CELEBRATING MY FAVOURITE WOMEN IN BUSINESS | PRODUCTS PT1
Monday was International Women’s Day and, with so many amazing and inspirational women in my life, forging their own paths in business and working hard to fulfill their dreams, I wanted to share some of them with you.
For today’s post I am going to focus on showcasing some of the wonderful ladies I know who are creating beautiful products - the next post will be a mixture of lovely ladies who provide wonderful service-based offerings to the world as well as a few more of my fave product based businesses. There are so many that I love, and I fear I will forget some, but I try and share as many small businesses as I can over on my Instagram, so follow me there for more!
Here we go and, as they would say in the award shows, ‘in no particular order’…
JORDAN LILY DESIGNS
Lovely Jordan is another business owner I met through the coaching academy I am part of. She lives in Cornwall, literally up the road from me, and creates gorgeous silver jewellery, which I can honestly say I would buy all of! I know our group love her quirky ‘boob necklace’ but all of her pieces are gorgeous.
JORDAN LILY DESIGNS AT A GLANCE
Jordan is a traditional silversmith, inspired by simplicity and geometric shapes, and creates super pretty necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and cuff-links (you have to check out her website - be ready to spend, because it is so beautiful!).
She enjoys recycling and working with sea-glass, which she hunts for along the Cornish seashore.
As well as recycling sea-glass within her work, Jordan also works to recycle silver too. She has written a really interesting blog post about where silver comes from and how it is used in things, like our smart phones, meaning that you could end up wearing a gorgeous silver bracelet or necklace which has pieces of a recycled phone within it. Personally I think that is so amazing and makes my heart happy to think that these things can go on to live a whole new existence (and look so much prettier!). Can we take a moment for all our planet-loving business owners?!
“Sea-glass is washed up on shores after being naturally tumbled by the sea for years, possibly decades! Common colours include white, green and sea-foam, but sometimes I’m lucky enough to spot some real gems!” - Jordan Lily
Follow Jordan on her Instagram to keep up with all her beautiful new designs and be sure to bookmark her website for the future too as there are so many gift options, within a variety of budgets, that you will definitely want to remember!
ABOVE: You have to check out Hollie’s new launch of ‘Kind Word Birds’ - I ordered the set and can’t wait for them to come!
RIGHT: All the ‘Kind Word Birds’ collection - super cute!
HAYLEY - LACED WING DESIGNS
Hayley creates gorgeous home-wares, gifts and stitched ‘kind words’ using free-motion sewing for people looking for unique gifts that can’t be found on the high street and, I have to say that I am somewhat obsessed with what Hayley does, mostly because even if I so much as look at a sewing machine it breaks, let alone ‘free-motion’ draw with one!
Her products are super pretty and beautifully made too. I bought one of her gorgeous ‘Velvet initial Applique’ hoops for my bestie for Christmas and she loved it so much! I think buying small is so important and ensures that you are getting something unique, made with so much love and that, in the case of most small businesses, cares deeply for our planet.
“Buying from a small maker is such a win-win experience, you get to support someone who is making a living to support them and their family, to help them create a happy and healthy lifestyle AND you get an item that has been made with love…” - Hayley
You can find Hayley’s pieces on her website and see more behind the scenes process on her Instagram account too.
I am the proud owner of two of Rianna’s gorgeous prints, they are pride of place in my office and serve as a reminder to be kind to myself more. I love what she stands for so much.
THALIA - BOTANY & BOOKS
2020 may have been a ‘bit of a year’, to put it politely, but it brought some beautiful women into my life and Thalia, from Botany and Books, is one of them. She is such a wonderful soul and her business is unique and totally magical.
BOTANY & BOOKS AT A GLANCE
Pre-loved books paired with a beautiful, hand-made (Vegan) candles, which Thalia designs and hand makes with a specific scent and colour to represent the key location of the story (I mean, how amazing is that?!).
Available as a subscription over 3, 6 or 12 months (such a wonderful gift idea, don’t you think?!).
Kind to the planet. Thalia cares so deeply that her business has a positive impact on the world and sources all her books second-hand and ensures all her packaging is recyclable too.
“When you light a candle, you are sparking hope and you are signalling that you are doing something just for you. You are creating a sense of calm which invites a shift of mindset into a state of relaxation…” - Thalia.
I could go on and on about how wonderful I think this business is; Thalia has managed to create something so immersive and mindful, which is needed more than ever right now. Her sets would not only make unique gifts for others but also a wonderful one for yourself too and something to look forward to each and every month. Head to Botany and Books for a little mooch about but also follow Thalia’s journey on Instagram too - she shows all of her candle making processes over there which I just adore watching! Plus, she has a super cute cat called Jack who makes regular appearances too!
HOLLIE MCMANUS
Hollie is a crazy-talented illustrator who has just released the cutest new prints, Kind Word Birds, which I ordered the second they went live on her Etsy shop because they are gorgeous - just look at the detail on these drawings!
Hollie is inspired by nature, people and patterns and has such a wonderful eye for colour and tiny little marks that make huge impacts to her pieces. To see more of her work have a look at her Instagram and website portfolio too.
Not only does Hollie create gorgeous artwork, but she also has a range of stunning cards on Thortful too, which you can find right here.
RIANNA - LADY GARDEN ILLUSTRATION
I discovered Rianna and her lovely business, Lady Garden Illustration, through a friend (who will be featured in the next post!) and instantly fell in love with what she stands for within her business. I have two of her prints in my office as a reminder to be kinder to my own body each and every day and would highly recommend her business to you guys.
LADY GARDEN ILLUSTRATION AT A GLANCE
Rianna works as a medical statistician in a clinical trials unit (go girl!) and runs her illustration business around her job (I love a woman who is hustling, don’t you?!).
Her boyfriend taught her how to draw at the start of the first lock-down and she fell in love with it right away and now focuses on the female form (and she does a bloody good job too!). Rianna’s aim is to portray ‘bodies in full bloom’ and strives to find beauty in everything.
You can find prints, pins and stickers on her website and Etsy shop or contact her for a more bespoke commission piece if you are looking for something more special for a gift for someone (or a gift to self of course!).
“Having the female form as the focus of my art seemed a natural choice - in too many other areas of life I think we focus on the negatives of bodies and are critical of ourselves and others, but art strives to see the beauty in everything. So many of us spend years or lifetimes at war with ourselves, picking ourselves apart and fixating on supposed ‘flaws’. After years of this I’ve grown tired. Our bodies do so much for us and are so capable, I want to change the conversation to appreciating our bodies and moving forward on a journey to acceptance…” - Rianna
So, there you have it for today’s post; I will be back with a ‘part two’ very soon. Honestly, there are so many wonderful women, creating the most gorgeous businesses, products and services and I love to shout about them all (or as many as possible) as it is becoming more and more of a passion of mine to shop small as much as possible.
As a small business myself, I know what each and every order means to me, and how it creates the life I so desperately want to lead. A life that has positive mental health experiences at the front and centre of its priorities and a flexibility to rest when rest is needed. By supporting small businesses we are supporting our planet, families and creating a ripple effect that reaches so much wider than you realise.
So, next time you are looking to treat yourself, or buy a gift for a friend or loved one, remember to search on market places like Etsy or research hashtags like ‘small business uk’ or ‘creative business owner’ on Instagram or ask for recommendations on Facebook or wherever you hang out online. I would also recommend that if you find a creator you like on Etsy that you independently search for their website too. Going directly to their own platform means they pay less fees and take more of the profit for themselves. Every marketplace has its place, but try and shop direct if you can. Of course, not every creator has their own site, so you won’t always find them elsewhere, but it is definitely worth looking!
Let me know some of your favourite small businesses on-line in the comments! I would love to know and to follow them on Instragram!