Babble & Chew Pop Up at Chirpy

Stylish baby accessories from Babble & Chew

We’re delighted to be welcoming Babble & Chew in store on Saturday 24th July!

Popping upstairs at Chirpy between 11am - 3pm they'll be showcasing their beautifully designed products.

Babble & Chew is a mummy start up business which sells a beautiful range of baby weaning and toddler eating goods and accessories for the Ikea Antilop highchair.

Their products have been designed to not only look good in your home but also actually practical to use! The current collection include silicone bibs, bowls, placemats, suction plates in a selection of modern muted colours.

They also have a fantastic range of accessories for the IKEA Antilop highchair. Our favourites in the collection are definitely the hand sewn cushion covers and leg wraps which really transform the highchair!

Head over to their website www.babbleandchew.com or follow them on Instagram @babbleandchew to see more.

Focus On ... Dani from Grant + Blossom

The smile behind the brand

This month we’re focusing on another local maker, Dani of Grant + Blossom, a candle company who’s gorgeous candles have just arrived in Chirpy

Here’s a little interview we did with Dani.

CH: Tell me a little bit about yourself

D:I'm Dani and I'm the founder of Grant + Blossom; I partner with independent artists to create bold, beautiful and sustainable candles.

CH:How did the business start?

D:I started making candles a couple of years ago for myself and as gifts and started developing ideas around owning my own business around then too.  But, it wasn't until we were in the middle of the pandemic and I was furloughed/ on maternity leave that I finally plucked up the courage to dive right in and start! I officially launched in August 2020, eight weeks after my baby girl was born and it's been a whirlwind ever since. I was made redundnat in March, so since April both children have been in nursery and I've really been able to focus on the business more or less full time. 

CH: What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

D:I get up and get my children ready for nursery and once they have left the house I enjoy a quiet coffee by myself! I start working at around 9am (though the beauty of owning my own business is that I can be pretty flexible with start and finish times!) I work 4 days a week and I try to spend half of that time in my workshop pouring / wrapping candles and the other half doing admin/ marketing etc. Every day is pretty different because as the owner of the business I'm wearing many hats! 

CH: What’s been your biggest achievement to date?

D: There are a couple of things that I'm really proud of; on a personal level having two gorgeous (slightly bonkers) children. On a professional level, taking the leap to finally launch my own business  - it has been the best decision I think I have made and I love it! Through the sale of my candles I've raised over £800 for charity and I've been a finalist for an Indie Business Award which is incredible. 

CH: What’s been the favourite thing you’ve made?

D: I honestly love all the candles I make because so much time goes into creating them; from working artists and choosing the right designs, to matching the right fragrances and testing them to make sure they are the very best quality - they are all a labour of love. I think my very first Limited Edition Candle working with the fabulous Digital Artist Lucy Turner will always hold a special place in my heart though. Lucy was the very  first artist I worked with and and seeing her work on my candle cemented the idea of working with artists on my other candles.

CH: What’s the best thing about running your own business?

D: The freedom! Don't get me wrong, it's stressful and I feel like I'm running at 120mph most of the time - but the ability to make decisions and run a business the way that I think it should be run is liberating and exciting! I can be really agile and try things out without having to answer to anyone if it doesn't work, which is amazing. 

CH: What advice would you give to anyone looking to set up their own business?

D: Don't worry about not having all the answers at the beginning.  I think one of the reasons it took me so long to get started is that I felt like I had to have everything perfected before launching because I was comparing myself to really established brands like Oliver Bonas and The White Company  - but really, I should have just started sooner and learnt along the way! Somehow that doesn't seem as scary anymore and I'm happy not having all the answers; it's half of the fun and makes the wins even more satisfying. 

CH : Is there a craft you haven’t tried but would like to?

D: Upholstering! I'm pretty into crafts so have tried lots of different mediums.  Things like painting and pottery I could see myself picking up again as a hobby as I've loved them when I've done workshops. But upholserty has been on my list for a while! I love finding furniture gems at vintage and antique shops, and I would love to learn how to give some of them a new lease of life ... maybe with a bit of Grant + Blossom flair and upholsetred in an indie artist's work ;) who knows! 

CH: Why should people shop local?

D :I think throughout the pandemic we have all seen just how important local businesses have been.  They really have been the beating heart of our communities and helped us get through the strangest and most difficult year we have seen in a while. We need to remember these small businesses as we re -enter our familiar and fast paced world; these are the shops that know your name, know what you like, will go that extra mile to make your purchase feel special - and they can do it all without an algorithym or clever marketing because they take the time to get to know you as a person, and not just a number.  I have loved my local highstreet during the pandemic and would really miss it if it wasn't there - so use it or lose it people!  

Thanks Dani for letting us get to know you!

Check out the new range of Dani’s table candles & scented candles we have in store and online and watch this space for an exciting collaboration later in the year!

Focus On ... Rachel White of Seb and Roo

The smile behind the brand

This month we’re focusing on another local maker, Rachel of Seb and Roo, a teething jewellery brand which is already proving popular in Chirpy

Here’s a little interview we did with Rachel.

CH: Tell me a little bit about yourself

Rachel: I’m Rachel, the owner of Seb and Roo, a independent children’s brand, specialising in baby goods. I’m a mum of two boys, Sebastian and Rupert (hence the name!), and live with my Kiwi husband in Yorkshire. I run the business around flexi-schooling the boys, and when I have time, I love to play tennis as an escape from our busy lives. 

 CH: How did the business start?

Rachel : Prior to having children, I led a very different life, working in marketing for global companies and living in London and more recently Sydney. We settled in Yorkshire when I was pregnant to be closer to family, and it soon became apparent that our priorities had shifted drastically. I wanted a job that could fit around family, not the other way around, and I had always wanted to run my own business. 

 When Seb was born, I came across teething necklaces. I loved the concept and functionality of them but not the styles, so when my youngest was born I decided to design my own. And so in 2016 Seb & Roo was born. We’ve since grown our product range into baby toys, gifts and accessories, but teething jewellery and baby teethers continue to be our best selling items.

 CH: What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

Rachel: After the rush of the school run, I’ll come home and work through my emails and customer messages (with coffee in hand of course) and reply to anything urgent, before printing off the days’ orders and getting started on making them. I might have to put in some orders with suppliers or make up a large wholesale order, and if I get chance I like to play around with and sketch new design ideas and scour the internet for new product ranges. 

As a one woman business, I look after everything - from design, supplier management, finance, fulfilment and shipping, marketing etc as well as the physical making of some of the products, so each day can be quite different depending on what takes priority that day. I’ll have the days’ orders ready to ship by mid afternoon and then go and pick up the kids from school. I love being able to do this but it does mean that I will often work in the evenings and weekends to catch up.  

 CH: What’s been your biggest achievement to date? (feel free to mention something work related and  / or personal)

Rachel: It has to be having my two boys and parenting them in the most mindful way I can. It’s definitely my most important job! Professionally, it’s a toss up between getting my first sale on Etsy (I now have multiple Etsy Bestsellers!) and launching my website a couple of years later. 

 CH: What’s been the favourite thing you’ve designed?

Rachel: I’m really proud of the Panda teether that I designed. It started with a hand drawing, then a 3D drawing, then a mould and finally a physical product in a beautiful custom box that I also designed. It’s a real favourite with younger babies, as the black and white is visually stimulating, and I love that it started our as a rough sketch on a scrap of paper!

 CH: What’s the best thing about running your own business?

Rachel: I love the flexibility of running my own business around my family and also being wholly responsible for its successes and failures. The reward is far greater when you’re working for yourself.   

 CH: What advice would you give to anyone looking to set up their own business?

Rachel: Have a really clear idea of your brand and your customers. Try to come up with a unique selling proposition, which is hard in saturated markets, but really think about what you can do different and better than your competitors. One of the biggest pitfalls I think for hobby makers trying to grow is that they underprice their products / services, which means their business won’t be sustainable in the long run. 

 CH: Is there an activity you haven’t tried but would like to?

Rachel: I really fancy learning calligraphy. It looks so beautiful and is a real art form, so it’s definitely on my to do list!

 CH: Why should people shop local?

Rachel: Oh gosh, there’s so many reasons! If we don’t support our local businesses, we will lose them, and with it a piece of our community. When you shop local, you’re making a great choice for the environment, as well as making a real difference to the individuals and families that own them - you’re supporting real people’s livelihoods, not multinational corporations. You can also find some great quality and unusual items that you might not find elsewhere as well as fabulous, personal service

 Thanks Rachel for letting us get to know you!

Check out the range of Rachel’s teething products we have in store and at Chirpy online

Focus On ... Katie Bentley Ceramics

The smiley face behind the brand

This month we’re focusing on another local maker, Katie Bentley Ceramics, whose beautiful hadn't crafted products have just landed in Chirpy

Here’s a little interview we did with Katie.

CH: Tell me a little bit about yourself / your company

Katie: I’m Katie, the founder of Katie Bentley Ceramics. We are based in Leeds. All our products are designed and handcrafted in our little Yorkshire studio. Our aim is to create stunning ceramic homeware for beautiful interiors. 

CH: What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

Katie : Our days are crazy and always busy! 

Running a small independent business is like doing 10 peoples jobs all in the same day! 

I have a fabulous studio assistant Cerys who joined us in June 2020. Between us we are the designers, makers, casters, glazers, packers, social media managers & cleaners. We order materials for making & packing, stock take and organise the orders coming in and going out. 

CH: What’s been your biggest achievement to date?

Katie : I would say my biggest achievements would definitely be creating products that people love! Building up a fabulous selection of independent stockists who are excited to order all the new products we create. But also getting the business to a point where it’s not only a secure income for myself but now to be at a point where it’s also someone else’s full time job too is an amazing feeling. 

CH: Why should people shop / support local?

Katie: Shopping small & local is so important! Your not only massively supporting your local economy & high street but you are supporting someone’s real life dreams & their families too!! Thanks to Amy for her honest answers which really capture her wonderful cheery personality .

Check out the range of Katie’s ceramics we have in store and at Chirpy online

Focus On ... Amy from Its Balderston

The smiley face behind the brand

As we’ve reopened our doors, with lots of lovely new stock, we thought we’d take the opportunity to introduce you to some of our local suppliers, based in Yorkshire.

Here’s a little interview we did with Amy from Its Balderston, a quirky homewares brand we love stocking in Chirpy.

CH : Tell me a little bit about yourself
Amy: I am Amy, an Illustrator and homeware designer based up on a hill in Otley, Yorkshire and I create all things ItsBalderston, hand drawn chronic illustrations that derive joy and mirth from the every day.

Current Collections include The Furious Vegetable Army, Hostile Houseplants, Coffee Pals, Positively Naughty Dogs, Garden Birds and Jolly Leaf Pals.

CH: How did you get into doing what you are doing?
Amy: It all started with an absolutely furious Big Tommy Tomato. Created after a particularly theatrical performance by my husband- with a beef tomato deigned for homemade burgers-Big Tommy was the original inspiration behind my first collection - the Furious Vegetable Army. (And explains why he remains front and centre despite factually being a fruit.) The rest of the characters came along as a way to continue making my main pal smile. A few friends requested the design on a tea towel on the lead up to Christmas that year, and it all gathered momentum from there.

CH : What does a ‘normal’ day look like?
Amy : Life is a little loose and wild right now with a 3 month old in tow. But prior to this invasion... a strong stint working at the mighty Cafe 164 has permanently endeared me to early starts and delicious coffee. So that is where we begin. Packing orders, checking stock, before heading to Otley Maker Space in town where I fire up the laser. I typically work on new designs and admin while the etching takes place. Post office, then home - on a super dream day - a trip to North Bar Social with pals to finish.

CH: What’s been your biggest achievement to date?
Amy: Taking a leap and moving to become completely freelance in October 2019. While retrospectively a bit of a clanger timing wise (pandemic, pregnancy, lockdown the following spring...) it firmly cemented these dreams of mine and pushed me to finally take myself a little more seriously.

CH : What’s been the favourite thing you’ve made?
Amy: This has to be my laser etched boards and spoons. The sheer joy I feel when I see those furious little faces slowly appear across my products is like nothing else. The magnificent team at Duke Studios first introduced me to their motherfrickinlaser while I worked as their Community Manager - it’s an amazing space full of creative industries, inspiration and pals.

CH : What’s the best thing about running your own business?
Amy: While the freedom to create, to explore and make obviously has glorious perks, for me it has to be the communities and people I have met across the years. From the very best of maker pals, to wonderful stockists- I feel incredibly lucky with the company I get to keep, and the support, friendship and kindness they bring.

CH : What advice would you give to anyone looking to turn their hobby into a business / set up their own business?
Amy : In the brilliant words of Laura Wellington- Just (f***ing) do it. Those words thrown at me while serving her a coffee at 164, pushed me to finally invest in my first print run. There are always a hundred reasons to stall or stop, I think I needed to stop blowing it out of proportion. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, small steps can always become big. I’m a glutton for structure, community, and small steps. So working various roles alongside this business in wonderful teams and places while gently investing/growing was the way for me.

CH: Is there a craft you haven’t tried but would like to?
Amy : Pottery! I’m a huge fan of Rebecca over at Sunken Studios since helping out at a Hey Clay! event a few years ago. I suspect I will not rest until I have had a spin on a potting wheel or attempted the recreate some of my favourite characters in clay. I would love to see furious vegetable lamps in my future...

CH: Why should people shop / support local?
Amy: Because you are unquestionably brightening the the lives and souls of people who make, create and run these businesses. Each share, interaction or purchase will be putting a smile on someone’s face - keeping their hard work and dreams a reality. This Sunshine is absolutely something we all need after the year we have had.

Thanks to Amy for her honest answers which really capture her wonderful cheery personality .