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A white woman with blonde hair and wearing a red blouse is hugging a younger blonde haired white teenager (her daughter) who wears a peach coloured knitted jumper. Both are smiling and happy. Red balloons are to the left of the image and a large skull poster on the wall to the right.
Party PlanningPatchwork Perspective

How to throw a period party – and why!

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Starting a business all about celebration has been a personal and professional joy. I don’t just love seeing all the ways people use Patchwork to celebrate and support each other, I love using our platform to mark milestones in our own family’s life. So OF COURSE when my daughter started her period, we used Patchwork to organise a period party!

A beautiful pink and red period party quiz printed on card, shown against a white background and with slightly out of focus flowers to the top left of the shot
An arrangement of vivid red and pink flowers set on a white table

Why did I have a period party for my daughter?

We had a Naming Day when Vera was born and we’ve celebrated every one of her birthdays. So it also felt important to celebrate our daughter’s initiation into womanhood. I wanted to mark the occasion and let her know that me (and all her aunties) have got her back and will always be here for her throughout her adult life as we have been throughout her childhood. I wanted to ensure that she felt beautiful and powerful, celebrated and magic at a time when we can often feel tired, embarrassed, grumpy and a bit spotty.

It was important to create a space away from her friends, away from her brother, dad and the other lovely men in our lives so we could be just us women. To get together with all the important women role-models in her life in one room at the same time to show their solidarity. I wanted the party to be a bit witchy, to learn some stuff, share some stuff and celebrate all the blood and bravery, tears and laughter that comes with having periods.

A pink smooth iced cake sits on a glass cake stand. The words 'You're bloody amazing' are written in red icing on top of the cake. Next to it sits a bowl or ripe red berries, peeled tangerines, figs and plums. Behind is a brass candlestick with a red candle
A young white woman with fair hair tied back and wearing a peach coloured knitted jumper sits to open a small gift and makes the 'perfect' symbol with her left hand
A white woman wearing a red pleated dress holds up a denim jacket with a label sewn in the back saying 'we've got your back'

What did Vera think?

I knew she’d be embarrassed. I knew I couldn’t ask her if she wanted me to do it. Because I knew she’d say no. But I also knew it was important. That even if she didn’t appreciate it at the time, the experience would remove the silent taboo around her period before it kicked in. And the party would remind her that we all love her and give her confidence in the future. Because of all this I organised the party as a surprise. My sister Holly who lives opposite to us hosted at her house and when Vera arrived to see her 13 aunties (all my sisters and best friends) she was definitely surprised. And once she’d got over the shock and initial embarrassment, had hugged everyone and had a cocktail she had a great time.

A white woman with blonde hair, wearing a red blouse is dancing, in the living room of a London flat, while two women hug behind her and two others look on smiling. Red balloons are to the right of the image.
Three white women stand together at a 'period party', they hold drinks and a quiz which they all look at and are smiling and laughing. Red balloons are behind them.

Why is it important to break the taboo around periods?

Periods have been a taboo subject for far too long in western culture. Women and those of us who have periods have been silenced and shamed and made to feel embarrassed about the one thing that gives us real life-giving power. So talking about periods is a personal liberation and also a political act. Period taboos are, just like period taxes, very much part of patriarchal control. And period parties are just one way for us to be loud and proud of our periods. Talking publicly (and even better getting theatrical) about periods has already led to successful campaigns to change government policy with schools now needing to provide free period products. But there is so much more that can be done to fight period poverty, to educate young people about their physical and sexual health and to normalise not just periods but also our understanding of vaginas and vulvas in our own lives and in wider culture. Something which is crucial if we are to counter the dangerous porn-driven image of ‘perfection’ that is causing the huge rise in labiaplasty in young women and girls.

A box of red, orange and pink silky fabrics, ribbons, felt, thread and pipecleaners - all to make vulvas at a period party.
Pieces of pink felt have been sewn together to make a vulva at a period party, a pair of white hands trims the ends of the fabric.
Two white women show off their designs of their 'make your own vulvas' decorated with feathers and felt and fabric and stuck to card.

What did Vera’s period party involve?

We had decorated my sister Holly’s flat with red and pink balloons, matching candles, red fruits and pink decorations and when Vera walked in she found all thirteen of us women wearing red outfits. I asked My Lady Garden to create a huge red and pink vulva-like floral arrangement for the table. The South East Cakery created a ‘Bloody Amazing’ red velvet cake. My sister Rosie made pink cocktails with cherries on top. Then my friend Jo, Founder of This Is A Vulva, hosted a period quiz for us all and provided felt and paper craft so we could all sit down and make our own vulvas! And then there were presents. We gave Vera a vintage ruby necklace with 13 little diamonds, Maisie Hill’s book Period Power and then I commissioned Julia from Ink & Thimble to make a patch for her favourite denim jacket with the words ‘we’ve got your back’ sewn in. We also all recorded voice notes for Vera to keep giving her advice about her period, tips that work for us when we’re feeling shitty and also just words of love and encouragement. So it was a deliberately bloody and taboo breaking event but also practical and empowering, beautiful and super chic!

A young white woman with fair hair and wearing a peach coloured knitted jumper holds and looks down at the necklace she is wearing and admires it.
Two white women hug in a tight embrace, behind them other women are busy making vulvas out of felt and fabric at a period party.

Want to host a period party? Here’s how to do it:

The really fun thing about organising Vera’s party was how involved everyone got in the planning to help make it really special, stress free and affordable. I created a Patchwork and asked everyone to contribute. I’ve now turned it into a template for others to use. Of course you can add your own ideas and personalise your period party to celebrate in whatever way you like. But I definitely recommend lots of red and pink, getting creative with vulva related treats and ensuring along with cocktails and cake there are practical gifts and games you can play together that share knowledge, advice and support. A period party is a great chance to celebrate adulthood but also to take time to better understand and appreciate our bodies. And us grown ups learnt a lot too!

To make it super easy to plan your own period party we’ve created a readymade template that you can customise with your own period party ideas. Please let us know how your party goes!

Amazing suppliers: 

Flowers – My Lady Garden

Cake – South East Cakery

Jacket patch – Ink & Thimble

Make Your Own Vulva kits – This is a Vulva  

Tampon keyrings – Lydia Reeves

Useful resources and links:

Bloody Good Period

28ish days later Podcast

Relevant news/campaigns:

Free Periods campaign

The Vagina Museum

This is a Vulva (on Instagram)

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Snow capped mountains with text overlay which reads 'patchwork x ClientEarth'
Charity PartnersPatchwork Perspective

Supporting Our Charity Partners: ClientEarth

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Today on the blog, we’re super excited to be chatting to Grace Archibald, Philanthropy Manager at ClientEarth, one of three extraordinary environmental charities that Patchwork are supporting with our new 50/50 for the planet business model. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Grace holds a Bachelor Degree in Art Education from the University of New South Wales. Prior to moving to London, Grace worked on the establishment of a national foundation to record Aboriginal languages. From a young age, Grace has been a keen environmentalist and says: ‘I am honoured to pursue this passion and work for ClientEarth. It is inspiring to work for such a vital organisation, which together with a group of dedicated supporters is making a positive impact to ensure our planet will be habitable for all beings in years to come.’ Not heard of ClientEarth? Read on to hear about their inspiring work and unique approach to fighting climate catastrophe.

What’s unique and different about ClientEarth compared to other environmental charities?

ClientEarth has a unique approach – harnessing the power of the law to protect life on Earth. Our team of legal experts have demonstrated that the law is a powerful tool for creating systemic change – quickly and without a huge level of investment. We have a distinct set of expertise, ranging from corporate and financial law to human rights, campaigning and advocacy specialists. This range of knowledge and experience enables us not only to enforce existing laws, but also to inform and implement new, stronger protections for people and planet. All of our work is led by science, and we focus our attention on high-leverage opportunities to achieve impact in four key areas – climate, nature, health and justice.

quote which reads 'as a citizen and a lawyer, I worry about governments washing their hands of the responsibility to act against climate change' by Maria-Krystyna Duval - Director of Climate and Energy

Can you tell us a little bit about what a typical day looks like for one of your lawyers?

For one of our lawyers a day at ClientEarth is typically varied. It could include meeting with partners and barristers to discuss case actions, scoping work for upcoming actions as well as speaking with funders about our work.

What projects are you working on right now that Patchwork users are helping to support?

We have over 160 cases currently pending across the world, but one of our most significant legal challenges is close to home – we are suing the UK Government over its inadequate net zero strategy. Our case argues that the Government has failed to set out sufficient policies to reduce emissions enough to meet its legally binding carbon budgets. 

We often choose cases in which climate and wildlife laws intersect, working towards dual wins. For example, we are working to protect important populations of marine mammals in the Gulf of Venice, whilst challenging key aspects of the Italian government’s policy on oil and gas exploration. Our case opposing the proposed Teodorico Project gas plant was recently boosted by the local regional authority, who have intervened to back all of our arguments.

Image of planet earth against a light purple background with words 'gifts for life on earth' in pale pink block capitals wrapped around the edge of the globe

What do you think makes the Patchwork and ClientEarth partnership such a good fit?

We need a multi-pronged solution to the vast environmental challenges that we face. Patchwork is a creative solution for combatting waste and is influencing how and what people buy. Reflecting on one aspect of our work – which is to stop plastic pollution – our strategies are driving companies to bear the real cost of throwaway plastic and stopping plastic at its source. Our team is dedicated to using the power of the law to push for long term solutions that will end plastic pollution. So Patchwork and ClientEarth are changing mind-sets and systems so that the planet – which also means all that inhabit it – is at the centre of all we do and that’s why our partnership is such a good fit.

Image of a forest from above with words '50/50 - Patchwork gives 50% of our fees to environmental charities' three charity logos are underneath: Friends of the Earth, Survival International and Client Earth.

Aside from supporting ClientEarth through Patchwork, what are some other ways people can show support for the fight against climate catastrophe and help to ensure our planet thrives in the future?

There are so many exciting things going on at ClientEarth, I’d recommend subscribing to our newsletter to hear regular updates. These often contain more specific actions that people can take to help fight against climate and ecological breakdown, such as joining campaign actions. If you’re inspired by our work, you can also support ClientEarth directly. More generally, it’s also great to find out what environmental projects are going on around you, that you can get involved in. Creating sustainable communities at the local level is very rewarding and can inspire others to do the same.

Quote which reads 'the decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming' - Hoesung Lee IPCC Chair

Finally, do you have any celebrations, community projects or personal milestones coming up this year? If so, how would you use Patchwork to help plan a party, project or present?

We’ve got a big anniversary coming up this year – ClientEarth is turning 15 years old. In that time, we’ve grown from a small charity focused on the EU, to an international organisation with a global presence and over 250 members of staff.

Thank you so much Grace, and congratulations to all of you at ClientEarth on your upcoming 15th anniversary! We’re here when you’re ready to start planning that party.

Once again, we’re honoured to be supporting you with the help of our brilliant Patchwork creators and their friends and families. True people power in action!

If you’ve got a present, party, or project to plan, you can use Patchwork to invite guests to give cash, time and skills to make it happen. When you sign up to our one-off payment or our monthly subscription, and choose ClientEarth as your charity we’ll donate 50% of our own fee directly to them. All money collected through your Patchwork is yours; to spend how, where and when you like.

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a globe on a light pink sunset background. The globe is 50% planet earth and 50% disco ball and has the numbers 50 50 across it
Patchwork PerspectivePatchwork Story

The gift registry that gives back to the planet.

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Patchwork Gift Registry was built to bring joy, reduce waste and make gift giving meaningful and we’ve loved helping over 120,000 of you celebrate together since we launched in 2016.

We feel really good about what we’ve achieved so far as an independent, woman-led business. But in 2022 it’s time to do more. The urgency of the climate crisis, together with the fact that we still have time (just) to make an impact, means an exciting new chapter, and challenge, for Patchwork.

From now, we are going 50/50, split down the middle (yes HALF and HALF) with planet earth. For every single penny we take as platform fees, we give half to environmental charities. Not 1% of profits, not greenwashing, tree planting or vague promises. A rock solid, no-messing, 50% of all fee revenue going directly to environmental organisations that are fighting for the future of our beautiful home planet.

images of nature and images of parties with words "party for the planet" flashing on centre of images in neon yellow

Party for the planet.

At Patchwork, we love parties, and we want to have a planet to party on forever. So now, whatever you use Patchwork to celebrate you’ll be helping keep our planet in better shape for future party people. Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, a baby shower, a big birthday, a new business or anything else you can think of it’s a total win / win. You get to organise the best present or party ever, and enjoy getting friends together to help you with all the things you really want and need. And you can feel good knowing you’re giving back to the planet at the same time. This really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Image of a forest from above with words '50/50 - Patchwork gives 50% of our fees to environmental charities' three charity logos are underneath: Friends of the Earth, Survival International and Client Earth.

Who we support.

We’ve been working on our new business model in secret for a while now, and a big part of the process was deciding which environmental charities we wanted to partner with. We couldn’t be happier, prouder or more excited to be partnering with three absolutely amazing organisations:

ClientEarth – using the power of law to hold corporations and governments to account and drive systemic change to protect the planet and all that inhabit it.

Friends of the Earth – combining environmental research and public awareness campaigns to put pressure on governments to commit to genuine climate action.

Survival International – working with Indigenous peoples to defend human rights, protect sacred land and share wisdom from the ‘world’s best conservationists’ about how to live in harmony with nature.

Their commitment and dedication to planet earth and all its inhabitants are inspirational. The successes that they’ve had to date are also hugely motivating for us, and we hope for you too.

So from now, every time someone signs up to use Patchwork for a present, a project or a party, 50% of our platform fee will go direct to one of these three charities.

It’s not the least we can do – it’s the MOST we can do; and we’re doing it.

clouds with sunlight reflecting on them and the words It's the most we can do. the word 'least' is before the word 'most' but is crossed out

Two ways to pay – two ways to protect our home planet.

There are two simple payment options when you use Patchwork for any occasion. The first option is our single one-off fee of £50 (£25 of which goes directly to the charity of your choice). This option is best suited if you’re using Patchwork for a honeymoon fund or wedding registry and need a fairly long lead time of more than 8 months. It also means your charity of choice gets an upfront donation so your money can get to work straight away.

Our other option is a monthly subscription of just £6 per month with your first month free (£3 of that goes to your choice of charity every month). A subscription works best if your event has a shorter lead time or if you plan on using Patchwork on more than one occasion. It also means the charity of your choice gets a regular monthly donation to keep on doing the important work that’s needed.

Whichever you choose, you’ll not only be enjoying using the best registry / honeymoon fund / group gift platform in the world ever, you’ll also get that extra feel-good knowing your money is doing incredible things. Double joy.

small planet earth seen from space, in middle of starry sky, with small arrow pointing towards it and the words 'she's our boss' underneath

Don’t snatch, share

It’s one of Patchwork’s founding principles and the first piece of advice we were given as kids. And the motto our Nan taught us to live by: ‘Don’t snatch, share’.

Life is not about what we have, own or take; it’s about what we give, share and how we support one another. Both in the good times and the not so good times. It’s one of the things people love most about Patchwork, the way it brings people together, to pool resources and share talents. To allow people to give generously in a way that involves everyone, and excludes no-one. Where time and skill and love are valued as much or even more than monetary gifts. Using Patchwork not only makes everyone feel good, it means we can best use the resources we already have, consume waste less and protect our planet more.

changing images of people sharing things with words "Don't snatch share" on screen in neon yellow

Join us

One of the most unexpected and wonderful things we’ve experienced from a business point of view has been this sense of sharing, inclusion and generosity from our industry friends. Small businesses that have rallied round each other, stuck together and supported each other through the many ups and downs of the last few years. We know we are stronger when we work together and collaborate. As we move forwards and explore what business unusual might look like, we hope as many of our friends and colleagues will join and support us in doing ALL we can. The planet needs us to. We wouldn’t have got this far without their amazing support and we won’t be able to make this a success without your support.

So please share this news, spread the word and show your love, and together, we can make something really amazing happen – for all of us.

Follow us on Insta, sign up to our newsletter, or start celebrating with a Patchwork of your own!

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Graphic from VOW for Girls campaign with text reading "Stop the clock. Start a new future for girls." On red background with image of teenage black girl on left hand side
Patchwork Perspective

Support VOW for Girls to end child marriage

by Rosie Hurwitz
written by Rosie Hurwitz

Every 3 seconds, a child becomes a bride. Stop the clock. Start a new future for girls. Patchwork are proud to be supporting VOW for Girls, a growing global movement that partners with brands, individuals, and the wedding industry to end the international child marriage crisis. Read on to find out how you can help.

Graphic from VOW for Girls campaign with text reading "every three seconds a child becomes a bride." On green background

Every Three Seconds

This year, International Day Of the Girl on October 11th is more important than ever. Child marriage is still a crisis, with girls as young as 8 being married every 3 seconds. Join us for International Day of the Girl as we raise funds and awareness to ensure no child is ever a bride.

“Every girl should be able to choose love on her own terms. VOW for Girls was inspired by love and working together. We can create a world in which no child is ever a bride.” Mabel van Oranje. Board Chair and VOW Co-Founder.

Graphic from VOW for Girls campaign with text reading "Girls everywhere deserve to dream." On pink background with two images of girls to either side

Girls Everywhere Deserve to Dream

We dream of a future where girls everywhere have a chance to choose the life they want. Let’s end the child marriage crisis and give girls around the world the support they need to succeed. By funding education so girls can stay in school is just one way WOW for Girls is helping end the child marriage crisis. Whatever the amount, your gift makes a direct impact on the lives of girls across the globe. £35 can pay the enrolment fees for a girl to attend school for one year.

Graphic from VOW for Girls campaign with text reading "A girl who gets an education can live her life easily everywhere and can make her future bright." On pink background with image of girl on left hand side

Mina

For International Day of the Girl, VOW for Girls asked girls from countries where child marriage is prevalent, “What makes a girl successful?” Mina from Nepal told them, “Education is a must. “VOW for Girls works with girls like Mina in communities around the world through education initiatives and other efforts that help girls realise their dreams. Together we can stop the clock on child marriage.

A Patchwork "Give List" wedding registry displayed in an ipad

Your wedding day can make a big difference

1 in 5 girls in the world is married as a child. VOW was founded on the idea that celebrations of love can help make real change in the lives of girls around the world. If you’re planning a wedding you’ll probably have friends and family who want to gift you.

With Patchwork you can collect money for anything you’re dreaming of, including donations to good causes such as VOW. First, simply add a “fund” patch to your gift registry. Second, after all contributions have been collected, make your donation to VOW. This will help change girls’ lives in the most meaningful way. See our Wedding Give List template to set up your own unique wedding “give” list.

How to participate in the social media photo campaign

Between 4th – 11th October 2021 we’re asking you to join us and take part in the International Day of the Girl Campaign with VOW for Girls.

Step 1: Post a single Instagram post with a 2 photo carousel

  • Photo 1 – Post a photo of yourself as a child (or short video response to the prompt below)
  • Photo 2 – A “stop” hand selfie (see posing guide below)

Step 2: Respond to the prompt either in the caption or as a short video: What was your dream for your future when you were a child? Feel free to mention the age you are in the photo you are posting!

Step 3: Include this caption:

‘Every 3 seconds a child becomes a bride, but all girls deserve the chance to dream’. For #DayOfTheGirl, let’s stop the clock and start a new future for girls. I nominate [@instagramhandle] to #StopTheClock. For every like, comment, and share, you will unlock $1 from @justinalexander, @theknot, and a generous donor (up to $100K) to help start a new future for girls everywhere. #VOWForGirls #StopTheClock #EndChildMarriage’

(Make sure to use the hashtags #VOWForGirls, #DayOfTheGirl, and #StopTheClock and to tag @vowforgirls across social media channels.)

Justin Alexander, The Knot (a generous donor up to $100K), will unlock $1 for every like, comment and share. This makes your participation is even more meaningful. In addition, 100% of all funds raised go directly to underfunded but effective community-driven efforts to end child marriage.

Guide to posting selfies on VOW social media campaign

Thank you. Through your participation and advocacy, you’ll help us “Stop the Clock” on child marriage and ensure that every girl can choose love on her own terms and follow her dreams.

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Patchwork Perspective

New Business Showers: Wiggly Mirrors with Lotta Blobs

by Ellie Kime
written by Ellie Kime

For the final instalment of our blog series interviewing brilliant women business owners to celebrate the launch of our brand new business shower templates, we’re talking to the fantastically talented Shantelle, the creative genius behind Lotta Blobs. You’ll probably know Lotta Blobs if you’ve spent any time on instagram in the past year or so: her wavy sculpted mirrors have taken the world by storm, selling like hotcakes every time they’re released – and rightly so! With their aim of ‘adding some joy and colour to your reflection’, we love Lotta Blobs very much – and we also loved hearing how Shantelle’s first year of business has been.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Shantelle and I am the creator of Lotta Blobs, a small business I run part-time sculpting colourful wavy clay framed mirrors.

Tell us about the start of your business journey.

I began Lotta Blobs during the pandemic in 2020. I was on furlough and was interested in keeping active by working on different creative projects during my time off of work. I was particularly interested in working with my hands as a lot of my full-time job as a Graphic Designer is digital and I missed that element of creativity. After some time exploring different art forms I started working on the prototype of my blob frame from some clay I had laying around and that is how Lotta Blobs was born!

What do you wish you’d known when you were starting out?

I wish I’d known that stressing out about everything doesn’t solve anything so you should just relax!

What’s the one (physical) thing you wish you’d had when you started out?

A bigger desk to work from! For so long I was working on a tiny desk and didn’t invest in a bigger one until months after running Lotta Blobs as I didn’t know how long I’d be going for and just didn’t think I deserved one! I finally invested in one and it makes a world of a difference. Now I just need to treat myself to a comfy desk chair!

What’s the one thing you wish you’d asked for help with?

I struggle a lot with asking for help as I don’t like feeling needy and I’m a bit of a perfectionist! However, I’ve learnt to pass on small jobs to friends and family to give me time to focus on the bigger jobs on hand and prevent me from overworking myself.

What’s your next business milestone coming up and how will you be celebrating?

Lotta Blobs is turning 1 in September! I can’t quite believe it! I’d like to celebrate the milestone by going self-employed and getting a studio. I’ll also be treating myself to a colourful blob themed birthday cake!

What’s your one piece of advice for someone starting a business?

Just be original and your creativity will come naturally!

Thank you so much Shantelle for chatting to us about the Lotta Blobs journey so far – if you want to cop your own Lotta Blobs mirror you can do so on her website. Make sure you’re following her on instagram too, so you can be notified of the next drop. Plus, if you’re feeling inspired to start your own business, you can check out our new business shower templates here.

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Patchwork Perspective

New Business Shower: How to Confidently Ask For What You Want

by Ellie Kime
written by Ellie Kime

Our ethos at Patchwork is about getting the things you really crave – and a major part of this is actually being able to ask for what you want. That’s why we’re so thrilled to be talking to Tiwalowla Ogunlesi, life coach and founder of Confident and Killing It, on the blog today, as part of our series interviewing women in business to celebrate our new business shower templates.

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Tiwalola Ogunlesi, I’m a life coach specialising in positive psychology, international speaker, podcast host and the founder of Confident and Killing It. After struggling with self-doubt and a very negative mind as a teenager, I’m now on a mission to help women and girls love and believe in themselves. Making a positive impact in the world, showing up as my true authentic self and prioritising my wellbeing are things that I really value in life. When it comes to my personality, I like to say if Oprah and Beyoncé got together and had a baby, I would be the result of that powerful combination.

My business Confident and Killing It is a purpose driven organisation that wakes women up to their worth so they can be confident, unstoppable and dare to live the life they truly desire. Through engaging workshops, coaching sessions, podcasts and community meet ups, I equip women with the tools they need to overcome fear and self-doubt, programme their minds for success and take action in life. Since starting in 2017 I’ve upskilled thousands of women all over the world and delivered engaging experiences for brands/organisations such as Google, Facebook, The Times, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, UN Women UK, and The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.

Tell us about the start of your business journey.

In 2015, months into that first job after university, I felt a bit lost and unfulfilled. I was working in an industry I was not passionate about and it began to affect my mental health. There was deep unfulfillment that came from being stuck in a job I hated. In the back of my mind, I knew there had to be more to my life than living on autopilot.

In a search for a more fulfilling life, I began volunteering as a Youth Leader with a group of twenty 15 year old girls. As I was mentoring these girls, I realised they all had the same issues I had as a teen. And then it struck me – there’s this generational cycle of low self esteem in women and girls and something had to be done about it.

I started my self-love journey at 21 and I saw the immediate impact it had in my life. I got access to so much love, peace, joy and CONFIDENCE that I wanted every woman and girl to have access to that same power that comes from believing in yourself and owning your story. I started off making inspirational videos on instagram for about a year and when I saw how valuable people found it, I started putting on community events in different countries and then a movement was born.

Tiwa is stood in front of a projector screen delivering a presentation.

Fast forward to December 2019, I made the big decision to quit my day job to run Confident and Killing It full-time. My original business plan was to run in person workshops with organisations and personal coaching for women in my community. When I left my job, I had no bookings or clients lined up but I gave myself 3 months to build my reputation and secure the bag. Things were going well until March happened, lockdown happened, and everything got cancelled.

I started getting cancellation email after cancellation email after cancellation email. People were just nervous and scared. No one knew how this was gonna play out. And so every single thing I had booked got cancelled. I had quit my full time job with three months worth of savings and I was quickly coming to the end of my savings. March was meant to be one of my busiest months ever, with International Women’s Day coming up, but everything got cancelled. And I really hit rock bottom. At that point I was like, “What am I supposed to do now? Do I get another job? Is this the end? Am I a failure?”

But because of all the work I have been doing on my mindset when I hit rock bottom I knew the only way out was up. So I said “People can cancel my opportunities but they can’t cancel my creativity and my hard work.” In the midst of all that uncertainty I said 2020 was the year I’m going to see the most growth in my business and that’s exactly what happened. I put a note on my vision board that said “Whatever goes down, must come back up, I am unstoppable.” So I decided to put on a free webinar series called Killing It As An Entrepreneur where every Sunday in lockdown I held panel discussions with entrepreneurs to talk about everything from wellness to money to personal brand. I started it because I was an entrepreneur and I was freaking out, so I knew there would be others out there feeling the same and I wanted to support them.

Killing It As An Entrepreneur exploded the brand. I had thousands of women join from all over the world. Someone in the Philippines even stayed up to attend at 3am. I’d never had numbers like that before at an event. Some of these women then started recommending me to their companies which led to corporate bookings. So in 2020 I gained about 10k new followers and worked with the world’s biggest companies and brands like Google, Facebook, Deloitte, Tiktok, Depop, UN Women and others simply because I refused to let my circumstances dictate my future and decided to bet on myself and create my own opportunities.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

I’ve learnt it’s so important to reset and ask yourself: am I living at my own pace? Or am I just trying to keep up with the rest of society? The work does not stop and burnout is real. I didn’t think you could burn out doing work you love but you absolutely can. So I wish I had known that it’s ok to go slower and decide for yourself how you want to live your life, what rules you want to live by, what pace you go at and then be unapologetic about it. I also wish I had defined success on my own terms a little earlier. For the longest time I was obsessing over numbers and comparing my growth to similar brands. That made me miserable. But now I know success isn’t about numbers, it’s about liking who you are, liking what you do and liking how you do it, as Maya Angelou once said.

Tiwa, a black lady in a pink blazer and jeans, stands smiling in front of a group of women.

What’s the one physical thing you wish you’d had when you started out?

I wish I had a cuter work space. I’m someone who is really inspired by an aesthetically pleasing environment and so beautiful offices and workspaces really motivate me to dream bigger.

What’s the one thing you wished you’d asked for help with?

I wish I had asked for help with the admin and logistics side of my business. I’m a very organised person so I tend to just do things myself because it’s quicker than teaching and explaining it to someone else but before I knew it I was doing finances, email creation and scheduling, social media content creation, running workshops, coaching clients, hosting events ALL by myself. That came with an immense amount of pressure and burnout. Ever since I hired Ruth, my amazing virtual assistant, it’s taken so much pressure off me and I’m getting better at delegating tasks and going at a more comfortable pace.

A group of event attendees are sat clapping.

Why are we scared to celebrate ourselves?

There’s 3 main things that come to mind, firstly I think society has created negative connotations around celebrating ourselves. We’re often sold a lie that we should be humble and put our heads down and let our work do the talking. So we grow up seeing celebration as arrogant or boastful when it really isn’t.

Another reason why people are scared to celebrate themselves is due to the deeply ingrained self-doubt where they believe they are not good enough or they don’t measure up to the people around them. When you feel like everyone else is better than you, you often feel you aren’t worthy of a celebration because there’s nothing significant about what you’ve done.

And finally many people don’t actually know how to celebrate themselves. We live in a society that celebrates hustle culture and so people don’t actually know how to pause, reflect and appreciate the journey that they’ve been on. They are constantly striving for one goal or the other and forget to take a moment to appreciate themselves.

Why is it important we celebrate ourselves?

It’s actually scientifically proven that when you own your accomplishments, and you celebrate yourself, you actually programme your mind to be more positive. It makes you feel more confident and optimistic about the future. You remember all the times you’ve been killing it more than the times where you’ve made mistakes, or you failed at something and that motivates you to keep going. Also when comparison and imposter syndrome creeps in it’s important to remember all your key achievements so you can challenge that voice that tells you you’re a fraud.

I love celebrating myself and I use my Monthly Wins Tracker which is a free tool on my website to keep track of both my small wins and big wins. If I do something good that I’m proud of, I will celebrate myself because I am always worthy of a celebration. Period. People always tell me that my joy and confidence are infectious and that’s because I am unapologetic about shining my light and celebrating myself. When I show up in that way it inspires another person to also celebrate themselves. So celebration doesn’t always have to be arrogant. When I win another woman also wins because she can look at me and go if Tiwalola can do it, I can do it too. It’s not bragging if it’s based on facts so if you did it…OWN IT!

Tiwa and 4 other women are sat on stairs in silky slip dresses.

What’s your next business milestone coming up and how will you be celebrating?

I usually don’t need a milestone to celebrate myself, I’ll celebrate for absolutely any reason. Signed on a new client? I’m off to brunch, hosted a successful event? I’m booking a massage haha. But my next big milestone is launching The Confident and Killing It Academy which will be a private club for members to learn, get coaching and build community. I will most definitely be celebrating that by booking a very relaxing holiday for myself.

Thank you Tiwalowla for taking the time to chat, for all the amazing work you do, and also, for the most brilliant sentence we think we’ve ever read (about being Beyoncé and Oprah’s baby.) Make sure you’re following Tiwalowla here and Confident and Killing It here. And if you’ve been inspired to create a patchwork of your own to celebrate your new business, you can check out our collection of templates here.

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Patchwork Perspective

TEDx speaker Sonya Barlow on the importance of diverse leadership

by Ellie Kime
written by Ellie Kime

Our new business shower templates are the perfect way to commemorate and celebrate the launch of new businesses – if we do say so ourselves – and who better to celebrate with than the women in business we admire? (And yes, that includes you!) We spoke to Sonya Barlow, an award-winning entrepreneur, TEDxSpeaker, diversity coach and much more, about what it takes to set a business up, and what advice she has for people venturing into it. You can read her brilliant advice below!

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Sonya Barlow, and I am a Pakistani British woman with a tech background. I am an award-winning entrepreneur, TEDxSpeaker, diversity coach, author, and recent host of ‘The Everyday Hustle’ show on BBC Asian Network.

I am also the founder of LMF Network, a social enterprise that is enabling and empowering women and underrepresented groups. LMF is also helping businesses build diversity and inclusion strategies.

Tell us about the start of your business journey.

My business journey started with LMF Network, then Like Minded Females, as a side hustle while working full-time as a senior consultant in the technology industry. I was always interested in all things related to diversity, inclusion and equity.

My experiences as a South Asian woman in the tech sector impacted me. They made me realise I wanted to go beyond creating a space for women and people from diverse backgrounds to connect and share experiences.

I wanted to make a social impact and encourage inclusion and diversity in workplaces. So I left the corporate world, and that’s how the ‘business’ or consulting aspect of LMF Network – and later on, my own business – started to take shape.

First, I started by providing empowering workshops for the LMF community. But I realised that companies were in real need of business, diversity and inclusion services. So I began offering workshops and learning opportunities for companies as a diversity coach.

Now, I can proudly say that I have launched my own business and diversity consultancy.

Sonya stands in front of a presentation screen in a black buttoned top and blue trousers.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

I would have loved to know the true meaning of the word resilience and what success really is.

It took me some time to change the way I saw failure. At first, a setback made me think I was not doing enough or I wouldn’t achieve my goals. But, now I see failure as nothing but a temporary disruptor that forces you to learn and adapt.

On the other hand, I have also reframed the definition of success. It has nothing to do with a job title. It is about being the most truthful version of yourself and being true to your calling and mission, whether that is championing a cause within an organisation or starting your own business.

What’s the one physical thing you wish you’d had when you started out?

Does a team of passionate people count? Across the years, I have found how incredibly important to surround yourself with people that share your same vision because you can all thrive together.

LMF Network grew because of a network of amazing volunteers who put their extra time into growing and supporting the community. And, now, LMF’s consulting branch is growing because of having teammates that are working towards encouraging businesses to make a fundamental change in their workplace.

What’s the one thing you wish you’d asked for help with?

How to navigate the corporate world. I first experienced this when I finished university and then again when I started my own business. It is one thing no one teaches you at school, and having that knowledge can ease – to some extent – your immersion into your first job.

In my case, I learned it the hard way. From negotiating pay rises to dealing with workplace toxicity and bad managers, these are skills that are essential for your personal and career development because they can impact your confidence and sense of self.

That is why I have tried to give others the stepping stone I didn’t have. For example, at LMF, we provide career and personal skills workshops, and we have a mentoring programme, the largest virtual mentoring scheme in the UK. These initiative help bridge the skills gap for our diverse community.

An open-plan meeting room with floor-to-ceiling windows and pink bucket chairs.

What’s your one piece of advice for someone starting a business?

My main piece of advice is to make failure your best friend.

The reality of starting a business is that at some point, you will fail, you will suffer a setback, or you will have to rethink your approach to your vision. Unfortunately, that is constant and unavoidable.

But instead of focusing on the negative aspects, you need to learn to use those challenges as opportunities and ask yourself: ‘What did I do’ and ‘What can I do differently?’

You always have to stay focused on your vision and what comes next. Sometimes you will have to just roll with the punches, and some other times you will have to take a step back and start again.

But, the good news is that you won’t start from zero. Instead, you will begin from experience.

Sonya is smiling in front of a computer screen and laptop displaying her website.

What’s your next business milestone coming up and how will you be celebrating?

My next business milestone is to grow the consulting business side of LMF Network, and I already took the first step.

My first move was to bring on a global team, including a communications lead, project manager and outreach intern. It was important for me to make sure that my team members were remote and identified themselves as part of diverse backgrounds to ensure that our mission and our practice was reflected within our team.

I believe that when you are an entrepreneur, you celebrate the small and the big things, from signing a contract with a new client to sending that one email. So when there are important news and updates, I make sure I bring everyone into the conversation.

Though I do admit that when there is a significant milestone or great news, I do three things: 1) celebrate with my team, 2) go for a walk, and 3) remind myself that the journey I took to entrepreneurship – the hardships and the failures – were definitely worth it.

Thank you so much Sonya for your brilliant advice! If you want to see/hear/read/digest more from Sonya, you can find her on instagram @sonyabarlowuk, and on her website. If you want to make your own new business shower patchwork, you can find loads of templates to kickstart you here!

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Patchwork Perspective

New Business Showers: Self-trust as a business owner

by Ellie Kime
written by Ellie Kime

Continuing our series of interviewing inspiring women to celebrate the launch of our new business shower templates (and hopefully inspire you to host a new business shower of your own!) we’re today chatting to the brilliant Sasha Glasgow, founder of Frank+Feel. She writes and shares beautifully on the themes of life, self-doubt, and self-trust, which all seem especially relevant for the journey of setting up your business! We chatted to Sasha about what she’s learnt in her first year of lockdown, and what we can all take away from that…

Who are you + what do you do?

My name is Sasha and I’m a freelance creative writer. I write under the personal brand, Frank+Feel, about life, self-doubt and self-trust. I combine my love of words and concrete belief that women can do through doubt, by treating myself as somewhat of a working example. I make the stuff that usually sits behind the scenes, very much a central part of my business story and offering. I do this through what I call RemindHers – words to remind women of what has always been there. And I bring them to my audience through my writing, journalling workshops, podcast, and freelance role as a content and community coach.

Tell us about the start of your business journey.

My business journey started at the beginning of 2020, when I think I frustrated myself into action, really. I had written in some guise since the age of eight, but never called myself a writer. At the start of 2020, I still didn’t. Initially, I created Frank+Feel because I wanted to start a candle brand and wedge words in there somewhere, but it quickly became apparent that the words wouldn’t and shouldn’t be pushed to the periphery.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

That every time you follow your curiosity (even if you don’t know where it will lead, and you constantly question your why), it will lead you a little closer to where you’re meant to be. You don’t have to know. You just have to start.

a laptop sits atop a laptop stand

What’s the one (physical) thing you wish you’d had when you started out?

The right stands, lighting and apparatus to assist with lives. I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve attached my phone to tin cans for lives, or had some very interesting set ups to ensure my laptop was at the right height and you could see me.

What’s the one thing you wish you’d asked for help with?

All the stuff to do with tax and whether I should register as a sole trader or limited company. I’m clearer on it now, but I’m still figuring it out.

Why is it important that we celebrate ourselves?

Because if not us, then who? It feels like a trait of Britishness to excel at self-deprecation. So much so, that we immediately diminish any compliment received or milestone reached. We think it’s a great show of humility, but sometimes I feel we lean so far that way that it actually does more harm than good. We push down the things that we do as small and surprise, surprise, never feel like we’re doing enough. I think it’s also dangerous to rely on compliments and celebrations (you know, the ones we bat away anyway) to come solely from somewhere outside of yourself, because what if those plaudits don’t come, one day? I refuse to hold celebration at arms length from myself like that any more – only celebrating myself when I’m celebrated by others.

What’s your next business milestone and how will you be celebrating?

I think that’ll be bringing out some physical products with my words on. I’ve done things in collaboration with others, but this will be all me. I’ll likely celebrate with some kind of letterbox sweet treat and happy tears of pride.

a paper box filled with tissue paper and 8 gooey stuffed brownies

You can find more of Sasha’s brilliant words on her website, on instagram @frankandfeel, and on her podcast This Is Your RemindHer. And if you’ve been inspired to set up your own Patchwork to celebrate your new business shower, you can find some templates here, or get started from scratch here.

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Patchwork Perspective

New Business Showers: Becoming a Candlemaker

by Ellie Kime
written by Ellie Kime

2020 was the year of, among other things, the pivot – with new businesses being born left, right and centre as people had to find alternative ways to make a living. (In fact, it’s exactly for this reason that we’ve created our new business shower templates – because we think setting up a new business is a milestone worth celebrating!) One such brilliant pivot was from wedding and events designer Callie Pettigrew, who founded playful candle brand Studio Dine at the back end of last year. In between drooling over her block colour candles, we asked her what it was like setting up shop in 2020, and what new business life looks for her currently…

Who are you and what do you do?

Hello! I’m Callie – A creative event stylist & designer for modern, style-conscious brands & individuals. I also founded Studio dine at the end of 2020 – Currently a playful candle brand, but soon to be a one-stop shop for modern dining.

Tell us about the start of your business journey.

Last year during Lockdown when my event styling work came to a standstill due to Covid, I decided to start Studio dine. Always on the hunt for exciting tableware and props, I thought, why not make my own, starting with a range of playful dinner candles perfect for adding some personality to interiors, or making those tablescapes extra special. I’d always wanted to do it, and Lockdown 2.0 was the perfect time! It gave me the space to experiment in a non-pressured way and just see where it took me.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

That running a product based business is TOTALLY different to the service based biz I’m used to. There are so many more risks and upfront costs involved in order to get started that I hadn’t fully considered – Materials, packaging, TIME. It’s all consuming and a lot of work.

What’s the one (physical) thing you wish you’d had when you started out?

A label printer – Still don’t have one but OH the time it would save.

What’s the one thing you wished you’d asked for help with?

It’s still very early days for me. From the get-go people loved what I was creating, so it really took off quite quickly, but actually it’s only now I’m really starting to think about outsourcing and how others can help me to grow the business. I’m lucky that I have an amazing community of business pals around me that are always up for giving me opinions or answering questions. It’s so important to have those people around you who just get it. Now that I’ve built the foundations myself, I’m all for asking for help from experts – I have big plans so stay tuned!

lilac background with 3 taper candles with tie-dye peach and purple effect

Who are the people that helped you the most in the early days?

Like I said, surrounding myself with pals who were really supportive, were there to answer my questions, listen to my ideas, and cheer me on was and always is totally invaluable when you run your own business. It’s so easy to get in your own head when you work alone 95% of the time so it’s important to check in with other humans every once in a while! Also shoutout to my fiancé Sam! Whether it was packing orders or washing up candle moulds (THE WORST PART) he’s always there to help. I still make the candles from our kitchen so his patience with me is greatly appreciated too!

Why is it important we celebrate ourselves?

BECAUSE WE’RE AMAZING. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day (I know I do it!) but we totally deserve to take a step back and recognise all the incredible things we’re doing. Running a business is NOT easy so I find taking a moment every so often to look at what I’m doing and celebrate the wins (however small) is a great way to build up confidence!

What’s your next business milestone coming up, and how will you be celebrating?

6 months I guess? When you’re so busy working in your business it’s easy to forget to celebrate these little milestones, but no milestone is too small. I’ll definitely be having a drink to celebrate and look back on what I’ve achieved so far!

You can check out Callie’s gorgeous candles here, and follow her on instagram @studiodine. And if you fancy making your own new business shower template to celebrate your pivot, you can do that here!

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Patchwork Perspective

New Business Shower: Setting up as a photographer

by Ellie Kime
written by Ellie Kime

Sometimes, you’re not starting a new business from scratch. Sometimes, you’re starting a new business with one already under your wing. This is what the uber-talented Leesha Williams (from Onyx Branding Company) did this January, when she set up a sister brand to her wedding photography business. As part of our series celebrating our new business shower templates (which help you throw – you guessed it – new business showers to celebrate setting up a – you guessed it again – new business), we asked Leesha about the highs and lows of setting up a new business; what she’s done differently this time, and what she’d perhaps do differently again.

Who are you and what do you do?

Hi I’m Leesha, I’m a portrait and product photographer based in the midlands! I own Onyx Branding Co. a female owned branding and product photography business helping small indie businesses elevate their photography content. As a black owned business, I have a special focus on helping other black/brown owned businesses.

Tell us about the start of your business journey.

Onyx really started in lockdown. I usually work as a wedding and event photographer but because of COVID-19 we weren’t able to photograph any weddings. After the events last June and the rise in the Black Lives Matter movement, I began to realise that like me, other Black/Brown owned businesses didn’t feel as if they had a safe space to create and be their true authentic selves, especially in the creative industry. I’ve worked as a wedding photographer for the past few years, but lockdown meant that both my business and income disappeared almost overnight.

a flatlay of a patterned eye pillow next too a corn husk and a book.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

So one thing I really wished I’d known before starting out is that running your own photography business or any creative business for that matter is that you really only spend about 30% of your time doing your actual job. The rest is spent wearing all of the other hats! I never planned on working in the photography industry in the way that I do now so I wish I’d done more research in the beginning because for businesses to be successful, you do have to run them like a business so that includes all of the admin, marketing and everything else that goes along with it!

What’s the one (physical) thing you wish you’d had when you were starting out?

One physical thing I wish I had when starting out would definitely have been a good working laptop for editing! When I started out photographing weddings and events, I never dreamed that it would’ve been my full time career. This meant I didn’t necessarily invest in anything early on, so now having a computer solely for editing has increased my productivity so much!

What I would say to anyone wanting to start a photography business is to get to know your equipment and what you have first though and get good at using that. Having the right equipment does help but you don’t need fancy equipment to make you better at your job, your equipment should grow with your business.

What’s the one thing you wished you’d asked for help with?

If there was one thing I really wish I’d asked for help when starting my business it probably would have been help from someone with admin, time management and prioritising tasks. Running the two businesses simultaneously can get quite overwhelming so I find that I can often get burnt out easily!

Being a creative person also means that I can get distracted very easily so I find that having someone like a virtual assistant or even just coworking with a friend or a really good organiser system like Trello super helpful for my business and for staying on track with tasks.

A flatlay of two lilac-covered tins reading EBONI.

Who are the people that helped you most in the early days?

My friends and family were so helpful in the beginning, I’ve been lucky in that everyone has always been really supportive, sometime working in a creative industry or opening a small business, you don’t always get the support you need or people think that it’s “just a side hustle” or it’s not a “real job” so if you’re ever feeling that way, my advice would be to try and find online groups or communities for other like minded businesses or networking events. Being around other people who are in your industry is such an amazing thing because they understand what you’re going through.

What’s your next business milestone coming up and how will you be celebrating?

I’m very goal orientated so every year I like to write down a set of goals for each business and how I can achieve them, I like to set myself some goals that I definitely must do and then also a set that would be amazing to achieve with a little action plan on how I can go about doing it. If you’re like me and you like to work towards specific goals, I find that way works really well and you can print them off and put them in your office/workspace.

Onyx was only launched in January and it’s been crazy since then so my next milestone for Onyx is to gain five repeat clients before the end of the summer. It doesn’t sound like a lot but because I have such a niche ideal client that I want to work with, I think it’s achievable and will still allow me to focus on my other business goals as well.

Thank you so much Leesha! To check out Leesha’s branding work head to Onyx Branding Co.; to see her wedding photography you can head here. And if you’ve been inspired to throw a new business shower, firstly: congratulations! and secondly: you can find loads of templates and inspiration here.

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