My clients are my inspirations!

Here is a few of my art work that I've done 23 years ago.
I was so inspired by all the artists and designers that I have the opportunity to work with. So thank you to all. You are my inspirations!.

"Still Life" drawing of agave plant  (1986)

"Still Life" drawing of water plant in a jar (1986)

Organic Drift wood from the sea (1986)

Portrait of  my  niece Susan (1986)

Nelson Bay NSW Australia (1986)

Quantum Compass ArtShine collaborates with Launch Initiative

Launch Initiative & Quantum Compass Artshine is proud to be bringing you a monthly webinar series focusing on starting & making the most of your fashion career.
Each month we will be providing regular tips, hints and information about the business side of fashion and design through the newsletter.
 
In addition to the regular newsletter spot bringing you inspiration and information about how you can create the business lifestyle your dreaming of, we’ll also be inviting all the Designer Members to join us in our monthly online Webinars. In these monthly sessions we’ll introduce you to the concepts that will change the way you approach your design practice. We’ll bring you real world knowledge, and experienced mentors.
Quantum Compass is a world renowned 'Business Lifestyle' coaching service, which runs courses to help owners to define their business and design their lives. Based in Sydney, Australia Quantum Compass was formed by Vinh Van Lam and Stuart Horrex.

"We see Launch Initiative as having established itself as prime industry resource by offering 100% financial support in the manufacture and distribution process for new designers. So, as part or our ArtSHINE project here at Quantum Compass we've formed a joint venture with Launch Initiative to provide members with a range of coaching, mentoring and Webinar services" founding partner of Quantum Compass, Vinh Van Lam says.

Here are the links to the You Tube Video:
Launch Webinar Series Promotion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtBRGAb391I
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEHgsFj_8G0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltcO8o8irgc


Interview with Emma Fong  the winner of Sleepwear Competition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtiWz3W


About Launch Initiative
Everyone knows it's a long, hard road to the top of the fashion industry. Saturated with labels and designers, it's almost impossible to get your foot in the door. Many talented designers don't even know where to start. Launch Initiative Fashion gives aspiring designers the opportunity to 'launch' their fashion career. Whether it be a solo venture to establish a new label or work within an existing fashion house, we are here to help you.

Think of a real life blown up version of Project Runway.

This is a new concept in fashion that is going to change the course of the industry forever.
How Does It Work?

If you think you have design talent or creative flair, simply sign up, log-on and submit your designs based around a brief created by Launch Initiative Fashion.

It really is that simple.
You do the designing. They do the rest.
The designs then go onto the website where other Members can view and vote on which designs they think are the best.

The designs with the most votes win.
What Do You Win?

The reward for winning? Launch Initiative will manufacture your design and distribute it for sale to top retail outlets, complete with your name on the label.

The designer remains in complete control of their design and receives a 10% royalty from the sale of their product - just like a professional designer.
You get all this and more for the small price of a Designer Membership.

You can submit as many designs as you like to increase your chances of winning.

There are no catches and no deep, dark holes to fall in to. Launch Initiative Fashion is simply here to collaborate with aspiring designers and create the stuff dreams are made of.

Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

Well the icing on the cake would have to be that everything is 100% Australian made and owned.

Launch Initiative fully supports and encourages the public to become interactive within the Launch Initiative Fashion community and hosts heaps of extras where Members can help each other to succeed in the industry.

This initiative has attracted plenty of attention from industry personalities because quite simply, Launch Initiative Fashion is the best opportunity available to young and passionate designers.

There are limited positions in the initiative, so sign up today to 'launch' your career as a fashion designer.
here is the link:


http://www.launchin.net/main/?c=membership&membership_task=register

The Interwoven Close Up with Jewellery designer- Karen Davidson

 Karen Davidson

     K Tribe Jewellery Copyright

Exhibition

17-30 June

Gaffa Gallery, Sydney

K Tribe Jewellery

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

I am a jewellery designer with a passion for colour and tribal cultures. I love sourcing unusual and interesting handicrafts from around the world and adding my own touches.

Who (or what) inspires you to do what you love in your own creative business?

My aversion to the mundane and my love of interesting fashion and jewellery. 

K Tribe Jewellery Copyright

Where do you get your inspiration from when you design/paint?

Tribal Cultures and travel. Finding designs that have history and meaning. 

 Karen & Berber Man

K Tribe Jewellery Copyright

What are the five words that people who know you would use to describe you?

Spirited,Generous,Brave,Passionate and Sincere

Tell us about your very first job and what path have you taken since then?

My first job was at a fashion Dept store in Newcastle. I dabbled with fashion for awhile and then took off overseas for 5 years where I studied acting. I then came back and studied Makeup and special effects, textile Design and silver making courses. I have worked as a freelancer in Television as a Makeup Artist for 15 years. …I started my jewellery collection about 5 years ago and I now balance the two jobs.

Describe a typical day in your studio space?

There no typical day ! Every day is different .

As a Solo Artist, what is your biggest frustration?

Having to put on a business hat and work that side of the brain as well!

Tell us about how you prioritise your studio work.

I try and set goals for the week…which quite often go out the window .

When did you discover that you can make a living out of your artwork?

Charmed Pendant 

 K Tribe Jewellery Copyright

When I started freelancing as a makeup Artist in television. I realised if you were good at something there is always a market.

Can you please tell us about how do you connect with other artists, and your customers (i.e. how do you network)?

I network through my friends, my colleagues, my website, and social networking sites.

What advice can you offer other creative people who are just starting out and following their passions?

Stay true to yourself. FOCUS…and know why you are doing it…..and hang on tight. ..I pretend that K-tribe is my child and even though sometimes you want to walk away from it when it all gets too much you can’t!!

How did you get involve with The Interwoven exhibition and why?

My friend Phillipa who I studied textile designs with many years ago and have also travelled overseas with on many occasions.

What dreams do you still want to achieve or fulfil in your life?

To keep travelling and to keep adding to my collection. …and to one day have someone do the business side to all of this so I can keep sourcing, designing and travelling and let someone else worry about the other stuff!

What is your proudest moment so far?

When my customers call me to tell me that they get stopped in the street to ask them where they got their jewellery from. It makes them feel special.

Who do you most want to meet and why?

I would like to meet myself in ten years…but NOW…so I know I am on the right track

What is the most important lesson in life that you have learned?

To listen to your dreams and don’t give in to fear and self doubt.

What book are you reading right now, and do you have a book you would like to recommend?

Reading The Lacuna…Barbara Kingsolver. ….recommend The Post Birthday world Lionel Schriver .. I do love a sliding door scenario…makes you know there are no right or wrong paths just different outcomes.

Where do we find you and your artworks?

http://www.ktribe.com.au/

Mon Petit Chou Potts Point

The Collector Store Surry Hills

Lotus Accessories Perth

Wax Jambu Banglalow

Setting your goals for 2010

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"Make Tomorrow Today" TM

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed

is more important than any other one thing.”

                                                                         - Abraham Lincoln

With the start of this new year at the end of the first decade of the century, now’s probably the best time to be thinking seriously about where you are on your journey, and to re-assess where you want to be.

This is our quick guide to setting some goals for yourself. Detailed goals that are realistic and achievable. Goals that, while specific and measured, are still exciting and inspirational.

Here at Quantum Compass we work with our clients on what we call the “OPIC” system.

OPIC stands for:  Objective, Planning, Implementation, Commitment

Now let’s look at each point starting with your objectives...

Think about what you want to achieve, what area you want to focus on. There are all sorts of things that you could focus on; personal goals, or business goals. 

Get very specific with your objectives. Be very clear on what it is that you want. Visualise what is is that you’re aiming for. And remember to write you goals in the present tense as if you have already achieve it too.

The next step in this process is the planning step.

Think about all the steps you need to take to make your goals a reality. Again, it’s about being specific. What resources will you need, and how will you best use them?

Write each action step in sequential order.

If your goal is broad, make sure you break down the task into small little steps.

Implementation.This section where you can plan to delegate too. Look at your objectives and your plans. As you roll out those plans and start taking action, think about what you could be delegating to others to be doing for you.

It’s in this step that there’s a real opportunity to create new ways of doing. To create new systems.

Remember to always have measurable validation points at this stage. 

“Setting goals is not the main thing.

It's deciding how you'll go about achieving them and staying with that plan.”

- Tom Landry.

Finally, without commitment nothing will really happen. You can write as many goals as you like. You can have all the action plans, and have all the measurable validation points as you like. But you’ll never succeed in your goals without committment.

Commitment is about firming your mind and launching yourself towards your goals with no hesitation or fear. It’s about making the decision that nothing will stop you or hold you back. It’s about deciding that every road-block or obstacle in your path is merely another step towards your objective.

With a commitment from your heart, together with your dedicated actions towards your objectives you’ll find your dreams, your passion, and your purpose.

Want to learn more about goals and action planing the Quantum Compass way? 

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Come along to the next “Goal Setting” workshop. E-mail Quantum Compass (insert link: GoalSetting@QuantumCompass.com.au ) for details of the next half day session near you.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session. www.quantumcompass.com.au/free-coaching.php

"The Power of Gratitude"

“The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now” Oprah Winfrey.

Science has proven that people who express their gratitude daily are 25% happier and significantly healthier than those who don’t.  We know that expressing gratitude and being grateful is a good thing. We also know that in less than 60 seconds a day, just by writing down what we are grateful for will instantly raise our emotional set point and feel happier. 

So what are you grateful for today?

According to a long-term study on the power of gratitude by the University of California¹, writing gratitude journals and practicing gratefulness on a regular basis causes the following happy side-effects:

• Promotes Good HealthYou’ll enjoy better physical and mental health, a better outlook on life, and you’ll be more optimistic, Expressing gratitude is one of the fastest ways to pull yourself out of a slump.
  
  
  
• Inspires SuccessYou’ll be more likely to work towards your personal goals, more alert, enthusiastic, determined and attentive. It  also motivates  you to reach your goal sooner.  It 'll help you to refine your DPPTM "Desire, Passion and Purpose" in life.
  
  
  
• Makes You a Better PersonYour friends will see you as more generous and helpful, you’ll be less envious of others, and you’ll love helping others.
  
  
  
• Helps with a Good Night’s SleepStudies on expressing gratitude show that you’ll sleep better at night, and feel more energetic during the day.
  
  There are many ways of expressing gratitude:
  

• You can tell someone
• Telling yourself
  
• Write in your diary or journal

I  have been  practicing the power of gratitude for over two years  and  it has really helped me become a better person and to appreciate what  and who I have around me right now. I have a  better outlook in life  and  to follow my passion as a  Business Lifestyle Coach so I can help people to follow their dreams and to  achieve them too.



So take just a few minutes each day to jot down things that make you thankful… you will feel better about yourself, have more energy and feel more alert.


About  4 months ago I found a "Gratitude Journal" in the  Apple app store. It's a free program to download. I have been using it  to record my gratitude every single day. It is friendly and so easy to use.


About a week ago, I found this website where you  can express your gratitude online. The website is http://gratitudelog.com


Gratitudelog is a website where people come together to celebrate happy moments, send simple gifts of appreciation and brighten up each other’s day. It’s based on the simple practice of expressing gratitude daily for wonderful moments in your life.


So have fun with it. The Power of Gratitude works like magic

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”

Anthony Robbins

^{1 ^} Emmons, R.A., & McCullough, M.E. (2004). “Highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness”. Dimensions and Perspectives of Gratitude. University of California, Davis.

A New Year Message from Quantum Compass ArtShine

Signoff for 09. Thanks all for your friendship and support. Share &
Enjoyed this NYE and all the best to you and yours families. Onwards
& Upward in 2010Best WishesVinh & StuartQuantum Compass