Little fish in a big pond (Part I)

Back in the dim dark past (well, around the end of the 90s to be precise) after finishing an honours degree and working in Withington in Manchester, I returned to my family home after the breakdown of a relationship...turned out that the most of the frogs I kissed turned into rats.
I moved out of my house in Manchester and went back to my Lincolnshire roots.

MMU textile department

Graduation day

Starting again with no home, no job and leaving my lovely Northern friends was extremely hard. I applied for any job that had a vague connection to my art degree in textiles but the rejection letters began to pile up. Two phrases kept repeating themselves..'not enough experience' or 'you're over-qualified'. I was baffled as to how I was supposed to get any experience if I wasn't even given a chance or the fact that I was willing to start at the bottom, be badly paid and make the coffee...I just needed a job!

Designs for Sainsburys

Don't get me wrong, I would have taken any job but I had had my fill of the just-getting-by type of employment (Nanny, nursery assistant, Little Chef, bar work, ticket office, sorting onions on conveyor belt, chopping through brussels sprout stalks in a freezing field at 5am anyone?) I wanted to put my artistic skills to proper use!
I decided to contact some design companies as I had done a small amount of freelance work after leaving university. Luckily I got an interview at Hallmark cards in Bradford and two of their departments 'Unique Images' and 'Britannia' took me on. I had previously designed childrens' furnishings that sold in USA, Holland and Germany but the greeting card market interested me more.

Giftwrap for Tesco

Giftwrap for Asda

I had some success with my designs selling to the likes of Tesco, Asda, John Lewis and Sainsbury but the whole process was very hit-and-miss. Constantly sending in designs that a buyer may or may not pick, I felt was not the best way to earn a living.

Badge designs for The Blue Cross

I needed to do something else aswell..but what? I had no money and I couldn't even drive. I was good at throwing paint around in an artistic manner and 'colouring-in' but it needed to be something more commercial.
Well...turns out, after all those frogs, my Prince had returned to Lincolnshire from London at the same time and I'd actually known him since I was 14...time to tackle that big pond together!

Silent Sunday

Are you sitting comfortably....?

Ok, so this is it then...I finally got round to writing a blog. After months of deliberation and the thought that maybe not even a single person would be interested (except my fabulously supportive Mum of course, who, let's face it would read this even if I'd typed out my receipt from Tescos...hello Mum!), I decided I really should get on with it regardless.

Fabulous Mum from Winnibriggs House

I guess I never really knew what to write in a blog - I've read so many amazingly thoughtful, poignant pieces, lots of funny stuff and some searingly heartbreaking posts over the last couple of years too, that I didn't know where to start. I do feel it's the right time now though as this year had really been a BIG one for me.

giddiness runs in the family (you can see that I don't act my age!)

Firstly, I celebrated (I use the term loosely) a significant birthday this week. I turned 40 on Monday - a number I've been dreading! I did have a great day thanks to my wonderful family, but 'celebrate' isn't something I felt like doing at the time.

40th Birthday Cards

However, I now feel like I should be celebrating all the amazing achievements and people in my life instead of being a total misery guts....it's just a number afterall and I have so much to be thankful for....
In the space of two months, we have moved into a new house and had a 2nd gorgeous baby

Our little pudding - 6 weeks old today

 plus I have a wonderful OH (he's my rock) and the most adorable, lively 4 year old who also incidentally, starts school in September!

Our big clever boy

The business, Giddy Kipper keeps on growing and we have 2 terrific members of staff with the possibility of a third at Christmas....What a year!

Giddy Kipper HQ

So while I'm on maternity leave,  I'm hoping that I will have the time to give you a little insight into my very hectic, giddy life. The people who matter to me, the things I love, interesting places and some behind-the-scenes at Giddy Kipper HQ and how it all began.

Oh, and just in case it is only my Mum reading this, could you get me half a dozen eggs from the market on Saturday please?

Ta-ra for now x