Every now and then in one’s life, we are presented with gems, with serendipity, fortuitous events and occasionally, very special people.
A few years ago at a trade show, a lady came by with the warmest smile (and the curliest hair). She said she had come especially to see me, as she loved my patches and wanted to sell them in her shop called ‘The Fluffatorium’ in Dorking.
When she said her name was ‘Gillian Gladrag‘, I knew who she was instantly, as I had long been an admirer of her beautiful packaging.
Later that evening we bombarded each other with Instagram likes as we were overwhelmed by the crazy similarities between us; the same dogs, the same taste in just about everything and even (nearly) the same children’s names and definitely a shared passion for all things coloured, joyful and well.. pretty.
We kept in touch and continued our religious ‘liking’ of Instagram posts (oh her Instagram feed, it is to die for!) and we kept trying to organise meet-ups and dog walks, but life got in the way…
Some Instagram loveliness from Gillian’s feed…
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Until an email a few weeks ago, inviting me to lunch. I just thought, yes. yes please. Life is not going to get in the way this time, I will take a rare day off and indulge myself in the pleasure of good company and ridiculously gorgeous fluffy stuff.
I had never been to Dorking before. It’s SO pretty, full of lovely and unusual shops and a really happy friendly feel. None more happy or more friendly then Gillian’s shop.
I admit, I felt a bit hysterical in the midst of such colour and creativity, After I had calmed own (a bit), a seat on her ‘Sofa of dreams’ and a tour of the shop.
Gillian holds courses in her large attic studio, I’m definitely going to return with my girls and finally learn how to felt. I loved these ‘Selfie Felts’ and bags (look at her felted Christmas Stocking!), all fruits of Gillian’s expert teaching. This is also where Gillian films all her tutorials. My girls (aged nearly 13 and 15) have been watching her You Tube channel, amazingly engaging and very easy to follow.
Over lunch we put the world to rights and marvelled again at our bonkers similarities, although there is one which we don’t share that I so wish we we did; every year her and her husband take it in turns to surprise each other with an Anniversary holiday. They have been literally, all around the world together. As we ate, we were speculating as to where she was about to jet off to as it was her husband ‘turn’… Jealous? Moi?
After filling my basket with goodies galore (and of course getting Gillian to sign one of her fabulous felting books for me), I set off for my drive home. I drove all the way home with a big smile on my face.
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Gillian is a wonderful, inspirational woman. She has created an extraordinarily successful business with a powerfully strong identity. Yes, she may get copied occasionally, but nothing will ever come close to that raw creativity. She simply oozes colour, in her personality, her work and her home.
Excitingly, Gillian is coming to my ‘All-Day Sketchbook club’ in a few weeks, so I will not have to wait too long to get another fix of her joyful exuberance.
Thank you Gillian, what a fabulous day 🙂