The Flower Power Company LOVES women who are truly comfortable in their own skin so today I spent some time chatting to a friend on her journey of self acceptance and her journey to living a life that she was ment to live.
Meet My Friend, Claire Siobhan Walsh….
After A Levels, I wasn’t ready to decide what to do at university so I was very lucky to spend a decedent, creative and immersive year at Moor Park Art School in Preston where I did a diploma in art. We partied as much as we painted and it was a year of pushing creative boundaries in every direction possible. I loved every minute.
One of my studio neighbours was a tall, striking, softly spoken power house of a girl, Claire Walsh. I was drawn to her spirit, her tenacity and her humour from day one. Claire stood out from the pack as being confident and wildly herself and I have followed her inspiring journey and been blessed to be her friend now for over 30 years.
When clubbing with her all those years ago, I would never have imagined where she is today but where she is the perfect place. Comfortable in her own skin (I love you Claire!)
Here we are in her boutique in London many moons ago. Claire is on the left next to her now husband and her friend and I am in a boob tube with a drink in hand….those were the days.
Before I hand over to Claire, I asked her what was her favourite flower and her answer was “the Hydrangea because they seem to be able to withstand quite a lot and come back stronger each year”. I think this is the perfect choice for Claire. Proud, showy (in the nicest possible way!) delicate yet powerful. Perfect.
Below is her story which we can all take note from. Don’t stop until you get there, wherever "there" is for you.
Claire says….
“I’d always been set on being a fashion designer ever since I was about seven.
Around fifteen a career adviser at school laughed in my face when I told him what I wanted to do with my life and he promptly sent me to work in an old people’s home for two weeks. It seems there wasn’t much call for fashion designers in my hometown of industrial Leyland at that time, but the lack of support made me even more determined. It never occurred to me to settle for another job.
After a raucous two years at Moor park art school in Preston, I did a B.A. hons degree in Fashion design at the university of central Lancashire and then set my sights on London.
Becoming a single mother at an early age had only served to make me all the more determined to follow my dreams as a fashion designer.
I started off working as an assistant knitwear designer/Casual wear designer/general dogs body for Burberry of London where I learnt how to work a photocopier and make tea, and from then on worked as a ladies wear designer for other big name companies such as Michiko Koshino and Zandra Rhodes. One claim to fame is sewing sequins onto Kylie Minogue’s hot pants.
But it was while working for Oasis stores, a large corporate business where I felt I needed more freedom and creativity, I wanted to work for myself…it was a huge leap of faith in myself but after an emergency operation on my spine left me thinking “why not?”
I opened my own boutique in London and it was here that I met my now husband Tommy. I started my own label and encouraged other up and coming designers from around the World, prior to this I worked for various celebrities and ‘pop sensations’ even designing the Queen’s fairy for the Royal tree at one point.
The search to feel satisfied continued however. During our honeymoon my husband and I fell in love with the west of Ireland and a seed was sown, although it was polar opposite from our life in London we couldn’t help but day dream of a more rural life, by this time we both had our own businesses but we were so busy we were like ships that passed in the night.
After having two more children the pull to ditch the rat race and move to the countryside became ever stronger, we wanted a simpler way of living and to be able to actually spend time together as a family and to give the children the best childhood we could think of, a wild and free and dirty one.
We finally hitched a lift on a ferry bound for Ireland and bought a run-down farm cottage with a forest, overlooking the wild Atlantic way. It couldn’t have been further removed from our previous city lifestyle but we thought it was idyllic and immediately felt at home.
I hung up the heels and pulled on the wellies. I could never go back to my previous life style now. I am truly ‘comfortable in my own skin’ even if that does mean being covered in mud and dog hair. After many hard years getting things off the ground Tommy now runs a successful chemical free, vegetable farm and I work as a professional artist with a studio at home in the woods. We gave up a lot to come here but we are so glad that we did.
Being comfortable in my own skin to me means going for it. Taking a risk if necessary and doing whatever it is that makes you happy. For me it was ditching one lifestyle for another twice and I have no regrets.
Claire's Advice For Feeling Comfortable In Your Own Skin
My advice to others would be to stop worrying about what others think and stop listening to the neigh Sayers. I was brought up to respect my elders but I’ve learned that other people aren’t necessarily right about things just because they are older or hold positions of authority. Also, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! It’s your life so just go for it.”
You can see Claire’s work at www.clairesiobhanwalsh.info or Instagram @clairesiobhanartist
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