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Girl Bosses of Great Britain

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Hannah and I bonded over instagram swapping top tips for recreating the US half-and-half after meeting in our TeamCocoGang group. The ubiquitous diner staple had been on my mind since March and yet I was resisting the urge to slug single cream into my filter coffee. I would like to officially thank Hannah for her assistance in getting me to cross that hurdle.

Hannah Gregory is an inspirational woman. You might have seen her on MasterChef earlier this year (no spoilers here if you haven’t managed to catch up). Her love of travel and world cuisine has always permeated her cooking and she recently founded WanderSups, a fantastical adventure inspired private chef supperclub. Says Hannah, “all WanderSups events – no matter how big or small, follow one mantra – PREP | COOK | SUPS | PLAY.”

HOC: Well, hello, Hannah! Your insta bio tells us that your food is ‘inspired by journeys around the world’. Can you remember the first dish you obsessed over recreating?

Hannah: So, funny story as it happens. One of the first dishes I had travelling that I became obsessed with was Shrimp Bobo which is a Brazilian dish. A friend and I were backpacking in South America and we ended up on Ilha Grande, a small, beautiful island just off of Rio and after weeks of rice, beans and churrasco we were really craving something a little different. We found this super cute café on one of the side streets and explained to the maître d’ that we wanted something authentic, but not rice and beans (although holy macaroni, what I would give for a plate of authentic Brazilian rice & beans right now). We were served the most incredible Shrimp Bobo in huge coconut shells – it’s a really creamy stew made from manioc roots (more commonly known as cassava) and full of fresh, sweet shrimp and I was instantly addicted.

When I got home I had a small dinner party in my VERY small flat in South London and decided this was the dish I would make. I searched high and low for the illusive manioc root – at the time – we’re going back a bit – I hadn’t made the connection between manioc and cassava and spent a good week looking all over London for it. Finally I learnt that they were indeed the same thing, and hopped to the greengrocers ACROSS the road from my flat to grab one.

A key part of the dish is to boil the root and then pick out the stringy fibres – I totally missed this part. First problem. You then blend the cassava with coconut milk to create a smooth sauce – of course my blender blew up mid blitz. Second problem. Finally, my guests arrived, and I dished up my lumpy, stringy stew. After the first spoonful I froze. I’m not sure if it was because it was lumpy or if it actually was under-cooked, but I had read that if cassava is not cooked properly it is toxic as it contains cyanide. Worried that I was poisoning my guests, and with a dramatic “Stop, I think I’m about to kill you!” I dashed their plates away, knocking over everyone’s glass in the process. I ended up sending my brother to the Turkish restaurant across the road to pick up kebabs for everyone.

HOC: How far you’ve come! Does any dish still evade your recreation?

Hannah: Bingas bloody Wingas! A friend and I were on a road trip in the U.S. and were just north of Portland. The original plan was to drive back to Portland and have a boujee night with cocktails and jazz bars (I was clearly in Portland Maine not Oregon) but we were so tired from a long drive that we thought we would just look on Google Maps, see where the closest eatery was and go there. The trusty knife and fork symbol informed us that there was somewhere a three minute drive away. This seemed odd as we were on the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere but we figured, why not?

We arrived – a stand alone purple building in the middle of nowhere stood before us, illuminated in purple neon with a giant dog guzzling chicken wings on the front of the building.

We were greeted by our server for the night, Doreen. Doreen was an absolute peach. She handed us a menu that wasn’t so much a menu but a long list of every sauce you could think of to douse your wings in. The concept was simple: decide how many wings you want, decide if you want them smoked or fried, decide what sauce. My eyes were instantly drawn to Buffalo Bacon Nacho – three glorious things, all in one sauce. Had to be a winner right? Doreen explained that it was the most decadent, unctuous wing sauce she had ever come across (and Doreen ate a lot of wings). Nacho cheese, crispy bacon mixed through, spiked with house buffalo sauce. Sounds simple right? Let me tell you, I have been trying to recreate this dish for 2 years, probably once a week we eat wings and I have come close to it, but no cigar. There has been more than one occasion – ok, there have been lots of occasions – when BA does a flash sale and I check to see if Boston or Portland are on the list just to fly and get these wings – I haven’t caved… yet. Maybe one day I will unleash my inner Kardashian and fly across the world for a meal.

And yes, I did ask Doreen for the recipe, I have also emailed them countless times begging for it. They are not giving that s**t up for no-one!

HOC: Such dedication! Do you choose locations to travel based on the food you want to try or do you stumble across amazing food, while travelling?

Hannah: I think a bit of both but definitely leaning towards the former although I was doing it subconsciously until a friend pointed it out to me. I just thought everyone planned their trips around food. It is so alien to me that food isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind because it is all I think about.

It first became apparent when a friend and I went to the States – we went on a Dawson’s Creek / Bruce Springsteen pilgrimage but I had an ulterior motive. We were flying into Boston and I had always wanted to go to Maine and New England to eat lobster from roadside shacks and experience real clam chowder so I managed to weave that into the trip, then I thought as we were going to Wilmington NC, it would be rude not to head a little further south and experience some real southern soul food.

I never over-plan my trips, I usually just book a place to stay the first night and then see what happens. It was only after a few days in when my friend pointed out that I was planning our days and our route solely around restaurants and diners. I just thought she was being pinickity but then a few months later another friend and I went to central America with no other plan than we wanted to hit Mexico, Belize & Guatemala – the same thing happened again. Before I knew it I was hunting out cooking lessons, street food festivals, restaurants and then our route evolved from that. That’s when I realised that my love for food and travel was so intertwined and WanderSups was born.

When it comes to tracking down where to eat – I’m not entirely sure how I do it. There is certainly no formula but I am like a bloodhound on a scent when it comes to finding good, authentic, local cuisine. One of my first jobs out of university was working for a lifestyle concierge company and putting together itineraries for clients of things they should see and do when travelling – maybe it stems from that.

If I am in the UK I will always consult the Waitrose Good Food Guide – I trust them implicitly. If I am further afield and I have time to do the research then I will check out blogs and ask IG for recommendations – I always think word of mouth is the best way to go. I never engage with things like Trip Advisor because I think it just brings out the worst in people.

If I am in a city or a built up area I always look up – some of the best places are on roofs so look for the tell tale signs of festoon and canopies – some of the most memorable meals I have had are from chasing the sounds of laughing friends and clinking glasses happening high up above me, especially in places like Marrakech and Tulum. And my number one rule: always eat where the locals eat. Although that did backfire for me once when I ended up eating goat intestines in rural Africa. We live and learn.

HOC: Wow, that one will stay with you for a while I’d imagine! What travel memory do you return to when you need a pick-me-up?

Hannah : This is a bit Pinterest / vom-inducing but on my office wall I have post-it notes on which I have written things that have made me happy and content, so that whenever I feel a bit low or am struggling to remember life pre-covid, I have an instant pick me up close to hand.

The majority of them are travel based and the general theme is road tripping. It is my absolute favourite thing to do in the world. I think it is the sense of freedom and independence that it gives, knowing you can go anywhere, in your own time, listen to great music, eat great car snacks and drop in at roadside diners and restaurants. My two favourite trips of all time were driving from Maine to North Carolina and driving across Malawi. If I need a pick me up I always put on the playlist that I was listening to and it brings it all flooding back.

HOC: Sounds ideal! Where’s next for you when travel is more achievable?

Hannah: Um the whole world… I am not coping very well with this feeling of being trapped on an island so am desperate to just see everything I possibly can as soon as I can. But currently sitting top of the list :

Malawi – I have spent a lot of time here but my boyfriend has never been and I am desperate to take him and hope he falls in love with it the same way I have.

Amalfi coast road trip – we are both desperate to do this, hire an Italian sports car and live the insta life.

Deep South states – I need to do another research trip and the deep southern states are calling my name. I am thinking of taking a month and pootling around Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas…

For more from Hannah Gregory, check out her travel-inspired food tips over here – including how to craft the perfect hotel club sandwich dupe! Hannah will also be appearing in our next print volume STAYCATION, out in early January.

Follow Hannah @wandersups

Check out WanderSups to create your own travel inspired dining experience.

A move from Manchester to the meadows of Cheshire meant a real lifestyle change for Zoe Glencross. Being surrounded by massive skies and wildlife inspired her to create. She has always loved interiors and following her move she seized the opportunity to learn the craft of fabric design and print, combining her love of colour, paint and fabric.

Since then, she has grown an incredible brand and we spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us the journey that lead you to launching your brand, Zoe Glencross…

My background was retail buying, marketing and sales. I was not trained as a designer – I have a law degree. After a move to the countryside I attended a day fabric design course. I absolutely fell in love with the craft. I began hand printing fabric at the kitchen table and wanted to learn more and develop my skills. I found someone in Manchester to teach me to screen print on a one to one basis. I then bought screens and printing equipment and set up in the garage at home. After selling some individual prints I decided to try to develop a fabric collection for interiors. I had always loved interiors, fabric and paint so this was the perfect way to combine them all. I spent time researching UK textile manufacturing and after finding the right partners to work with produced samples which we photographed (with a friend who is a photographer) then built the website myself. It was a journey of learning so many new skills – a big challenge but I was on a mission! It was so satisfying to launch in June 2015 and it’s been and exciting journey ever since with lots of highs and many challenges!!

All of your products are made in England and this is great, why was that important to you?

Britain is of course where the textiles industry first began and living in the North West England meant that I was lucky enough to be quite close to some of the key remaining textile manufacturers. During the development stage it was important to me to visit them personally in order to find the right manufacturing partner. I was very much struck by the skill and dedication of the folks who work in this industry. I really appreciated how many years of experience and knowledge they had. It was important to have faith in their ability to translate my hand printed designs into higher volume production. I really wanted to support British businesses and be able to easily visit them as the fabric was being produced. It became a no brainer to make here in the UK – I didn’t even consider making overseas. Plus having started my business at my kitchen table it seemed right to build a truly British brand.

Which item is your best seller?

Our natural linens sell really well – in particular our rural inspired prints such as the cowparsley as well as our stripes. Blues are always popular too.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

Well there’s a question! My day begins with a cup of tea in bed where I check my emails and update my list of the day’s priorities – this is my 10 mins of peace during which to wake up and take some time to think about the day ahead. Once I’m up I tend to be dashing about at speed which starts with a school run. I then either try to go for a run or quickly clear up the kitchen before heading into the office. Like many working mums there’s a lot of multi-tasking and juggling going on so you can be emailing someone one minute and putting a wash on the next.

I then might be dealing with customer calls or emails about colour and design advice or talking to the factory about new developments . I might be discussing stock levels and product developments with my colleague Caroline. We are always trying to look at new, better ways of working as well as develop new product and consider new working relationships and opportunities. I’m currently looking ahead to spring, thinking about how I’d like to plan a photoshoot for a new brochure featuring some new designs that we’re soon to launch. No day is the same though – my focus has to change all the time depending on the time of year or what is happening that week.

How often do you release new products and what’s the process behind this?

We try to bring out new colour ways in fabric once or twice a year seasonally but I have new designs in work right now which will add to the collections. Last year we launched our Elements collection as well as a capsule wallpaper collection. This year we added beach bags for the summer and scented candles.

What does self care mean to you?

I’ve learnt that regular exercise – running in particular ( prior to Covid attending group exercise classes), is really important to my well being. When life gets busy and challenging, as it has been this year, this has been vital to how well I feel able to respond to what’s going on. I’ve also learnt that I really need to be around people and close friends. Sometimes running a business like this has been quite lonely but as the business has grown I’ve had more regular connections with people which I really enjoy and thrive on. Designing is an independent, singular process where I need to be alone but everything else about this business is definitely better done with others and as a team.

How has Covid affected your business and have you had to pivot in anyway?

Inevitably whilst stuck at home people were keen to dedicate some time and effort to thinking about their home interior. Lockdown intensified everything so the pace at which we were working became much faster both in terms of handling increased order volumes and dealing with enquires but also bringing customers and our social media followers newness and inspiring creative ideas for their interiors. I felt that we had to do our best to bring people something fresh, new and sometimes entertaining on social media! We loved running weekly remnant sales for our offcuts of fabric that might otherwise be sold as folded small pieces in our showroom. These sales were so popular and it felt good to know that people were getting their sewing machines out to make something unique during lockdown with these pieces.

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

I LOVE to travel and have taken inspiration from my travels both in terms of design and colour. My favourite places are Paris, Palma Tanzania and France. Top of my bucket list is Rio! I’ve always wanted to go to the carnival and join in the dancing!

Find out more...

Follow us on Instagram for all the latest behind the scenes and take a look at our fabric and homewares collections at www.zoeglencross.com

A little green juice changed her life and now Hanna Sillitoe has created her own empire A little green juice was the catalyst in what transformed both her lifestyle and career.

Hanna has constantly struggled with her skin since her teenage years and now at 41, she seems to have found the answer. At age 15, Hanna had teenage acne and her first flare-up of psoriasis. At the time Hanna put this down to be a combination of diet, anxiety, hormones or stress.

“The pressure of exams along with my parent’s divorce and my less than perfect eating habits, resulted in my skin going crazy. Little did I know then that psoriasis would impact so much of my life for the next twenty years.”

For two decades applying steroid creams, emollients and coal tar treatments barely helped Hanna’s skin; they slightly controlled her flare-ups. Yet didn’t improve her overall skin health. Around seven years ago, Hanna suffered her worst flare up and it was a turning point for her. She stopped going to work, was reluctant to leave the house and the feeling of clothes against her skin was unbearable. After a consultation with a Dr who recommended methotrexate which is a medication used for people undergoing chemotherapy, Hanna knew something had to change and declined the prescription.

“The Dr’s suggestion to suppress my immune system with methotrexate made sense – psoriasis is after all an autoimmune condition. I just couldn’t understand why we weren’t looking at modulating it instead. So began the biggest diet and lifestyle change of my life!”

Hanna’s journey into altering her diet and lifestyle to improve and heal her skin began by reading books on the subject of healing psoriasis by people like Doctor Pagano. Which later transcended into working with local naturopaths. When her journey started Hanna blogged her journey to hold herself accountable and share her experiences with others. This is where her recipes started to make an impact.

“It almost became like a challenge to take something I could no longer eat and work out a way to create a healthy version. I absolutely love spending time in the kitchen, so for me it never feels like a chore. We spend far too much time putting ourselves at the bottom of the priorities list. Self-care comes in many forms and taking the extra time to nourish myself with wholesome, healthy food is crucial.”

Hanna launched her first book, ‘Radiant’ which is composed of a strict 28 day ‘cleanse. The book helps to revitalise the body from the inside out. The plan improves your gut health, strengthens your digestive tract, and in turn helps you feel better and look better. The aim is to ultimately heal your skin.

Hanna’s new book ‘Skin Healing Expert’ offers a more gentle approach as the 28 day cleanse can be intense. Along with altering your diet and lifestyle, Hanna recommends keeping a food journal. As this helps see what flares your skin up and what works wonders for it. Adapting the plan to what ‘feels right for you’ is important. Once you complete the cleanse it’s essential to find a balance that both you and your skin are happy with.

“We’ve forgotten to listen intuitively to what our body is asking of us. Sometimes small steps can achieve the same big goals.”

When Hanna first changed her diet, her skin got worse in the first two weeks. At the time this brought her lower than she already felt. However, on the 13th day she started to notice a difference.

“From that day forward, there was a slight improvement every day. By day 28 I went out in short sleeves for the first time in years!”

Once success story is; a toddler whose mother was struggling to raise money for her psoriasis medical treatment. Another is from Sarah who undertook one of Hanna’s retreats in Croatia; both of their stories of healing are incredible. According to Hanna healing times vary as everyone has different skin conditions, different diets, lifestyles, allergies, and histories. These all result in different healing speeds. It’s also noticed that feeling a difference tends to happen before seeing one. This topic is something Hanna covers on her ‘Let’s Glo’ podcasts.

“To anybody considering a natural healing protocol is .. what have you got to lose? We consider diet, vitamins, and lifestyle change to be ‘the alternative’ . Yet what if, we try this approach first and then consider steroid creams and suppressant medication as the alternative.”

Despite having to cut out a lot of food that you wouldn’t necessarily consider to be inflammatory, it would be a minefield to navigate but luckily Hanna has done the hard work for you. There are a lot of recipes in her books but for her, the ‘tomatoless sauce’ was the game-changer. As tomatoes are a ‘nightshade’ and often problematic for the skin, yet they tend to be in a lot of dishes, Hanna’s version uses beetroot and it freezes well so you always have a tomato replacement on hand.

“When I ditched them I missed so many meals. Indian rogan josh, Italian pasta, Mexican chili but my tomato-free sauce opens all those recipes up again!”

Understanding the importance of what we consume is crucial however, what we apply to our skin is equally important. Four years ago, Hanna began to create a small range of beauty products comprised of serums, balms, and shampoos.

“For years I applied creams that Dr’s prescribed without really questioning what was in them. I realised too that the coal tar treatments I’d been applying were becoming increasingly controversial, and don’t even get me started on steroid creams and topical steroid withdrawal.”

Since then Hanna has expanded the range to offer products that can help with flares; a ‘Soothing Spray’ to stop the itch, a ‘Vitamin D Cream ‘to help absorb important vitamins, and a ‘Scar Minimising Oil’ to help reduce acne scarring and hyper-pigmentation. After approaching one of the UK’s biggest natural skincare manufacturers, Hanna know works with them to formulate effective products to heal the skin.

After getting up early and exercising each morning, Hanna dedicates the rest of her time to her business. Her brand has expanded rapidly and it’s all down to her; customer service, website, PR, marketing, new product development, and social media.

“I’m hoping to bring a team on board next year but for now I’m very much focused on doing everything myself.”

With a lot of potential projects in the pipeline, from skin-friendly food recipe boxes to new skincare additions, online workshops, and more. Hanna feels it’s important to be flexible and understand how uncertain and challenging times are for everyone now and wants to bring positivity as well as healing through her channels and her recipes. Her latest book was launched online and as the world begins to open up she hopes to have more personal touches on her future projects.

As for what the future holds for her: “Who knows! And that’s the fun of it. I think adaptability is key and being there in whatever form to help support those more impacted than ever by skin sensitivities and flare-ups.”

Minnie Sprinkles is a boutique wedding and event styling/design service founded by London-based Creative Director – Clare D’Andrea.

Born out of a love of visual storytelling, Clare’s 20 years of experience styling and art directing shoots help her to bring each client’s unique story to life with an attention to detail that is second to none. Clare’s creative flair is something to be admired and we have loved following her journey. Her backstory alone is enough to inspire you to reach for your goals and step in to your own zone of genius.

We spent some time with Clare to find out more about her life behind the scenes and so much more…

Tell us about the journey that led you to launching Minnie Sprinkles…

When I was in my twenties my best friend and I used to organise fundraising events/parties for MacMillan Cancer Relief. I would get obsessed with the aesthetics, styling and details, creating visual worlds to bring the events to life.

I would try and ‘sprinkle’ some magic onto the nights, and I didn’t realise at the time, but that was the beginning of Minnie Sprinkles.

After university I kept my creativity alive by joining the advertising world as an Art Director. Once while on a sabbatical I went travelling to South America. While I was ticking off the Inca Trail I found I was completely isolated (I actually thought I was lost) when I had this lightbulb moment. I knew I wanted to work for myself and be my own boss. The world was too big to be tied down and I definitely felt my work/life balance was the wrong way around. I decided to work as a freelancer instead of being bound to an agency. I love variety and being creative in lots of different ways so the ability to be flexible and have free reign is important to me. My passion for travel and my tendency to just jump on a plane also played into this decision.

I still work as a Creative Director in advertising, but freelancing allows me the time to build up my other projects. Minnie Sprinkles had previously been my side hustle, but it was only when I found that new freedom that I could really invest the time and nurture the business.

You’re a self-titled Creativepreneur, which basically means you have your fingers in a few pies. Including the launch of your own restaurant, tell us more about this?

My sister is a chef, and we always talked about starting a business together. We have boundless ideas and the same taste in everything. Her dream was to have her own restaurant. So, we partnered up and opened The Breakfast Club. We renovated an old Italian restaurant that hadn’t changed since the 50’s. I took care of the branding, marketing and interior design, she designed a delicious menu and with a lot of hard work the magic happened, it was a success. The food was incredible, all homemade, organic and fresh. It stood out from what you were getting everywhere else for brunch, we made fresh smoothies before most people even knew what a smoothie was! We were sustainable and ethical and always used Fair Trade. They were great times and the restaurant was always packed. We’ve also collaborated on other ventures like Polar Pops, healthy fruit & veg ice lollies for kids, and next year we have another business we are launching… watch this space.

As well as these pies and Minnie Sprinkles, I work in a Creative Team with my talented writer Johnny Cooke. We’ve crafted ad campaigns for some of the world’s most famous brands in every type of media, from TV and online, to outdoor to experiential. We find the culturally relevant and ethical work especially rewarding and have been lucky enough to work for some clients that really make a difference – like Greenpeace, British Heart Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, and a recent campaign to Shop Small and save the highstreets.

Of all of your creative endeavours, which one gives you the most satisfaction?

Minnie Sprinkles. During lockdown I have had the luxury of being able to focus my energy on the business, picking up several new clients for next year. We featured in the September issue of Vogue and have just collaborated on two incredible shoots and I’ve met some inspiring, talented and hugely creative women on the way, and have three more collaborations to look forward to over the next couple of months.

Talk us through an average day in your life?

I would say that no day is really the same. It depends where I am. But generally, before I can function, I have to have my double espresso. I check some emails and then get stuck into work. I usually meet friends for lunch or dinner and then back to work, concepting, crafting, hustling, banging my head against the wall. That sort of thing. Then bed.

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

Put it in the f*ck it bucket and crack on.

Tell us one thing about you that people don’t usually know?

I think I’m an open book on the whole.

Looking back over your successful and ever-changing career, what has been your highlight?

I’m lucky enough that there hasn’t just been just one highlight. A few that spring to mind are doing a photoshoot in Tobago as a junior Art Director, styling a wedding in Cape Town, winning my first award for my advertising work, opening the doors of our new restaurant, and most recently being featured in Vogue. Oh, and I am about to start renovating an 1870’s coastal hotel to turn into a beach haven with my sister, whether that’s to be a highlight or not is yet to be seen, fingers crossed.

For any aspiring entrepreneurs, what advice would you offer?

Surround yourself with inspiring, positive people. Keep learning, do courses, go to talks, listen to podcasts, visit inspiring places. Build a great support network, be proactive and collaborate.

Also do not let your potential go to waste if you still don’t feel confident or ready to take a leap. You must just jump in. Now is the time. You can guarantee that people with half as much talent are making things happen while you wait to feel ready.

Also, there is a strong community of entrepreneurial females who offer support to other females wishing to grow their businesses. The great thing about the digital age is that there is so much content and resources available online. So, make the most of it.

Outside work, what do you do for fun?

I love to socialise and spend time with friends. I love visiting galleries and seeing exhibitions and keeping my creative juices flowing. I’m not much of a social planner and that’s what I love about living in London. It can be a Tuesday night and you could find 100 interesting things to do spontaneously that evening. I’m lucky enough to have a wide and diverse group of friends with different interests so I’m always busy doing something different. And if I have any spare time I like to travel. New York City is definitely my happy place.

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

I have been fortunate to have travelled quite extensively and met so many interesting people from so many different backgrounds and cultures. But some of my fondest memories and best adventures are from travelling around Central and South America. Not just for the scenery but for the people I met who are now some of my dearest friends. Even now, a backpack, no make-up and no itinerary is my ideal scenario (although I am a sucker for a nice hotel). I spent some time volunteering on the Jordanian/Syrian border with the charity RefugEase and Acting for Change International a couple of years ago, helping build a school for local refugee kids in Z’aatari Village. That was one of the most profoundly rewarding experiences I’ve had, and if given the time and opportunity I would love to explore more of the Middle East.

Find out more about Clare and follow her journey…

www.minniesprinkles.co.uk

www.clareandjohnny.com

Jenny Staniforth is the founder of JS Events, a company that she founded after years of experience in the industry and to further her love for seeing the reactions of her clients when she delivered an awe inspiring event. She plans luxury weddings and events throughout the UK and is a true creative.

At JS Events they take the stress away from you and can plan the ultimate event, right down to the finer detail. With Jennifer at the helm, there is nothing that is impossible. We spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us the story that led you to launching your brand, JS Events…
JS Events has always been my end goal. I had always planned on starting my own luxury wedding and events agency so I had been working on my company products, vision and values for what seems like forever.
I knew the events industry was the field I wanted to work in from a young age, in reality however I knew that without gaining some valuable experience I wouldn’t know how to start an events company, so that’s exactly what I did, I went to university and after graduating swiftly moved to London where I gained 7 years of valuable experience. My husband and I then decided to move out of London and move closer to our families in the midlands, this move gave me the perfect opportunity to start my own company, whereas before I had always been pursuing my career within other agencies it suddenly felt like the right time to go solo.

Although this has been a somewhat daunting decision it is one that I have been preparing for, for years with the reward of working with individuals and facilitating my clients as I see fit and to my high standards. It is a decision I am glad I made!

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?
Not really, it has been my dream for a long time and I was just waiting for the opportune moment to branch out on my own, it feels good to have finally done it, I am sure in years to come I will look back and be able to recount a million things I would have done differently but right now I am just proud that I have taken that leap and that it is working.

To date, what has been your proudest event and why?
I think my proudest event is actually an early event that I ran around the Monaco Grand Prix. My agency decided to go bigger and better in the second year of me running the event and I have to say I was insanely proud of myself for pulling off the race weekend. It really cemented the fact that I was in the right field as it didn’t feel like work, I just loved it. Of course there were stressful hair raising moments but a solution was always found and we pushed on. It was great!

Where do you get your creative ideas from and how do you stay on trend?
I stay on trend by researching, reading blogs and seeing what my suppliers are posting on social media. These ideas then spark me and together with my suppliers I create something very personal for my couples/clients. It is very rewarding when everything comes together on the day and you see the vision that we all had in our heads come to life.

Talk us through an average day in your life?
I don’t have set hours, I am on call for my clients 24 hours a day so an average day in my world ranges quite dramatically, however I would say that I spend the majority of my time negotiating, talking and meeting with suppliers. I like to be out and about so where I can I will go to the venue or supplier to discuss a client’s needs. I also spend time with my clients on site visits, food tastings etc. The rest of my time is ideally spent outside walking our dog or with my husband.

The events industry was hit hard due to Covid, how did you pivot to make sure you survived?
Having recently launched JS Events prior to COVID, COVID was a bit of a tough blow, however it did allow me to spend quality time on my website, social media and brand presence in general. I also spent a lot of time creating a strong marketing strategy to ensure that I could hit the ground running once we returned to a sense of normality, ensuring that I could recoup the costs that I had lost in the postponed & cancelled events that I had committed to in 2020. This appears to have worked with enquiries, weddings and events now picking up. 2021 and 2022 look like they are going to be very busy!

What motivational quote do you like to read when you are lacking motivation?
I don’t really have a motivational quote that I read, but if I am feeling low I like to think about all the positive things in my life, of which I am very lucky and there are many. This normally picks me back up again and relights my motivation.

How do you see the business evolving over the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years I would hope that JS Events is a highly trusted and award winning agency that has cemented itself within the industry both nationally and internationally.

What does self care mean to you?
Having suffered with mental health in the past, self care is very important to me. To me self care means finding time for yourself, switching off and de-stressing, putting down your phone and any other distractions and relaxing, spending time with loved ones and making sure you actually make the time to do the things you enjoy. if you can establish a good work/life balance, then hopefully happiness will follow.

Find out more and follow JS Events who can be found at the following places:

W: www.jenniferstaniforthevents.co.uk Instagram@jenniferstaniforthevents FB: JS Events LI: JS Events

Caroline is the founder of Cotton Stories, a brand that was created when she was pregnant and had a scan of her belly to see if the little baby was well, which it thankfully was. In all the excitement over the good news, she forgot to ask to get the picture from the scan. Now sitting by the window looking out, the only thing occupying her thoughts was the beautiful silhouette she had seen on the screen. A healthy bouncing little baby with a strong heartbeat. It was an emotional meeting with her, yet unknown, daughter to be. A memory she wanted to last for a lifetime.

It was this special moment that encouraged her to launch Cotton Stories, where she creates unique paintings for unique moments. Each painting is one of a kind and crafted by hand, down to the very last brush stroke. The painting is embossed to guarantee that is a genuine Cotton Stories artwork, and it receives a hand-signed label as a final touch from the artist herself.

We were inspired by her story and went to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Cotton Stories…

After my scan, I grabbed my paintbrush and tore off a piece of paper from the nearest sketch pad, and started to draw a mental picture of the very first meeting with my yet unknown daughter to be. And that’s where it all began, although I didn’t know it then, but when the requests for my sonogram paintings increased I decided to go all in and start my own business. It’s crazy to think that my very first painting, of my own daughter, was the birth of Cotton Stories and I now paint to people from all over the world.

What is an average day in your life like?

I would say that no day is the same. People often ask me how I can find the time to run Cotton Stories and at the same time be a mother of two. I guess the answer is, if you have a passion and want it to work, you make it work. I got pregnant with my second child just by the time Cotton Stories started to expand and bloom, so I had to work extra hard and focused. It was important to construct a solid foundation in order for the company to keep on growing even though I had less time. I’ve gone from working day and night to finding a balance and a daily structure to be a mother and a businesswoman at the same time.

What does self care mean to you?

I love learning new ways to be creative. The main thing that I always come back to is that I love experimenting with watercolors. It can be anything from blending skin tones to creating various landscapes using different techniques. Whenever I get stuck or feel like I am lacking inspiration I close the door behind me, put on my headphones, turn on some music and just start painting. Since I paint the sonograms daily, which are very detailed and tailored to perfection, it’s a great contrast to just do the complete opposite. It works every time! Before I know it, it is all there. The inspiration, the creativity, the ideas, and motivation to do what I am supposed to do. But trust me, it has not been there all along. It’s been years of searching within myself to understand who I am, as an artist, and what I need in my life to be able to stay creative.

Growing up, I was always known as “the girl who could draw” because I spend most of my time drawing on every notebook I got a hold of. As I grew older, I became aware of that producing art is something I could not be without. It was more than just a hobby, it was an essential part of me that grew bigger for each year. Today I know that I am not happy if I’m not creative. I need it to be the best version of myself and that’s probably why I decided to become an artist as a profession.

What reaction do you get from the mums that purchase your work?

This is my favorite part of creating these paintings. The response I get from mothers all over the world is amazing. I am especially humbled to those mothers who reach out to me asking if I can create a portrait of their lost child. It can be from early miscarriage or as late as stillborn at 39 weeks. I especially remember this one story where a woman lost her baby at 29 weeks. She wanted me to create a painting in memory of her child. She later got back to me to let me know that she was glad she turned her sonogram image into a painting. It helped her in the grieving process and now she looks at the sonogram painting differently. She had turned it into something beautiful, just as her baby. She wanted me to discreetly add angel wings to her image to remind her that she didn’t lose her child, it just turned into an angel that she now carried in her heart forever. Reading stories like this and to be able to be part of something that big and emotional is something I am very humbled and proud over. Since I create each painting by hand I am able to tailor each painting after the customers wishes. It is through stories like this they all become an important and natural part of our product development.

Where do you see your brand in 5 years time?

The company, Cotton Stories, is at a very exciting stage now and we’re extremely thrilled for the next few years. Already this fall or early next spring we will introduce new products, which I unfortunately can’t tell you about right now. All the products will, of course, have the obvious Cotton Stories touch of high quality and design. We are eager to take our brand to the next level and our new products will become a must have element in every nursery.

During Covid19, what changes did you have to make to your business?

All businesses around the world have been affected by this pandemic in various ways and so even we. We, at Cotton Stories, learned that in order to survive, we need to work harder and work collaboratively. I think that has a deeper meaning, not just for businesses, but for society as a whole. We only survive if we work together and support each other during tough times.

We were forced to see things from another perspective, shift focus a little bit, and cherish every small step of success. The biggest challenge we have had during this period is shipping. All the materials we use in our products are made locally in Sweden, but our customers are worldwide, so we’ve worked hard to make sure that all paintings arrive safely to the customers. During a global lockdown, there have been some huge delays, but we decided to put extra money in to ensure the customer a safe delivery, they all arrived.

How much does social media play a role in your business?

Social media is what has gotten us this far. It is a platform that allows us to communicate our brand and our products in a way which was impossible only a few years ago.

We have built Cotton Stories through instagram and close collaboration with influencers to reach people all over the world. Since every painting is unique there are so many beautiful and inspiring stories behind them. We’ve become like a community for mothers and mothers to be. We want to cheer them on and tell them how incredibly strong they are but also share the moments that aren’t picture perfect.

We believe that the love you get, is equal to the love you give. Therefore we do not pay people to collaborate with us. We work with influencers who truly love our product and cherish it as much as we do and want to share us with their audience. Sure we could climb faster if we paid people to like us. But that is not what we believe in. Our products are genuine and unique. We put down a lot of heart and soul in this company so we want the people who collaborate with us to feel the same way.

Where can people find out more?

To read more about Cotton Stories or visit the shop, go to www.cottonstories.se and follow us on Instagram @Cotton.Stories

The story of Freya’s Clay Club began with ceramics sculptor Chris Bramble becoming a father. Chris has been making ceramic art for over 30 years, also teaching in schools and colleges. Chris has twin daughters called Freya and Yolande who both grew up with clay at their fingertips, always helping out although originally taking their father’s craft for granted, they are now both part of a growing pottery business. Freya is a fine artist who wants to get everybody involved. She started teaching children during her studies in Fine art and everything began to grow from there. Yolande is a theatre practitioner specialising in participatory theatre and sensory based arts.

A family with creativity at its heart, we want to spend some time with Freya to find out more about her clay club, life behind the scenes and what her plans are for the future…

Freya, talk us through the journey that lead you to launching Freyas Clay Club…

I decided to take this seriously in my early twenties before that I was always just messing around. I had decided that I didn’t want to enslave myself to the system and had lost respect for the art world at the time unfortunately, due to my University experience…though.. I thought it would be a good idea to earn abit of pocket money just helping out in the studio and then I had thoughts of doing pottery sessions for kids and the Ball started rolling and picked up momentum from there! I fell in love with clay though I had never seen it in this way before. And I could feel that there was no going back! I was fascinated by it and could just feel the excitement inside me take hold! And during myself experience of teaching I learned the craft inside out through sharing it with others and learning ‘How to actually translate it to other understanding. I was mostly interested initially in the experience of sharing it with others through teaching and alongside I was doing stuff for myself bit by bit.

However, during my studies I was spending all the time in the ceramic studio after being told by my university tutor that I ought to be doing a ceramics degree and rejecting the very notion! But Ii couldn’t help but admit that I enjoyed the feeling of clay, regardless of the fact my father was a Potter. I had never the intention that I would be doing it too!

Your dad has been making ceramics for over 30 years so you grew up with clay at your fingertips, what’s your earliest memory with clay?

My earliest memory was making a teapot with my twin sister and I think we were really annoyed that the lid of the teapot did not fit properly but I think my dad was busy and he probably thought it was good enough for a pair of 6yr olds and left us to deal with our creation.. As he always did. He was never ever pushy or persuasive or even extra encouraging of us/I doing ceramics. We just enjoyed making stuff in general. Art was our favourite thing.. Especially also with a mother whom made all her puppets at home on the living room floor. We’d be gluing, stitching and painting together for hours on end.

As a fine artist, what do you do when you are lacking motivation?

When I’m stuffed for the gogo energy in the studio Sometimes I will just do nothing and chill and let these still moments serve their purpose. And just know that I do not need to force anything, inspiration comes when it comes, and when it does it’s pretty intense. I’m under my own spell and nothing can stop me!

What are your plans for the brand in the future?

Future plans consist of exploration..traveling. Following my trail of excitement and refining my practice, constantly adding new elements in. I used to do performance based work in uni, but really it’s all about expressing a vibe for me. I’m expressing through clay as a medium and very much stuck in the mud at the moment but in a good way! It has been my therapy through my life and carries a healing essence, and is why I’m so into it! It has a hold over my life style and the way I live, in order to accommodate the very nature of this practise is the way I live. It is connected to every aspect, daily routine and rituals of making all my life. Everything must run easy and smooth in order to work continuously with ease and abundance. Clay is a VERY simple yet a demanding material to work with. It always blesses us with lifes lessons, of patience, preserve and reward.

How much does your dad play a role in your company?

Well to start with I probably would not of had access to this practise if without his studio growing up also his work always inspired me. You can see and feel the depth of emotion in his work, he tells untold stories and hidden aspects of black culture.

Me and dad teach together in his large studio and I have my own space downstairs at Kingsgate Workshops, West Hampstead, London. I teach in the evening and weekends and he does Mon-Thursday. We see eachother everyday and believe me I say, I feel to lucky to see him everyday, I really love and cherish my family and one day they will be gone..so I appreciate!

My dad also does alot of the business, running of the studio, alot of maintenance work, loading and unloading kilns, fixing the kilns and the pottery wheels..making glazes ordering materials..pottery is not easy, every step of the way you need big heavy machinery! Everything you lift is heavy from a bag of clay down to a bucket of glaze! Alot of helped is needed, we have alot of support from loving people around us such a Michael, is 15 yrs in helper!!.

What was life growing up like as a twin?

You know, growing up being a twin was very difficult for me, compared to now, now is absolutely wonderful! I mean I have no idea what it must be like not to have a twin but all I knew is that I was fighting for my own identity until teenage,, because we looked the same. We were very identical so I would do make up and hair very differently (my teenage beauty modifications were awful!) To be honest I still do more cosmetic stuff to myself than my sister and that’s probably engrained insecurities that like to show up still every now and then. Imagine always being compared to what people called the ‘better twin’ the awful things I’ve heard people say about me and right in front of my face, was so hurtful. So in this sense it was very difficult for me more so than my sister! I’ve done alot of self work on self esteem, it used to be very low! My sister has had her troubles too but in different ways. Being a twin, as an adult now, is very interesting, it’s kind of cool, now that I have a greater understanding and awareness, I appreciate every part of her and love our differences and similarities. Yolande her name is, she does theatre like my mother, funny that, again not planned! We are always crossing paths of eachothers art forms and learning alot off eachother. There is a point were all the arts from cross over at the theory level of nothingness. Art is funny in the way, I never understood why the fashion of art is obsessed with minimalism when there is so much so say in this world. I’m not scared to say more is always more! But equally less may be more too. Perception is everything.

Talk us through an average day in your life?

Wake up 6/7am

Meditate for 30mins- 1 hour

Do some juicing of lemon and orange (wakes me up more than coffee), Whisk up some matche latte tea in all these hand made bowls in my kitchen (they are all so different mostly from students throwaway that they don’t like:D

Go to studio when ever I get there, sometimes early, sometimes late!

Teach or do my own work

Go home eat, chill

Mediate

Sleep

Repeat!

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to launch a company in your niche?

Go for it and go for it like you mean it! You can’t fail at this if you really want it! Community is important, always help others you never know who will give you a helping hand when you really need it. And you DO need it when you are running a business, you often need ten heads on at once! Dream big and stay positive, everything is learning and you have know idea what is around the corner!

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

It’s funny, I was just going like an unstoppable train everyday enjoying the process. I didn’t really take freyasclayclub seriously untill I looked back and was like okay this is how I make my living. I think my lack of stress and happy go lucky mentality towards it probably helped it flow and grow with ease. I remember my mum helping me brainstorm the name and I thought.. Whatever let’s just give it a go.

To date, what has been your proudest moment?

I think actually dealing with the level of stress when I was on the Great Pottery Throwdown 4 years ago! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO Stressed! Filming the show was very long hours, the challenges of what we had to make were very hard, and I was still coming home and teaching on the evenings and weekend.. I lost so much weight! But it was an unforgettable experience! And I was proud that I did it!

When lacking motivation, what do you do?

Go to the park, swim, I love swimming in the ponds..or natural rivers.

Sometimes I’ll just want to hang out with someone,, find a distraction that will spark some joy!

What’s your go-to quote when you want to feel inspired?

You never know what is around the corner.. Things are always in the process of happening for you whether you know it or not! I just think, follow your joy and everything else falls into place more easily.

What does self care mean to you?

Most of my self care is mental and behavioural based, looking after myself as you would to someone you really care about, for example… Well done Freya you can do it, or .. it’s Ok! I’m always trying to see the positive in everything!

But we can talk about hair! I’ve definitely surrendered to my hair! Let’s just say if you see moisture in my hair you know I’ve actually watered and fed it! My hair is always frizzy.. But I think I was born like this So I keep it as it is and don’t do anything that will damage it and just try to moisture and detangle it twice a week. It, especially gets dry with the clay in the studio, clay draws out impurities and dry things out even more! Though I’m very sweaty usually ? so it does well for my skin. I really enjoy using natural products, aromatherapy; love face creams and oils. Everything I use is as natural as possible! I simply can’t stand the smell of chemicals. And that’s the same for my food.

Follow Freya for more…

…Best thing todo is come and visit..spend a couple hours in our daily classes.

@freyabramblecarter

@chrisbrambleceramics

Website :

With the slow return to a new way of life coming our way we begin to reconsider our priorities. We believe that we must continue to pitch in where we can and find new ways of working together for the greater good.

So out of the lessons learned during lockdown of a young, creative and resourceful family in the leafy suburbs of London, comes ZaZaBoom!

A new-found charity-inspired business which is driven by fund-raising for charities in crisis. Their first fundraising mission was to simply make something to sell and to be able to donate funds to get PPE to the NHS heroes and frontline workers. And so the story began with one simple pattern which Karen cut, to make a face-mask as a labour of love. Within just weeks demand grew to such an extent that local volunteers joined Karen’s venture and dusted down their sewing machines to meet the orders coming in and to generate the funds for the NHS.

This is gifting with purpose. Plus, Karen is one of the coolest women we’ve stumbled across in a while so we couldn’t wait to find out more. Here, she chatted to #TeamCoco to tell us more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Zaza Boom!

The London lockdown began like it did for many others: Our highly active family of four beaming with optimism, creativity and excess energy in need of channeling. Had it not been for the accidental stumbling upon our charitable destiny for the front-line workers, we may not have survived the 3 full months with our sanity intact.

As our sequestered existence began to sink in, our attention naturally turned towards the basic practicalities of food, foraging and the never-ending question of how we could protect ourselves from this looming and invisible virus. My husband, dry humoured and sarcastic in even in the worst of times, informed me that I had been elected to find a way to up-cycle a handful of bullet-proof facemasks made with vacuum cleaner bags, clearly his time had been spent watching YouTube lockdown hacks.

Never being one to cower to a challenge, I gave it a bit of thought and consulted my quick-witted team of advisors: Ava, 6 and Coco, 9. We decided the best move forward was to first start our search for fabrics in the confines of our poorly-lit garage…

I was not in any way handy with a sewing machine before lockdown, and I was lucky to locate my dusty old Singer relic from beneath a stack of boxes. As with most challenges, I tend to hurl myself unwittingly into the unknown and the results are usually a mix of mayhem and regret. The attempt to master the art of face-mask-making was indeed no different. In the early days of isolation, supplies were minimal, and one had to rely on the resources at hand which did not involve the go-to Amazon-Prime. One rather fortuitous perk of my 30-year career as a clothing designer was that I had slowly accrued a sprawling web of worthless memorabilia which included scraps of fabrics, trims, threads and many other artefacts of my past. Apart from the treasure trove of prints, we also stumbled upon a box full of coloured underwear elastics that we decided to use for the masks, and anyone that was trying to make facemasks during lockdown will know that the elastic was the holy grail of scarce components. So that’s it, we made a few terrible ones, then a few mediocre ones and eventually we managed to make a facemask which was actually functional to wear and share. We thought our masks were quite unique and felt like they might actually spread a bit of joy, rather than the usual gloom one normally associates with protective face masks.

And perhaps we could even sell a few of them to our friends, who were looking for ways to protect their families, and donate the proceeds to the front-line workers of the NHS heroes. Like everyone else trapped in their homes with little to do but wait, the front-line workers came to symbolise the hope of our existence and we all tried to imagine how bewildering it must have been for them going in, day after day, to fight an invisible and deadly enemy. It made for many sobering and honest conversations with our little girls and eventually they came to see all nurses and doctors as crusading superheroes for good. I would imagine that their generation will see a spike in university applications looking to pursue careers in the health care field, due to these powerful early impressions made on them during lockdown. Another hopeful silver lining for the kids of lockdown.

The ultimate success of our project was due to two things: the generosity of our global donors and a fortuitous decision to use our colourful and joy generating prints. For whatever reason we had an unprecedented response to our mask making and we found ourselves trying to keep up, day by day. We were making masks every night until past midnight, and we were back up again at 7am to start all over again. Eventually we were brought to our knees and had to reach out via the popular Next-Door App to see if we could find volunteers to help us make the masks, as demand was overtaking our production process!

This led us to the next unexpected chapter of the discovery: the local community, heaving with charitable and dynamic people from all walks of life, from young to old and everyone in between. This new collaboration for a shared goal, brought a very unsuspecting group of people together, close in mind and spirit to keep the venture on track.

A group WhatsApp handle was created, called the NHS Sewing Bee and we used it to coordinate who was making what… for whom … and where on the planet it was going. It wasn’t until Week 5 that things began to get truly unsustainable when we began to run out of our small lots of fabrics and trims. We were challenged, as we did not want to renege on our offer to the donors and we also wanted to continue raising money for the workers.

Our only option to continue was to turn to cutting up fully made garments that were made for a business in the pipeline. It felt cringeworthy at first but then we quickly realised that we could get a whopping 30-40 masks out of one dress, and once we even managed to squeeze 21 masks out of a printed pair of leggings. So, in the end, we did indeed reach our goal of raising £10,000 for the front-line workers for the NHS and we used 100% of the funds to invest in PPE equipment from a resource that thankfully gave us everything at cost. The grand total of what we were able to buy, was 2600 highest-grade surgical gowns and 4500 K95 respirator masks. As the venture took on its own format and momentum, a seed of an idea started to take hold of my mind…

It was few weeks later and 10,000 hours invested into learning how to build a stylish and cool website, that a new picture started to take shape. We were able to launch the first charity-inspired lifestyle brand. We kept the name ZaZaBoom! which my husband had come up with, and we decided to continue donating 100% of all profits for, at least the first 200 days from launch, then going to 25% of the profits in perpetuity.

Our goal is to support charities suffering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our efforts will be spread across several areas and we plan to continue our mission for the NHS workers until it is no longer needed. We will also soon be announcing a unique collaboration with a new initiative to re-employ many of the homeless by retraining them as NHS support staff. We are also partnering with local food banks to help were we can in the worst hit areas.

Created to support charities in crisis, you are donating 100% of profit to different causes. Why was this important to you?

We were looking to find ways that we could continue being useful, and the natural answer seemed to be to channel our energy and creativity into making lovable, likeable products to incentivise people to buy something unique, made in the UK, while at the same time being able to raise funds and allow us to take our profits and #giftiton to charities in crisis. The facemasks will also stay at the core of the venture, as they generate 100% of the profits for the charities and continue to be made by our community of wonderful volunteers. We now ship our masks for FREE to anywhere in the world to #spreadthelovenotthevirus and to #wearthedamnmask

You believe that the best luxury in life is the luxury of giving. We love that ethos! You have had the whole family involved in this project: how do you plan on evolving the brand over time?

We are all in love with this poignant expression as it seems to perfectly express the essence of what ZaZaBoom! is all about. We discovered that dedicating ourselves to helping others was the most fulfilling thing that we’ve ever done, and by far our greatest luxury. It felt like a great privilege to be a part of something far bigger than ourselves. It’s not only provided us with a positive and productive purpose during lock-down, but it has also allowed us to meet the most incredible group of kindhearted new friends along the way. We expect that we have a long road of healing ahead of us and we just hope that we can continue being useful with our efforts.

The irony is that the surrendering of your heart and time for others can prove to be the most fulfilling and noteworthy thing you will ever spend your life and money on.

What roles do you each play in the company?

That’s a funny question. I consider Ava, 6, Coco, 9 and myself to be co-founders but sadly I’ve been recently informed that I am the only that can sew, design, draw, cook, build a website and therefore I’m in charge of everything. One of most transformative and fulfilling parts of our lockdown legacy has been observing my eldest daughter Coco become massively more confidant in herself. We rather ridiculously hosted our own live shows every Saturday night on Facebook during lockdown. We called it The Saturday Night Love Show for the NHS. We had a loose and home-grown format where we honoured the NHS heroes of the week, the volunteers of the week, and also, we did shout-outs to our donors of the week, who were buying collectable pieces to raise funds. It was all quite surreal, but the most surprising bit was how confidant and animated our little Coco became on camera. Her whole face lit up when the LIVE button started to flash and she was thrilled to chat, joke, do shout outs and one time even did her trademark handstand in the middle of our show. A 30-minute show of Coco and me, camera shy, sitting awkwardly next to her and holding on for dear life. Any parent would have been beaming with pride but I was mostly amazed of how that experience created a massive shift in her shyness levels. The best result was that she managed to create a joyful and hilarious distraction for the 1000’s of people who watched our weekly show. We’ve heard from 100s of followers and friends since we stopped our shows, that dearly miss their weekly dose our madcap ZaZaBoom! show, and yes mostly Coco. We’ve given her a temporary leave of absence to return to the innocence of her celebrity-free childhood and also ensure that we don’t encourage her peaking in her career as a newscaster too early. She even came up with her own hilarious and memorable “sign-off” that she delivered at the end of every weekly show. Coco’s signature “sign off” later became the inspiration behind our iconic ZaZaBoom! logo which inspired our dear friend Lee, founder of the graphic and branding agency Felix and Friends, to wake up in the middle of the night having dreamt of the perfect graphic equivalent to Coco’s signature outburst, which was ZazaaaaaBBBBBOOOMMMM!

We love the patterns on the products, who creates the designs?

I create all of the illustrations and then transform them on photoshop to all over patterns. I have no formal training as a textile designer and have just learned along the way, picking up different things here and there, watching online “pattern repeat” tutorials until my brain baked with frustrations and then one day it just clicked. Since that milestone, I began designing collections, and searching for my unique signature as a textile designer. It took nearly 3 years to finally stand back and say, yes, that it, that’s my “trademark & signature” and this is when I created my first pattern The Gastby Girls, inspired by my beautiful late mum Nancy. It was this first print that I decided to launch our new ZaZaBoom! charity inspired brand. I also included her close mates The Bombshell Girls, Martini Extra Olives Please and the ever-iconic and timeless Crown Jewels. Aside from my family, this is my greatest passion and love, to draw and create whimsical and joy generating patterns

Since launching the brand, what has been your proudest moment?

I think it was seeing the breathtaking results of the campaign photo shoot we did at our house with an absolute dream-team of talent, who all donated their time for the love of the cause. It was a day that we will never ever forget. We even managed to get our super model on top of our house for our most dream like shot.

Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?

Probably not. Although it was tough balancing everything with 2 young girls, homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, it all did sort of come about organically. Sometimes trying to control and perfect everything around us greatly reduces the possibility for magical and unexpected results.

What does self-care mean to you?

I think it means looking after oneself so that you are able to look after others later?

For any aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to launch in you field, what advice would you offer?

I’d encourage anyone to give a thought to the #giftiton concept and choose to Create-to-Donate. Strangely you end up getting back far more than you have given, in terms of love, kindness and karma.

What has been the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Probably that the “idle mind is the devil’s playground.” So, in other words, keep busy when things get tough.

What’s your go to quote when lacking motivation?

Suck it up buttercup.

Find out more and follow Karen on her journey…

At our new forever hacienda @ www.zazaboom.co.uk and on Instagram & FB @zazaboom_official

Family owned, Arabella Baby is the brand that makes life easier for busy families. RossAnne is at the helm after acquiring the business a couple of years ago when she spotted an opportunity she couldn’t refuse. She has since taken things to the next level and her story is one that inspired us.

We spent some time with RossAnne to find out more about her plans for the brand, how she juggles her hectic schedule and more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Arabella Baby…

At the end of 2018 I began looking at the idea to build an Amazon business. As I was learning about how to build an Amazon business the opportunity to purchase some inventory from a woman that no longer wanted to be in the business came up and I jumped at the chance to take over Arabella Baby. She had only been working on it for about 8 months, so it was just the bare bones of a business, but I was excited to “sink my teeth” into a new venture. I quickly decided to build the brand on and off Amazon.

You’re a busy mum, how do you get the balance right between work and home life?

I’m definitely not perfect at this, but I do my best!

I work at home, so for me the number one thing to is communicate with my family! I tell my husband and 9-year-old son when I will be unavailable because of a business call or other meeting and allow myself to be flexible throughout the day if they need me.

I also take time for self-care EVERYDAY! This includes, scripture study, prayer/meditation, exercise or a walk/hike, and a shower;) I also carve out time for personal “maintenance” i.e., hair, lash, and wax appointments. I am a “mature” woman in my late 40s and have learned that reducing stress is the most important thing we women can do for our health, which is the most important tool in my business. I have a “rest and relaxation” mindset. That means I do what I can to reduce the feelings of stress in my life by walking, spending time with friends, spa days (which has been tough this year!), take a 10-30 minute nap (yes this is a tool I use daily!), take a bath or long shower, and anything else that relaxes my body and mind. Hobbies are another great tool. I love putting puzzles together and am currently working on a 42,000-piece puzzle! I usually work on it in the evening before going to bed. Taking a walk, especially in nature, is a fantastic way to reduce stress and lower cortisol levels in women, which does a handful of wonderful things for our health.

A daily task list is a life saver. I love to use the Google Keep app. I also tend to do things on a schedule like planning meals on Sunday, running errands at the same time during the day (for me that is around 2p.m. on the days that I need to go), and going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning.

I also take Sundays completely off. A day of rest from work is a great way to re-charge and re-focus for the week.

Another valuable tool I use to stay balanced is writing in my journal before I go to bed. This settles my mind and helps me sleep.

For any mums wanting to launch their own business, what advice would you give?

I think the biggest key is to look at your skills, gifts, and talents, and choose a business that allow you to shine in those areas and then decide what areas you will need help. Are you a great leader? Can you motivate people as a motivational speaker? Do you excel at public speaking or speaking in general? Can you network easily? What types of activities do you LOVE doing and would you be able to make money selling what you do/make or teaching others how to do/make? These are just a FEW of the questions I would ask.

There are so many types of viable business options that narrowing down the one you want to start can be daunting. Throughout my adulthood I have had numerous businesses, so I am pretty clear on my strengths and weaknesses. I’ve had a few business failures that taught me valuable information about myself. Don’t be afraid of the failure!

I’m also a believer in taking action. Don’t get stuck in “analysis paralysis”. If you have an idea for a business, just start and see where the journey takes you. If it doesn’t work the way you thought it would, most likely it will lead you to another opportunity that is just as great or even better than you thought!

I’m of the belief that God will direct my path, but only if I’m moving. I often think of this quote, “You cannot move a parked car.” Even if the car is barely moving, it can be steered. Just take the next step over and over!

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

The biggest learning curve in my current business has been marketing and branding. Most of the businesses I’ve been involved in were direct sales where the marketing and branding were done by the company. My husband and I had our own mortgage business years ago that we branded and marketed, but not to the scale I wanted for Arabella Baby. I’ve had to learn how to brand and market my own label this time and it’s been very challenging, but also very fun!

How do you want mums to feel when they buy from you?

I want mums and dads to feel uplifted, motivated and supported by my brand. That is our purpose behind EVERYTHING we do.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

As soon as I wake up, I start with scripture study. This usually takes about 10 minutes, followed by prayer/meditation and then going over my to-do list for the day.

Then I put my workout clothes on and make my son breakfast.

3 days a week: a quick 15-20 minute workout followed by a walk or hike (sometimes on my treadmill if the weather is not permitting an outdoor walk/hike).

Other days: 60 minute walk/hike outside if possible or on treadmill.

Shower and dress for the day.

Time to sit at my computer and get to work.

I have a balanced smoothie for breakfast around 11.

Around 2 p.m. I fulfill orders and drop them off for delivery. Then I run any needed errands. (This is a part of the business that I will hire out as we grow.)

I also eat a balanced lunch before I leave, which usually includes a high-quality protein bar or grab-n-go snack pack (these are sold in the US and include a portion of cheese, sliced meat and nuts).

Around 5 p.m. I start preparing to make dinner. Eating well is a HUGE part of being successful, so I take time to prepare a meal every day except Friday and Saturday when we eat out. If I ever find that taking time to prepare a meal isn’t feasible in my schedule, that will be the time to hire help in my business.

My inventory is made in China, so there are times when I need to communicate with my suppliers after dinner because they are 14 hours ahead. They are typically starting work around 6 p.m. my time.

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

There are lots of things I wish I had not spent capital on like marketing programs that didn’t net any noticeable sales. When I started, I was searching for anything that would help me be successful at marketing the brand, so I paid for a lot of “expert” programs. What I’ve learned is that marketing takes time and it’s ideal to be marketing EVERYWHERE! Also, it’s best to invest in the experts to do the marketing for me instead of trying to learn it myself!

How much has Covid19 impacted you?

My biggest month so far was May 2020! Lots of people were home shopping and my bundles in a box are perfect to send to new parents!

At this point there are only two members of my Arabella team, me and my Marketing Manager, Madison, who lives in another state in the US, so we did not have to make any changes to be physically safe.

Other than that, the biggest impact has been my supply chain. It has taken a lot longer to replenish my inventory from factories in China slowing down, to shipping issues. Our family has not been directly impacted by the virus, thankfully, so other than being home a lot more, our lives have not changed very much. My heart goes out to the millions around the world who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is to be very aware of my thoughts and work hard to maintain thoughts that empower and strengthen me. I listen to self-help books on a regular basis and this is a theme that comes up over and over. Our thoughts direct our whole life. If we think sick thoughts, we will be sick. If we think healthy thoughts, we will be healthy. If we let our thoughts “go” and direct our lives, we will not end up where we want to be. It is the toughest work in the world to take charge of our thoughts, but it the most valuable work in the world!

Where can people find out more…

You can find out more about our products at arabellababy.com. We’re on the social @arabellababyco. We do our best to create uplifting, entertaining content so come join our club!

Free flowing and artistic is the vibe that you can expect when you buy flowers from Sissinghurst Flowers, a brand created by the creative genius Ali Langley-Smith.

Ali remincises about picking flowers when she was a kid and it’s those early memories that lead her to the path she is on today. Here, we spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching Sissinghurst Flowers.

Sissinghurst Flowers has gradually evolved over many years. As a child I loved picking flowers from the garden and arranging them and making rose petal perfume – I even used to dig up wild ferns and put them in pots in my bedroom. Ferns are so very now, I obviously was before my time ?. I studied interior design and the two professions are very similar in many ways. When my children were at school, I found myself organizing the floral aspects to school functions and events. The events gradually were getting bigger and more schools were coming to me for advice, so I decided that it would be good to do professional qualifications. From there the business started growing, doing the odd wedding, funeral or bouquet, until now where we have been very busy doing lots of events and also many teaching courses throughout the year which are very popular.

You have a really distinct style, how did you hone in on this and what sets you apart from other florists?

I really like my flowers to look natural together. I love combining textures, shapes and colours and a feeling of whatever I am creating to be completely full and overflowing. I do use greenery of course depending on what the client would like, but generally not very much as I really like the flowers to stand out. Many florists put lots of greenery in their designs so that they don’t have to use too many flowers and cut costs.

How have you pivoted during Covid19?

I have found it almost impossible to source flowers as the wholesalers have remained shut. New Covent Garden Flower Market has only re-opened today (15 June). We have been shielding our daughter during this time and I haven’t felt safe – even if I could have bought some flowers to do deliveries, and obviously events are not happening. The situation is now opening up a bit, so I am sure we will start doing socially distanced deliveries very soon. We have been thinking about how to do our courses, as in my studio I have a maximum of 8 students and it really isn’t large enough with the two metre socially distancing rule, so we will probably have far fewer people, or we will send out the “ingredients” for the course and then have a zoom meeting which would mean a lot more people could attend safely.

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

As a family we have done a lot of travelling around the world, but I have always been absolutely fascinated by ancient Egypt and have never been there. I would love to travel down the Nile in a felluca visiting all the amazing archaeological sites.

What do you do when you lack creativitiy?

We have an amazing cockapoo dog called Lily and we do live in a beautiful part of the British Isles, so if I take her out for a long walk, the beauty of nature and her wonderful character will generally restore my thoughts.

What does self care mean to you?

Looking after yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally is so important for everyone, particularly at the moment during this pandemic. It is so good to go out into the fresh air – regardless of the weather and do some exercise, bike ride, walk in the beautiful countryside or a picnic on the beach. I do love a yoga class – which sadly hasn’t happened apart from on-line – a face mask, lovely bath and scented candles all help along with lots of talking to friends and family.

Looking back over your career, which moment stands out as a highlight?

I don’t have any particular moment that stands out, but every time I deliver bridal flowers and the bride is speechless and cries with joy is a wonderful moment. Also, when I have created sympathy flowers and the client sends a note or phones to say thank you they were wonderful, it is all worth the effort.

For any aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to launch a brand in your niche, what advice would you offer them in order to build a successful and profitable business?

The floral industry is very hard work physically, so you must be fit – there is so much lifting, carrying and moving heavy buckets full of water and flowers as well as all the mechanics of how you make everything. You also need to be able to think outside the box as things do go wrong and you have to be able to fix the situation before the event. It is difficult to run a floristry business by yourself, so if you can find a helpful, “can-do” assistant (which I did), that will really help.

How much does social media play a role in your company?

Social media is a hugely important part of the business as it enables people to see exactly what we are doing day to day. Whatever medium you choose, people will find and follow you.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?

I love seeing family and friends, (my nephew has just had a baby boy and I can’t wait to meet him), taking our dog Lily for a walk, playing tennis, and going for bicycle rides. During the lockdown we have become obsessed with playing croquet on the lawn!

How has Covid19 affected your day to day business?

It has completely changed the entire business as there are currently no big weddings, parties or events and I can’t run courses. People are still booking online for courses later in the year, although we will have to see how things look nearer the time. We will also need to wait and see how many people are allowed to be together for weddings and events for things to start moving towards the normal we are used to.

Where can people find out more….

We can always be found at www.sissinghurstflowers.co.uk