Looking back at 2018 - Part 1

2018 has been an amazing year for Sparks and Daughters. In 12 short months, we have seen so many changes and experienced many firsts both as a family and as a business. It's given us much to be thankful for and we can't wait to see what the next year brings. We took a look back at our Instagram feeds, to remember all the things that happened and here are just some of our favourite memories from the first half of this year.

January

Deborah (@nannasparks): 2018 brought new opportunities to travel and discover new places. This began right at the beginning of the year when I enjoyed a little trip away to the beautiful Studland Bay in Dorset. Jon and I stayed in a cosy Shepherd's hut on the coast and it was a perfect way to relax and enjoy some time together after a very busy Christmas.

A family photo shoot at the end of the month with Somerset-based photographer @heartfulloftea made for a wonderful family day together. Some beautiful moments were captured and as well as creating happy memories, the day was all part of the preparation for a huge event to come...

February

Verity (@mummasparks): I can honestly say I hit the ground running at the start of the year! By February I was juggling being a working mum with an upcoming house move, as well as working with Mum (Deborah) to get everything ready for big changes in the business. Even amongst all of that going on it was so important to make time for special moments with Tilly, just like this.

Deborah (@nannasparks): At the end of the month, our business went through its biggest change of all. In ten years, the small venture I had started on my kitchen table, had grown into something wonderful, much bigger and beyond anything I had envisioned all those years ago. This anniversary provided the perfect opportunity to rebrand and rename the business with something that truly reflected everything it had become.

March

Deborah (@nannasparks): March began amidst the arrival of the 'Beast from the East' and with Mother's Day just around the corner we were very busy with customer orders. With more snowfall than we'd seen in years, being based in the countryside made it a challenge for the team to get into the studio and even the postman couldn't get to us. But in true Team-Sparks fashion, we pulled together and got the job done!

We have seen our online community grow even more this year. We have come to know some wonderful people and we always love to see when customers are enjoying our new products in their photos. In March we were delighted when Youtuber-Mum and self-confessed-stripes-addict @mrsmeldrum wore our personalised Breton top.

Verity (@mummasparks): Mother's Day gave me a chance to celebrate with those I love most and for Mum (Deborah) and I to reflect on the recent changes that had taken place. However, as I remember we were still full of ideas for the months ahead!

April

Verity (@mummasparks): We celebrated our first Easter in the new house with lots of decorations and fun in the garden. I have really enjoyed having more space to decorate and create new experiences for Tilly. This year, the Easter Bunny visited our garden and Tilly loved following him around to find all the treats he'd left behind.

Deborah (@nannasparks): One of the best things about 2018 was the amazing weather we had. April delivered all the beauty of Spring into my garden, and I spent so much time enjoying the beautiful nature right on my doorstep, and the visitors who came along with it!

May

Verity(@mummasparks): Our new house came with a garden filled with fruits and vegetables and in May we were able to begin enjoying the harvest it brought. It has been such a blessing to be able to teach Tilly about all the different plants and animals that live around our home this year. She loves them just as much as I did when I was young and it's been a wonderful source of inspiration for many of the new designs I've been working on.

Tilly turned three in May! We can't believe just how quickly this little member of the Sparks and Daughters family is growing up. 2018 has been a year of many firsts for her and 2019 already looks set to be the same.

Deborah (@nannasparks): This has to be one of the most exhilarating moments of the past year! If you had told me at the start of 2018 that I would be doing this I wouldn't have believed it. But with Jon by my side and a determination to face new challenges, I was able to overcome one of my greatest fears.

June

Deborah (@nannasparks): The majority of the Summer was spent on 'Duckling Watch' when June brought these fluffy little babies into the Sparks home. Tilly and Jesse were amazed by how small and delicate they were. Tilly, in particular, loved to hold and snuggle them.

In June we completed our first Toddle Waddle, to raise money for Meningitis Trust. This community walk was held in our local park and the sun came out an shone bright (and warm!) for the event. We were honoured to be supported by local families, many of whom had personal experiences with meningitis. It was such a wonderful success and we are already looking ahead to holding the event again in 2019!

Verity (@mummasparks): One of my favourite things about this past year has been seeing the relationship between Tilly and her cousin Jesse grow. They truly are best friends and now that they are both three, they especially enjoy imaginative play together. It's a very special time indeed.