Made With Love.

Made with love

When Andrea first introduced me to the concept of The Slow Movement I couldn’t believe how strongly it resonated with me! I’ve felt, like so many of us often do, that life was moving too fast. Little ones growing too quickly, a never ending to do list and no time to slow down and enjoy the moment.
I’ve always loved gardening and using my harvest to create yummy things for my family and friends. It’s the same with my tea business, creating tea blends that I can share with others brings me immense joy. And it’s as much about the blend as the experience a cup of tea offers. A moment of peace, a shared laugh and some good conversation, or maybe even a special celebration. For me, tea is moments and memories, intertwined through our lives, sip by sip.

"What I never realised was that all these things
shared a common element. A search for connection."

What I never realised was that all these things shared a common element. A search for connection. Tea is, at its heart, about slowing down and realising a moment and making a connection there; whether that be with ourselves and a moment of inner silence, or with the others we choose to share that moment with. I think a lot of us already embrace The Slow Movement without even realising it. And once we understand why these things bring us so much joy, we can more actively pursue them.

​I’ve always loved buying handmade. I like knowing the items are ethically produced, often unique, but most importantly, made with love. And I love getting to meet the people behind the business. Hearing their stories. Discovering that Mel’s jam recipe has been in her family for generations, and the berries came from her own backyard. Or that when Lisa designed my little girls skirt, she knew it would be for twirling. This level of connection is transformative, it turns everyday objects into something so much more.​

Karly Santiago

Gabby Orcutt

And as makers and small business owners, we love the heck out of getting to meet you, our customers! Because, while not the only reason, you’re a major part of why we do what we do. And certainly make our little businesses possible! Sure, there are other factors that influence why we chose this path in life, but most of us are also using something we love as a means of spreading joy to others. And when we get to see that joy, well, it lights up our worlds.

It probably seems counter intuitive then that small business owners would choose a lifestyle that is, in many ways, so isolating. And that’s why people like Andrea, and places like Hattie and the Wolf are so important. They foster connection. They create something. Call it what you want, a community, a tribe . . . a place to belong and a place where joy to comes to life.​

By featuring different makers monthly in her Pop Up Creative Space, Andrea is giving small businesses, not only, the opportunity to have their very own brick and mortar store experience, but the opportunity to connect. As one of the small business stocked by Andrea, I can’t recommend this enough. Andrea’s visual merchandising is amazing and her customer service exceptional. There is no doubt that if join the Hattie and the Wolf Creative Space your product will be treated with love and sold with passion. But you’ll be getting so much more, you’ll be getting a community of people who lift you up, encourage and inspire you, people who help you spread your joy. You’ll be getting a tribe!
 
Be fearless. Join the tribe!​

Guest Author - Sarah Lane of One Little Leaf

Sarah Lane is the owner of local tea business One Little Leaf where she creates and blends her own gourmet tea recipes. As well as being an all round tea enthusiast she's also a passionate writer, baker, gardener and dreamer. She and her husband, along with their two children are proud to call Ballarat home.