Up With The Lark And

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

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

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.

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 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

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

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!

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.

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 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/