There are many ups and downs in life. Some ‘downs’ seek to keep you there – if you let them. But we all have to ‘get back on the horse’ and keep on keeping on. Flotsam Flo’s Kate Doran describes just that in the following article. As an artisan product creator, it’s interesting to hear Kate’s back story and appreciate how life can shape and form us.
First, give us a little background about yourself?
I live in Mount Hawke, I have a Jack Russell called Peeper and a couple of horses, most of which were rescues or had a bad start in life. I’ve lived in Cornwall all my life, except for when I went to uni in 2005 to do graphic design. I’ve had a varied life and a few ups and downs. I have always loved art and making things. I did Art and graphic design at school and A-level and loved it! I learned so much and loved being able to express yourself.
Being 16/17 is always a tricky age but my parents got divorced. I found it hard so I lived with my amazing Gran, Florence. We also lost a horse and to deal with this. I drew horses, it was my outlet. I then went onto an art foundation course, after my A-Levels. Despite getting A*s for art at GCSE and A-Level, my art lecturer on this course told me not to sign my work because I “wasn’t an artist” and at our final art exhibition, I had one of my horse drawings on display. I was told to take this artwork down as he “didn’t want it to be the first thing people see when they walk in”. This devastated me. I couldn’t bring myself to do fine art at uni so I did graphics and I refused to draw for years. I went to Epsom for university and loved it, but nothing beats the openness and countryside of Cornwall but I got a first so was really pleased with this.
I’ve had a range of jobs in my life. I was a graphic designer for Cornwall and Devon Media. I then did my teacher training in DT, but couldn’t find a teaching job so I then worked in the hospital sewing lycra gloves and sleeves in the Therapy Department as a hand therapy assistant. Got my first teaching job teaching woodwork, metalwork, graphics and textiles. I loved it! I then had to have two hip operations, and a hip arthroscopy.
They have made them the best they can, but in the future, I will need another hip operation. The consultant told me to start cycling. I thought there’s no way I am doing this. 5 bikes later I am absolutely loving it which proves it’s never too late. I play the Tenor Horn in St. Agnes Silver band so I then taught brass to the local primary schools, whilst working in an SEMH school part time. I then went back to mainstream school and taught Art and DT. I absolutely loved it and was in my element encouraging students to believe in themselves and create artwork they wanted to do.
As we understand it you had an accident that required hospital treatment. Are you able to talk about that?
I have been in hospital a couple of times now, for my hip operation and then 3 years ago I was cycling and had just gone down a bumpy road. My head and neck were aching so bad. I got to the bottom of the hill and stopped, but couldn’t work out what it was. I cycled to the top of the hill in pain and realised something wasn’t right.
My gran was a real strong, independent woman. She once broke her leg putting her washing out. Rather than calling for help she dragged herself inside, then phoned mum. She also missed the bus once, when coming to see us and instead of phoning us for a lift, she started walking the 2.5 miles to see us in the torrential rain. I went to see where she was and she was soaked! Until she was about 82, gran would walk a 2 mile round trip in every weather to her cleaning job. I used to go with her and loved it. Because of my gran and how I had been brought up, we had been taught if you’re ok to, then just get on with it. This has set me in good stead for everything that has happened to me. I cycled the 2 miles home not knowing what had happened to me. I phoned mum in tears not knowing what had happened. I don’t cry so she knew it was something bad! I was taken to Treliske Hospital where they did a scan. I’ll never forget what I was told. “You’ve had a bleed on the brain, you need to go to Derriford.” I remember telling my mum, I don’t want to go there!
That week was the worst week of my life, I have never felt such pain. I could barely open my eyes, the pain was excruciating and nothing made it go away and to top it all off it was my birthday in that week! But at that point, I didn’t care. I couldn’t get out of bed for 5 days. I could barely walk. Each day I would take a couple of steps further. I pushed myself until I was able to make it to the end of the corridor because I wanted to get out of hospital. I wanted to go outside. They kept taking me for scans and I didn’t understand why. I do now. I’d had a Subarachnoid Brain Haemorrhage. 1/3 of people recover with life changing disabilities. 1/3 die. I’m so glad I didn’t know this. Over the next month, the pain subsided and I could walk and start exercising again.
And where are you now with health related things?
It’s still a struggle and it’s so easy to say, I’ve had this happen to me I can’t do that. But if my gran has taught me anything it’s to get on and get on with it. “There’s no such word as can’t” she used to tell me. 10 weeks after my brain haemorrhage I competed in the Blenheim palace triathlon and I came 3rd. I now get tired easily, especially if I have done too much. I get brain fog and I forget things. That part is the worst, especially if I forget something whilst talking to people as it makes me feel stupid. What’s really hard is I look “normal” if that is such a thing. Like there is nothing wrong with me, so I think it’s harder for people to see/understand.
I love cycling and bikes and last year I took up BMX. I was going twice a week and loved it! A few months in I went a bit gun-ho and fell off, breaking my wrist badly and fracturing my patella. I have ridden horses for years and (touch wood) never broken a thing! I had to have a plate put in my wrist and wore a knee brace for weeks! I am back on the bikes, horse riding and BMX but just a bit more steady now! My gran died a while ago now, she had cancer and it’s just one battle she couldn’t beat.
What was the first thing you did upon leaving hospital?
I was still too unwell to do much. I was barely able to eat but the taste of a roast potato! I was in bed for a few more weeks but as soon as I could, I went to see the horses. As soon as I could, I rode my bike. It’s just the little things.
How has the ordeal changed your perspective?
I was going into school part time and working part time at Giant Helston, a bike shop. Everything seemed ok, but I was struggling. With covid, the school system changed, there was so much to plan and do and going from here, there and everywhere I just couldn’t cope. I was going into school crying and I don’t cry. It was all getting too much. I didn’t know what to do, but then I remembered when I was in hospital and if I can get through that I can get through anything. I realised life is too short.
I left school in October 2021. I didn’t know what I was doing but I just had to trust what was going on. I still had a part time job in Giant Helston. They have been great to me but it’s completely different to teaching. You’re taught to work every day to get the money in and that’s what you should do. Teaching was a stable job but I couldn’t do it any more. I have been working part time in the bike shop but then I know I still needed a creative outlet. That’s where Flotsam Flo came in!
Talk us through setting up your business and what that entails?
I looked at some broken plastic and inflatables I had and wondered what I could make. I started making bags from a broken inflatable. I decided to call my venture Flotsam Flo. I think it describes the materials well and is also named after my Gran Florence. I think links like these help remind you why you started on the hard days. I posted on my local Mount Hawke and St. Agnes group on social media for materials and it’s just gone from there.
Currently, I am making products from broken wetsuits, dry bags, punctured inner tubes, broken inflatables, hot tub lids, paddling pools, seat belts…all these items I take from people have one rule, they must be broken and going to landfill! I do buy in zips, clips and some webbing as I can’t source all of these but if it means another item is not going to landfill then I think this is worth it.
In November 2021, before I started selling my items, the tent for the covid vaccinations at the GP Surgery in Mount Hawke was vandalised. I couldn’t bare seeing the damage, especially with all the hard work from the volunteers. It had been cut in numerous places and the team had taped it up. I cut out some hand and heart shapes to show community support, from the broken plastics I had and made a design that I stuck on the tent. I have also made items in the Ukrainian colours and every penny they sold for went to Ukraine. We made around £400 that was donated. I always think, we can’t do it all but we can do our bit, no matter how small.
So far my items are in 6 shops in Cornwall, and I often attend craft shows. One coming up is ‘Helifest’ which is in Padstow and is an event by the Cornwall Air Ambulance on the 16th of July – excited for this one! I have a presence on social media but I m still learning about websites etc. I draw pet portraits and harbour scenes (see Kate Doran art on Facebook and Instagram for more), but due to my experience at college I haven’t done much of this. I have however, recently got onto a programme called ‘Cultivator Cornwall’ who help art businesses, so watch this space!
I still don’t know where Flotsam Flo is going, my background is design and teaching so this is all very new to me. Any help and support people give me I am grateful for, North Coast wetsuits has been brilliant supporting us. Not only stocking some of our items, but giving me material to make things from. It has just been brilliant.
How’s it been so far and what plans do you have in terms of evolution?
It is still all very new, I am learning what to do and when but the hardest part is planning my time. Because I get days where I am tired and get brain fog I have to plan. But you can’t always plan being creative. Seeing the materials and getting ideas helps me get going though as I can see ideas in my head; having people’s support really helps. I would love Flotsam Flo to take over, but I never believe things until it happens. The dream is to be able to use as many items as I can that were going to landfill, make every day and make Flotsam Flo successful. Imagine me with a Flotsam Flo sign written van and a Flotsam Flo shop! Wouldn’t this be incredible? I am in desperate need of space for storing items and working as I have currently taken over the conservatory but you work with what you’ve got. If I can just save a few items from landfill then I am really happy.
Any big lessons you’ve learned from the last few years?
Yes! Always ask for help, even if you don’t think you need it and just be grateful. Be grateful for your friends, your family, your support and just to be alive. I know people say this and it sounds a bit cheesy, but all these things that have happened really make me believe this. Know that you can do anything and anything is possible, it really is. I have been on Radio Cornwall twice and had Flotsam Flo featured in ‘My Cornwall’ magazine. I know these are only small things but if you had said to me a year or two ago this would have happened and I’d be making my own business sewing and saving item from landfill, I wouldn’t have believed you.
What advice would you give to others thinking about setting up their own business?
Yes, keep it real. Do what you want and what you love. Don’t lose the passion for creating and making, whatever it is you are doing. Not everyone is going to like what you are doing but that’s ok, there are going to be hundreds of people out there who will and who will support you. Never be afraid to ask for help and also, like me, don’t expect things to happen overnight. I am an Aries so I think everything is going to happen now and I can be impatient, but I know or am learning, that businesses take a long time to grow. Every time things get tough or I think I can’t do it, I think of my gran or the time I was in hospital when I thought I wouldn’t make it and that is enough to bring me back down to earth, pull your socks up and know its time to make something again.
If you want to hear more you can listen to this also: Julie Skentelbery – Flotsam Flo – BBC Sounds
NCW carries a selection of Flotsam Flo products. Message us to find out what here.