Today is World Leather Day, so I thought I would post a little video on my social media. Due to many reasons, including health, I haven't done a video in months. There are things I could change and improve but I decided that my main goal was to post a video this morning and not spend hours over it. My videos will improve the more I do. It's great to be making videos again 🙂

Roslyn has definitely overtaken Stef in the HQ interactions and has won another month. The question is, can she gain the title again in May and become ultimate champion (so far), or will someone new take the top spot? Well done Roslyn, you are a valued part of our community and everyone appreciates the support you give.

In this weeks HQ session, AI came up. I have to admit I'm not a fan of AI, there are lots of reasons, some because I like to use my own creativity and if you don't use skills, you lose them. Recently though I have started to see the positive sides to AI. Today that took a leap forward! I recently posted about getting a grant towards a new clicker press to cut out leather shapes. I also invested a lot in the studio and business to get the clicker press up and running. What I haven't shared with anyone is that I have been struggling to cut through leather with it. I managed thin leathers but not the 3mm thick that I was wanting and needing. My husband would have a go and even with his strength it wouldn't work. So, today during his lunch break my husband asked AI (Copilot), why it wasn't working. It turned out the cutting board that came with the machine doesn't have enough give in it. So, the pressure of board won't allow the press knife to cut the last layer of fibres. This reminded me that I used to use leather underneath on my old machine. I tried it out and it cut like a dream! AI also told me the right type of cutting board I need buy. The Q&A piece it wrote was 36 pages long, so a lot to go through, but it helped me know where I was going wrong. I had assumed there was something wrong with the clicker press and that it didn't have 5 tonne of pressure. When in fact the problem was with the cutting board that came with the tool. I am so excited that my clicker press is now working. It has also shown me that I need to be a bit more open minded. Thanks for reading about my win. I hope you all have a good weekend 😀

I've just been looking at my Wheeliehogs podcast statistics and I've earned a badge because the stories have been downloaded over 500 times. I did get an email about this but didn't take much notice. Now I am, it's wonderful, and it seems that they are quite popular in North America. Who would of thought!

Hey HQ family ❤️ Quick one... and I’m sharing this here because you’re the people who actually see the real work. Q Branch has just been awarded the SME News Business Elite Award 2026 for Best Brand Strategy & Growth Consulting Firm. I’m genuinely proud… but not in a “look at us” way. More in a “wow… this started as a mission” way. Because behind every “brand” we talk about is a real human story: - someone trying to make a business work - someone carrying pressure - someone trying to lead better - someone wanting more freedom and stability for their family - someone trying to build something that matters - And this community is a big part of why we keep pushing the standard. You show up. You do the work. You ask the hard questions. You make bold decisions. You remind us that this isn’t about pretty graphics it’s about clarity, courage, and execution. So thank you for being in the room with us. This award is a nice moment… but the real win is what we’re building together. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Right… I’m ready to step up my own standards,” drop a 🔥 below and tell me what you’re committing to in the next 30 days.