Getting To Know ... Katy and Jane from KatyJane Designs

This edition of Getting To Know ... is twice the fun, as we feature not one, but two creative souls. Meet Katy Metcalfe-Gibson and Jane Chambers from KatyJane Designs.

Jane with her girls

Katy

I am passionate about …
KATY: My family & their happiness, and my business and spreading the word!
JANE: Doing things well

I get frustrated when …
KATY: I snapped my achilles tendon last October and had to walk with crutches for 12 weeks – now that’s frustrating!
JANE: I don’t have enough time to spend doing the things I love, or with those I love.

I started my business because …
KATY: I had always wanted to start up my own business and wanted a challenge beyond being a mother – I saw an opportunity with Jane and went for it!
JANE: It sounded like a good idea from Katy at the time!

If handed $100,000 in an envelope and instructed to spend it however I pleased, I would …
KATY: Where do I begin? Travel to Vietnam and India (two of my dream destinations amongst many others), charter a yacht for my family and friends with a chef, hire a masseuse and a full-time cleaner (both handsome and male of course!), ... oh, and move house! Is that greedy??
JANE: Extend our little two bedroom cottage, immediately! Anyone donating?!

If I could be anywhere right now I’d be …
KATY: At lunch with my girlfriends, sipping wine, laughing about the good times and sharing the hard times.
JANE: On holidays - not too fussy where!

I am most proud of …
KATY: My two gorgeous children, Maisy & Finlay
JANE: My parents: their humility and selflessness is unmatchable.

Katy's children, Maisy and Finlay

I think the biggest obstacle our kids will face in the future is …
KATY: Technology – it’s a good and bad thing.
JANE: computers

My favourite item from our product range is …
KATY: The rainbow birthday card and badge – it’s guaranteed to raise a smile!
JANE: The Blue Whale invitation set

My heart sings when …
KATY: Maisy & Finlay laugh so much they almost cry.
JANE: Things come together!

The hardest part of running my business is …
KATY: The work life balance ... of course!
JANE: The unpaid time that goes into it

I love sipping on …
KATY: Chilled wine in the summer, a warm red in the winter
JANE: A glass of rosé on a summer afternoon with friends.

One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen is ...
KATY: My sister trying to water-ski at a cable park. She was nicknamed the bouncing bomb afterwards – you had to see it to believe it!
JANE: My husband Clinton catching grapes in his mouth, thrown from metres away. You have to see it – it’s a great circus trick!

A person I admire greatly is …
KATY: My Mum ... her unconditional love and ability to forgive is admirable
JANE: My husband. He is 100% content with himself and a wonderful support to me and father to my girls.

The best part of my day is …
KATY: I have two! When Maisy & Finlay jump into bed with me and wake me with kisses & cuddles, and when they are safely tucked up and asleep in bed – oh the peace and quiet! This is when I get to share the day’s events with my husband over a hard-earned glass of vino!
JANE: When the kids go to bed ;-)

My favourite food is …
KATY: Cooked by someone else – what a treat. But also haloumi cheese and anything tapas style, food to share.
JANE: Cooked by someone else!

I struggle with …
KATY: Accepting defeat.
JANE: Confrontation and money management.

Friendship to me means …
KATY: Everything
JANE: Sharing the laughter and the tears.

I just can’t live without …
KATY: Maisy & Finlay, my husband James who is my rock and life support through the good, the bad & the ugly, my Mum, my sister & family support, and my best friends.
JANE: A 50 metre pool – swimming keeps me sane.