Meet the Founders: BTNCL

Meet the Founders, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

Our flagship + boutique is a proud retailer of an intentionally curated and bespoke range of local brands that we have personally tried, tested and adore. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be interviewing a few of these brands, delving deeper into their stories and craft.

Hand poured just down the road in South Yarra, btncl’s candles are a steady favourite in the Emma Kate Co. curation. Lovingly crafted with the finest blend of coconut and soy wax, btncl’s signature candles feature a range of elegant yet sentimental scents, all housed within luxurious pure brass vessels. Their unscented pillar candles are also wildly popular as the perfect statement piece for any occasion.

This week – in our chat with the founder of btncl, Brodie, you’ll get to know more about his story and that of the brand, as well as his various inspirations. We know it will only take you a moment to fall as in-love with btncl’s products and story as we have.

 

Staff Picks from btncl:

Emma C: Forest
Bella: Soigne
Emma D: Açai
April: Coconut + Mahogany
Caroline: Soigne
Annabelle: Heirloom Leaves + Butter Pillar Candle

 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, and the story of how btncl came to be.

Well, I have always had an obsession with candles, but because of the amount I was burning through, I needed to come up with a more economical alternative. So 12 years ago I decided to teach myself how to make candles and have ever since. Back when I had no idea what I was doing, I would make candles in any vessels I could find, many which were definitely not suitable for candles (I learned that the hard way). But it wasn’t until around 2 years ago when I lost my job as a long haul Flight Attendant that the small idea of botanical was born and perfected my craft of candle making. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought it would become as successful as it has. 

 

2. Describe btncl in three words.

Bespoke. Sophisticated. Nostalgic.

 

3. What do you draw on for inspiration in creating new scents and designs?

Growing up we always had a lot of brassware in our home and it’s something I have always loved. So having the opportunity to work with it now is so incredible. When it comes to choosing our scents, I always try to source new and unique fragrances. With the candle market being as saturated as it is, it is really important that our candle scents really stand out from the rest. Scent to me is more than just a nice smell. It’s something that has the ability to transport your mind back to a fond memory you hold so close to your heart. This is why selecting a fragrance is extremely time consuming for me, and why we source many of our fragrances from overseas.

 

4. What is your favourite product from btncl?

This is such a tough question to answer, as my favourite product changes all the time. However, at this present time I think my favourite product would be Forest.

 

5. What’s your favourite occasion to light a candle for?

Do we honestly need a special occasion to light a candle?.
I think each day we wake up healthy and happy is a good enough excuse to light a candle.

 

6. What do you do to unwind?

Since creating botanical, unwinding is something I have struggled to find time for. However, when I finally do get the opportunity, it would definitely involve a bath, a glass of Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc and a candle (of course). If it’s away in the country or by the beach, that’s an added bonus.

 

7. As a busy business-owner, what’s your top tip for staying organised?

Staying on top of things, and don’t procrastinate. If you don’t do a certain task now, you’re going to have to do it later (with a high amount of added stress). And definitely setting aside time in your schedule to respond to emails, they get out of control if you don’t stay on top of them.

 

8. What is your go-to coffee order?

Between October – March it’s an iced oat latte.
And, between April – September just a regular oat latte will suffice.

 

Meet our Team

Behind The Scenes, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at Emma Kate Co.?
Curious about the heads + hands that bring the products you love from concept to your front door? Or, maybe you just love a sticky beak into the things that make other people tick [guilty]…

Well, if you answered yes to any of the above, then keep reading!

 

Like in many small businesses, here at Emma Kate Co. we’re a tight-knit team + we all wear many hats. And, Emma’s heart behind her brand has always been to create out of experience and purpose.

All of our products are born out of real life; the things we love + want to see done better, that thing we really need but just can’t find, colours that make our hearts sing, and patterns that bring us joy. For us, everything we do marries form and function.

We don’t do things by halves, and we never settle for average. Everything is custom designed by us, for you – our community of huge hearts. And, as nothing here is untouched by the people behind the brand, it’s only fair we give you a chance to meet us all.

APRIL

Name + Role
April! You can often find me in the shop or looking after our beautiful Stockists. 

Your go-to coffee order is…
An Oat Magic.

What do you like to do for fun?
Always love going out for brunch, we are spoilt for choice in Melbourne! I also love caring and nurturing my plant babies.

What words do you live by?
“Each new day is a blessing.”

Favourite place to eat in Melbourne?
Acre Brickworks in Burwood – the most pretty rooftop restaurant and cafe that offers a paddock to plate experience.

If you could master a skill/discipline what would it be?
I would love to be able to make sourdough.

What is your favourite Emma Kate Co. product?
Petite Coffee Journal, it’s the perfect size to curate creativity, plus I love Coffee!

A product on your Emma Kate Co. wishlist?
A Wedding Journal!

Which planner was your pick for 2022?
Oat Signature Weekly, love everything in that neutral linen colour.

What is your favourite accessory from the 2022 collection?
‘You are Loved’ Latte pen loop – always such a beautiful reminder. 

Tell us your top planning/organisation tip!
An organised space is an organised mind. (I’m still learning this!)

How would you describe your team mates?
Emma: Generous + Inspirational + Kind
Bella: Hardworking + Thorough + Stylish
Abs: Gentle + Joyful + Genuine
Emma D: Creative + Bubbly + Fun
Caro: Sweet + Hard-working + Considerate

BELLA

Name + Role
Bella, Brand Manager.

Your go-to coffee order is…
Batch brew / iced filter.

What do you like to do for fun?
Go snack hunting with my husband… we’re seriously spoilt here in Melbourne and I love trying new food! If I’m not eating or drinking coffee, you’ll likely find me doing Pilates or just relaxing at home.

What words do you live by?
 “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind” –C.S. Lewis

Favourite place to eat in Melbourne?
This list is LONG but hands down Marion makes the top any and every day of the week.

If you could master a skill/discipline what would it be?
Balance. I’m an all or nothing kind of gal… which, in some contexts, is great, but in others not so much.

What is your favourite Emma Kate Co. product?
The Laptop Pouch!

A product on your Emma Kate Co. wishlist?
How many can I say?.. I’m always dreaming up ways we could improve on existing essentials, and also fill needs that no product really does yet. But if I had to pick a favourite, it would be a zippy pouch / pencil case or a set of beauty bags for storing + transporting my extensive skincare collection.

Which planner was your pick for 2022?
Oat Horizontal Weekly!
I begged Emma for this style, because it suits my mind perfectly! And, she even made it in my favourite cover colour. The best. 

What is your favourite accessory from the 2022 collection?
Probably the Everything Clutch. I just love to carry so much stuff with me, so that I’m always ‘prepared’ for anything, and this helps keep all my pens, pain killers, lip balms, etc. together.

Tell us your top planning/organisation tip!
I often tell myself “something is better than nothing” and I really believe it’s the key to building good habits. often, starting a task is the hardest part, but even doing the first 5% is better than nothing at all. give yourself some grace and persist – nothing happens overnight + just because you stopping using your planner for a week or it’s no longer ‘perfect’ because you had to change your approach, throwing the entire thing aside for the year isn’t going to make you more organised or productive. Persisting will.

How would you describe your team mates?
Abs: gentle, thoughtful, curious
April: motivated, consistent, optimistic
Caro: joyful, committed, considerate
Emma C: generous, driven, passionate
Emma D: enthusiastic, genuine, sweet

EMMA C.

Name + Role
Emma! My email signature says Founder + Chief wild heart (- although the past 2 years have been more of the work and less of the wild-hearted. Hopefully 2022 will bring her back!)

Your go-to coffee order is…
A half-full soy flat white, please. Yum!

What do you like to do for fun?
In normal times, travel! More lately, local adventures like going for an evening walk around our neighbourhood, and cooking in my kitchen!

What words do you live by?
 “Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams – or wake up and chase them.”

Favourite place to eat in Melbourne?
Coda  – and Marion is a close second.

If you could master a skill/discipline what would it be?
I’d love to find the discipline to read, again. Reading gives you access to so many worlds, perspectives and wisdom! I used to be a voracious reader as a child, and I would love to master this as a discipline.

What is your favourite Emma Kate Co. product?
Our Everything Clutch! I use one as a pencil case for the pens and stationery, and one for beauty/ all the little everyday bits in my bag. I am obsessed with the ‘snap’ closure, it’s just so satisfying!

A product on your Emma Kate Co. wishlist?
A Wedding journal – she’s been a long time coming!

Which planner was your pick for 2022?
Our Cocoa Signature Weekly.

What is your favourite accessory from the 2022 collection?
The daisies pen.

Tell us your top planning/organisation tip!
Write a list, pen to paper. Nothing beats pen-to-paper list-making.

How would you describe your team mates?
Abs: Gentle and genuine, with a cheeky wit.
Caro: Our Confetti-joy-sprinkler. Hardworking and positive.
Em D: Excited, optimistic and creative!
Bella: “Very busy and important”, thorough and loyal.
April: Industrious, bubbly and welcoming.

CAROLINE

Name + Role
I’m Caroline, the “French touch” of Emma Kate Co.
You’ll find me mostly at the shop but I’m also behind the scenes sometimes!

Your go-to coffee order is…
Small almond latte! Always.

What do you like to do for fun?
I LOVE riding my bicycle, wandering around Albert Park and the Botanical Gardens.
I also love food (normal as a French person right?), so going out to explore what Melbourne restaurants have to offer is a must-do for me. And obviously, I love writing, especially in my Emma Kate Co. notebooks and planner.

What words do you live by?
“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

Favourite place to eat in Melbourne?
Love a good pizza at Fratellino, I’m a big Italian food fan. 

If you could master a skill/discipline what would it be?
I would love to master consistency in my everyday life.
If you want to be healthy and fit all you need is to be consistent, if you want to learn a new language you need to stick to it, if you want to be successful in your business, you have to show consistency in the quality of your product/service, and so on!

What is your favourite Emma Kate Co. product?
Definitely the Compendium in Patisserie.
Not that we can travel much at the moment but it makes my planner feel so special. Also so convenient to always have your planner, cards, and notebook with you no matter where you are!

A product on your Emma Kate Co. wishlist?
A travel collection please! Especially a travel journal?  

Which planner was your pick for 2022?
Pumpkin Spice Horizontal Weekly, and loving it! 

What is your favourite accessory from the 2022 collection?
Love the Habit Tracker Sticky Note! So thoughtful and convenient for someone who likes to be organised – it’s so great for building up new habits and keeping track of them.

Tell us your top planning/organisation tip!
Stick to it! Every Sunday, take a moment to plan your week ahead, and writing down your goals in the Habit Tracker. Remember – if it’s not written down, chances are that you won’t do it.

How would you describe your team mates?
Emma : Bright, admirable
Bella : Powerful, enthusiastic
Emma D : Bubbly, charming
Abs : welcoming, creative
April : efficient, determined

EMMA D.

Name + Role
I’m Emma (Dwyer)! I’m a junior designer at Emma Kate Co. and also spend some time working in the shop.

Your go-to coffee order is…
I’m actually not a coffee drinker so if I feel like something, I’ll get a hot chocolate, with two marshmallows (they are essential)!

What do you like to do for fun?
I love love love spending my free time walking and sitting in the Botanic Gardens, it’s my favourite place in Melbourne to relax. When I visit my hometown, I love going for an ocean swim first thing in the morning, it’s the BEST way to start the day!

What words do you live by?
“You get what you work for, not what you wish for!”

Favourite place to eat in Melbourne?
Gilson! For the bread!

If you could master a skill/discipline what would it be?
I would love to be able to play the piano! I used to have one at home but was never disciplined enough to learn how to play properly. It’s still a skill that I would love to master.

What is your favourite Emma Kate Co. product?
Our Masterpiece hardcover journal. I write in mine everyday and take it with me everywhere, it’s where all my random daily thoughts live. Basically, it’s my brain in a book and I couldn’t live without it!

A product on your Emma Kate Co. wishlist?
A wall calendar.

Which planner was your pick for 2022?
Honey A4 Weekly – LOVE IT!

What is your favourite accessory from the 2022 collection?
The Everything Clutch! This also comes along with me everywhere I go.

Tell us your top planning/organisation tip!
Write it down! If it’s not written down somewhere, it doesn’t exist.

How would you describe your team mates?
April: enthusiastic, cheerful and determined!
Abs: considerate, fun-loving and witty!
Bella: hardworking, thoughtful and passionate!
Caro: positive, charismatic and driven!
Em: inspiring, creative and generous!

ANNABELLE

Name + Role
Annabelle (but my friends call me Abs), Social Media Manager.

Your go-to coffee order is…
An extra hot oat milk mocha, weak on the coffee. Yes, I am that girl.

What do you like to do for fun?
I always enjoy doing something creative with my hands, I’ve especially enjoyed picking up photography over the past two years. Eating yummy food with my husband is very fun too.

What words do you live by?
“A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred.” –Amy Carmichael

Favourite place to eat in Melbourne?
At the moment, it’s a solid tie between Bon Ap’ Fitzroy (those mussels!) and Hibiki in Camberwell (I really enjoy a good Japanese fusion moment).

If you could master a skill/discipline what would it be?
I think being really, really, really good at cooking would be a huge asset. And, I would also like to be super flexible.

What is your favourite Emma Kate Co. product?
I adore the Meant For You hardcover journal, the dot grid is so versatile. And the Everything Clutch, of course.

  • A product on your Emma Kate Co. wishlist?
    Honestly, I would love a capsule clothing collection. Emma Kate Co. fashion, please!

Which planner was your pick for 2022?
Ballet Slipper Daily. I’m a massive fan of daily to-do lists, so having the Daily layout really allows me the mental and physical space to thoroughly plan out my day.

What is your favourite accessory from the 2022 collection?
The Everything Clip – it’s honestly a stationery essential.

Tell us your top planning/organisation tip!
Don’t let ‘perfect’ get in the way of good.

How would you describe your team mates?
Emma D: generous, inspirational, je nais se quoi
Bella: driven, chic, assertive
April: consistent, friendly, open
Emma C: vibrant, talented, beach-vibes
Caro: confident, charming, go-getter

As always, we are genuinely interested in knowing more about our beautiful community that makes this dream possible. So, we’d love to hear from you, too. Share in there comments your answers to there following:

1. What is your go-to coffee order?
2. What words do you live by?
3. Favourite EKCo product?
4. A product on your wishlist for us to make.

   BONUS: And, if you’re up for it, share your best productivity / organisation / planning tip!

How To: Stick To Using Your Planner

Planner Extras, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

Well, hasn’t January just flown by… 

We’re already almost one month into the year, and it is usually around this time that a lot of us find that your new-year-new-me-fueled motivations are starting to wane. With that in mind, we wanted to provide some guidance on ways you can keep the good habit of using your planner going – and put those beautiful blank pages to work over the coming year.

  1. 1. Keep It Simple [or at least start simple]

At the start of a new year, fuelled with optimism, it is relatively easy to fill in every blank space in your brand new planner. And, while there is definitely a time and place for those intensely detailed and aesthetically-complex templates from Pinterest, these usually take a lot of time and effort to lay out, and often add on unnecessary mental load when it comes to using your planner. 

Our advice? Start small, and keep it consistent. Building good habits is all about consistent incremental change… So start by simply setting aside 15 minutes on your weekend to add in your appointments for the next week. Then, once this feels part of your routine, spend 10 minutes each morning setting up your to-do for the day, or in the evening reflecting and/or setting yourself up for tomorrow. You’ll be surprised how quickly sitting down with your planner becomes a habit, and how ‘off’ your week will feel without it.

Still struggling? It might be helpful to instead sit down and list out why you want to form this habit – and how it will add value to your life. This can help motivate you to carve out that time each week/day. And, iIn light of these reasons, you can then more strategically map out how your planner layout and usage will help you work towards the bigger picture.

It is also worth keeping in mind that fancier or more complex layouts do not equal more productivity or organisation. It will be to your advantage to start with one or two simple and highly accessible elements in your planner layout, and as you establish the habit of using your planner, you can always add and modify elements as you need.

 

2. Ensure It is Visible

As the saying goes.. Out of sight, out of mind.

This principle very much applies to developing the habit of using your planner. Having your planner in a highly visible place, such as your kitchen table or office desk, helps you to associate specific environmental cues with using your planner, which is an advantage to help the habit stick. As basic as it sounds, having your planner in sight also ensures that you don’t simply forget to use it. In the same vein, try to have all the essential planning accessories you need (eg. pens, highlighters, sticky notes, etc) in the same area, so that when it comes time for you to begin planning you’re not wasting time searching for these things.

Does filling your planner at the start of each day set you up for success? Put your planner next to your coffee machine each night, so it easily becomes part of your morning ritual. 

Like reflecting on your day each evening? Keep it on your bedside. 

Or, if you’re the forgetful type, let it live in your handbag!

 

3. Something is Better Than Nothing

As touched on earlier, it is important to not let some elusive idea of ‘perfect’ stifle good progress. Expecting yourself to be perfectly productive every second of every day is unrealistic and will only set you up for discouragement. Consistency is key. And, if you miss a week, it’s okay to leave it blank and pick back up again the next. 

If productivity is the end goal for you, try breaking down your larger goals into smaller, more achievable (and less intimidating) steps that you can implement into your routine. And, always give yourself margin for days when you know you just won’t have time to sit down with your planner, or when plans get disrupted. Battle the urge to throw everything out the window the second something doesn’t go to plan, and show up for yourself with consistency and grace.

And, don’t feel married to how you started! It’s okay to acknowledge that a certain approach or style isn’t working for you… And we know all you perfectionists are shuddering at the thought, but a change in style, colour, approach – while not aesthetically consistent – DOES show evolution and growth. It’s better to make the change, than to scrap your planner entirely.

 

4. Make It Fun

Using your planner doesn’t have to just look like rigid lines with appointments, habits and tasks. Incorporate something that brings you joy into your planning routine. Whether that’s creating a self-care schedule for yourself, decorating your spreads with stickers, or writing in positive reminders – anything that will make you look forward to the process instead of dreading it as just another chore to tick off the list. Do what makes you feel good, not what you think it should look like. 

Another creative and fun way to add some colour into your planner use, and to transform your planner into a keepsake of its own, is to set apart a section of your spread as a journal or mindfulness space. This can be as simple as documenting what you got up to in a day or week, or you can turn it into something with more elaborate reflections and musings.

Often, reflections and journaling can be more intimidating than simply listing tasks, to help form the habit try ‘stacking’ it (or associating it) with something you already enjoy and naturally look forward to – for example, after a yoga class – or by creating a new ritual, such as filling out your planner on a Sunday evening with a special dessert or glass of wine, especially reserved for Sundays.

 

We hope these tips are helpful to you in finding strategies and motivation to keep using your planner! But at the end of the day, remember to be kind to yourself. Your planner is there to serve you and help you work towards your goals – and that your value doesn’t fluctuate based on how ‘productive’ you are or perceive yourself to be. Rest is sometimes the most productive thing you can do.

How To: Track Your Habits

Planner Extras, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

As we all start to settle into the new rhythms and routines of the new year, there is no better time than right now to cultivate new habits and set [achievable] goals.

Whether you identify as being more ‘free-spirited’ or more ‘meticulous’ in your organisation and planning, our planners are all designed with creative freedom in mind. Our intention has always been for these to be a canvas for you to design the perfect planner for you.

 

That being said, we’ve increasingly had requests from our community for more ‘tracking’ and goal-setting features to be included in our planner offering.

And this has led us to create the much-loved Habit Tracker Sticky Note to the choose-your-own-adventure lineup of our planner accessories collection. In our 2022 collection, we have also released a brand new Expense Tracker notebook accessory, a.k.a. your best friend in helping you build good money habits and move closer to achieving your financial goals in the new year [and beyond].

Here are some of our top tips on how to maximise our planner features and accessories to build, and track the habits you want to incorporate into your daily and weekly routine.

Use: Habit Tracker Sticky Note

Our Habit Tracker helps you to keep track of your daily habits and routines (for both building good, and breaking bad ones!) it’s intentionally designed for easily accessible yes/no style tracking, as well as documenting quantities.

Some ideas to get you started:

  • Hydration
  • Meditation
  • Workouts, daily walks/runs, or exercise classes
  • Journalling
  • Watering the plants
  • Caffeine intake
  • Hours of sleep
  • Reading
  • Medication
  • Calling your mum
  • Doing something kind!

 

Use: Three Boxes

Our weekly [signature vertical layout] spread planners all feature three boxes at the bottom of each day – these can be used to track more detailed things you might like to track daily, such as the number of steps you walked, your mood or emotions or how you feel physically; it’s great to use these in conjunction with the Habit Tracker Sticky Note. For example, you may notice patterns such as on the days when you have 3 coffees that you feel more anxious or dehydrated, or on days where you have 3 bottles full of water you have more energy and don’t experience any headaches. 

These boxes may also come in handy for:

  • Your top three priorities for the day
  • Do-not-forgets
  • Meal planning [eg. breakfast, lunch, dinner]
  • …Or three things you’re grateful for each day!

 

Use: Monthly Spreads

The monthly spreads (found at the front of your planners) are useful for tracking topline goals and habits, or anything you want to have access to, within the wider context of a month.

This type of overview tracking is useful for identifying patterns in your behaviours, habits and wellbeing. The monthly layout also lends itself well as a period and/or fertility tracker. It is also handy as a wellness tracker for staying in tune with any symptoms and conditions of the day (or you could track the overall feelings in the monthly spread, and add more specific detail into the corresponding day on your spread).

 

Use: Dot Grid Note Pages

The dot grid pages at the back of your planner – or our brain dump sticky note accessory – are quite literally a blank canvas that you can transform into an ultimate habit tracking mastersheet, incorporating any elements you find useful and motivating.

If you’re needing some inspiration, we would recommend searching on Google or/ Pinterest ‘Bullet Journal ____ Tracker’ – and take inspiration from some base templates you find there. The bullet journal’s foundation is a dot grid, so our dot grid pages lend themselves perfectly to this customisable way of journaling, providing the perfect guide for drawing boxes and columns while still maintaining flexibility in layout.

 

Use: Expense Tracker

Our brand new expense tracker is the perfect companion in helping you work on  your 2022 financial goals. It offers you a consolidated place to note down all of your income and expenses and ’s perfect for anyone who is looking for more structured guidance and accountability in keeping track of and evaluating your money habits. Plus, it fits perfectly into the expandable back pocket of your planner – making it easy to carry with you on-the-go.

 

And a final little note from us… if you haven’t already, make sure you take the time to reflect on not just what you want to achieve, but WHY you want to. Understanding the why behind the choices we make, and the habits we develop, can help us make healthy and sustainable progress.

 

Meet JUMBLED x Emma Kate Co. 2022 Planners

Behind The Scenes, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

A little while ago, the incredibly clever and creative ladies at JUMBLED popped into our inbox – proposing an out-of-this-world planner collaboration. And, of course, we just had to say YES!

Together, we have created a 2022 planner collection that is absolutely beyond our wildest dreams.

Colour. Pattern. Bold. Bright. Fun.

We couldn’t be more excited to offer you something so different to our usual palette, but still so distinctly us.

Available in three unique colour-ways, and completed with three matching rollerball pens. The Horizontal Weekly layout of each planner gives you space to be both creative AND productive – with plenty of space to brainstorm and doodle, as well as make lists and keep track of your appointments.

On every spread you’ll also find a  ‘Pearl of Wisdom’ a.k.a. 52 quotes from inspirational women – for the right words, right when you need them.

These planners are truly the perfect blend of creativity and structure, fun and business, and we hope they bring you as much joy in using them as it did for us in their creation.

A HUGE thank you to Pip, Jess + the rest of the JUMBLED gang for trusting us with your vision. It has been such an honour for our team to work with you on this once-in-a-lifetime collection! x

…Now it’s time to meet each colourway and learn a little more about their [fun] personalities:

MAJORELLE

Majorelle is exploration!

With a distinctly mediterranean feel, Majorelle takes you on vacation – 365 days of the year. Relaxing deep blues meets punchy peaches…can you feel it? You’re already pouring a cocktail!

 

VERDE

Verde is an ultra cool girl!

Her colour combinations are zesty and unexpected. Verde’s quirks inspire a fresh perspective. She is both invigorating and soothing all at once, like a mixed bouquet of sweet spring blooms.

 

DOLCE

Dolce is passion!

If pinks and reds set your heart on fire, Dolce is for you. Hello vibrant tones, and bold, fun prints. Dolce is vivacious and warm, like those midsummer evenings where the sky burns deep orange.

 

How To: Use Your Planner Layout

Planner Extras, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

Today marks the very first day of your 2022 Emma Kate Co. [weekly] planner!

As we dip our toes into all the exciting and beautiful things of the upcoming year, here are some of our top tips on how to make the most of your planner layout.

Monthly Spreads

The monthly spreads at the front of your planner are indispensable for piecing together the different parts of your days and weeks into one bigger (monthly) picture. Think of it as a top line view!

If you are someone who juggles many different hats in life, the ability to see your important work deadlines, due dates, and appointments all in one neat and tidy grid is a massive time and energy saver for planning efficiently. These dates will still feature in your weekly spreads, alongside any details that are important to that event. It is also very handy to keep birthdays and appointments here too – to prevent double-booking or avoidable schedule clashes.

For the perfectionists, this space might serve you well as a date ‘braindump’ space… Let these pages get messy, so that you can keep your weekly [or daily] spreads looking perfect!

Next time you’re on the spot and planning the next playdate, or in a meeting, or your boss drops a deadline in passing, or your bestie suggests a dinner date, quickly jot the date down in your monthly spread so that you don’t forget! Then, you can go back later and cross-reference to check if you’re actually available, or to neatly slot it into your weekly spread.

Our planner community also love to utilise this space for budgeting + keeping track of bills, managing client bookings, planning projects, campaigns and/or launches, marking out university semesters + assessment due dates, tracking habits [more on that in another blog post to come] and so much more!

Weekly Spreads

We have consciously designed the weekly spreads as blank and open as possible, for you to define your days however you choose. Some like to break the columns down, others move for free-form. The amount of free space can be quite intimidating, but at the same time, very freeing – remember that there are no ‘right’ rules in how to plan out your week. Be brave and honest in experimenting with different structures and layouts, to figure out what feels most intuitive, efficient and enjoyable for you and your season of life.

The essence of the weekly spreads is that it is the perfect place for all the nitty gritty details of your day-to-day. 


Vertical Signature Spreads:

A common layout among planner-users for our Signature Vertical Weekly spreads, is to split the columns in half, to create a top and bottom. There are endless ways to use this distinction, for example:

  • – AM / PM scheduling
  • – A categorical format – eg. top for work, bottom for personal, etc.
  • – Using one half as a scheduling space, and the other half for a daily to-do list

Our Signature vertical layout is also much loved by the list-maker; less for keeping track of appointments and events, and more for writing out a daily task list, and ticking it off as you go. This is perfect if you also use a Google/digital calendar and already have a way of keeping track of appointments [and getting those handy alerts!]


How to Use The Top Box

This is the perfect spot to write down a daily priority or ‘word of the day’, this space is also useful for keeping track of birthdays, menstrual cycles, moon phases, or even your fitness schedule for the week.


How to Use Those 3 Little Boxes

The possibilities are endless! If you didn’t see them and immediately think of the perfect way to use these handy little boxes, then here are some suggestions, based on what some of our biggest 3-little-box fans use them for:

Gratitude
Use this space to record three things you’re grateful for that day! You could do this first thing in the morning, to start on a positive note, or at the end of the day as a reflection. If you’re really committed to the cause, you could do one at the start, one in the middle of the day and one at the end.

Top 3
Record your top three priorities for the day [and check them off as they’re done for that dopamine hit!].

Appointments
Leave this space for appointments and special events and occasions. That way, you can quickly and easily find any important appointments when you flick through any given week. Having things in the same place really helps.

Reminders
Like appointments, you could use this space for daily reminders of things that need to get done, places you need to be or a word/phrase to remain mindful of what’s important in the chaos

Tracking
While we have a lovely little weekly habit tracker – this is best for checking off habits or recording small numbers, such as the days that you exercised, taking medication, how many coffees or glasses of water you’ve had, etc.
For those who want to add more details you can use the 3 boxes at the end of each day for tracking ‘big’ items – things such as counting steps, tracking mood or health.

Meal Planning
This space is also very well-suited to planning out your yummy breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the week.

Family activities
Parents, this one’s for you! Use these to keep track of swimming lessons, ballet classes, basketball games, soccer practice, music lessons, tutoring… All the who has to be where’s and when’s of after school activites [and weekend games and birthday parties and sleepovers…]


Horizontal Weekly Spreads:

Our sparkling new Horizontal Weekly layout was created for those who need that perfect blend of structure and space.

Each double spread has equally-spaced date blocks on the left for every day of the week, and a wide open dot-grid note page on the right. This allows you to have both your time-sensitive events, and to-dos with more flexibility on when they are due, all in one glance.

Working between the two spaces, you can also easily divide up the dot-grid space, as well as incorporate sticky notes and other accessories, to add more structure into your planning. The ultimate semi-structured companion for busy minds!

This spread is also perfect for journaling, or for those who use their planner as more of a keepsake. Use the dated spread on the left for recording your daily musings, gratitudes, or activities, and the right side for drawing, sticking in tickets, polaroids and other keepsakes, or for a longer written weekly reflection. 


You can also create more or less distinctions in the space as and when you need. Don’t get too hung up on inflexibly (and counter-productively) holding onto one layout for the entirety of your planner – if it’s not serving you, let it go! 
There will be odd days, or even extended seasons, where you need more or less space, and that’s exactly why that flexibility of layout is there for you to use to your advantage.

Maybe you started the year with an AM/PM split, but as life has changed, the daily to-do list is more for you. Or, maybe your planner started out as a date keeper, but would now best serve you as a journal. 

Daily Spreads

The perfect place for planning BIG. 

This style is loved by entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as parents, teachers and journallers. 

It’s the perfect place for huge brain dumps and big dreams. Or, you can strategically divide the space however works best for you; the most common way is essentially down the middle (or across the page) to create two columns/segments, where you can create a:

– Categorical divide – using one side for work and the other for personal, or one side for appointments and the other side for to-dos, or aetc.

– ‘Structured’ space on one side, and a creative, ‘brain dump’ or reflection space on the other.

  • Remember, planners aren’t always just for planning. One of the best ways we’ve seen the daily used was as a journal to document a 12-month overseas experience. This member of our community used each day to journal and scrapbook her time spent living + working overseas for 12 months. The planner became a keepsake, and we’re sure she will look back on those precious memories fondly for years to come.

There’s no hard and fast ‘rules’ for using your planner!
We hope that these suggestions serve as prompts to help in facilitating your own design of how you would like to use this space. There is also so much room to incorporate more dynamic planning tools such as sticky-note to-do lists, habit tracker notes, clipping on important documents or notes for a particular day [hello fat paper clips!], or stickers and pictures to commemorate milestones and important dates.

Blank Note Pages

Anything! Everything! [maybe not everything, there’s not that many!] but these are the perfect place to keep all the most important things:

– Intentions for the year + goals
– Top-line budgeting
– Inspirational + motivational words
– Sticking tickets + polaroids
– Jotting down important reminders
– Drawing [or doodling while on hours-long calls with your mum]
– Writing down recipes from friends
– Planning menus for dinner parties
– Keeping track of films to watch
– Checking off books you want to read
– Writing down addresses
– And quite obviously, as a space to just make notes!

The 6-Month Ahead Calendar

It’s incorporated into our planner layout for our busy bodies, creatives and service industry community; many people need to see well into the future, with booking clients (especially for weddings), for business strategy, or even academic and work planning. It’s also handy as you’re approaching the tail-end of the year, and need a space to jot down upcoming dates for the next year before you start using your new planner!

 

 

We hope these tips inspire and provide some guidance as you begin to fill your planner pages. Stay tuned for more helpful organisation how-to’s as we continue our 2022 planner series, we are so excited to begin this new year together – bring it on! x

 

[Free Download]: Meet Our 2022 Palette!

Planner Extras, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

As we eagerly await the arrival of 2022, we’re so excited to announce our new blog series on… you guessed it, all-things planners! 

Think helpful tips to help you make the most of your new planner, layout inspiration, organisation how-to’s, and a few surprises along the way. And what better way to kick off the series than with a meet-and-greet, making sure that you’re all well-acquainted with your closest organisational companion for the next year.

 

For each colourway in our 2022 palette, you’ll find a character profile where you can read a bit more about your colour’s personality and the muse that inspired them. You can also jam out to a curated playlist of her favourite tunes – perfect for every mood.

…But that’s not all, if you’re like us and love having everything in your life colour-coordinated, we’ve got you covered:

With each colourway, we have included a free downloadable PDF with complementary HEX [colour] codes that you can use to customise your digital calendars [ie. Google Calendar] to match your planner’s colour theme for 2022.

Or, if you’ve been wishing that you could have every colour from our 2022 collection in your life, we’re pleased to say that you can now live out your dreams of having the full palette on your calendar!

After a launch beyond our wildest dreams, we’re completely in-over-our-head with gratitude for your BIG love on our planners, so take this as a little [big] thank you – from us, to you.

 

MEET CAFÉ AU LAIT

The perfect shade of latte, she’s the colour of Paris.

She adores all things neutral + classic, and oozes sophistication. A timeless hue that you’ll never regret. A little reserved and understated, you might miss her at first glance, but once you get to know her she’ll slowly become your favourite.

Find her sipping coffee on bustling Parisian streets, endless hours wandering the Louvre + spending afternoons strolling down ​​Champs-Élysées.

[and, if you’re prone to spilling your coffee, she’ll wear it with grace; afterall, it will look au naturel]. Très chic!

Elevate your everyday with Café au Lait in 2022.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CAFÉ AU LAIT’S CALENDAR CODES]

MEET COCOA

The cosiest colour of 2022.

Her sweet warmth isn’t in-your-face, but softly draws you in, into a much-needed embrace. Like the kind, gentle friend that’s always there, Cocoa’s comfort will be steady by your side through the highs and the lows.

A homebody at heart, she craves snowy Christmases cosied up by the fireplace and endlessly long afternoons immersed in a good book. Slow Sundays are, most certainly, her thing. A little unconventional, and a hopeless sweet tooth, you’ll likely find her with a mocha in hand, or busy baking up a storm to treat her loved ones. 

She loves fiercely + deeply, and is steady and dependable. 

Get cosy with Cocoa in 2022.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD COCOA’S CALENDAR CODES]

MEET SOIRÉE

She’s white classic roses, a crisp white shirt, silk pyjamas, a strong latte to go. 

She just knows how to live well.

By day, she’s confident and self assured. Soirée will take herself out to lunch, or art class – solo. Once the sun sets, she‘ll let her hair down, stealing away to secret soirées after dusk.

Where there’s festoon lights strung against a burnt summer sky, she’s always down for a good time — but only with a top-shelf Martini.

She will effortlessly stand her own among a room full of strangers, and you can’t help but gravitate towards her witty repartee and the knowing sparkle in her eye Charismatic and elegant, but without the frills — she knows what she wants, and she gets the job done. Always.

Oh, Soirée… she’s ready for 2022.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SOIRÉE’S CALENDAR CODES]

MEET OAT

The simple but sophisticated one, she values quality above all else.

Intentional and considered, always a little busy, but never chaotic. She stays calm and steady, never wavering. She will carve out time for the things that soothe her soul + fill her cup, always.

Oat loves to splurge on life’s simple pleasures; the perfect linen loungewear, a bougie candle, dining out…

Oat has fast become a favourite colourway, and it’s easy to understand why. Just like her bestie Café au Lait, she’s classic and neutral, but with a deliciously textural cover and luxe champagne-gold edging; a dreamier take on your favourite basics to elevate your everyday.

Get pretty, and a little gritty, with Oat in 2022.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OAT’S CALENDAR CODES]

MEET HONEY

Like pure sunshine, she’s everything fun, pure and free. A romantic at heart, she’s the kind of friend who will always say yes to picnics, bike rides or spontaneous road trips with no planned destination. 

She will easily lose track of time, not because she’s a daydreamer – she’s just fully present in each moment as she lives it. She will ask how you are, and really listen to what you answer. 

For Honey, there is always time.

Honey is eternally curious. She revels in the mess and wonder and imperfect joy of living artfully. Giver of the best hugs, she will always turn lemon into lemonade and brighten your day.

Sweeten your 2022 with Honey.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HONEY’S CALENDAR CODES]

MEET BALLET SLIPPER

The sweetest presence – with her head in the clouds and her nose in a book.

With an ethereal other-worldliness in her gaze, even her voice floats in conversation like a melodic phrase from a familiar song, bringing something magic into everything she does.

You’ll always find her in a flowy dress, redecorating some corner of her house, or at your doorstep dropping off the most delicious strawberry and cream tart – just cause. Ballet knows how to take care of herself as much as she does others, in a rose petal bubble bath, poetry book in one hand, peppermint tea in the other – falling asleep to beautiful thoughts.

She’s a little sensitive, wearing her heart on her sleeve, but kindness is her armour. Ballet quite literally sees everything through her rose-tinted glasses, colouring everything with sweetness – always believing the best, always in love.

Fall in love with Ballet Slipper in 2022.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BALLET SLIPPER’S CALENDAR CODES]

MEET PUMPKIN SPICE

The perfect spiced orangey-brown, she’s the colour of pumpkin pie and crisp autumn leaves — every Fall-lover’s dream.

Think rainy days, burnt orange hues, autumn leaves, and driving down a winding forest path.

You’ll always find her bundled up in a big cosy scarf, spiced chai latte in hand [her drink of choice, obviously], cozied up by the fireplace. She’s warm and generous, her calendar is filled with the time she gives to her loved ones; a true friend to all …and her house always smells like cookies. 

Spend your 2022 in style with Pumpkin Spice.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PUMPKIN SPICE’S CALENDAR CODES]

The Golden Confetti Competition!

News & Happenings, Words by Annabelle Ricketts

One of our hallmarks here at Emma Kate Co. is that we LOVE making people feel special, every day of the year. From little surprises snuck into orders to providing only-the-best customer service, we delight in the extra touches that make your experience with us nothing short of magical.

So, last year when our 5th brand birthday + 2021 planner collection launch rolled around, we knew we had to mark this milestone in a BIG and unforgettable way.

Which brings us to… The Golden Confetti!

During our 2021 planner dispatch, we picked three customers orders at random and filled it to the brim with golden confetti – kind of like Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket, but sparklier, better [and messier]! The remaining two spots were then available to be won through creative merit, via our Instagram competition where we asked our planner community to showcase your most beautiful and creative planner unboxings.

In March, in a beautiful pocket of time where state borders were open, and we were lockdown-free we were so, SO excited to host our beautiful winners who flew in from across Australia, for an all-expenses paid, all-things-Emma-Kate-Co. experience at our sparkling new Melbourne HQ – now forever known as, Golden Confetti Day.

We kicked off our day’s itinerary with a hands [and noses] on candle-making workshop run by the amazing Brodie from BTNCL [we are so proud to stock his candles in our Greville Street Boutique – and our online store]. Everyone got to take home their own candle hand-poured into one of our Winterwares x Emma Kate Co. vessels as a special treat!

Our second workshop was hosted by our in-house organisation-guru – Bella – with a live demonstration on how to make the most of our [Emma Kate Co.] planners and useful tips for time management, goal-setting, habit-tracking and everything in between.

After a scrumptious lunch at Oscar Cooper, one of our favourite neighbouring cafes on Greville Street, we settled into an afternoon of cocktails, confetti [of course] and a creative lettering workshop by our founder, Emma Kate.



We are so incredibly grateful to have been able to meet and spend the day with these amazing women, especially in light of all that’s going on in the world. Friendships were instantly formed – we truly cannot wait to see your beautiful faces again. 

And while we still can’t believe our 2022 planner season has started and rolled around so quickly, it does mean that we’ll soon be sharing what our 2022 competition details entail! 

We have planned something so special planned for our next competition – want to be a part of it? Easy! You’ll find all the details in the notecard included with every 2022 planner order.

See you there! x

[photos by: bananabreadbelle photography]

Every year, there are some core big moments for our small business, from trade shows to design markets – and from community events to collaborations. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes into a story and a partnership where all these strands came together to weave its own particular magic…

We’ve used noissue paper for the last couple of years. And this year, happenstance would have us meet at a tradeshow, where the doors opened to co-creating something even more special this time round.

If you know Emma Kate Co., you know that the launch of our planners is the peak of our yearly calendar – in fact, we’ve already started to lay the foundations for next year’s 2021 release! (Whoa.) Our annual production of planners calls for love and care on every level, with an extra sprinkling of magic to take each edition to somewhere we have not yet been.

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