I got my first tin of pastel pencils and self taught from then on wards. What has developed as part of my drawing holistically is my ability to connect with the animal in drawing. They begin to feel like they are sat with me as I draw them. Sometimes I'm almost sad to see them go, but so happy when the owner collects or receives the picture, particularly when sadly the animal has passed over as owners say the pictures often bring their beloved pet to life and capture their personalities. That is a wonderful complement to hear. I do all my drawings from photographs. The photograph needs to be of good quality to help me really capture detail. Especially with the eyes. It's detail that makes the picture special for the client. Recently a client was brought to tears when he received his late pets drawing. He'd made several holes in the dogs tag and these were captured in the drawing, these little details mean so much."
If you would like to try and win a Half Price Portrait of your beloved pet by Heart & Soul Portraits, then make sure you have a go at her puzzle in the April edition (available from 1st April 2017) and send me your answer for a chance to win! If you would like to enquire about having a portrait of your pet done by Haley then please contact her directly: Phone 07778 213042 Email: [email protected] www.facebook.com/Heart2soulportraits
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In 2013 I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my early thirties. I underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, double mastectomy and reconstruction. I gave up work during this time to recover and focus on my family. In early 2015 I had an operation to fit breast implants which was the final reconstruction operation required. I felt like life was becoming more normal with less treatment and no operations on the horizon. I have always been an entrepreneur and was keen to find my next project but was struggling for inspiration. Then one morning I had a 'eureka' moment and announced I was going to start a local magazine. I chatted it through with my family and whilst batting ideas around we came up with a puzzle magazine about local businesses and then the name 'Barrowby Bamboozler'.
I was keen to get started and went out into town to speak to some local businesses that day. I was still recovering from the very recent surgery but being the determined person I am, insisted my husband drive me into town to see what local business owners thought of the idea. I immediately sold several pages and it went down very well. I came home and got started! The magazine began with a distribution of 500 magazines around Grantham but it quickly became popular and with more businesses interested, I increased the distribution to 1000 and then later added in a free email subscriber option. The initial idea was to create a magazine that was fun and interactive but also supported local businesses so I kept my prices low. I wanted to do something which was flexible to suit me and also support local businesses. My idea was that by doing an interactive puzzle specifically about the business featured, it would be more memorable to readers. I was delighted each morning to open up my email and find lots of entries and lovely messages from local readers thanking me for a fun magazine. Initially I wrote out the names of those who entered and put them into a hat and had someone independent draw a winner. However, I quickly realised this was not going to be a practical solution as the entries were coming in thick and fast with the second edition so we set up a spreadsheet to log all the entries and then had a number randomiser pick the winner. This was a very good solution and huge time saver! In early 2016, the magazine evolved when I was at the Nottingham City Hospital one day as part of a vaccine trial to prevent the cancer returning. I was effectively a 'human guinea pig' !! Lol! I needed to do everything in my power to help my daughter and future generations so happily offered up my body to be poked, prodded and injected. I was sat in the waiting area designing puzzles and my nurse asked me about it and mentioned it might be good for the hospital. I offered to do one and with my nurse’s help we managed to get agreement to do a magazine for the hospital. I thought it would be an ideal place for a puzzle magazine as it can entertain the patients while they are waiting for hours, sometimes. But also, I decided I would donate 20% of the profits to Professor Chan’s Breast Cancer research at the hospital. I wanted to give something back after the treatment I had received under his care. In May 2016 I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in my liver and bones. It was a complete shock and a day I will never forget. My world literally crashed around me as I heard Prof tell me the test results. I was immediately put back into chemotherapy and a targeted therapy as well as jabs to help strengthen my bones. I sent out a message to let businesses and readers know what was going on and that I would continue to do the magazines but that I would be doing less work and so smaller magazines. I had so many emails and messages offering help and support particularly with delivering which had become extremely difficult. I was overwhelmed by how everyone had rallied round and with help from readers and businesses I was able to continue as they helped me deliver the magazines - which I am so grateful for. I am now on a targeted therapy and have one day in hospital every 3 weeks which is fine. Its part of my normal life now and its nothing in comparison to what I've been through! Prof Chan and my nurses are keeping me alive with the latest drugs which are created through research. I wanted to support Prof by donating 20% of my profits from the Nottingham Mag to his research in Nottingham. If it wasn’t for the amazing treatment, I wouldn’t still be here and currently in remission with no signs of the cancer. I love doing the magazine. I enjoy writing it, promoting it, replying to emails and hearing how much readers enjoy the magazine. I love creating the puzzles and distributing the magazines too. Im extremely passionate about my magazines. I love that they entertain my readers and support businesses too. Its particularly lovely to know I am helping to entertain patients as well as raise money with the Nottingham edition. I know how hard it is waiting around whilst having treatment or waiting for life changing results. If I can help take people’s minds off whats going on around them for a couple of hours, then that’s fantastic and I have achieved my goal. Entertaining readers and supporting businesses are at the heart of my magazines. I thoroughly enjoy working on both my Grantham and Nottingham editions. Thank you to all the businesses who are featured and readers for entering the competitions. You have all helped make these magazines a success. Deborah x When I started the Barrowby Bamboozler almost two years ago, one of the key things I wanted to do was support local, independent and family run businesses. There are many benefits when buying from one of these businesses and I wanted to highlight these and remind us all of why we need to continue to buy locally and support independents. I have brought this article together using researched information (sources at the end of this article) and having spoken to local businesses. Most of the businesses featured in my magazines fit into at least one of these categories which is something Im proud to support.
Sources
(1)www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/fsb-report-reveals-the-power-of-small-businesses-in-the-local-economy-pr-2013-35 https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/dec/06/shop-locally-small-business-saturday-seven-reasons Birds of Beauty Parlour: 21 Westdale Crescent, Nottingham. www.facebook.com/Bobp21 Grantham Computer Centre: www.thegcc.co.uk The Beeston Brownie Company: www.thebeestonbrowniecompany.co.uk Mandarin Leisure: www.mandarintherapies.co.uk Bold Beanies: www.boldbeanies.com Photos from www.freeimages.com and www.unsplash.com |
AuthorI run the Barrowby Bamboozler. I spend my time writing puzzles backwards!! Archives
October 2017
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