The lovely Viv from Poppy Sparkles is my Mumpreneur feature this morning and she is giving away a pair of earrings of your choice from her website!! (See end of post for giveaway)
Who are you?
I’m Viv Smith, mum of two, wife of one and owner of Poppy Sparkles. I live on the Fylde Coast ooop North.
I’m Viv Smith, mum of two, wife of one and owner of Poppy Sparkles. I live on the Fylde Coast ooop North.
What do you do?
I design and make birthstone Charm jewellery using Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls and sterling silver.
When did you establish your business?
Poppy Sparkles was established in March 2010. However, I’ve made and sold jewellery creations for a number of years (at least 15 – I was a budding teenage entrepreneur!).
What made you start your own business?
I’m currently on a career break from my teaching career to be a stay at home mum. I would love to earn a living in the creative sector and decided that this was a now or never time.
What do you love about working for yourself?
I love creating beautiful things. I love the sense of achievement that creating something brings. Apart from the book-keeping, I love all aspects of my business – creating jewellery, blogging, networking – each aspect appeals to a different part of my personality.
Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
Book keeping is not my strong point! I keep promising to be more organised, but then I disappoint myself.
Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?
There’s so many things I would do differently, but the last 10 months have been a real journey and helped me to arrive to where I am now. I have worked very hard and had the sense to keep reflecting and assessing what I was doing and its effectiveness, so thankfully I made changes before spending too long pursuing a loss-leader. I did waste a lot of time on creating a website that drained my time and I’m actually happier with the easy to manage website I’ve created around my blog, for free on blog spot’s hosting! I wish I’d never bothered with that website, it really was a waste of time!
What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business?
Plan, plan, plan and keep assessing and reflecting on what you are doing. Don’t be afraid to make changes and adapt, it’s better than blindly pursuing something that isn’t working.
You can find Viv on –
Blog/website: www.poppysparkles.co.uk
FB: www.facebook.com/Poppysparkles
twitter: www.twitter.com/Poppysparkles_
FB: www.facebook.com/Poppysparkles
twitter: www.twitter.com/Poppysparkles_
Viv is very kindly giving away a pair of earrings of your choice from her beautiful collection!!

How to Enter!!
You can do all of the actions below or just 1 of them but please make sure you leave a seperate comment for each action you take or your entries will not be valid & please make sure you leave a way of contacting you either email or twitter, Thank you x
- Follow my blog via Google Friends
- Follow me on Twitter @SoniaThorpe
- Follow Viv On twitter @Poppysparkles_
- Like Poppy Sparkles on Facebook
- Tweet the following “I’d like to win gorgeous earrings from @Poppysparkles_ and @SoniaThorpe at http://thismummyloves.blogspot.com“
Good luck! The winner will be drawn by random.org on February 20th 2011 x
60 Comments
No idea how to follow you blog!! Did all the other though….off for a lie down!!
Liking Poppysparkes on facebook now!
Already followed Poppysparkles on Twitter :o)
Just followed you on Twitter and tweeted hello!
I have just tweeted :o)
I like poppy sparkles on facebook
Melissa Wash
I follow your blog.
@oldy99worldy
I have tweeted.
@oldy99worldy
I follow your blog.
Melissa
I follow @Poppysparkles_ on twitter.
@oldy99worldy
I follow you on twitter
@oldy99worldy
I have tweeted as @joanneblunt
I like Poppy Sparkles on Facebook.
I follow @Poppysparkles_ on twitter
I follow you on twitter as @joanneblunt
I follow your blog.
like Poppy Sparkles on facebook (rhydian prismick)
tweeted @ridmat01
following @poppysparkles on twitter @ridmat01
following @SoniaThorpe on twitter @ridmat01
i follow your blog
All tasks achieved! What gorgeous jewellery.
Love @MultipleMummy x
follow you on twitter
@thescrummymummy
follow your blog
@thescrummymummy
I follow your blog-kohsamui14 and you as @kohsamuirosie
I'm following @poppysparkles on twitter @kohsamuirosie
I'm follwong Poppy Sparkles on Facebook kohsamui rosie
Follow you on twitter xx
@birthaffinity
i tweeted @kohsamuirosie
I've tweeted @janesgrapevine
I'm follwong Poppy Sparkles on Facebook – Jane Willis
I'm following @poppysparkles on twitter @janesgrapevine
I'm following you on Twitter @janesgrapevine
I'm followong your blog – Grapevine
these are so beautiful would love to have them.
I tweeted the competition (@themodernmummy)
I follow @Poppysparkles_ on Twitter (@themodernmummy)
I follow @SoniaThorpe on Twitter (@themodernmummy)
I'm following @poppysparkles on twitter
@blatherskite_mn
I follow you on Twitter
@blatherskite_mn
I follow your blog
tweeted your giveaway via @Jaz246t
like Poppy sparkles on facebook
via Janet Taylor
Jaz246t@aol.com
following @Poppysparkles_ on twitter via @Jaz246t
following @SoniaThorpe on twitter
via @Jaz246t
following you via gfc Jaz246t
Jaz246t@aol.com
I tweeted as @marzutek
szmarzena@yahoo.co.uk
I like Poppy Sparkles on Facebook
( as Marzena Sz )
szmarzena@yahoo.co.uk
I follow @Poppysparkles on Twitter as @marzutek
szmarzena@yahoo.co.uk
I follow you on Twitter as @marzutek
szmarzena@yahoo.co.uk
I already follow your blog via Google Friends as Marzena
szmarzena@yahoo.co.uk
I tweeted about competition @anna8301 Thank you
I like Poppy Sparkles on Facebook
@anna8301
I follow Viv On twitter @Poppysparkles_
@anna8301
I follow you on Twitter @SoniaThorpe
@anna8301
I follow your blog via Google Friends
@anna8301
i am following poppy sparkles (@ashlallan)
i already follow mummy loves (@ashlallan)
i have tweeted @ashlallan
i follow your blog already