*Let us INTRODUCE you to...* CLAIRE @ LOVEBODS

Claire @ Lovebods

Hi I’m Claire and I own Lovebods gift shop in Finkle Court Thorne!

My story started from completing a beauty course after my husband passed away to get me back out there, make new friends and learn new skills. I really liked the idea of making hypoallergenic bath treats as I struggled to find such a product when looking for gifts for friends and family.

I took the plunge and got my little shop and Lovebods was born! The bath treats I make are not coloured, contain natural ingredients but this process took a long time for us to get assessed and to sell soaps, so I starting crafting and selling gifts.

I was determined to make my business work and I dedicated time to various start-up business courses which were extremely valuable. For anyone looking to start their own business I would say the best advice I could give you is to take the first leap and truly believe in your idea.

I love my shop and put a little bit of myself into everything I create for it. I stock shabby chic gifts at really affordable prices, rag wreaths made to order in whatever colours you want or I can create you a beautiful keepsake using memorial clothes or baby clothes.

The support from the people of Thorne and Moorends has been wonderful. I’ve made some lovely friends, great business contacts and I’m doing something I enjoy doing on a day to day basis.

Next time you’re around Finkle Court come on in and say hello!

FIND Claire at: 2 Finkle Court, Thorne

LIKE Lovebods at: https://www.facebook.com/Lovebods

CONTACT Claire at: lovebods@gmail.com

*Let us INTRODUCE you to...* LYNN @ SPRINKLES SWEET TREATS

Lynn : Sprinkles Sweet Treats

Hi I’m Lynn at Sprinkles Sweet Treats at Finkle Court in Thorne!

After finishing a full time job through illness I found myself bored at home. Remembering something I’d seen from America a few years previous I wanted a new hobby and decided to have a go at making a sweetie tree. I made my very first sweet tree back in 2009 for Lilli McCormack and from that one flying saucer tree came a forest!  It’s crazy to think 5 years on we have our little shop in Finkle Court Thorne, we have a thriving delivery business and we are preparing to open our second shop in Dunscroft this March!

Sprinkles Sweet Treats is a family run business where we create lots of beautiful bespoke sweet gifts for all the family, for any occasion. My partner Dan is incredibly supportive and his amazing talent at making intricate sweet trees led to him quitting his full time job and working alongside myself as Mr Sprinkles! From sweet trees, to hampers, to candy buffets and more! We cater for everyone making sure to stock a variety of products including the popular ‘moo free’ range which is dairy/gluten/wheat/lactose/casein AND egg FREE!

The encouragement from the community of Thorne and surrounding areas has been immense. Honestly none of this would have been possible without all of my lovely customers who come back to us time and time again so I’d like to say a BIG thank you to all of you!

FIND Lynn at: 1 Finkle Court, Thorne & Station Street, Dunscroft

BE A FRIEND at: www.facebook.com/sprinklesdunscroft2

CONTACT Lynn by: the Sprinkles Facebook account

*Let us INTRODUCE you to...* AMY @ ROSEY POPS PHOTOGRAPHY

Amy : Rosey Pops Photography

Hi I’m Amy, Owner & Photographer at Rosey Pops Photography in Thorne! I'm a wife to my husband Ian and a mummy to 1yr old Isla. I'm also an unashamed crazy cat lady with a passion for music, books and food (mainly as you can enjoy all at once which is just lush).

I’ve always had an interest in art and photography but it was when my little girl came along that I started to find my confidence with my work. It was purely the encouragement from family and friends to photograph other families that pushed me to create Rosey Pops. I often get asked so I'll share with you too, the name is from my nickname for Isla as her middle name is Rose.

Since becoming a mummy I'm aware of how fast time ticks by. This was the inspiration for my work and the creation of Rosey Pops. I am an observer and you will rarely hear me shout ‘smile’ at my subjects on a shoot as I like to capture people naturally along with their personal qualities and organic activities. I'm just in the middle of building my own studio at my home in Thorne, but I love to host photo sessions outdoors where natural light floods all around and there’s lovely backdrops for your images!

I photograph a wide variety of subjects and events from newborns, to weddings, pet portraits to product shots for retail. I am self-taught and constantly evolve my skill set so I can become better with every shutter click.

Aside from Rosey Pops I have become involved in the local project ‘Let’s Uplift Thorne’. I’m the resident ‘geeky arty one’ often updating Facebook or compiling articles to share with our followers. It’s been an amazing opportunity for me to make friends and find out more about what’s on offer here in my new hometown and I have to say I love it already!

FOLLOW Amy’s blog at: www.roseypops.blogspot.co.uk

LIKE Amy’s page at: www.facebook.com/roseypops
LOOK at Amy’s work at: www.roseypops.co.uk

*Let us INTRODUCE you to...* CHEZZIE @ CHEZ MOI

Chezzie : Chez Moi

Hi I’m Chezzie and I run Chez Moi, a bespoke personalized gift business in Thorne.

I studied a BA (Hons) in photography and went on the study a post grad teaching certificate in Design and Technology at Sheffield Hallam university. However, unfortunately due to illness I had to give up my teaching career, so whilst off sick I began giving life back to old furniture restoring it and hand painting plaques and box's of all kinds for people as gifts. I could have never imagined how quickly it grew into a very strong business and my facebook page took off very well indeed!

I have a passion for crafts and have spent the past 2 years attending many craft fayres and markets all over Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. In August last year I decided to set up a regular craft market in my local market place in Thorne - the response was incredible and so much more than I ever expected! All stalls have been fully booked every month and we currently have waiting lists for the stalls which don't start back until the end of March!

The local residents of Thorne have supported us fantastically and the Christmas market, which was run in conjunction with the local councils Christmas light switch on was a complete hit! I have never in my life seen our Thorne so full of life! It brought a tear to my eye!

I love creating new designs and I’m open to making new products all the time but my signature products are hand painted memory/toy/jewellery box's and wall plaques of all kinds.

FIND Chezzie at: The local Thorne Craft Markets each month

LIKE Chezzie’s page at: www.facebookcom/chezmoi1976

CONTACT Chezzie by: her Facebook page

Let us introduce you to... LAURA @ POLKA DOT TEAPOT

Laura : Polka Dot Teapot

Hi my name is Laura and I run Polka Dot Teapot - my jewellery/craft business!

I'm a 23 year old fashion design graduate, and became interested in jewellery design after an internship in London. Once graduated I couldn’t find any jobs that didn't require nearly two years experience, and the only way to gain this was by working unpaid! So I decided to create my own job, my own business and enrolled in business workshops and gained funding in association with the job centre.

‘Polka Dot Teapot’ is all about creating unique bespoke items from clothing to jewellery and craft items. No two items are the same, and I individually design pieces to customer specifications. One of my signature pieces is the message in a bottle jewellery which can be customised with personal messages and make beautiful keepsakes.

My goals for my business are to evolve my studio at Finkle Court into a mini boutique with a fabulous and unique ‘create your own’ process where customers will be able to come in and browse hundreds of different fabrics and materials and design their own clothing, jewellery and homeware gifts. Keep up to date with my Facebook page to follow my progress!

FIND Laura at: 1b Finkle Court, Thorne

FOLLOW Laura at: www.facebook.com/polkadotteapotdesigns

CONTACT Laura at: polkadotteapotdesigns@gmail.com

Let us introduce you to... SARAH @ SR LETTINGS

Hello!

My name is Sarah Robinson, hence the business name S R Lettings! I didn’t name my business S R Lettings because I couldn’t think of anything else…oh no…I named it S R Lettings because I want my business to be known for its personal service within the lettings arena - hence it carries my name!

I fell into lettings completely unexpectedly…it was a combination of deciding to return to Education as a mature student, and meeting my partner that introduced me into the world of being a landlord!   

Although I had lived in rented property as a tenant previously, being a landlord was a whole new ball game…over the last six years I have earned my stripes as a landlord (well landlady if you want to split hairs). Experiencing renting my own property that I have lived in, as well as property bought purely as an investment, this definitely gives me a huge advantage over national lettings corporations! I completely understand how you feel because I have been in your shoes, and I’m a local girl who knows the local lettings scene. Not only does the personal service I offer mean the package I offer is tailored to your exact needs, it means when you ask for my guidance it comes from my own experiences, and I understand how you feel completely!

Property and homes are my passion…sometimes all an empty unloved house needs is a lick of paint and some love to make it a lovely home for someone!

Aside from letting houses I love making a contribution to my home town and I’ve undertaken several renovation and building projects in the last couple of years with my partner. I get so much satisfaction seeing a plan come together and a house become a home!

If you’re thinking of letting out a home, give me, Sarah a call at S R Lettings!

I also helped establish the ‘Let’s Uplift Thorne’ business networking group on the back of attending Doncaster networking events and wanting to create a platform similar for our area. I truly feel passionate about how much it could boost our community and business scene by raising awareness to local residents about what Thorne has to offer.

Contact Information for Sarah:

Email: info@srlettings.co.uk  

Website: http://www.srlettings.co.uk/

Follow Sarah on Twitter @sr_lettings

LIKE Sarah's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/srlettings