In our How She Does It column, we talk to inspirational mothers about work-life balance, their favourite travel destinations, travelling with children, and how they really do it all. This month we sat down with florist Willow Crossley.
Styling events and collaborating with other brands, Willow’s stunning floral creations and artistic eye have helped her build a successful business that also includes workshops and teaching the art of floristry that she does so brilliantly. Here she tells us how she finds inspiration, manages her busy schedule and ensures that her children always come first.
Tell us about yourself?
I am Willow Crossley, a florist, writer and designer and live in Oxfordshire with my husband Charlie and our three sons.
Tell us more about your working life?
No two days are ever the same with my work – which I love. I do flowers and styling for events, working with lots of brands such as Dior, Sezane, Chanel and Jo Malone. I teach floristry, both in real life and online and I have an online course with Create Academy. I am an author and have written four books, in fact I’m plotting another one as we speak, but can’t find the time to sit down and write it! My online shop at Willow Crossley sells lots of beautiful tabletop pieces, linens, vases and ceramics and I spend a lot of time designing things for it. There is also an online, women’s lifestyle magazine called The Seedling. My work allows me to create wonderful design collaborations with different brands. For example wallpaper with Barneby Gates, jewellery with Monica Vinader, clothing with Brora and rugs with Amy Kent, plus a floristry and home collection in the US with At Home Stores.
What inspires you in your career?
Literally everything! I’m very inspired by nature – gardens, walking in the woods, the beach. I love colour so I’m always on the look out for interesting colour combinations. It could be in the woods, the supermarket, graffiti, literally anywhere.
The three things that help you juggle everything?
My laptop, my car and my large Smythson diary. I still have to write everything down – it doesn’t go in if I read it on my phone.
Have your career goals and aspirations altered since becoming a working mum?
I don’t think my aspirations have changed per se, but I do know my limits and try to fit it all in around them. The boys do come first and if there’s a sports match or a school play, that wins. Unless it’s too good miss, I tend to work term times on physical and away jobs and in the holidays be with them – working on things I can do from home, like designing product, writing pieces and plotting!
If you could give your past self one piece of advice about being a working mother what would it be?
Stop worrying what people think. Don’t give up if people say no. For years I wouldn’t go for jobs if I thought I didn’t stand a chance because I was too scared to hear ‘no’ and would take it personally. Now if I really want to work with someone, I will go for it.
If you had the power to change one thing for working mothers, what would it be?
The power to lose the guilt!
If you have a day to yourself, what do you do?
Go for a walk with friends usually. My ultimate treat is the Roman Baths at Estelle Manor which is on my doorstep.
Heading ‘out out’ – where is your favourite spot?
I love going to friend’s houses for dinner most. So nice to spend time together. Restaurant wise, Estelle Manor is a serious treat or Gee’s in Oxford.
Tell us about the best holiday you’ve taken with your children?
Last summer we did an Indonesian trip for six weeks. We started in Bali staying with friends and then toured around. Lots of island hopping, swimming, waterfalls, Komodo dragons, trying new foods, exploring and snorkelling. It was magical. My favourite place we stayed at was the Sudamala Hotel on Seraya Island. Little wooden huts right on the beach, no wifi and snorkelling like you’ve never seen!
Favourite hotel ever – with or without children?
Dennis Island in the Seychelles where we went on our honeymoon and the Sudamala on Seraya Island.
Travel essentials with kids?
Mine are getting quite big now so they’re pretty independent and don’t need much. They each have a backpack which rarely holds anything other than an iPad, earphones and sweets. They love a long haul flight because they can watch a screen for hours on end without me nagging them to get off! There’s always some sort of ball in there too. We took Waboba balls with us everywhere this summer which were brilliant.
Travel essentials without kids?
I always take my laptop and diary, cashmere socks and jumper. Silk eye mask and silicon ear plugs. A mini wash bag with a Chantecaille rose water mist, Dermalogica Skin Smoothing moisturiser, tea tree oil and my UltraSuns tinted SPF50 in Honey. Also, sunglasses from Alexis Amor.
Any top tips for travelling with kids?
Encourage them to try local foods. It’s very easy and tempting to play it safe and stick to eating what we’re used to at home. My husband Charlie grew up eating everything and has really encouraged the boys from day one to try things, they’re much braver than me now and it brings them so much joy.
How do you think travel benefits your children?
I find travel the most bonding thing we do as a family. I love nothing more than being away the five of us experiencing new things all together, squished together all day long, learning and exploring.
Where are you off to next as a family?
We don’t know yet! An American road trip is high on the list. Our youngest really wants to go to Thailand. I would love to take them to the Maldives. Soneva Fushi is my goal.
The best advice you would give to other mothers?
It’s ok to do things for yourself!
Are there any women who inspire you?
I so admire women who appear to juggle work, life and friends, seemingly successfully. That balance is seriously tough to achieve. I’m definitely not there! I find Anya Hindmarch, my mother Kate Corbett Winder, my sisters in-law Sarah and Matilda Corbett Winder, Victoria Stapleton and Clare Hornby, founder of ME+EM, are all seriously inspiring.
How do you do it?
I’ve gotten better at saying no recently. I’m slowly learning that I cant do everything; as much as I like to think I can. I drop a lot of balls and do everything at a million miles an hour. There’s lot of juggling, lots of driving, lots of lists, lots of multi-tasking and a lot of compromise. My boys come first which often means turning down jobs. I only really work on events and installations when they’re at school and then am at home with them in the holidays, secretly working away when they’re not looking!
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Any Questions or Tips to add?