In Summer 2018, a bright and bubbly florist caught my eye who was on the cusp on launching her unique floristry boutique in Poundbury, Dorset. I was instantly impressed with the passion and precision with which Lauren Hooper set about opening the doors to her new floristry business, at a time when so many new florists are working in a studio set-up. The shop floor has provided a brilliant platform for Lauren to host workshops and events, it’s given her public visibility and she’s even hosted a Royal visit. I asked Lauren about the journey leading up to her living her floral dream. Has it all been roses and Royalty?

Describe The Happy Blossoms. What’s it all about?

The Happy Blossoms is a family business, co-owned by myself and my lovely Mum, Barbara. We stock only the very best flowers from around the world, mostly from Holland, the UK and Columbia. We specialise in beautifully rustic florals that are inspired by the countryside, always creating our designs with seasonality in mind. I really love to stock the shop with flowers that you would never have seen before, from proteas to pineapples, we have it all! We are a very environmentally-aware shop, all of our packaging is environmentally friendly and can either be recycled or composted.

When did you first decide you were going to launch your own independent and unique floristry business, and was the shop always part of that dream?

Yes, absolutely! Whilst training in floristry I was very fortunate to take part in The Princes Trust Enterprise Scheme and this really helped me to turn my dreams into a reality through lots and lots of planning; writing a business plan is an absolute must and helps to show you the big picture and whether it is a feasible plan.

What are your credentials? What’s your career path that brought you to the point where The Happy Blossoms idea was conceived?

I am a professionally qualified florist, trained at the very wonderful Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester which is just a stones throw from my shop in Poundbury. I worked in a few florist shops in Dorset before opening The Happy Blossoms which developed my knowledge, confidence and skills before taking the plunge!

I interpret your brand as creative, environmentally-aware, natural, nurturing, and a bit jolly. Am I on the right lines? Tell me about the brand identity process.  

You have summed up The Happy Blossoms perfectly! We are a very happy team that are exceptionally creative and passionate about what we do. Our Graphic Designer Wesley at the design agency openday (www.openday.studio) knows us very well and therefore encapsulated our personalities into The Happy Blossoms branding which is why I think it reflects us so perfectly.

I strongly believe in the #communityovercompetition philosophy of business. Why do you think it is such a talking point amongst female entrepreneurs?

I think that opening your own business can be very intimidating and everyone needs someone cheering you on. I love that Instagram in particular is full of wonderful people that are supporting you 100{fc4ffa2697ca570e43b5816fe716a05c0e7f059c4d464a857cd73bdc5a1ff7f7} even if you haven’t met them in person yet. There is nothing that I love more than attending a floristry event where you meet people who you follow on Instagram and share stories of how gorgeous their work is.

Read my blog post about #communityovercompetition here

What’s the big dream for The Happy Blossoms?

This is a very good question, we have big dreams for The Happy Blossoms! We have just started selling our bouquets nationwide online at thehappyblossoms.com and we have lots of wedding bookings for 2019. So, at the moment we have our hands firmly full. But we shall see what the future brings – one thing I am sure of, is that we will keep reaching for big things!

Read about my Wedding Bouquet Illustration Service here

Find The Happy Blossoms…

2 Lydgate St, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3SJ
01305 268878
hello@thehappyblossoms.com

WEBSITE 

INSTAGRAM 

FACEBOOK

PINTEREST

 

Working on a new website has been an existential ordeal, and nowhere more so than writing my “About Me” page. I’ve sat at my laptop unravelling my own personality, juggling my desire for authenticity with what and how much personal information I want to share within my business. I’ve grappled with my authorial voice, knowing that every word is offering my potential botanical illustration clients a reason to book me, or walk away. 

Time to call in the pros. 

In this blog post, I speak with experts across coaching, branding and copywriting, to help get to the bottom of why it is so hard to write “About Me” and suggest some positive solutions. 

Vicky Shilling   |   business coach to creative and wellness entrepreneurs and editor of award-winning food blog The Flourishing Pantry

Anna Pumer   |   in-demand wedding photographer and founder of Kick Ass Photographers, a service offering customisable copywriting templates for photographers and creatives

Jen Feroze   |   founder of copywriting agency Jackdaw Editorial, specialising in the wedding industry

Gina Traboulsi   |   founder of creative agency Flamingo Rose, offering marketing, copywriting, branding, events and production in the luxury industries

So let’s just get one thing clear from the off… all my guest contributors agree that your About Me page is THE way to distinguish yourself in a global market of online business. 

ANNA: “First of all, people invest in people. We like seeing faces, hearing about people’s lives, and are increasingly spending our money on independent businesses over chains. Think about how many competitors you have. Probably quite a few. Think about their product or service – is it similar to yours? And their price – not far off yours, or maybe a little cheaper? What makes the client buy from you? What is setting you apart? Hopefully you have a good website, professional photos and branding that appeals to your ideal client. But so do your competitors. You’ll want to have your voice everywhere on your website, not just on your About Me page – but the About Me page is the best place to start!”

So what is the one thing you can do that they can’t? Be you! Use your personality, the special things that only you can do, your story, to sell your product or service. – Anna Pumer, Anna Pumer Photography / Kick Ass Photographers

Wellness and creative entrepreneur coach Vicky agrees: 

VICKY: “A lot of the clients I coach work in professions like Health Coaching and Nutritional Therapy. There are thousands of people out there now with these qualifications, many of them running clinics completely online. With so many people to choose from, how do you stand out and cut through the noise? From my perspective the About Me page is the chance to say why you’re different. Anyone can complete a course or offer services. It’s your story, your journey and your unique approach that is going to convince someone to work with you, over your competitor.”

VICKY: “Yes of course entrepreneurship is about finding what people want and selling it to them. But when you’re in a crowded market, the best thing you can do to stand out is tell your story loud and clear. It’s a ’sales pitch’ that never gets old, that feels easy to repeat and makes your customer feel something.

It’s all about that Maya Angelou quote: “People may not remember exactly what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” If your About Me makes them feel and think “yes, this person gets me”, you’re onto a winner.” – Vicky Shilling, coach to wellness and creative entrepreneurs

I spoke to Gina about the root of the problem. Why can’t we bear to share the subject we should be an authority on – ourselves?

GINA: “I can totally understand the sense of panic that business owners and professionals in their field are confronted with when compelled to write about themselves for a website, social media profile or speaker slot. My own thorny relationship with the topic goes all the way back to compiling that dreaded personal statement on the UCAS application form – cue sleepless nights, tears and begging for an extension. I ended up delaying applying to uni (I should add here that it wasn’t for this reason alone, I made the life-changing decision to live in Italy for a year before deciding what to study), but the point is that when the pressure was off, I was suddenly able to sit down with a clear head and pen something that finally resonated.”

“offering up little snippets of personality is an absolute must in order for an audience to buy into what you’re selling – especially for creatives, whose work is often so intricately woven into their overall being” – Gina Traboulsi, founder of creative agency Flamingo Rose

GINA: “Since setting up FlamingoRose in 2010, I’ve become much more used to writing about who I am and what I can do. Even when it’s under pressure! For me, it always helps to think of myself within the context of our overall brand – we’re a B2B creative agency, so I try to put myself in the shoes of our clients when imagining what they’d like to know. Being a wife and mummy is a huge part of my personal identity, but is it relevant on the ‘about our agency’ page of a more corporate proposal? Probably not. Whilst I always endeavour to write in a way that is engaging, approachable and democratic, I do carve a space between my private and professional personas. Although saying that, offering up little snippets of personality is an absolute must in order for an audience to buy into what you’re selling – especially for creatives, whose work is often so intricately woven into their overall being. My advice would be to lead with the important stuff like skills and achievements, but use light-hearted and easy language, alongside a couple of quirky or lesser known facts. If you’re struggling, then give it some space. Never publish/send copy on the same day as you write it, and if you’re really not feeling it, close the laptop, jet off to Italy/put the kettle on/walk round the block and come back to it later.”

Vicky adds an important and reassuring point:

VICKY: “Also remember, nothing on the internet is written in stone. My About Me changes quite regularly, along with my business! Done is better than perfect. Accept that this is a page that will change and grow with you. It’s not forever. Don’t let it hold you back from getting your website out in the world.”

If it all seems too much, then outsourcing to a professional copywriter will save many hours of anguish. Jen Froze, founder of Jackdaw Editorial has her say:

JEN: “I write for a living, and I love it. My job is to get to know you, your business and the things that light you up, and to tease out exactly the right combinations of words to bring your brand fizzing and crackling into life. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction. That said, when the time came for me to write my own About Me page, I could quite cheerfully have thrown my laptop out of an upstairs window. It is hard, even for the professionals!”

Your ‘About’ page is necessarily the most personal and therefore the most vulnerable piece of your online brand identity. – Jen Feroze, Jackdaw Editorial

JEN: Stripping away the gloss and polish of the services or products you’re offering your clients and getting to the heart of your business (that’s you, in case you were wondering) can be a confronting experience, and it’s often the reason that ‘about’ pages are left until last, and written in a ‘night-before-launch’ panic.” If this sounds like you, it’s time to face those fears! First things first, stop overthinking it. As a business owner, you’ve chosen to hop aboard the entrepreneurial rollercoaster and everything that goes with it – that shows passion, drive, spark and a host of other qualities. It is ok to talk about these. It’s ok to write about what makes you strong, what makes you laugh, what brings you up short. These are your stories, and they’re relevant and powerful.“

JEN: “For your first draft, stop thinking about what you think you should write, and just write. Tell us about the moment that your business idea blossomed into life, tell us about your childhood, tell us about the people that inspire you, the places you dream of exploring, the things that can’t fail to make you smile right the way to your eyes. Then go away from your computer and treat yourself to a fresh cup of tea and some chocolate biscuits, go for a walk, take a break and come back to it wearing your editor’s hat. Now’s the time to sculpt the stories you’ve written in your first draft. Re-structure, revise, cut and re-order it until you’ve got a piece that re-enforces your passion and professionalism, and that pops with real personality.”

Anna has seen so many of her online community battle with writing about themselves, that she’s created a clever About Me Page generator aimed at either photographers (available now) or creative entrepreneurs (coming soon). You buy the package, tweak the multiple choice options and fill in the blanks. You’ll find the links below. But for anyone wanting go it alone, here are her practical tips for writing an About Me page to wow your ideal client.

Things to think about on your About Me page:

• Write in first person
• Tell your story – how and why did you start this business?
• Unless you’re a very serious lawyer, doing very serious things, lose the corporate voice you think you should adopt. Be friendly, light and yourself. Your potential clients will feel like they already know you if you speak in your own voice.
• If you struggle to write in your own voice, tell someone verbally who you are and why you do what you do. Then use that!
• Keep it shortish – lists are good, but also try to include a short intro paragraph.
• Avoid clichés. They don’t tell us anything about you.
• Mention things you love – unrelated to your business. Try not to use the usual things that everyone loves (Netflix and coffee anyone?) but unusual things that will make your ideal client say “oh my god, me too!”
• Solve your potential client’s problem – what do they want? Speak to their needs. If you make handmade soap and your target client is looking for something that supports the environment, talk about your environmental beliefs and how your products support them.
• Back it up with your blog – as well as blogging about your business and industry, write about yourself and your life. Blog your travels, your life – and tie it back to your work somehow.
• Use happy, positive words. Don’t overuse exclamation marks.
• Check for spelling errors.

What to include on your About Me page:

• At least one photo of yourself – showing your face!
• Your name
• Where you’re based
• Things you love
• What you do/sell
• Where you do/sell it
• Why you do it
• Awards you’ve won or features you’ve had
• Who your customer is and what they want
• How they can get in contact

Visit my existing biography – but I can’t wait to share my new About Me page on my new website – launching Fri 17th May 2019

Got feedback or fancy collaborating on a blog post? Drop me a line via my Contact Page

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY CONTRIBUTORS

To help you figure out who you even are in the first place…

Vicky Shilling is a life coach to creative and wellness entrepreneurs at VickyShilling.com and editor of award-winning food blog The Flourishing Pantry.

Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook Group (Flourishing Entrepreneurs) 

Copywriting Services…

HIGH STREET: Anna Pumer is an in-demand wedding photographer and founder of Kick Ass Photographers, selling off-the-shelf About Me and Blog template services to photographers and creative business owners. Buy Anna’s templates here.

Website | Instagram | Facebook Group (Kick Ass Photographers – a supportive photography business community of 1500+ photographers)

HIGH END: Jen Feroze of Jackdaw Editorial offers a Copywriting Clinic and bespoke writing services, specialising in the wedding industry

Website | Instagram | Facebook Group (The Jackdaw’s Nest – Unlock Your Inner Storyteller)

HAUTE COUTURE: Gina Traboulsi founder of creative agency Flamingo Rose offers 360 degree creative services inclusing marketing, copywriting, branding, events and production across the luxury market

Website | Instagram | Linked In

Trends in floral design are always evolving. What seems fresh and exciting one year, can seem old-fashioned the next. I only have to picture my own wedding bouquet (a tight, rigid posey of antique roses) next to today’s wildly abundant asymmetric styles, to see how quickly “classic and timeless” is reinvented, season after season. In Summer 2018, I enjoyed a lively lunch with Sally Murray of Halo Blossom Floral Design. Sally described how she’s seen so much change in the world of wedding flowers in the last decade, but if she were to list the questions she is asked the most, her 2019 couples have identical concerns to those of 2009. We discussed the tricky business of what to do with the bouquet following the wedding and how her brides are always looking for fresh ideas. Naturally, I signposted my Wedding Bouquet Illustration Service as a chic and modern way to answer that familiar enquiry “How Do I Preserve my Bouquet?”

Here though, are the three other questions Sally is always asked by happy couples in preparation for their Big Day:

1. “I really don’t know much about flowers. Does that matter?”

 

“Clients say, “I really don’t know exactly what I want, I just like these pictures”.

To me, that’s perfect.” – Sally Murray, Halo Blossom

“Absolutely not, that’s my job. Just be sure about what catches your eye. I’ll be honest, it flaws me if a couple know the exact flowers they want. Some can name a couple and some have looked up a few flower varieties, but most have absolutely no idea. Don’t worry — why would you? I often get couples apologising for their lack of knowledge, and meet me with a Pinterest board that’s greeted with “I really don’t know exactly what I want, I just like these pictures”. To me, that’s perfect.

The best Pinterest boards to work with are those that show your style and taste, the images that make your heart sing. So pin these rather than images from just your venue, or just in the colour scheme you like. Chances are, there will be a definite common theme running through and it’s your florist’s job to identify these themes, and make recommendations that work just for you. It’s one of my favourite parts of my job!”

2. Can you tell me how much wedding flowers cost?

“decide how important flowers are to you for your wedding and allocate budget accordingly” – Sally Murray, Halo Blossom

When I exhibit at a wedding show, the most common question I get asked is how much do wedding flowers cost? This is always such a tricky one to answer, as it varies so much depending on what you choose. Photographers and DJs for example normally have a flat fee structure, but we need to cost per stem and your wedding flowers can cost from hundreds to thousands.

What I would say though, is decide how important flowers are to you for your wedding and allocate budget accordingly. If they mean a lot to you, budget around ten per cent of your overall spend to them. I can advise depending on the style and venue, and don’t always go with the cheapest. You really do get what you pay for. You should go with a florist who you get on with, trust, and you really feel has captured your style and taste.

Flowers by Halo Blossom. Photo by Milk Bottle Photography

3. Can I have peonies please?

“these flowers are cheeky little monkeys – they show up when they feel ready, and are only around for four-to-six weeks a year” – Sally Murray, Halo Blossom

Having said that most couples don’t know the names of flowers, the peony is one exception to that rule. During wedding planning, once a peony has been spotted and it’s pulled at the heart strings, it often features on every single Pinterest image on a couple’s board. But these flowers are cheeky little monkeys – they show up when they feel ready, and are only around for four-to-six weeks a year. June is the month to get married if you have your heart set on them. But there are alternatives – some flouncy old English roses have a very similar look and, again, I’ll go back to the style of images that catch your eye to work out the best alternative for you.

Flowers by Halo Blossom. Photo by Paul Joseph Photography

If you are looking for an answer to the question “How Do I Preserve My Bouquet?”, please read about my Wedding Bouquet Illustration Service here

 

About Sally Murray

Sally Murray has been running Halo Blossom Floral Design for 13 years. Her style is very much romantic, elegant and natural, using seasonal flowers and foliages with plenty of shape and texture. During this time, Halo Blossom has been asked to work on some truly incredible weddings and has created flowers for royalty. She has also been shortlisted for several top industry awards, regularly makes displays for national wedding magazines and is now a preferred supplier at several top wedding venues across the Herts, Cambridgeshire and Essex area.

Find Halo Blossom on the following platforms

WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

 

 

I didn’t start my supper club Creative in Residence by logically thinking “How to Start a Supper Club” and working methodically through the list. Rather, I focused on my goals, which thankfully were a shared a vision with my co-host – wellness coach Vicky Shilling of The Flourishing Pantry. At the time, summer 2018, I was hoping to expand my professional network but felt pretty despondent towards networking events. I either got super nervous and anxious beforehand, or I found them a bit cringy and dull. Or both.

So an obvious solution seemed to be to start my own, which hopefully wouldn’t have me stressing at 3am about walking into room full of strangers the next day. No name badges. No on-the-spot presentations. Vicky’s delicious food. Lots of wine. Fabulous company. Fast-forward six months and Creative in Residence is a hot ticket with a waiting list, overwhelming testimonials and plans for our next event in Dublin.

HOW TO START A SUPPER CLUB

Here’s five things to think about if you are inspired to launch your own supper club or intimate networking event.

1. A room with space to seat six to 12 people

We host at my home in Greenwich, south east London. It’s cosy, and we literally have to dismantle my drawing table from the top floor studio, carry it downstairs and re-assemble in the living room. That forms a banqueting style arrangement with my dining table. A couple of extra chairs come out of the shed. Every plate and glass gets used, and they certainly don’t all match. But all the surface-level imperfections don’t matter. We are not pretending we are Claridge’s.  

Six people would be my suggested minimum number if you want to create the ambiance of a special occasion, not a family dinner. Twelve is my maximum. Any more becomes a far more logistical challenge to serve enough food, hot, whilst still feeling like you get a chance to chat to everyone. 

2. An inspiring guest list

This is my speciality and area of expertise, having compiled guest lists for the fashion industry for many years. The best parties always have an eclectic mix of backgrounds, industries, ages and experience levels – though will by-and-large share the same core values as you. It makes for the liveliest conversations. For the Creative in Residence supper club, our guest list is focused on female creative entrepreneurs and the business mentors that support us. I’d dare you to invite a few friends, a few colleagues and few virtual strangers, perhaps those you’ve only met once or purely have an online relationship with. It all adds to the excitement and there’s an invisible security blanket when you know you are not the only newbie in the room. Everyone naturally makes more effort to be inclusive and friendly. 

3. A delicious but simple menu

Here’s where my partnership with Vicky truly flourishes. She’s a foodie through and through. She loves to cook and loves even more to connect with people through her cooking. You only have to follow along on with her Instagram Stories to see her passion for wellness, self-love and level-headed nutrition, all seeping out across cyberspace. So while I’m free to focus on vibes, decor, guestlist and answering the door, Vicky can dedicate her time to lining up a delicious menu she knows she can deliver with minimum stress. Remember no-one appreciates a stressed-out bride, so prioritize fun over fancy. 

4. Fresh, organic ingredients delivered to your door

To articulate this point, I need to fill you in on my day that led up to our last Creative in Residence supper club. It all began at 5am, awoken by a vomiting child. The five hours of childcare I had scheduled was therefore cancelled, all of which time I was planning to dedicate to preparing for the event. On the way to collect our gorgeous flowers from the florist, a tyre puncture alarm suddenly went off when we were half way through the Blackwall Tunnel, under the River Thames. The next second, a tiny voice from the back seat whimpered, “Mummy, my tummy doesn’t feel very nice.” We were (as my bestest school friends would say) having a shocker.

But the silver lining came courtesy of Abel & Cole, the organic food box people. For 30 years, Abel & Cole have been delivering organic veggies (plus drinks, dairy and pantry goodies) across Britain. It’s worth noting that they offer a Build Your Own Box service, for those who fear they will be lumped with five turnips and an artichoke. 

We teamed up with Abel & Cole for this supper club because we felt their values – delicious, ethical, seasonal, sustainable – were total aligned with what we aim to serve up for our creative entrepreneurs. And thank goodness we did, because amid all the panic and exhaustion of dealing with sick children (and my eldest had been sick and off school earlier in the week too), plus deadlines and puncture dramas, my ingredients arrived precisely when expected, all present, totally fresh and delicious. 

5. A goody bag

Ever since I was teeny tiny, I can remember the thrill of receiving a party bag to take home. Often just a slice of cake and maybe a couple of colouring pencils, these little bags of joy still elicit a wave of feverish anticipation and gratitude from deep within me.

We wanted to provide goody bags at Creative in Residence as a subtle way for our entrepreneurs to smuggle marketing materials to each guest. Nothing needed to be brandished across the dinner table. No phones required to share contact details. Everything is neatly prepared and packaged, ready to be digested the next day. Though we did have kind sponsorship from brands, we were also delighted to include our guests’ contributions – books and baking were fondly received in equal measure. 

If you are planning a supper club purely as a social event and not for business, you could still consider subtly advising your guests a week or so ahead that there will be a goody bag. Those who are able will contribute. 

The Future of Creative in Residence Supper Club

Our supper club is in it’s infancy, but Vicky and I are immensely proud of we have created. At 1am during our recent event, many of our guests remained, still seated at the table. Tales of racism, gender stereotyping, and feelings of inadequacy were balanced with school-day nostalgia, side-aching hoots of laughter and many weird, wondrous accounts of career plot twists. 

Inspired by Abel & Cole, we built our own box – as it were. A hang out for creative entrepreneurs to flourish and thrive, stuffed with all the ingredients we yearned for. Fuelled by nutritious food and company, in a homely surrounding and far from the anxiety-making threat of traditional networking events.

That’s how to start a supper club.  

Sign up to the Creative in Residence supper club mailing list here

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT’S DUE…

Abel & Cole generously provided the veggies we needed for the Creative in Residence supper club. We did not receive payment for this and all the words and opinions in this blog post are my own.

Read all about Vicky’s delicious vegetarian menu including her epic cauliflower curry here on The Flourishing Pantry.

All photos by Creative in Residence guest Donna at Skirting Boards & Chandeliers.

All Flowers by Creative in Residence guest Sally at Sweet Pea Rosa

 

 

I don’t think I had ever picked up a personal development book before 2018. Formally known as “self-help books”, it was a section of Waterstones I had never explored, put off by the strange stigma that surrounded the kind of people who sought improvement in this way. Maybe I thought these books were for those with a specific vice – smoking, say – but I never considered they were for me. 

When I joined a business mentoring group in April 2018, my peers were big fans of motivational quotes and The Greatest Showman soundtrack. I was sceptical, on both counts. There was a shortlist of recommended reads, and, having decided I was all in on this course, I willingly dug into “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of “Eat, Pray, Love” – another book/movie I had also ignored). It was a ground-breaking read for me, showing me there was a new way to study. At home, alone, where there’s no exam, no pass and fail, no triumph or humiliation. There is one passage from this book that has really lingered with me, and it genuinely pops into my mind when I’m about to bottle out of doing something uncomfortable in my business:

 

Find out more about my Wedding Bouquet Illustration Service here

 

“Dearest Fear: Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together. I understand you’ll be joining us, because you always do. I acknowledge that you believe you have an important job to do in my life, and that you take your job seriously. Apparently your job is to induce complete panic whenever I’m about to do anything interesting—and, may I say, you are superb at your job. So by all means, keep doing your job, if you feel you must. But I will also be doing my job on this road trip, which is to work hard and stay focused. And Creativity will be doing its job, which is to remain stimulating and inspiring.”

“There’s plenty of room in this vehicle for all of us, so make yourself at home, but understand this: Creativity and I are the only ones who will be making any decisions along the way. I recognize and respect that you are part of this family, and so I will never exclude you from our activities, but still—your suggestions will never be followed. You’re allowed to have a seat, and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. Dude, you’re not even allowed to touch the radio. But above all else, my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.” 

At the dawn of the New Year, I thought I’d challenge a few of my entrepreneurial friends to share the personal development book that made a massive impact on them. 

A New Earth: Create a Better Life by Echkart Tolle 

as recommended by stationer Natalie Drage of Flamboyant Invites

“As a student of philosophy for many years, I have always been drawn to personal development books. Once I discovered Eckhart Tolle, I was hooked!  “A New Earth” is the one that speaks to me the most and I keep going back to it.”

“Life is a constant rush and often we think too much and seek too much and we forget about the joy of just BEING. We worry about what people think of us, we compare ourselves to others, and deep down we worry that we’re not good enough.  This book was a game changer for me because it taught me to let go of fear and start living life with greater openness and freedom, and to find my true self which is ultimately where happiness lies.”

 

Clarity in Everyday Life by Balanced View Team 

 

Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola-Estes

as recommended by writer for authentic brands Jess Collins

“My favourite book of all time has to be Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola-Estes, it’s one that I think no woman should be without.  Full of inspiring stories and life lessons, I bought a copy for my daughter the moment she was born, ready for her when she is older.  It can be a bit of a heavy read but I love dipping in and out and seeing what wisdom each page has to share whenever I need a message from the universe.  I truly believe that this book is for every woman but only when the time is right for them to read it, so I often think that if someone finds it too full on, it’s simply not the right time for her to read it, but that time always arrives.  If I could only have one book for the rest of my life it would be my much loved, dog-eared, underlined and over-read copy of Women Who Run With the Wolves.”

 

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

as recommended by Yvonne Cassidy, Creative Director, Yvonne Cassidy Weddings

“It’s such an old, out of date book that I actually struggled with for years but one book that has gotten me through one of the darkest times in my life was The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. I don’t even know where I got the book, as the edition I have was published in 1952. He’s an American pastor, so when I first got the book I was a semi-goth late teenager and hated him, hated every reference to faith, hated his chauvinism. But I hung onto it and kept going back to it over the years and now I dip in and out of it every so often, I understand the times it was written in so apply the good stuff to now and ignore the stuff that isn’t relevant and it is one of my treasures. I turned to it a few years ago when we had trouble conceiving and it actually really helped. It’s a book I treasure.”

 

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

as recommended by life coach for overwhelmed entrepreneurs Julia Davies

The Happiness Project was a game changer for me as it awoke a sense of being able to quite radically upgrade your sense of happiness with relatively simple, but well thought through, tweaks to your daily life. Creating a new habit each month – aided by gold stars and a wall chart… hello Type A personality (!) – Rubin stopped doing things she felt she “should” and went about adding more joy to her life in various guises. I’ll freely admit that it was a little hard to warm to the rigid and ever so slightly smug tone of the book, but it’s a light read and a good reminder that it’s up to you to craft a life that makes you happy, catering to your wants and whims, and continually re-evaluating and tweaking as you go.”

 

So that’s five recommended reads to enhance your 2019. I’d love to know if you have an additional suggestion or if you try out any of these. And if you are perhaps looking to free up more hours in your day to have more fun/creative time, please come and join my new Facebook group…Creative Living for the Stressed-Out Soul. It’s a small, friendly community of creatives seeking to smash through feelings of overwhelm and live a more contented, creative life. You’d be so welcome to join us. Here’s the link.

 

In the meantime, here are the links to all my fabulous contributors:

Modern, botanically-inspired stationery by Natalie Drage, Flamboyant Invites

SEO solutions with plenty of sparkle by Maddy Jones, Making Your Business Shine

Dublin-based wedding styling and celebrant Yvonne Cassidy, Yvonne Cassidy Weddings

Cut through overwhelm with the simplicity strategist Julia Davies, Julia Davies Coaching

Wondrous words from the feral writer Jess Collins

Six years ago, in a small meeting room in Kensington, I said to my line manager, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” 

I was working in a fast-paced brand strategy agency, where my role as a Fashion PR Director had me working at London, Paris and Milan fashion shows. Every week, I’d be at glamorous parties, award shows and store launches, dressing celebrities and working closely with a diverse mix of journalists and stylists from Vogue to the Financial Times.

“I don’t have a creative bone in my body” – botanical illustrator Charlotte Argyrou

 

At the time, it was the role I felt I was born to do. I found myself a niche managing guestlists for fashion shows across all four fashion capitals, including my dream destination – Paris Haute Couture. But finding this deskside niche coincided with my silent struggle to conceive a baby. Obeying doctors and a nutritionist, I dramatically cut down my alcohol and caffeine intake. I exercised more, though sometimes in place of dinner, and I started to shy away from the party scene or even from meeting new journalists that could help to expand my network and grow my career. I had a secret, and intended to keep it that way.

So I squashed my creativity. I willingly took on admin duties that others rejected, happily favouring invisibility. I kept my head down, enjoyed working hard and didn’t give much thought to creative pursuits that had once been my dream. Eventually, and maybe dramatically, I quit the job I enjoyed so much and was intrinsic to my identity. My husband and I bought a one way ticket to Greece to live by the sea. It was what my body needed, and eight weeks later I was pregnant. 

CREATIVE BUSINESS OWNER

As this is a blog post, not an autobiography, we will fast-forward to today where I now run my illustration business around being an almost full-time stay-at-home mum. I found my creativity laying dormant beneath years of neglect, insecurity and doubt. And in 2018, I underwent a personal renaissance, smashing through that fear and confronting doubt head-on with courage. 

Looking back to that meeting with my manager six years ago, I can clearly see that I have spent much of time since then feeling totally overwhelmed. I’ve let people and situations around me lead my decision-making and I’ve given very little regard for my own mindset or urges to create. 

Taking time to read and self-study more in 2018 than in the previous 15 years has been essential to this renaissance. Excitingly, I’m starting to formulate my own conclusions about feelings of overwhelm, and particularly those feelings of women in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are relentlessly stressed-out. 

Creativity is integral, and in my case, I can say with certainty is my antidote to fear and stress. And “Creative Living” is a term that can be broadly used to explore freedom beyond all the “should”s and self-imposed deadlines we cruelly cultivate. It doesn’t mean swapping television for oil-painting, or getting more piercings, or dressing in long, swishy skirts (though of course it can, as you wish). It’s about being intentional in your actions, rather than going through the motions of your life, and creating more joyful moments – all curated by you. It does not require money or possessions. Rather, it’s about making choices that serve you well. 

Find more of my bird illustrations for sale here

 

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP

I’ve started a Facebook group called “Creative Living for the Stressed-Out Soul“, where together we explore ideas to gain back more time in our days and use it wisely and mindfully. There are mini challenges, that each require no cash or grand commitment of time. You are welcome to join in with challenges that appeal to you and ignore those that don’t. There is space to air creative ideas in a small, friendly community of women who understand the limiting entities of time, energy and self-belief. 

If this appeals to you, please come and find us on Facebook by searching “Creative Living for the Stressed-Out Soul”, or simply click here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this post, I interviewed three stylish entrepreneurs who are each dreaming of a green Christmas. If you are still searching for gift ideas, but looking for something a little unusual with a big heart, please have a read and let us know if any of these brands are a new discovery for you. Each of us love #communityovercompetition and to #shopsmall.

KATIE CASTLEY, THE HOME OF EVE

Katie Castley is founder of The Home of Eve, a curated online gift shop presenting coveted, luxurious and holistic products which uplift and bring about positivity to the everyday. Katie sources items that are natural, local, authentic and by brands that promote well-being and self-care.

 

“Nothing encapsulates a memory or an experience quite like a scent from a candle burning. The Mandarin & Sicilian Bergamot natural soy wax scented candle. Hand poured in England with a lead free wick by Abahna. All packaging is recyclable or reusable. A soul nourishing feast of essential oils, featuring the festive mandarin whose oil is believed to inspire positive energy.” 

“To buy from our own fair isle supports our economy and encourages home-grown talent like Mimi Emmett. A young artist who uses family run British manufacturers to ethically make her gorgeously fun nature inspired drawings into accessories. This Pomegranate cushion is full of punch and will make a perfectly plump present on Christmas Day.” 

“To buy a present that has little to no carbon footprint is rather green if you ask me. The British perfume house 4160 Tuesdays hand makes its indie scents, inspired by people and places, in small batches of 50-200 bottles in their London studio. Perfumer Sarah McCartney explains how even “Our boxes come from Baddeley Brothers of Hackney, so transport is minimal and they are 100{fc4ffa2697ca570e43b5816fe716a05c0e7f059c4d464a857cd73bdc5a1ff7f7} recyclable”. For the G&T lover on your Christmas list I recommend their delightfully aromatic and floral Scenthusiasm. With cucumber, Juniper and white woods this perfume was inspired by gin, it has gin notes accompanied by rose and iris, with the herbs dancing around it.”

LYNDA ATHEY, LYNDA LOVES

Lynda Athey is founder of Lynda Loves, a luxury stationery brand. Lynda designs and produces bespoke and customization stationery suites for weddings and events, and manages branding projects for small businesses. She has transformed her make-up bag this last year to include organic products that are kind to her skin and our planet.

 

“I’ve been using this US skincare range for a while and apply before bedtime. A gentle exfoliant that leaves skin super smooth by morning. Paraben free with no synthetic fragrances, this product range is all natural. Stocked in my local village health boutique, it has pretty packaging too.”

“My luxury splurge would be on this Australian brand with exquisite packaging. Any bottle looks gorgeous in my bathroom, but my current favourite is the exfoliating hand wash.”

 

 

“I’ve been an avid user of the Rosehip Facial Oil and lip and skin ointment this year. They are my go to staples all year round. Unfussy, clean packaging, vegan friendly, key ingredients in proper concentrations. Super affordable and under £10!”

 

“I love these cute little pots from ethical & organic apothecary, Hives of Hastings. I’m a sucker for packaging and was instantly sold on these. I’ve been using the Bee Soothed Balm since summer, perfect as a lip balm, for dry skin problems, cuts and bites and it smells delicious. Healing and nourishing too.”

CHARLENE RUSSELL, CHERRY TREE CAKERIE

Charlene Russell is founder of Cherry Tree Cakerie, a bohemian bakery specializing in unique, often botanically-inspired wedding cakes. She’s always looking out for new ingredients and kitchenwares and loves to support small businesses and responsibly-sourced products. 

At some point during the 35 degree heat of Summer 2018, I boldly declared that my Christmas 2018 would be Sellotape-free. Christmas is a time of huge wastage in terms of packaging (amongst other things) but as December draws near, I’m very aware that I don’t really know how I’m going to present my Christmas gifts without compromising on style. Thankfully, Kate Stuart has stepped in to offer practical guidance for us to create environmentally-friendly gift wrapping. Kate is an artist, writer and runs The Phoenix Green Store – Newcastle’s first zero waste solutions store. She contributes to No Serial Number Magazine, a publication promoting ethical and sustainable crafts.

3 Tips for Environmentally-Friendly Gift Wrapping

Kate begins, “With Christmas mere weeks away, many of us are wondering how, and indeed, if, we can get through the gift-giving season without Sellotape, glitter and sheets and sheets of shiny, sparkly, ever so festive plastic infused wrapping paper. Stepping away from plastic wherever possible is important work, but can feel like an insurmountable challenge, especially when we’re also challenging the festive status quo a little. But fear not, here we have our 3 top tips for you to make the very best environmentally-friendly gift wrapping with things you probably already have at home.”

1. The Furoshiki Wrap

“Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese method of wrapping and carrying using cloth, rather than paper. Cloth can be up-cycled from unwanted fabric in the home, and printed or dyed for the occasion, then used as a headscarf, bandana, tablecloth or sandwich wrap once the gift has been unwrapped. Perhaps you have an unwanted duvet cover, table cloth or old pair of pjs that have a standout print – consider repurposing this fabric for some Furoshiki wraps. You could even have a stash of personalised cloth wraps that come out every year for birthdays or Christmas. Check out this YouTube video to learn the basics, grab some cloth, and get started.”

I think silk scarves are a gorgeous way to achieve this and are an extra gift in themselves. I’ve found authentic vintage Liberty scarves on Ebay for £4.99, Christian Dior from £10. It’s a barely even a couple of pounds more than you may spend on luxury wrapping paper, bows and ribbon, but chic additional gift that can be kept and reused forever. In the You Tube video Kate recommends, it takes the creator Marianne mere seconds to create a beautiful parcel – another blessing!

2. Rethink the Ink

“Paper is most people’s go to for gift wrapping, but how to make it more environmentally-friendly? You could try using recycled paper – newsprint, sheet music, old maps and handmade paper can give an alternative to the shiny sparkly papers on the high street. Etsy has lots of sellers of these types of paper if you don’t have any hidden away in a cupboard somewhere. Tie your gifts with ribbon, string or twine for a well secured package without a hint of Sellotape in sight, and add handmade gift tags for a personal touch.”

I’ve inherited a thrifty habit from my parents and grandparents. Every Christmas and birthday when I take down the cards from the shelf, I spend 10 minutes cutting them up into gift tags and punching a hole in each. The festive ones go in the Christmas Box, ready for next year. The birthday ones go in a paper bag in my Party Box which I sift through, throughout the year. It’s not difficult or time-consuming, but simply requires a commitment to being tidy, organised and willing to recycle. (It’s also a lovely prompt to reread each card before it gets the chop!)

I use fabric ribbons that hold up well to be used and stored year after year within our family, unlike the plastic-coated paper curling ribbon that goes straight in the bin.

3. Re-imagining Usefulness

“Is there a reason why we traditionally wrap presents in paper? Do we have to? Why not re-imagine your gift giving traditions, and put gifts in a wooden box, basket or even a repurposed biscuit tin? We have so many containers around our home that could be used to hold a special gift and kept by the recipient afterwards. If your home is devoid of suitable containers, check out your local charity shop for low cost, recycled boxes, pottery and baskets. So many of us have made the switch from plastic shopping bags at supermarkets, so why not think about switching from plastic coated gift bags to reusable cloth bags when it comes to gift giving.”

I love the idea of using tins to package gifts. Emma Bridgewater has a vast array and I think the stackable sets will look fabulous piled up under the tree. Either the Christmas designs, which can be bought out each year in all their nostalgic splendor, or for maximum usage, choose the non-seasonal designs to store toys and household bits and bobs beyond Christmas Day. Check out Thornback & Peel for their stackable botanical set, and this bramble design that I think looks festive enough, but not restrictive to the holiday season. 

MY LEARNINGS

So of course I had to put this into practice. 

My first challenge was to use no Sellotape for my daughter’s third birthday. Instead, I used brown paper, secured with fabric ribbon. It worked fine, but I think mostly because I only had to transport the gifts from one room to another within my house. I wouldn’t feel confident my parcels would have held up if they needed to travel further, or by post. In this instance, I’d recommend Kate’s third tip – place each item in a box or tin and then wrap in non-platicized paper. 

My second challenge to myself was to create and package a Secret Santa gift, totalling less than £10. I bought the Kilner jar (£3), confident that they are useful in everyone’s kitchen. Then I filled it with homemade granola, jam-packed with cranberries, pecans and all kinds of seasonal loveliness (probably around £2, if that). I used a scrap of fabric ribbon that’s already circulated around my family many times. And added a tag from my Party Box – this one was formally the cover of a Prada accessories catalogue! Finally, I placed the Kilner jar in a reused paper bag, and simply added my recipient’s name in a chic understated script. 

 

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY GIFT WRAPPING CONCLUSION

It is possible to wrap gifts without Sellotape

It can still look good

We just need to be organised, and think about wrapping at the time of purchasing or creating the gift

 

Thanks to Kate for sharing her ideas and guiding my Sellotape-free Christmas. I’ll be sharing more photos with my progress, and Kate and I would love to know your ideas about environmentally-friendly gift wrapping.

KATE STUART:

Kate Stuart is an artist, writer and craftswoman based in the North East of England. She runs The Phoenix Green Store, selling zero waste solutions, handmade quilts and original art. She also writes for No Serial Number Magazine, a quarterly paper and digital magazine, committed to offering a platform for environmental and heritage crafts, grass roots eco movements, maker activists and conscious citizens.

Further reading:

Find out more about Kate’s zero waste boutique: The Phoenix Green Store 

A great resource for sustainability information and inspiration:  No Serial Number Magazine. Use voucher code ECOWRAPPING for a 15{fc4ffa2697ca570e43b5816fe716a05c0e7f059c4d464a857cd73bdc5a1ff7f7} off a subscription to the quarterly magazine, for my blog readers.  

No Serial Magazine links: Facebook  / Pinterest / Instagram

Click here to read more of my blog posts

 

“I love to create,” says Victoria Vaught, founder of Ivy Amelia Florals. But in business, our creations are usually subject to a client brief. It’s a complex creative process and one that fascinates me with its subtle twists and turns. We are hired for our skill, our talent, our vision. But we mould that vision to sync with our clients’ own expectations, budget and constraints, and amaze and delight them with our ability to do so. The aim, of course, is always to create something better than they could have imagined, but also exactly what they wanted.

STYLED SHOOTS IN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY

 

LADY OF THE MANOR: AN ENGLISH LOVE STORY

I saw behind-the-scenes snaps of Lisa Payne Photography’s “Lady of the Manor: A English Love Story” shoot in progress on my Insta and Facebook feeds. I was surprised how strongly Victoria’s florals impacted me, in their unusual rich palette and a striking balance of artisan wildness and glamourous abundance. Lisa offered me the opportunity to join in the portfolio with an illustration inspired by Vic’s floral design in the shoot. The drawing process was a joy, because I felt so free to draw with a wealth of inspiring images in front of me, but no real restrictions on the outcome. I switched out the golden urn for flower stems without an approval process, on a whim, because I was more attracted to the natural green tones.

DREAM BRIEF

“Just the thought of it takes my breath away” – Victoria Vaught, Ivy Amelia Florals

 

THE VISION

“Flowers have their own movement and flow. You have to work with them rather than them working for you.” – Victoria Vaught, Ivy Amelia Florals

 

THE FUTURE

 

“I believe that you have to keep learning and evolving to be at the forefront of what you do.” – Victoria Vaught, Ivy Amelia Florals

 

After a few weeks of wardrobe despair, eagerly dressing in cashmere in the early morning and stripped down to a vest by lunchtime, it happened. It got cold. Things can officially get cosy. Here are five of my favourite Instagram accounts that I reference for autumn inspiration. 

The Future Kept

The Future Kept is a collection of consciously crafted, responsibly sourced, sustainable and ethical products for the home, and living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. But founders  Jeska & Dean Hearne are also photographers and stylists, with experience in interior, graphic and product design, writing, and brand development. Meaning The Future Kept brand, and especially the Insta account, offers a wealth of creative inspiration alongside the beautiful products. I love their simple mission statement: 

“Our primary goal with The Future Kept is to inspire more people to think carefully about the items they have in their lives, by putting together a collection of beautifully designed handmade products from honest origins all with a story to tell.” – Jeska & Dean Hearne, Founders, The Future Kept

Soho Home

Soho Home, the homewares brand under the Soho House umbrella, offers up an Insta account full of interiors inspiration and products to lust after. I kind of love that it’s seasonality is subtle, not all pumpkins and orange tones. Plus it lets us have a sneak peek inside the gorgeous global private members’ clubs and the homes their aesthetic inspires. 

Canopy & Stars

Guardians of gatehouses, glamping, treehouses and trucks, Canopy & Stars presents a edit of the most most weird and wonderful places to stay in the UK and beyond. Ahhh minibreaks. You have eluded us for five years, thanks to our babies who struggled to settle and love to party through the night. But gradually, we are getting into a place where we feel we can book the odd night away. Canopy & Stars, you are on my hitlist for 2019. The Insta account will have you daydreaming about autumnal escapes, hot chocolates and crunchy leafy walks galore. 

Sarah Ann Macklin

Nutritionist and model Sarah Ann Macklin shares informed nutritional guidance with a hearty dose of foodie and fashion gorgeousness. I love how she weaves issues surrounding wellness and dietary support into her highly creative seasonal content. Her quick IGTV recipe idea updates are filmed in Emily Murray’s The Pink House (also home to the original version of my Prickly Pear illustration), and focus on delivering delicious dinners in 20 minutes. 

Nurture and Bloom 

Nurture and Bloom is a collective of soulful creatives, with “racing minds and wild hearts, drawn to create.” I’m a contributing writer and illustrator for the quarterly magazine NURTURE (£6.50, currently digital with plans to grow into a print edition next year). The Insta feed showcases the best of the community’s makes, bakes and words alongside editor Kate Cullen’s creative adventures. Expect plenty of greenery alongside a fuzzy glow of golden hues, and an urge to get your wellies on and get outdoors.

Who am I missing? I’d love to hear about your favourite accounts that inspire your autumn.

 

You can also find my Autumn style inspiration edit here on Pinterest 

Weblinks

Wrap up with British-made blankets from The Future Kept

Ogle at dreamy interiors by Soho Home

Fantasise about treetop getaways beneath the Canopy & Stars

Find rainbow platefuls with a fashiony flourish by Sarah Ann Macklin

Join me and a creative community of high end crafters at Nurture and Bloom