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Girl Bosses of Great Britain

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A thousand miles may stand between designer sister duo Lizbeth and Gianella Cevallos, but it certainly hasn’t stopped them from taking over the fashion world with their sustainable denim brand, Glim Studios.

“Glim Studios is all about celebrating style, creativity and personalisation,” Lizbeth and Gianella say. “We saw an opportunity to reinvent denim as a sustainable and ethical brand.”

Glim Studios offers high-quality denim garments, made from sustainably and ethically-sourced materials in small, locally-produced quantities. It is a denim brand with heart and one that stands firmly against the consumerism of the fashion industry.

In this interview, we sit down with Lizbeth and Gianella and talk all things fashion, the best and worst things about starting a business with your sister, and how Glim Studios is changing the fast-fashion tide, one impeccably made denim garment at time.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start Glim Studios?

Lizbeth and Gianella: We were born and raised in Ecuador and grew up inspired in all the pop culture from the 90’s and the last of the 80’s, including art, architecture and music from the era.

Lizbeth is a Fashion designer, and Gianella is an Industrial engineer. We both love to travel and explore new cultures and moved oversees to live our dreams. Lizbeth lives in Madrid, Spain. Gianella lives in Miami, US.

Lizbeth: I went to study Fashion Design in Barcelona, and then moved to Madrid to work and study. I did an MBA in Fashion Management, and then a Master’s in digital business and Innovative Technology.

Gianella: I graduated as an Industrial Engineer in Ecuador and then moved to California to study an Applications Programming (Computer Science), and Design Communication Arts, then a Master’s in international business in Florida.

Even though we live in opposite sides of the world. We share the same values and found common ground by sharing the dream of creating a brand that reflects both, and their beliefs, founding Glim Studios in 2019.

2. What is the best and worst thing about working together as sisters? Why did you decide to focus on denim?

There isn’t a worst thing about working together because we really enjoy working together as sisters and business partners. It’s an exciting adventure for both us, a true discovery.

We know each other well enough to recognise our strengths and weaknesses in order to support each other. We may disagree, but then find a way to see each other’s perspectives. Most of the time we ended up combining our ideas. From the business point of view, we try to use every advantage to make things work in the best way possible.

We live in different countries, with different time zones and thousands of miles between us. This poses many challenges, but the passion and the dream we share for Glim Studios helps us overcome them.

We decided to focus on denim because we love denim. We saw an opportunity to reinvent denim as a sustainable and ethical brand. We decided to work very close with our partners to develop denim garments with the lowest impact on the production cycle and find ways to recycle the leftovers materials by only making limited quantities of each style. This is the quality of clothing we like to wear, and we want to share it with others.

We went one step forward by bringing the opportunity to customise our customer’s denim items using patches and pins from our ‘Customisation Bar.’ This makes every item more special and unique. At Glim Studios, we celebrate style, creativity and personalisation.

3. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as businesswomen so far?

The global pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced as businesswomen. We’d never imagined that almost four months after we officially launched Glim Studios in November 2019, that we would be facing a global pandemic which has been lifechanging for everyone. The first three years of any fashion label are crucial and so we approached the situation in the best way we could, reinventing and adapting to changes we were facing with our community and our customers.

It was hard, but we have managed to keep learning from every little thing that was and is still happening around us. We are very lucky that we are a small business that can make changes fast and reinvent easily.

4. What difficulties do you face as a sustainable and ethical fashion brand?

As a sustainable and ethical fashion brand we believe fashion can be a force for good, and a vehicle for change. Nonetheless, on this path we have faced many difficulties on every level such as:

Finding the right partners. It has been a real challenge to find responsible businesses. Not just any person, or company, but certified businesses that support sustainable and ethical production with transparency. At the same time, partners that can provide us flexibility to order limited quantities.

Some of our styles come in very limited stock because we need to satisfy our suppliers, and at the same time, we try to maintain our sustainable ethos because we know that’s the best way.

Another difficulty has been to inform and reach our customers to explain why our garments have the value they have. We make high quality items, focused on detail, and responsibly-sourced materials, which turns our operations into more costly processes.

And finally, our surplus (items from past collections, and material from past collections), have always been in a part of our plans. So, we try to minimize them from production and reuse them in future collections. This part of a planning process and this takes time.

The contradiction is that we produce for consumption even when we do produce limited quantities. We recognise how this inherently contradicts the current fashion industry which thrives from newness and consumption. So, we are committed to making better choices every day across the business. Every small action matters.

On this front, we decided to work with small factories, most of them family-owned, where we are able to watch each piece be made. We have seen and met the workers who are hardworking people that create each piece of clothing for Glim Studios.

5. “Glim Studios is all about style, creativity and personalisation.” Tell us more about this ethos and what sets Glim Studios apart from other brands in the market today?

When we refer to Glim Studios ethos, we wanted it to represent young people at heart. We want to celebrate style, creativity and personalisation because we believe everyone is different and that make this life so wonderful. We believe that what sets Glim Studios apart from other brands today is that we don’t categorise ourselves and we welcome everyone, every individual.

We celebrate being different, being unique, we celebrate style and with it comes creativity and personalisation.

We create unisex pieces where our customer decides how they will wear each item. We produce limited quantities which means every style is unique in their own way. Beyond that, we also have our ‘customization bar’ where you have the opportunity to customise your pieces by adding patches and pins with freedom because we want to empower uniqueness and authenticity.

6. What’s next for you? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline?

That a good question! For sure, we will keep working hard and dreaming big with Glim Studios. We are very focused on the things we want to achieve and explore with the brand, for us there’s no limit so we are 100% excited for what’s to come. We have been working non-stop in a few projects all related to the brand that will come to light later this year.

7. What advice do you have for women who would like to become successful entrepreneurs like yourselves?

The best advice we could give any women out there fighting for their dreams is the same we received from our parents from the very beginning: Work hard, be consistent and believe in yourself and your dreams with all your heart and never take anything for granted. It may take a while to see the results you always dreamed of, just remember ‘the day you plant the seed it’s not the day you eat the fruit’, be patient and keep working hard.

Savannah Roqaa is the founder of The Savvy Baker, a business created during the first UK lockdown which has gone on to be an internet sensation.

She set up her baking business from her small apartment kitchen in Roundhay as something fun to do during the first lockdown. Within a few months, she now has a successful online business, six full-time staff working around the clock to keep up the demand and celebrity clients. Every week she drops new bakes and they sell out, usually within a matter of minutes.

Social media has played a huge role in the success of this brand but Savannah’s positive outlook and hard working attitude means that this success was no accident. We spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launch The Savvy Baker…

In May 2020, we were just starting off in our first national lockdown. Trying to find things to do being bored at home on my own. I painted, made tiktoks, built things and made banana bread like everyone else. I liked making the banana bread so I made a few more things, baklava, brownies ect. I put them in a takeaway box and took boxes to my friends houses and left them on their doorsteps as care packages! They shared it to their story and next thing you know, more and more people are asking me saying they will pay ect! I started off just with a few friends and it just grew massively. From 30/40 boxes a day in the beginning to over 500 boxes a week now!

Do you think you would have started this business if it wasn’t for lockdown?

Absolutely not. I wouldn’t have baked, I was a makeup artist and a nanny and was pretty happy nannying, although I was loosing my passsion for makeup after doing it for so many years. In my yearly goals I had written that I wanted to start a business- but I didn’t know what. I had written.: clothing brand? Makeup line? Ect. I had no idea but I just knew I wanted to do something else.

What has been the biggest learning curve since launching the business?

I can’t do everything alone! Definitely that the right people behind you can help grow. In the beginning I was protective over everything and wanted to do it all myself. Now I have set people to do things which takes a huge weight off my shoulders so I can focus on what I’m good at.

Prior to this you were a nanny and makeup arrtist. You have a lot of skills, what is the one thing you do that makes you feel the most alive?

My favourite hobby is karaoke (lol) I can’t see us being able to do it for a while! But honestly I love it!

Do you have any plans to expand the Savvy Baker range?

The range will grow eventually I think! Maybe into Vegan as I know there’s a huge market for it. But for now, the demand is already so high, I’m sticking to what I know!

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do different?

Absolutely not. The whole journey has been amazing and I think if anything had worked different (even the set backs) it could of had a very different outcome. I’m happy and grateful for everything. At times it’s been so hard, super tough and have about 3 breakdowns a week but I wouldn’t change it.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

I wake up about 7.30am breakfast & shower. I drive to the house where I nanny for the kids and homeschool them for a few hours. 12pm I go to the kitchen and start baking for the next day. The packers will be in making up all the boxes from which I baked the night before, I’ll set up some of the guys in the kitchen then shoot off and run any errands (getting extra supplies, chocolates ect) get back to the kitchen, carry on baking, order a takeaway about 7pm, clean up around 11pm (if we’re lucky) and go home, dive straight into bed and up again the next morning to do the same again.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Social media is the main reason my brand has become so successful. People underestimate how much it can change your life. My following grew so rapidly. It slowed down and then I went from 17k to 26k in the matter of a week. Sales sky rocketed and the brand has never been better.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I am becoming the woman of my dreams.

What’s next for the business?

Growth! Loads of colabs, pop ups, competitions, exciting new things coming!!

What advice would you offer to someone launching a business during the pandemic?

Know your audience. The world is so different right now and you need to understand that peoples wants and needs are very different to normal life. People want happiness in a little square of brownie. They want their daily walk to clear their head and something new. If you had a business idea in 2019 that you know would have taken off, rethink your concept we it could be completely different now because of how our minds work. Use it to your advantage and go full steam ahead while you have the time.

What does self care mean to you?

For me, self care is when I sit down and think about everything I’m grateful for. I think about everything I want to manifest into my life and it brings me peace and I get excited. I work really hard so taking 2 days off a week is really important to me, just to spend time with people I love and I almost remove myself from my business brain for a day, bring myself back down and just enjoy the moment I’m in.

Where can people find out more?

Instagram: thesavvybaker_ is where you’ll find all the info, videos, fun stuff we get up to.

Thesavvybaker.co.uk to order (restocked Saturdays at 10am).

Emily Beckloff is the Founder & Chief Elf at International Elf Service, a brand that is passionate about creating a small window of make-believe time, which young children are able to believe in. Formed in 2010 when Emily used to write Elf notes to her children, the company has gone on to spread copious amounts of joy and magic ever since.

The international Elf Service is the kind of positivity we all need in our lives right now and so we spent some time with Emily to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that led you to launching the International Elf Service…

I first started writing the International Elf Service letters when our eldest child was 3, back in 2009. In 2014, after enjoying the letters as a family ourselves, I launched International Elf Service online for other families and children – anyone really aged 3 to 99! – to enjoy. I love seeing so many families enjoy our Christmas Elf Letters year on year and seeing the children’s’ names on their personalised letters each year, brings a smile to my face every time. It’s a real honour to be a part of their growing-up.

I was curled up in front of our fire reading ‘Letters from Father Christmas’ by JR Tolkein, where he wrote notes to his children from the North Pole. I suddenly thought … I could leave our two very young children a note each day from the North Pole in their wooden Advent House. It would be such a lovely, experience-rich and chocolate-free Advent Calendar idea. They were teeny tiny notes at first: things like, ‘Father Christmas lost one of the buttons off his jacket! He ate nine helpings of Cherry Pie, and it pinged off and flew somewhere behind the Giant Lollipops in the Elves’ Workshop!’.

Then as the children grew, the letters got more substantial … until they turned into one long Christmas story with a new ‘bit’ being published each day, just like the pages of a book. And there, International Elf Service was born!

I grew up in the countryside, and would spend all my time submerged in books, crafts, music and nature. I’ve always been so Christmas-mad that I drove my parents potty! I constantly wanted to be making or doing something ‘Christmassy’, and I wanted more than anything, to know what life up in the North Pole was really like! I’ve never really warmed to the big brother concept that ‘Father Christmas and the Elves are watching you’, because to me Christmas magic is for everyone, no matter what. It isn’t related to behaviour in any way, and it’s there to be enjoyed and experienced by all. I’ve always been an avid reader, devouring piles and piles of books as a child – often reading several at once! I loved being inside the different worlds and the riches that reading can give. I’ve always wanted to pass that love on to others, and write stories that children really want to read and immerse themselves in.

You’re passionate about Children’s’ wellbeing, why is this important to you?

Children’s mental health and them having a sense of wellbeing and ‘belonging’ is so important and something I am deeply passionate about. Sometimes children find their ‘big’ feelings can be a little difficult to understand or manage, which in turn can affect their relationships with others. This is where we hope our magical personalised Fairy letters and Tooth Fairy letters can help. I’m a firm believer in talking things through as a really helpful way to process thoughts. Talking with and listening to our children does all sorts of wonderful things. It improves our bond with them, which ultimately helps them to form relationships and to build self-esteem. Our Fairy & Tooth Fairy personalised letters are designed to support children’s emotional health & development, and to make brilliant conversation starters between parent and child. We have a range of letters addressing a variety of normal childhood worries and feelings, where our Fairies do their best to help reassure and teach children a little bit about them. Big messages in little letters.

As a mother of three, how do you juggle being present for the children and also building a brand?

Having three school-aged children, I’ve found I need to be very organised with my time, both for work and family time. I’m so lucky to be able to work from home, which means I get more time with my children than I would otherwise. I make sure I protect the blocks of time before and after school to spend time with them, and we all eat together as a family too … which I think is so important to do if you can. This is the one part of the day we’re 100% focused on the kids and they love it. It’s such a precious time, which I’ll miss so much when they’ve grown up and left home.

I start work in the morning as soon as our children have gone to school. I go for a run three mornings a week and then I answer emails and do any urgent ‘task based’ jobs first. Once I’m on top of things for the day, I put my creative hat on and get creating!

I’m always frantically finishing off emails as I walk up to collect my youngest from school. I also work every evening, often until 1am on the run up to Christmas … replying to customers, sorting out orders and making sure I have enough materials and stock. It’s very busy!

Christmas is most likely your busiest time, how do keep the business flowing throughout the rest of the year?

It’s Christmas all year-round at International Elf Service! We make personalised Birthday, Fairy & Tooth Fairy letters all year round, but I start writing the new Christmas letters each year from January to March, working closely with my fabulous Editor who lives in Italy. Then my amazing illustrator, who lives in France, works away at creating the bespoke designs and illustrations for each individual letter – so each one is different every year. We then ‘tweak and perfect’ and then the boring tech-side kicks in; stitching everything together and putting it all into the backend of the website, ready to have the children’s individual names added to every personalised letter and envelope. We make fun and magical new videos and take new photos each year – one featuring our adorable, obliging and much-loved Christmas mouse! Then it’s time to source our recyclable, eco-friendly materials, wood spirals and twines, making sure we have enough materials for the orders. The orders usually start coming in from around June/July when the new annual Edition becomes available. Then it ramps up to dizzying heights in November ready for International Elf Service Elfie’s Christmas Advent Letters Ultimate Story Bundle Advent Calendar to make it into people’s houses on time for the first letter to arrive on 1st December!

Do you plan on expanding the brand in the future, if so, how?

International Elf Service is all about taking children on unforgettable, magical literary journeys to both the North Pole and Fairyland – all through handcrafted, personalised letters. We offer a range of magical letters for all children including giggle-inducing Birthday letters; themed fairy letters covering a range of big feelings or experiences that help support children’s emotional wellbeing and development; and enchanting letter bundles from the Tooth Fairy. We’ve already launched our new International Elf Service Personalised Christmas Memory Box Tradition and International Elf Service Personalised Baby’s First Christmas Memory Box Tradition boxes. They enable you to preserve 20 years of special Christmas Day family memories, by recording key events on 20 beautiful personalised pages.

We have a lot more to come too – our Elves and Fairies are very busy right now!

We have some very exciting 2021 plans, but unfortunately Mother Christmas made Elfie, Father Christmas, me and the team swallow a bright-yellow-fizzy-not-giving-secrets-away-drop (so delicious I wanted another!)

But I can tell you that our product range is expanding (much like Father Christmas’ waistline during lockdown!) and we have some really exciting new literary options coming for older children and newborns.

We are constantly evolving our products and listening to our consumers, asking our Elves and Fairies what they think too! We’ve had huge demand for more family keepsake traditions, which is why last year we launched our Personalised Christmas Memory Box Tradition and Personalised Baby’s First Christmas Memory Box Tradition boxes for families.

There’s so much more to come and all designed to encourage children’s literacy and support their overall wellbeing and development through reading. Mother Christmas also suggested that lots of elderly people (much like herself) also love to read the news from the North Pole. So, we are working closely with her to help spread Christmas magic and cheer … not just to our younger audience, but to everyone who loves to transport themselves to magical worlds and immerse themselves in the magic of literary journeys.

Looking back since launching, is there anything you would do differently?

Starting your own business is both exciting and utterly terrifying. In hindsight, after the enormous interest shown and the natural growth of the business, I would have scaled faster. I would also have totally ignored any signs of Imposter Syndrome (the feeling that you’re totally inadequate compared to everyone else) and just got on with it. It really is the most unhelpful feeling and doesn’t actually change anything, except make a nuisance of itself and make you more cautious.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

I really love travelling and have been lucky enough to go to all sorts of places, including the Ice Hotel in Swedish Lapland, which is north of the Arctic Circle (mind blowing), Egypt, Peru, Ecuador, The Galapagos, Africa, Asia … but I’d really love to go to Northern Greenland. It looks and sounds so incredible and there’s something so very special about being in the arctic – the air, the light and the sheer enormity and beauty of all that nature around you. It’s an indescribable feeling.

For any aspiring entrepreneurs, what advice would you offer?

Be passionate about your business and be you. You are your brand, and no-one can be you as well as you can. Keep moving forward, taking one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice and feedback. If there’s a problem, there will be always be a solution … it’s just a case of finding it.

What has been your proudest moment since launching the brand?

My proudest moment came the first year I launched. A mum wrote to me to tell me that her eldest daughter (who has autism) never really engaged with her siblings, but since receiving Elfie’s Christmas Advent Calendar Letters, she’d been reading them out to her siblings each day through December and it was really helping them to connect. I hadn’t anticipated that my letters could have such a positive impact on family life in this way and I found it incredibly heartwarming.

When lacking motivation, what quote do you like to read?

It Always Seems Impossible Until It’s Done – by Nelson Mandela.

This quote is so, so true! Just keep at it and suddenly everything will slot into place and you’ll feel really happy with what you’ve done.

Where can people find out more?

Grab a hot chocolate, get cosy and join us at https://internationalelfservice.com/ (or @internationalelfservice on insta) to escape with us into a world of magic, adventure and the perfect literary gift for any occasion!

Photos by Petra Gatek @petras_gatto

It’s tough to stay creative, be creative and spark new creativity at the best of times and, erm, well…we don’t need to say any more.

We are always looking for inspiration and today we are getting it in buckets from Hannah Turlington, Printmaker, Designer, Teacher and Creative. Grab a cuppa and get ready to spark your creativity.

HOC: Hello, Hannah. What first attracted you to lino printing?

Hannah: Before I answer this I think that I have got to let anyone know who is thinking about starting to lino print that it becomes an obsession once you start as the projects and the possibilities are endless!

I first did lino printing when I was doing my GCSE and A-Level in art and did a project using the relief printing method of lino. At that time I worked more in coloured pencil and spent a lot of my time shading in shapes. I wanted to go to art college and study surface pattern and textile design but at that time it was discouraged. However my creativity didn’t go away and by this time I had become a teacher but something was missing … Whilst working full time, I went to college in the evenings and took printmaking courses and did a BTEC in art and design crafts. I did a big project on Mother Shipton’s Cave in North Yorkshire using the medium of lino printing but this actually isn’t where my obsession began.

About 6/7 years ago my sister bought me a lino printing starter kit for Christmas and it sat in the cupboard until one weekend in May. I had heard there was going to be a fair in the village and you could get a table and have a stall so I went to the person who was organising it and said I wanted a table. She asked me what I was going to do … I honestly said ‘I am not sure yet…leave it with me and I will think of something!’ This was honestly was the start…I went home and started thinking and pulled out the kit from the cupboard and began.

I am not sure at what point I realised it had become and obsession but about 3 years ago my husband said that I had taken over the house and the only way to get it back was to build me a studio in the garden. So, he did but this was not without sacrifice on his part as he had to sell his VW T4 Campervan to do so…I hope to make enough money to buy him one back.

HOC: What a story! How have you kept your creativity up during these testing times?

Hannah: It is going to sound like a cliché but when you live in rural North Yorkshire creativity is all around and getting outside has proven to be one of the greatest medicines and sources of inspiration through these tricky times. I think that I look for the stories that every object tells us and my work tells stories.

I describe myself as: ‘I am a storyteller and I use my work to tell those stories. Sometimes they belong to me, sometimes they belong to others but usually they belong to all of us’.

Hannah Turlington

I have taken to journalling during this time and I’m not saying this has had a massive impact on my creativity but it has given me a focus in the morning and a way of clearing the chatter so I can get on with the day. When I create my work each piece can take a long period of time – especially when you are working with A2 sized pieces of lino – this (journalling) time gives you the space to focus and to dream whilst working.

Having constant projects such as Print Club, my calendar, commission pieces and putting together creativity packs for my online shop have all enabled me to keep up my creativity. I think joining in with online projects and taking online training all help as well. Crucially, it is about not forcing it and sometimes just going with something that is completely different such as hand painting cork notice boards…a bit random but I loved doing it.

HOC: We love how you encourage creativity in others through your workshop and print clubs – What plans do you have for 2021?

Hannah: The thing that I have missed during 2020 was the constant flow of workshops that I run. I did run them in between guidelines changing but I still missed connecting with people and their creativity. This year I will be putting out my program of creative printing workshops as soon as possible but in the meantime I have my ‘Learning to Love Lino Printing’ creativity packs, which I will be expanding. I plan to deliver some live workshops in the spring where you can receive the resources for the workshop then you join me online for the session. (head here to find out more)

I am also planning for mini books for children to help them learning about nature; such as beekeeping, (we do have bees in our garden…fingers crossed for a bumper year of honey), insect identification etc. I have an idea for a printing/creativity zine connecting like minded creatives …the list is honestly endless! I am constantly working on ways to connect with others in new ways as things have changed and we can’t get away from that at all.

For me printmaking and creativity feeds my soul and without it I am empty.

Hannah Turlington

Phillippa is the founder of Angel Rocks, a brand that she launched after clocking up more air miles that our entire team combined. With travel as one of her passions and inspirations, it’s her love of music and an effortless Rock n Roll vibe, paired with uber-luxurious attention to detail that resonates through everything she creates.

Phillippa could be accused of having a heart of gold, thoughtful and kind as well as a seriously talented designer, her brand is one that needs to be on everyones lips. Here, we spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that led you to launching your brand Angel Rocks…

I was a fashion buyer for many years and enjoyed travelling all over the world buying from brands, developing products and sourcing materials. I would return home from buying trips dreaming of one day designing my own brand, making unique accessories with lux attention to detail.

In 2016 I left London and went to live in Bali. This is where my dream of designing and creating Angel Rocks began. I worked with the most amazing artisans hand making stunning bags, accessories and jewellery. I learnt about bespoke craftsmanship and set up a small team of ladies who still hand make many of the styles I sell today.

The inspiration for the Angel Rocks collections comes from my love of music, travelling and above all, island life. Places close to my heart are Bali and Ibiza, with their laidback vibe and eclectic mix of free spirit, which resonate through my designs.

You spent 20 years as a buyer so it’s no shock that you would one day launch your own brand. Was there a pivotal moment where you decided to finally take the leap?

After being in Bali for 6 months and having worked on the product, materials and supply chain etc. and then also creating the photoshoot, look book, logo, artwork and website, it wasn’t until it all came together that I saw my vision translate into the brands personality.

But I’d say it was when I saw the final styles, with the stunning handmade attention to detail I just thought … wow! I fell in love with the product, and it gave me the confidence that if I loved it this much, there must be customers out there who would appreciate it too. I then couldn’t wait to come back to London and launch the brand!

When did you first discover your passion for jewellery?:

For as long as I can remember! My Grandma always wore her string of pearls and had matching handbags and shoes that she kept beautifully in her wardrobe. I always marvelled at them when I went to visit.

When I was about ten years old my father bought me a stone polishing machine and I polished and collected gemstones as a hobby. I was a little magpie for anything shiny! (I still have that machine in my workshop today, to remind me of my early passion and where it’s led me – it’s my nostalgic motivation!). It feels good to finally be fulfilling my purpose.

How do you want women to feel when wearing your pieces?

Our Mantra of ‘Confident, Unique and Individual’ is embodied in each piece I design, and this empowering feeling hopefully translates to the customers.

How jewellery makes you feel is so important. Many of our pieces are bought with meaning and intention in mind. There is a positive and empowering vibe throughout the collections.

For example, each style from our Rock Star Collection comes with an affirmation card that reminds our customers that they are amazing, and to not forget that they are absolutely the rock star in their journey of life!

What makes you stand out from other jewellery brands?

As we only make small production runs, and often I make one-off pieces, it’s our uniqueness and individuality that stands out.

The perfect blend of intention and inspiration goes into the creation of each piece, along with attention to detail, beautiful boxes, bows and an individual affirmation card of an items meaning, together with a handwritten note with every order.

We often get lovely feedback from our customers saying they can feel the love and attention that has gone into each piece. Our Mindful bands come with little cards with a message for the wearer. We pass this onto our customers and hope they love them as much as we have loved making them.

If you were to describe your brand in three words, what would they be?

‘Confident, Unique and Individual’ … we are all about walking your own path and creating your own style.

What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur?

“Love what you do” … always keep that passion alive, remain curious, creative and energised about what you do … that energy will shine through …and your vibe will attract your tribe!

How would you describe your personal style?

Addicted to black, black and more black … with a Boho and Rock Chick edge!

Talk us through an average day in your life…

Every day is different thankfully, as I tire quite quickly of routine, so I usually juggle a hundred different things … keeping me on my toes!

Designing jewellery and wrapping beautiful gifts is my thing – I often melt and hand stamp wax seals on the envelopes of our handwritten cards. I can get blissfully lost in this process.

However, running my own business means I have to wear many hats and they can be anything from social media, website, customer and retail enquiries, packing, posting and ordering everything from ribbon to gold. It’s certainly varied!

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

It’s been a great way to connect with customers, many of whom have become friends along the way. It feels like a small tribe of likeminded souls, and I value that forum greatly.

You’ve traveled extensively through America and Asia but where do you feel most at home and why?

I love Bali and always will, as its where Angel Rocks was born. However, more recently I have fallen in love with Ibiza, which is now my spiritual home. It’s the relaxed, fun, sunshiny lux hippy vibe of island life that sings to my soul.

I now split my time between Ibiza and the UK, as running my own business has given me the freedom to live by the sea.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

In my early twenties I took time off the career ladder and went round the world on a solo adventure! I ended up travelling to 23 countries and out of all the bright lights and wonderful scenes, my favourite place was a tiny atoll island near Rarotonga in the Cook Islands of Polynesia … called Aitutaki.

There were no cars and limited electricity, so I slept when it went dark and woke with the sound of the cockerels singing at dawn.

It was a tiny blue lagoon of paradise!

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I have two! One is written on my studio wall and the other in the front page of my journal.

Both give me goosebumps of excitement!:

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

What’s next for you and the brand?

For the Brand – I’m working on some beautiful new pieces for The Guardian collection. I have handpicked the finest crystal points, and these are being handmade into gorgeous ‘Goddess’ necklaces. A Spiritual Rock Star vibe.

Its more about slow, considered fashion and I want to bring in newness as investment pieces, rather than feel I need to change the whole range every season.

For Me – I’m passionate about coaching, mentoring and empowering others to create a life they love and fulfil their purpose. Perhaps this means walking a slightly different path to the one expected or recreating a whole new life strategy. Finding the right balance in work and life is key.

As such, I am spending my time as an Entrepreneur Coach and building my more personal brand ‘Life Rocks Coaching’ – Instagram: @_life.rocks_

What does self-care mean to you?

BALANCE – finding alignment, harmony and peace.

I am most creative when I’m immersed in the flow, but I can often veer into workaholic territory. So, I often remind myself it is about working hard, but also taking good care of myself and finding time to play.

Balance was the first Mindful bracelet Mantra I designed, and I wear it as my own daily reminder.

Where can people find out more?

Instagram: @angel.rocks.london

Website:www.AngelRocks.co.uk

Katie-Louise is the face behind Florence and Lavender, a brand that offers eclectic watercolour prints inspired by her rural life in Norfolk.

Katie-Louise started the business after an interest in her work began to grow and it was the natural next step to go all-in to take the brand to the next level. As a single parent, she has made her son a huge part of the business and she’s a self confessed crazy chicken lady.

Intrigued? So were we, went spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Florence and Lavender…

So I grew up in the countryside & love everything about rural life. I am most happiest in my welly boots and surrounded by animals! Being a single parent I wanted more of a life/work balance and working from home really worked for me. I decided to be bold and quite the day job I didn’t enjoy. Sometimes you just have to take the jump and begin building your own dreams! I started designing a handful of prints in late 2019 and things quickly took off! There soon become a demand for my work and it has rapidly grown throughout 2020.

Do you have plans to expand your product range in the future, if so, what will you add?

I am really keen to offer larger sized prints such as A3 and also some canvas’s! Textiles is something I am also looking to venture in to, providing country interiors for the quaint essential country home! Think pillows, fabrics, aga covers etc.

You live a lovely life in the country with your son, how did you find running the business during lockdown?

So it naturally has come with its challenges! Being a single parent definitely made it more challenging as I was trying to grow my business and home school at the same time! However the positives really outweighed the negatives and I look back on that time with fond memories. My son is a big part of my business and often helps me out, packing up orders or sticking the labels on ready to post! It was such an uncertain time to be in business but it made it more exciting and I work best under pressure!

Talk us through an average day in your life…

My day starts off like other mum’s being quite a rushed one! Ensuring my son has the endless necessities for school life we then get to school in a rather hasty manor. Then it is time to get stuck in to work. I love speaking with my customers and hearing their stories on why they chose one of my products. A lot of care and love goes in to each order. I spend my days packing up orders and also taking some time to work on new designs! It is then the daily trip to my local post office where I drop all the orders off. I try to find a spare half an hour to walk my dog over the fields before heading home and normally continue work once my son is in bed. Being out in the country side I am lucky to have on my door step is a great inspiration! Life is very busy at the moment but I love it!

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

I have really loved using Instagram as it enables me to directly engage with my customers. Trial their likes/dislikes and to show that I am a real human being behind the business. I run this by myself, I’m not a big corporate business with lots of assistants. I like to show people a bit behind the scenes, my day to day life and share my business story with the customers as well as showing exclusive first looks at new products!

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

‘’You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step’’ I think sometimes life and business can become a little overwhelming but I often make lists and cross each thing off as I go. Even if I achieve one small thing each day towards my business goals, I am striving ever closer day by day.

How has Covid19 impacted your business?

I feel very fortunate to be able to continue business as normal during these times. I have not been able to attend the local & national country shows like I had planned but hopefully in the coming months these shall reopen! It certainly is challenging times for all businesses but now more than ever I feel people want to stay connected. I offer a service to ship directly to loved ones on your behalf, so you can input their address during checkout and I will ship directly to them for you, even including a gift message for you. This has been especially great for those that are shielding. You can send them a little gift to brighten their day!

What’s your ten year goal?

Gosh! Big question, so I would love to grow the business more, increase the shops selling my art and build my brand further with the help of social media and working with magazines such as yourself.

What does self care mean to you?

Self care is really important, now more so than ever! It should never be deemed as being selfish which is something I have struggled with in the past. As a women & mum in business I have often put a lot of pressure on myself to be superwomen but reality is we can’t do it all! By going for that dog walk, taking that bubble bath or just simply taking 5 minutes to just stop and be present in the moment is so important. Being outside is so great for our soul and I love nothing more than heading to the beach for the day and completely de-stressing! A favourite spot of mine is North Norfolk where the coastlines are stunning and there is just so much space to de stress and take some time away from the digital world we can often become absorbed in! Life is so busy I really try my best to appreciate all that I have and be humble, these are challenging times and we need to be kind to ourselves.

Where can people find out more?

So you can find me on www.florenceandlavender.co.uk I am also on Instagram: florencenlavender

Kate Wolf helps help brilliantly sensitive women entrepreneurs to turn down the voice of What Other People Think and turn up the voice on the wise, wild voice of your intuition (your inner-GPS to Wild Success) so you can build a purpose-full, profitable business.

During her career in the world of theatre, Kate discovered that the most healing thing in the world was expressing yourself freely. Here at House of Coco we believe that life is best lived as your true, authentic self, so when we stumbled across Kate, we had to find out more…

Tell us the journey that led you to launching your coaching business, Kate Wolf…

For many years I walked a two-fold path. On the one hand I was immersed in the world of theatre – writing, directing, performing and teaching. I wrote three plays and brought them through to production. I taught the curriculum through dance, drama and music in schools all over London. I received 5stars in the Guardian for a play we brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (thanks Louis de Bernieres). I was the Artistic Director of a theatre company for children with special needs. And at the same time I was immersed in the world of healing – studying and training in all the weird and wonderful styles of alternative healing I could find – if it’s a bit weird, I’ve tried it I qualified as a yoga teacher with Yogaworks in 2012 and started working as a yoga teacher and energy healer, running my first retreat in Gascony, France and seeing private clients for a gorgeous mix of yoga and intuitive healing.

Probably unsurprisingly – I was tired. Really, really tired. I loved each piece of work I was doing but was scattering my energy and not earning much in return – and everything I was earning was going on new yoga gear, props for the theatre company or crystals that promised clarity and success

The wonderful thing about being so fully immersed in these two worlds simultaneously was that I had a unique perspective. I began to see, feel and experience that the most healing thing in the world was simply expressing yourself. It was so free-ing. And being received in that full self-expression – not judged, not defined, just received as we are- is the most healing thing in the world. I also noticed that all these wonderful healers that I was meeting were not skilled in the area of communicating the value of what they did.

So I decided to stop scattering my energies and instead bring them together into one business. Where communication and healing meet – and where healers get to learn to communicate! And so the Wild Voices work was born. And over time that grew and developed into StorySchool, which I now run for groups and also on private VIP days. I also created a course called Share the Magic Inside, which teaches multi-passionate people how to bring their gifts together into one course or offering that really serves their ideal client.

You write about the the cultural obsession with What Other People Think because you want to be free to create a life and business in alignment with my own inner values. Why is this important to you?

Over the past 6 years (it’s my business birthday on November 30th!) one of the biggest challenges I’ve both experienced myself and witnessed again and again in my clients is the fear of What Other People Think. It’s such a stumbling block to living the life we actually want – again and again I would hear amazing, wonderful people telling me of their dreams and desires and then following it up with some sort of concern about how that might be viewed by someone else. It dawned on me that we’re ALL doing this! And what if the problem isn’t the individual and some deep core wound that needs healing – what if the problem is the societal construct that says that perfection looks a certain way, that there’s a certain way to do things, that you don’t belong if you don’t fit in? I find that by naming it in this way, clients shift a lot faster – they realise that they have a choice as to how much emphasis they put on the imaginary opinions of other people. This is why I love group work and storytelling so much – when you hear another person sharing their humanity and their fears and perceived failings, you get to feel less alone. You get to feel ‘oh, it’s not just me. This is a human thing. This is a cultural thing. I’m not broken’ – and then you get to choose how you move forward in this world, seeing more clearly the reasons why it’s sometimes hard to share who you really are, and choosing each time to do it anyway.

Who’s your ideal client and how do you want them to feel after having sessions with you?

My ideal clients are highly sensitive people who know that there is bigger, deeper work for them to do at this time. I help them let go of the fear of WOPT so they can show up as the magical being they are and do their real work. What I hear from my clients is that I provide them with a space where they feel safe to say what they need to say, knowing that they won’t be judged or defined by it, and that makes them feel more courageous to go out in the world and show up as who they really are – and receive beautiful bountiful money for gifts that come naturally to them.

Looking back since you started running your own business, is there anything you would do differently?

If I had my time all over again, I would find a way to leave my younger self a note saying ‘just trust yourself’. I spent a lot of time looking outside of myself for the answers. And A LOT of time alone with my notebook. Turns out, those notebooks are full of gold! But I didn’t action the insights that came through at the time because I didn’t yet trust myself and I assumed there were people with more business understanding than me. The thing about business knowledge is that it’s only useful if it’s useful. There are a hundred and one ways to do things, and the only way that’s correct for you is the way that’s correct for you – and how can anyone else know that?!

Underneath everything I do is the premise that you know best. You know what you want. You know what will bring you joy and what will drain you. You know the right next action to take. All that’s needed is to trust yourself and give yourself permission to want what you want.

As it turns out, I have a fantastic instinct for business. I know what will work and what won’t. I feel it in my body. I see what’s possible for you, I feel what’s in the way and I hear your Purpose. Those aren’t just words – that’s exactly how I experience it. As a highly sensitive person those kind of clairvoyant, clairsentient and clairauditory abilities are right at the fore-front of my experience of life. In fact it took a while to realise that’s not how everyone experiences the world! (although I do believe that we all have those abilities).

So the one thing I would do is trust myself earlier. However – I really value all those years of frustration because they have taught me such patience and resilience, and they allow me to be with another in their frustration and doubt. So you know I’m not sure I would change it, because having lived it means I know the path and the pitfalls, and I know how to help another navigate it. And that’s truly valuable.

What has 2020 taught you about yourself?

2020 has taught me so much and I’ll be forever grateful. Obviously it’s been a hugely challenging and difficult year for so many and my heart hurts for that. But if I can separate that out (as we must be able to otherwise we could never be happy right?) personally it’s been a really strange but good year.

I caught the corona virus at the very beginning of lockdown and was very ill with it. I was on the sofa for 5 nights struggling to breathe, and then in bed for 5 weeks recovering. But something happens to you when you’re on your own and critically ill for so long. I had a moment where I quite literally couldn’t catch a breath and I thought, ‘OK, this might be it. If I go now, I’m really proud of my life. I’ve lived well. I’ve expressed who I really am’… I felt at peace.

And after coming through that critical moment I felt a renewed sense of freedom and commitment to live my Purpose in an even bigger way. Because I get to be here! So why would I not play full out?! And that intention is obviously rippling out because I’m receiving more invitations than ever to share my voice, be interviewed, share my wisdom with other people’s communities, etc.

And then having so many weeks with zero energy meant that health and vitality shot to the top of my values. And since then I’ve been making different decisions in my business – things that I might have tried to do all at once I’m now spacing out. Plans that I might have given a year I’m now giving three. Because feeling healthy and vital and joyful while I do it is now more important to me than ever.

2020 has also taught me how much I love being by myself. Yes I sometimes get stir crazy and there were a few moments when I was ill and alone when I felt very sorry for myself, but the highs have definitely outshone the lows. I’ve also been enjoying experimenting with how to create nourishing connections online. Because you can meet online and experience zero connection and nourishment, but then again that can happen in person too. And then you can meet online and feel really nourished and filled up with all the good stuff. So I’ve been paying even more attention to what makes the difference and how to make sure my clients feel nourished – and how they can offer that to their clients too. In fact one client just reached out to me asking for a one-to-one session to teach her how to hold circles online, so that may well turn into an offering down the line if more people are interested.

What does self care mean to you?

I believe that the greatest form of self-care is self-expression. Owning up to ourselves. Owning what we want. Embracing who we are. Sharing that with another. Knowing that nothing about who we are is wrong. A list of self-care actions to do each day is only self-caring if it feels good. Otherwise, throw that list away and start listening to your body and your heart.

You believe that the greatest self care is self expression. How do you stay true to this?

I say the scary thing. As soon as possible. I have the difficult conversation. I open the space to meet things front on, with love. It’s not always easy but I have found over the years that the fear and apprehension before is always the worst part! We’re very good – especially those of us who are wildly creative – at making up stories in our heads. And often the reality is far more boring So I highly recommend saying whatever it is you need to say out loud. And using that vivid imagination to craft wonderful stories that reveal who you really are and grow your purpose-led business.

The power of saying the scary thing is true for both personal and business life. One of the biggest problems I see in the coaching world is a massive co-dependence habit between coaches and their clients. If we need our clients to like us and we’re not willing to say something that might make them feel uncomfortable, we’re not really serving them. Almost every private coaching client I’ve had the honour of working with has said that the reason they chose to work with me is because I saw and spoke to a pattern in their behaviour that was getting in the way of what they said they wanted. That’s our job as coaches. To help our client find a shift in perspective that shifts how they then show up in the world, so they get more of what they want and less of what they don’t. Obviously only if there’s an opening and permission from the client or potential client – otherwise we’re stepping over a boundary.

The other side of the coin of course is knowing when not to speak. That’s self-expression too. We don’t have to explain everything to everyone. And especially as business owners, and especially as highly sensitive business owners, boundaries are paramount. Sometimes a short, clear email is much more effective and powerful than a lengthy ‘honest’ conversation. Like everything, it depends, and like always, only you know.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

I am currently dreaming of Kauai! It’s calling. And the West coast of Ireland – the wild Atlantic Way. I mean even that name is magical and mystical right? I have Irish ancestors on both sides and I’ve never been to Ireland – I have a sense that when I finally get there it will be an important experience. But essentially put me anywhere near the sea and I’m ridiculously happy.

Where can people find out more?

Come join my highly sensitive wildly successful community at www.katewolf.global/community or find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/highlysensitivewildlysuccessful If you know that fear gets in the way of you showing up, I made this for you! https://katewolf.global/move-through-fear

Blueberry Milk was the unplanned child, a business that was borne after its founder, Sophie, spotted a gap in the market. Quirky, fun and unique, her accessories are designed to make you stand out from the crowd, in a good way.

Sophie is an accessory designer to watch out for. Her goals with the brand are inspiring and her attitude is that of a winner. We spent some time with her to find out more…

You sell earrings, necklaces and hair accessories that are really fun and unique. How often do you add new items to your collection and what’s the process behind it?

Blueberry Milk is the child that wasn’t planned! I have always been interested in fashion but my head has always been stuck in the early 2000’s and with the struggle of finding the accessories I imagined. I started making custom acrylic Jewellery for myself and found compliments coming from people on social media and this made me realise there was a hole that needed to be filled. after talking to my friends and partner about this they helped set up a business plan and I managed to find a couple of sustainable UK based suppliers. the most important thing to me was that it would be affordable jewellery that was also high quality but with a strong personal and community feel with our customers.

Talk us through an average day in your working life…

I would love to say that I have a hectic working day, but the truth is at the beginning it was a 15 hour a day work day but after the initial launch most of my time work day is spent on social media and finishing of my digital marketing course. I usually put aside a couple of hours a week to look for new stocked items and contacting manufacturers as future plans may contain bespoke Blueberry Milk items.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

Japan is definitely at the top of my bucket list! I want to visit Tokyo, and go and experience the fashion and retail in Harajuku, and indulge in the local culture and food.

What does self care mean to you?

My normal self-care means whatever happens in my day, I’ll make time to complete a skin care routine, write down my thoughts on how my day went in my mood and gratitude journal and have a hot drink. However, self-care is different to each person and it should be whatever makes you feel good and calms you down.

For anyone wanting to launch a business in your industry, what advice would you offer?

Research, Research, Research! This is honestly the most important thing, make sure there is a gap in the market for your product, find a niche for your brand to fit into that creates a new gap if you need to. Find out what is working for other brands and find out how you can incorporate similar techniques to your own brand.

Looking back since launching your brand, is there anything you would do differently?

I’m a strong believer in that there are no mistakes, only learning experiences. There are things I only know now from doing things in a slightly different way or ways people would expect not to work, it’s given me the skills to exercise in future opportunities and endeavours.

What has been your proudest moment with Blueberry Milk since you launched the company?

Fairly recently I was diagnosed with a Tumour in my spine, thankfully we have since found out it is benign but my very raw, proudest moment is still being able to run the brand whilst dealing with this diagnosis, it’s been one of the hardest months of my life but I couldn’t be happier with the way I’ve managed to handle everything, it’s something I couldn’t even imagine I’d be going through in my mid-twenties.

What have you learnt about yourself in 2020 that you didn’t know before?

If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that I’m much stronger and more determined than i have ever been in my life. This year has been so difficult for everyone, and i couldn’t feel any prouder of everyone who has banded together to get through this together.

How much has Covid19 had an impact on your business?

Covid-19 has played a part in the business being slow at times, especially in times of lockdown when people are not going out and socialising.

Social media plays a role in your company, your Instagram feed alone is so creative, how do you switch off from it?

Social media plays a massive part in our company and sometimes it’s very difficult to switch off from, I’m constantly creating content to post, luckily, we have a fantastic team of affiliates who I am really thankful for to help with product and social media photographs.

Find out more and follow Sophie’s journey…

blueberrymilk.co.uk/

In 2016 Lizzy B started making products as a form of therapy. After failed IVF had left her feeling completely lost and she felt like such a failure. At the time, her stepfather had terminal cancer and it was devastating to watch him get so ill and pass away. It was a stressful few years to say the least but from these struggles, her brand B Loved was born.

Lizzy is not just inspiring, she is the the ultimate Bossbabe and her determination and drive is enough to kick even the most demotivated up the a**! We spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us the journey that led you to launching your brand, B Loved…

I started making products as a form of therapy after failed IVF and losing my stepfather to cancer. I was lost in a sea of grief and a huge sense of failure. Making gave me something to focus on and using essential oils helped to lift my mood and bring a sense of calm and balance. I loved using the oils, but I wanted to make sure I was using them safely and effectively, so I did a 2 year diploma in aromatherapy and essential oil science. This inspired me further and took B Loved to a new level.

Your story is so inspiring, you turned a negative experience and channelled it into something creative.

What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome to achieve this?

Self-confidence! My confidence had been shattered on a few levels, so I had to build myself up again. Doing the right qualifications with the best aromatherapists and teachers in the business, ensured that I was ready to believe in myself. Knowledge is power and customers appreciate expertise.

You talk openly about issues with mental health, especially after working in recruitment. What does self-care mean to you?

I’ve learned that self-care is a package for me. Eating correctly, exercising, reducing my alcohol intake and taking time to read or having a bath with essential oils, getting enough sleep, these are things I need to incorporate into daily life to function as best I can.

I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself. Working in recruitment, I was very hard on myself and I never took a break. I have learned that taking time out each day is essential to being healthy and successful. You don’t burn out so easily when you make time for yourself.

Travel is also important to me. I have lived and worked in different countries and I need to travel to feel inspired and restored.

For any aspiring entrepreneurs just starting out, what advice would you offer them?

Have the courage but also have the work ethic. Work hard and don’t try to cut corners. Don’t try and jump on a popular bandwagon without ensuring you are 100% interested, committed and the most skilled you can be in that sector; consumers know when you’re busking it.

Be sure of what your brand represents. Learn as much as possible before launching. Understand the importance of publicity and networking. Opportunities rarely fall into your lap; you have to go out and get them.

Get your prices right. Don’t ask friends and family what your prices should be. They may not be your target audience. Ensure you are making enough of a profit once you have accounted for all of your costs. Nothing comes easily but hard work pays off. Be prepared to work incredibly hard and to create your own opportunities.

How did you had to pivot during 2020?

I haven’t been able to trade at markets and events, but I have done some brilliant online events which have really paid off. It’s been a case of changing how I do things but ensuring that I still do things rather than complaining that things are not the same.

I also do therapies and that has switched to online where possible. I have been teaching facial techniques via zoom which isn’t quite the same, but my clients are able to treat themselves and ensure they are getting some time for self-care. We’ve all had to adapt, and this has brought a new skill set to many which is very positive.

Looking back since launching the brand, what has been your biggest achievement?

Winning two awards early on was incredibly positive and reassuring! I sell products all over the UK, mostly online, that is pretty amazing to me as I do all the publicity myself. People are taking a chance by purchasing online as they can’t smell or test the products. But I always get great feedback and have loyal customers. I have learned a great deal about PR and marketing. I feel like I am constantly adding to my skillset which is perfect for me as I like to be active and learning all the time.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

Ah so many. I love to travel too. I was supposed to be going trekking in Cambodia for the first time in October. Obviously, it was cancelled due to Covid, but I hope to visit in the future.

Where can people find out more?

You can visit my website www.blovedcandles.com and my Instagram @blovedcandles.

You may have seen wonder woman Hannah Gregory on MasterChef earlier this year. She’s also an epic member of our TeamCocoGangand a regular ear for our team lamenting about missing foods from travels.

Hannah has rounded up her top tips for travelling through food below. Be sure to head to her interview over here for more tasty wanderlust.

Kitchen travels – where to start

“This year, I’ve really tried to capitalise on the fact that we suddenly had all this time on our hands in our own home. It was the first summer I haven’t been away working for six years so I made the most of it. I got VERY intimate with my barbecue and really learnt the process of long slow cooks, the importance of the correct charcoal, different types of heat etc and paid homage (or tried to) to all the amazing smoke houses we went to in America.

When the weather wasn’t playing ball I devoured the Dishoom cook book. A lot of the recipes in there are day long affairs but it is so worth it – I don’t think I’ll ever make a ‘simple’ curry again. The fact that you can make their house dhal at home is mind blowing to me – it does take a long time, six hours I think but that’s fine, whack on a podcast, get comfy, bottle of red nearby – winning day for me.

With the restrictions put in place I couldn’t host my supper clubs over the summer but like everyone else, I did a little pivot and offered a take away service called ‘Around the world with WanderSups’. Every week was a different country / menu and the idea was that it was to help people recreate holiday vibes with banging food. We went to Turkey, Greece, Mexico, The Caribbean and the USA – it was great fun and a huge success.

How to recreate that travel experience

“I think one of the most important things is recreating the experience, not just the food. Pop on a playlist that reminds you of the place you miss, look through old photos, light candles or incense of scents that transport you back to that place. Food is so much more than just the eating, it is about igniting all the senses.

It becomes very easy to get into a ‘food rut’ at home, especially when we are in lockdown or under restrictions. All of a sudden you take stock and realise your sofa is actually now the dining table and Hollyoaks has replaced conversation. Try and make even a simple meal feel like an occasion, set the table with flowers and tea lights, use your best linen, decant the wine. So often our fondest memories of meals whilst travelling have been about escapism as well as the food and by making these little tweaks to our at home meals, we can try and recreate that.”

Crafting the perfect club sandwich – the most missed foodie thing according to Team Coco

“The age old debate is chicken vs turkey. Personally I always go for chicken, turkey should be reserved for Christmas only IMO. If you want to really capture the luxe of a great hotel club there are a couple of things you need to do….

  • The meat: always cook your protein yourself, none of this shop-bought cooked chicken stuff. It always tastes like cardboard. If you are having a Sunday roast, cook a chicken and syphon off some slices of breast for your club before serving. Alternatively, season a skin-on chicken breast and fry in olive oil ‘til golden all over before roasting in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and slice ready for sandwich assembly. If you are feeling really extra and have the kit, sous vide and brine your chicken breast, this will ensure the softest, juiciest meat that it is incomparable to anything else – this is my preferred method.
  • The bacon – fry slices of pancetta in a dry frying pan, due to the fat content this will result in crispy, salty porky goodness and ensure the crunch in the sandwich.
  • The mayo – well actually the aioli, that’s right, you heard. No time for mayo in this sarnie – rather lashings of garlic flavoured joy. Again, making from scratch is always going to yield the best results but shop bought will be accepted.
  • Bread – for me it is always a fresh white bloomer. There is no time for fannying about with Sourdough and such here.
  • Butter – so often over-looked but so important. Baron Bigod raw butter is the ultimate finisher for this sandwich. It takes everything to an 11. If you can’t find any then bring unsalted organic butter to room temp and add your own Maldon salt (smoked Maldon – even better). I never buy salted butter as I was once told by a dairy farmer that it is usually a lower grade product and the salt is added to mask the taste. So there you have it.

Closing words of advice…

“I always have a bag of masa flour in the cupboard because the smell transports me straight back to Mexico and it means I can stick my head it and inhale whenever I need a pick me up and make fresh tacos as needed (at least once a week).

There are so many great online suppliers of niche ingredients now, if there is something you are really missing then have a google, chances are you can find it. I recently got a shipment of Malawian coffee – my absolute fave and now have a morning ritual, I get up and sit and drink my coffee, listen to the same song that I had on repeat during my time out there and then go about my day. It’s such a small thing but it makes me so happy.”

For more from Hannah Gregory, check out her interview here. Hannah Gregory will also be appearing in our next print volume STAYCATION, out in early January.

Follow Hannah Gregory @wandersups

Check out Hannah Gregory’s WanderSups to create your own travel inspired dining experience