A huge thank you to the 600+ people who entered our birthday giveaways (and for your lovely birthday wishes)! It was so moving to hear why the Make Art That Sells and Creative Spark giveaways could be so good for you. We are only sorry that not everyone can win! Here are the lucky winners…
Congratulations – we will be in touch to get your postal address details!
If you didn’t win but really want a copy of the book, Tara is offering a special 15% discount if you purchase it via this link by Saturday 18 May using the discount code ‘CREATIVESPARK”.
Are you the next big thing? Are you ready to have your work shared with the world? Do you want to take your art career to the next level? If so, listen up. This is for you.
Lilla Rogers Studio is on the lookout for new talent and has launched a Global Talent Search to find it! Do What You Love is proud to be collaborating with Lilla Rogers Studio to bring you this incredible opportunity to showcase your work to the world.
The winner will be represented by Lilla Rogers Studio for two years internationally, and win a host of licensing contracts. This would be a turning point in your career.
Somebody has to win, and it might just be you!
How would you like to be represented by one of the top artist agents in the world, and see your work on products made for cool clients and distributed internationally? How would you like to be in demand, with hot new gig after hot new gig? How would you like to thrive as a full time artist or designer?
For everyone who enters this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work. If you make the shortlist you will be featured in our online gallery. Your work will get in front of our incredible judging panel of top art directors and other industry experts including Anthropologie, Chronicle Books, Paperchase, Design*Sponge, Quarry Books and more. The process also features a public vote to pick a ‘People’s choice’ finalist.
Along the way you will have the chance to respond to professional level creative assignments, which in themselves will be valuable portfolio pieces.
And if you know anyone who is ready for this exciting opportunity, please be sure to tell them about this!
Here at Do What You Love we are proud to be working with Lilla Rogers Studio to bring you this amazing opportunity. For further information and full Terms & Conditions please see www.lillarogers.com/global-talent-search
Paper and illustration obsessive Clare Shields established stationery and homeware brand Lil3birdy in 2011. Naïve in style, the products aim to stir up imagination and fun into the home. All the designs started life from Clare’s London studio as ink drawings and are developed into a range of desirable products. Everything is manufactured in England and ethically sourced, and all paper products are made from renewable resources. I talked to Clare about growing her business, overcoming challenges and what gets her up in the morning.
1. How are you leading a life ‘doing what you love’?
I run Lil3birdy from my home studio on my own, I do everything from designing and production to PR and marketing.
2. What did you do before this?
Before I set up Lil3birdy, I worked for a short while as a freelancer designing textile prints for several international design studios. Previously, I worked in luxury fashion marketing for two years.
3. What was your a-ha moment that pushed you to change / realise your passion in life?
I’ve dreamt of working for myself and creating something of my own since my student years in textile design. After graduating I felt I needed a bit of time to learn about how a creative company operates before I went alone. After three years of industry experience I felt ready to work on a product range of my own.
4. How did you make it happen?
In the beginnings of Lil3birdy I made my own products at home. I was making greeting cards, postcards and gift tags at this point. I would print and cut everything, which was very time consuming but it was a cheap and convenient way to get started and experiment with ideas. In order to test the response of the public and market my first design range, I signed up to some London markets in summer 2011. I also opened an Etsy.com shop. My debut market was Of Cabbages & Kings in North London, which is an established designer/maker market. After a successful first season of sales, I was given the opportunity to meet with some buyers from House of Fraser for their new Mary Portas concession and they placed a wholesale order. Since then I’ve been building up my stockists list and promoting my growing online shops.
5. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge through out this journey has been to find good quality manufacturers in the UK. I have experienced many disastrous product runs and after many orders with different companies I’ve established some fantastic contacts with manufacturers whom I hope to continue using.
6. Who is your role model and why?
I don’t aspire to a particular person but admire people who have worked hard to make a successful and rewarding career from their craft.
7. What is the best advice you have received?
Try everything
8. What keeps you awake at night?
Ideas I have for the business
9. And what gets you up in the morning?
Knowing I have a plan for the day. I list all my tasks for the year, month and week in advance.
10. What is the big dream for your business?
My future plans for the business is to exhibit at a trade show in 2014 to meet more retailers and establish a larger collection of Lil3birdy stockists. As well as my current stationery and homeware products, I would like to expand the product range to educational gifts for small children.
Wow, what an incredible few weeks it has been. First the wedding (amazing, so much fun!) and then the honeymoon (dreamy, wonderful) and now my new husband has quit his job to work for Do What You Love!!!
I have so much to tell you, and so much exciting news to share, but I am going to do it bit by bit.
Firstly – my new name! I am now called Mrs Beth Kempton! I think it will take me a couple of years to get used to it…
I hope you will excuse me if I am a little self-indulgent over the next few weeks, sharing lots of pictures from our honeymoon in Italy and then of the big day itself (those pictures are due in the next couple of weeks – can’t wait!).
It was such a treat to take 5 weeks off to focus on this precious time, and I look forward to reflecting on all the details of it on this blog over the coming weeks.
We have a brand new website and lots more exciting news coming in June, but until then, forgive me for making this place wedding central!
Today’s shared story comes from Sonam Sapra, a textile designer based in Fiji, who shares the truth about doing what you love can sometimes be hard work (but never hard).
The standard of entries for our second Print & Pattern Design Scholarship was so high that we decided to give away TWO full scholarships, each worth nearly $1000. And the winners are…
Congratulations both of you! We will be in touch with details of your prize – a place on all three modules of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. We cannot wait to see what you create, and watch how the course helps you take your careers to the next level.
Huge thanks to Marie Perkins of Print & Pattern for supporting this scholarship and finalising our winners!
Our third (and biggest ever) issue of MOYO Magazine. Issue 3 is out now! You can see it here. It includes:
Amy Butler on the business of design
Talking fashion and fabric with Josephine Kimberling
Behind the scenes at the Home Show
A new DIY column from Lil Blue Boo
Announcement of the winner of our Print & Pattern Scholarship
…and much more!
Please help us spread the word about this free magzine by sharing it on Facebook and Tweeting about it (@surfacepatternd #moyomagazine). Please also feel free to blog about it or share it in your newsletter and inspire even more people to dive into the exciting world of surface pattern design!
The co-owner of the lovely shop where I found my perfect dress is being featured in a documentary TV programme on ITV on Thursday! Margaret Spencer and her team made my bridesmaid Heather and I so welcome when we first went in to try dresses, and the whole experience was a special one. Having had a vastly different experience in some snooty big name bridal shops in London, and having made the difficult decision to not go with the designer I originally chose, our time at Abigail’s Bridal Boutique in Leeds was a pleasure from start to finish – and we even left with a bottle of bubbly to take home and savour while we reflected on a fabulous day of shopping.
Margaret Spencer, co-owner of Abigail’s, stars on ‘The Wedding Shop’ on ITV this week
I also love that Margaret pursued her dream in her late fifties, investing her pension in creating this lovely shop, and starting her business when others her age are thinking about retirement. That takes guts, and I think it is brilliant. My own dress has been made for me and is waiting in the shop for my final fitting in a couple of weeks’ time (eek, bettter get down the gym…).
Of course that is a big secret, but for now I just wanted to share a few words from Margaret who is definitely a woman doing what she loves.
Dresses from the shop (I’m not giving away any clues about my own!).
1. How are you doing what you love?
I help brides make their wedding day special by helping them find a dress that they can fall in love with, and enjoy every moment of the experience on the way.
2. What makes your bridal boutique different?
I am absolutely committed to extraordinary customer service for every single bride. Purchasing your wedding gown should be a special experience, and I treat my brides as if they were my own daughters.
3. How did you get to be doing this?
I managed Confetti and Lace (the shop featured in the programme) for many years until the owner Abbi shared that she wanted to open a shop in Leeds City Centre. This was a massive a-ha moment for me, when I realised this could be my opportunity to work for myself and create the shop of my dreams. I invested my pension and Abbi and I became partners. I part-own and manage the shop, and I truly believe we have created the best bridal house in the area.
Margaret (centre) with her lovely team Jacki (left) and Jo
4. What challenges did you face along the way?
Finding the right premises was tough. We tracked all the available shops in Leeds, and found one which we really wanted but it had just been let. It was so disappointing as it was ideal. We had no choice but to look elsewhere and were just about to sign the lease on an alternative place when the original one came back on the market – it was meant to be! Funnily enough it is owned by the council – I was brought up in a council house and never thought I would end my days back in council property, but the premises are perfect! All I wanted was a thick black carpet and a beautiful girlie bathroom for customers. The rest fell into place.
Another major challenge was finding the right team. My gut feeling was to employ friends I knew and trusted. Many people advised me against taking on friends but I went ahead and they have been perfect.
5. What have you learned in the process?
I learn something new about people every day! One thing I know for sure is that although times are changing, girls still want the fairy tale and I’m there to help.
Margaret has been featured in every national TV magazine this week!
6. How do you feel about being on TV?
This week my face has been in every TV magazine and I simply can’t believe it – I’m famous at 58! I started work 43 years ago at the tender age of 15, and never expected this to happen to me. Back then I wanted to be a window dresser in Carnaby Street but my boss said I was wasted in a window and encouraged me to be customer-facing. I am so pleased that she did! I sold my first wedding gown in 1972 and I have always kept the passion for it. My dream is to have the best bridal house in Yorkshire – and I think we are well on the way!
I am grateful for the wonderful experience I had in Margaret’s new shop Abigail’s (not the one shown in the documentary) and wish her and her team the best of luck building her new business!
**UPDATE**
The Wedding Shop aired on ITV at 9pm on Thursday 28 Feb. You can watch it here:
Just found out I have been awarded a place in the ‘Top 42 under 42′ entrepreneurs in Yorkshire! This is a real honour in a region buzzing with start ups and exciting new businesses. These awards recognise ‘rising stars of business’ in the region, so I am looking forward to meeting all the other winners soon!
Thanks to my awesome collaborators Kelly Rae Roberts, Rachael Taylor and Lilla Rogers for their part in Do What You Love’s explosive growth, which has allowed us to help thousands of women all over the world to do what they love!
This brand new course is particularly exciting for us because we get to work with industry veteran Lilla Rogers, who is sharing what she has learnt over three decades as an illustrator and top agent. Lilla is an incredible woman – so knowledgeable and savvy, yet so philosophical and kind. She cares for her own artists like a mother hen, and I am thrilled that we get to expand her virtual nest through Make Art That Sells!
Filming Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers
There are more and more e-courses popping up all over the internet and some are better quality than others but generally I think this democratisation of education is fundamentally a really good thing. Gooodbye restrictions of location, timing, access etc, hello flexibility, anytime/anywhere availability, and international connections. Do What You Love has come a long way since we launched our first e-course two years ago, and we make it a priority to keep learning, researching, trying new things. When you have delivered courses to thousands of people in more than 50 countries, you soon realise that technology can be scary, but it is also fascinating, and is absolutely your friend if you can take the time to understand it, or find someone else who can!
We are often asked for hints and tips on developing e-courses, so I thought I’d share some behind-the-scenes images from the filming of Make Art That Sells with top artist agent Lilla Rogers, which opens for registration next week (we already have a massive waiting list to get on it if you are interested!)
I travelled to Boston last month to film with Lilla and our professional cameraman Kevin Balmer, who joined us from Portland. Prior to the trip we had spent hundreds of hours developing the curriculum, drafting the content, selecting images, building the virtual classroom, planning the production schedule etc all via the miracles of email and Skype. By the time we all got together at Lilla’s studio for four full-on intensive days of taping, we were so excited to get going with the filming piece. Fortunately Lilla is a natural in front of the camera, and was able to share her insights and knowledge eloquently, generously and often humorously on film. Her studio is a colourful, visual feast, full of real products that feature her artists’ licensed work, and we can’t wait to share the videos with participants when the course launches.
Here is a sneak peek of us at work!
Make up (always worth getting a professional on the case when you are filming in HD – thanks Maura)
Getting the mic on
Talking through the talking points!
Lights, camera, action!
Me in Producer Mode
Always time for some art from the illustrator in Lilla!
I hope you enjoyed that little behind-the-scenes tour! If you have ever wanted to learn how to make art that sells, directly from someone who has sold art for products worth over $100 million, then check out Make Art That Sells.
