This blog post is for the geekier people out there like me!

Way back when, in 2015 (how is it so long ago already?!), I ordered the Miyuki Mascot Fan Kit in this cute little bunny rabbit, and was delivered to me all the way down under in Wellington, New Zealand, from the USA.

Well I opened it, looked at it, got totally confused, and swiftly put it away again. Then when we relocated back to the UK in 2016, it got put in storage amongst one billion other beaded things, and completely forgotten about.

THEN in January this year, we took our belongings out of storage after nearly 3.5 years, and I rediscovered the kit! I’ve spent years making jewellery using a traditional bead loom, and have slowly tried to teach myself other beading techniques, but I’d still never managed to make a beaded figurine.

But now I felt like I was ready to give this little rabbit another go!

The instructions weren’t that user-friendly. I am not very good at learning from written instructions, I prefer demonstrations, so this was probably partly my problem. But the kit comes with everything you need to create the little rabbit, and includes duplicate beads in case you lose any (which I thought was really handy).

You follow each step to create a different element of the rabbit - for example, its ears, its feet, its hand or tail, and then towards the end when you have created all of the pieces, you put them together. It was actually really exciting when I managed to finish my first section, because never thought that I’d have been able to.

And then when I finished my whole rabbit, I almost danced! (Well, I probably did dance.)

I didn’t add the metal keyring attachment to its head because the closure didn’t work on it, and I don’t really know what I will do with my rabbit yet, so have placed it on a shelf!

It took 2-3 hours to complete the kit and I am so thrilled with my little rabbit, I have already ordered the bear version of the kit, which I will save for a quiet evening in :-)

What do you think of my little bunny? Have you ever tried something, given up, then gone back to it at a later date and found that you could do it? The moral of this story is, don’t give up!! :D

Sadie xx

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They’re here, my new LOVE earrings!!

My favourite ever design, I am SO happy with them, I can’t even believe I managed to figure out how to make them!

Pink and orange ombre love heart earrings with a beaded fringe. I am biased, but I think they’re the best things since sliced bread ;-)

Online and available now, along with a little friend - the new pink Pearl Heart brooch. Because pink hearts can only make your day happier!

Sadie xx

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Explore more Shh news

• Sadie's musings 18
• as worn by 54
• bags 18
• beauty 5
• behind the scenes 42
• bridal 24
• collections 71
• competition 8
• custom orders 35
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• food 2
• independents interviews 4
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• workshop / classes 21

Back again for a fresh decade with this week’s independent business interview.

Today we have kick-assss queen Nadia from super high energy, fast-paced exercise classes Club Kombat in Plymouth and Newquay. Nadia is also a personal trainer and coach.

♥ Nadia’s Interview ♥

Describe your shop / business in three words: energetic, calorie burning, fun.

How long have you been running your business? 9 months

What inspired you to start your business? And what keeps you going? Fitness got me through a very hard time in my life and if I can give back to others what I learned and show how a positive mindset can change your life, then I’m happy. That’s exactly what keeps me going, the feedback of other people.

What do you bring to your classes at Club Kombat? Bundles and bundles of energy and years of experience!

What do you think the future holds for independent businesses? I would hope to see more small local business and shop owners being purchased from, I feel that social media enables that happen more, creating something not just for an individual but for the community.

What’s the best bargain you ever bought? My house.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? Given birth at home in a swimming pool!

What’s your biggest fashion faux-pas? Flared white and black newspaper trousers with red splashes all over them, people would just start reading my trousers whenever I was talking to them. (In my defence, I was 14 years old, but I knew it was wrong from the start!)

Find Club Kombat online here and on Instagram here.

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Explore more Shh news

• Sadie's musings 18
• as worn by 54
• bags 18
• beauty 5
• behind the scenes 42
• bridal 24
• collections 71
• competition 8
• custom orders 35
• events 33
• food 2
• independents interviews 4
• pearls 24
• press 56
• stockists 1
• style 138
• travel 16
• workshop / classes 21

Happy Friday all, Sadie here!

Say hello to the second in the new series of interviews with independent businesses. If you didn’t catch the first one, click here to read about Clare from ColourBloc Photography, and also for an introduction to the interviews.

And if you already read interview number one - continue below to meet Helen from The Upcycled Home Co!
Helen’s shop is a treasure trove of locally made, sustainable, beautiful gifts and homewares, located in stunning Mount Edgcumbe, across the water from Plymouth.

♥ Helen’s Interview ♥

Describe your shop in three words: ethical, artisan, sustainable

How long have you been running your business? I first opened The Upcycled Home Co as a market stall in Tavistock in 2013. We were lucky enough to move into The Old Coach House in The Barrow Centre Mount Edgcumbe Country Park in 2014 ....so 6 years and counting!

What inspired you to start your business? My mum was always my inspirational and moral guide - from a very young age she taught me how to recycle and reuse with a creative flair. She was an exceptionally talented lady always willing to push boundaries and try new ways of doing things. I’m so proud of her and the values she instilled in me.

Combined with a realisation that consumers were being bombarded with a mass produced cheap imports and that we were in danger of losing true talents, skills and crafts as people were not able to make a living from them anymore. And alongside the fact that I was becoming increasingly alarmed at the crisis our planet was, and still is, facing ....I decided to do something to educate consumers, promote artisan makers and champion sustainable living.

And what keeps you going? In six years I have seen a huge shift in the public’s interest in all of the above....we wouldn’t still be here if things hadn’t changed.

I love that we have helped many artisans to go on to have a successful career on their chosen creative path and that our customers wholeheartedly embrace the uniqueness and eco core values of our store. It’s great to see that not only have we been successful in business but our business has brought about positive changes for our lifestyles and planet.......that’s what keeps me motivated!

What’s your favourite ever item that you have ever stocked? The book ‘Sea and Shore Cornwall’ by Lisa Woollett. It’s the most beautiful collection of her photographs entwined with her equally stunning finds. A book all can enjoy, and which will open your eyes to a new way of thinking and viewing the incredible coastline we (in Cornwall!) get to call home....oh and it’s the perfect gift!

What do you think the future holds for shopping? I would like to think that we will see the return of the high street and independent retailers. More and more people want to know the provenance of the goods they are buying, meet the maker/producer and also know where their hard earned money is actually going....

What’s the best bargain you ever bought? Bargain! Who doesn’t LOVE a bargain.....I didn’t get the nick name ‘Skip Rat’ by shopping in Harrods! My home and wardrobe are full of bargains I’ve accumulated across the years....I never buy anything unless I truly love it and if it’s a bargain, even better!

If I had to choose one it’s probably my 1988 Eriba Puck Caravan. I had wanted one for years but had never been able to afford one. Then a few years ago I spotted the most beautiful little van, on an online auction site. I put in a stupidly low bid.....and won it! It’s worth far more than I paid for it and I have been asked to sell it on several occasions....but we love her too much. We’ve had many fab trips full of amazing memories in her and I’m sure we will continue to do so for many years to come.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? The scariest thing I’ve ever done is walk away from a career as a civil servant and retrain as an interior designer. The second scariest thing was opening up my own business in interior design. Thank goodness I did both - I’ve never looked back!

What’s your biggest fashion faux-pas? At a festival recently met Dave Hill from 70s band Slade, who was there to be interviewed on 70’s fashion. I told him this story and forgave him for being the reason it happened!  

I was about 15 and desperate for flared trousers and platform shoes. After much pleading I finally got them both and set off to impress a guy I’d had my eye on for a while. As I walked past him, hands tucked into my skin tight thigh pockets, flares flapping in the wind...my platform shoe got caught in the turn up on my flares. Unable to get my hands out if my pockets fast enough I face-planted the pavement right in front of my first crush...... DEVASTATED.......I still cringe to this day! It didn’t put me off flares or platforms, but I couldn’t look the guy in the face again! Oh the shame.....

Visit The Upcycled Home Co at The Barrow Centre, Mount Edgcumbe Park, Cremyll, Cornwall PL10 1HZ.

Click here to for their website and here for their Instagram.

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Explore more Shh news

• Sadie's musings 18
• as worn by 54
• bags 18
• beauty 5
• behind the scenes 42
• bridal 24
• collections 71
• competition 8
• custom orders 35
• events 33
• food 2
• independents interviews 4
• pearls 24
• press 56
• stockists 1
• style 138
• travel 16
• workshop / classes 21

Hi, Sadie here!

As a small business I meet many other small businesses through a number of ways - networking (ugghh, it has to be done sometimes!!), markets and events, photoshoots, collaborations and support groups…and even meeting each other on Instagram, like today’s interviewee!

Through my little network of small business friends and associates I witness first hand how passionate, brave, hard-working, inspiring, talented and successful these people are. I know from my own experience how tricky it is to work for yourself, and juggle the gazillion things each week can bring - silly things like working out the best packaging supplier, designing your own logo - working out how to take the best product shots, buying your own website domain. A lot of grafting goes into the unglamorous ‘behind the scenes’ of running a small business.

So before I waffle on too much, basically I want to share some of the small businesses I know, so that you can learn about them, support them, and be inspired by them to even follow your own small business pursuits.

You’ll find they’re mostly female entrepreneurs, though there is the odd male entrepreneur in my address book - I will share them, too!

Today’s first ever independent business interview is Clare from ColourBloc Photography. She and I met when I visited Brighton last year - she messaged me on Instagram and we met the following morning for a super exciting impromptu photoshoot on Brighton Pier!

Over to Clare ———>

♥ Clare’s Interview ♥

Hi! I’m Clare, a freelance photographer specialising in product, lifestyle and social media at ColourBloc Photography. I live in Brighton with my husband and our very own ‘Sadie’ aged six!

Describe your work in three words: Colour, contrast and composition

Tell me a little bit about how you started out? I studied architecture at university having always had an appreciation for line, shape and form but ultimately my heart was in photography and 18 years later – here I am, still loving it!

Before I starting ColourBloc Photography in 2018 I worked as a press photographer for years which was an eye opener, meeting people from all walks of life. The variety was fast, photographing anything from the Her majesty the Queen to illegal cannabis factories with police. 

What’s the scariest thing you have ever done? Hands down, doing a skydive over Lake Taupo in NZ, something I’d never wanted to do (laughs nervously) I’m not even sure why I did it but I have to say it was totally exhilarating.

What do you love best about your business?

1. The sense of satisfaction I get from creativity
2. Being my own boss
3. I love that clients tend to seek me out for my colourful style of working.

Visit Clare’s business ColourBloc Photography here.

Find ColourBloc Photography on Instagram here for a regular dose of colour!

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