The Lush Creative Showcase

 

 On Tuesday I took a trip to Shadwell to the Tobacco Dock to see this years Lush Creative Showcase. Obviously I had never been to anything like this before but I've bought a few Lush products over the years and had one of the best customer service experiences there so it was great to get a first look at what was coming up and get a real insight into the company. 

When you walk into the venue the place really does look beautiful, one thing I will say off the bat is that the venue was really representative of the brand and by the looks of things they really did have the entire venue to themselves.There was greenery everywhere and dotted about the place you could see that signiture Lush front peeking at you from blackboards.

Upon arrival I was given my wristband (another thing to add to my London scrap book) and instructed to download an app that would aid in giving me more information throughout the afternoon. However a) it was slow in downloading, b) it was asking me to sign up and create an e-mail or link with facebook and c) Ambers app didn't even work so needless to say the app was promptly deleted, that wasn't a very promising start to the trip for me. 

So with no real idea of what direction to go in I headed off around the venue, starting in the Christmas Showcase and taking in the wide range of products that Lush will no doubt sell in large quantities throughout the holidays. There were massive blocks of soap, bath bombs by the hundreds and gift boxes galore as you walked around the room and took everything in. There were some staff on hand to help but overall the large quantities of crowds in the room made it hard to hang about and have a good look and the tills in the corner meant that large queues would block certain areas. 

Everything in here looked extremely festive and smelled amazing. As a rule, at Christmas I tend to stay away from bath sets as loads of people give them out at Christmas but the Lush sets really are something special and I wouldn't mind receiving something myself. We spent a good 10 minutes walking around in here and taking everything in but there will always be something really odd about hearing Christmas music during a London heatwave. As always, a Lush display always throws up the perfect photo opportunity so below are some of the pieces you will find in stores this Christmas.

My favourite part of the afternoon was seeing the selection of interior swatches that the company are coming up with to use in their stores. After a history in visual merchandising it's interesting for me to see some of the process behind showcasing different products since I'm used to seeing it used with clothes. 

Marble and copper are looking like the key materials they want to go for but whatever they choose to ride with, it looks like it will be done in a recycled and upscaled style. 

 Fun fact, some of the swatches of 'marble' seen here are actually made up of recycled plastics. 

In the make up section there was a load of lipsticks to be swatched which is usually what I would run for but these pigments were absolutely beautiful and I couldn't ignore them. Happiness was this stunning darker gold shade, not unlike the gold you get in the Naked palette but the colour payoff was oustanding. The Cinderella blue was also beautiful, definitely not a shade I would usually consider but after seeing it swatched I totally fell in love. All of the pigments I tried had spectacular colour pay off so whatever one you decide to choose you won't be dissappointed.

 Walking into the more open foyers off the Tobacco Dock is where you are really wowed by the effort that Lush have put into this showcase. There was a huge bathtub setup that allowed staff to show off their new products in huge vats and in the corner there was a deceiving cotton candy stall which oh my god, DON'T EAT because it's shower scrub. I totally thought I was about to get free candyfloss but I used the shower scrub that night and it was really amazing so that made up for not getting to eat it. 

The bath setup in the foyer was truely the shining jewel of the event. I was looking at it and thinking 'all this for a two day event?' but every single person that came across this spectacle was in awe of its scale and you could say it was a sculpture that captured what Lush is all about? I dunno, either way it was crazy impressive to look at, almost like a fountain and you literally couldn't take a bad photo of it either.

The only thing I couldn't get on board with on the day was the huge urgency to sell. The whole afternoon felt very rushed, when we arrived we were asked if we were considering jobs in Lush etc. and when you pair that with the need to sign up and use the app and the whole thing just felt a lot more like a marketing push. I have no doubt that the marketing would have been a huge driving force behind making a two day event for the launch but I just felt that the afternoon should have been more balanced with talks and interaction with the products themselves. I don't know if it was our timing but when we went into the beanbag room there was nothing happening and nothing to tell us if there was any other talks/music going to be on that day (although it was probably stated on the app.)

I would also say that there were areas of the venue that I walked into and didnt even know if I was still at the Lush event or if I had strayed into somewhere else. 

Overall the day was interesting, I seen a lot of things that I liked - in particular the make up - but overall I just felt the event wasn't very social or educational about Lush. I would say that the members of staff that I did encounter seemed super knowlegable on the products and really excited about what they were doing. Would I go back to the event again? Yes but only because it's something different to what I usually dobut I would rather go back to my local Lush and speak to staff one on one to learn about the new products when they come out rather than attend another event like this.

SURVIVING LONDONS PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Before I arrived in London I knew that the biggest hurdle I was going to face was the morning and evening commute. Aside from having a really irrational fear of falling onto the live wire and frazzling, (honestly, I lose much sleep over that) the high numbers of half asleep morning commuters can make the morning tube commute utter hell for a newcomer. I'm no stranger to London but when I came here on holiday I was at least clever enough to avoid rush hour like the plague but now, after 4 months of learning to commute the hard way, I'm going to share with you my London Tube Do's and DONT'S!!!!!      So here we go!      1. Never ever ever EVER approach a ticket barrier if you don't have your Oyster card or contactless ready   Well done, you have just pointed out to the whole of London that you are a) a commuter newbie or b) a tourist, none of which goes down well during rush hour. Sad but true. In a city where every second counts and most people find the 2 minute wait between tubes unbearable, a bottle neck or hold up at a ticket barrier is an absolute no no, having to stop is inexcusable. Having to stop for more than 5 seconds while someone fumbles in their bag for a ticket is downright life-ruining.     2. It's worth waiting the extra 2 minutes    This is the one hack I learnt when I moved to Acton. If you have two trains arriving a minute apart, get on the second one and let everyone else get on the first. All the rushers will have piled off of the platforms onto the train and when the next train arrives a minute later, the platform will still be pretty empty, allowing you to get a seat on the commute like a boss. I'ts worth saying that if the last train was 5 minutes ago, the next train will be heaving as the platforms at previous stations will have gotten 5 minutes to get nice and busy again. Avoid those trains.     3. Plan your exit strategy   In the morning I swap from the Central line to the Victoria line at Oxford Circus, one of the bussiest stations. When my train gets in at the platform, the exit for the Victoria line is right at the back of the train (very end of the platform). To save fighting my way through the crowd on the platform I always travel in the last tube carriage, that way when I arrive at Oxford Circus I get off, turn right and boom! Off the platform before anyone can get in the way! This is definitely one of the best pieces of advice I could give, I hate fighting my way through crowds of people on the platform, its a lot like salmon swimming up stream so figure out ASAP where your station exit is and where is best to stand on the tube so that you get to it as easily as possible.    4. Pair your suit with a nice set of Nikes   This is one for the women! I don't fall into this category as my footwear can we whatever I want but it' not an uncommon site to see women on the tube ditching the heels for trainers- at least until they get into the office. Commuting is hard enough without getting sore feet or your nice new heels stood on so its worth 30 unfashionable minutes if it means you can leg it up an escalator and beat everyone to the ticket hall.    5. Learn the Luggage Laws   Personally, If I'm travelling with a suitcase I avoid rush hours altogether but for some people taking a suitcase onto the tube during rush hour isn't an option so here are some tips on what to do.  DO NOT move down inside the train and stand between the seats, you have blocked the whole damn corridor and will find it impossible to maneuvre the suitcase to let people past when they need to get off. Stay in the open area infront of the doors but DO NOT stand right infront of them. When those doors open during rush hour its a mad dash to get as many people off and then on as possible, if your suitcase is in the way it's going to get kicked repeatedly. DO stash the suitcase beside the doors and the glass separator, suitcases prosper well there, if you can score yourself a space in the area where the seats fold down even better!!. (Glad I got that bit over and out the way!)   6. TFL Route Planner   This pieve of travel genius has gotteb me out of many sticky situations since I got here. It's basically a fail safe for planning your tube commute until you're confident doing it. I use it when I travel anywhere in London that I've not been before or if theres a problem with my tube line and I can't take the usual route home. It's a great thing to have just in case!    TFL Route Planner    7.  It gets hot in here   I struggle with heat, and underground it feels to me like it's magnified ten-fold. I don't know why it is, probably a lack of fresh air circulation but the tube on a hot day is absolutely horrible. If you also add into the equation the sheer number of people who are on your train and feeling just as terrible as you are, you can start to get an idea of how hot it can get. Perfume and deoderant should always be in your bag for these occasions so that you can freshen up again when you arrive home/to the office. Water is also a no-brainer for a hot tube commute and if there's one place I suggest you stand it would be right infront of the open window at the front of the carriage, it's not fresh air but as least it's a bit cooler...     8. Bring a book   Or listen to music. As with any form of public transport, making the time pass faster is always preferred. Personally I love reading a book because I like to hear the tube announcements but loads of people board the tube with Metros, books, Kindls, PSVitas, Ipods you name it! I don't think many solo tube travellers dare start the journey without having something to distract them so be sure to have something on you to make the time pass faster.
So those are my tube tips! Some of them are definitely more obvious than others but maybe some of them have taught you something new before you tackle your commute. I definitely don't know everything there is about surviving rush hour in London but so far after 4 months I still don't find it boring which is a good thing. If I'm being honest you see some weird and wonderful things when travelling on the Tube in the morning and you definitely arrive at the office with some stories to tell! If you have any extra tips you could share with me, feel free, I'm forever looking for new ways to survive the morning and evening rush hour!

Industry Insider: Bambi-Bell

AMBER CRAWFORD is the graphic designer for Epona clothing, an ethical clothing company supplying college-wear to universities across the country. As well as juggling the responsibilities that come with the job she also keeps a blog called Bambi-Bell where she writes of her hobbies and daily observations. Her career path in the design industry as well as her commitment to her blog make her the perfect candidate for this Industry Insider post!

1)  What made you choose graphic design as your career?

I studied Product Design at University and always assumed that’s the career I’d go into until my final year which is when I really started questioning my plan for after my degree. I realised all my best and favourite work was graphics based, so with that in mind I decided that once I finished uni I’d take time to figure out exactly what I wanted career wise. I worked full time in a Wetherspoons and also as a freelance graphic designer, that’s where I realised I wanted that to be my career. I started off doing free work then quickly progressed onto only paid work which definitely helped motivate me.

2) What parts of your job do you find interesting and why?

The most interesting part has to be the ethics, I’ve always had some interest in clothing and where it’s manufactured so getting to work for a company where I’ve been able to learn about every stage of our clothing’s life is incredible. From learning about our farmers and factories to seeing how screen printing works and how the garments look in the shops once finished. I’ve learnt an incredible amount about organic cotton, fairtrade cotton, fair share and fair wear, the company is constantly looking for new ethical standards to reach so it’s a pretty cool thing to be part of.

3) What does a typical day in your job involve?

That’s a really hard question! A typical day tends to vary depending on the time of year, but as I’m answering this during our busiest work period I’ll base it on now. I’ll usually head into the office anytime between 8-9:30am depending on how big my workload is, getting in early means there’s less distractions, meaning I can get through lots of emails before my inbox is flooded. Most of my day will be spent creating artwork and mock-ups for customers and emailing them over for their approval, once I’ve had the approval I need to process the artwork so it’s print ready and send it over to our Customer Service team to then process the order. Along with the artwork side of things, I also run all of the social media and our website, so a chunk of time is typically spent on updating all of those and dealing with any enquiries we may receive via social media sites. In between the above work, I’ll keep a close eye on my emails and reply to any questions or artwork issues that arise. I also essentially manage most, if not all, of the marketing for the company, which is something quite new for me, so I’m very much learning as I go which is awesome as I’m getting to expand my knowledge and take on new challenges through my current job, something I’m sure many people don’t get to do unless they change jobs completely! On top of that I also manage two other sites which both require separate artwork, information and tracking, there are various other small jobs I do around the office such as managing stationary and IT so I can definitely say my job involves a wide range of tasks. My job is very much a juggling act and no two days are the same, it’s probably the part I enjoy the most about my job, it keeps things interesting and enjoyable.

4) What made you want to get into Graphic Design? Was there a specific moment when you fell in love with it all?

I think I fell in love with Graphic Design while I was freelancing, I was taking on such a variety of different and challenging projects, some of which I took on purely to try out new things. By challenging myself I began learning so much, as I found myself spending lots of time researching different techniques. I love creating new prints, logos, marketing materials and other branding, just using all of the inspiration around me and channelling that into something new I can create is exactly why I love graphic design and fall in love with it on a daily basis.

5) Did you take any specific classes or do any internships to help you gain experience and get into this job?

I think any experience within design studios is invaluable, over the years I’ve spent time at an architecture firm and also a lighting design company. Although both made me realise the careers I didn’t want to go into, I did learn an incredible amount at both. Design crosses paths everywhere, so even if it’s not exactly what you want to do, you’ll likely find many skills that are transferable. Along with experience a good degree is vital, although I studied BSc Product Design which many think is specific to designing products, its actually a lot more than that. It’s important to know that even the classes you might find pointless at uni, you need to work hard at as you never know when those skills may come up. I had a wide range of classes including business, manufacturing and maths and these have allowed me to become a more well-rounded designer and has probably given me a slight edge in interviews.

6) Can you think of any classes or extra curricular activities you done at university that have aided the work you do better?

The main extra curricular type thing I did at university was working as a Student Ambassdor, it really was one of my favourite experiences. I worked the full 4 years while I was at uni, and I was also part of their engineering specific ambassador programme which included working with secondary school children to build solar cars to race each other at the end of the year. I also did various bits of freelance work for friends and family while I was at uni which meant when I was applying for 3^rd year placements I could actually prove that I was organised and keen to work hard. I always tried to do more than the minimum, as I knew the job market was highly competitive so I knew I needed something to keep myself motivated and also give me a slight edge on others.

7) What inspired you to get into blogging?

It was pretty therapeutic for me, my first ever blog was back when I was in secondary school, I kept it totally private from family and friends as I used to vent on there quite a lot and write a lot about all the mental health struggles I was having. I deleted that blog a couple of years after I started it, despite having quite a large number of followers, I hit a stage in my life where I wanted to ignore everything and that was part of it. The main reason I started up this blog was because while I was a uni I wanted something different to do, I wanted something that wasn’t  related to my ‘career’ plans, I just wanted a little space on the internet I could write about stuff that interested me and would keep me inspired with life in general.

8) Do you see your blog as a means of showing your passion for your subject?

My blog is quite a mixture of topics, I only write about stuff that I genuinely find interesting or that I’m passionate about. One of the biggest and consistant passions I write about is mental health. I try to write posts every so often as trying to get rid of the stigma that’s heavily attached to those suffering any sort of mental health problem is something very close to my heart. Having suffered with various mental health problems over the years, it’s something that is very important for me to write about. My passion for my blog is writing about life, whether it’s the good, fun and exciting or the bad, ugly and upsetting, and I definitely hope that passion comes across in all of my posts.

9) Did you take any particular classes or courses growing up that lead to your choice to start blogging?

I didn’t take any classes or courses, everything I’ve learned has been organically or through my normal school and university classes. I definitely prefer learning though teaching myself, there is so many books and articles online that you can look up and I tend to try and learn new things myself as I feel I stay more motivated that way.

10) Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day blogging for you?

I’ll be honest, usually it can be quite chaotic! I’m trying to juggle writing posts around a busy work/life schedule, which often means attempting to write more than one post in a day or evening. I try to take all of the pictures I need in one go, edit and then just sit down to type up everything, as otherwise I’m likely to get distracted and run away with ideas. I do tend to write quite late at night, as there’s little distraction which allows me to just focus and get a lot of writing done, plus I’ve suffered with insomnia for years which definitely gives me lots of time to write!

11) How do you manage your time to run your blog efficiently and consistently?

I’m trying to stick to a better schedule and regular posting days to help organise my ‘blogging life’ a little more as sometimes it can take quite a back seat. I’ve got a big list of blog ideas written down which definitely keeps my motivation going. If I’m not crossing any of them off it’s usually because I’ve haven’t been writing at all which means I need to sort myself out. I think having exciting things to write about makes it a lot easier to stay efficient at blogging, when I’m doing lots it’s great for my writing and allows me a buffer off time when there’s less going on as I’ll likely have posts already scheduled.

12) Where do you look for inspiration when the writers block hits?

As bad as it sounds I just look around my room or think about things I’ve done recently and just sit and write a short post about something asap. I find that as soon as I get one post out, even just a short simple one the inspiration starts flooding in. By the time I finish the post I’ll have 10 ideas for the next ones. I don’t always publish these posts, I just find writing through my block opens my inspiration up and gets the ideas flowing. I think it’s important to find something that works for you, try out lots of different things and you’ll soon find a way to work through the block.

13) As I'm a reader of your blog, what do you hope I take away when I read your posts?

With my general posts I hope you can learn something new, find them funny or just have a good read about something interesting. With my mental health posts, I want readers to find some strength in what I’m writing, whether it’s to open up and talk to someone, seek help or just know that they are not alone is the most important thing for me. I took a lot of comfort from reading different blogs growing up who also wrote about their mental health struggles, it’s very important to engage with others and if my blog can help even just one person with their mental health that would be amazing.

14) Are there certain topics/genres you stick to when you write your blog posts or do you like to write whatever comes naturally at the time?

I tend to just write whatever comes naturally at the time, a little like how my mind works, I really enjoy writing about a wide range of topics, as that’s life! My life is full of so many different amazing experiences that I want to write about everything, whether it’s good or bad. Plus, it keeps it exciting for me as I don’t even know what’s round the corner for my blog sometimes.

15) Has having your blog opened any doors or provided you with any opportunities that you wouldn't have had otherwise?

My blog has definitely given me new opportunities, from attending different events or being offered to work with brands is definitely pretty cool and something that wouldn’t happen otherwise. It’s not something I actively seek out though, so I’ve probably not had as many opportunities as other bloggers as I never started blogging for free events or products, so anything I do get is a total bonus to be honest.

16) What advice would you give to someone starting their own blog?

Really think about why you’re starting the blog, with the huge surge in blogs and people wanting to, I guess, recreate the whole Zoella story, I think it’s really important to know why you want a blog and what you want to write about. Don’t get into it for freebies, it’s honestly unlikely you may ever get anything, getting those things comes from hard work and writing good content, it’s not something that will just fall into your lap.

17) What in your opinion makes a successful blog?

Creating interesting content for readers, I feel like whether you have 1 follower or 100k, creating amazing content is what makes it successful. Some of my favourite blogs have way under 500 followers and they hold my attention far more than blogs with over 100k followers. Of course in the eyes of many the number of followers will dictate how successful your blog is, but to me it’s all about the content, whether it’s just well written or using great photography or whether you’re doing something totally new.

18) Are there any bloggers you admire or try to emulate?

I do love a lot of different blogs, but I can’t say there is any I’m actively trying to emulate. If you’re a blogger who’s sticking at it and writing great posts I’ll likely admire you’re talent or dedication, but there is many of those types of bloggers on my reading list so I don’t feel like I could name particular ones.

19) What apps/purchases really helped you with your blog? Do you have any programmes or items that you use that really help step up the quality of your blogs appearence/content?

The most important purchase for me was my own domain name, it immediately makes your blog look 100x more professional, team that with a nice layout and good quality images it’ll immediately step up the overall quality of your blog. Having a blog was part of the reason I invested in a DSLR camera back in my first year of Uni, it’s the camera I still use and travel with so I definitely highly recommend picking up a camera you can rely on to give you good quality images. Now that doesn’t meant it has to be a DLSR, you need to learn and practice taking great pictures, as just having a good camera won’t equal great pictures, and purchasing some sort of photo editing software would also ensure you’re imagery is the best it can be – I personally use Adobe Photoshop for editing all of my images.

20) Do you feel that a blog is a helpful tool in pursuing a career after university?

It’s definitely a very helpful tool in pursuing a career after university, it can showcase a wide range of your skills and if you keep to it consistently while job hunting it’ll show potential employers that not only do you have a creative hobby but also shows that you can motivate yourself.
 

21) Finally, if you had one piece of golden advice to give someone with a struggling blog following, what would it be?

Don’t focus on the follower number, granted that’s easier said than done but focus on creating amazing content and hopefully the followers will eventually find you. Focusing on follower numbers will just dishearten you and may even lead you to writing about things that you’re not passionate about, which even if the count goes up, you’ll likely be just as miserable or give up writing altogether.


You can view Ambers blog here: Bambi-Bell

First Weekend in London

Friday Night

I almost cried saying goodbye to my folks on the platform but luckily I kept my cool enough to get seated on the train and silently wonder what the hell I've actually gotten myself into. 

I was literally sat there on a one way train with my bags steaming towards London at 60mph with no return date! I don't know if it was the sudden realisation of what was ahead but I sat watching Toy Story wishing I was about 15 years younger.

 The train journey itself was pretty boring, 5 1/2 hours of being uncomfortable and not being able to get my laptop on the folding tray without having it digging it into my stomach but hey ho, we can't have it all, at least the guy meant to be in the seat beside me had the decency to not turn up.

My trains arrival in London took my mind off the reality of what I was actually doing (For a start it arrived early-a clear sign I wasn't in Scotland anymore.) Within 20 minutes of dragging my bags across Kings Cross at 1am I found myself stuck in a traffic jam longing for a cup of tea and my bed even though I was only going to get 5 hours sleep.

Saturday-The work started straight away.

Less than 9 hours later I was on my first tube journey to Shephards Bush Westfield Shopping Centre to start my first retail job in London after a quick and surprisingly easy transfer from my shop back home. There was literally no time to ponder the fact that I was running on 4 hours sleep and actually starving from a lack of time I had to get breakfast. It was just hard work from the get go, tube, store, customers, sales, tube, dinner and bed.

Sunday  

Sunday was my first lie in after days of bare minimum sleep so I decided to go by myself for a bit of sightseeing. I'd convinced myself that if I was going to live in London I'd better not be ignorant and actually get some knowledge about the place, basically the worst excuse ever to book myself onto a bus tour for the day...and a boat tour.

I've done the Original Bus Tour's yellow route 3 times before now but it never gets old, I'm pretty sure I could actually host one now! If anyone gets a chance I really suggest taking a day to go and do it cause you really do go home feeling like someone who aced history in high school.
One thing I wouldn't suggest though is to do the open top bus tours on an empty stomach because some of the food I was smelling was torture! Hot dog stalls at Marble Arch and roasted chestnut vendors by Buckingham Palace literally followed me around and by the end I wanted to go into every food place on the way back to Mile End.

When I walked home I decided to round off the night by popping into a pub I always pass on the way to the tube and have a drink.
Now, I knew that alcohol prices in London were steeper than Scotland but when the barman asked me to give him £8.45 for a double vodka cola I actually nearly wet myself. Lesson learnt, sobriety here I come, went home pretty gutted!

With Monday being a bank holiday I got another day off which was basically my lazy day, by midday I hadn't made it out of pyjammas but had managed to drag my arse off the couch long enough to finally sort my suitcases out and move the hoover about the livingroom in a half-arsed effort at housework.

In the afternoon Amber came over to start my training for my new job for the next day and amazingly I managed to stay pretty calm considering all the stuff she was throwing at me, I'm praying to god I manage to pick everything up pretty quickly since I'll be repeatedly doing it 5 days a week.

In general I've been quite calm since arriving here in London but I think it has to do with the sheer amount of work I've had to be doing. At some point, possibly when I start the new job, the panic will seriously hit me...Either that or I'll fail miserably at budgeting and leave myself up creek with no paddle.
After a full week here I'll definitely start to feel more settled, my family back home don't seem to be missing me yet anyway so I'll be here a while, Mums already booked plasterers to come and redo my bedroom walls...

I'm moving to London

(This post comes to you from a very tired blogger after two weeks of crazyness and excitement.)

 After some of the craziest weeks in my life I'm absolutely beside myself to say that I'm achieving something I've wanted for years and moving to London for at least 4 months while I do an internship. While I am absolutely buzzing to start something completely new and exciting I have to admit that the preparation to ensure that I can survive while I'm there has been exhausting to say the least and in a way has forced me to make some very grown up decisions. (I've surprised myself if I'm being honest!)

I'm so lucky to have family down there who are understanding and supportive of this opportunity so much that they're allowing me to live with them for the duration and without them it's safe to say this wouldn't even be happening and it's been the key factor in my decision to go through with all this. Basically I'll be paying them back for their generosity for the rest of my days.

So here's the breakdown of how the last two weeks have went...

Just a little over 2 weeks ago my cousin advertised a 4 month internship vacancy at her work. Now I am never one to take risks and the fact that this job is only temporary weighed heavily on my mind before I made any kind of decision about applying for the job. However, after a chat with family and assessing my own feelings towards where I am in life and in my career just now it was decided that I'd have to take the leap to really achieve what I want. Cue a mixture of immediate excitement and panic.

As it turns out, I got the job so taking the risk has paid off but now I was faced with the prospect of moving to London, saying goodbye to my frends and family and somehow packing all of my bedroom into as few suitcases as possible. This is where I had to seriously make sacrifices and mildly began to panic.

In the following week I decided that my main aim was to make as much money as possible to ensure a smooth transition to living in London, the last thing I want when I move is to have to phone up my folks and ask for money, it's not exactly the new responisble Hannah I have in mind!

 So in order to maximise money making potential I've basically sold everything I possibly could. I've sold clothes, furniture, old playstation games and DVDs, my friends have helped me clean out my room and in turn they walked away with a few items each that they like and that I won't be able to take with me. The car has been loaded up with older items to be recycled and I've even sold some of my Harry Potter items to help give me that little extra cash for when I get down there. That part sucked. The good thing is that my room is now so empty that I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere with all the packing!

To also ensure that I make as much money as possible while I'm living in London I decided right away that I was going to have to get a second job. Luckily this turned out to be one of the easiest things I've done in the run up to the move, my current work have transferred me down to a store in London to work at the weekends and it only took a 10 minute phone call! At this point the panic started to subside and was instead replaced by doubt, things were working out all too well for my liking... It all seemed a bit too 'easy.'

So I write this to you on a Monday as I prepare to move on Friday to tell you all that it really does pay off to take risks, I'm extremely lucky that I have family down there to help get me on my feet but the bottom line of the next 4 months is that I'm moving to work not to have fun and go sight seeing. I will be working 7 days and simultaenously trying to save up for what happens after. I've not even moved yet but a lot has had to be sacrificed in the short term to help in the future and overall I genuinly do have a great feeling about this. I think it'll be important to constanty remind myself of why I chose to do this and risk everything on a 4 month job but at the same time be thankful that my current job will provide me with a more long-term financial security. I've already come to terms with the fact that I could be heading back home to Scotland in 4 months if it all doesn't work out but the experience of working in London is all too good and too valuable to my career in the future to pass up. 

I think to round this post up I'll just say that this journey is something that's going to continuously be documented on this blog and I look forward to writing about the internship and how it develops. Whilst I feel like I'm currently in a great headspace where I'm ready to grab work by the balls and really pull my weight for the next 4 months I also have slight negtive niggles in my mind as anyone would when they move to a new city and essentialy lose such close connections to family.

I guess we'll see where this chapter in my life takes me!

Wish me luck!! 

Industry Insider

 When I first started blogging a few years ago one of the first things I aimed to do was scour the internet for fellow bloggers to take inspiration/learn from. Sometimes this process can be a hit or a miss but every now and again you find a blogger who blows you away with their design, creativity and content. 

Jemma from Dorkface is one of those bloggers. 

When I decided to reboot the Industry Insider section of this blog and cater it more towards the blogging community as well as those out there in the creative industry Jemma was number one on my list of people to interview. 

Below Jemma gives us an insight into her day-to-day life in terms of her blog as well as some sound advice about what it takes to progress your blog and ensure you provide a quality experience to your reader. 

1. First of all what inspired you to get into blogging? 

I've always loved writing, it's my passion. And after Uni I really wanted a new way to be creative everyday :)

2. Did you take any particular classes or courses growing up that lead to your choice to start blogging? 

I studied Fine Art for years at college and then university; and always wanted to share my creativity. 

3. Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day blogging for you?

I wake up each day and make a to do list for the day. Usually I have a couple of illustration clients, and I try to get them done in the first few hours of the day. Then I'll take a bunch of photographs for upcoming blog posts for a few hours. Then the evenings will be when I write up all my blog posts and finish up any illustration work for the day. My days are busy, but I love them :)

4. How do you manage your time to run your blog efficiently and consistently? 

I stick to a rigid schedule, and I always plan ahead! 

5. Where do you look for inspiration when the writers block hits? 

I usually find painting really helps me, and ideas come to me naturally if I take time to relax. Music and reading really help too.

6. What inspired you to start the #girlgang and the subsequent podcast for your followers? 

The girl gang began because I loved the idea of spreading positivity in the bloggosphere, and reminding people that it's good to spread a little love. The podcast is simply a fun project my boyfriend and I had wanted to try for the longest time, and I'm so glad we did.

7. As I'm a reader of your blog, what do you hope I take away when I read your posts?

I hope you feel inspired and motivated more than anything!

8. Are there certain topics/genres you stick to when you write your blog posts or do you like to write whatever comes naturally at the time? 

Oh no way, my blog is my happy place to share anything I'm inspired by! :) I'm always happy to write about new things.

9. Has having your blog opened any doors or provided you with any opportunities that you wouldn't have had otherwise?

Oh definitely! I now work for myself because of the opportunities I'm so lucky to get now. Writing and illustration have always been a dream of mine and now I get to do each every day :) I also have a whole range of wonderful new friends thanks to blogging.

10. What direction do you see your blog going in now that you've expanded into podcasts and gained quite a large following? 

I've no idea! Haha. I'd love people to feel like they can get to know me more, and so through podcasting I feel like thats a little more possible. I just hope to keep enjoying it like I am now and hopefully it'll grow. As for my blog and everything else though? Who knows! I like to go with the flow :)

11. What advice would you give to someone starting their own blog? 

Try to do the best you can with everything. You'll improve naturally over time, but the most important thing is to let your personality shine through! :) Be yourself and write about what interests you most. 

12. What in your opinion makes a successful blog? 

Something that inspires you, and others.

13. Are there any bloggers you admire or try to emulate?

A good one that comes to mind is Mandy from A Girl Obsessed. She's a great inspiration.

14. As a fan I personally love your blogs layout and especially its bright colour scheme, it gives me the idea that you have this really fun, bubbly personality. Do you feel it best represents your personality and is this something you take into consideration when you look at other peoples blogs? 

Thank you!! Thats EXACTLY what I was going for :) I love a nice clean layout, but IRL I am quite a colourful, loud and bubbly person. I'm obsessed with bright colours and cute prints, so I try to inject that into my blog as much as possible. No matter what Im taking photographs of, I'll always try to get a pop of colour in there :) I do think this is an important thing for bloggers to do. It makes you, your blog and your photos build up a recognisable brand.

15. What apps/purchases really helped you with your blog? Do you have any programmes or items that you use that really help step up the quality of your blogs appearence/content? 

My photography lights FOR SURE. Such a great improvement. I can now take my photos at night even, yay! I got them from Ebay for about £40 and they are amazing. I also love my blog layout, which I bought for a great price on Etsy.

16. How do you balance blogging with the other aspects of your life such as family/work etc? I'm always in awe of people who spend hours replying to people on twitter and wonder how they balance staying in such close contact with followers with everything else thats going on in their lives.

Honestly, it's HARD. It really is. But its a case of planning :) I plan everything as far ahead of time as possible, and it really helps. Plus I'm just pretty much obsessed with social media haha.

17. Finally, if you had one piece of golden advice to give someone with a struggling blog following, what would it be? 

Be as active as possible, and share your personality as much as possible. Your blog, promotions, posts, etc - will only get you so far. People want to see your life, your work, what you do in your spare time, and just you being your true self.

 I would like to end this post by thanking Jemma for taking the time to do this interview and I would also like to say that you can find Jemmas Dorkface blog by visiting

www.dorkface.co.uk