Focus On ... Amy from Its Balderston
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.
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 .
REOPENING MONDAY 12th APRIL!
We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be reopening on MONDAY 12th APRIL!
After 13 months of turmoil, we’re delighted to announce that we’ll be reopening on MONDAY 12th APRIL!
We really can’t wait to welcome our customer back into Chirpy - it’s been too long!
But don’t worry if you can’t make it to Chirpy, if you don’t live locally. Our online shop is still going strong with free postage over £35. We’ve gained lots of new customers over the last year from all around the UK (and beyond) and we love sending out our Chirpy gifts and treats.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
See you next week!
Jo x
NEW! Mother's Day Bundles
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the special lady in your life?
We've put together some great bundles for all budgets, to make it easy for you.
Win all of these goodies!
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the special lady in your life?
We've put together some great bundles for all budgets, to make it easy for you.
They’ll come gift wrapped and and both you and the recipient will receive a Chirpy discount voucher to spend online.
We can send or deliver on your behalf with a note from you, or add a Mother’s day card
Just head to the MOTHER’S DAY section on the website
Don’t delay, order by Sunday 7th March if you’d like us to send it for you
Mother's Day GIVEAWAY!
We’ve joined together to offer an amazing GIVEAWAY worth over £150 from seven Chapel Allerton businesses run my mums - head to our IG page to find out how
Win all of these goodies!
Did you realise that so many of the independent retailers in Chapel Allerton are run by mums?
Mums are also our best customers, usually being in charge of gift & card buying and occasionally buying treats for themselves!
So we’ve joined together to offer an amazing GIVEAWAY worth over £150 from these businesses run my mums ..
Chirpy
The Little Bookshop
Katie & May
Rebel & Rose
The Refilling Station
Chapel Allerton Pilates
Sunshine Bakery
To win this prize for you mum or a special lady who you thinks deserves it, then all you need to do is the following…
Like our Instagram post here - lust look for the post from Sunday 21st Feb with the same photo
Comment telling us who you’d like to win the prize & why - tag them if they are on IG but don’t worry if they are not as we’ll contact you if they win to get their details. Also don’t worry if they are not local as we’ll send the prize to them.
Make sure you are following all of the 7 participating businesses to be in with a change of winning.
A winner will be picked at random on Sunday 7th March
Good luck!
Mother's Day : Sunday 14th March
Don’t forget it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday 14th March and we’ve got lots of great cards & gifts
Next stop Mother’s Day!
It looks like we’ll be having a lockdown Mother’s Day this year so don’t forget to buy your cards& gifts online.
We’ve got lots of great cards and gifts and watch this space for some lovely Mother’s Day bundles, perfect for all budgets.
If you’d like us to send a card or gift on your behalf just let us know - we’ll wrap it for you and add your message.
For any orders to arrive by Sunday 14th March pleas e order by Sunday 7th March then we will send them 1st class.
NEW! Chirpy Outlet!
The Sale may have ended at Chirpy but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up a Chirpy bargain all year round!
Where you can grab a bargain!
The Sale may have ended at Chirpy but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up a Chirpy bargain all year round!
Introducing the Chirpy Outlet!
Online at the Outlet you’ll find all sorts of bargains. From end of line products, last items in stock, seasonal goodies and one offs, you’ll find them here.
So if you’re looking for a cheeky bargain treat for yourself or a little gift for a friend then check out what’s available. We’ll be adding new things all the time so don’t forget to check next time you’re shopping online at Chirpy
LOVE CA LOCAL - follow the trail
We’re delighted to be part of the CA space Love Local trail with lots of the other Chapel Allerton businesses.
Valentine’s is coming!
We’re delighted to be part of the CA space Love Local trail with lots of the other Chapel Allerton businesses.
Look out for the coloured hearts displayed in our windows, unscramble the letters and complete the sentence to be in with a chance over winning over £100 worth of vouchers for the local shops
Just follow the link to find out more and who’s involved.
https://www.caspaces.org/lovecalocal
Introducing MINI MAKES with Agnis Smallwood
We’re delighted to launch the NEW MINI MAKE series of workshops with Agnis Smallwood, to help you get creative over lunchtime
We’re delighted to launch the NEW MINI MAKE series of workshops with Agnis Smallwood, to help you get creative over lunchtime
These workshops are open to everyone, perhaps you’re working from home and would welcome a break between meetings, or you fancy the opportunity to natter with others while you craft. Whatever the reason, we hope you can join us virtually or one or more of these Zoom workshops.
How it will work:
- Each week there will be a different workshop, make sure you have booked onto the workshop by the previous Thursday so there is time for the kits to be posted and arrive with you (for the workshop on 21st January, you would need to have booked your place by 14th January).
- Each workshop is just 1 hour long so that hopefully they will fit into your lunchtime.
- It is going to run for at least 4 weeks, you can join us for 1 or all of them it is entirely up to you!
- You will receive the workshop kit of materials in the post and then the zoom link via the email you booked onto the workshop with so that you can learn how to use your materials just like if you were attending a class in person.
- All the materials you will need will be in the kit apart from some equipment that can be found within the home for example scissors or a pencil.
- The workshops will be very flexible, and I will be repeating the steps and top tips throughout the session. We know that everything is quite tricky at the moment! So if you arrive 10 minutes late or need to leave a bit early or each lunch at the same time it is all ok!
21st Jan : Mini Woven Wall Art
28th Jan : Rag Rug Flower Brooch
4th Feb : Coasters
11th Feb : Needle Felted Heart Decorations
CLOSED DUE TO COVID (AGAIN!!) BUT STILL HELPING YOU GIFT!
Here we go again! Chirpy is Closed due to COVID restrictions however we are very much Open for Business!
There lots of way we can help you still shop at Chirpy so you sone miss any birthdays, special occasions or just the change to keep in touch with people and let them know you are thinking of them
Here we go again! Chirpy is Closed due to COVID restrictions however we are very much Open for Business!
There lots of way we can help you still shop at Chirpy so you sone miss any birthdays, special occasions or just the change to keep in touch with people and let them know you are thinking of them.
Shop Online from the comfort of your own home - we’ve currently all got a SALE on too. Click & Collect available, free local deliveries and FREE postage over £30
Card Bundles are avaialbe online as well as our monthly NEW CARD SUBSCRIPTION BUNDLE so you’ve always got cards handy!
Let us wrap and send your parcels for Free! we’ll wrap them and include a Chirpy postcard with your message. Or add a card for £2.50 which we an write for you.
Buy a Chirpy e-voucher, perfect for Birthdays or Anniversaries or any other occasion or a Chirpy workshop voucher when for when we restart them in the Spring.
We’re here to help as gifting is what we love to do at Chirpy.
NEW CARD BUNDLE SUBSCRIPTION!
We’re delighted to launch our NEW Card Subscription Bundle
Every month we’ll send you 5 handpicked Birthday cards, all from our lovely indie suppliers, to ensure you never miss a birthday or an event and to help you keep in touch with friends and family throughout the year.
NEW! Card Bundle Subscription
5 Mixed Birthday Cards
12.50 every month
We’re delighted to launch our NEW Card Subscription Bundle
Every month we’ll send you 5 handpicked Birthday cards, all from our lovely indie suppliers, to ensure you never miss a birthday or an event and to help you keep in touch with friends and family throughout the year.
We’ll send the cards out to you in time for the beginning of each month. Each bundle will be made up of 5 individual Birthday cards. If you want to include a specific card, such as for a child’s birthday, a specific age card or an important occasion then just let us know at least a few days before the bundle is due.
Each subscription bundle contains 5 cards and will be posted 1st class to you. You’ll also receive a FREE card with your 1st month’s subscription.
Please note that the cards may differ from the photo shown but will be just as lovely!