The Orange Trove — A Gift in Itself
Building a legacy for my children, and discovering the gifts along the way.
The Orange Trove began with a desire to create something meaningful beyond the traditional nine-to-five working life. Throughout my working years, I often found myself feeling unchallenged, searching for something more that would allow me to apply the lessons, knowledge and experiences I had gathered along the way. I envisioned The Orange Trove as more than a gift and toy store; I saw it as the beginning of something I could build with purpose, something that might one day become a legacy for my children and the generations that follow.
I made significant sacrifices to pursue that vision, including selling my home and leaving my role as an educator to give the business my full attention. With time, however, I came to understand that building this business was a dream I had created for my family’s future, rather than a reflection of my own deepest passion. Even so, I haven’t given up on it. I still hope to nurture The Orange Trove into something my children can carry forward, should they wish to, and perhaps give them the opportunity to explore a different way of thinking about work, life and what is possible.
Explore The Orange Trove
Discover the gift and toy store that began as a vision for my family’s future.
The Orange Trove — A Gift in Itself
Building a legacy for my children, and discovering the gifts along the way.
The Orange Trove began with a desire to create something meaningful beyond the traditional nine-to-five working life. Throughout my working years, I often found myself feeling unchallenged, searching for something more that would allow me to apply the lessons, knowledge and experiences I had gathered along the way. I envisioned The Orange Trove as more than a gift and toy store; I saw it as the beginning of something I could build with purpose, something that might one day become a legacy for my children and the generations that follow.
I made significant sacrifices to pursue that vision, including selling my home and leaving my role as an educator to give the business my full attention. With time, however, I came to understand that building this business was a dream I had created for my family’s future, rather than a reflection of my own deepest passion. Even so, I haven’t given up on it. I still hope to nurture The Orange Trove into something my children can carry forward, should they wish to, and perhaps give them the opportunity to explore a different way of thinking about work, life and what is possible.
Explore The Orange Trove
Discover the gift and toy store that began as a vision for my family’s future.
Pages of Michelle — Words Waiting to Be Shared
Giving voice to the wisdom, reflections and words that have waited patiently within me.
Pages of Michelle was a dream that began taking shape around the same time as The Orange Trove, although I didn’t yet have the knowledge or confidence to bring it to life independently. Following a spiritual awakening in late 2020, I began writing in September 2021. What started as thoughts and reflections soon became something much deeper — words that seemed to flow through me as downloads of insight, wisdom and understanding. Ideas I had once assumed were simply common sense gradually revealed themselves to be perspectives worth exploring and sharing.
Writing became a way of making sense of the world, understanding myself and healing along the way. During 2021 and 2022, I accumulated so much writing that much of it remained tucked away in my portfolio, unseen and unheard. Now, I feel ready to open those pages to the world, including the thoughts that may seem unusual, unconventional or even a little mad to some. Pages of Michelle is my invitation to pause, reflect, question and discover — a space where the words I’ve carried for years can finally find their voice, and where the wisdom unfolding through my present experiences can find expression, meaning and a place to be explored.
Explore Pages of Michelle
Enter a space for self-reflection, spiritual perspectives, and the wisdom I’ve been waiting to share.
Pages of Michelle — Words Waiting to Be Shared
Giving voice to the wisdom, reflections and words that have waited patiently within me.
Pages of Michelle was a dream that began taking shape around the same time as The Orange Trove, although I didn’t yet have the knowledge or confidence to bring it to life independently. Following a spiritual awakening in late 2020, I began writing in September 2021. What started as thoughts and reflections soon became something much deeper — words that seemed to flow through me as downloads of insight, wisdom and understanding. Ideas I had once assumed were simply common sense gradually revealed themselves to be perspectives worth exploring and sharing.
Writing became a way of making sense of the world, understanding myself and healing along the way. During 2021 and 2022, I accumulated so much writing that much of it remained tucked away in my portfolio, unseen and unheard. Now, I feel ready to open those pages to the world, including the thoughts that may seem unusual, unconventional or even a little mad to some. Pages of Michelle is my invitation to pause, reflect, question and discover — a space where the words I’ve carried for years can finally find their voice, and where the wisdom unfolding through my present experiences can find expression, meaning and a place to be explored.
Explore Pages of Michelle
Enter a space for self-reflection, spiritual perspectives, and the wisdom I’ve been waiting to share.
Clay of Michelle & Sam — Returning to My Inner Child
Rediscovering my purpose through creativity, play and the joy of making.
Clay of Michelle & Sam began quietly, long before I understood what it might become. While building The Orange Trove, I started making little clay figurines to display products, eventually creating handmade gifts whenever time allowed. What I initially considered a hobby gradually became a small part of my life, until a cancer diagnosis brought it to a halt. Returning to creativity has given me the opportunity to see it differently. I’ve come to realise that working with clay is more than a pastime; it is a way of reconnecting with my inner child, a part of my purpose that brings me genuine excitement and joy.
As a child, I loved going on adventures with my teddy bear. Today, Sam — my beloved dog — has become my companion in this new chapter, inspiring a creative world of handmade treasures, playful characters and little pieces made with love. I look forward to discovering where this journey leads, allowing myself to experiment, play and create without losing sight of the simple joy that started it all. Perhaps this project is not just about what I make, but about rediscovering a part of myself that was always there, waiting to come out and play.
A Creative Journey in the Making
Discover the story behind my journey into clay, creativity, and reconnecting with my inner child.
A link to the Clay of Michelle & Sam website will be available here soon.
A Deeper Reflection: Discovering My Purpose
Sometimes, discovering our purpose begins with looking back at the things we have always loved. In Discovering My Purpose — and How to Discover Yours, I reflect on how I came to recognise clay as a part of my purpose and how the things we once considered hobbies may hold a deeper meaning than we realise.
(11 minutes read time.)
Clay of Michelle & Sam — Returning to My Inner Child
Rediscovering my purpose through creativity, play and the joy of making.
Clay of Michelle & Sam began quietly, long before I understood what it might become. While building The Orange Trove, I started making little clay figurines to display products, eventually creating handmade gifts whenever time allowed. What I initially considered a hobby gradually became a small part of my life, until a cancer diagnosis brought it to a halt. Returning to creativity has given me the opportunity to see it differently. I’ve come to realise that working with clay is more than a pastime; it is a way of reconnecting with my inner child, a part of my purpose that brings me genuine excitement and joy.
As a child, I loved going on adventures with my teddy bear. Today, Sam — my beloved dog — has become my companion in this new chapter, inspiring a creative world of handmade treasures, playful characters and little pieces made with love. I look forward to discovering where this journey leads, allowing myself to experiment, play and create without losing sight of the simple joy that started it all. Perhaps this project is not just about what I make, but about rediscovering a part of myself that was always there, waiting to come out and play.
A Creative Journey in the Making
Discover the story behind my journey into clay, creativity, and reconnecting with my inner child.
A link to the Clay of Michelle & Sam website will be available here soon.
A Deeper Reflection: Discovering My Purpose
Sometimes, discovering our purpose begins with looking back at the things we have always loved. In Discovering My Purpose — and How to Discover Yours, I reflect on how I came to recognise clay as a part of my purpose and how the things we once considered hobbies may hold a deeper meaning than we realise.