Meet the team - Sandi Christie

Let me introduce you to our latest Ruby Orchard team member - Sandi Christie...

1// What were you doing before you started working at The Ruby Orchard? 
Living in London - I have just returned to South Africa after 15 years. It's very different but it's good to be home.

2// What do you like most about your role at The Ruby Orchard? 
The lovely team of people! Also, it's so different to what I have previously been doing so being surrounded by creativity and such gorgeous products is very inspiring!

3// When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?! 
 That feels like ages ago - I have no idea! I am sure it would have involved working with animals though.

4// Describe yourself in 3 words! 
Quiet, trustworthy, vivid imagination

5// What do you on your days off? 
Have a bit of lie in, hang out a lot with our dog, drink a lot of tea. I try to learn more about my camera and practice using it to!

6// 2 truths and 1 lie about yourself 
I am 6ft 1" tall
I make a mean spaghetti bolognaise
I love horror movies

7// I never leave home without… Lip balm!

8// What’s your - 
Top Song – at the moment it's Coldplay - Sky Full of Stars
Top Food - an Italian dish called 'Pasta Puttanesca" - absolutely delish! Also anything 'pie' - I *heart* pie. Top beverage – Tea or a big glass of Shiraz
Top Place – In my travels, I think my favourite place visited was Croatia - just stunning.
Top movie – The Big Blue - seen it so many times but I still love it.

9// Imagine you are heading out for dinner with a bunch of famous bods - who would be sitting around the table with you? 
 Nick Brand (photographer) Jack Black and Dave Grohl, Morgan Freeman, Richard Branson, Drew Barrymore.

Meet the team - Week 6 Hannah Keppler

The sad news is that it's our last week of our 'Meet the team' series (awww) fear not for the good news is we've left the best for last! If it wasn't for this lovely young English lady there wouldn't be this gorgeous new shop in Howick to buy yourself or your loved ones something nice. The 3 words Hannah describes herself as (obviously minus her husbands) is spot on - read on to find out exactly what they are....

1// What were you doing before you started working at The Ruby Orchard?
Somersaults, Round offs, umpiring, hurdling, dancing... I was a PE teacher for almost 10 years and loved it, loved the people I worked with, loved the funny things 11 year olds came out with, loved the school ski trips. I hated the hours, the marking and working impossibly hard for average remuneration. Hats off to teachers.

2// What do you like most about your role at The Ruby Orchard?
The freedom and creativity that working for yourself gives you.

3// When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?!
A PE teacher... I never wanted to do anything else and never thought I would do anything else.  Now loving my new challenge.

4// Describe yourself in 3 words!
Reliable, Easygoing... I asked my husband for the third... he said 'nerd'! I think he means efficient!

5// What do you on your days off?
Rest, eat, sleep, drive, meander, shop, play - all with my hubby and our little chap.

6// 2 truths and 1 lie about yourself
One peanut could kill me.
I am an exercise fanatic and run at least 4 times a week.
I don't like animals very much, especially those who live inside.

7// I never leave home without…
A handbag full of diggers, trucks, juice and little boy pants.

8// What’s your....
Top Song – Mr Jones - Counting Crows
Top Food - Pizza
Top beverage – Traditional, old fashioned style lemonade
Top Place – Mid Devon, England
Top movie – Slumdog Millionaire

9// Imagine you are heading out for dinner with a bunch of famous bods - who would be sitting around the table with you?
Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, James Corden, Miranda Hart, Sarah Millican - American superstars meet British comedy Genius'!

If you'd like to read more about Hannah's South African journey click here.

Meet the team - Week 5 Tsepi Molefe

Week 5 of Meet the Team ALREADY! Boo only one week left of our mini series left. This week we've asked Tsepi, our handy help whose willing to do almost anything, a few questions. I love her choice of dinner partners - dinner with Queen from Generations would be a hoot! 

1// My guilty pleasure is… 
Chocolate

2// My favourite thing about summer… 
Short skirts

3// A song that makes you happy, ever single time? 
Zahara - phendula

4// The movie you just can’t get enough of… 
Diary of a mad black woman

5// What’s the perfect drink to quench your thirst? 
Creme Soda

6// 2 famous people you’d love to have dinner with?
Nicholas & Sophie Ndaba

7// Favourite thing to do in the Midlands?
Shopping

Meet the Team - Week 4 Jenny Cherry

Wow, already week 4 of our little 'Meet the Team' mini series! This year seems to be flying!
This week we are introducing you to the lovely Jenny who works in our back offices ensuring all the numbers add up and our accounts are paid on time.

1// The best thing I ever bought from The Ruby Orchard was… 
My scarf

2// My guilty pleasure is… 
Chocolate

3// What’s on your desk? 
Plenty of accounting papers etc

4// My favourite thing about summer… 
The twitter of the birds in the early morning

5// A song that makes you happy, ever single time? 
Joshua Kadison - You are beautiful in my eyes

6// The movie you just can’t get enough of… 
Titanic

7// What’s the perfect drink to quench your thirst? 
Ice cold coca cola

8// Flowers or scatter cushions? 
Flowers

9// 2 famous people you’d love to have dinner with? 
George Clooney & Helen Zilla

10// Favourite thing to do in the Midlands? 
Drive along the Midlands Meander, browse in the shops and have something to eat & drink at some of the coffee shops/restaurants. 

Meet the team - Week 3 Zak Sithole

Zak is the wonder hands behind all our Rustic mirrors, frames and upcycled furniture. Read on to find out more about the guy behind our lovely up-cycled products....

1// My guilty pleasure is… 
Listening to my Barry Manilow greatest hits CD.

2// My favourite thing about summer… 
Chilling at the beach when the sun sets

3// A song that makes you happy, every single time? 
Drake

4// The movie you just can’t get enough of… 
Harold & Kumar - Go to white castle

5// What’s the perfect drink to quench your thirst? 
Sports drink, water is the best choice to stay hydrated, a sports drink is more appealing after water becomes rather bland to any taste buds.

6// Flowers or scatter cushions? 
Scatter cushions

7// 2 famous people you’d love to have dinner with? 
Princess Diana & Denzel Washington

Meet the team - Week 2 Hazel Selepe

1// The best thing I ever bought at The Ruby Orchard... My Carafe
 
2// My guilty pleasure is… Banoffee Ice-cream

3// What’s on your desk? Paper, paper & more paperwork

4// My favourite thing about summer… The smell of rain on a hot summer afternoon

5// A song that makes you happy, ever single time? Tracey Chapman - Fast Car

6// The movie you just can’t get enough of… TED - lol. Hilariously Funny!

7// What’s the perfect drink to quench your thirst? Peach flavoured Ice-tea

8// Flowers or scatter cushions? Scatter cushions definitely.

9// 2 famous people you’d love to have dinner with? Michelle & Barack Obhama

10// Favourite thing to do in the Midlands? Drive or rather 'Meander around' & buy little treats from here & there

11// Describe yourself in 3 words...
Gentle
Kind
& Boring (well that's what my kids think)

Meet The Team - Week 1 Nicola Tweed

When you send us a mail, give us a call, comment on our blog or facebook page... do you ever wonder who the are people behind the replies? When you come in store... who wraps your gifts, assists you, shows you around?  Who is behind the scenes making, creating, hunting and sourcing...

In this mini series we are going to ask our team to share some secrets, talk about their role at The Ruby Orchard and find out who they would love to have dinner with!  Join us every Wednesday to get to know our team! 

To kick off the series Nicola Tweed answered some questions for me... You must check out her awesome Design & Lifestyle blog for motivation, inspiration and exercise and diet tips.

1// What were you doing before you started working at The Ruby Orchard?
Before The Ruby Orchard & Howick I was living in London working for an Insurance company as an Underwriter/Sales Assistant , the work was in all honesty very dull but the crazy bunch of people I worked with made it a great place to work!

2// What do you like most about your role at The Ruby Orchard?

I love the creative freedom I have in my role, from the layout of the shop to the creating of blog posts and taking pictures of the products. I also love coming up with new marketing ideas for the shop.

Oh yes and the 2 minute commute!  

 3// When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?!

I’m still deciding, when I’m all grown up I’ll let you know…

Ok but seriously I do remember when I was teen I wanted to be a vet but when I realised I had to take Biology with a dragon of a teacher I decided against it. 3 years with that woman as a teacher would have totally killed me!  

 4// Describe yourself in 3 words!

Hmmmmm good question

Patient, poised and trustworthy

5// What do you on your days off?

I love a good lie in, not necessarily sleeping but just playing on my ipad and reading in bed.  I’ve also been enjoying the many café’s that the Meander has to offer – Café Bloom is a winner. I really wish it was in Howick!

6// 2 truths and 1 lie about yourself

I was bitten by a monkey when I was about 7.

I am the happiest morning person.

I once worked for the Richelieu family.

7// I never leave home without…

I can and often leave home with nothing.  I hate baggage especially when I go shopping or dancing!

8//  What’s your -

Top Song – (at the moment) Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World

Top Food  - (at the moment) Woolworths speckled eggs

Top beverage – Any green juice & a bottle of Malbec! Ha, Ha, ha what a contradiction.

Top Place – L.A - the mountains, the beach, the shops, the weird, the wacky, the health freaks and the glamorous. Love it all!

Top movie – Devil Wears Prada ‘No, no, it’s not a question!’

9// Imagine you are heading out for dinner with a bunch of famous bods - who would be sitting around the table with you?

Richard Branson, Roger Federer, Victoria Beckham, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Marie Forleo & Morgan Freeman.