With a gorgeous array of uplifting products, from cards and prints to homewares and accessories, this week’s Friday Feature is non other than the lovely Kate from DaphneRosa. Kate’s background in textiles plays a big part in the design of her creations, with colour, pattern, and texture, all bringing her products to life. She’s become particularly well known for her wooden flowers and the option to add a personalised touch.
Let’s get to know more about the wonderful woman behind the creative small business…
Absolutely! Being creative isn’t an option for me, it’s a necessity and if it wasn’t a part of my job it would always be a part of my life. In a state of ‘play’ you are physically unable to think about anything else so being creative is not only how I pay the bills but a way to improve my mental health too. I always try to have a creative project on the go that isn’t work related too because creating for others and being creative just for my own enjoyment is also very different!
Yes. My nan looked after us before and after school and she was my creative inspiration from a very early age. She did everything from cross stitch to salt dough, sewing, knitting, the list goes on and she taught me how to be creative. She was never worried about it being perfect and allowed me to experience a huge range of ways of being creative and it just never stopped from there! The business was named after her, for this reason, and I love that she is still a part of things every day.
I was a Textiles teacher in secondary school but always knew I wanted to do my own thing. I started the business while still teaching, then went part time for a short period to see if I could get the business to a point that was sustainable and that was over 10 years ago now and I haven’t gone back! It definitely worked for me to take it slowly to lessen the risk and the pressure by doing it gradually.
You don’t need to know everything and you can do this! I know that self doubt has been the biggest thing that has held me back in my business, and is something I am still working on! So I would love to go back and tell myself that I am capable, it is possible and that I will achieve things that at the very beginning I could only have dreamt of.
I have always been told, from school to when I was a teacher and beyond that I have high expectations of myself and always strive to do everything to the best of my ability. I’ll be honest that this has had its pros and cons. It means that I am driven and dedicated to succeeding in what I set my mind to but it also means I have probably put unnecessary pressure on myself at times! The biggest lesson for me has been that there is no rule book to running your own business, everyone is constantly learning and I’m no exception so it’s ok when things don’t go exactly to plan.
So many! As mentioned before, self doubt is my biggest enemy running the business, being the only one to make all the decisions and not knowing if they’re the right ones. So I don’t know if I can recall one wobble but more multiple wobbles everyday! From everything from cash flow to stock management to new designs, the list goes on. I recently started working with a mentor and one of the biggest things I noticed was the change in my outlook receiving some confirmation from them that I did know what I was doing, I did have good ideas and the potential to achieve my goals. I guess we all need a little validation every now and then.
Messily! I do like to have a plan and structure for the week as running the business around 3 small boys who have varying school days, clubs, social activities etc. is a challenge! So I try to sit down on a Sunday and create a rough plan for what needs doing the following week and how that might look. But I am also conscious that I need to be flexible because no week is ever the same and the more I can go with the flow the easier everything is for everyone.
It means I can work around my family, provide financially but also be there physically and emotionally when it’s needed. It means I get to do a job that I love and inspire my children and maybe others that pursuing this way of working is not only possible but profitable! It means empowering myself to believe in my capabilities and strive for more in a world that often tells women to do the opposite and it means I get to be a part of the most fabulous community that I couldn’t live without now.
At the moment my biggest wish is that the business continues to grow and that I manage to achieve at least some of the goals I have set for this year. The aim is for the business to give me back a little more time with my little ones while they are still small but to grow at the same time and be able to enable me to tick off some personal goals too, such as more travel and experiences with them.
Development, for me and the business. Having seen first hand last year the impact of having a mentor and receiving some coaching has had, it would be the first thing I spent some money on if it landed in my lap! Also outsourcing processes to others who are more skilled and equipped to do them. As soon as I started outsourcing things like my photography for example, I could see what an impact it had, not only on improving the photography for my products, but to release the pressure on myself to have to do jobs I wasn’t very good at!
It’s no wonder really, that Kate has such an amazing range of products… with diverse creativity having been a part of her life since a young age and right through to an adult. It’s so lovely to see a creative be able to follow their heart and make what brings them joy, and in turn bring joy to others!
If you’re also a fan of Kate’s creations, you can find them on her website: daphnerosa.com. And she’s well worth a follow on Instagram for some lovely behind the scenes content: @daphnerosaflowers.
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