Where are YOU going?

My new course 'Goals - how to create them so you'll actually achieve them' is for you if you can answer YES to any of these questions!

• Set goals yet struggle to achieve them?
• Want to experiment with different creative techniques but don't know where to start?
• Want to learn some simple techniques to help you to get out of your own way?
• Fed-up and want a creative boost and some fresh thinking?
• Want to close the gap between who you are and who you really know yourself to be?
• Want to cut through the crap and focus on what you really, really want?
• Feel stuck?

If you've nodded your head to any of these questions (a few years ago I'd be busy nodding my head as these things were true for me! ) then I reckon my new 4 week course will be right up your street.... And you take part from ANYWHERE!

read on....!

Setting goals - why bother?

I used to think setting goals was boring and a waste of time as I was constantly changing my mind about what I wanted to do and I didn't want to feel restricted. But do you know what? I've realised and discovered that setting meaningful goals and achieving them actually has the OPPOSITE effect. It makes you feel GOOD. I discovered I'd been going about it in totally the wrong way!  

Through this course I'll show you a way of creating goals that's fun and creative (no spreadsheets in sight) that will have you feeling positive and excited!

What you'll gain:

more experimenting, layers & paint as backgrounds

• You'll identify what's important to you in your life right now
• You'll clarify the top goals for the key areas in your life and design a plan of action to move forward within the area you've chosen (e.g Business or Personal)
• Your own personal goals book that you can revisit again and again
• Ways to stay focused and fend off distractions (a VERY common challenge!)
• Space to reflect on life in a fun and non-heavy (boring!) way
• Opportunity to experiment with different creative techniques and ways to express yourself
• A tool-kit you can revisit again and again
• Connect with like minded people
• A tree planted for you (if you choose this option) in the Caledonian Forest

What you'll get:

• Weekly themes and exercises sent direct to your inbox every Saturday to inspire you and make you think! These will follow the coaching model of GROW. 
• Week 1 - Goals - how to set really good ones you'll actually achieve (aka no more faffing about)
• Week 2 - Reality - what's achievable now, next month, next year
• Week 3 - Options - ways of working through blocks
• Week 4 - Way Forward - a series of clear actions to move forward with! 
• Ideas for different techniques to experiment with aimed to 'free up your thinking'
• A private Facebook* group to share your experiences and meet like minded people 
• A Flickr page to showcase your creations
• Three free background pattern downloads to print out and use in your re-purposed goalsbook
• Fun!
• Online support via the facebook group on a weekly basis
• Have a tree planted in the Caledonian Forest, Scotland with Trees for Life. (Optional - please select on the drop-down box when purchasing the course. This has an additional charge of £5 to cover the cost of the tree and a certificate emailed to you. (usual tree cost would be £15)

Experimenting

How?

By using a range of coaching tools combined with a whole host of creative techniques, (think - drawing games, visualisations, deep questioning (don't be scared of that), experimenting), all in your very own repurposed book using upcycled materials/paper scraps. PLUS, if you fancy it, the option to have a tree planted for you in the Caledonian Forest! Oh yeah! (Excited yet??)

So how did this pop into my head? Here's the story:

I've been using my sketchbook a lot over the past year during my own creative journey and I have been finding that the act of actually drawing stuff out, writing with my non-dominant hand, using colour, ripping and sticking has been a really effective way for me in terms of developing more self-awareness which in turn has benefited how I create and set goals - both personally and for my business (as I kinda am my business)! 

NOTE: You don't need to have any artistic skills to do this course. It's more to do with the process than creating a final artwork.

Excel spreadsheets and grey charts (even if there are 50 shades of grey) just don't excite me! So I've been looking for ways to make my goal planning more creative and exciting! Now I'd love to share what I've learnt. 

I've been mindmapping, drawing, experimenting, playing, growing and I'm REALLY seeing the benefits of doing this on a regular basis!

Mind mapping

I've also been reducing the amount of stuff I have which, I'll be honest has been going in fits and starts (I am making progress though!) Hurrah!

This is where the re-purposed or altered book comes in..

I LOVE books and I'd been thinking about all those unloved books in charity shops that no one wants to buy.

These books are so full of knowledge and infused with the energy that was put into creating them and yet they sit there, waiting, waiting, waiting...

'Ah-ha' I thought, why not COMBINE THE TWO! (ok I know that this is not a new idea!!) and give these old books new purpose, a purpose that can HELP YOU!

Ooh YES! - then I couldn't sleep as I was getting soooo excited about it all. 

Your own personal goals book - is made from a book already in existence. A book of your choice which over the course you'll re-love into something new. (Hardbacks work best). I've been using an old Ford Escort Manual that I picked up from Bookbarn for a pound!

Repurposing old books

You'll get to use up all those bits and bobs you've been collecting around the house....

This challenge isn't about buying lots of new stuff. It's TOTALLY about repurposing and using what you have around you. EVERYTHING can have an alternative use!

Old envelopes, cards you've been saving, notes or letters you've written/given is all great stuff to reuse. Get creative! Go through your recycling bin! What can you find?

So this is how the idea was born. 

I'd like to invite YOU to join me. 

So - If you really want to start moving towards the life you want -  Join me!

Here's the plan:

Start Date: Saturday 05 October
End Date: Friday 01 November

How does that sound?

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About  Me!

Morwhenna Woolcock

I am artist, designer, creative adventurer and creative marketing consultant who after working for over 10 years for a large corporate company, left to follow my own path and rediscover my creative heart.  

I love combining creativity, sustainability and community by breathing new life and purpose into ‘pre-loved’ and recycled materials. I also love to create 'projects' alongside my creations that connect people. Including Bags of Love for Bristol, Love What You Wear, Supermarket Free Challenge to name a few! 

All these projects have generated press coverage and have led to other exciting things including working with someone I greatly admire, and who was one of the inspirations behind my Love What You Wear project. 

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JOIN HERE!

PLUS as this is a *shiny* new course I'm running it for a greatly reduced price. 

ONLY £39 (+ £5 for tree option) 

(Normally £120)

Start Date: Saturday 05 October
End Date: Friday 01 November

Join Here!

Course Only £39.00 GBP Course & Tree Planting £44.00 GBP

Support Trees for Life - by choosing the 'tree planting option'

*Joining the facebook group is optional, don't feel you have to if it isn't something that appeals to you. It can be really great sharing though. So do consider it.  ;-)

Do interesting things...

"Do interesting things and interesting things will happen to you"
Sir John Hegarty

I absolutely LOVE this quote! 

It was shared with me the other day, and I've been thinking about it ever since. And about how the different things I've been doing - because I'm interested in them, have, Yes -  been leading to interesting things!! 

So my question to you is - What interesting things are You doing RIGHT NOW? 

And if you feel that you aren't. What would you LIKE to do?

Remember - these don't have to be MASSIVE. SMALL is GOOD! 

Would love to hear your thoughts on this - so please leave a comment below...!

Mx

Reduce Month - The joy of re-purposing!

I've re-purposed the 'Portishead' pin badge! I made it up as I went along. And I like it!

Here we go...

I didn't really plan the design. I used what I had to hand - including some tweed fabric that came all the way from my friend Jaimie in Scotland, as well as the flower fabric which was from my fella's Mum in Derby....Already it has a new story! ;-) 

Then I played and some shapes appeared....I found it really relaxing.

When I turned it over to start putting it together, I noticed what looked like Nefertiti!! Can you see her?

It's now pinned to one of my jackets ready for it's first outing. 

Reduce Month - Bits, Bobs & £60

I've been really busy the past week running the Connect to Nature course - with my good friend Jaimie. I'm loving it! Ah it is so wonderful seeing everyone who's taking part creating and sharing. ;-)

So that has meant that I have some catching up to do on my 'reducing' and here it is. Some items I just don't know what to do with. Please put forward any suggestions!

It would be very easy just to chuck it all in the bin and be done with it - but can I re-purpose anything? Or is there someone who would benefit/like what I have? Can I sell any of it?

Each item here, whatever it's size, has been made using resources. Trees, ink, oil, care, time...to name just a few and I don't want them to just end up in landfill without having a darn good think/come up with alternative uses - first. 

These items have been hidden away in a few of my storage boxes that I use for keeping sewing/art and anything else..

Here's the collection:

In the white envelope I discovered I had £30 worth of Debenhams vouchers...which I'd been given for my Birthday by my parents - a few years a go I think - as they gave me a box of Cornish pasties last year! That has to have been one of my fav. presents ever!! 

And in the card with the berries is £30 worth of garden vouchers. Again from my parents some Christmases ago.  I think I hadn't spent them as I was saving them for something I really wanted - and so put them somewhere safe...!  So now I will spend these (that's an easy one! - although not on clothes ...as I'm still running my Love What You Wear Project! 

There is also a camping guide from 2007 - anyone want that? recycle that?
And a programme and postcard from the very funny 'Caravan Gallery'. I think I know what I'll do with them! I'll send the post card to a friend and make cards from the programme...

Then there's the earings. 

I LOVED these little bird earings when I was given them one Christmas and wore them all the time. But the enamel started to come off - and I haven't known what to do with them So they have sat in a box.. Any ideas?

I bought this silver marquisette ring from the Swansea Antiques Centre many years ago (no idea how many!) I Loved it, wore it lots, but the little marquisette stones started to fall away. It is a replica rather than a proper 'antique.' Question is - Can I get it made into something else?

Here's how it looks at the moment! I'll add some more and then varnish it...;-)

I have decided what to do with this wooden heart though. This was a lovely gift from one of the ladies at Neal's Yard when I went to the conference a few years back. This was made by someone  - somewhere - so I've decided to decorate it for a niece and send it to her as a gift.

so what's left?

Ah yes The Little Book of Sleep and a pin badge for Portishead...

Suggestions??

Reduce Month - items 3,4 & 5

What to do with old DVDs?

I have chosen three to part with - so far!

DVDs up for grabs - make me an offer?

I had the Austin Powers box set one Christmas many years ago and don't think I've actually watched the films more than once. So it is as good as new. Actually looking at it makes me feel a bit sad. That was a gift given with love and yet I don't feel I really appreciated it by actually watching it. I wonder how many other things I have like that? 

South Pacific - a charity shop purchase - I do love musicals - but this one wasn't for me! I think I'd rather remember the memories of the songs rather than some of the questionable comments in the film! Well, I guess it was made in 1958...;-0

I bought the Hideous Kinky film a few months ago after finding it in a charity shop. I'm going to Morocco later this year (hurrah!!) and it's a film I've wanted to watch for years! It wasn't quite what I expected. I did enjoy parts of it but I know it isn't a film I'll watch again...so to a new home it will go...

The South Pacific and Hideous Kinky films came from a charity shop in Yatton, Bristol.  I used to visit that area every two weeks for three months. I was having sessions with an empowerment coach and I would often pop to the charity shops after each session as a treat and a way to process all the stuff we'd talked about before driving home. ;-)

I would like to sell these and put the money towards my Moroccan adventure! 

So any offers or suggestions of what might be best - I'd like to hear! I've considered ebay and have started looking at those online 'sell your stuff' sites - so if there are any recommendations which ones are best - Let me know! Thank you ;-) x

I'd like them to be appreciated in new homes ;-)

REDUCE MONTH - item no. 2

I don't remember where this came from or exactly how long I've had it - but I do know where it's going! I have a friend who will love this! So it's going to a new home.

Item no. 2   Bod pin badge

A can't remember how I came to have a Bod badge - but it has been loved!

Wrapped and ready to send..

And for those of you who don't know who Bod is...;-)

August - A month to REDUCE!

I've been talking and thinking about having a good clear out for ages but just haven't done it. 

I am a hoarder. 

After a very timely conversation the other week I heard about the 100 Things Challenge.  I'm not about to get rid of everything down to only 100 possessions in a month (maybe in a year?!) Instead I am committing to getting rid of one item a day for the whole of August.  

31 items

Item no. 1

A tube of dried up gouache

Time for 20 year old paint to go...

I bought this in 1993 when I had just left 6th form and was about to start a year long Art and Design Foundation course at Swansea Institute before going to Uni. I remember getting the materials list and being really excited about starting the course. 

That's 20 years ago!

Since then it's lived in Swansea, moved to Portsmouth in 1994 where it went to uni, staying and living for 13 years before moving to Bristol in 2007. 

And in all those years since not used or loved. Just sitting waiting. No wonder it had gone hard.   ;-(