“VEGAN COCONUT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE omg its thaaa best eva.. but non-existent England…and god damn kombucha.” Chloë Mitchell, aka Beach & Barncial on the item she can now NEVER find in the supermarket (and consequently dreams continuously about)…
When it comes to jewellery, I’m OFFICIALLY obsessed with more natural, handmade shell-adorned designs. I usually pick up pieces here and there on trips abroad (and found some incredible necklaces in Marbella’s Old Town last year), but recently – and thankfully – I stumbled across the beautiful, ethical and sustainable jewellery designer, Chloë Mitchell who owns the brand, Beach and Barnical. Devoted to creating cool, free-spirited pieces often made from recycled fishing lines, hemp rope and shells, not only will you treasure every piece in her current line, but you’ll be delighted to know that funding helps support local beach clean-ups too. Ideal for the bohemian, laid-back bride, Chloë’s latest creations will look awesome paired with something flowing and free-spirited from Grace Loves Lace or Chosen by One Day. I caught up with Chloë to get the lowdown on her lockdown…
#1 Provide us with three words that sum-up how you were feeling about lockdown when it first started, and then three words about how you feel now:
Before: “Scared. Anxious. Nervous.”
After: “Motivated. Driven. Spiritually-minded.”
#2 What time do you get up? Has this changed? Is life a little slower? Talk to us about your new daily routine…
“Haha, I probably wake up around 9/10am (but that’s nothing unusual for me). Things have changed DRASTICALLY in the fact I was living in a van on the east coast of Australia with my boyfriend who is now on the other side of the world to me. But, I still keep to the laid back beach lifestyle I always wanted just on the west coast of dorset. Haha..”
#3 How is lockdown impacting your business, and how can people support you?
“Business is a little slow, but I’m just soo grateful for any of the support i have been given. Definitely notice a difference when people share the page with the support local tag on it – we tend to get an influx when someone tags us in something like that.”
#4 Name three local businesses you are supporting or would like to support more…
No.1 “Om Shanti Alchemy – Reiki Healing.”
No.2 “Yellowgorse – beautiful botanicals.”
No.3 “Freddies Flowers – florists that deliver to your door. HALLELUJAH.”
#5 What’s your favourite isolation snack?
“Loco Love – superfood, tonic herb & healing spices chocolates, homemade protein balls and KOMBUCHAAA.”
#6 What’s your most recommended quarantine pick-me-up when you’re feeling down?
“Definitely a ROUTINE. I’d say I probably start with a 10 minute morning meditation, one hour of YOGA, make some feel good breakfast that’s good for the body and mind, take some Om Shanti Alchemy Aphrodite drops and fit in a walk by the ocean. I definitely feel better when stimulating the mind and having faith and hope.”
#7 What’s the item you can now NEVER find in the supermarket (and consequently dream continuously about)…
“VEGAN COCONUT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE omg its thaaa best eva.. but non-existent England…and god damn kombucha.”
#8 What’s the strangest thing that’s happened during your lockdown period…
“I sat in a field and cried and a baby lamb and her muma came and sat and
comforted me, was the most special thing ever.”
#9 Favourite app for keeping in touch digitally with friends and family?
“Instagrammmmm FOR SURE.”
#10 Name your lockdown hate:
“I’m learning to embrace everything – no time for hate.”
#11 Name your lockdown love:
“Flowers…. WILD FLOWERS… edible flowers on cake….”
#12 The person(s) you will hug first when social distancing is no longer in place?
“My boyfriend, it’s already been 3 months since I last saw him in Aus.”
#13 An act of kindness towards you that you’ve really appreciated?
“Om Shanti Alchamy put chocolate and a cute note in with my order and I cried iike a baby because it was from a complete stranger who saw me on Instagram and totally reached out to me. It touched my heart.”
#14 Talk to us about what’s new at your brand?
“We’ve been taking it slow but were trying to introduce NEW THINGS TO COME – think more boutique limited stock pieces.”
#15 Name three things the lockdown has made you grateful for:
No.1 “Time – it will heal anything.”
No.2 “Patience – it will all be worth it in the end. Especially love, and real love waits no matter how long it takes.”
No.3 “LOVE, have faith, manifest it and it will all come true.”
#16 Which restaurant will you dine at first once restrictions are lifted?
“I just got home after two years so thats a hard one but this cute little local restaurant maybe called eatdorshi.”
#17 What series have you now completed on Netflix? Any recommendations?
“OUTER BANKS, I was obsessed and stayed up till 5am to complete the series in a day. Hahaha, soo good.”
#18 What would be your quarantine book list?
“The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss. it’s definitely benefiting my business and giving me something to stay motivated during quarantine.”
#19 And, finally, your quarantine cocktail/tipple of choice?
“I’m currently brewing some of my own infused gin that I made from fresh picked lilac from the garden and rosemary…add some grapefruit and soda 😉 trust me.”
Want to discover more about Beach and Barnical’s beautiful jewellery pieces? Click here, or shop their collection on Etsy here.
Want to read more WFH Diary entries from your favourite brands, businesses (big and small) and designers? Click here.
