Press

I was delighted to be approached by Alex Jones from BBC Radio Wales to chat about the creation of Bold Beanies and my experience of Breast Cancer, hair loss from chemotherapy treatments and starting my small business making my innovative soft, comfy yet fashionable Bold Beanies from North Wales.

Explaining the need for stylish cancer headwear for younger women and what makes my award winning beanie cancer hats so popular for hair loss sufferers; my Bold Beanies Bouquets and roses to create a beautiful, traditional yet practical gifts for women suffering hair loss (from chemotherapy treatments or Alopecia); expanding the range to mens, teens and kids ranges also and the development of sustainable new products like head wraps, headscarves, face-masks, PICC sleeves all using quality Liberty and fun cotton fabrics and my book HOPE.

A positive story of survival 15 years after my grade 3 advanced diagnosis of Breast Cancer and how grateful I am to be able to watch my children grow, support lovely charities and make a difficult time for others just that bit more bearable.

On Thursday morning my daughters and I were invited onto Dave William's breakfast show on Calon FM radio. 

To listen back to our interview, where we discuss all things Bold Beanies, clothing manufacture and factory, musical theatre and running a small family business please click here for the 'Listen Again playback. 

http://www.calonfm.com/105fm/?page_id=12863

Thank you again Dave for such a fun interview :) 

Listen to Jim Hawkins interviewing me tomorrow on Radio Shropshire's 'The Cool Seat'

A bit trepidatious, hopefully I'll have lots to say... my life's journey so far has certainly been quite eclectic. 

Not just talking Bold Beanies cancer hats and scarves we will be talking about my journey which has led me to having a factory in Shropshire; my books, clothing manufacture, as well as myself and my weird, wonderful and sometimes challenging life up to now.

Did you know.. I started my career as a radio presenter for Radio France and had my own programmes (and fans!)? I was an international software project manager and was responsible for the warrants section of the London Stock exchange website? I completely renovated a Grade 2 listed cottage and know all about 'build-over agreements' and lime mortar. I was asked to go on Dragons Den. I love party planning and have thrown some pretty spectacular parties including one inside a rainbow. I have a brain aneurysm. I won a BFIIN award for my chemo headwear and shared a table with a woman who had invented a telescope which was used on a NASA Mars mission (I felt very unworthy!). I'm a Role Model for the welsh assembly. I've been inside pyramids, swam with Dolphins, Kayaked my way through the Voges mountains in the snow and I tried to stroke a lion in the Ngorongoro Crater... oh and tripped on the 'pink carpet' at the Legally Blonde 2 premiere with Reese Witherspoon. I wonder what I'll get asked tomorrow... hopefully nothing about wrestling.

Follow Radio Shropshire @BBCShropshire and @jimallthetime on twitter for updates. You can also follow @boldbeanies and @h0pedreaml0ve to follow our daily antics.

To listen to my 'The Cool Seat' interview online please go to: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radioshropshire

This month I've had the honour of being mentioned in the magazine 'Life in North Wales'. The article about succeeding in business names a few inspirational women from the area, of which I'm delighted to be included. 

The article written by Penny Fray highlights what is needed to succeed. "What does success mean to you? To some it means making millions. Others crave power. Some just want to make the world a positive impact on the world. Achievement, in short, means different things to different people - but it never comes easy."

Karen Matthias (a psychology lecturer at Coleg Cambria, North Wales) sites one of the best definitions of success from Jefferey Sumber as "success is overcoming challenges, internal and external that at one time felt impossible or overbearing but with hard work and discipline I was able to rise above the fear or anxiety."

Poet Maya Angelou has an equally inspiring idea of it being about liking yourself, what you do and how you do it. 

My business Bold Beanies develops products for those undergoing chemotherapy and hair loss. Created from need for the product myself and now manufacturing and worldwide shipping to others to help make a difficult time a bit more bearable.  As a busy single mum to two girls, my business needs to be simple... but that's only possible with relentless persistence, hard work, social conscience and an unfailing belief in your service or product.

Wrexham mum who battled breast cancer has created a business selling fashionable headwear for people undergoing chemotherapy  A BRAVE mum-of-two who battled breast cancer has created a business selling fashionable headwear for people undergoing chemotherapy and suffering hair loss. Emilienne Rebel began producing Bold Beanies after being diagnosed with the condition six years ago, aged 31. Her range of soft and stylish cotton hats is proving popular with people losing their hair as a result of chemotherapy, or with Alopecia. See the rest of the online Leader article from 2013 here:  http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/127622/wrexham-mum-who-battled-breast-cancer-has-created-a-business-selling-fashionable-headwear-for-people-undergoing-chemotherapy.aspx