There is something very powerful about coming together and collaborating with local fellow businesses. We are all in the business sector, not least the wedding sector and realise the importance of creating a cohesive project that benefits all involved and beyond.

The Maids Head Hotel, England's oldest hotel is no stranger to weddings and so organised a photoshoot with local brides. I hope you'd agree that the finished project looks great!

Businesses involved included:

The Maids Head Hotel

Milly J Shoes

Just Big Smiles Photography

Hairsmiths

Best Beauty

Elizabeths The Florists

Mandy Ames

Victoria Seminerio

Ana Sofia Moniz

Electric Frolic 31

The Maids Head 1963 Bentley

Last Sunday was a great occasion coming together for the annual EDP/Archant, Dunston Hall Wedding Show.

The event always sees a fantastic footfall of bride and grooms to be along with their family and friends. This year's show felt particularly smooth and relaxed with both the suppliers and visitors enjoying the extensive range of services on offer.

Wew look forward to seeing you at the two day, Showground event in February!

To bring in the Christmas Spirit, Milly J hosted an afternoon tea and shoe clip making workshop at The Maids Head Hotel. The rooms were decked with classy decorations, our teacups were brimming and bellies full of scrumptious treats. The hotel did us proud.

The ladies who attended had great fun chattering and creating festive shoe clips to give as gifts. Streams of ribbon, bouquets of faux flowers, buttons, embellishments and more were offered to help create their wonderful clips. I took the ladies through demonstrations and then guided them through as they made their own.

As a partner with The Maids Head, England's oldest hotel, we are pleased to be hosting more of these in the future.

Earlier this month I was invited to Marshland High School in Wisbech as a speaker and award issuer. Congratulating the GCSE recipients with their certificates and awards for achievement. Joined on stage by the Mayor and Mayoress of Kings Lynn, the event was full of pride and high achievement. However, not all students will achieve the grades they or their parents desire, but this in no means stops them from paving their own way towards success.

Thank you for the beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Milly J Shoes opened its doors to a group of refugee woman from across the globe. Working together with English + and The Museums of Norwich, Milly J Shoes hosted a shoe clip making workshop, Bringing the historic footwear element Norwich once housed back to its heart. A wonderful morning and afternoon creating embellishments for a special reveal that will become apparent soon!

Helping to motivate and inspire the next generation has always been at the helm of Milly J Shoes. Receiving an invite from an outstanding school, Thorpe St Andrew in Norwich was a delight to accept. I was asked to give a talk and workshop with a series of textiles groups, as textiles has been removed from the curriculum. This was an opportunity to try to reinvigorate this subject within the students. We found ways to evealuate ways in which to design for clients with the students been receptive and creative.

Look out for future collaborations between Milly J Shoes and Thorpe St Andrew.

A very kind, unknown individual had put me up for one of the global, Luxury Travel Awards. The first I heard of this was via an email. However, what is reassuring is that these awards are very diligent and sift through all the information they can find on the nominee before putting them forward. So I am delighted to say that I was phoned up to announce that Milly J Shoes has one the 2019/20 Luxury Travel Guide Award in the category of Wedding Specialist for Shoe Store of the Year!

I have posted about this previously, but last week was the actual event. Women across Norfolk had been chosen by the public and then an esteemed panel of judges and The Edp to become one of Norfolk's top 100 Most Inspiring Women.

It was a truly inspiring day, as you can imagine with some very talented and clever women (excluding my self)! I was placed on a table with women who included the UK's first female firefighter, high profile stylist, Chrissi Rix, head teacher of Norwich School for Girls, Kirsty Von Malaise and others.

Wine was poured and food was readily consumed in the stunning venue of Brasted's. Delightful chatter and a few tears shed as women came together.

Thank you to Sophie Stainthorpe, The EDP's head of content for initially nominating me!

The 100 Most Inspiring Norfolk Women newspaper articles can be googled.

If I could go back to a day last week that I felt inspired by, it'd certainly be last Friday. Together with English + and The Bridewell Musuem, Milly J Shoes opened its doors to a group of refugee women. Women from Bulgaria, China, Syria and beyond came together in the shop for a Milly J talk. Speaking about how I have faced stereotyping, but how I use this to my advantage. But, they in actual fact inspired me!

I look forward to welcoming more groups in November for shoe workshops.

*Apologies, the photo insists on being upside!

I recently had a very inspiring meeting with one of the top schools in the area, Norwich School. An imdependent school with fantastic resources. I enjoy working with the emerging generations to find new routes to creativity and career paths. Meeting with the head of faculties and art department., I am excited to say that they are keen for me to implement a series of footwear projects with them. They loved the fact that we have such a rich footwear heritage here and that Milly J Shoes is based opposite the school, making it very convenient.

Watch this space!