Cocktails & Chat | Meet the Maker

Jeweller Chelle Mullen of Storm and Grace and I chatted about all things jewellery, business, horses (and cats and raccoons), eco-consciousness, and gin. Highlights include: 1:05 – Introducing Chelle3:07 – Tonight’s cocktail – Horse’s Neck4:13 – Who is Chelle, what does she do, and how did she get started?5:59 – The joy of running her own business6:35 – Top tip for jewellery care7:45 – A common myth about jewellery making8:31 – How do you go from a lump of silver out of the ground to a ring?10:14 – Chelle’s most underrated tool in the workshop12:03 – More of Chelle’s thoughts on starting and running her own business15:15 – Top choice for outsourcing16:38 – Chelle’s horses (and one semi-tame squirrel)20:27 – Inspiration for new makes and how the commissioning process works22:19 – Our favourite pieces24:47 – Chelle’s top tip for planning without overwhelm27:03 – Top tip for an easy way to begin being eco-conscious in your business28:29 – Music that gets us pumped up and going29:58 – It’s okay to be yourself!32:12 – Chelle’s upcoming plans and where to find her online33:29 – How do you know when a work is finished? Chelle's Website:  Chelle's Instagram:   Resources mentioned:  The Design Trust planner:  Alex Boyé's music: Hourly on Twitter: is part of my community-building 🥂 Cocktails & Chat podcast and Instagram Live series. The idea is to kick back, relax, get to know your fellow makers, and realise you're not alone. 🤝 For more community, join my Facebook group Handmade Business Club UK: show notes:  Send in a voice message:

Krista of Crystabelles and I had a lovely chat about all things candles, business, community, and a little bit about weddings! She makes exquisitely scented luxury soy wax candles with crystals. She carefully matches each scent to a crystal so they work together in perfect harmony.   2:02 - Why are they called cocktails? 3:23 - Introducing Krista 6:22 - Why candles & crystals? 8:12 - Parrafin wax vs soy wax - candle science! 13:20 - A candle's top notes, middle notes, and base notes - more candle science! 15:51 - The attraction of running her own business 17:23 - Krista's goals & plans for 2022 19:26 - Translating abstract concepts into scents 20:35 - The surprising requirements for legal and quality candlemaking 22:57 - Finding non-toxic scents for personal candlemaking 25:13 - Krista's favourite and least favourite parts of running a handmade business 28:23 - Favourite crystals and organising them 31:08 - Krista's wedding excitement 33:05 - Favourite places 34:06 - The importance of a network of business buddies 36:26 - Podcasts for entrepreneurs 36:55 - Krista's exciting new plans! 38:37 - How do you know when a work is finished?   Website   Instagram   Facebook   Entrepreneurs Growth Club Podcast:   Entrepreneurs Growth Club Facebook Group:   It was so nice to chat about all things business with a fellow entrepreneur; it was world-changing for me when I found Entrepreneur Land and started spending time around others who get the back story and context without my having to explain it. This series is part of my effort to build a community specifically for makers and artisans, so they get that same joy and sense of belonging. Do join in - with these live chats and with the Facebook group Handmade Business Club UK: you soon! Full show notes at Send in a voice message:

Listen to the Christmas episode of my new fortnightly Instagram Live podcast series! Christmas is all about family, so I chatted with my husband Chris, Technomage and hobby woodworker, about business, supporting someone in business, making, and Christmas over some favourite beverages. We both asked each other questions, so you get to know me a little in this episode, too. Chris has made some beautiful things in his woodworking adventures, which started some three decades ago. He carves, builds, turns, and more. In his day job, he works with computers. Highlights of this episode include: 1:21 - Introducing Chris4:13 - Introducing me (Sara-Jayne) and my business6:32 - The most rewarding and hardest parts of my business7:55 - A common myth about woodworking9:41 - Supporting a spouse who's running their own business11:38 - Our chosen superpowers13:41 - Chris' favourite woodworking tools15:38 - Fun books & films18:08 - Building a community of makers & artisans19:23 - Chris' current project21:02 - The legacies we hope to leave22:34 - Finishing a work Full show notes are at Send in a voice message:

Join Tori, Niki, and me for the first episode of Cocktails & Chat, a live podcast designed to promote community in the UK maker sector.   Tori Brewster is The Diaper Cake Diva, on Instagram @diapercakesbytori. She makes the most fantastic centrepieces and souvenirs for this special time in life. Many recipients of her work keep the outer frames as souvenirs after removing the diapers, and I can see why!   Niki Swinson is The Sweary Crystal Lady, on Instagram @magikal_echoes. She makes crystal grids, provides crystal healing, and facilitates several networking groups both in person and online. A woman of many talents!   Highlights of this episode include:  6:58 How Tori started on her journey to becoming The Diaper Cake Diva  9:13 How Niki started building her networking groups and how she pushed herself to do public speaking  14:45 Sara-Jayne's love of storytelling  16:35 Who we talk to when working through problems in our work  19:46 Some great resources that have helped us in our businesses  23:59 Our thoughts on advent calendars and Christmas sweets  31:56 Projects in the works: Tori's new Diaper Cake Diva Club, and Niki's new accredited courses on crystals and reiki 34:27 Crystals!  41:57 How to know when a work is finished   Tori's Instagram:   Tori's newsletter:   Niki's Instagram:   Niki's website:   Join us having a laugh and an honest discussion about the highs and challenges of business! This is part of my community-building 🥂 Cocktails & Chat Instagram Live series. The idea is to kick back, relax, get to know your fellow makers, and realise you're not alone. 🤝 For more community, join my Facebook group Handmade Business Club UK:⁠   Full show notes: Send in a voice message: