HEADSPACE + HEARTSPACE Page 19 of 22

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.

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.

What will you make of 2011?

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office1

It’s nearly 2am and I can’t sleep.  Rain is pounding on the skylight and the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of camomile tea.

This isn’t how I planned to start my first post of 2011, but there is so much swirling round in my head it is hard to think straight. Ideas, plans, and a buzz of excitement about the possibilities. But also the shadowy doubts (are my dreams just too big?), endless to-do lists and looming deadlines (Already? It’s only January 5th!).

Running your own business tends to do that to you. I wrote on Facebook earlier today that I love not having a real job, in the 9-5 sense of the word. And I really do. But when it’s not 9-5, in your head it can end up being 24/7.

I have spent the past few days hidden away working on my plans to make 2011 a big year (of course those dreams aren’t too big!). It’s going to be a long and winding road but I just know the view from the top will be amazing, if I can just make it there (and enjoy each step along the way).

How about you?

  • What kind of a year do you want 2011 to be?
  • How are you going to make sure it turns out that way?

Wishing you a very special year filled with adventure and discovery!

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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.

Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat

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Natural-Retreats

(Image courtesy of Natural Retreats)

Imagine a magical place in an area of outstanding natural beauty, deep in the ancient English countryside, where you can escape from everyday life, reconnect with the real you, and nurture your creative spirit.

Imagine a time when you are free to indulge your creativity.  When you can step out of your creative comfort zone and take risks, supported by a warm community of like-minded souls, under the guidance of an outstanding teacher.

Imagine a space where you can explore the ideas you have been quietly sheltering for so long.  Where they will be motivated by inspiring entrepreneurs and where, nurtured by your new community, your self-belief will soar.  Where you can grow your creative business ideas, or simply plant the seed of belief that you really can find a way to do what you love, for life.

All this exists.

You can find it at the Do What You Love retreat in May 2011.

It will be an intimate gathering of creative souls, sharing a special journey of change.

Everything will be taken care of.  You just have to take care of yourself.

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Take a look at the retreat brochure below, and see how this could be the most important investment you make in yourself and your creative business this year.

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Registration will be open here shortly.  In the meantime, if you would like to be one of the first to hear more (including details of the early bird discount) sign up for the newsletter here.

It’s Christmas Eve!

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berries_wide

Christmas is nearly upon us, when anticipation and preparation gives way to celebration!  I love Christmas Eve – there is snow on the ground and magic in the air.  I am spending it at my parents’ house, with young nephew and niece as the perfect little Christmas helpers.  Today will go something like this…

– wrapping up warm to go last minute shopping for new christmas cake decorations (the old santa has last year’s icing stuck on his boot, and the collection of little green fir trees we have used since I was a child has dwindled to just two trees – we need a few more tree friends to make a snowy forest)

– cake decorating with the help of some little people

– watching ‘Miracle on 34th Street’

– taking my parents’ dog for a walk in the frosty park

– posting the neighbours’ christmas cards

– gathering round a huge tree for a candlelit children’s carol service

– cooking up hot mince pies and mulled wine

– putting out some sherry for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph

– reading ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to the little ones before they fall asleep ‘with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads’

– putting out all the presents under our tree

– trying to get to sleep, which is as hard now as it was when I was five…

Merry Christmas to you all!

Award-winning mixed media artist Priscilla Jones to teach 3D sculpture at the Do What You Love Retreat

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I am delighted to announce the third of our teachers for the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat, to be held in Yorkshire, England in May. 

Award-winning mixed media artist Priscilla Jones will teach ‘Structure and Surface: Creating 3D sculptures using wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials’.

Priscilla Teapot

(Image courtesy of Priscilla Jones)

This is a rare opportunity to take a three day 3D sculpture workshop with Priscilla. Her work is exquisite, and has been exhibited and exported all over the world.

Priscilla Cup,Saucer & Spoon

(Image courtesy of Priscilla Jones)

Dive in to a world of experimentation as you learn how to construct a gorgeous sculpture using wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials.

The first day will be spent drawing and experimenting with mark making to create stunning images that can be applied to your sculpture. The next day, using lightweight wire you will create a structure in a style and scale of your own choice, learning how to form and shape contours that can easily be manipulated with your fingers. There is no need for soldering or fusing in this process so you can relax and enjoy creating at you own pace.

Priscilla Milk Jugs

(image courtesy of Priscilla Jones)

On the last day, you will be able to refine and re-manipulate elements of your sculpture before exploring its surfaces. You will experiment with the images you created on day one and apply them to your fabulous shapes. You can also add found materials and experiment with waxing fabrics and paper to complete your final piece.

Priscilla Sugar Bowl & Spoon 2006

(Image courtesy of Priscilla Jones)

 This will be a hands-on experimental workshop. No experience is necessary. Come prepared to have fun, and take home something very special!

Priscilla profile

(Image courtesy of Priscilla Jones)

During the retreat, Priscilla will also share her experience of working as a professional artist, and discuss how she has grown her creative business – including establishing and running a successful art gallery and selling her work internationally.

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More information will be available on the Do What You Love retreat website to be launched in December. This retreat will be cosy and intimate – small enough for everyone to get to know everyone – so places are strictly limited. Registration will formally launch with the new website in December, but if you want to be the first to know about it (and get in on the early bird discount), sign up for the new Do What You Love newsletter at the top of this page.

American painter Flora Bowley and British book artist Rachel Hazell will also be teaching at the retreat!