S6, Ep 4: Ali O'Neill

On today's episode, I chat to illustrator Ali O'Neill.

Ali and I met in Society - Holmfirth's co-working space - about a year ago. Ali is known for her Folks and Fabric digital illustrations, of people and places in the Holme Valley. 

Ali's creative journey has seen her train as an archaeological illustrator, work for the BBC, and act! 

Find Ali here:
Instagram: @alioneill_illustration / @folksandfabric  
Web: www.alioneillillustration.com

Transcript

Ali Oneil

[00:00:00] Charlotte Barber: Hello and welcome to Stylish Chats with Creatives. Today on the podcast I'm speaking to Ali O'Neill who is a local artist from Holmfirth Firth and goes under the name of Folks in Fabric. Hello. Hello. It's so nice to see you. Thank you very much, it's lovely to be here. It's so nice to um, record at my house. I know.

[00:00:18] Charlotte Barber: And you've met Coco. I know. Who's flashing her belly. Just cuddles. Just constant cuddles. Yeah, just adorable. Oh, look at her. She's just beautiful. Hopefully she'll just be quite quiet today. Yeah, hopefully. So um, welcome to the show. so much for coming. And I just want to find out about how you became. The Folks and Fabric Artist of Holmfirth

[00:00:48]  how has this happened? The Folks and Fabric Artist of Holmfirth? Well, I guess it's a bit of a funny journey, really. So, um, I left [00:01:00] my, probably the best place to start is I left my job about 12 months ago and I used to work in, um, education for the local authority. It was a really sexy job. Yeah, I loved it.

[00:01:13]Ali Oneill: It was just amazing. A pretty soul destroying job. Um, uh, and I kind of reached the end of, of a, of a road with it really. I'd been doing a lot of creative stuff. So before I ended up working in like local authority, hell, I'd been an actor and a writer and I'd done lots of stuff in my twenties, um, and trodden more of a creative path.

[00:01:38] Charlotte Barber: And then I met a boy . Yeah, I met a boy and we had. And, um, ended up in this really miserable existence, really, of just making money and paying a mortgage and doing the things that, I guess, normal people do. Do I want to say normal people do? I guess that was what it was. [00:02:00] Twelve months ago, I just hit a brick wall with it, and I thought, I just want to go back to my creative roots, and I just looked at my husband one day, and I said the most terrifying words he's ever heard, and it was, um, I'm leaving my job, we're going to lose our jobs.

[00:02:15] Charlotte Barber: Quite a lot of money per month, and I'm going to go and do something I don't really know what it is, but I want to create something around Holmfirth Firth and go back to my illustration roots. So I trained originally as an archaeological illustrator, um, when back when I was doing my degree, um, in the early 2000s.

[00:02:34] Charlotte Barber: So that was when my kind of interest in illustration came and I just thought I wanted to do something that kind of reflected the real units of Holmfirth Firth. Um, and I was really seeing the, the, the change in landscape of Holmfirth Firth, I guess, and we were getting all these characters in and all this stuff, kind of like this, I guess all these threads that my early life had [00:03:00] had.

[00:03:00] Charlotte Barber: So I did archaeology and anthropology at university. I'd worked in project management and done all these horrendous little, little kind of, um, journeys around normal living and all this kind of stuff. I loved kind of writing about characters and drawing characters. And I just thought Holmfirth Firth is the perfect foil for it.

[00:03:22] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, so, I wanted to do, talk about folks, I was really interested in the people we were seeing, I love the buildings, I'm really into heritage, the heritage of Holmfirth Firth, um, and it was all these threads that kind of came together, and I thought, right, I'm going to do that, that's what I'm going to do, I'm leaving my job, and I'm going to pursue my passion for illustration again, and I'm going to go back and do that, and I'm going to do it about Holmfirth Firth, so I, I, There was a point before I started to do folks in fabric and I was in that job and it was really miserable and I was kind of exploring teaching myself digital illustration essentially.

[00:03:58] Charlotte Barber: So I was doing a lot of traditional [00:04:00] illustration after my kind of archaeological illustration days and I really, Kind of growing up alongside my kids. I started to look at children's book illustration and I absolutely loved it. It was most just beautiful. It's an, it's, it is probably to this day, the most beautiful community is children's book illustration.

[00:04:21] Charlotte Barber: It's a really unique community. So I started, I was writing books, um, whilst working in this horrendous job and, and, and, and, um, Sending stuff off and it was I loved doing it, but it was really thankless task kind of going out to publishers and agents and And I kind of just lost a bit of drive and love for it.

[00:04:42] Charlotte Barber: So that I so kind of towards the end of my That traditional job. I kind of stopped doing that side of stuff um And then I just thought I wanted to do something that was narrative. So it was about storytelling um But So it [00:05:00] just felt like it was a really natural progression to do something about create this brand that was about the, the people and the places of Holmfirth Firth, the moments, the stories.

[00:05:11] Charlotte Barber: Um, so that's how it came about. And I've just, just an interest in people. Yeah. And an interest in the place and just, just telling the story of it. Yeah. So I just left a job in panic and fear and I was like, I said to my husband, just give me, give me some time to think about, I've got this, I think I've got this embryonic idea of what I want to do and I kind of want to become almost like, not the illustrator of Holmfirth Firth, but I guess, I guess in a way that's exactly what it is, is look, let's do the people, let's do the moments, let's do the, the places, because it is such an incredible Yeah.

[00:05:50] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Foil, I guess. Yeah. It's got so many, I mean you could walk down there today and you'd see so many creative looking [00:06:00] people. Yeah. People wearing crazy outfits. Yeah. Or there's like kids that are just thrown on every single item in their wardrobe. Yeah. And like the buildings. are so gorgeous. I think it was the, um, Society WhatsApp chat the other day you'd posted in about the history and I was like, oh my god, I had no idea about all of this.

[00:06:18] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, there are stories and that, that's, that's something absolutely, like, I've got in my mind I want to do something about because there is, it's, and I guess it comes back to the archaeology, there's layers upon layers of stories here. Yeah. And so if you, I get my kind of, you know, Like book head on. And I think, hang on this, there's loads of stories we need to tell.

[00:06:40] Charlotte Barber: There's loads of tales. There's so much history, the flood, the characters, you know, you've got the characters like the vanilla, the tiger, and just so many things that pop up. But there are generations with those tales. Yeah. Um, and there's something really interesting to me about, about telling that almost in a, [00:07:00] I guess, like, you know, I want to do something about Holmfirth Firth from.

[00:07:07] Charlotte Barber: The earliest days of Holmfirth Firth, so the story of when it began. So I'm talking like, let's go back really early to like, you know, the Palaeolithic times almost. And let's look at how those layers have built up and it's, we've created, what is Holmfirth Firth now? Because I've seen it changed. I know we've talked about this before.

[00:07:24] Charlotte Barber: I've seen it change loads and I guess it's like any other town. You know, they always, you, you build on the heritage, don't you? You build on, on, on, on the, on, on the stories. But yeah, it's just, why go, why go elsewhere to create a story when the stories are here, the characters are here? Yeah. And I think that's what attracts a lot of people to the town as well.

[00:07:44] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. From a tourist point of view. And I mean, even for us, like, when we moved, it was like, oh, there's like some stuff here that like, you just feel this sense of community. Yeah. And. You get all the views and like, there's just, there is that layer, I [00:08:00] think you've only got to scratch a little bit. Yeah. And then someone will stand there and chat to you for hours about, I don't know, what, how Cooper's Yard used to be a butcher's.

[00:08:07] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And, you know, all this other stuff that we don't, that precedes us. Yeah, definitely. And, it's so interesting that your mind's going like, Really far back. Yeah. bring it. Yeah. Like, bring it to the forefront. Yeah, let's go from the two people who first who first were here. You know, and how that landscape's changed and how the buildings have changed, how the stories changed and stuff.

[00:08:30] Charlotte Barber: I just think it's a really, really fascinating way of looking at art. Human culture and how human culture is shaped by all these different external influences. Yeah, and I think I saw some pictures from the snow from like the 70s, I think. And there was like, that was like 12 foot it looked like. Yeah, huge.

[00:08:53] Charlotte Barber: Immense snows. And people, all the people are sat on these images. Yeah. There's, you know, they're in people's archives. I [00:09:00] know, I know. I know. Photo albums. And like, to tap into that is really exciting. Isn't it? It's really exciting. Yeah, I see stuff like, I follow, I'm such an, I feel like such an old woman sometimes, I follow all these Holmfirth footage history and they are absolutely fascinating and they'll just pull like this old.

[00:09:19] Charlotte Barber: Beautiful black and white photo out of I don't know where they pull it out of but it's just like I've never seen that I never even knew that existed. Yeah, so many little stories like you know about the Lido Lido the swimming pool. Yeah Yeah, it's like well, you know, let's look. What was this? What's the stories around that?

[00:09:34] Charlotte Barber: I want to talk to some people who knew it. There must be some characters that used to go there Also, why is it not open? Why? I know, I know. I know, I know. Oh, I'd be right down there. We did a, um, history, like, walk. There's a walker's group, isn't there? Yeah. So we did one of those, um, when we first got here, I think, and it took us, like, all the way out, and they were explaining about how the fields are slim and the reason why.

[00:09:59] Charlotte Barber: I can't remember the [00:10:00] reason. Something to do with medieval times. And, um, then they were saying this is the Lido. Me and Nath looked at each other and thought, Fuck me. Lido in River? Yeah, I mean, I am still discovering stuff now in Holmfirth Firth that I never even knew existed. I only realised that Walldale existed when I moved there, really.

[00:10:18] Charlotte Barber: And I was like, this is absolutely stunning. What's the history of Walldale? I didn't even know this was here. It's just like, buried in a back, a back alley somewhere. So yeah, it's just fascinating. My mum and dad moved up here, actually. Not that long ago. My dad was like, so interesting. I can literally walk all day and find something of interest.

[00:10:40] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, and I feel like here we're never gonna stop discovering walks and stop discovering stuff. Like every time I go on a walk, even if I've done the walk like 50 times, and I go like, Oh, I didn't realize that house was there. Well, oh, I didn't realize that was there. Yeah, yeah. And like, it just, stuff just seems to pop out.

[00:10:58] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, definitely. [00:11:00] Or there's like a building, I go on a walk and there's like a, an old building that's left like up in like Holmfirthstays and I'm like what the hell was that? Yeah. What were they doing there? Who were this, these people that were in this place? Yeah. And there's this little footprint of stories everywhere.

[00:11:12] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. You want to know who they are, what they did. Yeah. What they ate. Oh yeah, yeah. You know you could go really deep couldn't you? Yeah you could. I'm just really nosy, I think that's what it comes from, I'm just nosy as hell. Like you know, it's, but it, yeah I just love it, I love it. And then that's the same as when I'm just wandering around Holmfirth Firth and I see these incredible, you know, we've got all different characters come to Holmfirth Firth now.

[00:11:36] Charlotte Barber: Particularly, you know, I've definitely seen that in the last 10 years. There was always, you know, when I first moved here, there were potters, there were artists, it was really folky. So there were characters, but we're seeing a really interesting mix of, visually, a really interesting mix of folk. So, like, I've just done one of this woman I saw in these crazy zebra prints.

[00:11:56] Charlotte Barber: Trousers. I was just like, this is just, there's textures [00:12:00] and patterns and all sorts everywhere. Yeah. And I almost want to stop people like that and be like, yeah, I know. Where'd you get them from? I know. I'm tempted. Why have you got them? It's almost like I'm really tempted. Do you know, you could be Humans of Holmfirth Firth.

[00:12:14] Charlotte Barber: Do you know, yeah. Humans of New York. Yeah. Do Humans of Holmfirth Firth. That's exactly, that's kind of the tip I was going on. Yeah. I used to be so fascinated with those Humans of Amsterdam pages. And then the, I'm just not at a point where I really want to go up to people, but I also think they'll think, can you go away please?

[00:12:30] Charlotte Barber: Can you just not, just not do that? Like, hello, I really like your pants. Yeah. Love your pants. Can I, can I draw them? And who are you and where are you going? And they'll be like, oh, this is against GDPR, can you please leave me alone? Just go away, please. Or you get a really, like, annoyed, like, old lady who's just like, piss off!

[00:12:51] Charlotte Barber: Yeah!

[00:12:55] Charlotte Barber: I'm just off some tripe, get on! Just bought my tongue.[00:13:00] 

[00:13:03] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, but yeah, it's just fab, I love it. There's just so much. The thing is, there's so much to do. And I've only got two pair, two, two pairs of hands? I've got one pair of hands! And two, two, I don't know, anyway. The hands are limited. Yeah, yeah. But there's just so many things going around my head of what we, what we can do and what kind of things I can show about Holmfirth Firth.

[00:13:26] Charlotte Barber: I just love it. It's ace. Yeah, yeah. I think the layers to Holmfirth Firth are just immense. I mean like, the tour bus, you might see it today. Um, I did notice that he was having troubles with the tour bus, getting insured or something. Oh! Um, it came up on Facebook. Is there a story I've missed, Charlotte, about the tour bus?

[00:13:45] Charlotte Barber: Well, um, there is a couple of stories about the tour bus. So, uh, you are sitting in a famous property. This was on Last of Summer Wine. Are you serious? Yes. So we didn't know until my [00:14:00] mother in law was like, Should we go on the tour bus? So me and Nath like, rolled our eyes like, Oh bloody, our last summer wine.

[00:14:06] Charlotte Barber: Like, all right, we'll go on it. You know, we remember from like, on a Sunday night you'd have it on and mum would be like, It's your bath time. And so it was like, It was like, depressing like bullseye. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like we knew like, right, okay. Sunday night is like winding in because we're watching last summer wine.

[00:14:23] Charlotte Barber: So. We kept getting people, we kept getting the bus like slow past our house and we couldn't really figure out why because previous owners hadn't told us and all we got told by the neighbours was like it's just a tour that goes around and it's like an older guy. So we went and did the tour and he slowed down by the house and was like this was on, I can't remember what episode, I mean they've looked at our house, looked at each other and went.

[00:14:46] Charlotte Barber: Oh shit. So they have gone past while I've been in light of my dress and gown. And so just to explain to listeners, our house is like, we've got a drive and then it's the road and the road's not particularly [00:15:00] busy, but we've got three quite big windows at the front. And our bathroom window is at the front of the house.

[00:15:06] Charlotte Barber: Now this will come in in a second. But. I've been like making cups of tea like looking like a complete scraggly mess in the like on a Saturday morning say at 11. Then the bus tour slows down and there's all people with their phones filming so no doubt I'm on some Facebook group. And then um, I Last year, I was like, I had a nice long shower and thought oh, I'll just moisturise myself, put the loo lid down and was like, moisturising my legs.

[00:15:34] Charlotte Barber: The fucking bus went past, didn't it? It freaked, it freaked all of them out. Oh my god. And I thought to myself, now, are we at a point where we start charging for things like this? I want to know what it was on for. So it was on the Front used to have like a little garden and it was like a I think it was a Houdini episode or something and like they were all barging around in the kitchen and out of the [00:16:00] front door Oh, I will be googling this.

[00:16:02] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, so do because I think we tried to find it and we found We managed to find a tiny clip of it. Um, and it was before Next Door was built as well, so like That is phenomenal. That is phenomenal. You are in the annals of Holmfirth birth history. That is, that is That is an achievement. We said we need one of those blue plaques.

[00:16:25] Charlotte Barber: You know like the um The history ones, but you can get them from, um, a very well known card shop and you can personalize them. So we were debating doing that. Do it! Do it! But then it explained why it was slowing down every time. So, they have definitely sinned my arse. And when we were doing the kitchen, you know what it's like when you renovate in a bit and you've just got bits of shit out everywhere.

[00:16:52] Charlotte Barber: And it came past as like half the kitchen was set outside. It looked like a shit hole. I mean, it doesn't look much better at the minute, but [00:17:00] it just, and I thought I'm so embarrassed because he's like showing like the, the history of it. But the amount of times I've been stuck behind that fucking coach coming up.

[00:17:09] Charlotte Barber: He's so slow. I know. He's so slow, bless him. I know. I know. I know. Yeah, definitely. Although I have seen, now you're, now you're telling me, that beautiful old coach I think has been swapped for a, a big white transit van that's got just a huge sticker on that says TV Locations Tour, which is not quite as, not quite as sexy, is it?

[00:17:29] Charlotte Barber: No, I think what, um, from what I gather, he was trying to sell it. Oh. Sell the business. Oh, hang on. Because I do think he is a little bit older. Yes. Um, and also something, when I've done the tour, I remember he. Either rented out a location or was something to do with the locations within Holmfirth Firth. Oh really?

[00:17:49] Charlotte Barber: So it was something to do with last of summer wine so, I mean he's making a fucking mint off it. Is he? Because he's charging a tenner, a tenner a seat and he's got a good ten or twelve seats in there. [00:18:00] Oh do you know what? Do you know what? This is, I'm going to have to confess. I've lived here for however many years and I've never done the tour.

[00:18:09] Charlotte Barber: You should do it. I really should. I feel like I should. It's hilarious. It was one of those where like, me and Nath sat there and just thought. Is this going to be one of those cheesy things that we think, why the fuck have the in laws dragged us on this? And actually, we all came off it howling with laughter.

[00:18:25] Charlotte Barber: It was really funny. I need to go on it. Yeah, it was really funny. And I've seen the new bus thing, so I don't know whether he's been brought out or I hope the coach hasn't been. It's an institution. Yeah. But also the fuel gauge when we were in there, the fuel gauge was swinging from full to empty and depending on which way you went up or down the hill.

[00:18:45] Charlotte Barber: Amazing. So If he's leaning, if he's upwards? Yeah, it was full. That's amazing. So, yeah, I mean, I think there's space for We were having a chat about this, about like, Holmfirth Firth changing, and there's space for these [00:19:00] older things to happen, but we shouldn't rely on Last of the Summer Wine to still get us through another 50 years.

[00:19:06] Charlotte Barber: No, no, I think you're right. And I think, and I think that is naturally, you are seeing that natural evolution. Yeah, yeah. You know, it is definitely, it's not relying on that, I mean, there's been however many articles in the Guardian and the Times, and you've seen the result of that, I think, is, you know, all these new independent businesses popping up.

[00:19:31] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, and they're amazing and fabulous and it's great that there is this influx and I just don't want to lose the layers that have come before because, you know, the layers that have come before what what made everybody want to come here in the first place and it is what's made it unique. Um, but there's room for everything, I think, and just an acknowledgement that times change.

[00:19:53] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, times change, but also an acknowledgement that actually there are things that. [00:20:00] That created it to be what it is. So just, uh, I think I'm, I'm quite respectful of that. I think, I think I'm quite respectful of that. And I think that's a good thing to be because there's still people here who were born here, who have a very different history and a very different knowledge of Holmfirth firth.

[00:20:17] Charlotte Barber: And, uh, you know, I want to be respectful of that in some ways. Yeah. Because I was, when I moved here, I was referred to as a Cumberinna many times and I heard that all the time. Yeah. And you know what? I kind of go, yeah, do you know what? That's absolutely fine. You can say that. That's 100%. I've been here 20 odd years or whatever now, but, but you know, that's fine.

[00:20:39] Charlotte Barber: I appreciate your town. We're all Cumberinnas in some way, aren't we? Yeah, I think you're right. And I think like for us, we're originally from The Fens, like East Anglia, where it's like completely flat. You can see like, for miles, just Do you like hills, Charlotte? Yeah, I do. It's a different I mean, after looking at [00:21:00] one view for 25 years, I'm quite happy to look at something different.

[00:21:04] Charlotte Barber: Fair enough, fair enough. But it's one of those like, the appreciation for where, the history of where you come from, and like, I look at the little town I'm from And I wish the councillors were a bit more, um, is the right word, stringent on the big businesses coming in. I wish they'd like kept it like Holmfirth Fur Fair is, full of independence, because it would have made for a nicer feeling in the town.

[00:21:30] Charlotte Barber: But I also understand why they've done it. They needed to elevate it and, you know, but, and I think, you if small towns can hold on to parts of their history and weave it into yes like the newer parts of that's exactly that's absolutely right that's absolutely i think that's absolutely right don't lose the heritage the heritage is what makes it really special yeah um but you know do things in in in alignment with it i think and you you want to a [00:22:00] winner yeah yeah definitely um that's somebody's house alarm that keeps going brave Um, yeah, it's really annoying, it keeps going off like, I think it's Fishman's House.

[00:22:11] Charlotte Barber: Fishman's House? I need to illustrate Fishman, obviously! You do need to illustrate, you do need to illustrate Fishman, because he's, he's local. Is he half man, half fish? Yeah, um, top half is fish. Legs of a man. No, bless him, he's really lovely. Um, he owns the fish shop. Uh, the other side of town. Ah, fish man.

[00:22:36] Charlotte Barber: Amazing. I'm just, well, like I was saying to you off air about the nicknames I had for a certain, uh, neighbour's cat. Um, which I won't repeat. I end up giving people nicknames, or like, I know people's dogs names. And then I'm like, Oh, hi, Bella. And they're like, Hey, how are you? And I'm like, Hmm, forgot your name.

[00:22:57] Charlotte Barber: I think all cats named after [00:23:00] dictators. It's a good thing. It's a good thing. Especially when they've got a certain toupee and moustache. Um, but yeah, I won't repeat that story on there. Um, but yeah, I do think the history of the town is important. Something that's really interesting, and I think that you're doing it in such an Because you're doing stuff digitally as well.

[00:23:23] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Like, I cannot get my head around digital art. Like, I cannot get my head around it. And I've seen you work, and I'm like, how? How is this? How are you, how are you doing it? So how did you find that transition from being more traditional to into digital? Absolutely. Easy as hell, in all honesty. Yeah, you know what?

[00:23:46] Charlotte Barber: It's a really funny thing. For ages, I was kind of, I went in my 20s. I was quite, not anti digital, but you know, I worked with really fine detail. You know, um, [00:24:00] like rotring pens, technical illustration, really. Um, and I loved that. I did lots of other stuff gouache and watercolour and all sorts of stuff. And, and I loved it, but it's no different.

[00:24:13] Charlotte Barber: It is no different. And I say this to everyone, what I do is no different. It is just a different medium. Yeah. I really wanted to try it because I just loved some of the stuff, the vibrancy, and it's such a different way in kids book illustration. I just think there's some absolutely beautiful digital art.

[00:24:32] Charlotte Barber: It often gets overlooked because, you know, a lot of people were, I guess, really into that traditional. They feel like they need to have a hand in it. It's still got a hand in it. It's all done. It's absolutely hand drawn. Um, But I remember just saying to my husband one day, I really want to have a go at it.

[00:24:51] Charlotte Barber: And I got very spoiled, got gifted a Wacom tablet. Oh nice, yeah. For Christmas. And um, [00:25:00] I sat on my desk for ages and I was like, Oh, I should have a go at this. And I downloaded Illustrator and Photoshop. And it took me ages to teach myself. And I hated it and I put it down and I'm like, this is horrendous.

[00:25:16] Charlotte Barber: This is awful. It's not even real and I'm not doing it and it's awful. Um, and so this expensive thing sat on my desk for ages. And then one day I had to make the decision of am I getting rid of this? Or am I going to commit to it? Yeah. So I just made a commitment to myself to teach myself. How to do it and it was a really steep learning curve.

[00:25:38] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, and it was something totally different. I'm not very techie But I just taught myself and you've got access to so many, you know YouTube You don't have to watch there's so many things on YouTube You can teach yourself if you've got any aptitude at all And I would say to people if you want to do it just do it that way So yeah, I just taught myself and it's exactly the same techniques that [00:26:00] I use And I absolutely love it Charlotte.

[00:26:04] Charlotte Barber: I absolutely love it. So I keep saying I sold some stuff at Art Week and I was having some conversations with some of the people who were buying it and they were, I think people, a lot of people are absolutely mesmerised with digital art that you can create the detail, you know. You're just drawing with pixels essentially aren't you?

[00:26:22] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. But you're doing, it's exactly the same, it's just not paint or it's just not ink, it's just pixels. It's exactly the same thing. And I love it. I love the workflow. I love that you can. Excuse me. You're alright, don't worry. That you can kind of, you know, make mistakes, and it's not, it's much more forgiving when you're doing that.

[00:26:43] Charlotte Barber: And I think that's, that's, you know, the reality of being a busy mum and all that type of stuff makes it so much easier in some respects. That's alright. I don't know, are you dying? Slowly dying? Just, do you know what I mean? Don't die as Fishman. [00:27:00] It'll be in here. Straight away. Fishman. Don't put any water in a jug.

[00:27:08] Charlotte Barber: Fishman will be all over it. Fucking hell. Oh, no, it's just a random Nice pictured room. Thanks. You see? Always the Holmfirth first link, always. That's it. These as well, these picture drone mugs, um, the handles they interlink so that you can just, when you walk from the bar you've only got to carry one handle and you can carry up to four drinks.

[00:27:31] Charlotte Barber: That's That's really good design, isn't it? Uh, yeah, really good. Really good. Love that. That's great. They're lovely. Yeah. We end up with those because, uh, Naif always knocks over a glass, so You know, we've just got the plastic ones. It's an idiot's glass, basically. Yeah, yeah, basically. That's what it is. Um, yeah, so you were talking about Illustrator and, uh, having the Wacom, and I do think it is a different medium.

[00:27:59] Charlotte Barber: You're [00:28:00] still creating, you're still drawing, you're still creating. It's exactly, yeah, it's exactly the same. For me, I just don't see it as any different to when I was doing things in ink or when I was doing, it's no different. Do you still do stuff in ink and pencil? I don't really, so I had a little bit of time in between where I was, so I had a business called Shoe Tattoo and I was doing, uh, hand painted custom shoes and I was, yeah, that was really successful actually.

[00:28:33] Charlotte Barber: I was doing that one of possibly, I think probably one of the first people over this way to be doing, there was a lot of people in the States doing like baked kind of custom stuff. So I did a lot of that and I was pretty successful and I was doing stuff for bands in America and musicians up and down.

[00:28:49] Charlotte Barber: So that was the last time I really worked traditionally. Um, before I started exploring this digital side, but I am looking at doing a few, um, [00:29:00] projects that, uh, um, more traditional. Yeah. I'm looking at working with, um, some kind of creative companies and we're talking about potentially doing some stuff that's kind of more that fine line.

[00:29:11] Charlotte Barber: So more like my traditional. archaeological illustration. That's nice that you'll be able to like, that you can still do both and have that mix. Yeah. Because I think sometimes, I don't know about you, I end up having like loads of little craft projects on the go and I can't just stick to one thing. No. And I'm like, actually it's more for me, my brain needs to.

[00:29:34] Charlotte Barber: Fill in that like drawing it then go and do the stitching. Yeah, and like kind of have a bit of everything. Yeah Yeah, yeah, I used to I'm definitely feeling I'm definitely feeling like I want to do go back to doing something with the custom clothing hand painter clothing Yeah, like that's a definitely an itch.

[00:29:54] Charlotte Barber: I probably will need to scratch soon. I think Do you, have you thought about chatting to [00:30:00] Shannon at Dottie and doing like a jacket range? No, that'd be good, wouldn't it though? Yeah. I've done a few wedding shoes as well, like hand painted wedding shoes, which are really Yeah. I mean I did like some rockabilly stuff when it was like, when that was hip, wasn't it?

[00:30:13] Charlotte Barber: Like, I don't know, 10 or 15 years ago. Yeah, yeah. But then some like really lovely hand painted like silk. Wedding shoes. Because you could do veils as well. You could do all sorts. But it's like that whole thing about the two hands again is where do you put your focus I guess? I want to do it everywhere but I just don't have time.

[00:30:32] Charlotte Barber: I get that. Because often as well. I think it's being creative and like kind of having that brain where you go, Oh, this is a great idea. And then you ping pong like those ping pong machines and you're trying a bit of everything. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. And then you lose a little bit of focus, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing.

[00:30:49] Charlotte Barber: No, I try lots of different things. I agree with you. It's just my tendency to then just, I'm terrible. Like I've had lots of projects on the go. So I've had this shoe tattoo and I've done this and I've done that. And [00:31:00] I'm, I was talking to Cicely about it. Yeah. You know, we were talking, um, and I was saying, I'm, I'm I'm terrible for getting bored easily with something so, you know, so far, so far, I'm really enjoying the folks in fabric stuff that I'm doing.

[00:31:17] Charlotte Barber: I'm really enjoying that. Because there's potentially loads of different elements to it, and I think I'm only just scratching the surface of what I can do with that, which is great. And it seems to be kind of holding my interest for now. But yeah, it is, it's just time and, and like you say, a commitment to it and not just flitting about and doing a bit of everything.

[00:31:38] Charlotte Barber: But I think also if somebody said to you, can you do me a favour? Like, hand painted jacket or wedding shoes. Yeah. I think it's one of those that you could have Yeah, definitely. Like, alongside to kind of scratch that itch Yeah. Without kind of like, fully Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Being absorbed in it. Yeah. But it's, it's such a nice thing.

[00:31:56] Charlotte Barber: Like, I'd have loved to have had hand painted, like, wedding shoes. Do you know what I mean? [00:32:00] Yeah. And I wish I had. Yeah. I mean, I dip dyed my veil, so I didn't really want a veil. That sounds nice. Well. The story about my veil is I dip dyed it and it was bright pink at the bottom fading into like white and then hand stitched on iridescent, um, sequins.

[00:32:18] Charlotte Barber: I really want to see this. I'll have to show you. When we're done, I'll show you because, um, and, uh, then, so it just clipped in the back, didn't go over the front. It was quite a long one. And, um, I went, walked down the aisle, I tripped over my dress like three times, I put a hole in my dress before we'd even walked down the aisle.

[00:32:37] Charlotte Barber: And, um, got down to the aisle and halfway through our vows my, my, um, veil just went off the clip. And it slunk all the way down. And I picked it up, it was in a pool, and I just slung it at, like, my mum and my sister. And I just went, oh, I didn't want a bloody veil anyway. And it just, like, that was it. Then it was, like, in a pool somewhere.

[00:32:59] Charlotte Barber: Like, it was [00:33:00] just gathered up with the other stuff, you know, at the end of the night. And I was like, bloody thing. And then I've thought what to do with it, because it's such a long amount of fabric. It's, like, two metres, I think. So it's such a long amount of fabric, and I'm like, what do you do with it? I know, you're like, you can't, it's not one of those things, is it, where you can, is it like tulle, or whatever?

[00:33:17] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah, so you can't, like a netting type thing. Tulle, tulle, tulle, tulle. Yeah, tulle.

[00:33:30] Charlotte Barber: And I think like, do I have it as like a canopy over the bed? And then I'm like, am I a princess? Yes, you are Charlotte! But it's one of those like, what do you do with it? And I was saying to Nath about the wedding dress. So we'd been married six and a half years. And Wedding Dress has got the day on it, you know, it's got a day of markets, you know, and there's a button missing off the back and like everything.

[00:33:54] Charlotte Barber: And I said to Nath, do we get it framed? And he was like, that's a bit weird to frame it and hang it somewhere. And I was like, is it [00:34:00] though? Because at the minute it's just in a suitcase. Isn't it crazy that, that it just gets I've forgotten about like one of the most significant dresses of the year. Yeah, and it's so detailed and you know, yeah, it's just left.

[00:34:16] Charlotte Barber: Hey, I know what you mean. I know what you mean when you think about it. It's really random, isn't it, that they just Yeah, and then like, I was like, well do I clean it and like sell it? And then I thought, well my sister dropped like a glass of red wine on the back of it, so like there's, there's no way that's coming out.

[00:34:32] Charlotte Barber: Um, and then I thought, I don't think I'd be able to let it go. Because it holds so, such sentimental value. But then it's so detailed and so pretty, like so much hand work has gone into it. So it's a piece of art within itself, but then, yeah, Nath thinks it's weird to get it hung up. I know, I know. Yeah, I mean, mine's disgraceful.

[00:34:53] Charlotte Barber: It's absolutely disgusting. And it's in this beautiful like, you know, the zip bag thing [00:35:00] hung up like a, like a, some kind of iconic thing in my wardrobe, but it is literally just like in tatters at the back. This beautiful lace is just black and in tatters. It just looks disgusting. Yeah. Bottom of mine is the same.

[00:35:14] Charlotte Barber: I might have to just cut the bottom off. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I was like, do I then Diet. Imagine. Do you know what I mean? Like, just cut it and Could you wear it out? Could you wear it, like I mean, I'd rock it, I think. I think you would. But, yeah, like, it's just diet, like, you know, what do you do? And my sister, she didn't get married in a dress, she got married in a Stella McCartney jumpsuit.

[00:35:37] Charlotte Barber: Oh, I mean, that's Like a white jumpsuit. That's really posh as well, isn't it? Yeah. That's real poshness. Yeah. So, we were like, she was like, I don't really want a traditional dress. That sounds gorgeous. It was so nice, that halter neck. Um, and she actually had the legs cut because it was a wide leg, um, jumpsuit.

[00:35:54] Charlotte Barber: So she's had the legs cut and worn it on holiday and all sorts. Has she? Yeah. That's the way to do it. [00:36:00] Yeah. So she's had more value out of it because she bought something. That was a bit more versatile. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and at the time everyone was like, oh she's wearing a jumpsuit And I was like, she's rocking it.

[00:36:13] Charlotte Barber: Yes, you can hear everyone being like, oh That's such a nice idea. Yeah. Yeah something completely different I think if I got married again, there would definitely be leopard print like on the dress. I mean like it's it's your signature, isn't it? Yeah, yeah glitter. Yeah. Yes, and I just think You know back in when we got married.

[00:36:33] Charlotte Barber: I was a bit more conscious of being traditional and like yeah me too other people Expected us to look like yeah, and it was kind of pushing it that bridesmaids and groomsmen didn't match, you know that yeah Yeah, yeah pushing. Yeah Yeah, edgy. Yeah, I know And we put beer pong in the like we had legendary event space the dads ended up playing beer pong You And I [00:37:00] had to step quite far away from the table because beer was being spilt everywhere.

[00:37:04] Charlotte Barber: That's a nice, that's a nice wedding though. Yeah, it was good fun, but I think me and Naif often say like, what would we do now? Like, you know, six years on, trends change and everything, don't they? And I was like, I'd definitely My confidence in who I am has grown as I've gotten older, so I definitely would have just been like, Fuck this, I'm going full leopard print.

[00:37:25] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um. That would be, that would be incredible, wouldn't it? Yeah. I mean, it would have looked cool, he had like a tux and a white jacket with the tux. That's phenomenal. Yeah, he looked incredible. He was like, why should you just be the one wearing like, white? Of course, yes. And I was like, absolutely.

[00:37:43] Charlotte Barber: I think, yeah, neon leopard print. Oh yeah, yeah, that would have been Yeah? Oh sensational. Um, what would you, what would you have changed about your wedding? If you could do it again? I don't know, what? I, my wedding day has to be one of the, the [00:38:00] days I'm most proud of because we, yeah We made a commitment, we made a decision when we got married that it would be, it was really, really budget, really budget.

[00:38:11] Charlotte Barber: So we hired Hepworth Village Hall. Oh nice. Which is, if you're from Holmforth, it's just literally just a little village hall in, The most beautiful surroundings, you know, and it was about 200 quid for three days. Oh, amazing. So that was our, our venue cost. We did a booze run to France, so nobody had to pay for booze.

[00:38:31] Charlotte Barber: So all our tables were just laden with wine. Cause we just wanted, we were like, what, what, what, what do we want for a wedding? We want a party. Yeah. We just want a party. We want people to feel comfortable. So what don't we want? We don't want a first dance, that awkward thing where people choreograph stuff.

[00:38:47] Charlotte Barber: That's not. We don't want long speeches where people are absolutely bored to hell because they don't really care, they just want a drink. So we didn't want those. We got a [00:39:00] gypsy jazz band, so like manouche jazz. Nice. And we just got everybody pissed. Nice. You know what I mean? Yeah. And, and, I had a, best thing, I had a beautiful dress made, which I'd seen, um, an Alice Templey dress.

[00:39:14] Charlotte Barber: Ooh. Which was gorgeous. Nice. It was like lace, like vintage lace, but, but black lace as well on the arm, one of the arms. So I was like, can someone remake this? Because I can't afford an Alice Templey dress, so. That was the only thing I spent money on. And it's having a dress made. But everything else was just hugely relaxed.

[00:39:33] Charlotte Barber: We got married in the parish church in Holmfirthforth. Which nobody, I can't believe, but apparently he was telling us that nobody does it. Nobody does it. There's hardly any weddings in the parish church in Holmfirthforth in the centre. I had my old Golf Cabrio that didn't start. It was like this beautiful papyrus green VW, like Mark 1 Golf Cabrio.

[00:39:54] Charlotte Barber: It was like, Y reg. And I was like, I'm using my car. I love this old car. I don't [00:40:00] have it anymore. But it didn't start as I got in from the church to go to my venue. And I wouldn't change a thing about it. It's the one day that I think we got it absolutely bloody right. And the comments, I mean, everybody says, Oh, it's the best wedding we've ever been to.

[00:40:15] Charlotte Barber: Because that's what they have to do. But people were saying, and husbands of people who came, who didn't know us, were saying it was just so relaxed and they didn't have to go through any of the rigmarole. Yeah. And it was just, so it was just a gorgeous country boozy do. Yeah, and that is, my mum, bless her, made all these, this bunt in.

[00:40:35] Charlotte Barber: She made my mum, my, my kids waistcoats, my husband's waistcoat. She went to, we've got some Macclesfield silk for like ties and bows, made all this stuff. So it's all just ridiculously budget. We picked wildflowers the day of the wedding and made bouquets and I didn't have anybody, we didn't have a photographer.

[00:40:53] Charlotte Barber: We just had my friend take photos. Yeah. So I wouldn't change a thing. It's everything that, kind of, it was [00:41:00] everything. It was local, it was budget, it was us, and everybody was pissed. I mean, that's, that was a great day. Nailed it. Nailed it. That was a great day. Yeah, nailed it. It sounds so nice. And I think, I love chatting to people about the weddings because I think everybody has a different, view of what a wedding should be.

[00:41:21] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And like, me and Nath were the first of the siblings, the grandchildren, to get married. Yeah. So we had like, expectations. Yeah. And we both said like, we're glad we did the three course meal, because um, unfortunately we don't have his Nan and Grandad anymore, and they really loved it. That's a lovely thing to have though, yeah.

[00:41:39] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. I mean, his Nan, and she will be laughing. But she sat there till half one in the morning and she actually had a mobility scooter. Yeah I love it. She was cutting around on that mobility scooter. I'll tell you, Manchester Town Hall did not know what was coming when they Is that where you had it? Yeah, yeah.

[00:41:58] Charlotte Barber: That's a great, that's what, [00:42:00] great venue, you know? Yeah, yeah. Oh, it was great. It was like Harry Potter world. Wow. It was insane. And the We got it just before they closed for renovation. So we were one of the last handful of weddings. That's a great venue Yeah, it was really good because then nobody had to Get a bus to go anywhere or they didn't have to be in two different like venues.

[00:42:23] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah, like we got married literally everybody came out turned left and then went into the next room amazing done amazing Um, but we had the beer pong. We did like a little photo booth with a Polaroid That's fun though. Yeah, my mate shot it. So he was gradually getting pissed. You know, it's great a mate You know good fun.

[00:42:45] Charlotte Barber: Um And then, yeah, we had the, it was slightly more traditional because we had the like, um, sit down meal and we had the um, Oh, fucking hell, the speeches. So I went to do a speech, but by this point I was absolutely [00:43:00] wankered. And the only thing I could say was like, Mum, I told you I wanted a Colin the Caterpillar cake.

[00:43:08] Charlotte Barber: She's never going to live that down. She told me I couldn't have a Colin the Caterpillar cake for a wedding cake. So then I said, well. You go buy a cake, and got a two layer cake from, used to be a shop called Holmfirth Sweet Holmfirth in, um, Uh, Manchester in the Northern Quarter. And they did crazy flavoured cakes.

[00:43:29] Charlotte Barber: So this was like Viennese Whirl and Battenberg flavoured cake. I think I've heard of this before actually, yeah. Yeah, and it was incredible. Oh, Battenberg cake? Yes. Stop the press. It was incredible. Yes! Oh. But so we got married on the 30th of December. So the next day we had a house party with All our mates who were living down south.

[00:43:51] Charlotte Barber: It'll come up for a couple of nights phenomenal so we took the top layer of the cake because you have to go the next day so that those kind of venues and like Take whatever you want [00:44:00] back took the top layer of cake now Ali, I thought that everybody else was eating this cake as well. Turns out that I ate over half the cake by myself.

[00:44:10] Charlotte Barber: Good girl. That's what I say. Good girl. I was like, oh, everyone's enjoying this cake. And Nath was like, no, nobody else has had any. It was just me. You are my spirit animal, Charlotte. You are my spirit animal. It was sensational. And it was just great. And like you, like, there's, if If we do it again, there'd be little things would change but only because now we're in a different situation, you know, we're not 30 year old Nathan Shar anymore, you know, yeah, yeah, definitely.

[00:44:40] Charlotte Barber: But yeah, love a good wedding. I think if it's If it's so much of your personality in it, I think some people tend to get lost in it because like you, you know, we were talking about duty. Yeah. Feeling, you know, you've got to do things a certain way. And I think if you don't, if you, if you don't feel that and it's just your personality in it, you can't [00:45:00] fail to get it right, can you?

[00:45:02] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, exactly that. And I think all the best weddings we've been to are the ones with a bit of personality. Like you were saying about the first dance, my sister and her husband didn't do a first dance, but they did a first shot of tequila. I mean, You know what I mean? Yeah. And like our mates, they had a, um, they got married in a registry office before their wedding.

[00:45:22] Charlotte Barber: And then they did a wedding in their mum and dad's back, in her mum and dad's back garden, put a marquee up and they had like a, um. Is it the Celtic, where they do fabric over your hands and stuff? Yes, like a knot type of thing. Yeah, like a knot ceremony. And we all sat on hay bales and that. And then we all wheeled round a trailer full of booze to the local village hall and they had a, is it a ceilidh band where they all grab you and start singing?

[00:45:46] Charlotte Barber: Like, just incredible. That's, they're the type of, I mean, I remember in my wedding, my husband, is a producer. He had his own label and they had a label based in Manchester called Hood Tracks and he got [00:46:00] up and he brought his decks so he had his technics and he was like playing just a like vinyl only set.

[00:46:06] Charlotte Barber: Oh nice. Just got up took his tie off he was like this is what I want to do this is my my wedding day so he had his his label lads and they were all just playing and what a great you know that's a great way he was like I'm doing a gig at my own wedding that's amazing that's what I want to do. Yeah.

[00:46:20] Charlotte Barber: And why not? Yeah. It's the stuff you remember. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Definitely. We, I mean, we went to a wedding in April. I'm not sure if I've told you this, but it was, I know, I knew the bride quite well and Nath didn't know anybody. And so we were like, it's like a date day, isn't it? You know? Yeah. So it turns out that I got really fucking hammered and I've since told my friend about, about this because she was focused on her day.

[00:46:49] Charlotte Barber: So then, um, in between like the food and the first dance, um, we got chatting to some other people and me and this girl just went off for a wee and then we're like, she wanted a cigarette so I was like, [00:47:00] oh, I'll join you outside. And then, so my friend got married in like a quite a nice stately kind of Holmfirth.

[00:47:05] Charlotte Barber: So then I turned my bird app on because I could hear all these birds. I was like, look at this, look, look at all these birds, look at all these birds. We missed the cake cutting and the first dance because we were listening to the birds. You know what, the geek in me, Charlotte, wants to go, what birds were they?

[00:47:23] Charlotte Barber: I couldn't tell you right this second. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. You've disappointed me, Charlotte. I have that. Chirp o matic, mine's called. Oh, this is Merlin. Oh. Yeah. I think mine might be, like, the Wish version, isn't it, then? Oh, I matic, you know, you can, it's like But yeah, I love it. I'm addicted to that.

[00:47:45] Charlotte Barber: Oh, well I love it, especially because down here there's so many birds that come. We had a tawny owl and I don't know whether you believe in signs but Nath's nan's sign is an owl so his birthday we were like what is that racket and it was like [00:48:00] nine o'clock at night. No. Looked out the door. And there was a Tawny Owl looking directly at the window and it just sang a little song to us, then went off and flew up in between the houses.

[00:48:11] Charlotte Barber: It was nice, man. Yeah, saying like, happy birthday, dude. Oh. Yeah. I mean, it can't, it can be nothing else but that. No, exactly. So, um. Yeah, he, we um, we, I love the app because now I know when the tourney owl's there and I knew it was a tourney owl because I could click on the app and be like, oh, that's what it is.

[00:48:29] Charlotte Barber: Absolutely, I'm addicted to it. Anyone that comes for a walk with me, I'm not kidding, I'm probably the most boring person in the world. I've got so many apps, I'm like, hang on. It's a plant, just get my plant identifier out, I'll just get my mushroom identifier out. Yeah. And I've got birds, mushrooms, plants, insects.

[00:48:47] Charlotte Barber: I want to know everything, Charlotte. I want to know everything. Yeah, I'm the same. Like, I want to see a plant, or I'm eyeing up people's gardens. People must think I'm so rude when I'm walking the dog. I'm literally head over the fence, like, peering in, like, Ooh, I like that plant. [00:49:00] Ooh, I like that plant. And Nath's like, stop smelling people's flowers in their garden.

[00:49:05] Charlotte Barber: It's like, you're gonna get, uh A bee sting before long because you're just going to shove your face in a massive rose and just there's going to be bees come at you and I'm like, yeah, the perfect sting. Have you never thefted as well? Taking a little cut in? Oh, yeah. Nath's dad carries secateurs with him wherever he goes in a little like plastic bag.

[00:49:24] Charlotte Barber: Um, I caught him once cutting something and putting it in his glasses case.

[00:49:32] Charlotte Barber: So, yeah, I need to start carrying, uh, carrying little secateurs and just like Yeah, honestly. Addicted. Yeah. I can't wait to get our garden sorted so I can have a little bit of a growing patch, a little bit of like, different things coming out. Brilliant, because you're like, you're a full sunnier, aren't you?

[00:49:49] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Yeah, we're full sun. But the downside is we're also 70 mile an hour winds when they come. Yeah, that's what we, when we moved into our house, which is not far from yours really, but [00:50:00] we never realised that it was called Windy Ridge. It was on the gates. Windy Ridge. I didn't realise at all. I was like, what beautiful views.

[00:50:07] Charlotte Barber: Then the winter, it's literally like a wind tunnel. Yeah. It's so dangerous to open the back door because you literally would just go straight down the valley. Yeah. We're the same. Do you see the rain coming sideways? Yes. And you're like, you can see it coming in. And you go, I've got three minutes to get washing in.

[00:50:26] Charlotte Barber: And you run down, like siren and alarm. Get your washing in. It's coming. We're like, uh, there's a storm coming down the hatches. Exactly. But I wouldn't change it for the world. Even when it was snowing. And I had to message a client with a picture of my car stuck in the snow. And the tractor hadn't been up.

[00:50:48] Charlotte Barber: It sounds so country, but there is a tractor that comes and does our, um, what do they call it? Sprinkle it with salt. Yeah. Like, salt bae. And, um, he hadn't come that morning, [00:51:00] and I thought, I can't leave. Yeah. So I had to send a picture to the client at seven in the morning and be like, I'm sorry, I cannot get over to Manchester.

[00:51:06] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And she went, do not worry, I'm the other side of the hill. Oh, no way. I'm still stuck. Oh my god. Yeah, yeah. I don't think people know, I mean, the winters aren't quite as bad as they, they were, but, I mean, You're too elevated to get anywhere, aren't you? Yeah. If it snows here, you are absolutely knackered.

[00:51:24] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. But, um, yeah, I loved that about when I was, when I was working before, like, you were working from Holmfirth and stuff, I used to be like, oh, I love living in Holmfirthforth. The amount of times I'd go, oh, I'm sorry, I can't even get out of my drive, goodbye, I'm not coming in today. Yeah. And it was just the, the, the best bit about living in Holmfirthforth were the winters.

[00:51:40] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And how harsh it was. Yeah, I'm just a little bit, it gets a bit sketchy with the ice because the roads are like lanes, basically. Um, but, I mean it's one of those, you just cope with it, don't you? You just go, well Fuck it. Yeah. There's worse places to be stuck when there's three foot of snow.

[00:51:59] Charlotte Barber: [00:52:00] Definitely, mate. And you know, a bit of tobogganing down Cinder Hills. Yeah. What's wrong with that? Oh yeah. Yeah, exactly. I think we like slid down and landed straight in Karsk. Like, well, we'll watch the world go by. Oh dear, I'll have a glass of pinot, please. Yeah, yeah, heaven forbid, oh, we're just in our tracksuit bottoms and our walking boots.

[00:52:19] Charlotte Barber: And Sam's like, don't worry about it, it's fine. Um, but yeah, that's also that I like that sense of community, like, here. It's just, it's so nice. I chat about it all the time because it's just so friendly and just a nice, creative space. Yeah, it is, yeah, it is. It is, it is, it is. It's unique. I mean You know, I've lived, well, I guess not all over, but lots of places I've lived just don't have what it has here.

[00:52:49] Charlotte Barber: It really is unique, I think. Is that the bus? Oh no. No. No. Flash something. Come on. Get a boob out. [00:53:00] Better see my arse so, you know, may as well make it a whole house.

[00:53:08] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, it is. It's ace. I love it. It's super friendly. It's safe. My kids love it. They're older now, but they get involved in stuff and it's just, you know, we're all. It's a really supportive community. Yeah, yeah. Massive. Like, when I walked into society, I was like, this is, this is it. It's full of like, people who want you to succeed.

[00:53:33] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And support you in such a nice way. Yeah. And nobody's like, Nobody's pushy. Like, you know, some business advice that some people can get really pushy and nobody's like that. They're like, Oh, cool. You're doing this cool thing. And yeah, let's come go to your club or, you know, yeah. Your exhibition or yeah.

[00:53:58] Charlotte Barber: You know, nobody's [00:54:00] negative. I'm not finding that. No, I just, for me, I just love that. And society is really special, isn't it? For that, I think, but that collaborative thing and you're going, what can I do to support you? Um, You know, how can I, we both want the same ends, but what can, how can, how can I, what can I give to you and what can you give to me and, you know, just to further ourselves or, or, or, you know, do something in a different way or just a lack of ego, I think.

[00:54:34] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, I think that's it. I think it's the collaboration and the complete lack of ego. Yeah. And I've walked in there. And I don't really know many people in there, really, but you just stand and have a chat. Yeah. And before you know it, I'm probably the worst person to go in there, actually, because all I do is chew everybody's fucking ear off.

[00:54:55] Charlotte Barber: And they're all like, we have to get on with work, this is a co working space, [00:55:00] Charlotte. But it's such a friendly place that you can sit and chat for half an hour. Definitely. And get to know people. And that's actually how we got to know each other was through, like, going in, meeting in society. And it's just.

[00:55:16] Charlotte Barber: I love that the town's got that space. Yeah, hugely, hugely needed. Yeah, because I think, um, someone was saying that there's a similar space in the tech, but it's not as I've heard that. I've heard, I've heard that. And I guess the tech's great for I guess it's a different thing, isn't it? The space in the tech.

[00:55:38] Charlotte Barber: Um, but the, the, the vibe in society is you, it is absolutely unique. And the best thing about it is, there's a real danger sometimes in Holmfirth birth when, because it is changing, of it being up its own arse. Yeah. There's a, you know, and for me as a creative, sometimes that's, you know, I find that really uncomfortable.

[00:55:57] Charlotte Barber: You've got to be really cautious about, about it being, [00:56:00] ended up being so pretentious it goes up its own arse and I think that's the beautiful thing about society is, and I, I must admit when it was first being done I was like, oh what's it, what's this gonna, what is it, what's this gonna be, what's it gonna be like?

[00:56:13] Charlotte Barber: Is it going to be a place that I feel comfortable walking into putting my foot over that threshold? Yeah. And you only have to meet Zoe and people like Joe Amelia and you go in and you go, oh my god, we've been desperate for something like you. Yeah. Someone like you. The test for me is if my husband goes in and feels warm and welcoming and then that is and he's the most socially awkward he's fabulous but he's the most socially awkward guy and he's like this place is ace i love this vibe and i was like yeah i know yeah it is unique it is unique and the people in it so diverse in terms of what they do in their backgrounds yeah financial directors there's mortgage advisors there's creatives yeah there's like I overheard somebody works [00:57:00] for a big milk corporation.

[00:57:02] Charlotte Barber: There's like It's fascinating, isn't it? Oh, it's fantastic. And then, the plus side is people are allowed to take their well behaved dogs in there. I know. And just I mean, there's a lot of, like, dog cheek rubbing. Yeah, yeah. Which, you know, is, it's just vital for your mental health, Charlotte. Yeah, yeah. Is it, um, what's the tiny dog's name?

[00:57:22] Charlotte Barber: Celia? No, it's not, is it? I can't remember her name. Stephen's dog, isn't it? Yeah. Oh my gosh, she's just adorable. She's so cute. She's the tiniest thing. Is she like a border terrier? Yeah, like a wiry terrier y thing, isn't it? Oh, she's just fantastic. But she's so small. Yeah. And I'm like, oh my god, am I stroking you too hard?

[00:57:44] Charlotte Barber: Because you're so tiny. She's so eager to like be stroked as well, isn't she? Yeah. And then there's a nice little spaniel. Oh god, yeah, Chris's dog is just absolutely adorable. Although, that dog, if you blink, it will be in your bag. Yeah, well, yeah, I'd just take it anyway. [00:58:00] Yeah, yeah, same. Just too cute. Same.

[00:58:01] Charlotte Barber: I'm like, you can sniff spect whatever you want. Just, whatever you want. Just take it. You want my sandwich? Go for it. Go for it. I do feel like I've met some amazing people there. You know, like you, um, Joe, Zoe, who runs it, is just the most, I think possibly one of the most incredible brains. Yeah. Oh, her brain doesn't stop.

[00:58:23] Charlotte Barber: No. Amazing. Like, unique, just, and warm, and earthy, and wow, what a combination that is. Yeah, and it, like, I think the, what they've done there, and with her being the head of it, is the right thing. It's what Holmfirth Theft needed. Yeah, definitely. I think, is it Stephen who drives from Manchester to come over? Yeah, yeah!

[00:58:44] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, there's co working spaces like, all over in Manchester and he's making an, a conscious choice to come here. And I can totally see why. Yeah. Because it really, really, it really is. And it's the start of it, Charlotte, so where the heck is it gonna go? Yeah, yeah. [00:59:00] And it is so exciting to see. These older buildings being made into usable spaces for everybody.

[00:59:08] Charlotte Barber: Definitely. And I love that she's doing markets and then there's like Sicily's creative club and then there's the silent book retreat that they do there and like lots of other, it's being open as a community space that I think, yeah, I think we're definitely missing in this country is the community spaces.

[00:59:25] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, definitely. And it just means you can network. But in it. Yeah. Yeah. You're not at some kind of snooty networking event where people are like, my name's Mark. Yeah. I do this. Yeah. Like, it's very relaxed. Yeah. And nobody's saying like, oh, well, you can't come in here cause you're. Not doing finance or whatever.

[00:59:47] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Yeah. Space for everybody. I just really like it. I think it's really good. I love that and I love the fact that yeah, you know, you've got businesses who probably are earning seven times more than what I would earn [01:00:00] and But but zoe's found a way to make it accessible because she wants that You know, to, to be diversified in terms of the people who are in there.

[01:00:09] Charlotte Barber: So I'm like, that's great. Yeah. And, you know, she's finding people who are local who've maybe been hidden. And, you know, she's, she's, she's bringing out the best in local people. And I think that's absolutely phenomenal. And let's, you know, let's see where it goes because there's a real lack of like that kind of European coffee culture in terms of, there's loads of coffee shops in Holmfirthforth and they're all great and stuff, but I think there's something about, you know, the evening, opening the evening, having a coffee, having creatives, having a conversation, lots of different people in one place.

[01:00:43] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. I think there's a real gap in that European music, live music, Yeah. DJs, something really cool where you can go in but you feel warm and welcoming. Yeah. Because I think there is spaces, and actually this is quite a funny story. [01:01:00] But we went to Nora cocktail bar. Yes. Maybe this was like last summer.

[01:01:06] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And we turned up at about half six. Yeah. Right. Because we were like, let's see what it's like. We're not massively into like loads of stuff. heavy music while we're having a drink. And we were just kind of like, let's work through a couple of the cocktails on the menu, and like, the guy, the owner was there.

[01:01:22] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And forgive me because I can't remember his name, but he was like, and then this is this, and really explaining stuff to us. And then he went, by the way, are you guys in your mid thirties? And we went, yeah. And he went, how can you tell? And he went, it's 6. 30. And he was like, everybody else comes from like eight o'clock.

[01:01:36] Charlotte Barber: Oh no! So You were at the prinking stage. Yeah. We were like, and then, um, it started to get younger in there and we were like, right, okay, now let's head out. Cause the music started going and like, it's a great space and it like, it's designed so beautifully inside. Yeah. And I actually said to him like, you need to get, um, on location, you know, um, shooting locations.

[01:01:57] Charlotte Barber: There's a couple of agencies cause it's, [01:02:00] it's. Big enough and it's got a cool kind of like, um, what's that famous like bar from the seventies, like the American bar, I can't remember what it's called. Not Studio 54. Yeah, studio 54, kind of four years. Oh yeah, yeah. And um, he was like, oh, that's Ace idea. Um, but yeah, me and Nathan don't like the super loud.

[01:02:19] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah. Like kind of like a gentle bit of music I think is fine. Yeah. That you kind of get in European cities. But I don't necessarily want to hear like drum and bass. Yeah, well, that's an even, that's a late evening thing, isn't it? And I think that's what it's, that's what we're missing. Yeah. It's like, um.

[01:02:37] Charlotte Barber: You know, we were doing our preview evening and there was vinyl down there and it was more like that kind of Giles Peterson vibe and it was just nice, it was just, it was just cool. Yeah. It just felt cool. And it felt like that was a niche that we haven't got filled. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, but it's great.

[01:02:55] Charlotte Barber: So you were just talking about your exhibition then, your preview. How did you [01:03:00] find Holmfirth Fuff Art Week? Was this your first? So I've, I've put pieces in Holmfirth for that week before, but I've never done like an exhibition like the proper kind of exhibition style y. Yeah. Um, so this is my first one. So I did that with Joe Melia, um, at Society and yeah, I loved it.

[01:03:21] Charlotte Barber: I loved it. Lots of nice conversations with people and I, um, and loads of lovely compliments, because I think I'm just at that stage of, of, of getting people to kind of know what I'm doing and introducing folks and fabric to people. So it was just nice opportunity to go, this is the kind of stuff I do.

[01:03:43] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And actually the amount of people who go, are these digital? Are these done digitally? But it's nice to have a conversation with people and say they, I don't think people can believe that they're done digitally, which is interesting. People think that they're traditional medium. Yeah, because they're [01:04:00] quite graphic in the style as well.

[01:04:03] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And it almost kind of feels like that kind of collage, it could be like a collage type vibe. Yeah. Where you've got like the layers and the different colours and like, I think some people can't, can't get their heads around digital artwork. No. So yeah, it was, it was fantastic. Brilliant opportunity to meet people and have a conversation.

[01:04:24] Charlotte Barber: Um, and I loved it. I loved it. Yeah, it was good fun. Hmm. How, so were you down in society for the whole week when it was on? Yes, I was. I am, I am terrible. I am terrible at, I'm just not at the most, socially adept person, um, and sometimes that's pretty intense, that for me. Yeah, yeah. Uh, being absolutely truthful and honest is like having to do the Like [01:05:00] hosting almost, isn't it?

[01:05:00] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, it is not, it's not I love it. It's really interesting talking to people, but I do find it pretty exhausting. God, I sound pathetic. That sounds pathetic. I'm just having to talk to people. It's just awful. Awful. I find the same with doing model work. Yeah. I find it like I'm hosting and I get really tired.

[01:05:21] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Like, it kind of drains my social battery. Yeah, yeah. Because you kind of put So I just need like a few hours to just be like, I just need some time on my Todd. Definitely. Definitely. I'm a real, you know, I'm quite a, not a loner, but I do struggle with, um, I've always been really comfortable in my own company, you know what I mean?

[01:05:42] Charlotte Barber: In my own brain and in my own mind. I love, don't get me wrong, I love people. I love having conversations with people, but you know, I also need that, exactly like you've said, that down time to go pwaah. Yeah, and also I imagine when you're dealing with the public is [01:06:00] different to dealing with friends, and especially when it's your artwork that is personal, it can feel probably harder.

[01:06:08] Charlotte Barber: They're almost at harder conversations because it's Yeah, and I think it's a little bit like, you don't, you want to have a conversation, I want to have a conversation with someone and I want it to be natural, I don't want them to think I'm going into that room to go, Can you buy my art please? Hi, and I feel really awkward when I go in and have a conversation like that, and I, I just genuinely want them to ask me questions, and yeah, so I'm over all my stuff for art week, I was like, Come and talk.

[01:06:34] Charlotte Barber: Come and chat to the artist. Don't worry. You don't have to buy anything. Just chat to the artist. I don't want you to feel under pressure. Yeah, yeah. But that, I really struggle with anything to do with selling my art. Or, or feeling like I'm having to sell my art. I think that's hard. Like, I find that hard to sell myself.

[01:06:56] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah. Sounds crass, but like, you have to Yes, well, you are your, [01:07:00] you are the commodity, aren't you? Yeah, yeah. And it's hard to sell It's hard to kind of flick that switch and be like, Hey, I'm amazing and flick your hair over your shoulder and be like, Book me. Yeah, my work. Then you're like, Oh shit, the imposter comes in, doesn't it?

[01:07:13] Charlotte Barber: Always. Always. That little bastard. Always. I mean, I've always referred to it as the darkness. I used to do some illustrations of the darkness and like this personified character of him like knitting this shroud of self doubt to where it you know, in winter. Yeah. He's always coming in and going, you know what, you're a bit shit.

[01:07:32] Charlotte Barber: You're a bit, you're, you're a bit shit. And everybody's going, you're a bit shit. Yeah. But, uh, yeah, yeah. So having to say, hello, this is my arch, you know, it just feels a bit, I'm embarrassed. I'm terminally embarrassed to talk about myself in some ways. Yeah. And it kind of, it's almost that, uh, I get a bit cringe and then I'm like, hold on a minute.

[01:07:57] Charlotte Barber: There's other people who are watching what I'm doing and being like, [01:08:00] Oh, I wish I could do that. Like, isn't she confident or whatever? And actually internally, yes, I'm going like, Oh, that's like a little prune. Yeah, I get that a lot. Because I think I'm, I think outwardly I'm, I guess I kind of appear pretty confident in terms of, of, you know, that, that side of stuff, but internally exactly like you, so I'm like that swan, might look like you're gliding along but underneath I'm panicking and thinking, probably thinking what are people thinking of me.

[01:08:32] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, and that's very difficult to let go of. Yeah. Like, incredibly difficult. Yeah, definitely. I feel like as I'm getting older. I am learning to let go of it. I am, definitely. Yeah, it's shedding. Yeah, but there's still that like, tiny little tick that's going, hee hee hee, remember what they're thinking of you.

[01:08:52] Charlotte Barber: Actually, it doesn't, doesn't matter. Yeah, yeah. Because you're not going to be everybody's cup of tea, are you? No, I think sometimes that's harder as well because I [01:09:00] was, I'm self taught around what I'm doing. Mm hmm. I used to be like, oh, I don't have a place here. I don't have a place at this table. Yeah. And now I just think, oh, fuck off.

[01:09:12] Charlotte Barber: No, fuck off. I do. I absolutely do have a place at the table. It's like I try and think about, you know, when I was doing my degree and I think about. My comparison is like, as an archaeologist, I think some of the best archaeologists are the amateur archaeologists, they know fucking loads more than a lot of people who go and do this degree.

[01:09:32] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. You know, I'm not saying, I'm not comparing myself in that way, but what I'm saying is, you know, there's, so I don't judge those people who, you know, I don't judge your metal detectors. You're interested, that's fine, go and do it. Yeah. Um. But yeah, no, I have really shared that and I talked to other people who are just getting into it as well And I'm huge on saying do not believe that voice in your head No, you have a you have a right to sit at a table and don't let anybody try to persuade you that you don't [01:10:00] Yeah, it's like I think I've got so much respect for people who are self taught in things as well who have gone a Untraditional way.

[01:10:09] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, they're not following the life script of what nanny says they should do Yeah, and they're like learning something different. Yeah, and like Damn straight you've got a space at the very end. Yeah, yeah. Just because your journey's different doesn't mean you're not as worthy, No. to be there. A thousand percent.

[01:10:26] Charlotte Barber: A thousand percent. Yeah, I'm a big, big, big advocate for that. That's one thing I, I, I, in the last maybe five or, five or six years I've, I've always been a big advocate. Become like quite vociferous about that and that's something I really want to advocate for that actually If you can be asked to get I remember when I was about in my 20s.

[01:10:46] Charlotte Barber: I Remember reading I was a huge like Tim Burton fan. Oh, and I was reading like biography About him and he was talking about when he made the film Edward. Mm hmm, and he was talking about Edward [01:11:00] And obviously terrible, terrible filmmaker in terms of a, in terms of the traditional sense, you know, and that was what the film was about, I guess, but I remember reading this quote from Tim Burton and he basically said, I think he's absolutely phenomenal.

[01:11:15] Charlotte Barber: Something like, I'm really paraphrasing terribly, but he's an amazing guy because he got off his ass and did it. Yeah. Doesn't matter what it was, you know, it was putting himself out there and continuing and being passionate about it and doing it and that stuck with me for ages. And I was like, yeah, he's right.

[01:11:30] Charlotte Barber: He's right. That's what you should admire in people. Yeah. People who want to learn, people who want to do something different, who are getting off their ass, who are committing to it and doing stuff. Yeah. And I think. in that is sometimes you have to go and go at it without being perfect straight off the bat.

[01:11:45] Charlotte Barber: Definitely. And you learn as you go. Definitely. And stuff like changes and then you go, oh fuck, I've figured out how to do that quicker or better or you know. Yeah. But if you don't start, that's stalling in the starting means you might be [01:12:00] another two years before you start. Definitely. Where you could have been so much further on.

[01:12:03] Charlotte Barber: Definitely. And just having that passion and that drive, I think, to do it. Definitely. And getting over your own, like, It doesn't matter how you get there as well. I think, you know, if someone were to watch my process digitally, someone who'd maybe trained could do what I do in a third of the time. Yeah, it might take me longer to get there.

[01:12:26] Charlotte Barber: I don't care. It doesn't matter. But it's the enjoying the process of doing it. It's absolutely that. And actually the process is really, really meditative for me in some ways. Yeah. Yeah. So I, I really enjoy the process. The process is ace. It's half of it. Yeah, definitely. So, yeah, I totally agree with you on that, Charlotte.

[01:12:42] Charlotte Barber: Definitely. It's having that, oh, just having that process and the, the balls to just go and do it and be like, well, I'm gonna give this a bash. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. And just, I don't know whether that is like, as you hit your 30s, I definitely have noticed like, my giving a shit is much less. Yeah, yeah. And [01:13:00] like, I'm, my bullshit detector goes off a lot more as well now.

[01:13:04] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah. Um. And be careful who you surround yourself with, I think, as well. If you want, if you're around people who champion you and just, you know, who want the best for you, that's the, that's just ace, isn't it? Yeah, and that just fills you with confidence and then your little imposter, like, monster just shrinks and shrinks and shrinks and then you can just squish it with your foot.

[01:13:24] Charlotte Barber: Definitely. Just, yeah. Definitely. I think it, you're so right, it's like, sharing with the right people and, like, filtering out the people who maybe aren't, you know, Thinking the best for you. Yeah. And like having, I went to therapy a little while ago. Yeah. And she said, I've said this to Nathan, I was like, was this a secret diagnosis?

[01:13:48] Charlotte Barber: Right. But she said to me, she goes, this is quite funny. She goes, um, so what I teach my, um, Autistic people who come for therapy and I [01:14:00] went, okay, she went, so yeah, we have these like circles of groups of people and she was like, oh, so we have our close friends and then we have like our like good friends and then like our work colleagues and stuff like that.

[01:14:13] Charlotte Barber: And she was like, just be aware of like who you're putting in what pot, you know, in what And then she was like, said autistic again. And I was like, Looking at her like, do, do I, do, do you know something I don't know? Should I start a process there? Is there a pathway I need to be getting on with? I haven't investigated further, um, but I think that's a really like, nice way of putting it as well as like, it's surrounding yourself in this closed circle and then letting other people in can be quite intimidating initially.

[01:14:47] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Um, but if they're the. Right, but you've almost got to be vulnerable enough to let these people in. Yeah. And be like, well, it might fuck up, but it might be brilliant. Yeah. And just kind of surrounding yourself with those creatives [01:15:00] and those people who are really championing you. Yeah. And, you know, I think we've all had it.

[01:15:04] Charlotte Barber: I definitely have it every so often and I'm like, Oh, I thought that person was a really good friend. And actually. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There may be a good work friend. Yes. Not a champion, like best friend, you know, but I think you. I definitely found my best friend is my husband. Yeah, me too. It's not your husband, it's my husband.

[01:15:25] Charlotte Barber: I mean, you can have him if you want. Could do with a break, no I'm kidding. But um, And, Then you have good girlfriends, and have good friends. And, It's surrounding myself with people who are going fuck that's amazing Yeah, or like and then me saying it back like a friend's just come to me With an idea that she wants to do and I'm like, that's fucking brilliant.

[01:15:49] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, fucking brilliant Like I'm just got like do it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm I know you mean I Feel like I'm surrounded as well by people with that positive energy of [01:16:00] people who going We want to make things happen. I'm loving that at the minute. Like, and that's what's lovely about, you know, meeting you and meeting Cicely and meeting Joe.

[01:16:09] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Zoe. Yeah. It's all these people now who rather than seeing a barrier, and I came from that world of like, everything was a barrier and everything was negative to this thing of going, you know, what can we do? What can we do together? How can we make things, you know, some, some incredible things. Yeah.

[01:16:27] Charlotte Barber: And that's just lovely to be around. Positive people who are moving, looking up and moving forward and moving things forward. I think that's ace. Yeah, and definitely using the sense of community. And it's hard to be positive all the time. And sometimes you need someone else to be like, you're doing alright.

[01:16:45] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And, you know, it's hard. Go on, shove you in that direction and give you that nudge and I definitely think, oh Coco's snoring, I'm fucked. I know, she's absent, I just want to cuddle up on that sofa with her. She'd love it. [01:17:00] She'd love it. She does not give any shit. Smooch right on that nose. But yeah, it's having those people.

[01:17:10] Charlotte Barber: Along for the ride while you're doing what you're doing and really championing you. I think it's such a positive thing. It's such a good thing. And especially here. I feel like the community, creative community is growing so strong. Like even with like Charlotte's life drawing classes and like her, I actually bought one of her plates to use as a prop.

[01:17:33] Charlotte Barber: And then she messaged me and was like, uh, a big company has just messaged to say that, can they borrow one of my, um, uh, you know, her art piece of artwork? How much should I charge? And I'm like, right, you should charge this, do this, you know, and like it's happened that. Like group of people that you can lean on and be like, Oh, what would you do in this situation?

[01:17:54] Charlotte Barber: What would you do in and it's. Like, just really going like, Fuck yeah, there's people in the Holmfirth valley who are [01:18:00] killing it. Brilliant. And you know, that's that unique thing with business as well, that linking with business, which, you know, if you want to make money from creativity, you've got to, you've got to get your business head on, haven't you?

[01:18:11] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. So it's great to have those links in society where you're having those conversations. I mean, I I was having a conversation. It was unrelated to stuff I was doing, but we were talking about somebody else who was creating a line of, I don't know, maybe a cologne or something. I can't remember what we're having this conversation about, but somebody just jumped in and went, Oh, I might have, um, a contact for a supplier in China.

[01:18:32] Charlotte Barber: It's like, I would never have known anything about that. Yeah. So, but, but people are actively trying to help create. So it's like businesses and creatives. Yeah. Yeah. Because they're in that, uh, you know, that, uh, the access to that knowledge and that experience is phenomenal. Someone said to me the other day, talking about, you know, they were the business folk, you know, let's look at, can I, can I help you look at some passive income streams?

[01:18:57] Charlotte Barber: I'm like, yeah, of course you can! Yeah. Of [01:19:00] course you can! I wouldn't, I wouldn't, I don't know. Eh? Well, that's great, great, nice. Why not? And like, that's that extra help. But as creatives, sometimes we're seen as like, Oh, you're doing the silly hippie dippy thing. And actually like we're making money from our, we are successful and we're making money from something that we really love doing.

[01:19:23] Charlotte Barber: And then it's finding, like you say, those passive incomes as well. And the other things that you can do that may be used. I don't know about you, I get so focused on, like, my styling and then I'm like, oh shit, got to do XYZ or I've got to message my accountant or do the website and you know, it's all those other little bits that sometimes you forget about because you're honed in on one thing.

[01:19:49] Charlotte Barber: And that's so great that we've got that network down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. In such a tiny town. It's just that, that idea of reciprocity and to, I love that, that reciprocal stuff. Yeah. [01:20:00] I'll help you, you help me. It's just phenomenal. I love that. I mean, it's how, for me, it's the basis of literally a good society.

[01:20:10] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Isn't it? And it's that old school They used to call it like a gentleman's handshake, didn't they? Yeah. Right. I'll trade you my skill, you trade me your skill. Yeah, it's trade, isn't it? You know, and like, why, it works. It really does. It really works. It does. And, you know, I think Zoe said to me the other week, she was like, I might have a job for you.

[01:20:35] Charlotte Barber: And I was like, right. Brilliant. And she goes, it's a styling job. And I was like, oh, how weird. This is so cool. Like, Zoe was not the person that I thought would come. Yeah, to me with a styling job, but you know what, and why, why not? And then I know exactly what you're talking about. I had a conversation with a company that working from society about projects that we're going to be working on together.

[01:20:59] Charlotte Barber: And [01:21:00] out of that conversation, they were talking about something, something else and related. And I signed, posted them to Joe. Yeah. And I was like, you need to approach it. Did Joe be great? So now it's that, you know. Yeah. Doing things for other people, isn't it? Yeah. Making the links. Yeah. And it's making the links with then out getting your arse bitten.

[01:21:25] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. Yeah. That's sometimes the bit I find difficult. But here, I don't think that would happen. No, no. That's like something I've always tried to do in my own business is like pass people on and you know I can't do this job. This person's great. This person's great. This person's great. Um But it can be difficult.

[01:21:48] Charlotte Barber: It can be difficult, but I think that's also because It's so niche and sometimes you're crossing paths with essentially competitors as well. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it is [01:22:00] nice when you go, right, I've got the person for that. I might not be the right person, but here's the person who's fucking fantastic at doing fashion or fucking fantastic at doing food or whatever.

[01:22:09] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. And like that then just builds your, it builds into your own tapestry of, uh, Of your network and your career and you know, it's just great that people work like that still yeah It's like I mean talking about the other day and essentially it's just an informal creative agency. I feel like down there Yeah, you know, I mean that you don't really have the umbrella but But, but, you know, it doesn't necessarily need to be formalized.

[01:22:37] Charlotte Barber: They're just so many different skill sets down there that actually someone comes with a, with an issue, a goal, something they want, you know, her solution they want. And you've got a myriad of people who can offer something or they've got different skill sets and yeah, you know, it should just be used like that for me.

[01:22:56] Charlotte Barber: Yeah. That's how I see kind of society working. [01:23:00] Yeah, definitely. Absolutely. And like, not that we're ever going to move, but knowing that there's a mortgage advisor down there, or finance person, or like accountants and stuff like that, like, it's fantastic. Definitely. Because you never know what might happen and you might need somebody like that, or like, you know, it's just that, it's just nice to know that they're there, but they're all in one place rather than, you know, Like dotted around and then you're like, oh, who's this?

[01:23:25] Charlotte Barber: I've never met them and then built on authentic relationships. Yeah Yeah, rather than you know, this kind of transient bullshit. Yeah. Yeah, you know, you know, chris I can ask him something about finance and I know he's incredible because i've seen him with people, you know, or yeah Whatever that is, but yes, it's just cool Yeah, it's really good.

[01:23:43] Charlotte Barber: Um, i've got one final question for you. Yeah, how ever you want but What inspires you? Okay, um Stories. Stories. Stories. Always has to come back to stories. I am so nosy Charlotte! I've realised now, [01:24:00] I have realised that I am so nosy. Like, I will look at a person right. I find this is, this is my absolute confessions coming out.

[01:24:11] Charlotte Barber: So I can get myself lost in a maze on like Instagram or Facebook of like, I guess it's stalking. I guess it's stalking. No, I'm just intrigued as to um, it can start off with one person who I look at, you know, and then look at Who are their relationships with? Who are their friendships with? I am fascinated by people.

[01:24:33] Charlotte Barber: I'm fascinated by how uh I guess One event can create a person. Yeah. Or, you know, and that goes back to the children's book thing. That's, that's at the heart of it. I love, I love children's books and stories and my comedy writing and all that kind of stuff that is, I guess, my history of going, you're creating this character, but how, what's the story behind them?[01:25:00] 

[01:25:00] Charlotte Barber: How have they come to be? And that could be right down to, you know, what house they lived in as a kid. Yeah. Well, you know, All these threads that make up this person, this character, it's this, it's all stories. Everything's stories. Yeah. Everything. So stories, man, I think is my biggest thing. I can see a story in absolutely anything.

[01:25:24] Charlotte Barber: I love that side of stuff. So yeah, stories. Oh, I love it. What a great answer. Because I think everyone's so, like, everyone's got their own tapestry. Yeah. And. I, similarly to you, I'm quite nosy, hence the reason for the podcast, like, and I think I love to find out why people are like they are, why they're like going ballet, kickboxing, why they're like in the house they're in.

[01:25:49] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah. Why they're like doing a big why question. Definitely. And like, it just. That's, oh, it's just, yeah, it's so interesting [01:26:00] and just like you say, you're seeing people, random people with their zebra trousers on. Yeah. You need to start approaching people. Do you know, I do, I need to have the, I need to finish the story behind the, I'm gonna, I have to ask, aren't I, where are you going, what are you doing, because that really does fill in the gaps.

[01:26:18] Charlotte Barber: Can you imagine like next year, we're at Holmfirth for Fart Week, if you've then got zebra trousers lady and you're like. What, where were you going? What were you doing? As like a little placard next to it. Imagine if we did a little photo and the illustration. Photo of the face, illustration, story. I definitely need to fill in those gaps.

[01:26:36] Charlotte Barber: Definitely. Yeah, yeah. We'll have to set you up with a little like clip on microphone. Even, but what if the stories are really dull? Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Sometimes the dull ones, there's layers to them and sometimes they only want to tell you the dull bit. Yeah. And you just need to If I can get some psychoanalytical skills going as well, Charlotte, we could really have some, like, really [01:27:00] interesting stories coming out.

[01:27:01] Charlotte Barber: Do you want me to go and poke them? Yeah, that'd be brilliant. I'll probably come with you and just start poking people. I've been known as the pokey woman. I know, I'm going to have to get better at my social awkwardness, aren't I? And actually approach people, but yeah, this just is fascinating, isn't it?

[01:27:18] Charlotte Barber: Yeah, yeah, massively. Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Thank you, my pleasure.