Meet the lovely Squirrel Collective

Today I’d like you to meet the lovely Squirrel Collective. I found them on Instagram by chance and fell in love with this small business full of color and amazing designs.

How did you decide to start your creative business? 

My creative business came about after a period of mental illness. I learned to crochet when I was coming out of postnatal depression, and later I gave up a job I loved after a breakdown. It was then that I really put everything into being creative. It was an escape for me, my mindfulness. Everything else fades back when you’re working on something colorful and methodical. And the satisfaction when a project is finished is such a buzz!

When did you come up with the idea? How was it first received in your environment? 

The business element happened after I’d run out of family members to gift scarves and blankets to! I’d posted a photo of a rainbow Wilma scarf on my Facebook, and a friend asked if I’d make one for her kid if she paid me for the materials and my time. Her happiness in receiving it made me realize that maybe this was how I could still work in a way that suited me and my anxiety disorder. To start with, my husband would go to the post office for me at the weekend, and I kept my social media anonymous. Running The Squirrel Collective gently brought me back out into the world at my own pace. It kept me busy, made me feel productive, and gave me such a sense of accomplishment. It was just what I needed at a time when I felt like I’d lost so many things, and my world had become very small. I then expanded to blankets and cushion covers and baubles at Christmas, in bright colors and bold patterns, and still, to this day, I’m over the moon and cannot believe it when someone buys something my hands made.

Who are your big inspirations/ influencers in life?

The small business and artist community that I’ve found on Instagram is so inspirational to me. Creative, colorful, supportive, authentic. Particularly those that have also had struggles with mental illness and disability and are out there using their spoons to make amazing art and support themselves. I love messy people, those that are living their truths and sharing something of themselves. They’ve given me the courage to feel the fear and do it anyway, to embrace the mess, to listen to and express myself, to ride the waves and keep going.

What would you say is the top challenge for warm-hearted and so inspiring creatives like you in this economic environment?

It’s been a rough few years for small businesses (and everyone else!). The pandemic meant that many of us were juggling our work and full time homeschooling. I closed up shop for a while and I know others did the same, whether that was because of an issue with time or to avoid post office trips and things. Supplies were harder to come by and many of our customers were on furloughed wage. Brexit has made it trickier, with customers having to consider customs charges. And now we’re in a state of sky high energy and food bills and wages that don’t match. People are rightly having to prioritise the essentials and cute crocheted homewares are a luxury. I’ve shifted my focus to items that can be produced more quickly, including upcycling and repurposing (also more planet friendly), so that there’s something for most budgets.. It’s a sensitive balance between being able to cover costs and see some profit, and being value for money and making things accessible to as many customers as possible.

What obstacles have made you grow with your business a lot? 

The biggest obstacle for me is my anxiety. For a long time I didn’t show my face, but I know that people want to shop small for the full experience, which includes knowing the person behind the business. I have to overcome my social anxiety and chat on Instagram Stories and not analyse every word I’ve said afterwards and quickly delete. My self-confidence took a massive hit when I had to quit a job that I loved and cared about deeply. You feel like a non-person when you’re agoraphobic and struggle socially and can no longer do the things that you recognise as ‘having a life’. Designing something and making it from start to finish, a person buying it and then receiving their positive feedback has meant that I have some belief in myself and what I can do, after feeling like I’d been failing for years.

What inspirational words would you say to someone who would like to follow in your steps?

I would encourage everyone to be as creative as possible. It doesn’t need to become a money-maker, just draw or paint or write or sew or dance or bake; whatever it is. It has been a game-changer for my mental health and keeps me feeling grounded each day. I recommend checking out The 100 Day Project if you want to make being creative a daily habit. Running a small business is hard when you’re passionate about something, but so damn rewarding. Find like-minded people on social media for encouragement. Don’t feel pressured by ‘hustle culture’. It’s cool to be busy, but it’ll suck the joy out of it pretty quickly if you give up everything else, including rest. Be your authentic, weirdo self (which doesn’t have to mean sharing every aspect of your life, I keep my family pretty private, for example) and create things that make your soul sing.

You can find the Squirrel Collective here

Website: thesquirrelcollective.co.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/the_squirrel_collective

Facebook: facebook.com/thesquirrelcollective

KoFi: ko-fi.com/thesquirrelcollective

Twitter: twitter.com/SQRLCollective