You’ve probably noticed that the posts have been a little sparse over the last couple of weeks. While it’s true that I’ve been crazy busy with a bunch of new and very exciting projects (more on that soon, I swear), there’s another reason that I haven’t been getting as much blog time in as I like. We’re going to …
Hale-frickin-luja! It has been more than a DECADE since I last took a real vacation. Sure, I’ve been on a number of extended long weekends down to Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and of course a few extended stays out East. Those are not vacations. Those are ‘holidays’. There’s a difference. Holidays are often too short, involve obligations, tight schedules, and for entrepreneurs, they usually mean taking your work with you. Not this time!! This is a legit vay-cay-shawn. I literally have no plans for this trip. Colin and I have flights booked to and from Bangkok and that’s it.
The relative radio silence has been due to the fact that I am trying to get all of my projects ahead of the game so that month without contact will be relatively uneventful. That has meant long hours and no fun time. Of course it’s all completely worth it since I’m about to have a whole month off! That’s right. A month. Let me tell you, I need it.
I moved to Vancouver BC nearly two years ago (really?!) and started up a design business on my own with very few connections in the City. I was burned out from a personal life that had basically imploded and three years of getting a business off the ground in Victoria but I pushed myself and now, from the other side of it all, there’s a pretty nice view. Not to get too touchy feely on you all but life has a funny way of teaching us lessons and I learned a whole lot of them! I have to admit that it’s scary to take my proverbial eyes off of MãK but I need some time for myself. Even when I booked the tickets for this trip, nearly three months ago, I didn’t feel that I ‘should’ take a vacation. Insanity!! I should and I MUST! Everyone deserves time off and I plan to come back completely refreshed and full of new inspiration.
While I’m away I have a fantastic line up of guest posters visiting the blog. I’m so excited about all of these amazingly talented people giving their two cents on the MãK Blog. I’ll also be sharing some posts from the vault and hope to find an opportunity to write about Thailand while I’m there. Even if the interweb Gods don’t provide, you can be sure that I’ll be stock piling posts for when I get back to the land of (relatively) constant wifi. Prepare to be entertained! Here’s who’s coming to breakfast:
Ivan Meade, Principal of Meade Design Group
Ivan is one of those people who makes you feel like you can do anything in the world … because he makes it look so darn easy! This gent runs one of Victoria’s most successful Interior, Graphic, and Event Design studios, and writes an internationally renowned blog. All those things are clearly no big deal (pfff!) but on top of that he’s a regular contributor to SNAP and Y.A.M Magazine, he’s involved with many charity events and he was my single largest supporter the last three times that I’ve done the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Like I said; no big deal*. (*For clarity; that is some thick sarcasm)
Katherine Webb, Designer & Art Director
Another super star in my books, Katherine is a full time and very talented Designer, runs a fantastic blog focusing on illustration (The Office of Nature), raises one of the cutest young men on earth with her husband Matt and does her own illustration projects too. Really? Can you all just stop it? Katherine also happens to be on my exclusive list of Best Friends for Life. We met in high school, I was the Maid of Honour at her wedding and although she lives in Toronto, we still manage to see each other once a year, with few exceptions.
Leigh Blackburn & Rachel Clarida, RIDs & Principals of Hatch Interiors
These two lovely ladies are taking the Okanagan Commercial Interior Design scene by storm. I met Leigh a few years back via an email connection and we quickly bonded over our mutual lives of design entrepreneurship. She partnered up with fellow Registered Interior Designer, Rachel, and what a match it was! They took home an IDIBC Award at this year’s Gala of Excellence (congrats to them!) and their team and office continue to grow. If I need a tip of where to find a tough-to-source finish, these two are who I turn to and vice versa. Love having colleagues like these two!
Mitchell Fawcett, Founder & Agency Director of Motive Communications
When I met Mitchell I was introduced to a whole new world in Vancouver; the Style People. Now, you may think that I’m a stylish person (thank you, I do consider myself as such) but ‘stylish people’ and Style People are two very different things. When you eat a burger you’re full-ish, when you eat a dozen you’re FULL. It’a a whole other level. Mitchell works with some of the City’s foremost fashion experts as well as many of the top hotels in and around Vancouver, helping them to tell their stories and connect with their target audience. He also makes a mean vanilla bean gelato with olive oil … try it!
Kimberly Maitland, Owner of The Craft Design Studio
Kim and I grew up just around the corner from each other, were in Girl Guides together and our mom’s even ran a car pool for us and our siblings on school days. We reconnected when I moved to Vancouver, where she’s been living, breathing and studying art and graphic design for years. The Craft is her graphic & web design company where she focuses her many talents on the food industry. This lady is still just as much a dreamer as when we were young, which is my favourite thing about her. She is bursting with creative ideas and when we get together for lunch or drinks there’s no stoping this freight train of thought!