New Horizons and The Backstory
Change is afoot my friends!
For the past few months, I’ve been pondering life, the universe and my business…
You may have noticed some changes around here… My website is now reflecting some new offerings for web design and marketing services and I’m feeling both energised and excited about new possibilities.
Let me answer some of your anticipated questions, as well as give you some insight into these changes.
‘What’s the backstory?’
When I look back over my life, I realise that I’ve been at my happiest when I’ve helped, collaborated, and shared my gifts and talents with others.
Over the years, I’ve worked in various places. My first job was as a Saturday girl at a trendy cafe in Leeds at the tender age of 16. I was shy and awkward but this job soon had me chatting away with customers, operating the till, working with staff and really prompting me to face my shyness head-on and to just forge ahead anyway.
In my early 20’s, I traveled abroad to the USA. There I stayed with a family and their two children for nearly a year as an au pair. Again, I pushed myself to adapt to not only a new country and culture but also a new way of life.
I’ve also worked extensively within a corporate setting both here, in the UK, and in the USA. Over the years this has included working at stockbrokers, a solicitors office, a pharmaceutical company, and a law firm in the USA, and then to totally change things up, I trained to be a beauty therapist. I wanted to learn more, so I went further and became qualified as a reflexologist and aromatherapy practitioner. All of this training and study culminated in the purchasing of an existing business and becoming a salon owner and employer.
In my salon days, the early 2000s, I recall clearly relishing in designing a basic website as well as designing and producing all of my promotional and branding materials like my brochure, business cards, logo as well as events and special offers, etc. I loved this part of being a business owner and poured many creative hours into this.
After getting married and with our young boys starting school, I began exploring and expressing my creativity through painting. I went on to exhibit my art, obtained some licensing deals, sold my art worldwide, taught workshops, and created eight online art classes.
Throughout it all, I’ve designed and created my own websites. I’ve used Blogger, Typepad, Weebly, WordPress (don’t remind me about those plugins!!!) and so many other platforms and systems you wouldn’t believe.
Finally, two years ago I’d had enough of tech hassle and I made the decision to switch to Squarespace, and I’m happy to report that I haven’t looked back. I love the clean designs, the flexibility of the platform, and the professional touches that are apparent throughout.
Over the summer, an idea began to form that I could help other women using my vast and varied experience with what I’d learned personally, together with my years as a female entrepreneur.
So, to wrap things up, I’m tremendously excited to explore other avenues.
‘So Jane, what’s the heart behind your new offerings?’
I’m passionate about helping women to thoughtfully express their business with clarity, vision, and ease using my website design, brand strategy, and coaching/mentoring services.
Collaborating with women and helping to shepherd the seed of an idea or passion to reality, fills me with joy and excitement.
‘No more art?’
As I’ve mentioned above, I’ll still be painting but in my own time. I’m looking forward to embracing ‘creating’ with web design but also employing the other side of my brain that loves strategy.
‘Are you still offering online art classes?’
NO! My online classes have now ceased.
Lastly, I look forward to working with lots of lovely clients whilst creating affordable but stunning websites and helping you with your brand and marketing needs.
Want to work together?
Here’s my Portfolio with recent client work.
