Category: Creative Business

 

“I’ve yet to meet a business that doesn’t have a great story to tell…”

 

Next up in the Creative Business series is Lidia Rumley of The Brand Storyteller. In her own words, Lidia works with ‘creative and entrepreneurial businesses to define and articulate their brand stories’. Messaging is such an important part of building a meaningful and sustainable brand. It’s what holds everything together and connects the dots between you, your brand, and your audience.

I first met Lidia last year, through a small local group for female, creative entrepreneurs – set up by myself and Elisabeth Booth (aka The Giftsmith). We’ve only met as a group twice (I’m looking forward to catching up again once we’re allowed!), but it was clear to see Lidia’s passion for working with clients and really getting underneath, behind, and to the core of their stories.

Without further ado, let’s delve in and discover a glimpse into Lidia’s own story…

Continue reading Creative Business: The Brand Storyteller, Lidia Rumley

 

“There was something about taking seemingly ordinary ingredients and turning them into something amazing that gave me hope.”

 

Our next Creative Business feature is one of the sweetest people I’ve interacted with online (we’ve yet to meet in person, but I’ve no doubt she’ll be just as lovely in ‘real life’), Fen Bolodeoku of MonAnnie. It seems only appropriate that such a sweet and beautiful woman should work in one of the most delicious industries: wedding cakes and patisserie.

Fen is an incredible wedding cake designer and patisserie maker, based in Berkshire, and we first connected a few years ago when I was also making wedding cakes. Since then, though I have changed direction (following my joy and starting this business), Fen has gone from strength to strength in the wedding cake world – designing many bespoke and elegant creations. It’s been such a pleasure to witness and I can’t wait to see where the future takes Fen and MonAnnie. Let’s get to know more about the lovely lady behind the Creative Business…

Continue reading Creative Business: Wedding Cake Designer, Fen Bolodeoku of MonAnnie

 

“Something I often forget to do but have learnt is really important, is simply picking up my pen and just playing with it…”

 

Next up in the Creative Business series we have modern and wedding calligrapher, Emily Kelly of Penned by Em. I can’t actually remember how I came across Emily’s talent, but I do remember being instantly transfixed by her creations (especially when she shows videos of calligraphy up close!). As an artist, writer, and designer, I love gorgeous words… but, somewhat ironically, my handwriting is awful. Ask me to paint, draw, or digitally create a beautiful word and I’m on it; ask me to write it in pen, by hand, and I panic. It’s why I have the greatest respect for calligraphers, especially creative ones like Emily, and have modern calligraphy high up on the list of skills I would love to learn. Without further ado, let’s find out more about the inspiring woman behind the creative business…

Continue reading Creative Business: Modern Calligrapher, Emily Kelly of Penned by Em

 

“My why is that this is where I can give the most to others, while being most true to myself.”

 

The world feels unsettling and confusing right now and so many people are finding things tough. This includes a lot of small businesses and the self-employed, across so many industries. I in no way want to gloss over the difficulties, but I also think it’s important to continue celebrating the wonderful creative businesses we have in the UK and, more importantly, the inspiring women behind them. With that in mind, the next feature in the Creative Business series is UK and destination wedding planner, Valentina Ring, of The Stars Inside. Creativity, light, and inspiration (three of my favourite things), shine out from Valentina in everything she does. I can’t wait to get to know her further…

Continue reading Creative Business: Wedding Planner, Valentina Ring, of The Stars Inside

 

“The city is such a melting pot of culture & cool, filled with ideas and inspiration.”

 

Next up in the Creative Business series we have international wedding and personal branding photographer, Anneli Marinovich. I first came across Anneli’s photography through a couple of mutual friends and acquaintances on social media. I’m a sucker for gorgeous, light-filled, and natural photography with a creative and aspirational touch… so I immediately fell in love with Anneli’s style! Creating gorgeous images as a London based photographer, focusing on destination and luxury weddings as well as personal branding photography, you’ll be sure to find inspiration within her work. I’m excited to find out more about the woman behind the business. Let’s get started…

Continue reading Creative Business: International Wedding & Personal Branding Photographer, Anneli Marinovich

 

“…a creative movement with a passion to reduce homelessness.”

 

It’s time for a new post in my Creative Business series, and this one is something quite special. For a start, it’s the first in 2020 and the beginning of something even bigger for the series (there will be an email edition for those on my mailing list, with added insight from the women featured, and a guest expert each month to give advice on the other side of creative business – like admin stuff and technical bits). It’s also a feature about a person, and business, who is inspiring in more ways than one. Gemma Lane, of On The Map UK, creates brilliant mapwork and travel inspired products…but, more than that, she does everything as part of a creative movement and passion to reduce homelessness. In Gemma’s words ‘because everyone should have the opportunity to be On The Map’.

I actually had a tear in my eye when I first read Gemma’s answers to the feature questions. It’s a real honour to be able to share more about such a wonderful human and business…

Continue reading Creative Business: Mapwork & Travel Inspired Product Maker, Gemma Lane, of On The Map UK

 

In the last couple of weeks I’ve been putting together plans for this year’s Creative Business blog series – handpicking some of the wonderfully inspiring women I want to feature. I’ve also been working (slower than I had originally hoped, but hey ho!) on the release of the ‘Creative Business Edit’ which will be a monthly email addition to the series. *Sign up to my email list at the bottom of this post if you want in on the fun. It will feature extra insight from the women featured, as well as a guest expert each month – giving advice on the other side of creative business, such as accounting or communications.

Anyway…thinking about the series made me look back on the amazing talent I featured last year, and I realised I want to celebrate the women and their brands once again before moving on to this year’s inspiration. So, here are the Creative Business 2019 Highlights!

Continue reading Creative Business 2019 Highlights

 

“…I’ve learned that creativity is not optional, or an indulgence. Allowing time and space for my own creative awakening is fundamental to my core happiness.”

 

For the next in my Creative Business blog series, I have the incredibly talented, botanical illustrator, Charlotte Argyrou. I’m often impressed by other people’s creative talents but Charlotte’s illustration skills really do blow me away – her botanical illustrations are simply breathtaking! Working with lots of top artisan florists, and offering a wonderful wedding gift service, Charlotte has rightfully gained a well respected reputation in the wedding industry. On top of her amazing creative talent she also has some valuable insight into business. So, without further ado, let’s here from the inspiring woman herself…

Continue reading Creative Business: Botanical Illustrator, Charlotte Argyrou

 

“…there’s nothing more satisfying than giving something a big whack with a hammer when you’ve had a bad day!”

 

Emma L’Amour is an independent jewellery designer and maker in the UK, with a clean and minimalist style. She specialises in designing and creating personalised jewellery, using traditional hand-stamping techniques, but also offers a range of non-personalised items. I, for one, love her style – it feels so contemporary and yet timeless, and I can’t wait to find out more about the woman behind the brand. Here’s Emma’s interview for the next in my Creative Business blog series…

Continue reading Creative Business: Personalised Jewellery Maker, Emma L’Amour

 

“It’s very easy to get caught up in all the fun, creative side of things and ignore the reality of what it actually takes to run a business. But use it to your advantage and do those tasks in the times that you have creative
blocks.”

 

Natalie Morson of The Elysian Styling Company is a wedding stylist and designer, creating weddings inspired by ‘love and nature’. A woman after my own heart, Natalie is incredibly creative…and very talented! Not only does she offer gorgeous, modern wedding styling and prop hire packages (including many items handmade by herself) – she is also a very gifted artist, creating stunning artwork in her spare time. Without further ado – here’s Natalie’s feature for the next in my Creative Business blog series…

Continue reading Creative Business: Wedding Stylist & Designer, Natalie Morson, of The Elysian Styling Company