Jessica Ding, Essence

Essence

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Hello.It is delicate yet robust, bursting with imaginative thoughts. Essence is the root of creativity, it aims to reignite your innovative taste buds and get the creative juices flowing.

Discover and encourage the inspiring individuals featured within the first issue of Essence. We aim to take you on a journey through fashion, culture and illustration creating a platform for the freshest talent around.

What you hold in your hand is the future.

Welcome to the first issue of Essence, we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Love

Jessica xEditor and creator of Essence

ISSUE ONE.

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09 ContributorsThe lovely people who helped create Essence

12 PlaylistSomething to put on repeat

13 Not Your Average FloristsFlorists with something a little different

19 Dress me with FlowersPhotographs accessorised with flowers

41 Childhood ArtefactsStrange momentos brought through childhood

45 Daydreams of TomorrowThe fear of growing up and running out of time

53 Paper & PenIntroducing Danielle Lilley an illustrator

59 Autumn DaysPhotographs of North Lincolnshire Countryside

77 Nostalgia & 1990An interview with ‘Being There’ an up and coming band

81 Good Music, Good Food, Good VibeThe Butterfly Cabinet, a place to chill out with good food

86 How to make Buttermilk PancakesRecipe for the perfect breakfast

87 Ben Howard 20/11/2012A review on singer Ben Howard in Lincoln

89 Walkers WonderlandTim Walker Exhibition

91 Move with MePhotographs that you get lost within the movement

107 Story of a GirlAn interview with Louise Wedderburn

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Contents

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THIS MAGAZINE WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS, RE-IGNITE CREATIVITY, RE-LIVE OLD MEMORIES, AND MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.

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Some people who helped makethis issue and where they would escape to

Dana Ali is a stylist and a dreamer.

Dana styled the photoshoot ‘Dress me with Flowers’ on page 19

1.Describe yourself in 5 words.

Decribing.Yourself.Is.Too.Hard.

2.If you were a flower which would you be?

Maybe a little pastel rose because I’m not too out there but still striking.

3.What inspires you on a daily basis?

Daily conversations

4.If you could run away where would it be to?

I like the idea of running away to Tokyo. Everything about the city fascinates me. Well I can wish..

5.Are you a city person or countryside?

City, no doubt about it. There is something to do every minute of the day, the countryside is far too quiet for me unfortunately.

Joe Coleman is a writer in Lincoln.

Joe wrote a review on his experience of seeing Ben Howard live on page 87


Friendly, Active, Dedicated, Ambitious & Passionate.

2.What is your favourite dessert?

Eton Mess - A combination of meringue, strawberries and cream. What is not to love?!


I’d run to Turks and Caicos. The beaches, the weather and the people were amazing.

4.Whats your favourite way to relax?

I usually relax by playing video games or watching TV especially Big Bang theory.


Definitely countryside. The city is far too noisy for me.

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Danielle Lilley is an illustrator with ambition.

Danielle has shared her illustrations on page 53 along with an interview


Driven, Passionate, Caring, Friendly, Creative

2.If you were a flower which would you be?

A lily, my surname!


My Dad


Anywhere, as long as it was peaceful and warm. A remote island somewhere.


I think I am abit of both. I love the buzz of the city but sometimes it all becomes a bit overwhelming so I love to escape to the countryside for some peace and quiet.

Josh Borom is a model with a fine art background.

Josh models like a gentleman in ‘Move with me’ on page 91


Fun, Positive, Creative, Sociable, Confident

2.What is your favourite dessert?

You can’t beat a crunchy apple crumble and vanilla ice-cream.


It would have to be somewhere in South East Asia. Travelled up and down Thailand over Easter and it was incredible.

4.Whats your favourite way to relax?

I like to chill out by watching a movie and working my way through a tub of Phish food.


I’d consider myself as a City person. I love that you can always find something to do.

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Playlist

1. Andrew Belle – All those pretty lights

2. Of Monsters & Men – Little Talks

3. Mumford & Sons – I will wait

4. Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen

5. Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up

6. The XX – Chained

7. The Maccabees – We grew up at midnight

8. Los Campesinos – You! Me! Dancing!

9. Being There – Allen Ginsberg

10. Noah and The Whale – L.I.F.E G.O.E.S O.N.

11. Laura Marling – Ghosts

12. Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Atlas Hands

13. Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle

14. Two Door Cinema Club – Handshake

15. Temper Trap – Love Lost

16. Jack Penate – Be The One

The songs that inspired Essence to create this issue. Cut it out, Keep it and Play it on repeat.

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Not Your Average Florists

In early November, Essence took a trip to Hackney to visit the two lovely ladies behind ‘The Flower Appreciation Society’ - Ellie and Anna. Straight from the word GO! we liked the sound of them as they are doing something rather different, these ladies are not your average florists.

After an afternoon with the down-to-earth pair it felt like we had known each other a lifetime discussing earlier purchases from their market trip to what they were doing later in the week. We even made flowered ice cubes and jelly! These two amazing ladies are going places, so watch this space!

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1. With backgrounds in illustration and textile design tell Essence how you came to set up the Flower Appreciation Society.

Ellie: Well we both had stopped doing both of those things for a bit, we met in a pub – working in a bar. I’d been working in London doing fashion production roles, which was really uninspiring; I was really disheartened and disillusioned by the whole thing. I’d also been made redundant a few times that year, so I’d gone back home. My mum is a florist so I spent the summer helping her do weddings and then I came back to London and wanted to keep doing it. I looked for work experience with florists to try get more experience within that industry.

Anna: I did illustration at university and then I faffed around abit so I went to Barcelona and then came back. I tried to be a freelance illustrator but I found it so solitary and I hate finding work. I’d always been really interested in flowers, I just loved them so I decided to do a floristry course for a year. Im still not sure what they taught me for a whole year! Me and my sister also had this pipedream to run our own shop. The course was so uninspiring, it was really old school floristry making carnation hearts. Manipulating flowers to create certain shapes and its something I really wasn’t interested in, as I believe flowers are what they are and they are beautiful. So by the end of the course I was really freaking out as I didn’t want to work for anyone else yet didn’t want to do this alone and then I met Ellie! It all happened so slowly without us really having any set plans or any visions of where we would take it; it was a real journey. It just worked instantly. We started by providing the pub we worked at with flowers and we would go to Columbia road every Sunday to collect them. We started saving all our money so we could buy a camera to take photos of all our flowers. We’ve been really lucky; we have both got a lot of friends in different industries, which have really helped. Our friend owns a photographic studio which he leant us for the day so we could get a good lot of images together for a website.

Ellie: We invested all our money into flowers to take photos for our website, we took the photos and we really weren’t satisfied with them. This is where Anna’s illustration came into the business. We realised we could use it within our business making collages, when Anna started fiddling on the computer. Just one image is what we built our whole website on. It took us a lot of time to get it right.

Anna: We never imagined we’d be sitting here in our own studio. We moved here in June and we share it with 10 others – graphic designers, photographers. This is like a dream come true, its amazing. Three years after we met and here we are!

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2.What do flowers mean to you?

Ellie: What I love about working with flowers is it such an incredible medium to work with before you’ve even started you don’t have to change them. You have the beauty already! Such beautiful things from the start.

Anna: I love them because they are seasonal. The whole process of going to the flower market and the relationship we’ve built with the market boys and then people who get in touch with us! It such a quick accomplishment. I think that comes with our strong look on our website, people either love it or they hate it. Its so nice to be really confident in what we do. It’s not just the flowers; it’s the whole package. It feels great that we can still use our degrees within our work. Sometimes we have flowers left over from a job so we will give someone a bunch and its just such a lovely feeling. Everyone loves to receive flowers and the gesture behind them!

3.You have worked with some amazing people including Florence and the Machine. Who would be your dream client?

Anna: Doing a party with all our friends, bringing everyone together who are all doing different things and having a massive flower budget that would be a dream job!

Ellie: Tim Walker would be cool. We have worked a lot with Shona Heath who does all the set designs with Tim Walker yet it sounds a lot more exciting than it is. Often when someone like Shona who works with flowers a lot, she has a look she wants and we are normally the middle men or the facilitators. Our ideal job would be working for a big brand or company yet have the full creative control on the look rather than being brought in as an extra pair of hands. An amazing editorial piece for Vogue or an exclusive for Liberties would be amazing, someone who obviously appreciate flowers a lot.

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4.What are your favourite flowers and why?

Ellie: The most amazing thing about flowers is that they are seasonal, so you forget about them and then they come back. There will be flowers you won’t see for 9 months an then you get genuinely excited about them returning. I think peonies are my favourite flower.

Anna: Peonies if they smelt would be the perfect flower. They don’t smell too great, they smell like fish. We must mention the astrantia we use it so often and they have such an impact even though they are so small. They might be one of my favourites. Also I really love massive French tulips, they carry on growing once they are cut so they change in the vase. Its hard to decide on just one favourite flower. We try and stay away from flowers that you wouldn’t naturally find in Europe.

Both: Scent is definitely key with flowers!

5.Every girl loves to receive a bouquet of flowers, yet is it difficult for someone to buy you a bunch of flowers?

Anna: I was 30 last year and Ellie made me an amazing bunch of flowers. It’s the gesture behind the flowers that matters.

Ellie: There are certain florists in London who I would love to receive flowers from, but I think people are nervous to buy us flowers.

6.As well as running the FAS you both have such diverse careers; Ellie you are running a knitwear brand EDE can you tell us abit more about that?

Its called EDE, I set it up properly about a year ago. When I was at university I had a knitting machine in my house so I used to knit little mittens and scarves but it got to the point where I didn’t have time anymore. I decided to outsource instead, and I grew up on the border of Wales so I decided to hire knitters from that area – it started with 3, they are women who live at home who are retired and have knitted all their lives. They are amazing knitters, and its expanded so I now have about 10 women! I sell on my website and I’m about to start selling in YCN over Christmas time.

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7.Anna, you are now a fully qualified midwife – how does delivering beautiful babies compare to arranging beautiful flowers? Is it the perfect combination throughout the week?

It is great, at the moment I don’t have a midwifery job but when I was studying it was great as you couldn’t get more different environments. We are quite often dealing with couples in both my jobs, early mornings and long days is the same within each job. It is quite often that we work when were very tired, its different but similar intensity. Im so lucky that I have a different outlet, it is an amazing combination. Midwifery would be my lifeskill, its nice to have the security but not to rely on it. My last day as a student my worlds crossed. A wedding we had done flowers for 4 months before the bride was pregnant and then on my last day she had her baby which was a really nice crossover.

At first I thought I had to be really secretive in both jobs but everyone is very supportive and no one puts me off the idea that I can’t do both. I just hope I will never have to make a decision between both jobs. We are small company and that’s what we love. We don’t want to go to the market everyday, we definitely don’t want to have a shop – its not an ambition of ours. It is quite a wasteful job floristry so we are trying to find ways to be more resourceful!

8.What’s next for the Flower Appreciation Society?

Ellie: Product side of things is our next aim. We would love to have some serious weddings that are celebrity endorsed that would be really cool. In terms of how we see the business growing we are still trying to build our client base, trying to push the idea of using Annas print on different surfaces. Ideally we would print Annas designs on my scarves.

Anna: I would love to create an oil, which is big stuff as we’d have to hire a developer.

Ellie: I want to do soap! Anna wants to do perfume.

Anna: What is lovely at the moment is we haven’t invested or got any investors so were not in debt at all. We have to pay our rent every month and that’s our main overhead.

Ellie: Wed love to push our workshops more, its such a lovely feeling teaching people how to make certain things and meeting new people.

Anna: I love the people element and going to amazing venues! We would love more work, as its not like we know what is happening every week but we are lucky as stuff does come in.

Ellie: I guess that’s just the nature of freelance!

www.theflowerappreciationsociety.co.uk

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Dress me with Flowers

Photography - Jessica DingStyling - Beth Champ, Dana Ali

Model - Jessica BrittenClothing - Undergrad Fashion Marketing

Flowers - Grainger Market

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Childhood Artefacts

‘I will name it DUCKY, and it will be mine. It will be my DUCKY’

The stories that follow stumble down memory lane, to unearth treasured possessions and memories from past childhood and how they still refuse to

let them go.

Amy McCollin’s DuckyHow did it come into your possession?

I was 6, my mum made my brother a dinosaur cushion and I was very jealous so I kept stealing it. As a surprise my mum made me one, I came home from school one day and it was sitting on my bed waiting for me. It was much better than my brothers; it had two ducks on it so I named it Ducky! My mum promised me that it had special powers that would cure any tummy aches or head aches, and the harder I hugged the stronger the powers were; it actually worked! I took it everywhere with me and for about 5 years there wasn’t a night I would sleep without it, if I lost it or couldn’t find it then I refused to sleep until I found it!

Where is it now?

On my bed at university, I still secretly hug it to try and cure my tummy aches or hangover. Fifteen years later and I still can’t really sleep without it.

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How did it come into your possession?

When I was 7, we went to Disneyland Paris for the first time. My parents gave me and my siblings a little bit of pocket money everyday to treat ourselves. My sister and brother would waste their money on sweets and chocolate, yet the first time we went into the store I saw the cutest cuddly toy of Maire from the aristocats. I saved up all my pocket money throughout the holiday and by the last day I could finally afford her! She was my favourite cuddly teddy, I took her everywhere and pretended she was real.

Where is it now?

On my bed at home in Ireland, I refuse to let her go and put her away in the loft.


Well as far as I know mine is a little blanket that I was wrapped in as a newborn baby from the hospital. It’s pink with bunny rabbits on it. I’ve had it since I can remember and it’s always been by my side, literally glued to me; I took it everywhere. It’s called Tuckie. I’m not sure why I still have it, I think its for security reasons having always slept with it in my bed; it would be weird to imagine sleep without it.

Where is it now?

In my bed, thankfully I don’t carry it around with me everywhere I go like when I was a child but it’s still there waiting for me when I go to sleep.

Sinead Freeman’s Disney Dream Laura Murphy’s Baby Blankie

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My mum saved up vouchers from packets of Persil and sent off for him in the post. I called him my Postman Polar Bear as he was delivered from the postman around Christmas time so I secretly believed it was an early Christmas present from Santa! My polar bear became my partner in crime, whenever I was naughty I would blame it on my bear so I didn’t get in trouble. One night, I was sent to bed early for being naughty so I started peeling my wallpaper off my bedroom wall. My mum caught me yet I still blamed my teddy trying my hardest to convince her it wasn’t me. I was so angry that I threw my polarbear at the wall and refused to speak to it or let it in my bed for at least a week.

Where is it now?I think it’s in the loft.


Me and my sister both received them from our grandma, along with a pottery basket where the imp lived. We were told to rub it with your thumb to make a wish and all your dreams would come true. The imp always stayed in the basket, it was its little house. I once took it out of the basket and I lost him. I believed that something terrible would happen to me if I didn’t find him and that the imp would personally punish me! Luckily I found him.

Where is it now?

I still have it at home under my bed, I will never get rid of him!

Alex Pottie’s Postman Polar Bear Beth Champ’s Pot of Gold

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Daydreams of Tomorrow

Words and Photographs Jessica Ding

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I like to have a plan, a clear path to follow. Having spent 16 years of my life in education, I have followed a straight yet narrow path. I spent the majority of my time wishing my life away, wanting to grow up. I wanted independence, I wanted to know everything, I wanted anything I couldn’t have.

Practical is what I am, planning every detail of my life. I like being organised. Making sure that time is well spent. Yet that didn’t stop me dreaming about the future, how amazing life would be 5 or 10 years down the line.

I was an only child until I was four and all I ever wanted was a sibling, my wish was granted when my first sister was born and then I wished time away until she was old enough to run around the garden with me. I remember continually skipping around her carrycot singing “WHY WON’T YOU PLAY WITH ME.” Some may call this acting like a spoilt brat, I just call it impatient. Then when we were old enough to play together we spent hours dreaming that we were older, living on a farm with the best jobs in the world. She was a teacher, I was a writer. Did we ever embrace being young?

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”

J.M.Barrie

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People say school is the best time of your life, I laughed at them thinking they were ridiculous. I believed there were better things to come than reading Romeo and Juliet, learning fractions, understanding calculus and Einstein’s theory relativity. School days lasted forever, especially Mondays. It felt like my life was draining away listening to my teacher whine on and on, about how maths was the centre of academia. I couldn’t wait to go to college when I could choose my subjects, but then when I got to college I couldn’t wait to get to university so that I could study one thing I actually loved! Was there ever a time I wouldn’t want time to go faster?

Sometimes I think everything I dreamt about started when I began reading the Harry Potter books at the age of 7. The books made me believe there was another world we were all missing out on, a journey to follow. My friends and I spent hours squabbling over who was Hermione and who would actually receive their letter from Hogwarts. I liked the idea of moving to a new magical land at the age of 11. A land where maths lessons and homework didn’t really exist! I spent my life forever dreaming I was somewhere or someone else on an exciting creative journey. I would spend my weekends playing in the woods chasing imaginary monsters pretending that my life was a scene out of ‘The Bridge to Terabithia’.

When I was a child, an hour felt like a week. Walks home from school lasted forever yet only took 10 minutes. Winter was around for a lifetime yet summer went in a flash. Maybe this was why I forever wished my time away. Yet it isn’t just me wishing away time; everybody seems too. We are forever chasing after something, hoping to make our lives worthwhile. But what happens when you reach your goal?

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You don’t need to wish time away because it is now your element or is it? Are we ever satisfied? Life is about fulfillment; we are always striving for more. In the words of my grandparents ‘Time Flies’, it’s an old person saying and I see myself saying it more and more these days. You spend your life wishing time away yet when you reach a certain age does time stop or does it run away from you? I have lived on the planet for 20 years and I’m still not used to the race of time, it just runs away from me.

My parents were and still are magical to me, if I ever had a problem they would have a solution. If I’d broken something they would know how to fix it. I wanted to be that magical person to someone one day – yet now the thought of having someone be so dependent on me scares me more than words can describe. What if I didn’t know the answer to their question? What if I couldn’t care for them the way my parents cared for me? I am not old enough, or capable yet. I have reached that age where I can do anything I want – I am now of legal age where there are no boundaries and that scares me. The thrill and excitement I used to have of turning old has gone because now it’s all so real. This is life?

When asking my parents opinion on silly things nowadays their response is ‘You are old enough to do what you like now, it’s your choice?’ But for once I would love to go back to being told what to do. I don’t want to grow up. I don’t want to learn from my own mistakes.

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I believed that once I was old enough to make my own decisions, earn my own money and pay my own bills that life would be a fantasy. I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I was wrong, so very wrong. It’s stressful; it’s real and doesn’t get anymore exciting or at least I don’t think so. In fact, I think I wished the most exciting times of my life away – I was forever longing for more. Dreaming of a world where I disappeared to when playing in my bedroom, a magical world where time wasn’t an issue.

The element of time confuses me, when you are younger the days last forever, you reach the middle of your life and time has literally ran away from you; before you know it, time has passed you by and you are retired. Then when retirement hits your days last forever again.

Time is a bizarre concept. It’s not a real thing. If we hid all the clocks in the world would time still exist? Would we make more of our lives if we didn’t have the pressure of deadline days or meetings to attend? Would there be more hours in the day because people wouldn’t be forever checking the time. They would just get on with life. Maybe fantasy is taking over my mind again. But I like this idea. The problem with time is, whether we control it or not it will always run out.

Now that I have reached the age where time is my own, I want time to slow down; back to it’s leisurely. Preferably I would buy a Bernards Watch, go back in time because all I have left of my childhood is memories. Back to the days before double-digit birthdays; it is no longer acceptable to climb a tree or pretend I’m a princess because everything is happening now and it’s happening for a reason.

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As I write this, panic hits me like a rushing wave. Why am I panicking about wishing my life away? I am only 20 and yes life has got serious but I’m sure it will get a lot more serious when I start to consider marriage, a mortgage or god forbid a child. I am a worrier, I hate letting people down and I care too much about what people think.

For one day, I would go back to my four year old self and tell her to enjoy every minute of everyday because before you know it your twenty years of age, planning your life and finding a direction to take.

Maybe I shouldn’t be a dreamer; I should become a realist or is it possible to be both? Maybe I shouldn’t imagine and probably shouldn’t have spent my years reading fantasy books thinking that one day that will be life. But I did.

I still climb trees, I still believe that one day I will become a princess and I like to pretend that there is such thing as a fantasy world.

Surely there are bigger worries in the world other than the essence of time; ironically I have wasted a lot of time worrying about time itself. Very confusing. Life isn’t about failure or success or that one path, it’s about enjoying it while you can. Life is bigger than time itself; I can spend my time dreaming but as long as I enjoy it in the end, that’s all that matters. Right?

I’ve spent so much time wanting to be grown up, wanting to know everything within the world and that time is now. I’ve wanted this moment for so long. I think I have reached the point in my life where I can no longer dodge time, I need to appreciate every second, every minute, every hour – I don’t know what’s around the corner, do you?

Memories are precious. I may be 20; paying rent and bills but I still have a huge creative journey ahead. I’m just going to sit back and take it all in, or at least I will try. Time is on my side and I promise there will be no more clock watching for Jessie.

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Paper &

PenEssence hung out with Danielle Lilley a recent graduate

from Loughborough University studying BA Hons Graphic Communication. Danielle is an

illustrator, she shares her work with us whilst we discuss inspiration, dreams and Alice Temperley. Her career is just starting but she has exciting things

ahead; this girl is definitely one to remember.

Interview Jessica DingIllustrations Danielle Lilley

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1.You’ve recently graduated from university, what are you up to at the moment?

Yes I have entered the scary real world! I am currently working at a lovely design studio called Six.

2. When did you first discover an interest/talent in illustration?

I have always loved drawing ever since I was a little girl, I think it was when I started secondary school that I realised I had a passion and a talent for it.

3.What inspires you and your illustrations?

I love fashion and the female form.

4.Alice Temperely recently discovered your portfolio. How was that for you? Is anything happening with this?

It was a nice surprise to get in your inbox that’s for sure. Her graphic design team had come across my portfolio, not really sure how but they said it was really strong. Its always nice to hear positive feedback on things that you have worked so hard on, especially from Temperley London. Who knows what the future will bring, I am taking one day at a time!

5.Are there any of your illustrations that you are particularly attached too?

I actually love my initial sketches more than the polished final piece sometimes!

6.From studying graphic communication at university to completing work placements within industry, tell Essence about your creative journey and how you feel you have developed.

I have definitely grown in confidence. I think completing work placements has helped my journey creatively, as I have been able to understand what I want to do and tailor my work in that direction.

7.Ideally, where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Working creatively and being happy!

8.Finally, if you weren’t interested in illustration/fashion industry what career path would you have chosen? And where do you think you would be now?

I really don’t know. I considered following my mum and older sisters footsteps as a nurse at one point, when I was younger and lacked confidence in my abilities but knew very quickly that design is who I am. I think you have to follow your dreams however big they are!

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‘You have to follow your

dreams however big they are!’

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www.Danielle-Lilley.comTwitter: @DanielleSLilley

Autumn Days

Photography - Jessica DingLocation - North Lincolnshire

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Nostalgia &

1990Essence meets the lead man Sam behind the next big

thing ‘Being There’. We discuss nicknames, home comforts and what being in a band is really like!

Words Jessica DingPhotographs Young and Lost Club

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NME described them as ‘Baggy Beauties’, Noah and the Whale named them as their ‘band crush’ and here at Essence we think they are the next. big. thing. We introduce you to brand new indie-pop band ‘Being There’. A band that bring 90’s back to the music scene, with a sense of escapism and nostaliga all mixed in with their lyrics. It all started with a group of four guys who met at university and with alot of hard work and determination are finally breaking into the music industry. Here at Essence we have joined them along their creative journey to get a little insight into what ‘Being There’ are all about!

1. Tell Essence about your band.

Hey! We’re a four piece band from London called Being There. We met at university a few years ago and played our first show about a year ago. Since then our first album came out on Young and Lost in July of this year. My name’s Sam, I sing and write the songs.

2. Was being within the music industry something you always dreamed of?

To a certain degree, Yes. I don’t think many people dream of being in the ‘industry’ as such. Music has always been my passion, and I dabbled with music journalism and working at labels and such. But playing music is more fun than writing about it or distributing it, for me anyway.

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3. You toured with Noah and the Whale and they decribed you as their ‘band crush’. How was that experience for you?

Good! It’s always nice to get support from bands that are established and popular. They didn’t have to help us out so I’m super grateful for that. I’m a big fan of theirs and it was great to tour with them and see how they do things up close. Just witnessing the day to day things of being in a big band, playing a good show every night and just surviving the rigors of touring.

4. What is it that makes your band stand out?

I like to think we’re in the tradition of a certain breed of British band going back through Sleeping States to Electrelane, to Belle and Sebastian and then ultimately The Smiths, who combined poppy but interesting guitar music with homespun lyrics. What I always loved about those bands was their ability to write killer pop songs, that touched quite dark lyrics that dealt with real life. I think that ability to deal with real issues has been lost in British guitar music, I wanna bring it back!

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5. From being in a band at university to creating your first album in a studio – tell Essence about your creative journey along the way.

We met at university in Manchester and played together in a few different bands. When we left I released two singles on Young and Lost under a different name, Planet Earth, that were kind of folk-pop. But gradually I was writing heavier songs and wanted a full band, so once the other two guys had moved down to London we found a drummer and formed Being There. Young and Lost released the album; they hooked us up with Richard Formby who produced it at his studio in Leeds. We were big fans of his work with Herman Dune and Wild Beasts so it was great to work with him, as well as releasing our first album.

6. When touring, what home comforts do you take with you?

I can’t survive without my iPod, that’s pretty much my only luxury. Podcasts get me through the long drives and nights on couches.

7. Do you have any bizzare nicknames for each other?

Playing shows over the years you do build up a few strange nicknames. James Robinson, our bassist, is known generally as J-Ro or sometimes Jarack Robama. Nick, the guitarist, is Uncle Brioche, for his love of pastries. Tom, our old drummer, was Xerxes, or The Haggard Bush.

8. Tell Essence about your new single ‘Allen Ginsberg’.

It’s a song about growing up, kind of a collage of images from my youth, and others that I made up. I wanted to write a song about what it’s like to grow up feeling like an outsider, and trying to grow to be comfortable with that status.

9. You have just announced your joint headline tour with Shinies throughout November. Do you have any weird rituals before going on stage?

Nope, sorry! The only thing we do is listen to songs to get in the vibe. On the last tour it was My Girls by Animal Collective.

10. Finally, if you weren’t in a band which career path would you have taken? And Where do you think you would be now?

Hard to say really. I’d probably be writing about music, or trying to work for a label. Or maybe I’d be a teacher or a lecturer.

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Good Music,Good Food,Good Vibe.Essence met Steph and Nathalie on a cold, wet, winter

Thursday evening but swiftly warmed up over a large hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and

marshmallows for a conversation filled with laughter.

Interview and Photographs Jessica Ding

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The Butterfly Cabinet in Heaton was set up 3 years ago by a group of friends who were passionate about good food and coffee alike! They provide art classes and blues nights on the evenings and it is one of the coolest places to be seen in the North East.

1. Tell Essence about the Butterfly Cabinet and How it all began.

Nathalie: It started as the Butterfly Cabinet three years ago when it changed name from Bell and Herbs, when it also changed management. It is just meant to be a lovely community place for great food and good music! It is known very well for good coffee.

2.Where did you all meet?

Steph: We met here, the only reason I got a job as it was posted on Facebook and I persistently commented saying ‘Pick ME!’

Nathalie: I was coming to the Butterfly Cabinet about a year before and I heard there was a job available waitressing but I missed the cut off date by a month so I just started turning up every week, showing my face and eventually I ended up getting a job! The majority of us just met here.

Steph: But now were really good friends and it’s just great, we are a family.

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3.What are your backgrounds?

Nathalie: I’ve just finished a degree in Performance at Northumbria University and now I work here full time.

Steph: I just finished a degree in English Language at Newcastle University and also work here full time.

4.You produce the majority of your dishes ‘in-house’ what is the most popular thing on the menu?

Steph: USA Breakfast that consists of 3 Stacked buttermilk pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 pork sausages, 2 hash browns, maple syrup and butter. But the Ron Burgendy is also really popular which is 10 Oz ground beef burger, topped with bacon, melted mozzarella, onion chutney, beef tomato, iceberg lettuce and Chef ’s Burger Sauce in a toasted sesame bun.

Nathalie: The business breakfast is also really popular on a weekend, it’s a 10 piece breakfast so it’s quite a challenge for the customers! It consists of 2 Bacon, 2 pork sausages, 2 eggs (fried, poached or scrambled), 2 black pudding, 2 white pudding, 2 potato scones, 2 hash browns, grilled tomato, mushrooms, fried bread, beans. But it turns out to be 20 pieces as you get two of everything!

Steph: I attempted the business breakfast but I failed!

5.Do you have a ‘secret ingredient’ that you add the majority of your dishes?

Steph: No not really, every dish is unique and we know what works well together so I think that’s why it works so well really.

Nathalie: One of the key things that makes it a cut above the rest is the fact that a lot of the condiments are homemade so it really makes a difference as they are only little things but make a huge difference.

6.What’s your favourite thing on the menu?

Steph: Thanksgiving Sandwich, it’s like Christmas in bread! Its filled with: Chicken, Cranberry Sauce, Mayonnaise, Stuffing, Sausage and Bacon. It’s heavenly!

Nathalie: The Blue Cheeseburger is my favourite, blue cheese and caramalised red onions! Very tasty!

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7.The décor seems to be a big part of the Butterfly Cabinet and your friendly vibe, is that what keeps your customers coming back?

Steph: I think it’s the food! But yes a mixture of everything.

Nathalie: It’s a good place to be seen, everything about the Butterfly Cabinet is cool, different and kitsch so I feel that the mixture of everything helps bring all the customers back. There’s nowhere else like it!

8.You host gigs and events on the evenings. Tell Essence a little bit about Monkey Junk Blues held on Thursdays?

Nathalie: Blues Club was set up in February by Jordan Ellis who works here part-time, he set it up with his band member Andy Turnbull together they form the band ‘Monkey Junk’, since the word GO! blues night has been so popular!

Steph: It’s really cool as it’s the only night we put on that we provide the food so Thursdays are a bit different. People come to chill out, have a burger, listen to some blues and have a beer!

9.Had you all dreamt of owning your own business/running a café? If not which career path do you think you would have chosen?

Nathalie: I love working for independent businesses, as there’s such a different vibe! This is why I love the Butterfly Cabinet.

Steph: Working for chains just doesn’t have the same effect as working here, when I come to work here I don’t see it as work; I feel like I’m coming to hang out with my friends! It’s not a rigid structure here as I’m now qualified as both a waitress and chef which is great!

10.Ideally, where do you see the Butterfly Cabinet in 5 years time?

Steph: I would hate it to become a chain as it would lose its niche, but maybe if it expanded or a Butterfly Bar or Butterfly Coffee was created then that would be cool! It is very independent as a brand, everything in this café is handpicked, nothing is bought in bulk.

Nathalie: Keep it in Heaton but maybe make space for more tables!

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One. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a large bowl. In a separate bowl or jug, lightly whisk together the milk and egg, then whisk in the melted butter.

Two. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and, using a fork, beat until you have a smooth batter. Any lumps will soon disappear with a little mixing. Let the batter stand for a few minutes.

Three. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a knob of butter. When it’s melted, add a ladle of batter (or two if your frying pan is big enough to cook two pancakes at the same time). It will seem very thick but this is how it should be. Wait until the top of the pancake begins to bubble, then turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown and the pancake has risen to about 1cm (½in) thick.

Four. Repeat until all the batter is used up. You can keep the pancakes warm in a low oven, but they taste best fresh out the pan.

Five. Serve with lashings of real maple syrup and extra butter if you like.

How to make Buttermilk Pancakes

What you will need135g/4¾oz plain flour1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt2 tbsp caster sugar

130ml/4½fl oz milk1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 tbsp melted butter

Having listened to Ben Howard for numerous years now, I finally got the chance to see him live at the Engine Shed in Lincoln and it wasn’t what I

was expecting.

Words and Photographs Joe Coleman

Ben Howard 20/11/2012

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The venue itself isn’t a huge arena, accommodating to only about 1,500 people but on the night you couldn’t move for love nor money.

While the arena was a commotion, the audience were not. There was an odd feeling of almost lulled excitement; people didn’t seem as excited as they should have been about arguably one of the biggest performers this year. As Ben took to the stage, the crowd finally erupted into life, empty beer cups were thrown and elbows were dug in. Ben then started with 2 new tracks, both as dark and mellow as many of the tracks on the album, just with a little more zip. If it was supposed to build anticipation, it certainly achieved it. People were clapping and singing along to every word, albeit a second after they had heard it.

New tracks done, Ben cracked on with what everyone wanted to hear. With Ben’s album now having sold over 160,000 copies, people were expecting everything off the album to be as clear cut and as on the nose as the album versions. But what followed were a cacophony of extended versions and re-jigged performances of everyone’s favourites, but boy did he nail it.

‘Diamonds’ turned into a crescendo of bass, electric guitar and drums with Ben standing proudly at the front of his fellow band-mates, but it still retained the essence of the original that everyone loved. ‘Only love’ followed and again, everyone was in harmony singing and Ben even remarked after that the crowd were the best he had heard at clapping along.

In between songs, Ben was conversational with the crowd, something I hadn’t expected having heard he was a bit of an introvert, especially to the press. But his anecdotes about playing in Lincoln’s under construction club last year were genuinely funny and had people laughing along.

As the stories slowed up, as did the songs, ‘Oats in the water’ was followed by two new songs from his latest EP. Both followed the same trend as the previous new tracks; melodic, foot tapping, and shoulder swaying folk songs. But then Ben upped the tempo again, coming back with “Everything” followed by “Black Flies”, “Old Pine” and then the summer classic: “The Wolves” had everyone oo-ing along and drowning out Ben.

As everyone stood back and listened, you could tell Ben was enjoying the night, a cute smile kept appearing across his face á la the “Call me Maybe” video.

The two songs that topped off what was an incredible night, were the two easiest songs to sing along to: “Promise” and “Keep your head up”. As the crowd fell silent, Ben sat down on a chair for the first time of the night and let his unorthodox way of playing the guitar do the talking.

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From a flying spitfire to giant insects playing the cello there is no gesture too extravagant for photographer Tim Walker.

Much like Walkers work the current exhibition at Somerset House folds out a world of fantasy and captures the audience. This is not an ordinary photography exhibition, because the words ordinary and Tim Walker do not match. When I think of Walker I think; extravagant, magical, fanatical, enchanted, amazing and that is exactly what this exhibition is.

With words spiraling around the walls, props all around and photographs scattered, although it is a lot to take in it’s the perfect way to narrate a story.

The exhibition brings back a sense of nostalgia and suddenly you are drawn into a world where nothing matters because the power of photography takes over. Walker best explains this himself “What might disturb the reverie? Perhaps in the end it is about growing up and knowing too much.” Yet this is never the case, the audience ranged from late teens to early fifties and all ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ around the maze like rooms.

In contrast his portraits are filled with great simplicity, shot against white walls yet still filled with playfulness. I found myself staring deep into the haunting portrait of Alexander Mcqueen with skull and cigarette questioning where it all went wrong.

I can say that ‘Story Teller’ is one of the most inspiring exhibitions I have attended, joining Tim Walker on his creative journey narrating through his inspiration to the final product. It is simply magical.

Walkers Wonderland

Words and Photographs Jessica Ding

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Move with Me

Photography - Jessica DingStyling - Sinead Freeman

Model - Josh BoromClothing - ASOS

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Story of a girlEssence interviewed Louise Wedderburn, an 19 year old girl diagnosed with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) a disease that causes soft tissue

to turn into bone. We spoke to Louise about her love of fashion and how she is more determined than ever to break into the fashion industry and

follow her dreams!

Words Jessica DingPhotography Louise Wedderburn

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1.When did you first discover your love for fashion?

I’ve always had a love for fashion but I never really appreciated it until I was in my earlier teens.


Everything and anything really, I always find inspiration in the strangest of places.

3.What challenges did you overcome to gain the work experience?

There is obviously a lot of challenges when it comes to gaining work experience in the fashion world, I received knockbacks quite a few times but that only made me more determined to strive for it.

4.How did London Fashion Week compare to your time at Elle Magazine? Which did you prefer?

LFW is Crazy but magical all at the same time there is so much happening everywhere you don’t know where to look first it was such a worldwind! Elle was completely different it was more relaxed and I got to take a lot more in. They were two completely different but amazing experiences i would do over and over again so it is hard to choose.

5.You have recently set up a blog and style consultation with your sister called ‘Peaches and Rose’ – Tell Essence a little about that?

It will hopefully go live before Christmas we are running behind! For now we are mainly focusing on the blog and channel. Which we are really looking forward to it launching.

6.How do you feel about bringing your condition and fashion together, helping to inspire others?

I haven’t really thought about it to be honest, but I personally think its an amazing thing if I could inspire others to following their dreams and do everything they have ever wanted to achieve. That makes me happy.

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7.Would you ever consider moving to London to pursue your dream?

Yes of course (I think everybody does at one point) , but I would also miss home. But for the meantime traveling will have to do.. but that’s ok because I love to travel.

8.What advice would you give to aspiring individuals trying to achieve dreams within the fashion industry?

It doesn’t matter what other people think, if you have the love and support behind you not forgetting drive and talent you can achieve anything.

Always Believe in your self because if you don’t believe nobody else will.. You may get knockbacks but you just have to give yourself a kick and never give up until you reach everything you have ever wanted to do!

9.Ideally, Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I really don’t know, hopefully still in fashion and maybe a cure for FOP.. the rest is an adventure - an exciting creative journey!

10.Finally, if you weren’t interested in the fashion industry what career path would you have chosen? And where do you think you would be now?

If I decided to give up on the fashion industry then I would end up in my other love of FOOD and join the family business.

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The root of creativity

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Essence

The root of creativity

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Jessica Ding, Essence