to find exactly what you need. Access the fastest runway images, comprehensive coverage of global retail, streets and events and more than 400 tradeshows.
Forecasting and trend analysis from their 200+ person team bringing real time trend insight from across the world
Workflow tools to make the creative journey not only more inspirational but also more efficient and cost-effective
Pattern design tutorials (in addition to those provided in the course itself)
Amazing tools like ‘My Storyboard’…

Drag and drop images directly from your Stylesight Workspace, the image library or your own desktop to create shareable presentations and trend boards.

… the ‘Clip’ tool…

Click on any image, anywhere on the web, and it instantly uploads to your Stylesight Workspace. Combine Stylesight’s content, your content and web content to suit your creative needs.

And ‘Color play’…

Choose from the full Pantone, CSI, NCS and CNCS color libraries to build color palettes. Use Stylesight’s expertly edited seasonal palettes – organized by trend and color family – as a starting point.

You can watch a video overview of Stylesight’s offerings here.

This was a significant investment for us, but we truly believe in the possibilities this course offers our students, and know that this is going to give them a huge boost as they travel the path to becoming professional surface pattern designers.

There is no other online course in the world offering this alongside the in depth industry insight and design guidance and inspiration offered in The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. This access alone is worth many times the course price. Join us!

Module 3 has just begun but we have extended M3 registration until midnight GMT on Saturday (April 21) for any latecomers to make sure as many of you as possible can take advantage of this amazing opportunity. You can squeeze in if you hurry and register here – take the leap and make this investment in your own design career!

[All images in this post courtesy of Stylesight]

Sharing the gifts of process painting: Stephanie Gray shares her story

Posted on 2012-04-16 at 2:31 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from Stephanie Gray, co-owner of Creative Nectar Studio – a safe haven for self-discovery.

I am finally doing it! I am living the life of my dreams by co-owning Creative Nectar Studio and sharing the gifts of process painting with those who are seeking greater authenticity.

It all began in 1998 when I attended my first process painting workshop with Sarah Oblinger. (Process painting means painting from the inside out. The idea is not to produce an end product that will hang on your wall, but to full engage in the creative process and honor howit wants to appear on the paper.) I was nervous about going because even though the description of the workshop clearly stated “no experience necessary”. I was still scared to look foolish. I had never taken an art class of any kind and I was sure my painting would be the worst. But something was stirred deep inside me at the possibility of it all. I had to try. Something shifted for me during that weekend workshop. The process had already begun working on me in very subtle ways.

There was something about the combination of Sarah’s soothing yet powerful questions she would ask when I became stuck in my painting and the magic of the creative process, that stayed with me weeks after I had left the workshop. I guess I really knew then that the process work would be with me for the rest of my life.

In less than a year I was helping Sarah with the studio prep work for her weekly classes and in turn I was able to paint at an affordable rate. Shortly after that a studio was built in the basement of my house and Sarah was holding weekly classes there. I discovered painting 2 to 3 times a week was knocking things loose for me and I was on my way to really getting to know myself. I also realized painting was providing me powerful tools I could take into my life away from painting. Although the studio in my basement was only open for a year, it was during that time.

I met my now business partner Jenny Hahn. She had been painting in the classes and her journey was knocking things loose for her too. She was unlearning what she was taught in art school and discovering how it felt to be spontaneous within the creative process.

Because the painting was in fact transforming me and the way I wanted to live my life, I ended up moving to California and sadly leaving the studio behind. I stayed in California a year but had to return home to Mission Kansas because it was becoming clear my father was very ill. That was the beginning of a very dark time for me. Within a 6 year period I lost my father to cancer, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and in the middle of helping care for her my fiance left me. I was lost. Painting had fallen away because I was taking care of my mother, working full time and grieving the loss of my father and my partner. It seemed I didn’t have time to do anything else.

But at some point it became too much for me and I knew the thing that would help me most was to paint. Luckily, Jenny had a studio in her attic and she was offering classes. It was wonderful to reconnect with her and to paint with others again. I worked through my grief with paint and because we didn’t comment on each other’s paintings during a workshop, I felt free to paint whatever wanted to appear. Some images were sad and some were really dark but having the freedom to express them in a safe environment allowed things to shift over time and I painted through the grief. Jenny and I decided to facilitate a few Saturday workshops together in her attic and I think it was then that we started realizing how powerful this work was and that we needed to share it with as many people as possible.

Things didn’t happen overnight. We both had fulltime jobs and I still had a mother that needed lots of care. But 4 years and more life challenges later, we were both ready to take the leap of faith and do whatever it took to make the dream we had for Creative Nectar Studio a reality. Once I knew what I was supposed to do with my life, the old ways of being and moving through the world no longer worked for me, So I quit my job of almost 10 years. It helped that Jenny had done the same only a few months before me. I had a retirement fund I cashed in and , although i was very scared, I felt alive for perhaps the first time in my life. It’s been a year now that the studio has been open. Things are really starting to happen and although it can still get a bit scary at times, I know this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing with my life. Now days you can catch me telling anyone who will listen that if you have something inside you begging to be born and know it will set your heart on fire, you must do it. I have been supported in ways I could not have imagined after taking that first step. There can be challenges along the way. You must be prepared for some things and relationships to fall away as you grow into who you always knew you could be. But, the payoff of expressing your true self in the world is far too big to ignore.

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” – Patanjali

To find out more about Stephanie visit her website or connect on Facebook or via Twitter @Creative_Nectar.

[Images courtesy of Stephanie Gray]

***

Want to get closer to doing what you love? Why not join the transformational Do What You Love e-course, to identify your passion and make it a greater part of your everyday life? Find out more and register here.

Pattern course student selected for new children’s design book!

Posted on 2012-04-16 at 1:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

We are thrilled to announce that one of our talented e-course students has been selected for the highly anticipated ‘Print & Pattern Kids’ book. A huge congratulations goes to Susan Lloyd!

We think Susan’s work is beautiful, contemporary & fresh. Rachael and I are like proud mamas!

Susan says, “I studied printed Textile Design at Loughborough University. After graduation I lived and worked in New York designing prints for the fashion, home and stationery markets, selling designs internationally.”

“I have exhibited at various trade fairs including Surtex, Printsource and Indigo.”

“I find inspiration in everything from fashion to nature to mid century design, vintage textiles and contemporary Illustration. I love to hand draw all the elements for my designs first before enhancing them within Photoshop and Illustrator.”

“I have a wishlist of companies I would love to collaborate with. I am currently building new ranges for my portfolio and building a brand new website for showcasing my designs”.

Susan now designs prints under the studio name ‘The Print Tree’, if you would like to get in touch with Susan you can email her at: [email protected]. You can also follow Susan on twitter @theprinttree.

Images courtesy of ‘The Print Tree’ – a varied selection from Susan’s portfolio.

Pattern course student selected for new children's design book! summer bloom blog

Pattern course student selected for new children's design book! the print tree banner blog

If you to know more about The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design (the e-course) you can view the website here.

Ian Dutton announced as a contributor to surface pattern design course!

Posted on 2012-04-14 at 2:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

We are thrilled to annouce that UK-based designer and illustrator Ian Dutton will be joining us as a contributor for Module 3 of The Art and Business of Surface Design (starts Monday!), where he will share an exclusive insight into life as a freelancer. His company ‘Ian Dutton Designs’ creates character designs, character licenses and surface pattern design for the greetings, fashion and textile industries. Ian’s client list includes Boots, Hallmark, Mamas & Papas, Marks & Spencer, Next, Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s.

Ian’s designs come in a variety of repeats, stripes and placements with a delightful number of colours. Although most of his designs are mainly for the younger consumers, there are a few for the older, mature consumers. You can follow Ian on Twitter @ian_dutton.

Take a look at some of his fab fun designs…

Module 3 begins on Monday and we cannot wait to see what gorgeousness emerges from that! If you want to learn how to monetise your designs, join us! We are also thrilled to be offering the full course for a second series starting with Module 1 on April 23rd, click here to register!

<FOR MORE UP TO DATE INFORMATION ABOUT COURSE DATES CLICK HERE>

A business with heART: Alison Bartram shares her story

Posted on 2012-02-13 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I started sharing other people’s stories of doing what they love one whole year ago today! Since then we have had 50 postings with nearly 100 people from all over the world sharing their stories of courage and hope, chasing their dreams and making choices which allow them to do what they love, for life.

It seemed fitting that to mark one year of these *Shared Stories*, I should share a special one. Today’s powerful and inspiring story comes from Alison Bartram, owner of the (appropriately named) Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge.

Quite bizarrely, as I shared here a short while ago, Alison’s email about submitting to Shared stories arrived on my phone at the very moment I was standing outside her gallery on a day I happened to be visiting her town – how odd is that?

I don’t really know where to start with this as writing these words down is painful – far more painful than the spoken word as it is so much more permanent. However, I do feel that the time is right to tell my story, so here goes:

I opened and ran a very successful business with my first husband in the eighties – Bradford’s first and only punk, goth, metal shop called Fizz! We quickly opened another 2 outlets in Leeds, one shop and one unit in an ‘Afflecks Palace’ type of warehouse.

However, our personal relationship wasn’t good after our son was born in 1988 and so in 1990, when Adam was only 2, I made the decision to leave. This was a really difficult decision to make at the time as I was putting my own needs first before those of my son, Adam.

I had great support from my mum who encouraged me to go back and study and she loved looking after Adam whilst I took evening bar and club jobs to support us both.

I actually did not know what I wanted to do with my life at this point, I just knew I had to gain lots of office skills to enable me to jump out into the world of employment as I had been self-employed since getting married after traveling for a year. But I also knew that one day I would be my own boss again .. I just didn’t know when, where, what or how, but I knew. Call it feminine intuition!

When Adam was 7 I met a wonderful man, Bart, who loved me – warts and all! And believe me, after being single for some time (apart from the few really lovely relationships with guys who were sweet but not for me), there were a lot of warts as I was fiercely independent!! He had his work cut out romancing me as I was convinced I wanted to be alone with Adam and didn’t need anyone else in my life. Yet, a year later, to the day, we married and Adam gave me away and Mum made the speech ‘traditionally’ reserved for Dad. (I should say at this point that over the years my relationship with Dad was like a roller coaster, we weren’t really close since Mum and Dad split when I was 13. He was in my life but things were very strained between us.

Sadly Mum died the January after our August wedding and at the time of her death (11 weeks after her cancer diagnosis) I was 11 weeks pregnant. I knew that as her life was taken from me it would be given back and I would have a beautiful daughter .. which I did, Rebecca Kaye in 1997.

I missed mum dreadfully, we were best friends, but life goes on as we settle back into our routines doesn’t it? My sister, Rachel, seemed to cope much better than I did at the time, she’s 3 years younger than me, she was quite robotic as we organised the funeral and I was an emotional wreck. Yet inner strength was found at Mum’s funeral as we both got up to say a little piece – funny that, where does strength come from at a time like that? Little did I know I would need it again 8 years’ later.

After years of moving from one office job to another – I got bored easily once the challenge had gone – I found my ‘perfect’ admin job working at The Yorkshire Craft Centre, part of Bradford College. This married my admin skills in a creative environment and suddenly I knew that maybe I wouldn’t leave this job quite so quickly as those before! Every day was different as exhibitions were planned and I was just loving it. I was on cloud nine until something came along and burst my bubble.

My sister took her own life, January 8^th 2005. I’d called up for a cup of tea as she hadn’t been well and the family were worried about her. I was the only one with a key and as I pulled up outside I just knew that something was wrong. All her curtains were drawn and the house was deathly quiet with a strange smell I can’t describe. I found her naked on the bathroom floor, a brief note saying sorry in her bedroom and empty packets of tablets by her bed. This just wasn’t happening, it all felt so unreal as I made the call for an ambulance, rang Paul and Dad.

Rachel was diagnosed as manic depressive in her early twenties and struggled for many years with mood swings but I never thought she would take things to the next level. My world fell apart that day.

All arrangements for the funeral took place at my house with Dad, Bart, and Sandra, Dad’s partner, and a lot of it is a blur but one thing stands out for me which was a turning point in my relationship with Dad. He took my head in his hands and told me he loved me, something he hasn’t done for many, many years. Out of the negative came the positive.

Leaving home the day of Rachel’s funeral we followed the brightest rainbow, which was so poignant as Rachel was carried into church whilst Eva Cassidy sang ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ – there wasn’t a dry eye in the room and it was standing room only. That inner strength came back to me when I got up to speak a few words and has remained with me in my hour of need. That rainbow followed us to the crematorium also and appears in my life when I need it.

Losing my sister made me realise that nothing in life is certain and we have no idea what is around the corner so I quit my job and took a part-time job in an organic café whilst I thought about what was important in my life. Rachel had always told me I was wasting my life working for others, she had always told me that I should go out and grab that opportunity, she had always told me to open my own shop, she had always told me that nothing was impossible, she had always told me that tomorrow never comes .. and for her there are no more tomorrows. But for me there are and her death gave me the kick up the backside I needed to realise that dream – my when, where, what and how had arrived finally.

So the when was 2006, the where was Hebden Bridge, the what was a Contemporary Jewellery and Craft Gallery and the how was with support from my family … those still living and those that are now my guardian angels. Heart Gallery became a reality and no longer a dream, named because Rachel knew that having my own business was something I held close to my own heart for so many, many years.

Again the positive comes from the negative and I try to live every day as if it is my last. The passion I had the first day I put my key in the big black door of a former Baptist Chapel I had converted into a warm and inviting Gallery space is still with me today. I love my life, my home, my family, my friends, my customers, my designer/makers, my Gallery and my work. I still feel a great sense of pride when a new customer discovers me for the first time. No two days are ever the same and no two days ever go by without me thanking Mum and Rachel for looking over me, propping me up when I need it and celebrating with me when my achievements are recognised.

In 2008 I won Best Newcomer in the North and Scotland for gift retailing as voted by Progressive Gift and Home Magazine. That was a fantastic honour for me because I can pat myself on the back a hundred times a day when I know how hard I have worked so to be recognised by someone else makes me realise that it is all so worthwhile. In 2009 I was shortlisted for the Best Jeweller in the UK, also as voted by Progressive Gift and Home Magazine, and although I didn’t win I already felt I had just to get so close! In 2011 I was voted One of Top Five shops in Calderdale as voted by the people of Calderdale and also presented with a Magic Tenner Award.

I have refused to buy into all the negativity we are fed daily by the media. I go to work every day with a smile on my face, open my door to Heart Gallery, concentrate on my customers, enjoy my day and go home and enjoy quality time with my family.

I opened Heart Gallery because I am passionate about introducing new and emerging UK designer/makers specialising in beautiful jewellery and craft to Hebden Bridge. I opened Heart Gallery because I wanted to. I opened Heart Gallery because Rachel wanted me to.

It isn’t easy, 2010/2011 were very challenging years, and to take that leap of faith you have to be prepared to live and breathe your passion. Leap into it for all the wrong reasons and I sincerely believe that it will fail.

Heart Gallery is my dream and I will live it until old age creeps up and bites me!

[Image courtesy of Alison Bartram. ]

To find out more about Alison visit her website, blog or connect on Facebook or Twitter, or pop into her gorgeous gallery in Hebden Bridge.

Doing something that makes people feel good: Sheryl Gibbs shares her story

Posted on 2012-01-23 at 10:51 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from holistic aesthetician Sheryl Gibbs.

As a Holistic Aesthetician of over 23 years, I am truly blessed to love what I do. I am always grateful for the inner guidance I received many years ago that told me to do “something” that makes people feel good. After years spent working for large skin care manufacturers and performing treatments, I determined I would truly fulfill my desires if I could create the most effective, non sensitizing, but least toxic products possible. Having always had sensitive skin, very few products worked for me. I was also often frustrated with some of the ingredients of commercial products due to their toxicity concerns. Thus, I pursued a career as a skin specialist with the hopes of also helping others that face similar challenges.

Holistic studies were a large part of my career as I learned how important diet and the environment was for overall health and beauty. After years of meticulous research and development, I launched Sevani Botanica in 2010. Sevani, a word derived from sanskrit meaning “Devotion to the Earth,” was my contribution to healthy skin and a healthy planet. I spent countless hours in my lab fine-tuning formulations based on a “special blend” of organic nutrients, ayurvedic ingredients, cosmeceutical grade actives and potent antioxidants, all developed to balance, hydrate and prevent accelerating aging, while also nourishing the skin while respecting our fragile eco system.

I recently received a review on my brand stating that the ingredients were “so non-nasty the preservative comes from radishes.” While many brands label themselves as natural and organic many still utilize chemical preservatives, some of which have been banned in Europe. I will continuously strive to create the safest, most eco friendly, non toxic products possible. Additionally, I donate a portion of proceeds to animal welfare, another heartfelt passion, and another article in itself.

To date I still see my loyal clients of many years and custom-blend treatments and products for them daily. Nothing warms my heart more than reading a thankful letter or receiving a card or hug with the message “thank you for what you do for me.” My relationship with them is more than skin deep. I truly love my clients, and I love helping people that have and continue to suffer from similar skin challenges as I have. I believe that through Sevani products and my contribution, I can do just that.

I will continue to educate, blog, and inform others about ingredients and planetary concern. I appreciate the consideration for “Do What You Love.” I will continue to encourage everybody to follow their heart’s desires, to never give up, and to always keep their eyes on the prize. However, they should remember to not overextend themselves, to breathe, to meditate, and to take some time to just “be”.

[All images courtesy of Sheryl Gibbs, founder of Sevani Beauty]

The importance of creating beautiful design & public art: a shared story

Posted on 2012-01-09 at 10:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared story comes from business partners and mural designers Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel.

Doing what we truly love adds an element of energy and momentum that propels us to be the work not just do the work. It’s the difference between being inspired by the work itself, the process, the materials and the final product, rather than working hard to solely glean the rewards of hard work.

We founded Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design because we believe in the importance of creating beautiful design and public art. When we create a piece of art, we brainstorm until we’ve come up with a concept that really excites us. We paint or design until we see beauty in front of us. When we put art like that into the world, art that we love, we feel that we are making a meaningful contribution and truly connecting with people.

Doing work that we love and believe in allows us to collaborate with other people who are doing what they love. These connections give us a dynamic strength and motivation, and expands the work that we do through this energetic give and take with others that are moving through life with a passionate approach.

While painting our second mural for a frozen yogurt shop, we had an audience for the first time. People were excited by seeing the hand create right in front of their eyes. We knew that painting murals was something we enjoyed and felt satisfied by, but at that yogurt shop we realized this was something that had a tangible impact on others as well. After an invitation to do another commercial mural from some of those on-lookers, we realized that what we make is valuable, that there is a demand for the handmade, and that art is particularly important in our American culture where speed, convenience, and the temporary are often over emphasized.

As a team, we commit to the idea of making Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design work with our whole hearts, bodies, and minds. We don’t spend time questioning it, we just go for it. In order to have success, you have to believe in your work and your message wholeheartedly. Start by believing in the success, then follow your own lead.

One of the biggest benefits of working for ourselves is that we can choose jobs that challenge us as artists. Our work evolves with us. Because we work for ourselves, we have the freedom to choose projects that inspire us. We keep our curiosity alive by learning something new with each project.

(You can see how huge this is by looking at the size of the girls on top of the tank!)

There is an emotional sacrifice that has to be made when you put so much of yourself into your work. Our particular line of work is often very public and it’s not always easy being so exposed. When we started working on Same Sun, a public art installation for the City of Davis in Northern California, some of our civic audience questioned what we were doing. Our design was abstract, unusual, and produced vocal critics at the start of our project. We then realized that meaningful art pushes boundaries, creates controversy, and gets people talking and thinking about art in a good way.

In the end, it is only by making ourselves so vulnerable that we are able to create something with a meaningful presence in the community.

We take on this career project by project, learning what we need to each step of the way. The longer we work, the bigger our ideas, the more pieces we need to figure out.

Some very valuable approaches have emerged along the way. One main lesson we’ve learned is to separate work from home. We didn’t do this as well in the beginning, and ended up feeling like we were always working. Just having a separate desk only for business makes a difference. It helps us to move faster, and with more focus.

Working for yourself requires you to learn to be your own boss, critic, and cheerleader. We never allow ourselves to settle for anything but the best in our work, and sometimes that means an all-nighter. There is never a question of sacrificing the quality of work for time. It’s a lifestyle that we have cultivated into a regimented business with strict rules which we enforce on ourselves.

Running our own business we have to take ourselves seriously and insist that others do too. Yes we are artists, yes we are young women, but we work hard and we are professional every step of the way. Success in this field means knowing how to design and how to paint, but we’ve also had to learn things like networking, negotiating contracts, organizing our finances, operating two-ton scissor lifts, and using industrial paint sprayers. We’ve learned to never be intimidated by something just because it exceeds what is expected of us.

Working in this field we are always discovering new ways that art can transform. When we begin a project we consider everything about the location and the people who will experience the work. Our job is to create design that reveals something beautiful about a place. In this way we show people another layer that expands the way we experience the world. Artists are pioneers; we have the power to bring beauty and interest to places that no one wants to be, and be the beginning of something good.

We dream of reaching more and more people through art each year. We are delighted to find through the past years of painting in the public that almost everyone responds to art – whether positively or negatively. It’s a bridge between culture, language and class, and a way to unify people and strengthen the ties we all have to our deeper, more body-centered states. Successful art puts you in the moment, which is a very powerful feeling and gift. This is an experience we want to share with as many people as possible.

Some of our favorite projects have been murals donated to our community, such as Volunteers of America and Happy Tails. As a business we would love to have enough success to sink some resources into a non-profit sister organisation of Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design. We’ve learned some amazing things in choosing this career, such as how to be strong business women, and how to make positive change through art. We can’t imagine keeping these lessons to ourselves.

[All images courtesy of Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel.]

Find out more about Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel on their website Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design