'Make It Work' with Websters

As I sat on the train, Bristol-bound, I wasn't sure what to expect out of the day. I was meeting the famous Leigh-Anne Treadwell of Make It Work and Upholstery Courses South West to conduct a workshop along side at the Bristol 2015 Lab.

Once I arrived in Bristol, I was met by Leigh-Anne and her overflowing van of goodness! Never had I seen so many beautiful fabrics, use paint tins and tired chairs waiting to be reloved. We managed to squeeze me and my Websters in and off we went to Bristol 2015: Websters & Make It Work!

This harbourside shop opened mid-February as a space to engage in workshops and public activities that promote going green and sustainability in the city. Bristol recently received the 2015 European Green Capital award, the first UK city to be awarded, for their efforts in working towards creating Britain's most liveable city. 

It didn't take long to get our display's up and workshops ready. With the help of George and other friendly Bristol 2015 workers (volunteers?) we were ready to get making in no time!

Our businesses, though vastly different, performed seamlessly together. I grew such an incredible appreciate for Leigh-Anne and her new Social Enterprise, Make It Work, that focuses on restoring furniture with long-term unemployed people in an effort to build self-confidence and gain new skills. "This project aims to be based in a vibrant and inspiring workshop/retail space in the heart of Bristol, and will train and employ people to work alongside professional producers of high quality traditionally handcrafted goods within a positive working/ learning environment."

Like I said earlier, the workshop flowed seamlessly. On one side on the tables, you had the 'mixing of Websters' and painting of chairs. On the other side, you had the upholstery course. Everyone picked a chair, picked a colour of paint and matching (or not matching!) fabric and began repurposing their chairs!

Some painted first..


















...some reupholstered first.









Either way, everyone had a great time. It was such a satisfying workshop for the ladies as they gained the skills to reupholster and repurpose tired furniture. I also demonstrated different techniques for painting and ageing including: distressing, waxing, colour washing, and more!

All in all, it was a very successful trip to Bristol! All that nervousness for nothing! Leigh-Anne was a warm, welcoming, beautiful soul and I would love to work with her again in the future. For a really great upholstery course, be sure to check her out for a course near you!

Lots of love,

Devon

20 Things About Me, Not My Business!

Hello! My name is Devon and I am the American Ambassador for Websters Chalk Paint Powder in Europe. I was tagged by Lauren Aston of Lauren Aston Designs to post a blog called, "20 Things About Me". This 'blog-chain', well call it, was started by Katrina of Qtique as a way of opening up and humanising our businesses. Too often we find ourselves hiding behind our screen and, whilst we are communicating, we are not connecting. At least not on a personal basis. This is my chance to open up to you and give you a bit more of an insight to the girl behind the Websters Europe pages. 

This post is not to be taken seriously! If I were to tell you 20 (boring) Things About Me, I would start by talking about my childhood and finish with how I ended up living in the most beautiful village of Topsham, England working for my mothers company.. But that's for another blog, another day! ;) 

Well I best get on it then. Here are 20 random facts about me:

1. The love of my life is my sisters baby, Jude. He is my beautiful, happy, chunky money! I make a point to Facetime with him almost every day so he doesn't forget who I am.. I miss him every second of every day.

2. Nothing gets me more excited than shopping for office supplies. Stationary, filing systems, pens, you name it! Probably has something to do with my extreme need for organisation.  

3. I have an unhealthy obsession with candy. I have a candy bowl AND a candy drawer. If I've been to your home, you best know that I have asked/ searched for your candy stash! 

4. I use , " " / and ( ) religiously. Also, loads of :) ;) :/ :( I probably should have waited to share this towards the end as now it's all you'll notice.. (sorry!)

5. Whenever strange/random things happen around me, I think I'm on a hidden TV show so I always play it cool ;)

6. I am 1 of 7 kids. I have 1 younger sister, who is my best friend ever, and 5 crazy brothers. I know we have photos together, I just can't find them! I'll count them out for you instead: Jamie 26, Me 24, Gracie 22, Jon Jon 20, Will 19, Taylor 16, and Adam 15.

7. I LOVE painting! Not artistically, strangely enough, but painting furniture, frames, bottles, pretty much anything I can get my hands on. I am super passionate about Websters, the product I sell, and use it to paint everything! Seriously, nothing in my house is safe from being Webster-fied! Also, there is nothing more relaxing than painting with a glass of red wine and Norah Jones in the background.. Utter bliss.

8. I get overly grossed out by hotels. I never trust the sheets have been changed and highly doubt the toilets have been scrubbed to my standards.

9. I am currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and can say, without a doubt, it has changed my life dramatically! Never thought of myself as a 'Self-Help' kinda girl but I highly recommend it to everyone! (*It's a light-hearted book about how to become an even happier you.)

10. Charity Shop's are my newest obsession. There are 5 in my village and soon, my apartment will be the 6th! I kid you not, my house is cluttered with the most random charity shop finds.. most of which I just buy to paint with Websters. :)

11. I have a dog-like kitty called Velcro. I rescued him from the Cats Protection League where he was named Velcro for his unnatural clinginess. When he's not latched on to my neck, he likes to plays fetch and have his belly rubbed.

12. I love, love, LOVE candles! There is at least 1 candle on every surface in my apartment. You would think by now that I am used to them and wouldn't think my house is burning down for split second every time I catch one in the corner of my eye.

13. I'm always cold and never dress warm enough. This drives my boyfriend CRAZY!

14. In my final year of getting my Business Marketing degree at Auburn University, I turned down every offer of a social media job. I refused to sit behind a desk all day staring at a computer building virtual relationships.. funny how things work, hey?

15. Put lightly, I do not enjoy cinemas. The cushioned seats are (probably) never cleaned, you have to share an armrest (get your own armrest!), people get really annoyed when you put your feet up (c'mon I'm just trying to get comfy), there's never a good time during the movie to take a restroom break and they won't pause the movie for you, there is ALWAYS someone talking/ laughing at inappropriate times, can't you read it's says 'TURN YOUR PHONE OFF', I  get super uncomfortable if there are any PG-13 scenes, it get's unnecessarily cold about 45 min. into the movie (probably to keep from sweating into the cushioned seats)..  If I was ever asked out on a date, I always said "Dinner, NO movie!"

16. I am obsessed with my view out my kitchen window. There is nothing like the coast and country life of Topsham, Devon!

17. Which brings me to my next fact: I am a glutton, or nicely put, a 'foodie'. I love food and I'm always hungry. I'll eat anything and I'll eat all of it! (Except paté and black pudding, that just freaks me out!) My absolute 2 favourite foods are Pho and Wagamama's Prawn Itame.

18. I'm a super-scaredy cat. I am afraid of almost everything scary including, but not limited to: deep waters, heights, the dark, scary movies, etc. I haven't watched a scary movie since I was 13 years old and saw 'The Ring'.. I was scarred for life. 

19. I am a magpie. I love anything that sparkles! I live by the quote, "She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten."

20. I try not to watch or read the news. It's not because I don't care or don't want to know what's happening around the world, it has just become so depressing that I find 'ignorance is bliss'. My mother's famous words, "Have you read the news this morning (sad face, teary eyes)" NO, WOMAN! PLEASE, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!



So, there we have it! 20 of the most strange and random facts about me! This was actually a lot of fun and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Now that I have been given that extra push to blog, this will be the first of (hopefully) many blogs to come! Need some inspiration and insight as to why blogging for your business is so important? Read this!

Here's the best part, I now nominate Chris of Eco Chic Interiors, MJ of The Purple Finch, and Kara of Courtyard Creations! Good luck and enjoy!!!

Love,
Devon