Up With The Lark And (UP WITH THE LARK)

A weekly podcast for creative entrepreneurs looking for pithy, actionable advice on how to thrive commercially and creatively.

The podcast is hosted by me, Calandre Orton, a business consultant and mentor for creatives. I will tackle a different topic each week from setting the vision, managing your time, handling feedback, building your team, giving back, staying in your lane, sustaining inspiration, collaborating, being brave, starting again to name a few. More often than not, I will have a creative entrepreneur guest join me to share their story and advice. I've got men and women across a huge range of creative industries lined up - I hope that you will hear new stories and fresh ideas.

Being 'up with the lark' is about getting up and going and my hope is that something you hear on this podcast twill resonate with you and enable you to make a positive change to your business. I hope that you will find it encouraging and challenging in equal measure!

In November, I have been considering the idea of 'waste not want not'. In other words, looking at the things that we do have in our businesses rather than what we don't. I have discussed creative talent, time and money. This week, for this first episode, its about the environment. I am no expert but my guest, Lucy Lucraft, is. She is a journalist, blogger and podcaster creating content for the socially-conscious. We look at the whys and the hows when it comes to protecting the environment. I hope that you will find it encouraging and challenging in equal measure. I certainly did!

Lucy Lucraft: www.lucylucraft.com // @lucylucraft
The Ellen McArthur Foundation: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/concept
Patagonia: https://www.patagonia.com/company-history.html
People Tree: https://www.peopletree.co.uk/about-us
How To Give Up Plastic: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/311/311084/how-to-give-up-plastic/9780241363218.html
Turning The Tide On Plastic: https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781409182986

In the month of December, the theme is 'Give'. I want to consider ways that we can give in our capacity as business owners and entrepreneurs. This week I am looking at the idea of charitable giving and there is no better example than the jewellery brand Little by Little. Founded by friends Georgina Fuggle and Annabel Cox, they design absolutely beautiful and original pieces inspired by the world of food. Not only that, they give part of their profits to Action Against Hunger. In this episode Georgina shares great thoughts and ideas about we can all do something kind this Christmas.

Georgina Fuggle // @FuggleAntics
Little by Little // https://littlebylittlejewellery.com / @littlebylittlejewellery
Action Against Hunger // https://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

Selfish Mother // https://www.thefmlystore.com
Charities Aid Foundation // https://www.cafonline.org

In this episode, I look at the importance of celebrating the wins. I think that the best way to do this is an annual review to chart your successes and where you can improve. I will run through the why, the when, the who and the how. I hope that you will find it helpful!

In this episode, I explore the importance of why it is so important to give feedback, what we can learn and I challenge you to give feedback to a surprising group of people. I hope that the result will be a host of brands giving and receiving great feedback this Christmas!

Do you want to take back control of your time? This is for you! Julie Annis, an illustrator, shares some great thoughts, ideas and practical ways to make the most of the time that you have to run your creative enterprise. We look at deadlines, the tension of the creative process and the realities of life, work family balance, the power of white space, seasonality in your business and how to make it all possible. It's a much longer episode than usual but it was worth it as Julie had such great ideas to share!

References:
Hollyhock Lane - http://www.hollyhocklane.co.uk
Becoming by Michelle Obama - www.becomingmichelleobama.com
Capsule - www.capsulecrm.com
Deep Work by Cal Newport - www.calnewport.com/books/deep-work/
How To Break Up With Your Phone - www.catherine-price.com/how-to-break-up-with-your-phone/
Toggl - www.toggl.com

This episode is all about making the most of the mentors in your life. Find them, ask them and nurture that relationship. It's a critical way to gain insights, challenge ideas and build confidence and contacts.

Have you ever received bad feedback about an aspect of your business? Perhaps the product itself, your branding, your delivery service, your pricing or even you? If you have and you weren't quite sure how to handle it, then this episode is for you. Clio Wood, founder of &Breathe Postnatal will bring you from frustrated, embarrassed, disgruntled or just uncertain to a fresh perspective, a sense of calm and embracing the idea that there is always so much to learn.

Clio Wood - &Breathe Postnatal - www.andbreathepostnatal.com

How do you respond to good feedback? Do you shrug it off? Smile momentarily then move on? In this episode I share some thoughts on why taking a compliment well is good business sense!

Have you ever struggled with comparison? My guest, Ruth Marsden of Bright Mama, is an actor and bloggger/vlogger/instagrammer so has a real insight on this topic. We talk about the pitfalls and temptations around comparison but also the hidden gems you can find if you manage comparison in the right way.

Find out more about Ruth here: https://www.thebrightmama.co.uk
Here is the marvellous Lucy Sheridan: http://www.proofcoaching.com

Have you ever been bothered, distracted or overwhelmed by the competition? Even just for a moment? Then this is for you. Fine jeweller Sophie Breitmeyer shares pragmatic and realistic advice on how to develop your own point of difference, to have faith in your convictions and enjoy supporting those in your market place.

Sophie Breitmeyer - https://sophiebreitmeyer.com
Competitor Analysis - Tuppence Creative - Ally Mackie - https://www.tuppencecreative.com

As it’s Valentine’s Day, it seems an appropriate topic. I think that the answer to most of your questions about your creative pursuit is ‘love your client’. Find out who they are, keep up with them, look after to them, listen to them. They will tell you everything you need to know. Like every relationship, it takes nurturing and listening. Our guest, is fashion designer Rachel McCulloch. She has a refreshingly straightforward approach to the topic. The customer is right. Keep up with them or risk failure. If you’ve ever let your focus drift from your customer, this is a great episode to get you back on track.

In the month of March, the theme is 'Grow' and this week specifically, about 'Growing Your Mindset'. If you are thinking of going freelance, changing direction or intimidated about learning a new skill for your business, then this is for you. My guest is Naomi Bikis, a ceramic artist, and together we explore what it is to have a 'growth mindset'. Naomi's story is such an interesting one - there is so much to enjoy and learn in this episode!

Bikis Ceramics - https://www.bikisceramics.com
Carol Dweck - The Power of Believing That You Can Improve - https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en
'Conversations' with Richard Fidler https://www.abc.net.au/radio/people/richard-fidler/7689816
Find Your Local Library https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services
Flying The Nest One to One Session with Up With The Lark https://www.upwiththelarkconsulting.com/workwithme

Annabel Partridge and Hamish Budge are quite the dynamic duo. They are part of the team behind Pear Tree Cafe in Battersea Park. They both work hard, seriously hard and have such a great story to share. We discuss how they started the business and grew it into a London hot spot, what it’s like to work with your finance, what growth means to their business, triumphs and tricky spots and how strong company values are key to success.

Pear Tree Cafe - www.peartreecafe.co.uk
How I Built This - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this
Deliciously Ella's Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/deliciously-ella-the-podcast/id1428704212?mt=2

Are you ready to grow your business? One of the critical things is to grow your team. This might be employees, freelancers, specialists, interns and covers both juniors and experts. How do you know what you need? How do you recruit them? What do you do once they are on board?

This week we are exploring, perhaps literally, the importance if growing your horizons. Our guest is Alex Rebbeck of travel lifestyle brand Atla. We chat about why travel is so important to creatives and founders, how to decide where to go, the changing face of 'business travel' and how you can bring the world to you.

Atla: https://atla.is
The Weekend Journal: https://atla.is/collections/library/
Helen Russell: A Year of Living Danishly - https://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Danishly-Uncovering-Happiest-ebook/dp/B00Q8SR5L0

It seems to me that the businesses that thrive, have someone brave at the helm. Someone willing to take a risk, learn something new, develop their experience. This week, we have Florence Kennedy of Petalon. It was a real honour to have her join us to discuss 'Growing Your Experience' - how being willing to learn, to fail, to try is the key to a growing business.

Petalon: https://www.petalon.co.uk
Kennedy and Kennedy: https://www.kennedyandkennedy.co.uk
Innovation for Growth: https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/innovating-for-growth
The Do Lectures: https://www.thedolectures.com

This week we start a new theme - people. We start by looking at people to inspire us - artists, makers, designers, creators who bring insight, courage and deepen our thinking. To help us explore this is Emily Tobin, Arts and Features Editor of House & Garden. Her writing is both beautiful and engaging and I think that you will enjoy her gentle nudge to look a little longer, read a little broader and strike up a conversation wherever possible.

House & Garden Magazine - https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk
Emily Tobin - https://www.instagram.com/emily.k.tobin/

It is said that 'culture eats strategy'. For Good Things Brewing, culture IS the strategy.

Company Culture is an ever present pre-occupation for many start ups these days. If you are wondering what exactly company culture is, how to start developing one, how to nurture it and see it bring success to your business, then this episode is for you.

It's also for you if you want to sip a cool beer in the sunshine and listen to the birds sing in the Sussex countryside.

Good Things Brewing - https://www.goodthingsbrewing.co
Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast - https://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-and-jimmys-friday-night-feast/on-demand/68197-009
The Happy Start Up - http://www.thehappystartupschool.comPatagonia
Let My People Go Surfing - https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2016/09/let-my-people-go-surfing/
Burning Sky Beer - https://www.burningskybeer.com

There is no doubt that collaborations are in vogue and for good reason. This week our guest is Lisa Mehydene, founder and creative director of edit 58. A self confessed interiors obsessive, she has built a thriving business which has been a part of many successful collaborations - Kana London, Matilda Goad and Molly Mahon to name a few. There is even a new collaboration launching this week!

If you would like to instigate a collaboration and do it really very well, then this episode is full of great insight and advice for you!

edit 58: www.edit58.com
Atelier Big John: www.bigjon.co.uk
Kana London: www.kanalondon.com
Matilda Goad: www.matildagoad.com
Molly Mahon: www.mollymahon.com

This week we are considering the topic of ‘Place: Where To Run Your Business’.

Today it is easier than ever to start a business from your kitchen table and build a successful enterprise with an idea, determination, coffee and great wifi.

But how do much does our work environment impact us? Does it matter? How do we make sure that we work ‘well’ at home? When it is time to ‘move out’ to an office, studio or shop? And what should you take into consideration when deciding where to go?

To help answer these questions is Ed Foster of Foster & Game. Foster & Game is a mother and son duo curating an ever-changing collection of fine and decorative antiques alongside twentieth century design.

Ed and I worked together for years before we each set off to run our own businesses. I am so impressed, but not surprised, at how great Ed is at running his own show. The man has excellent taste and frankly, I’d like to live in his new showroom space. I will let him tell you more!

Foster & Gane: https://fosterandgane.com
Sotheby’s Institute: https://www.sothebysinstitute.com
Colefax & Fowler: https://www.colefax.com
Rose Uniacke: https://roseuniacke.com/pimlico-shop

Image Credit: Jake Curtis for House & Garden

We are looking at the importance of building a community around you as a creative both online and ‘in real life’ and why it’s good to try to balance the two. Our guest is Emma Harris of A Quiet Style. She is a fine art photographer, stylist and lifestyle blogger. With around 78k instagram followers, she is no stranger to the power of an online community but nor has she ignored the importance of meeting face to face. Emma hosts retreats, workshops and now regular lunches for people to have a space to meet and build communities of their own. I’ve often tried to avoid discussing instagram but here Emma shares great insights and encouragements to use the platform as a great community tool but online and in ‘real life’. If you have ever felt that you want to build a better community around you but weren’t sure how, then this is the episode for you!

A Quiet Style: https://www.aquietstyle.co.uk
The Do Lectures: https://www.thedolectures.com
Platform 9: https://www.platf9rm.com

In this episode, we explore the idea of ‘shop local, think global’ and its various implications as creative entrepreneurs. It’s a phrase full of potential and possibility but also restrictions and responsibilities. How can we respond to it creatively and commercially?

When considering who to ask to speak on this topic, my wish list was a long one - someone creatively talented, who had a bricks and mortar shop and an online presence, that the shop would be fully invested into the local community and that they would have an international point of view in terms of product and the environment. Critically, it felt essential to have someone who saw all of these things as a narrative, a debate, a work in progress. And by some miracle, I found them!

Kristina Currie of Bon Tot sits down with us to discuss how they find this balance - the shop in Edinburgh, the online presence, stoking international products and prioritising eco-thinking. If you want to hear a great business story, you have come to the right place. Kristina is an articulate, considered and funny guest. You are in for a treat!

Bon Tot: https://www.bon-tot.com
Let My People Go Surfing: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/536777/let-my-people-go-surfing-by-yvon-chouinard-foreword-by-naomi-klein/9780143109679/
Courier Magazine: https://couriermedia.co
How I Built This: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this

Welcome back to Up With The Lark The Podcast!

In my experience, those enterprises which set sincere and coherent brand values, and express them honesty and with innovation, thrive. I initially started by interviewing Sophie, founder of Sleepy Doe. I then quickly realised that, like the British weather and tins of Quality Street, the joy was in the variety. So I approached some other brands and projects and asked them to share their business values. Over the next week, we will be hearing from different founders and leaders on why they feel that values are important, how they chose them, the benefits of having them, how they stick with them and where to start if you haven’t yet had chance to think about this in any great detail.

For our second instalment, we have Alli Beddoes Artistic Director and CEO of Lighthouse Brighton. Lighthouse is an arts charity specialising in connecting new developments in art, technology, science and society. It runs an extensive programme of talks, training, exhibitions, commissions and educational initiatives. They also run Guiding Lights which is the UK's premiere film mentoring programme matching emerging film makers with top industry professionals such as Barbara Broccoli, Danny Boyle, Abi Morgan, Sam Mendes and Kenneth Branagh. Alli herself shares her own fascinating professional journey as well as articulating Lighthouse's values clearly and with breadth and depth of thought. It's such a great reminder that having a set of values matters whether you are in business, big or small, in the charitable sector or as a creative in your own right. Every encounter with Alli gets me thinking and this episode does too. I hope you find yourself pondering it too!

It would be wonderful if you were able to rate, review and share. It helps other creatives to find us!

Lighthouse Brighton: http://www.lighthouse.org.uk
The Toyota Five Whys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_whys
How To Work Better (Peter Fischli and David Weiss):https://www.tate.org.uk/tate-etc/issue-8-autumn-2006/working-it-out
Steph Douglas - Don't By Her Flowers: https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/sisterhoodandallthat/
Anna Whitehouse: https://www.instagram.com/mother_pukka/
Tea Uglow, Google Creative Labs: https://teau.me
Lizzo: https://www.instagram.com/lizzobeeating/
Kemi Telford: https://www.instagram.com/kemitelford/

Welcome to Up With The Lark The Podcast! I hope that you are enjoying this Mini Series on Brand Values!

In my experience, those enterprises which set sincere and coherent brand values, and express them honesty and with innovation, thrive. I initially started by interviewing Sophie, founder of Sleepy Doe. I then quickly realised that, like the British weather and tins of Quality Street, the joy was in the variety. So I approached some other brands and projects and asked them to share their business values. Over the next week, we will be hearing from different founders and leaders on why they feel that values are important, how they chose them, the benefits of having them, how they stick with them and where to start if you haven’t yet had chance to think about this in any great detail.

In this third instalment on a chilly November day we have Sammi Bennet of Rag Trade Clothing. All of the Rag Trade Clothing pieces are imagined, designed and created by designer/maker Sammi. The clothes are all seasonless, timeless, functional and feminine. If you want to hear conversation about enthusiasm, being a modern-day maker, the benefit of simplified decision-making and holding fast in times of change, then you should enjoy this. That and Sammi is just frank and funny about what it takes to run a business!

It would be wonderful if you were able to rate, review and share. It helps other creatives to find us!

Rag Trade Clothing: https://www.ragtradeclothingco.com

Welcome to Up With The Lark The Podcast! I hope that you are enjoying this Mini Series on Brand Values!

In my experience, those enterprises which set sincere and coherent brand values, and express them honesty and with innovation, thrive. I initially started by interviewing Sophie, founder of Sleepy Doe. I then quickly realised that, like the British weather and tins of Quality Street, the joy was in the variety. So I approached some other brands and projects and asked them to share their business values. Over the next week, we will be hearing from different founders and leaders on why they feel that values are important, how they chose them, the benefits of having them, how they stick with them and where to start if you haven’t yet had chance to think about this in any great detail.

For our penultimate episode, we have furniture designer and maker, Christian Watson, founder of his eponymous furniture brand. When I was deciding who I wanted to interview for this series, I really wanted to have someone at the start of the journey to act in contrast to those more established businesses. I was keen to have optimism be the overriding sentiment so I scrolled down my client list to find my most hopeful startup and found Christian. His attitude is all about being honest, asking for help and enjoying the process. He also has a surprisingly realistic attitude about how to handle your values when they are inevitably challenged. I really hope that if you have an idea or are musing setting up your own brand, that Christian will be the nudge you need to give it a go!

It would be wonderful if you were able to rate, review and share. It helps other creatives to find us!

Christian Watson: https://christian-watson.com
Heatherwick Studio: http://www.heatherwick.com
Pinch: https://pinchdesign.com
Buster & Punch: https://www.busterandpunch.com

Welcome to Up With The Lark The Podcast! I hope that you are enjoying this Mini Series on Brand Values!

In my experience, those enterprises which set sincere and coherent brand values, and express them honesty and with innovation, thrive. I initially started by interviewing Sophie, founder of Sleepy Doe. I then quickly realised that, like the British weather and tins of Quality Street, the joy was in the variety. So I approached some other brands and projects and asked them to share their business values. Over the next week, we will be hearing from different founders and leaders on why they feel that values are important, how they chose them, the benefits of having them, how they stick with them and where to start if you haven’t yet had chance to think about this in any great detail.

For our fifth and final episode, we have Rebecca Thomas of Bonbon Balloons. It might be high fashion, a start up launch party, Babbington, Boodles or chic brides. Whatever it is, if Bonbon Balloons is involved, it’s a feast of creativity. As a brand they always bring joy, celebration and something truly one off. Rebecca really is all about being original. And sticking to that core value has clearly paid dividends. Good colour and good cheer are certainly on the menu in this episode!

It would be wonderful if you were able to rate, review and share. It helps other creatives to find us!

Amongst freelancers, creatives, small business owners and flexible workers the question ‘to co-work or not to co-work’ seems very fashionable. How do you know if it’s right for you? What are good reasons for trying it? How to find a ‘good’ co-working space? How can you build the promised community? And, frankly, how can you make co-working work for you?

To debate these questions, we are joined by photographer Emma Croman. She shares her experience as a portrait and lifestyle photographer which is a great story in itself. She then explores life before co-working and how she has made it work for her. She is funny, open and creative as hell.

So, if you have ever wondered if it’s time to leave the kitchen table, if procrastination has taken over, if a sense of isolation is looming or you just like the idea of having a community around you, then this is the episode for you!

Emma Croman: https://emmacroman.com
Platform 9: https://www.platf9rm.com

In this episode, we are continuing on the theme of ‘place’ - the importance of our working environment, co-working spaces, how to express our brand in a physical space and learning from those that inspire us.

Today we have arts, interiors and style writer, Aimee Farrell sharing her thoughts on inspiring workspaces and what we can learn from them. She has writes regularly for a delectable collection of publications including T magazine, the FT, Vanity Fair, British Vogue and How To Spend It.

She is keenly observant and able to intertwine her knowledge of different creative disciplines effortlessly and to great effect. She has explored the creations of sculptures, interior designers, perfume house, artists, creative directors, architects and fashion designers. And, of particular interest today, has been invited into some extraordinary workspaces.

I met Aimee at a wedding years ago and have been quietly in awe of her ever since. I was absolutely delighted, and terrified, when she agreed to come on the podcast so I could ask her all about Margaret Howell, Anya Hindmarch, Faye Toogood and Beata Heuman. I’ll admit to be rather nervous to chat to someone who has interviewed a seemingly endless list of superstar creatives and whose resultant work is as exquisite as it is eclectic.

If you are wondering how your environment impacts you and what you can do to improve it, then you should enjoy this! And failing that, if you want to know who does a regular ‘pizza and purge’, who carefully curates pieces from the beach and who has made their office feel just like a home, then listen to this! And enjoy!

To read some of Aimee's pieces, take a look below:
https://www.instagram.com/aimee_farrell/
https://www.nytimes.com/by/aimee-farrell
https://www.vogue.com/contributor/aimee-farrell

We might be starting to see hints of spring, the birds are singing, daffodils are everywhere and we can start to enjoy the British debate of whether or not to wear a coat but today we are talking all about Christmas!

Last Christmas I discovered, rather late to the party, the wonderful Polar Post. I am frankly obsessed with the idea, the product and the founder Charlotte Wood. 

Charlotte is that perfect combination of whimsy, wit and red lipstick. Just right to run Polar Post. It is the original, award winning scribed letters from Father Christmas sent by magic. Charlotte and her team of elves help Father Christmas to deliver letters. And these aren’t just any letters. They are works of art to be cherished for years and years, tied up in ribbon and read over and over until the paper thins and your children are grown. It strikes me that this is more than just a moment of magic. The way we communicate in our lives has changed beyond recognition and, for me, Polar Post brings something of that intentional, time consuming letter writing of soldiers in wartime, of 1970s fan letters to rockstars, of eager eight year olds and Blue Peter, of Poirot and his telegrams, of the residents of Charleston Farmhouse. It is nostalgia in its best possible form. 

And today, we are lucky enough to explore the delights of running Polar Post and of the challenges and opportunities in running a Christmas business. 

But before I go any further, I would just like to add that if you are currently in the presence of any little believers, please do be aware that Charlotte might, if we are really good, share some of the secrets of the North Pole! 

I hope that you enjoy it! Please do rate, review and share with your friends!

Polar Post: www.polarpost.co.uk

In my view, today's guest has cracked the illusive 'balance' as a creative entrepreneur: she is both a fearless idealist creatively and a confident visionary commercially.

Rachel Entwistle set up her eponymous jewellery brand in 2011. She splits her time between her store in Shoreditch and her home in Ibiza nestled among the orange groves. Quite a contrast.

That love of contrast and travel is evident in her collections which are designed to connect people through history, symbols, nature and place.

She counts Kiera Knightly, Florence Welsch, Natasha Khan and Russell Brand as private customers and has collaborated with exceptional brands such as Paul Smith.

One of the many things that I admire about Rachel is the team that she has developed around her. She believes that growing a team is critical to growing a business and has done so in a considered and intentional way. She has raised up young talent, encouraged initiative and learning, released creativity and fostered a great company culture of belonging, trust and imaginative flair. I was so interested to hear how she has gone about it and I hope that you will too!

Whether you are about to make your first hire or are building your own team of employees and freelancers, Rachel has a great point of view and has really reflected on this critical part of growing a business.

This episode was recorded before the current COVID-19 crisis. I hesitated about whether or not to share it for fear of taunts of ‘frivolity’. In the end, I decided that the topic of branding was a good and important one for all businesses and might provide a bit of something to do and think about for all those hours trapped indoors. It could be time to consider you brand afresh, research, explore and develop your current thinking. And, sometimes we need a bit of ‘frivolity’ don’t we!

If a picture says a thousand words, then Twig Hutchinson knows how to get a brand talking to its customers. Really talking.

To achieve this, Twig wears many hats. All glamorous ones. She is an art director and stylist, brand consultant, the Design Editor of Glass magazine and founder of the Minford Journal. There isn’t much this creative lady hasn’t seen when it comes to using brand to elevate the commercial success of a business. Whether its a one day photoshoot, a pop up or trade show or a bricks and mortar shop, it’s critically important to express the vision for your brand effectively. Lucky for us, Twig has worked with the likes of Plain English and British Standard, Matches, Toast, Boden and Wedgewood. Her work has depth, a sense of humour and a lightness of touch.

In this episode we find out more about life as an art director and stylist, brands she perceives are really getting it right and what she thinks are the critical ingredients to expressing your brand creatively and effectively.

Twig Hutchinson: www.twighutchinson.com

The Minford Journal: www.minford.co.uk

Glass Magazine: www.theglassmagazine.com

Once again, I find myself sharing an episode recorded pre-Covid 19. And once again, it feels strange and potentially risky. But unless you really are having a news blackout, you will know that self-employed parents find themselves under immense pressure. They are trying to keep careers alive, look into an uncertain financial future and care for their children full time. Let’s not even mention ‘home schooling’! I am no maths teacher, but I would say that equation doesn’t quite add up. In that landscape, Doing It For The Kids has a critical part to play. it is a community for freelance parents trying to make flexible working work. And so, I hope that this week’s episode will invite you into a community you may not yet know about or if you are a signed up member, it might offer some interesting insight into it’s founder, Frankie Tortora.

When considering this episode I wanted to explore the potential and flexibility that exists in being a freelance parent and also to bust some of the myths that it is the golden bullet to ‘having it all’. I think that Covid-19 has done that for me but I do hope that you will still find this an interesting exploration into the opportunities and the pitfalls. This season will pass but I suspect that Frankie’s hopeful and realistic outlook will remain true and encouraging. I really hope that you will find this an good listen while you fold laundry, enjoy your daily exercise, print off activity sheets or hunt through the recycling for craft projects!

My usual rule is to try to only have guests who haven’t been on a podcast before as it offers new stories and fresh ideas. However, I also try to find people with real expertise and today’s guests is not only an expert on this topic but has her own podcast all about it! I must be mad but she personifies what Up With The Lark is all about to I had to be brave and ask her!

Frankie Tortora is is a freelance graphic desinger and mother of two and the founder of Doing it For The Kids. It is a thriving community of freelance parents making real connections online and off. It comprises a wonderful Facebook Group, a fabulous podcast, meet ups, a blog and a wicked sense of humour. Frankie is a natural leader but isn’t about the limelight. Instead she shines light on everyone around her. She is that rare breed in that she make every single person feel like the most important person in the room, she craves connection over quodos and isn’t afraid to say it as it is. I rather like her. You will too.

If you are a freelancing parent struggling with the chapter entitled ‘Covid 19’, head over to Doing It For The Kids. If it’s the only thing you do today, it will be worth it.

Doing it For The Kids: www.doingitforthekids.net
Frankie Torta: www.francescatortora.com

Welcome to Episode One of the new series on Hope. Today we are going to consider the Hope of Community. It is undeniably one of the realisations of this time. community is what really matters. Whether its clapping on a Thursday evening or a Zoom with your best pals, it is impactful and influential. This is true too in our professional lives - for those in the creative industries and arts, having a great community or network has always been crucial and now more than ever. But it isn't always easy to find. No one knows this better than Joanna Payne, founder and director of Marguerite. The aim of Marguerite is to advance the careers of women in the industry by providing a ready-made professional network and space to hear from some of the most influential people working in the creative industries today.

What I particularly admire about what Joanna has done is that she has spotted a gap, a need, a barrier and then gone about doing something about it. And it's that approach which has led Joanna to take Marguerite into a new chapter at this time. At lightening speed I must add. I think that we can all learn a great deal from Joanna's attitude and mentality. She certainly gives me hope!

Marguerite is a wonderful idea, elegantly executed. I hope that you will really enjoy this episode!

Marguerite - www.margueritelondon.com

Long before lockdown, I invited Caroline Kent of Scribble and Daub to join me on the podcast to discuss the challenge and thrill of finding, signing and working with stockists. I was so struck by her great directory of stockists ranging from national treasures, galleries and little gems both here and across the globe that I could not resist asking her to share her secret! Amazingly, Caroline agreed and we sat in her delightful kitchen, drank black coffee and delved into the story of Scribble and Daub.

At the time, pandemic was a concept not the global tragedy it has become. Caroline and I have both been incredibly grateful to be able to shelter safely in our respective Sussex cottages and are acutely aware of how very lucky we are. And it is just that sense of gratitude that has shone through in Caroline’s response to this time - she has celebrated #youarewhatyougive, encouraging us all to send a card, to take time to sit down and write, to savour the walk to the postbox, to connect, to offer up the thrill of receiving a beautiful hand-written card. And so, I asked Caroline if she would re-record our episode to explore her experience of the pandemic and she graciously agreed.

And so, we talk a great deal about how Scribble and Daub began, how she has developed a thriving business and an incredible directory of stockists, the power of persistence, the impact of Covid-19, that you are what you give and her hope for a future where we continue to create and to cherish one another.

Scribble & Daub: www.scribbleanddaub.com

Welcome to Episode Three of our series on Hope. Today we are thinking about the hope of creative children. At this time of ‘home schooling’, I think that many of us have come to see how important and rewarding it is to foster creativity in the next generation.

Our guest today lives and breathes this sentiment. Alara Hindle is the co-founder of Lots of Lovely Art. They aim to support creativity in children through art. The sad decline of art education in schools motivated Alara and her sister-in-law Selina to do something about it. They run art clubs, pop up workshops, birthday parties and art groups for tiny toddlers. They also create extraordinary art boxes. Each is themed, contains lots of information and activities as well as being jam packed with beautiful art materials. I can’t tell you the relief I felt when I discovered LOLA - its bought art into our home and the fridge has never been so beautifully adorned. Frankly, other than the milkman, it’s the only subscription service that never disappoints.

We are going to find out about where the idea came from, the importance of championing creativity in children, running a subscription services, creativity in business and enjoying a family firm and the hope of changing perceptions of art education in this time of national home schooling.

Lots of Lovely Art: www.lotsoflovelyart.org

This week has all been all about the next generation and this episode is a special little something to celebrate yet another Friday in lockdown - it's about the joy of creative children.
It seems to me that as creative business owners, the responsibility and pressure of making good and right decisions can be overwhelming, draining and bewildering. Are we getting it right? Are we brave enough to try something new? How can we give back? How do we stick to our values? Are we setting a good example to our children?
Today's guest is the perfect antidote to all of that. Clemence Currie is the daughter of Kristina Currie founder of Bon Tot and the delightful guest back in Episode 22. Clemence is a delightful breath of fresh air! I hope that you will enjoy a lighthearted 10 minutes with this exuberant creative who is certainly destined for great things. Holly Tucker is a huge fan and so am I! If ever the phrase 'out of the mouth of babes' applied, it's here! I hope you enjoy Clemence's joyful story!

Welcome to Episode Four of our series on Hope.

One of the good things that has come from this season has been the heightened awareness of locality - the walks, the buildings, the people and the independent shops. It is just that that we are going to explore today - the Hope of Independent Shops.

And our guest today is Florence Dixon, founder of the Tidy Street General Store in Brighton. Florence’s shop is endlessly enticing. In fact, I don’t think that I have ever left empty-handed. Within this jewel of space, alongside a carefully selected rail of fabulous clothes, you will marble counters shot through with vivid green displaying homewares, sweet treats and a constantly evolving range of discoveries. Tidy Street is curation at its best.

We are going to hear about the story of Tidy Street, the joy of shopkeeping, the wonderful community of independent shops in Brighton, how Florence went about putting the space together, the wonderful companies that she works with, how her customer and the world is changing and, finally, her hope for the future of independent shops.

Tidy Street General Store: www.tidystreetstore.com
Cawley: www.cawleystudio.com
Maison Bengal: www.maisonbengal.co.uk

Welcome to Episode Five in our podcast series on Hope. Given how much time we have all been spending at home, it seemed obvious that I needed to explore the Hope of Home. To do that, I wrote out a wish list of interior designers and today’s guest was right at the top of that list. This is a huge career highlight for me, and I haven’t slept a wink because we have got the incredible Rachel Chudley joining us today!

She is a shining star of the interior design world. Her projects require more than a momentary pause to admire, they invite a lingering exploration. They are eclectic, maximalist, filled with wonderful art and doused in colour. She is one of life’s enthusiasts and her joyful, intelligent approach is simply infectious.

In a recent House and Garden article, she referenced a John Ruskin quote that ‘a great colour is one that you can’t quite find the right name for’ and this certainly applies to Rachel’s style and projects. Her work is simply just outside the grasp of us ordinary folk!

We are going to find out about her path to having her own design studio, the part privilege and kindness have played, what home means to her, the huge importance of colour in her life, running her own design studio and her hope for the future of home.

This is an extra long episode because I just couldn't cut anything out - Rachel's train of thought is so interesting. She takes the scenic route and goodness me, it's wonderful!

Rachel Chudley: www.rachelchudley.com

Welcome to Episode 6 in our series on Hope.

As we have all been forced to slow down, we have been given the opportunity to consider more carefully what it is that we buy, what it is made of and who made it. So I wanted to explore the idea of pursuing quality of quantity. And that is exactly what we debate in this episode with Alice Byron founder of Blake LDN.

Their mission is to create contemporary knitwear with a clean and understated aesthetic and it is worn by the likes of Alexa Coe, Alice Archer and Matilda Goad. The focus is on craftsmanship, provenance and quality. So who better to explore this topic!

We hear about the story behind Blake LDN, starting out in fashion, yarn yarn yarn, what quality means to Alice, leaving successful wholesale behind to embrace direct to customer, processing the value of a pause (for a pandemic or motherhood), sustainability, other brands and businesses that she admires, the impact of lockdown and her hope for the future of quality in fashion.

Blake Ldn: www.blake-ldn.com

Patagonia: www.patagonia.com
Alighieri: www.alighieri.co.uk
Everlane: www.everlane.com
Jessie Harris: www.jessieharris.co.uk
Stella McCartney's Mission Statement: www.stellamccartney.com/experience/en/sustainability/themes/mission-statement/
Petalon: www.petalon.co.uk

Welcome to Episode Seven in our series on Hope. Today we are delving into the space where fashion, technology and sustainability meet. Where each enhances the other and offers the hope of conscious fashion, and perhaps also the hope of innovation.

Our guest is Eshita Kabra founder of By Rotation which is the UK's first and only fashion rental platform. The aim is a good one - to transform the way that we consume fashion - and it is beautifully executed. Eshita shares the principles, values and motivations behind the concept. Enterprises like this one really can act as catalysts for change and I think that it will be exciting to see what the future holds.

We hear about the genesis of the idea, the concept, the launch, leaving the corporate life behind, the joy of building community, balancing commerce and creativity by building a great team and her hope for the future.

I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of creatives both as clients and podcast guests. What is wonderful for me is that Eshita started her journey not at art school or as a fashion intern, but in finance. We hear a different perspective and point of view on creativity. And we also get to ask 'where you the best dressed girl in economics class?'!

I hope that you will be encouraged by Eshita's approach and optimism - I certainly was!

By Rotation: www.byrotation.com

Welcome to Episode Eight in our series on Hope.

In this episode, Molly Mahon and I consider the hope of the unexpected. We delve into the story of her eponymous company which designs and creates glorious block printed fabrics and wallpapers. You will hear all about that Shepherds Hut, how happenstance became a business, the methodical, mesmerising, meditative power of block printing, her breadth of reference from Jaipur to Charleston, unexpected success, the chapter entitled ‘lockdown’ and the magical marriage of potato and paint.

Molly has been on my list of dream clients for a very long time. A very long time. I love her approach - a heady mix of joy, courage and determination. Molly carries her talent, focus and resilience with an ease and lightness of touch and in this conversation you will hear more about her story, her business and her hope for the future.

You will finish this episode uplifted, recommitted to trusting your gut, encouraged and off to the pantry to hunt down a suitable potato!

Molly Mahon: www.mollymahon.com
Charleston: www.charleston.org.uk
House of Print by Molly Mahon: www.waterstones.com/book/house-of-print/molly-mahon/9781911641223

Welcome to Episode Nine in our series on Hope.

In this episode we speak with Georgia Spray founder of Partnership Editions about the Hope of Collecting Art. Partnership Editions aim to make remarkable art accessible to all by offering an online platform married with events, collecting advice and a creative community. They work alongside exciting, emerging artists such as Christabel Blackburn, Richard Hart, Hester Finch, Charlotte Eady and Fee Greening to name but a few. There are six ‘drops’ a year which sell out quickly - you have to be fast off the mark when you get that email.

Georgia has put together a glorious alternative to aloof white boxes, frenzied art fairs, hastily bought posters and blank walls. As we spend ever more time at home, the art we surround ourselves with seems more important. More impactful. More intrinsic to our every day lives. The approach of Partnership Editions is accessible, vivacious and dynamic - you can’t help but get drawn in. The approach to the new climate has also been really proactive and refreshing - lots to learn for us all!

In this episode we are going to hear about Georgia’s early years in the art world, the idea of Partnership Editions, how it moved from a ‘side-hustle’ to a full time enterprise, how it has evolved over time, curating her artists, modern day collectors, the impact of Covid-19 (of course) and her hope for the future.

Partnership Editions: www.partnershipeditions.com

Welcome to Episode Ten in our series on Hope.

For quite some time I have wanted to have some more established entrepreneurs on the podcast. And you are in for a treat today.

Meri Meri is an international lifestyle brand for party, home and play. To be honest, a party isn’t a party in our house with some Meri Meri! Their world is whimsical, magical, celebratory and of seeming limitless creativity. We are going to hear all about that and what it actually takes to make that happen.

Speaking to Meredithe was a true privilege. I had high hopes but was blown away by how incredibly generous she was with her time and her thoughtful answers to my many questions! Meredithe was honest, challenging and encouraging.

There is so much in here - it is a head nodding, note taking episode. We spoke about the early years in 1980s America, the marriage of profit and creativity, weathering the storms, branding, copycats, imposter syndrome, building an incredible team, finding your identity and confidence as a founder, doing things properly, glitter (of course, the impact of the pandemic and the curse of eternal optimism.

Meri Meri: www.merimeri.co.uk

Welcome to the final episode in our series on Hope. Now, we haven’t given up hope completely! On the contrary, I wanted to end the series with the episode that I felt was the most hopeful of all. My hope is that this episode lifts the spirits and moves us all to action.

This episode is The Hope of Change with Alexandria Dauley and Sophie Ashby of United in Design. United in Design is a charitable organisation set up to address the lack of diversity within the design industry.

If the last six months have made the ‘why’ and the ‘who’ of the battle for diversity self-evident, perhaps the ‘how’ has not been as easy as we wish it could be. The United in Design initiative tackles that head on with a clear vision, a plethora of projects and a collaborative approach.

In this episode, we are going to hear how these bold, purposeful change-makers met, how the idea began and came to fruition, their incredible vision, the wonderful people involved, what success looks like to them, the challenges of running a charity long term, their hope for the future and we can all get involved.

United In Design: www.unitedindesign.com

Welcome to our new podcast series entitled ‘Perseverance’. It seems to me that is what we are all going to have to focus on as we head into 2021. And we are starting at a great place, ‘Persevere with Your Passions’. We are all going to need to do this and to inspire and encourage us is cookery author, Skye McAlpine.

I have often admired Skye’s wonderful kitchen creations, marvelling at how she manages to turn something quite simple into a feast. Whether in Venice or London, lunch in a heatwave or supper on a chilly winter’s night, Skye makes me want to cook what she easts. And, importantly, makes it seems actually possible that I might attempt it and not end up sweating and swearing in the kitchen while friends chat and drink without me.

Good ingredients, good plates and good friends seem to be the name of the game. A brilliant recipe if ever there was one.

We talk about where Skye’s passion for food began, how she developed that passion into a career, her latest book ‘A Table for Friends’, how she continues to nurture her love of food and hospitality and how we can all continue to persevere with our own passions.

Welcome to Episode Two in our series entitled “Perseverance”.

Atelier Ellis make quiet, beautiful handmade paint to help you tell the story of your home. Founder Cassandra Ellis, is queen of the understated, the considered, the cocooning. It is apparently effortless and deeply atmospheric. Even the hand-painted paint chart is thing of beauty. She advises her customers to ‘tune out the noise’ of what is in vogue, fashionable, everywhere else and instead asks us all to tell our own story.

I think that this approach is a brilliant one both in terms of our homes and our businesses and careers. We explore how to tune into your own aesthetic and approach, how to tune out the noise creatively and commercially and how to persevere with all of this despite comparison, challenges and set backs.

Welcome to Episode Three in our series on Perseverance. In this episode, we explore 'Persevere with Performance'. I know that the performing arts have been woefully under-represented on this podcast as they aren't, in the traditional sense, 'entrepreneurial'. But in fact, I think that we have a great deal to learn from those who dedicate themselves to performance especially in a pandemic.

Our guest is Xander Parish. He is the first Western Principal Ballet Dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia. Xander's commitment to his art form is extraordinary. His worth ethic and singularity of purpose is more than inspiring. It is a call to action.

His story would be well told by Peter Morgan - from his early years in Yorkshire to life at the Royal Ballet School in London and now in Russia, talent and perseverance shine through. That and a love of cricket! We find out about the boy ballerina, embracing adventure in Russia, what performance means to him, the role his faith plays, remaining positive during lockdown and how we can all persevere to see opportunities in these strange strange times.

Welcome to the latest in the series on perseverance - whatever creative industry you are in or whatever stage your career is at, whether you are starting up or scaling up, perseverance is the name of the game.
And in this episode we are going to delve into 'persevering with your values'. If you have worked with me, you'll know about y frankly obsessive preoccupation with values. That might be defining them, refining them, nurturing them, communicating them, protecting them and, to be honest, just sticking by them!
There is always so much to distract and dissuade us from this approach to business and never more than now. And yet today's guests seem to step further into their value driven approach with each new season and challenge.
They are Becky Okell and Huw Thomas, founders of Paynter Jacket. They make limited edition jackets sold in 'batches' four times a year. They release hundreds of jackets in each batches that sell out in minutes, if not seconds. But this is no hype brand. This is about bringing meaning back to clothing and changing what it means to be sustainable. This no-waste business model is certainly the business model of the future and one I often use as a case study with clients.
I have watched them from afar and marvelled at what they have built. Then the day before recording, they proved my hunch right. I sent them an invitation to be on the podcast and their response was swift, insightful and uplifting. And just when I thought spontaneity had left us forever, we recorded this episode just 24 hours later.
They are spontaneous, obsessed with learning, are all about community, transparency and being uncompromising in all areas of the business. They describe running their business as 'one long conversation' and I hope that you will enjoy a moment to hear a snippet of that wonderful dialogue between two extraordinary founders.

Welcome to Episode Five in this latest series entitled Perseverance.

In May 2020, The Craft Council produced an extensive report on the Market For Craft (it is certainly worth a read). They reported on a new generation of craft makers and consumers - I couldn't agree more! A renewed respect for technique, the digital age and a desire for experience over transaction have all played their part in bringing craft and making back to the fore.

If you are looking for a masterclass in traditional craft, quiet understated excellence alongside a purity of purpose, aesthetic and style, you have come to the right place. Lola Lely and Yesenia Thibault-Picazo are the founders of Wax Atelier based in East London. They re-visit traditional techniques ranging from candle dipping and paper-making to crafted textiles using natural wax. This is a far cry from birthday candles on a Colin the Caterpillar cake, tea lights in jam jars and hastily collected candle stubs in a power cut. This is the magical majesty of the wax itself. They are quite the hit - they are currently working with Toast, Laura Jackson is a fan and they are stocked by a delightful list of considered and stylish stockists. Their star is most certainly on the rise.

I am going to find out more about how they met and the beginnings of the business, their approach to the making itself, the highs and the challenges, scaling and growing, new projects and their view on the key to perseverance.

I would suggest that you pop over to Toast and enjoy the video that Wax Atelier made with them earlier this year - it will leave you super keen to know more and with a lingering visual in your mind. Then you will enjoy this episode all the more.

Welcome to Episode Six of the Perseverance Series.

We all know wonderful people who can tell a great story - the perfect person to sit next to at dinner. They can make a story about getting on a ferry, going to the supermarket or attending parents evening incredibly funny or they can bring a place, a meal or a culture to life in very few words. The same is true of brands and businesses. There are those who can draw us in to their narrative, their vision and so much so that we want to be a part of it.

Today's guest is a wonderful storyteller with whom we will explore the topic 'persevere with storytelling'. Maya Njie is the founder of her eponymous perfume brand based in London. Her background lies in surface design and photography but, inspired by an old family photo album, she set about trying to capture a moment in time, by way of scent.

She is self taught and her clear focus is on high quality artisanal blends mixed in small, fresh batches, filtered and bottled individually by hand. Her singular ability to bring together a photograph, a colour palate, a scent is captivating and why I was so keen to interview her on this wonderful topic.

Maya Njie: http://www.mayanjie.com

In this episode we have a little extra end of summertime treat ahead of the new series starting later in the autumn.

My guest is Chow Mezger of Jude's Ice Cream and we explore the deceptive simplicity of a tub of vanilla ice cream.

I have long wanted Jude's to come on the podcast because I feel that the story of Jude's touches on so many interesting and important topics - acting on idea later in life, running a family business, what it means to be a British brand, taking the long view, being carbon neutral, becoming a BCorp and the interrelationship of purpose and commitment.

Chow is clear thinking, highly articulate and not afraid of a challenge. My hope is that you will find this episode as uplifting and refreshing as the best ice cream on a hot summer's day.

Welcome to the first episode in the new series entitled START.
The topic is Start Your Own Projects and our guest is the incredibly talented still life photographer, Kate Friend.
It seems to me that it is very easy to become focused entirely on commission based work, bringing a client’s vision and expectations to life. Working on your own passion projects, side hustles, ideas and vision is crucial to keeping your creativity at its best. It also gives the greatest opportunity for progression, development, stretch, growth.
I discovered Kate’s work at her recent exhibition at The Garden Museum entitled ‘Botanical Portraits: as chosen by’. Her work is original and beautiful, vivid yet restrained, bold and yet considered.
Kate’s story is one of adventurous reinvention. It all began with Kate the teenager, transfixed by the sights and smells of the darkroom at school. The subsequent chapters of her memoir would be varied and fascinating - Mongolia, China, brilliant brands such as Comme de Garcon and Dover Street Market, a magazine entitled ‘Mother’, a single onion from the local grocer and the restrictions and joy of working with film. Kate then found herself photographing flowers with a minimal aesthetic but with abundant stories to tell.
After two exhibitions at The Garden Museum, Kate’s work was picked up by The New York Times and then by the Lyndsay Ingram Gallery. The exhibition is on from 19th November - 23rd December and shows her works on a new scale and with some new pieces.

Welcome to the latest episode in our series Start. Today is Start Your Own Approach and to explore that topic, both in style and substance, we have Georgia Dant founder of Marfa Stance.

Marfa Stance is a clothing brand with a distinctive aesthetic that creates timeless designs providing not just life long quality but versatility too. They invite their customers into the design process by offering variety, layering and potential. Frankly, it's worth ushering in winter to be able to envelope yourself in a Marfa Stance. It seems to me that it is a brand determined to tread it's own path, in its own way and wearing its own bespoke jacket of course!
As ever, I want to go right back to the start with Georgia and hear about her early years, the beginnings of her career in fashion, the influence of Donald Judd and Dan Flavin amongst others, I hear all about the vision, principles and purpose of the brand, the 'pinch me' moments when it all comes together and the challenges and obstacles that can threaten that. Whether you are starting out or world weary, my hope is that something will capture your imagination to spur you on to start or recommit to your own approach.

Marfa Stance: https://www.marfastance.com

Producer: Charles Tomlinson

Welcome to the latest episode in the START series. Today we have Rowena Morgan-Cox founder of Palefire. We are going to consider 'Start Something New'.
Over the last few years, the number of people registering new business has increased dramatically In March 2021, more new businesses were created that month than any other month since HMRC records began in 1989. Or put another way, in the first half of 2021, nearly 80 new businesses were registered each hour according to Companies House. This wave of entrepreneurialism is likely the result of various factors - necessity for those who have lost jobs or work, altered ambitions, a desire to make a change in one's life, having more time to devote to a passion project or perhaps just an infectious sense of possibility.
I felt that it was really important to incorporate an episode on the idea of starting something new so I could explore how you know whether an idea is a good one, how to develop a new product or brand, how to keep going when its tough and how you know that you are ready to go full time.
I have found an absolute treat for you - someone right at the very beginning. To share her start up story, we have Rowena Morgan-Cox founder of Palefire.
Palefire is a design studio which takes a flamboyant approach drawing on art nouveau, the Omega Workshops, Abstract Expressionism and mid-century Murano glass making to name just a few. The debut collection comprises eight decorative light designs using recycled paper pulp manufactured in small batches in Barcelona and then assembled and hand-painted in the London studio. Rowena has an extraordinary eye for design, detail and colour and I am quite sure that we have caught her just as her star is on the rise.

As we find ourselves heading into another strange Christmas, I wanted to find someone with a bit of festive cheer for you. And so, a festive tipple is on the agenda! I have, by good luck, managed to combine it with one of my favourite topics: the family business. It’s been on my list for a long time and I am delighted to have the founders of Kuda Cocktails join me to discuss it.

Kuda Cocktails was founded by a Trinidadian mother-daughters team last year. We are lucky enough to have two out of three of the team join us for this episode - Alexandra and Deirdre Marshall. Their story hits more good notes than Mariah Carey and Michael Buble combined - a family rum punch recipe, a mother and daughters team, a business started during the pandemic and one that has started small and simply.

I won’t tell you too much more now as I want them to share their story with you in their own words. Safe to say that there is much to recommend these lovely ladies and what they have built.

If you are considering going into business with someone in your family, if you have an idea for something that you can’t see in the market place, if you want their to be joy and fun in your business, if you like the idea of bright and fresh rum punch, then this is for you.

www.kudacocktails.com

Home means something, something significant, to all of us.

This episode is different and a bit special. It is the first of a two part series focusing on the Museum of the Home. You will hear all about the Museum itself, the Behind the Door campaign supporting London's homeless women and families and the Yard Sale that the Museum is holding on 12 March to raise both funds and awareness.

The episode was recorded in the beautiful Plain English kitchen at the Museum in amongst the hustle and bustle of London life which was really wonderful. And as if that wasn’t enough, I co-hosted the episode with Twig Hutchinson. Twig is an art director and brand consultant and, importantly for this episode, a committee member of this great event. She was once a guest on the podcast and we had a great chat so I am very excited to have her back on ‘this’ side of the mic.

Twig and I interview a creative and insightful cluster of guests on the topic of home and homelessness. We have Lucy Littlewood from the Museum of the Home who shares her role at the museum and more about the Behind the Doors campaign. We are then joined by Viv Askeland who generously shares her own story of homelessness, explains the issue of hidden homelessness and her involvement with the project. And finally, Jermaine Gallacher who is a design dealer, interior designer, designer and columnist. He is going to be one of the stallholders on the day and he has some excellent advice and a refreshing outlook when it comes to design and to the hunt for treasures at the Yard Sale.

The Museum and its Behind the Door campaign are such great causes so I do hope that you will come to the Yard Sale, bid in the auction and please do share this with your friends.

Find Out More:
Museum of the Home: www.museumofthehome.org.uk/whats-on/events/yard-sale/
Twig Hutchinson: www.twighutchinson.com
Jermaine Gallacher: www.jermainegallacher.com

Production: Charles Tomlinson
Branding: Ben Prescott

Welcome to the second part of our special two-part series looking at the Museum of the Home. Twig Hutchinson is back to co-host and we recorded the episode overlooking the beautiful gardens of the museum. On the day of the Yard Sale they were teeming with stalls, treasures and conversation.

Twig and I are acutely aware of all that is going on in the world, of the precarious and precious nature of home. If Covid has us counting our blessings, the situation in Ukraine has us cherishing our freedom and our safety. Our freedom to gather, to create, to speak freely. And in this episode we do just that.

We hope to give a flavour of the event by conversing with a wonderful collection of guests asking them about their relationship with the museum, their own creative practices and their homes. Our trio of guests are architect William Smalley, co-founder of Collagerie and Colville Lucinda Chambers and perfumer Maya Njie.

Museum of the Home: www.museumofthehome.org.uk
Wiliam Smalley: www.williamsmalley.com
Lucinda Chambers: www.instagram.com/lucindachambers
Collagerie: www.collagerie.com
Maya Njie: www.mayanjie.com

Producer: Charles Tomlinson

Welcome to the latest episode in the Start Series. Today, Start A Creative Life Outside London.

It seems to me that creatives, creative endeavour, creative projects and workspaces have shifted to the length and breadth of the nation thanks, I presume, to the pandemic. Whilst London is a world famous centre for the full range of creative industries, it has been refreshing to see those outside London thriving.

And thriving is exactly the word to describe our guests today. Jeremy and Cath Brown are the founders of Feldspar. Based in the wilds of Dartmoor, they make ceramic pieces, made properly, to last and with an elegant and simple aesthetic to weather the trends of time. Cobalt blue, geranium red and gold flashes adorn their pieces which are admired and sold across the globe.

More than a creative triumph, it is also seems to be a triumph of living well. A family life of fresh air, tangible contentment and creative exploration and flair. That and a tree house that wouldn't look out of place on The Modern House.

We hear about life in Devon, how the business began, the joys, frustrations and potential of life outside the Big Smoke, what tempts them back (occasionally) and a glimpse into the future of Feldspar.

Welcome to the latest episode in our Start Series. In this episode we consider, Start A Partnership. And we do so with a very special pair indeed - Lori de Mori and Laura Jackson of Towpath.

Towpath is that rare thing these days. It is a discovery. Nestled in four kiosks on Regent's Canal, the shutters open in Spring to reveal a warmth, an intimacy. They offer great food, drink and conversation. Their cookbook - sharing recipes and stories - is a little window into their magical world and, importantly for us, the partnership of Lori and Laura. There is a chemistry, a trust, mutual reliance and honesty in this partnership. Perhaps it is the most important recipe of all.

I ask Lori and Laura about how they met, their individual experiences and points of view, the early days, how things have evolved and what they think the key is to a great partnership.

So if you are thinking of starting up a project with someone, are in a partnership that seems to be struggling a little or one that is thriving and you want to make the most of it, this is for you.

I feel very lucky indeed to have enticed them to record this episode just before they opened for Spring. A myriad of delays means that I am only releasing now. But the good in that is that they are open. Go today. Go now. You won't regret the time you spend there.

Welcome to the latest episode in our Start Series. Today we Start with the Classics with Emily Campbell of nightwear brand If Only If.

For me a classic is something timeless, of quality, of influence, an outstanding example that for reasons not always easy to articulate stands apart. A classic may come in and out of the limelight, be refreshed and reimagined, but they remain.

Examples are numerous and personal. My list is long and includes, without doubt, the nightdress. I consider Emily Campbell, of If Only If, to be a custodian of the classic nightdress. Their nighties are beautifully designed, using beautiful materials. They are for all women, at every stage of life, in every generation and of all sizes and styles.

We discuss how her mother began the business, Emily’s decision to leave teaching and take on the business into a new era, the changes she has made and the impact they have had, how the business continues to celebrate classics and women and what the future holds.

You might be forgiven for thinking that you've downloaded an episode of Elizabeth Day's How to Fail when you hear the story of this episode. I had the honour of interviewing Taymoor Atighetchi, founder of Papier, some weeks ago over Zoom. I'll be honest. I made a huge mistake. I failed to press record. It was a horrifying realisation. By some miracle Taymoor's PR team had recorded the call. However the quality isn't perfect. But the lesson I learnt is. The consequence of my conversation with Taymoor has significantly changed my approach to my own business. But that is for another day. For now, please excuse the technical difficulties and enjoy one of the best conversations that I have had about business. I'm quite sure that you, too, will be changed by it.

In this episode we start with paper and pen. Taymoor is a captivating example of the power of sitting down with a blank page. In a literal sense you might be writing a menu for a party, inviting a loved one to a celebration, saying thank you, scribbling a frantic to do list or journaling and reflecting on your day,. Metaphorically a blank page offers the opportunity of a new way to do business, a new combination of concepts, fresh investment and new markets to explore.

Taymoor knows more about a blank page than most. Papier is, to my mind, that perfect combination of analogue and tech, of tradition and the current moment, of breadth and depth. In this episode we consider the significance of his childhood, what drew him to paper, why Papier, his belief in big vision, in embracing growth and growing state-side.

So grab a pen, get ready to scribble because there are quite a few golden nuggets to be found.

In these spring-time episodes, I look to the great outdoors, to gardens, garden design, landscaping and, in particular, that great institution Chelsea Flower show.

Far from its past reputation as a little ‘fuddy duddy’, Chelsea is now a place to luxuriate in the great garden renaissance of the 2020s. It is an opportunity to explore current themes, preoccupations and meanings found within the natural world and how we experience it.

In this episode I am joined by Lottie Delamain. She is one of the Garden Designers exhibiting at Chelsea 2022. Working with Fashion Revolution, the garden explores the relationship between plants, textiles and colour dyes and prompts us to ask ‘what is in my clothes’? There is simply so much more to that question that meets the eye, so much to consider, to conflate and to contrast.

Lottie shares her story, the move from textile to garden design, her experience of Chelsea Flower Show, the Fashion Revolution Garden, the behind-the-scenes practicalities of making it happen and, importantly, the future of the garden once the gates of Chelsea close.

In this spring-time cluster of episodes, I look to the great outdoors, to gardens, garden design, landscaping and all things green and, in particular, that great institution Chelsea Flower Show. The show is a place to luxuriate in the great garden renaissance of the 2020s and to explore current themes, preoccupations and narratives.

For this episode, we are joined by garden designer and writer Tabi Jackson-Gee. She writes for a plethora of publications and I particularly enjoy her articles for the FT and House & Garden which explore varied and intriguing subjects which can also be found within her own garden design.

Of late, these have included ‘the darling buds of decay’, garden lighting which supports rather than disrupts or confuses wildlife, the extraordinary naming of flowers, as well as practical concepts of using salvaged materials, planting for colour and finding the perfect garden fence.

Her gardens are locally minded, sensitive to and conscious of surroundings, they tell stories and are a delight to be in.

All this equips her to steer us through the great maze of Chelsea Flower Show. Tabi tells us about her own experiences of Chelsea, how the show is evolving over time, who to look out for this year, the themes of rewinding, mental health and the planet and what she is most looking forward to seeing.

Welcome to Episode 61 and a topic I am delighted to be discussing - how to build on success. Too often preoccupied with what could go wrong, we rarely openly discuss “what could go right”? How does success impact us? Does it offer freedom or pressure? How do we sustain it?

Far from an air of arrogance, for me building on success is the antidote to a burnout culture that celebrates one hit wonders and unsustainable creative and business practices. Taking the long view, building something that lasts, shifting away from feast and famine, fads and fashion makes sense to me.

To explore this I am delighted to be joined by artist Christabel Blackburn. She is a London-based painter whose work and process I have admired from a distance. We find out about her work, winning Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, how her sense of success has changed and developed, how she has built on that accolade, her latest exhibition at Alex Eagle and what the future holds.

Christabel Blackburn: www.christabelblackburn.com
Alex Eagle: https://alexeagle.com/collections/christabel-blackburn

Welcome to Episode 62 and a rather special follow up episode. Back in November 2020, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexandra Dauley and Sophie Ashby co-founders of United in Design. United in Design is a charitable project working to tackle the lack of diversity in the design industries.

The conversation that we had was honest and moving. It was focused on practical action. It was about hope. And today we see hope realised in that we are joined by Christine Omorere and Roshu Shreshtha. They are both former United in Design apprentices.

They have recently worked on a very special project with Bernie de la Cuona, of de la Cuona, for the WOW!House at the Design Centre. We hear all about their backgrounds and the United in Design apprenticeship, how the collaboration with de la Cuona came about, the WOW!House and their plans for the future.

Tickets to the WOW!House: www.dcch.co.uk/wowhouse/
United in Design: www.unitedindesign.com
de la Cuona: www.delecuona.com

In this episode we face up to a complex, emotive and sadly ubiquitous challenge: copying. To my mind this is a heady mix of principle and pragmatism, the creative life and commercial reality. The fact is that copying is an inherent part of the pursuit of creativity. Imitation is how we learn and we are all searching for inspiration hoping to excavate our way to something extraordinary and, frankly, something saleable. And yet we require limits, restrictions and processes to marshal true originality and commercial investment to safety.

When faced with a copycat, I often hear the argument that the legal route is too expensive, too unpredictable, too time consuming and frankly out of touch with reality. It can feel that Intellectual Property laws are outdated thanks to a limited number of financially buoyant litigious creatives bringing case law up to date. Given that feeling, many turn to trial by instagram, calling people out, despair, shutting up shop or just quietly soldier on.

Today’s guest offers an enlightening alternative. Sarah Watson, founder of Balineum, is passionate about bathrooms. At Balineum they aspire to bring impeccable style to every bathroom with a particular flair for celebrating classic designs forms and colours. I simply did not know how captivating tiles could be!

Sarah has vision and energy in spades and I am absolutely delighted that she is joining to discuss this tricky topic. It’s a great shame for Sarah that she has experienced copying both flagrant and frequent, but it is a little bit wonderful for the rest of us. This is because Sarah has harnessed her experience, growing knowledge and ability to blend principle and pragmatism to open up the conversation on this topic. She has set up The Plucky Fund to support others facing similar challenges. It is a very special project indeed and in this episode Sarah shares her plans and ideas to shift the culture around copying.

Sarah Watson - Balineum: www.balineum.co.uk
You can contact Sarah here: sarah@balineum.co.uk
Read More About The Plucky Fund here: www.balineum.co.uk/pages/dealing-with-product-copies

It feels that within the creative industries there is an audible sigh of exhaustion, of weariness, of disturbed momentum, of uncertainty. So, in this collection of conversations, we are going to discuss ideas, approaches and temperaments that could act an antidote to this. I have approached those who have reimagined an industry, a material, an approach to doing things as I hope that this will bring some energy, fresh ideas and confidence to the fore.

Today’s guest is just the caffeine fix we all need and certainly has their own way of doing things. We are going to hear the story of Fitzcaraldo Editions as told by its founder, Jacques Testard. Fitzcarraldo Editions is an independent publisher specialising in contemporary fiction and long form essays. They focus on ambitious, imaginative and innovative writing, both in translation and in English.

It is a story drawn out of tradition, necessity and imagination. To my mind their independence is truly cherished, they have an intellectual confidence and an eye on longevity, an energetic approach to the commercial side of things and a linguistic rhythm all their own.

We find out about the importance of the written word, the early days of the business, the impact of a bilingual founder, the world of publishing today, balancing editorial drive and commercial necessity, moments of great celebration and what the future holds.

Fitzcarraldo Editions: www.fitzcarraldoeditions.com

Welcome to the latest episode of Up With The Lark And. In this latest collection of conversations, I hope to offer some small antidote to the pervasive sense of weariness, exhaustion and uncertainty. My guests offer attitudes, approaches and temperaments that I hope should offer ideas, energy and confidence. Our guest is Julian Parmiter, one of the founders of Create Academy. Create Academy offers online learning across interior design, floristry, food, drink and craft. It is warm, embracing, joyful, excellent. The list of those sharing their expertise is a moorish pick and mix of talented and engaging individuals including Rita Konig, Dan Pearson, Edward Bulmer and Jess Wheeler.

It would be so easy to dismiss creativity in times of economic uncertainty and when the world appears to be on fire. But in my view, the quest for new ideas, beauty and connection really do hold their value. It’s vital that we remain curious and are disciplined at learning new things and that we focus on experience over just transactions. Create Academy offers just that.

Simply, Create Academy acknowledges that human need to create. In this episode we get to discover more about its inner workings. I ask how the founders met, how the business began, how it works, the selection of talent, the practicalities of working as a partnership and their plans for the future.

Create Academy: www.createacademy.com

It is true that many enterprises begin with someone unable to find what they are looking for, so they make it themselves and Nights By Wilder is a delightful example of this. It was born out of founder Elizabeth’s stylish eye for nightwear for her children. Stylish is quite the word here, Nights By Wilder is highly memorable from its fabrics and silhouettes to its charm and its whimsy. Children’s attire is a crowded & noisy marketplace so it’s no mean feet to find yourself distinctive, celebrated & instantly recognisable.

In this episode, we hear about the early days of the business, the development of the aesthetic, the importance of originality, seeking out experts, building a business as well as a brand and keeping curiosity, kindness and confidence alive.

Nights By Wilder - www.nightsbywilder.com

There is an audible sigh of exhaustion, of weariness, of disturbed momentum, of deep uncertainty. So in this collection of conversations, we are going to discuss ideas, approaches and temperaments that could act as an antidote for those of us working in the arts and creative industries.

If you have found yourself retreating, becoming overly cautious or risk averse, then this is the episode for you. Francesca Strange, founder of The Proof, is brutally honest about running a business and taking calculated risks, searching for balance, facing failure and the future. There’s no sugar coating here.

The Proof are a bakery based in East London who, simply put ‘will bring pudding’. Francesca is a self-taught cook and baker who has blended an Italian background, a sweet tooth and gumption in spades to create a business full of energy and joy. A nod to style but its heart in substance, The Proof delivers the puddings we know and love with a dollop of doings things well on the side. And if you manage to get to the end of this episode without a craving for profiteroles, I will be quite surprised.

We are going to hear about the unexpected beginnings in lockdown, opening the bakery in Dalston, building a team, their current kickstarter campaign and their vision and plans for the future. Here’s a clue. It involves candy floss.

It is too easy to throw up our hands in despair at the state of the world. And yet there are many of you acting to make a change. Not only that, you are doing it ever so stylishly. Each of you should be applauded.

For quite some time, I have wanted to adjust the format of the podcast. To mix in with the one to one interviews, some more ‘round the table’ discussions. I want to hear different views and outlooks, about contrasting ideas and a breadth of industries. I am delighted that this is the first of such a discussion and my guests far exceeded my expectations. This is a wonderful conversation with Sophie Platts, founder of Floks, and Ruth Alice Rands, founder of Herd.

Each of these fantastic women has has a great story to share, a fantastic attitude to the planet, to change and to running a business. I hope that their company names will give you a clue on the topic. Today, we are going to Reimagine Wool. In this episode, we are going to discuss a the re-imagining of the wool industry. A fascinating topic alone but also one that whatever industry you are in, there are insights to share and lessons to learn. We hear about each of their relationships with wool, the enterprises they have begun, highs and lows and what they hope that the future holds.

I am quite certain that you will walk away uplifted, encouraged and, I hope, a little bit challenged to act on the changes that you want to see in your field, industry, arena. We all have the ability to bring about change and you couldn’t ask for two better role models that Sophie and Ruth.

www.floks.co.uk
www.herdwear.co

In this episode we are joined by Jess Wheeler. Jess is a designer and artist based in North Wales. She works across a variety of disciplines from set to homeware design and her cross disciplinary approach has a unified, nostalgic, nature driven narrative.

I greatly admire not just the pieces that Jess creates but also her route and methods. In fact a bronze rhubarb from her collection was the first purchase I made for my own studio before I even had a desk. She seems to have an unquenchable thirst for experimentation, for new materials, contexts and stories.

One of the aspects I think is most distinct about Jess is that she has begun, developed and expanded her own workshop deep in the wilds of Wales. It is a workshop of ideas. It is a place of trial and error. It is a place of learning. It is filled with people with new skills and those with hard-won expertise. It is noisy production and natural beauty. It is rugged and raw and suspiciously photogenic.

We are lucky enough today to hear more of Jess’ adventures in creativity, how she came to the current chapter of lighting across brass, bronze and plaster, life in Wales, the influence of the natural world, the people around her and what the future holds.

Jess Wheeler: www.jesswheeler.com

It seems to me that the mix of work rest and play has gone awry. Many of us find ourselves far from a good blend, mix or combinations of these three critical factors in any creative business. Work has long been worshipped. Being oh so very busy, burning the candle at both ends and the midnight oil, the 5am club, all nights have all been badges of honour. Slowly, though, rest has found its way like the first crocus, into entrepenurial consideration. Even if just as a means to an end. Mindfulness, going offline, running your inbox rather than it running you, company culture, sleep are now all in the conversation.

And yet play feels too often neglected. Relegated to childhood, art school, the start up phase or ‘just when I get some time’. So in this gathering of conversations, we will explore the purpose of play and the practicality of play and how we keep it at the forefront even when the cash flow forecasts, the product plan, social media and your staff are all clamouring for your attention. Looking at different creative disciplines, enterprises and personalities, I hope that you will find yourself encouraged and challenged to remember that play is in fact a very serious business.

In this episode we are joined by Camilla Wordie. Camilla is an art director and stylist. She works with food to make compositions that defy the ordinary. Balance, colour, story, angles and degrees, the perfect prop all combine to great effect. Anything that makes you pause, look again, draw closer and revist in your mind is a triumph as far as I am concered and that’s what Camilla’s work offers. It is seriously playful and playfully serious. I am looking forward to asking Camilla about her practice, the role of play in her work, how minimalism and play interact and how we can all be just a little more playful.

It seems to me that the mix of work rest and play has gone awry. Many of us find ourselves far from a good blend, mix or combinations of these three critical factors in any creative business. Work has long been worshipped. Being oh so very busy, burning the candle at both ends and the midnight oil, the 5am club, all nights have all been badges of honour. Slowly, though, rest has found its way like the first crocus, into entrepenurial consideration. Even if just as a means to an end. Mindfulness, going offline, running your inbox rather than it running you, company culture, sleep are now all in the conversation.

And yet play feels too often neglected. Relegated to childhood, art school, the start up phase or ‘just when I get some time’. So in this gathering of conversations, we will explore the purpose of play and the practicality of play and how we keep it at the forefront even when the cash flow forecasts, the product plan, social media and your staff are all clamouring for your attention. Looking at different creative disciplines, enterprises and personalities, I hope that you will find yourself encouraged and challenged to remember that play is in fact a very serious business.

In this episode we are joined by Ella McKay, Fatso Numero Uno and co-creator of Fatso Chocolate. As a modern day chocolate brand, they have the lives, livelihood and wellbeing of their farmers at heart. Alongside this value driven approach is a playful sense of humour. It finds expression vividly and without apology in the branding, recipes, names, stories and imagery.

Whether it’s a King Charles lookalike tucking into ‘The King’s Ransome’ bars or the promise that a biker granny would devour ‘Nan’s Stash’ with teeth or no teeth or the memorable ‘Morning Glory’ bar which celebrates cornflakes, toast and marmalade, wit and confidence rule here. And I can’t wait to find out more about how play, good humour, chocolate, caring and commerce all interrelate.

Fatso Chocolate - www.sofatso.com

It seems to me that the mix of work rest and play has gone awry. Many of us find ourselves far from a good blend, mix or combinations of these three critical factors in any creative business. Work has long been worshipped. Being oh so very busy, burning the candle at both ends and the midnight oil, the 5am club, all nights have all been badges of honour. Slowly, though, rest has found its way like the first crocus, into entrepenurial consideration. Even if just as a means to an end. Mindfulness, going offline, running your inbox rather than it running you, company culture, sleep are now all in the conversation.

And yet play feels too often neglected. Relegated to childhood, art school, the start up phase or ‘just when I get some time’. So in this gathering of conversations, we will explore the purpose of play and the practicality of play and how we keep it at the forefront even when the cash flow forecasts, the product plan, social media and your staff are all clamouring for your attention. Looking at different creative disciplines, enterprises and personalities, I hope that you will find yourself encouraged and challenged to remember that play is in fact a very serious business.

Every nation suffers under a cloud of cliches, and Scotland is no different. All tartan tins of shortbread, haggis, deep fried anything kilts and cold dark nights. But that assumption is a mistaken one and our guests today are working to offer an alternative perspective. They are championing Scottish craft at its very finest, offered with celebration and joy. Husbands Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens are the founders of Bard, a gallery and shop celebrating Scottish craft and design.

Whether textiles or ceramics, whether from the Borders or the Isle of Skye, whether established or just making a name, all the selections these two made debunk that Scottish cliche, and not just that they're doing so playfully.

We're going to talk about the idea for Bard, the ingenuity, resourcefulness, and humour of their makers, why play matters in the realm of physical retail and in the presentation of craft.

Bard Scotland - www.bard-scotland.com

It seems to me that the mix of work rest and play has gone awry. Many of us find ourselves far from a good blend, mix or combinations of these three critical factors in any creative business. Work has long been worshipped. Being oh so very busy, burning the candle at both ends and the midnight oil, the 5am club, all nights have all been badges of honour. Slowly, though, rest has found its way like the first crocus, into entrepenurial consideration. Even if just as a means to an end. Mindfulness, going offline, running your inbox rather than it running you, company culture, sleep are now all in the conversation.

And yet play feels too often neglected. Relegated to childhood, art school, the start up phase or ‘just when I get some time’. So in this gathering of conversations, we will explore the purpose of play and the practicality of play and how we keep it at the forefront even when the cash flow forecasts, the product plan, social media and your staff are all clamouring for your attention. Looking at different creative disciplines, enterprises and personalities, I hope that you will find yourself encouraged and challenged to remember that play is in fact a very serious business.

I have never been able to resist a gallery or museum shop, not once. It is that specific moment of wanting to turn an experience, a visual experience, into something more tangible. A single postcard will suffice, a coffee table book delights but trinkets and treasures are a real treat. And there aren’t many places that do this better than the V&A. A place where the very very old and the highly contemporary are plaited together to create a world away from the hustle and bustle attitude. Whether in its architecture, exhibitions or the collections in the shop, you know you are in the hands of an expert, innovative and playful staff.

One of them joins us today, Margaux Soland heads the Buying Team of V&A Retail. They look after all the shops across the London sites which includes South Ken, The Young V&A, and V&A East. In this episode, we will find out about how the team works, their relationship with the rest of the museum, Margaux’s role there, and that even an institution as authoritative and historic as the V&A can be playful.

The V&A Shop - /www.vam.ac.uk/shop/home

It seems to me that the mix of work rest and play has gone awry. Many of us find ourselves far from a good blend, mix or combinations of these three critical factors in any creative business. Work has long been worshipped. Being oh so very busy, burning the candle at both ends and the midnight oil, the 5am club, all nights have all been badges of honour. Slowly, though, rest has found its way like the first crocus, into entrepenurial consideration. Even if just as a means to an end. Mindfulness, going offline, running your inbox rather than it running you, company culture, sleep are now all in the conversation.

And yet play feels too often neglected. Relegated to childhood, art school, the start up phase or ‘just when I get some time’. So in this gathering of conversations, we will explore the purpose of play and the practicality of play and how we keep it at the forefront even when the cash flow forecasts, the product plan, social media and your staff are all clamouring for your attention. Looking at different creative disciplines, enterprises and personalities, I hope that you will find yourself encouraged and challenged to remember that play is in fact a very serious business.

Being a multi-hyphenate, a polymath, has become more than idea of late, it has become an ideal for many. More and more people want to have a variety of strings to their bow, a variety of mediums in their tool kit, a variety of communities and clients. But very few truly achieve this accolade. Today’s guest is the most wonderful example. She is someone who acts on her ideas. Mel Calver has a creative life that is a delightfully unexpected tapestry. She is the founder and creative director of Melanie Giles hairdressing a collection of three salons across Somerset all fizzing with energy, buzzing with hairdryers and yet which offer a sanctuary of great coffee and conversation. Alongside this she runs ReRooting which is a cutting and kitchen garden where she supplies herbs and flowers to Landrace Bakery, and herbs to Margaux Henderson's Three Horse Shoes.

Mel’s drive and ambition is quiet. Perhaps even enigmatic. And yet its outcome is abundantly clear. Every conversation with her is peppered with adventurous ideas and plans. It’s infectious. Her sense of play is independent and built on an intuition I admire immensely. I can assure you that Mel’s story will get you thinking about your own talents, ideas and sense of play and the promise of what might be possible. We are going to talk about plants and hair and baking, the delight in working in contrasting disciplines and how to keep play alive in the midst of it all.

Melanie Giles - www.melanie-giles.uk
Re-Rooting - www.re-rooting.co.uk
Landrace Bakery - www.landrace.co.uk

Welcome to Up With the Lark And – a podcast for creative entrepreneurs hosted by me, Calandre Orton.

One of the areas of creative business that intrigues me most is how creatives work together. How do great partnerships, collaborations, commissions, pairs and teams work? How do we know if an endeavour will be challenging, stretching, engaging, enriching, effective, adventurous? How can we all understand ourselves better in order to work well with others? Does there need to be a commonality of outlook, aesthetic, humour, approach? And how about the practicalities and those inevitable moments of difficulty? This topic offers such a rich vein of discussion that I plan to return to it again and again across different industries, personalities and projects.

Today we have one such collaboration – Arthur Cole, Head of Programmes, at The Newt in Somerset and children’s author/illustrator Emma Van Zeller. Together they have recently published a book entitled ‘The Spitting Toads’ which is simply charming. The Newt is a working estate in Somerset comprising splendid gardens, farmland, woodland and orchards. An exquisite hotel, restaurant and shop are matched only by the programme of events celebrating seasons, the landscape, creativity and innovation. All of this done with a sense of whimsy and imagination. Their apple display at Chelsea Flower Show will forever have a place in my mental scrapbook! And I think that it is just that sense of childlike whimsy alongside an Allen Alberg sense of detail that is where these two creatives meet. Both encourage us to slow, pause, observe and look look and look again. We are going to find out about Emma’s creative practice and style, why she approached The Newt to work together, the story of The Newt itself and how they worked together to bring this project to fruition.

Emma van Zeller: www.emmavanzeller.com
The Newt: www.thenewtinsomerset.com
The Spitting Toads: www.shop.thenewtinsomerset.com/uk/p/2867/the-spitting-toads

Welcome to Up With the Lark And – a podcast for creative entrepreneurs hosted by me, Calandre Orton.

It seems to me that there are two key factors in the running of a great business. Consistency and Change. Together. Blended. Balanced. Connected. And as we usher in a New Year, change is on our minds. What goals have you set for yourself this year? Perhaps a change of product or service, perhaps a change of location, of stockists, of supplier, of marketing strategy? Some are tweaks. Some are seismic.

One such seismic change, is a entire change of career. As an escaped lawyer myself, I am always interested to hear how and why others made the leap from the corporate world to the creative one. Whenever I spot one, I make sure to find out more about their story. And our guest today is a wonderful example – Eppie Thompson is the founder of The Fabled Thread. Some tell stories in ink but theirs is told in needle and thread. The Fabled Thread is a colourful, storytelling, optimistic and confident brand offering embroidery, needlepoint, sewing supplies, courses and a sense of togetherness. A foray with a sampler as a wedding gift began the journey from corporate City life to creative entrepreneur.

In this episode, I ask how do you know you’re ready? How do you know it’s the right thing? And the right time? What does that shift in mindset look like from employee to entrepreneur? What advantages and blights does a corporate past offer? Whether you are changing profession, moving country, launching a new offering, embracing a new style, opening or closing a bricks and mortar shop, my hope is that you will all find uplifting insights in Eppie’s story.

The Fabled Thread: www.thefabledthread.com
Up With The Lark: www.upwiththelark.com

A conversation about how the Swedes do business with textile designer, Cathy Nordstrom.

A few years ago, I had a conversation with Taymoor Atigetchi, founder of Papier about the impact of his Iranian roots on the way that he does business. That train of thought stayed with me. And stayed with me. And stayed with me to the point of preoccupation.And so now, a series of interviews with entrepreneurs across a variety of countries and cultures.

I want to look beyond the accepted clichés and celebrate the variety of approaches to what makes for ‘good business’. I want to explore customs, political systems, climate, temperament, geography and expectations. What motivates, delights, disappoints. I hope to celebrate the breadth of style and approach, the idiosyncratic, the different.

And so we begin our journey in Sweden. Cathy Nordstrom is the founder of her eponymous textile brand based in Stockholm. She has a look and style that says, come and sit down, I’ll pour you a proper drink, put on some Fleetwood Mac and we will have a fantastic chat. Even more wonderful is the fact that her pieces are designed, hand printed and produced in Sweden. Inspired by a sometimes forgotten Swedish heritage of colour, geometric and floral design, her love for pattern and textiles is contagious. After many years in graphic and then pattern design, Cathy opened her own company in 2019 and it has quickly found it’s way onto the design landscape. She says every room gets better with textiles and her aim is always to encourage us to select pieces that make our hearts sing. In Swedish, of course.

How do we tune into clients? How can we read them quickly? How can we take feedback well? How can we be collaborative? How can we help them tell their story?

I always enjoy the dedications and acknowledgements in books. Such hidden treasures. Recently, I had the pleasure of wolfing down Thomas Heatherwick’s latest book ‘Humanise – a Maker’s Guide To Building Our World’.  It is a point of view. A statement of intent. Perhaps, a manifesto. I have re-read it a few times, it is a spine broken, weighted with post its, lines and scribbles in margins favourite. And as I dove into the acknowledgements, I found a line which prompted today’s conversation:

"Thank you to Ben Prescott, the book's designer, [who] was wonderfully collaborative and intuitively understood what I have been trying to express."

And I am delighted to say that we have graphic designer and founder of BPD, Ben Prescott joining us today to explore that very point.

Ben Prescott is the salt in the recipe when it comes to brand building. Vital. Unassuming. Impactful. His approach is thoughtful, quiet, with a range of references so broad ranging and enticing that his presentations are works of art in and of themselves. He reads people with ease and draws their story onto the page, the website, the packaging, the shop window. He is commercially mindful and excellent at the tangible, the hold it in your hand, the it will last and last. What he does, works.

BPD has worked with brands including Marfa Stance, Alex Eagle, Kinjo, the V&A, Broadwick Hotel in Soho, Twig Hutchinson and the Festival of Fashion at the Fife Arms. And in each and every instance, he has shown true expertise in reading the client.

We are going to examine that idea, the importance, the relevance, the practical application of reading clients, understanding briefs and taking feedback. Whether you are on the service side of the arts or someone who commissions, collaborates or briefs others, you are going to enjoy this one. 

How to ignite original thinking to action and how to keep that independence of thought at the heart of all you do as your businees grows. 

I think that we would all liked to be described as original. I think we also like to think that our designs, branding, website, shop or investment strategy meet that threshold too. But it is a high one. There are certainly those who veer away from the herd, who shake off what is expected and forge their own path, laying brick by brick by brick. These people imagine, test, mess up, question, engage, focus and encourage. So while todays guest might not fit squarely into the ‘creative arts’ sector, I was so intrigued by the concept that I couldn’t resist a chat. 

Lauren Scott-Harris is the founder of EARNT. To my mind, EARNT is a verb. It is an attitude, a movement, a community of change makers who believe that actions speak louder than money. They help brands unite with causes to get good things done. Those that take part gain access to the best limited editions, the most sought after experiences and widely coveted tickets - creating a new kind of VIP. With some great early adopters, such as the River Café and Desmond and Dempsy, the concept is evolving and growing.

This is an idea built on belonging, on using influence to actually do something and of making that set of ideals a practical one. We are going to find out about where the idea came from, what the early years have been like, the contradictions and challenges they face, how we can test original thinking and keep independence of thought alive as the inevitable growing pains kick in.

Earnt - www.earnt.co.uk

If curiosity is your north star, you will enjoy this. How does being self-taught impact the life of a creative entrepreneur?

Those who live a life of creativity are often driven by something quite simple - curiosity, wonder and questioning. There is an innate desire to want to understand something, to work something out, to communicate and to explore. 

For some, this takes them on a path to art school, to foundation degrees, exams, tests, the affirmation of professors and educators. For others, the path is all together quite different. This is the path of the self-taught creative. It is this enticing topic that we are going to explore today. What prompts someone to explore a particular creative path or discipline? What encourages them to make it their livelihood? Where do you begin? How do you put ideas into practice? What part does the recognition of your peers play? When do you feel successful? How do you retain that desire to learn when you are further down the line? Too often we hear about the glory moments, the highlights, the 'ta da' experiences. But in this episode, I am delighted that we are going to hear about the journey, the approach, the grit and the reality. And, of course, some of those fabulous 'ta da' moments too. 

We are joined by Nicholas Balfe, founder and chef director of Holm in Somerset. He is a self-taught chef and his story is a fantastic one. Holm can be found in a former bank in a quaint Somerset village. It is inspired by nature, its surroundings and is driven by provenance, sustainability and warm hospitality. It is enticing and beautiful. I imagine it to be the physical representation of Nicholas' curiosity. 

We ask Ben Watkinson, Creative Director of GF Smith, about the power of paper, the work of a paper merchant, resilience, innovation, company culture, longevity and what the next one hundred years might bring.

When I begin work with a new client, their specific understanding of success is a vital first step. Often I find myself ushering people towards adding ‘longevity’ to the list. In an era where everything seems to happen ever faster, comparison is rife and the state of the world makes it hard to visualise what the future will hold, this is not an easy aspiration to have. But it is a highly valuable one. 

Today’s guest certainly has achieved it. Let me take you back to 1885. George V was on the throne here, Mark Twain published Huckleberry Finn, the football association recognised professional footballers, the Glasgow Boys first exhibited collectively and George Frederick Smith founded a new paper merchant called GF Smith and S on to supply printers with the finest papers.

For over 135 years, GF Smith has been obsessed with the simple beauty and limitless possibilities of paper. Their desire is that, through the hands of the design community, they can bring creativity to life and constantly innovate with one of the world’s oldest materials.

Today’s guest is one of the custodians of this great legacy. Ben Watkinson is the Creative Director of GFSmith. ‘Founded in 1885’ isn’t a marketing slogan; it’s an approach to doing business. 

Gemma Moulton is the founder of East London Cloth. Gemma has crafted a visual narrative, a sensibility, a place and space all of her very own. It is both timeless and of the moment. It draws intelligently and interestingly on the past. The business has evolved quickly from making curtains, to café curtains by post and now as a fabric house of its very own. East London Cloth has made the old, new.

Time. The Right Time. Good Timing. The Right Moment. The Passage Of Time. The Right Age. Time is money. Time flies. In the nick of time. Time For A Change. Timing and business. It’s something that I think of often. It is often the olive in the martini. Get the timing right and talent sings, businesses flourish. Gemma Moulton has a great sense of time and of timing.

In the spirit of making Up With The Lark And a more interactive experience, I asked you what you’d like to ask Gemma. And without fail, every question related to her sense of style, her confident aesthetic, the space she has created. So in this episode, we are lucky enough to be able to ask Gemma all about her distinct visual narrative, her space in East London, the fabric collection, the photography and how she has made the old new in each and every area of the business.

East London Cloth: www.eastlondoncloth.co.uk

In this episode I speak with Pip Durell founder of With Nothing Underneath to explore having singular focus at your business grows, how to lead, the reality of what it takes and how to celebrate the journey .

Start ups are exciting and much discussed but there is something particularly intriguing about those companies that make it to adolescence. You realise what really matters, you start to understand yourself better, you analyse what ‘works’ more effectively, your team becomes increasingly essential, your confidence grows, so does the risk. In my experience, something happens at around the five to seven year mark. And that is where we meet today’s guest. Pip Durrell is the founder of With Nothing Underneath.

I’m sure that she needs no introduction. Her shirts are renowned. Her Instagram feed documents life as the founder of one of the most successful brands in this generation; we feel that we know her. Her beautiful shirts are worn far and wide by the great and the good, I imagine her enviable press clippings as a teetering mountain and her Elizabeth Street shop is delight. Beauty and brains – the ultimate combination sit at the core of this brand. Perhaps that’s its magic. The style, the glamour, the beautiful women sit confidently alongside BCorp status.

Too often, people feel that talent is enough. That creativity is enough. That financial investment is enough. That great connections are enough. None of these are true. Dedication is the name of the game. And Pip demonstrates that dedication consistently. This isn’t luck. This is grit. 

In this episode, we talk about doing one thing well. Dedicating yourself to one thing and having singular focus. We are going to find out about the With Nothing Underneath Woman. The value of bricks and mortar. Sticking with a singular vision despite all the distractions and temptations. And what’s next for this adolescent brand. 

With Nothing Underneath: www.withnothingunderneath.com 

In this episode, we are exploring the alchemy, the mystery and the magic of partnerships. For me it is such an intriguing element of creativity and of entrepreneurship. How do they work? Is it about divide and conquer? is it about contrast, connection and friendship? How are decisions made and conflicts resolved? How can you nurture and enliven them in the long term? How do they impact creativity? Can they be more profitable? Faster moving? More impactful? 

We are very lucky that in this episode we are joined by Arabella Preston and Charlotte Semler co-founders of two brands - Votary and Verden. Both of these brands are elegant, intelligent, considered and clean. Both have strong identities, stories and frankly cult followings. 

This is the story of a professional relationship that became a friendship. A chance conversation about skincare became a walk around the Selfridges beauty hall and then that moment of 'shall we?'. Skincare brand Votary was launched in 2015 and thrived. Some years later in 2021, Verden was launched offering fragrance for bath, body and home.

We are going to explore these two exemplary brands, their story, their interrelationship and the partnership that binds all of this together. So if you have ever had that moment of wondering about someone that you would like to go into business with or if you are ten years down the line and simply interested to know how others share decisions, celebrate their differences and relate to risk and to failure and chance, then this is for you. 

Votary: www.votary.co.uk
Verden: www.verden.world

Today we will be speaking with Sam Paget Steavenson, co-founder of Botivo. This British non-alcoholic botanical aperitivo has joy, playfulness and vivacity in abundance across flavour, brand and approach to doing business. This is accompanied by a determination, an attention to detail and a focus that means the commercial side is thriving, the company is a certified BCorp and they have been in receipt of some serious funding to make expansion possible. This is, simply, a modern day case study of growing a brand and a business in the 2020s.

This is a great way to begin our new series on mental health, creativity and entrepreneurship. I have long wanted to explore this topic and am so so pleased that Sam agreed to kick things off. It’s not something routinely discussed and often only in hindsight. Creativity and entrepreneurship are adventures, magnificent ones which bring people alive, show them what they are capable off and offer a real thrill and sense of fulfilment. But there are also real challenges, bumps in the road and tough times.

In this series we will look at different aspects of the life of a creative entrepreneur - some light-heartedly and some more challenging. In today’s episode we are going to look at Patience and Persistence. We are going to find out about the trials, tribulations and opportunities of working in the emerging non-alcoholic industry. We are going to dive into Botivo ‘Yellow Hour’ and discover more about the engaging energy of their brand and storytelling. We will hear about the flavour profile and how it takes a year to make a batch of Botivo. And we are going to explore the importance and place of patience alongside the necessity for persistence and determination. And in all of this, how can we keep focused on great mental health as a maker, creator, artisan and founder. 

The last decade has seen a great deal of change around the interrelationship of digital and bricks and mortar across the creative industries. Disciples of each approach are plentiful but for most, it’s all about the hybrid.

It’s about acquiring, delighting and retaining customers in both formats. It is frankly acrobatic to keep both elements flourishing. One of the tools in this hybrid toolbox is the Pop Up. And that is what we are going to be exploring in this episode with Rachel Carvell-Spedding founder of British Knitwear Brand, Navygrey.

Navygrey is as classic as its namesake. Timeless. Unrippled by trends and fads. A jumper to see you through the seasons, chapters and styles of life. Whether a blustery Norfolk beach, pacing down High St Islington or by the fire in the pub, these jumpers work. Carefully designed and carefully presented with B Corp approval this is a brand growing in stature.

And in amongst it all, it has been Popping Up. In great spaces and places, connecting with their audience and telling the stories that matter most to them. I am looking forward to asking about wool, about Made In Britain, about what growth looks like at this point of the business, the ever lasting power of bricks and mortar and the secrets to popping up well. 

Navygrey: www.navygrey.co

A conversation about the influence of Japanese design, business, retail and gardens on Jake Hobson, founder of Niwaki. 

A few years ago, I had a conversation with Taymoor Atigetchi, founder of Papier, about the impact of his Iranian roots on the way that he does business. That train of thought stayed with me and stayed with me to the point of preoccupation. And so now, here is the second in our series of interviews with entrepreneurs working in and influenced by a variety of countries and cultures.
I want to look beyond the accepted cliches to understand and celebrate variety. I want to explore customs, political systems, climate, temperament, geography and expectations. What motivates, delights and disappoints? I hope to celebrate the breadth of style and approach the idiosyncratic, the different.

Today we find ourselves far far away, exploring a country as mysterious as it is magnificent – Japan. And to guide us is Jake Hobson, founder of Niwaki. What began as a trip to Japan in the 1990s has become an exquisite jewel of handmade garden tools, workwear and a thoughtful conversation about gardens and enjoying them. Their look is as distinctive as their approach, quiet yet impactful. And we are lucky enough today to be able to discuss Japanese style influences, the Japanese approach to doing business and the impact of Japanese retail on Niwaki.

Whilst it is simply impossible to summarise an entire nation in one conversation, I wonder if by wondering through the cherry blossom, we might just learn something afresh about design, about selling and about beauty. And so welcome to Up With The Lark And Niwaki - I do think that you are going to enjoy this one.

Niwaki: www.niwaki.com

A discussion with eyewear designer and founder of Soho Bespoke, on the relationship of form and function. 

A few weeks ago, I stood in a spectacles shop trying on new frames. I found myself selecting a simple gold-rimmed wire pair. And in the mirror, I was reminded—which, I'll admit, took me by surprise—of four-year-old Calandre wearing something very similar, thanks to the design decisions of the NHS. And so today's conversation is perfectly timed. It is one about the relationship between form, function, and fashion.

Most creative entrepreneurs exist at this intersection most of the time. They are drawing together their creative ideas and ideals, colours, materials, combinations, and methods alongside the practical need for things to 'work'. I am quite sure that this tension creates excellence—and, I am sure, many an existential crisis.We are joined today by Charlie Ingham, founder of Soho Bespoke, an eyewear design consultancy. Charlie designs spectacles for both opticians and fashion brands. She works from concept to sampling and manufacture across the UK, Europe, and Asia. With clients including JW Anderson, Margaret Howell, Cubitts and Nanushka, I can safely say Charlie has just the insight we are looking for on this topic.

We are going to explore the eyewear industry and the fine craft of spectacle making. We will consider the importance of function, understanding, and science before looking at the dynamics of look and feel. Finally, we will debate their combination and connection.

A conversation with Victoria Barker, founder of Studio Faeger, on finding and nurturing your creative identity. 

The internal life of creative entrepreneurs fascinates me and it is my view that the mental health of this extra ordinary group of people warrants greater discussion. What makes a person create? What makes them keep creating? What part do persistence, patience and pauses play? How do you experience the ‘aloneness’ of it? How do you handle failure and disappointment? What impact does leading a team have? And what part does neurodiversity play? What is burnout and how can it be avoided? How can we keep creative and commercial momentum in the midst of grief, fertility challenges or economic uncertainty? And, as ever, my north star in it all – how can we make the creative commercial and the commercial creative whilst maintaining good mental health?

In this episode I am delighted to say that we are tackling one of my favourite topics – creative identity – with one of my favourite creatives, Victoria Barker founder of Studio Faeger. Studio Faeger has a tangibility to it so often forgotten in the digital age. Her designs lift the soul, are embracing and have just enough humour and lightness in them that your day is better for it. It is a reminder of what interior design is for – it’s not for static crafted images in magazines or videos on social media. It is about the right table to sit and converse at with your best friend, a kitchen that nourishes you, a sofa to sink into with your toddler or your teen, it’s the beauty of living life well. Victoria has swiftly cemented her look and feel alongside what it is to work with her. Both are magical.

We are very lucky to have the chance to explore how you discover, nurture and develop your creative identity. We will consider what actions, people and places augment and affirm that identity. And we will debate how to tackle the challenges, dilutions and distractions that come your way. Victoria has carved out a career, a portfolio of work, a swathe of delighted clients by ever so gently, with ever so much determination focus and grit, expressed her own creative identity. She seems to be able to avoid those pitfalls of comparison, distraction and doubt. Those who have this gift are flames to the rest of us moths and so I very much hope that you will enjoy Up With The Lark and Studio Feager on Creative Identity.