This week I’m taking part in an Instagram based campaign called Just a Card. The JUST A CARD campaign aims to encourage people to buy from Designer/Makers and Independent Galleries and Shops by reinforcing the message that all purchases, however small, even 'just a card' are so vital to the prosperity and survival of small businesses.

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This is something I have always championed as a designer myself. For years I have visited design fairs and markets and been in awe at the talent, skill and bravery of the small independent businesses I saw develop in front of my eyes.

Now, being one of them, I feel it even deeper, and really feel privileged to be part of this movement. And I really do feel it is a movement. If you are aware of the amount of creatives using Instagram and social media for their creative outlet, and to sell their creations, you will feel it too.

I have struggled to find the words for this post, because how I feel is at times difficult for me to process, let alone articulate. For a long time I have been at a loss to find my tribe. At 35, without a family of my own yet, I have often got confused as to my position in society, my role, my purpose, my identity. Starting out on this journey, my aim was simple, to develop a lifestyle brand that was authentic to myself and the way I see the world, to create products for people who share my vision, who truly see the beauty in life most un-obvious places. To create a warm, loving home sanctuary for myself, to be financially stable, to survive.

I had no ambition to make friends along the way, if anything this was a way for me to be independent, to do something alone, without relying or depending on anyone else.

I now know this isn’t possible, life’s true blessings are our connections, our relationships and the energy that flows between us. In 4 years, I have learnt SO MUCH, every day I have found a new way to express myself, everyday I have come up with a solution for a problem, developed a products, created designs. The takings from this business are far more than financial. I have made fantastic connections; for a day, for the length of a trade show!, for months, and now for years.

Both personally and professionally I have found a sense of belonging within the design business community. These folk are just true. Creative, passionate, hard working mavericks, each singing their own tune but equally so open and willing to sing mine too.

LALALALAAAAAAAA - THANK YOU!

Can't believe it's a whole 4 weeks nearly since we exhibited at PULSE London. It was our 2nd year on the bounce and was once again a great show.

We hired a van to get all the products and stand props down from Yorkshire to the big smoke, set off early Saturday morning and arrived in time for a quick lunch and a speedy set up. Now when I say speedy, it was our quickest time of 5 hours! it usually takes a little longer, but the more times you exhibit at a show, the quicker it gets, especially if you plan and prep before hand.

I opted for a similar set up to last year as the designs are quite similar, it's the product that has developed. So I had a feature shelf for the NEW greetings cards with captions, and we featured the kitchen ware in it's own area, making a stand out show of the tea towels in particular!

Overall the footfall seemed down from 2017, but the number of visitors to our stand was great, and the orders we received were healthy. Many buyers tend to go away and come back, sometimes even a year later! Product wise, our kitchenware was very well received, along with art prints and cushions.

Olympia was filled with enormous talent, every year the designer makers get better and I'm so inspired by this wonderful community and so happy to be part of it :) My favourites included the following;

These guys had their brands on point! The completeness of the stand, their strong visual identity, and a classic, timeless product :)