Hi there,

Thanks for popping in.

It’s been such a very busy and energetic week! Super successful TV shows, great teamwork at Clarity – and the highlight that was Thursday, which, looking back, was clearly meant to be. Let me explain…

Dave is a very thoughtful husband. He knows me well, and knows also, that after a busy Hobbymaker TV day, I am pretty wiped out the following day. So he often tries to distract me and plans a little trip out. This Thursday was no different. He found a cool art exhibition in Newhaven, called 50 years of Print, and took us down there early afternoon. It was indeed brilliant, and I absolutely loved the prints on the wall by the legendary Orla Kiely and the King of print, Anthony Burrill.

As we were leaving the artspace, we got talking to the people at the door, the organisers. You know, smiled and said HELLO. And here’s how it works when you engage in conversation and join in…

I wanted to buy a raffle ticket to support the art group, so we were looking at the possible print prizes. One of the pieces was an original Orla Kiely print.

Oooh.. said I… Orla Kiely! My shero!

“Aahh” said he, “are you coming this evening then?”

“This evening?”

“She is our guest here, together with Anthony Burrill. Didn’t you know? Sold out weeks ago”

Gutted. I was gutted.

He could see I was, and tried to lighten the mood. “Tell you what. Why don’t I take your phone number, and if we have a cancellation I will call you. ”

That was as good as it could get at that point. I assured him that we were only an hour away, and I would come straight back if they called.

We got home and I called Jazz straight away.

I was telling her all about the exhibition and the missed opportunity when another call flashed up on my phone. Unknown number.

Could be the gallery.

Got to go.

I’ll call you back.

And it was. And yes to we could go. And we had 2 hours to get there. Dave said to take Jazz. She dropped everything and drove over to ours straight from work, I splashed some cold water in my face to wake up – and we were in Newhaven by 6pm. Excited??! You bet!

So we were walking up to the building and ahead of us were 4 very Orla Kielyesque women. You could just tell. We followed them into the elevator, because as you know, I had already been there a couple of hours earlier, and knew exactly where the evening event was being held. We get in the lift, and the 4 O.K. fans turn around. Then I realise. The older woman IS Orla Kiely. I was dumbfounded. We smiled at each other, and I said what any awe-struck fan would say: HELLO. How are you? What followed was lovely, refreshing banter.

We left the lift chatting and laughing. And I’ll swear she kept looking over at me during the evening too.

She had such a wonderfully kind energy. So modest, so humble, so normal. And that was what I came away with too. Both she and Anthony were just normal people, who each hit on a unique style, stuck at it and kept working at it – for decades. There wasn’t an ounce of ego in either of them.

You may not even be familiar with these names, but I can assure you, you will know their art. Orla Kiely’s distinctive retro patterns and Anthony Burrill’s bold typographic designs have become instantly recognisable over the years…

Let’s talk about him first. Remember the poster WORK HARD AND BE NICE TO PEOPLE ? That was Anthony’s. Or I LIKE IT. WHAT IS IT? That was Anthony’s. Or DON’T SAY NOTHING? That was Anthony’s.

Then Orla.

Many of us grew up with this design language in the 60s and 70s…From handbags to wallpaper, from kitchenware to car interiors. You name it – she has collaborated with some of the biggest brands in the world – and become one herself.

It was fascinating to hear them talk about their creative journeys and the businesses they have built around their work.

As I listened, I found myself reflecting on something that often gets overlooked when we admire successful designers, artists and makers. We tend to focus on the finished work; the beautiful pattern, the clever slogan, the finished product. What we don’t always see are the years of persistence, the countless decisions, the setbacks, the risks and the determination required to build a creative business that stands the test of time.

What struck me most was not how different their stories were from ours at Clarity, but how similar.

Whether you’re designing textiles, creating graphic art, making stamps or teaching people how to express themselves creatively, there comes a point where passion alone isn’t enough. You have to keep showing up. You have to keep refining your ideas, listening to your customers, adapting to change and continuing to believe in what you’re doing, even when the path ahead isn’t entirely clear.

Both Orla and Anthony have remained remarkably true to their own creative identities over the years. Their work has evolved, naturally, but it hasn’t lost its essence. In a world that often seems obsessed with the next new thing, there was something reassuring about that.

It made me think about Clarity and the journey we’ve been on over the last thirty years. We too have changed and evolved. We have embraced new technologies, developed new products and explored new avenues, but the core belief remains exactly the same as it was when we started: that creativity matters, that making things by hand brings joy, and that there is tremendous value in helping others discover what they are capable of creating.

The evening wasn’t really about celebrity designers. It was about creativity, certainly, but it was also about longevity. About finding your voice, trusting it and having the courage to stick with it.

We even got to spend a little time with her afterwards, when she signed a limited edition print she gifted us…

As we drove home, Jazz and I were so deeply impressed by what we had heard. It was so heartening also, for us both to meet her young design team. I concur with Orla – it’s our young designers that keep us young.

I found myself feeling both inspired and encouraged. Not because I wanted to be Orla Kiely or Anthony Burrill – no no no. I am perfectly happy with being me, thank you. But because evenings like that remind us that successful creative businesses are rarely built overnight. More often, they are built one idea, one project and one customer at a time.

And after all these years, I still find that rather comforting.

Thank you, Dave, for turning an ordinary rainy Thursday into something rather magical.

Until next time,

Love and Clarity,

Barb x x x