Living Creatively

For creative powerhouse couple Sam and Vanessa Pearce, home offers time with the kids away from running their two thriving businesses. As one half of prominent creative studio Frame Creative, Sam is also actively involved in Vanessa’s burgeoning fashion and accessories empire, The Wolf Gang. With a growing client roster and stockist base, the busy duo invite KIDDO into their world to discuss the juggle of working and parenting together.

Q: Sam & Vanessa, can you describe your house and home life?

A: We live in Prospect with our two kids, Marty, 2 and Heidi, 1. It’s a beautiful 1912 character villa with a modern extension we designed ourselves, just north of the city. Although it has a minimalist design aesthetic it's cluttered and messy 6 out of 7 days a week.

Q: How do you manage working and living together, and your relationship crossing over from personal into business?

We work closely together on many aspects of The Wolf Gang and also share a studio space - so we would be lying if we didn’t say it’s challenging at times, as we often need to continue working at home. We’ve learned how to work well as a team which has been crucial for both our personal and business relationship and has helped us grow." – Vanessa

Q: Tell KIDDO about what it’s like to run a business in Adelaide?

Sam: We’ve travelled a lot and we think Adelaide is the best place in the world. Also - Frame had already been established a few years when TWG launched (and Ness was heavily pregnant at that stage), there never felt like there was a need to move interstate at all. Adelaide has everything we need for our businesses to flourish and we’re extremely happy to be based here!

Q: How do you manage your time and juggle business with family life?

Sam: We try to stick to the 9-5:30pm working hours in the studio. Then we rush home to see the kids for quality time after work, but will generally pull out the laptops after the kids are in bed. We try to keep weekends free, but if we have to go into the studio at all we usually go together and bring the kids and don’t stay too long, and always stop off at the local park on the way.

Q: How do you spend your family time?

A: Making pancakes, Reading Dr. Seuss books or watching Toy Story on repeat.

Q: Where is your favourite place to eat?

A: We've never actually dined in, but we get Abdul’s Kitchen (Prospect) on Uber Eats literally 3 times a week – Marty enjoys it too. If we go out, we can't go past Etica (our all-time favourite). Paddy's Lantern is our go-to during the week for delicious coffee and food! Weekends at Coffee Barun as a family is our usual, really good coffee and there's a kids area, so it ticks all boxes.

Q: Where are your favourite places to go as a family?

A: Stirling, Prospect Oval Park, cafes around our neighbourhood.

Q: Describe a typical weekend in your household.

A: Saturdays are usually spent with the kids in the garden, Marty loves digging and playing outside. We also try and catch up on the cleaning and washing.

Q: What’s next for Frame Creative?

Sam: We're continuing to focus on the work we love with people we like. Always contributing to the vibrancy of Adelaide and South Australia.

Q: Can you tell us about the next collection for The Wolf Gang and what will you be showing at Adelaide Fashion Festival?

Vanessa: For AFF this year we are a part of the SA Designer Showcase and will be launching our first full collection as a lifestyle brand, complete with ready-to-wear, shoes and our iconic bags. We have some exciting new influencer and press partnerships coming up which we can't wait to reveal!

@framecreative | @the.wolf.gang

Words: Miriam Weir | Photos: Meaghan Coles