B& B DECEMBER
it’s DECEMBER Whaaat? It’s almost the end of the decade! How strange does it feel to say that? Reflecting on the last 10 years of my life and it’s insane to think what has happened. Have a think - what has happened in the last 10 years of your life? The good, the bad, the ugly (of course). I bet you’ve achieved so much. Every single person we meet through the Babe and Brand E-zine has a story to tell, and most of the time we make connections with strong, determined, independent business women who have learnt and are still learning what works best for their business. Both Liana and I started our small businesses this year, and obviously our little E-Zine, which came completely out of the blue but it’s slowly and surely building a strong community of people who appreciate eachothers creativity and hard work. Due to changes at Daintylaine where we have been hosted, we are now hosted over on ISSUU! Hopefully this works just as well for people but do let us know what you think? our E-mail is still bb@Daintylaine.co.uk for all information on advertising and features. To find out what has changed over at Daintylaine keep reading the E-zine for the insider goss. Issue number 3 is a teeny tiny one as we had a big gift guide released only last month, and this one has an emphasis on businesses to keep an eye on in the new year. This is it from us for this year now and we will be back with issue four in February. We wish every single one of you a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful finish to this decade. We send love, hope and light for everyone’s new beginings, what will our next decade hold? Thank you for all of your continued support. Love, Lorna & Liana.
Have a HandmadeScandiCompany Christmas. Click to shop & add some sparkle.
On The Cover: HAPPY’S
e u q i t u Bo
On The Cover:
Chestnut & Bloom
Christmas floral crown created by co-creator and mumma of Pippa, Liana, over at Chestnut and Bloom. If you don’t already know about Chestnut & Bloom (Where have you been) then it’s time to find out. Liana works to create bespoke and custom orders fulfilled with floral goodness. From crowns for adults, children and pets to photo props, wreaths and custom candle surrounds, Liana will work to meet the needs of your floral dreams.
On our cover this issue is a gorgeous emerald green romper created in collaboration for our december cover page photoshoot. Happy’s Boutique, a small instagram business ran by Harpreet, creates indian inspired handmade children’s clothes from a mixture of traditional indian fabrics and modern prints.We asked for the inspiration behind the business and here’s what was shared: “My name is Harpreet and I’m mummy to 3 very cheeky monkeys (Joshan 6, Avleena 4 and Munroop 2). Sewing has always been part of my childhood and I remember my mum and grandmother always stitching beautiful outfits up. I learnt some basic sewing at school and from my mum but it wasn’t until I had my eldest son over 6 years ago that I started to take an interest in sewing. From there my passion grew and I self taught with the help and guidance from my mum, grandmother and mother in law. It was in December 2018 I came up with the unique idea of Happy’s Boutique. It’s concept was to use, reuse and recycle unloved Indian fabrics and turn them into special occasion and everyday outfits for children. The idea has grown from there and I use a combination of donated and bought fabrics. So if you’re looking to find something truly unique, and perfect for a special ocassion, head over to @Happys_boutique on instagram to order your upcycled, simply stunning and fabulous creation. Use B&B10 for 10% off your first order!” We love the idea of small businesses reducing their environmental impact and re-using fabrics to create items as beautiful as these. We are definitley firm fans of all of the frills and delicate details used in these garments!
On The Cover:
Lois Turner Photography
Our resident cover girl photographer, Lois Turner, Back again with the gorgeous Christmas themed photoshoot. How beautiful would these look with your little one modelling to then feature on your christmas cards? (Even next year). If you’re based in Kent please consider Lois for your baby and childs photoshoots!
& IT’S DAINTYLAINE 2.0 After a period of soul searching and really looking at what makes DaintyLaine owner & Babe and brand editor, Lorna, happiest - It’s all change. Over at www.daintylaine.co.uk, you can now find resources, tutorials and reccomendations along with a little bit of lifestyle in the style of a blog. Instead of re-creating the same garments time and time again, Lorna has decided to turn DaintyLaine into an educational tool and teach you how to create your own items instead. With a background in education and a passion for creating, this plan meets both passions and ticks all the boxes for one happy Lorna. You can still purchase some items via a private custom order just simply E-mail Lorna to discuss. Head over to the blog and learn something new in the new year.Subscribe via e-mail to keep up to date with posts and resources!
SMALL and INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES to keep an eye on in two thousand & twenty.
@ Cublifeclothing_official
First up on our list of businesses to keep an eye on in 2020 for their amazing work is Junior Design Award winner Cublife Clothing. They have recently switched from vinyl printing to embroidered designs with the theme of the ‘Future child’. As we are fond believers in inspiring and encouraging growth amongst others, we are fully behind this collection and love the designs! What will your child become? A scientist? Culinary Eggspert (We love a pun) or mini activist? We can’t wait to see what is next for this independent business. Shop via www.cublifeclothing.uk
@ xSilversx
Oh my gosh, some of the most delicate little outfits on the gram at the moment. These handmade baby girls clothing items are full of ruffles and bows and we have decided they are a must for our ones to watch, especially for SS20 - what will they create for your little’s summer wardrobes? Shop via instagram
@ Tinleybellevintage
When Marnie at Tinleybelle clothing rebranded this autumn as Tinleybelle vintage we were not ready for what they had to come. Beautiful vintage framed outfits using vintage and modern elements to create a stunning unique feel. Launching with a RTS drop, we’ve got our eyes wide open to see what she comes up with next! Shop via instagram
@ Sugarandspiceoriginals
@ Growing.Basil
One of our favourite creators on the gram is Beverley from Sugar and Spice Originals. Not only is she absoloutley lovely, but her bows are like nothing we’ve seen anywhere else. Each time there is a new post on the Sugar and Spice bows page it’s always incredibly detailed and a gorgeous design, and we cannot wait to see what comes in the New Year. Shop via Etsy
We came accross Growing Basil’s mama inspired art this November and instantly fell in love with the proud message she shares via her illustrations. From C-section Warrior Mama pins to Co-sleeping club, there’s a pin for every type of mama. We are looking forward to seeing her inspirational and self-acceptance style of work over the next year. Shop via Etsy
@ Cakebox_co
All of the chocolatey, cakey goodness over at Cakebox_co. With “Naughty” and “Nice” variations, The Cake Box have options for all sorts of dietary preferences and to be honest it’s almost good enough to just sit and drool over their timeline. We love to highlight businesses that are owned by genuinely lovely people, and one watch of the @Cakebox_co story and you’ll be infected with happy vibes and positivity. What will they bring out next? My waistline can’t wait to find out! Shop via www.cakebox.co.uk
@ Lunarandlux
Embrace your inner moonchild and shop with Lunar and Lux for your candles, melts, soaps and aromatherapy and herbal based products! A new business to our feed but one with a specific theme and vibe that captures your attention when scrolling! With an emphasis on natural products that are kind to all ages of skin, Lunar and lux fit our vibe of treating ourselves better in 2020. Shop via www.lunarandlux.co.uk
FREE CONTENT SCHEDULE FOR CREATIVES. WWW.DAINTYLAINE.CO.UK
JANUARY 2020
CONTENT SCHEDULE
Start 2020 with a plan! Social media is becoming increasingly difficult for marketing your business, with likes disappearing and algorithms changing all the time, us smaller names have to be savvy in the new decade. I’m a huge fan of working smarter, not harder, and so I have devised a photo based content schedule for creatives to follow via instagram (and others) throughout January. A full month content schedule for small creative businesses and others to begin to build a vision that allows for a personalised connection with followers and future customers. After all; people buy from people, right? 31 detailed prompts with a variety of posting options, dedicated hashtags to allow ease of engagement and connections, tips and tricks for building your brand all for free. You can even opt into a group chat on i nstagram for tips, reminders and prompts throughout the month! Meet creators and develop your networking opportunities. I believe in growth by sharing and supporting others, and it feels so much better too! Join me as I take Daintylaine on this challenge and watch my new space unfold as we navigate through the longest month of the next decade (Early pay days are, great at the time, eh?) Post daily, or pick and choose, and watch as you make beneficial connections, increase your visibility, and fingers crossed, boost those sales! If you are not a business but an aspiring social media influencer looking for growth, opt into the chat to see how the themes can be altered to suit your audience! You never know what opportunities may arise from your new followers. Click here to download the full JAN content calendar and read the detailed blog post!
@ BBRoseBows “Handmade to perfection hair bows, hair accessories and bow ties. BB Rose Bows is a small Surrey company who strive to make the perfect product to your taste, if you don’t see it on their website www.bbrosebows.co.uk then message them on their Instagram @bbrosebows and they will do their best to meet your wishes. Quote code b&b15 for a special babe and brand reader discount.”
@ Simplylovelythings.co.uk Another small business on the scene fulfilling our floral dreams is Simply lovely things. From light switch surrounds to freestanding letters and other gorgeous handmade decor, Rachel can create something unique for your home. With just one look at their Instagram grid, you’ll be blown away with pretty gifts which are also perfect for parties and events. You can even win one of their items in our Big Christmas Giveaway!
Something that is worth knowing about the wonderful Hollie from BB Rose Bows is that she has recently started a new project within her small business. Hollie plans to make turbans and head accessories to donate to a local hospital. She is raising the funds to achieve this by offering a “Little bling box” each month which is a subscription box full of goodies. All money raised from the sale goes directly to fund the purchase of fabrics to be turned into something special. The people Hollie is donating these to are young people who are going through cancer treatment which is gruelling and life changing. Hollie wants you to be a part of creating something to help bring a smile and a sense of confidence to those who have lost or are losing their hair. By purchasing a “Little bling box” you’ll be a part of recognising that beauty remains even if appearances change.
B&B
BIG CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY! We have teamed up with some incredible small businesses for our December giveaway. Live for only five days, one winner with a huge prize selection! Full details on how to enter over on @babeandbrand. Daintylaine www.daintylaine.co.uk @Daintylaine Win yourself a pair of cycling shorts in preparation for SS20. You can no longer purchase items from Daintylaine at your leisure so well worth a win! Not only are you able to win shorts, but DaintyLaine is also giving some wax melts and a trinket box as seen on our grid! A fabulous bundle for a fabulous winner. PRIZE / Dainty Bundle RRP £45 Chestnut & Bloom @Chestnutandbloom Decorate your house ready for Christmas with this bespoke, one of a kind wall hanging. Made with red roses, pinecones and hanging crystals, this piece would make a stunning feature all year round. PRIZE / Small hanging RRP £15 Warp Weft Weave Etsy Shop @Warp_weft_weave Be the envy of all of your friends and family with some home decor from the wonderful Warp_weft_weave. These wall hangings ooze personality and are a bright and fun focal point for any wall. Win a wall hanging similar to this one pictured. PRIZE / Small hanging RRP £35
Growing.Basil Etsy Shop @Growing.Basil Mentioned in our businesses to look out for in 2020, you can also win a stunning illustrated mama inspired pin to attach to your clothing and wear your mama badge with pride. If you win & are not a mama we can send this to a mama in need of a little love this Christmas! PRIZE /£7-8
PaitenAndKingsley www.paitenandkingsley.co.uk New to the insta-shop scene with monochrome themed graphic tees and so much more in the pipelines, clothing brand Paiten and Kingsley are offering a prize from their upcoming ADULT options! You could be winning a sneek peak into whats to come for this brand. PRIZE / Adult garment RRP £20
Simplylovelythings.co.uk Etsy shop @Simplylovelythings.co.uk THE creators of bespoke floral themed home decor. From light surrounds to personalised decorative lettering, their products are beautiful. You can win yourself this beautiful floral freestanding heart which would look perfect in your home. PRIZE / Freestanding heart RRP £17 Riot and Squish @Riotandsquish Decorate your house ready for Christmas with this bespoke, one of a kind wall hanging. Made with red roses, pinecones and hanging crystals, this piece would make a stunning feature all year round. PRIZE / A4 personalised home illustration RRP £20
Rosebuds Chewelry Website @rosebudschewelry One for the mama’s out there with teething babies! A teething necklace perfect to soothe your little babe throughout those difficult months! If you win & you’re not a mama, we can send this to a mama in need! PRIZE / Necklace RRP £10.95
Copper Bay Candles www.copperbaycandles.co.uk @copperbaycandles Who doesn’t love personalised candles? Copper bay candles are giving you the chance to win your very own personalised scented candle in your own choice of fragrance. PRIZE / Candle RRP £22
ONE WINNER - £240+ WORTH OF PRIZES!
Strong Mumma Clothing www.Strongmummaclothing.com @StrongMummaClothing Creators of gorgeous, empowering mumma design clothing to make you feel like the incredible woman you are. If you are not a mumma, or simply not a fan of the mumma themed clothes your prize could be a custom order from this brand instead! PRIZE / Sweatshirt RRP 24.99 Hello Stud www.hello-stud.com @Hello_stud The most glittery and sparkly hand crafted eco resin jewellery. Based in London, These products are designed to be the perfect accessory for your everyday outfit. Hello Stud are a brand that focusses on sustainability, shopping small and never compromising on quality. We love them already! PRIZE / Earrings & stud set RRP £24.50
MDT London have such a sleek and luxury vision to their brand and we are so excited to have them involved in our Big Christmas Giveaway. We asked the founders what it’s all about to gain a better understanding of the journey and motivation behind MDT. “We are Matt and Puvan; the founders of Maison De Tourmentin. Here at MDT, we have two goals. The first is a focus on self-care. It’s stripping away the guilt of practising what is necessary for us to maintain the careful balance between our aspirations and our productivity. It’s allowing yourself the time to ritualise empowerment with a little help from redolence. The second is to provide an ethical means of experiencing complex niche perfumery without unsustainable practice or animal cruelty. We offer a range of highly perfumed, soy blend candles. Each fragrance is carefully composed at our studio and tested to ensure hours and hours of scent filled bliss. We started in early 2018, after a fun afternoon making our own perfumes at a craft day. What we didn’t consider at the time, was that this single event would go on to be the catalyst for our business.
Melts and beyond www.meltsandbeyond.co.uk @meltsandbeyond Highly scented wax products from Melts & Beyond (Tried and tested by both of us ladies). Have your home smelling BEAUTiful this Christmas with your little surprise win. PRIZE / Surprise win
Puvan has always been a staunch advocate for practising self-care, while also possessing an aptitude for business. She provided our venture with a cause, a cause best summed up by the late great Audre Lorde; “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation...” Matt has had a long love affair with Perfume. From being introduced to fragrance by his Grandfather when he was young to acquiring a large personal collection for himself, candles provide a means to give form to his own interpretation of the world of scent.
Not only will you receive all of above, but you’ll also be the winner of two handmade candles from Maison de Tourmentin London. Your house is going to be smelling incredible! With an instagram grid which oozes relaxation, peace and serenity, Maison de Tourmentin’s candles are perfect for that mantlepiece spot. RRP value of £18 each!
Looking to the future, we’re keen on entering the niche perfume market as a natural evolution of our home fragrance collection. We want to present ourselves as a modern lifestyle brand that modern people can identify with, and we intend on moving into a variety of product spaces to accommodate part of this. You can look forward to future collaborations with other designer-makers.”
During the operation, Emily’s heart was stopped to ensure the surgeon could perform the repairs without any difficulty. The surgeon closed both holes and repaired her valve using muscle tissue surrounding her heart. This means the repairs should hopefully stay with her as she grows, giving her the chance of not needing further surgery later in life. Once the surgery was complete,t hey restarted her heart. Emily spent the next 24 hours on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). When we went to see her, she had a lot of wires and tubes surrounding her. The initial sight of her was quite upsetting but we knew that everything was there to help her recover. Five days after surgery and we were given the amazing news that Emily could be discharged. She will be monitored on a 3-monthly basis through the Cardiology team in Sheffield. Please note its important not to compare your child with others. Each child is different, they all recover and react in their own ways to surgery. Some of the children on the ward had been there a few days, some 10 weeks and some several months. We have been very lucky with how quickly Emily has bounced back. My name is Leanna, I am the face behind the instagram account @Its_a_roberts_thing_. I am a mother of two, James and Emily. This year has been an interesting one and I have written this article to share out story in the hope it provides others with information and comfort.
I will be forever grateful to our GP and the consultant who pushed for her to have a scan to be on the safe side of precaution. If Emily had not had the scan, we would have still been clueless and without the surgery, Emily’s organs would eventually become damaged as she got older causing much worse issues in later life.
My pregnancy with Emily was relatively normal. I carried emily to full term, and was a week overdue before she made her appearance. My labour was long, quite similar to my first labour with James. When she was born, we discovered that her feet were turned inwards, which we later found out was Talipes (sometimes referred to as clubfoot). We were referred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Since Emily’s surgery I have struggled with my mental health, The best way to describe it would be a form of PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder). I have approached a mental health service through work and will receieve therapy from them. If you are going through the same or similar situation please accept any support that is offered from family, friends, or professionals.
In September we visited the Orthotics department and met with a consultant that confirmed she had bilateral talipes. He stated that she would need to receieve treatment via the Ponseti method, which consisted of full leg casts that would be changed weekly to manipulate the position of her feet. After she had completed the casting stage, she required a small surgical procedure to release the tendons in the back of her leg. she then has casts back on for two weeks whilst this healed. She required full time correcive boots and bar which would hold her feet in position. These were to stay on for 23 hours a day for three months. She is now in part time boots and bar stage where she only has to wear them for bed. This will be ongoing until she is around five years old.
I have found that writing a blog about you can read much more about emily’s
what we have been through has helped, surgey in full details by clicking here.
If
childs
you
ever
have
concerns
regarding
your
health
please
seek
medical
advice.
During the time that emily had her casts on, I noticed she had quite a red rash across her chest and back. I took her to the GP to have it checked and he confirmed it was nothing to worry about as it was just baby acne. When he listened to her heart, he stated that her heart rate was quite fast too and he thought he could hear a murmur. He recommended that we went to Children’s A&E to get it checked out. After our visit to A&E and an overnight stay for monitoring, Emily was referred for a scan called an Echocardiogram, which is basically an ultrasound scan of the heart. Fast forward a few weeks, I took Emily for a scan that confirmed she had congenital heart defects. Her symptoms were that she would rapidly breath and sweat while feeding. She would sometimes have laboured breathing where she would suck in under her ribs. Emily had two holes in her heart, one between the top two chambers, the other between the bottom two chambers. she also had a deformed alve. These defects required open heart surgety to be able to repair them. Emily was admitted Monday 2nd September, ready for her surgery the next morning. The following day we were collected from the ward and walked with Emily to theatres. Jay held Emily as they gave her the general anaesthetic. We were then asked to lay her on the bed and give her a kiss. Once we said our goodbyes, we left her in the capable hands of the surgical team. For any parent that has a child going for a lengthy procedure, my advice would be to go out of the hospital and try and keep yourselves distracted. Emily’s surgery was predicted to be six hours long, so we decided to go for a walk around Leeds City Centre. It was still on our minds the whole time but we managed to keep ourselves busy.
If your child is going through similar to Emily, these are some charities I would highly recommend for advice and support: www.Pyjamafairies.co.uk create beautiful surgical gowns and pyjamas for children facing difficult medical treatment. www.leedscongenitalhearts.com The fantastic team that has supported us throughout Emily’s surgery and recovery. www.chsf.org.uk The Charity that provides all the funds for the heart surgery units, without them our experience would have been completely different. www.steps=charity.org.uk A Charity that provides information and support for any lower limb conditions.
It’s a short but sweet Issue 3, We wish you a Christmas full of family, love and magic.