Indie Edit - Inkwell Designs

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Meet Inkwell Designs, a homeware and fashion accessories company with a focus on sustainability and zero waste.

SoLo Craft Fair sits down with founder of the brand, Nicola, to discuss how the brand has evolved and the inspirations behind her quirky designs.

“Hello, I’m Nicola Erdpresser, founder of Inkwell Designs. As a freelance graphic designer and stained glass artist I enjoy making marks, and working with graphic elements, colour and light. I studied Typography and Graphic Communications at Reading University and have worked for most of my career in book publishing.”

“Having discovered a love of making colourful patterns I’ve been developing my collection of products with a focus on being sustainable and kind to our planet. I’m an environmental campaigner and started off with a zero waste cutlery bag, then moved on to scarves and tea towels in organic cotton.”

“In 2020 during the pandemic, I kept creative by running an online sketching hour per week with a group of like-minded people. A selection of these drawings have been printed as greetings cards on recycled card and are available in the shop.”

“You can find out more information about my stained glass at www.stainedglassartshop.co.uk and freelance graphic design at www.designcreateinnovate.co.uk.”

“I am passionate about creating beautiful, original designs in small scale production and in a way that is environmentally friendly. My collection includes organic scarves, organic tea towels and cutlery bags, plus some greetings cards printed on recycled card.”

“Inkwell Designs is built on three core philosophies: my original designs, made in small scale production, and all in a planet friendly way. We love bees and in an effort to support their continuity, 1% of our sales will be donated to Bumblebee Conservation Trust via Work for Good.”

“My unique and quirky designs are inspired by a wide variety of observations, my travels and favourite places, and each is given a different name. I favour bright and cheerful colours and my patterns are bold and often layered in technique.”

“Everything is made in the UK in small scale production, meaning that my scarves and tea towels are limited editions. All packaging is custom designed and plastic free. ‘Slow fashion’ is the opposite of fast fashion and considers the way the textiles are produced. It advocates for buying better quality garments that will last longer, and values fair treatment of people, animals, and the planet along the way.”

“Having researched the manufacturing of silk and other fabrics I’ve chosen organic cotton as the most environmentally and insect-friendly option for my scarves and tea towels.”

“Using organic cotton reduces our environmental footprint. No toxic chemicals are used in the growing of organic cotton. It doesn't damage the soil, has less impact on the air, and uses 88% less water and 62% less energy. Conventional cotton uses about 16% of the world's insecticides and 7% of pesticides.”

“All of my products are still quite new, but I am looking to grow my range and create some organic cushion covers in a small selection of my patterns.”

“My top tip for other inspiring makers? To make something you feel passionate about and to enjoy the process of being creative.”

Want to learn more about Inkwell Designs? Find their products in the Indie Maker’s Shopping Guide, head over to their website to shop their full range and follow them on Instagram and Twitter for their latest updates.

Indie Edit - Palmer Crafts

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SoLo Craft Fair sits down with Rebecca from Palmer Crafts to discuss how a spontaneous resin-making-kit purchase led to the start of a brand new business.

“My name is Rebecca Palmer and I’m from Catford in South East London. I’m the founder of Palmer Crafts.”

“I started my business in 2021 and I make a range of resin products and acrylic paint artwork. Each item is unique and handmade at home.”

“As with everyone the Covid-19 pandemic had an effect on my daily life and meant that I had to work from home whilst looking after my two year old son.”

“I came across an advert on Facebook for resin making and decided to give it a go.”

“I ordered a sample pack and a simple silicone mould to see if it was something I would enjoy doing. Having made my first creation I was hooked! I received an amazing response from family and friends and even started to sell some pieces which in turn led to the start of my very own business.”

“I have since made a wide variety of products, including ashtrays, acrylic art clocks with a resin finish, dining coasters, trinket trays and also acrylic paint artworks.”

“As my business is relatively new my goal is simply to build my brand awareness and to get more people to visit my website which will hopefully lead to more sales.”

“I live with the renowned London based street artist Nathan Bowen and we will be collaborating on a number of pieces going forward.”

“For any aspiring makers my top tip would be to keep creating things that you love. Don’t focus on the sales, but instead the passion that each piece brings about in yourself!”

Want to learn more about Palmer Crafts? Find their products in the Indie Maker’s Shopping Guide, head over to their website to shop their full range and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for their latest updates.

Indie Edit - Rose Chocolates

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Meet chocolatiers Jonathon and Justine, the founders behind Rose Chocolates.

SoLo Craft Fair sits down with the pair to discuss how the bespoke brand came into being and what customers can expect from the moment they open the box to that final, lasting taste.

Jonathon has been a chef for almost 10 years and a pastry chef for nearly 8 years. He’s also a chocolatier – the Rose Chocolates brand began after he took a number of chocolate making courses and discovered a passion for creating beautiful flavours and tastes.

Jonathon has worked in a variety of settings including hotels, restaurants, and private member clubs such as Tom’s Kitchen, Blue Print, Charlotte Street Hotel, Hotel Cafe Royal, The Hari, and many more!

Justine is the content creator for Rose Chocolates and the chocolate designer, hand painting the chocolate art. She is also a paediatric nurse, with training in the assessment and treatment of mental health. She hopes to help heal and encourage feelings and expressions with her chocolate designs.

Rose Chocolates began because both Jonathon and Justine believe in mindful eating and creating a beautiful, bespoke experience through art, food and self-care.

“We believe food should be eaten mindfully so we take pride in creating a full experience from opening the box to the very final taste.”

Rose Chocolates is a small, handmade chocolate business that began in 2018 after the completion of much research, testing and trialling.

The aim was to create luxury handmade chocolates that are bursting with flavour and beautifully crafted. The pair also wanted the consumer to indulge in a mindful and pleasurable self-care experience evoking therapeutic, emotional and mouth-watering feelings.

The brand specialises in creating bespoke, personalised, luxury and divine chocolates as both gifts and for events.

“The most valuable aspect of Rose Chocolates is that our customers are able to create chocolates that are personal for them, for their desires and their wishes. We want to add that special touch to your event or provide that ultimate gift!”

The chocolates are handmade using fresh ingredients. They are painted by hand to create a more unique, mindful gift.

“Not only can chocolates boost our mood but, together with their artistic design, they can also stir up a soothing, mindful emotion and a synesthesia experience for the consumer.”

Jonathon and Justine have created chocolates for many events including weddings, anniversaries, company launch events, as company gifts, and as part of a series of master class events. Customers can personalise from a range of flavours and even have the option of suggesting specific flavours, shapes, designs and colours. The brand also creates chocolate art for occasions, often with an underlying and thoughtful message. Their Mother’s Day chocolate collection, for example, communicates the feeling of motherhood with spring fruits and flowers painted on chocolate macaroons, and their Zuri African collection celebrates black history and art.

“Our aim is to create beautiful experiences combining chocolate and art. We hope to create a self-care indulgent treat to gift, to enjoy for yourself or to have at a memorable event.”

Jonathon and Justine hope to expand the brand going forward and reach a wider audience by supplying to more shops. They advise other aspiring makers to keep on striving and to remain consistent. “It may seem like it is taking a long time to receive results but consistency is key! Know your product, love your product, know what makes your product the best and spread the word among others.”

Want to learn more about Rose Chocolates? Find their products in the Indie Maker’s Shopping Guide, head over to their website to shop their full range and follow them on Instagram and Facebook for their latest updates.

Indie Edit - BEAU Polish

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Meet Siána, founder of the vegan friendly nail polish brand, BEAU Polish.

She hopes to take the nail industry by storm as she sets out to create a collection of vibrant designs to empower marginalised communities.

“I'm Siána, a product designer by day and a nail polish manufacturer by night. I have worked in the licensing industry my whole career and with this, I fell in love with many forms of artistic creation. When I had a corporate job that required me to dress formally, the one way I could really express myself was through my nails and nail art. From here I developed a passion for nail design and decided to take this a step further.”

“BEAU Polish has a vegan friendly and cruelty free formulation.”

“The bottle and ingredients are all sourced in the UK, ensuring we lower our carbon footprint from 2021. All my products are manufactured in my home on the outskirts of London.”

“My dream wouldn’t have become a reality were it not for the huge amount of support I receive from my family and friends, from packing large orders to the moral support, and not to mention my wonderful customers.”

“My journey began when I qualified as a level 2 Nail Technician in 2017 – a decision that felt like a natural progression given my long established love for nail polish and art.”

“BEAU Polish was born out of a passion for vibrant nail polish colours and a desire to make some incredible designs that you don’t typically see on the high street.”

“From street signs to branding, colour engulfs the world in which we live, and I believe the colours that we choose to wear say a lot about us as individuals.” 

“As the founder of BEAU Polish, my mission is to make you feel as beautiful as possible by offering you a product in which you can express yourself freely.”

“I believe that nail polish has no gender, no race, no class – it has no societal bias and is therefore a blank canvas for you to use at will without judgement.”

BESI - Brightness, equality, sassiness and integrity form the cornerstones of the brand.

“BEAU is bright and bold and this is reflected in the collections. We all deserve to be seen, to express ourselves and to tell the world that we are not going to hide. We are unique and beautiful.”

“BEAU is built on equality. Wear without judgement in whatever way you identify with.”

“BEAU will forever represent sassiness, empowering you so that you wake each morning to declare to the world who you are.”

“BEAU is built on love and integrity, with gifting at its forefront so you can extend the love to others.”

“With each of these four brand values, I hope to empower and support you in your journey of self love and general bad-arseary! I will be expanding the BEAU portfolio to include more vibrant products that compliment nail polish but also add to the fun of bath time. While we support the Switchboard LGBT+ charity, we will not stop there in our mission to give back to marginalised communities.”

“It is in my heart, and therefore in the heart of my brand, to create a safe space for everyone to express themselves freely.”

“My advice to creators who want to start their own business is creating something from scratch that people want is such a beautiful experience, and well worth the initial struggle that each startup goes through. Don’t expect your product to be perfect at the beginning – over time you’ll get better at your craft. Don’t wait for perfection to launch your brand! Get going and adapt as you move forward. Creating a product isn’t about perfection, it’s about joy. Avoid comparing yourself to other makers – it’s the quickest way to lose sight of your goals and achievements. Besides, are you even trying if you don't make mistakes along the way? No one is perfect, and no one can do you better than you!”

Want to learn more about BEAU Polish? Find their products in the Indie Maker’s Shopping Guide, head over to their website to shop their full range and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for their latest updates.

Indie Edit - Soul and Style

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SoLo Craft Fair sits down with Sarah from Soul and Style to discuss how one woman’s passion for yesteryear’s fashion has led to her very own indie business.

“I'm Sarah and I am the one woman band behind Soul and Style shop. To cut a long story short, I was born in the wrong era and I now make 60s and 70s inspired earrings and hair accessories to feel nostalgic about it! I am based in southeast London.”

“I started Soul and Style as I felt that there was a huge lack of earrings that reflected my favourite decades – the 50s, 60s and 70s – and I always found it so hard to find those types of styles.”

“It was during lockdown that I started to get creative with polymer clay and I began to make the items I wished I had always had!”

“I make the earrings myself and have since branched out into hair accessories and wall art prints.”

“My most popular item are my 70s wallpaper inspired dangle square earrings which are designed using typical 70s colours – yellow, brown and orange.”

“I have a new product which will be coming soon, but I don't want to let up on the secret yet! My next collection will be an all out 70s restock and I’m crossing my fingers for a few collaborations with some other small businesses.”

“I’d encourage anyone looking to start a new business not to give up! It took me a few weeks, perhaps even a month, to even get my baking temperature and timings right when I first started out and I was close to giving up so many times. I persevered and I am so thankful that I did because my small business has brought me so much joy and creative fun and introduced me to the wonderful small business community.”

Want to learn more about Soul and Style? Find their products in the Indie Maker’s Shopping Guide, head over to their website to shop their full range and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for their latest updates.