When we met up with Zoë Zenklusen Payne (left), the founder of Simply Zoë, we were inspired. The bravery and dedication merited an article and hopefully will help someone else in the same situation. We asked Zoë to answer a few questions and she has even kindly offered a Fr. 30.- voucher to use on her website to one of our readers. Read below to find out how to enter the competition.
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, I noticed that there wasn’t much choice for the specialist items you require during treatment and recovery, especially, at the time there was not a large choice for post-surgical lingerie. Having a mastectomy is an amputation and clearly changes your body and leads to a lack of confidence. It somehow didn’t seem fair that there were barely any pretty, sexy and feminine options available. Wearing something resembling a sports bra doesn’t help with confidence issues! I had an immediate reconstruction, so I was able to continue wearing “normal” bras, but the underwire is extremely uncomfortable now, so I began the search for gorgeous wire free options and really came up short.
I stumbled across a brand in Australia that had been designed and produced by a breast cancer survivor who started her own post-surgical lingerie business after her own disappointing experience of not being able to find beautiful post-surgical options. As often happens in the cancer world, you often find an immediate connection with someone, and my order of a bra led to her asking me to become a brand ambassador, which led to me starting Simply Zoë as a one stop shop for items that women need during treatment and recovery, but with the emphasis being on sexy, feminine and pretty.
Note that the prices of Swiss postage has been increased and previously Courier A and B (Fr. 1.- and Fr. 0.85) are now Fr. 1.10 and Fr. 0.90 respectively (since 01.02.2022).
The new stamps from the Swiss Post Office were released a few weeks ago. It is so exciting to see what they have come up with. We love the kiss ones shown above. What fun it would be to use for a party invitation! It doesn't cost anything to order stamps via the website as you pay the face value and postage is free (minimum Fr. 15.- for your order)!
When ordering, make sure you choose the ones that say: non oblitéré. Otherwise, you will receive stamps that have the postmark on the day of issue. Some stamps are offered as "autocollant" for peel-off stickers; or "gommé" for the kind you need to moisten.
The below set is beautiful and could be used for Spring or Easter cards for anyone... even for sending out your invoices or documents! The one with the elephant is for "birth" according to the website but we think it would be appropriate for anything. Keep in mind that some are face value Fr. 0.90 with others at Fr. 1.10, Fr. 1.80, or even Fr. 2.30.
Over 30 different local creators showcase their wares!
Know-it-all passport® was able to open the 6th edition of our pop-up shop, Know-it-all Marketplace, Monday 31 January and will be open through 26 February 2022.
Located in the popular Planète Charmilles shopping center, Know-it-all Marketplace will showcase the work of local creative people who have a passion for creating things and love to share this passion in a proper shop space!
With unusual products ranging from hard-to-find gifts and luxury accessories, handmade soaps, jewelry that you won't find anywhere else, and delicious food for the entire family, you won’t need to go anywhere else. Chances are you will want to treat yourself to a few items! Come along to browse, chat, meet up with friends, and buy!
Over 30 local creators
Each of the 35 creators has had to go through a rigorous selection process to avoid imported products with no local creative input. Ranging from zero waste products for washing dishes and laundry to high end "art" jewelry, there is everything in between. You will find the top ten regulars from our previous pop ups and about 1/3 new creators. We are happy to represent our local cardmaker, 88 year-old M. Kunzli, who is the most "mature" of the lot (see below).
Kathleen Redly is one of the local creators that we represented in the last Know-it-all Marketplace in December 2020. She will be joining us again for our February 2022 edition so please stop by when you get a chance. But if you can't wait that long, then join her this Wednesday, 12 January 2022, from 19h-21h for the vernissage of her latest exhibit.
L’art nous libère, which translates to "art frees us". Kathleen came up with this title as it describes both artists’ bodies of work. She comments, "With art we can go anywhere, create our own vision and share it with others, who may have a completely different experience of our creation."
We caught up with Kathleen just before the exhibit opened and asked for a few comments.
I am an artist living in Geneva, Switzerland. I grew up on the Canadian prairies, where I fell in love with the sky. My parents valued art, and always encouraged our artistic endeavors. I loved drawing and painting from an early age, always with an emphasis on colour. I did art throughout secondary school and studio classes in university. I had two duo shows in Saskatoon, my home town, in the nineties, under my maiden name, Kathleen Bowman. After a long absence from what I call “hands dirty” art, when my focus was on raising our children, I had an overwhelming urge to get back to it. I enrolled in a wonderful local art workshop, which gave me just what I needed.
Know-it-all passport® is happy to announce a great opportunity for our creative community again! We are currently seeking vendors for our 6th edition of Know-it-all Marketplace that will showcase local* creative people who have a passion and love to share this passion. We can already count on some of our regulars such as Chocolat Madouce'Heure, Spice Angel chilli jams, Lanxel candles, Sue's handmade greeting cards, Kathy's Love of Lavender products, as well as many more.
Even with Covid-19 as our new norm, we know that between masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing, we will be able to maintain a fun and healthy environment. When we announced will be holding the shop this year, this is what one of our client's wrote to us: Thank you for the wonderful news that your creativity will bring joy and happiness again this year. Your shop is so welcoming and full of creativity.
This 6th edition pop-up shop (temporary shop) will be held in Planète Charmilles, a central Geneva location, from 31 January through 26 February 2022. It will be in a large surface next to Fust and Burger King.
Benefits for vendors:
- Leave your items for 4 weeks
- Assist only one day
- No commission is taken!
If you dabble in any of the following areas, or one that is not listed (even better) then please ask for an application form:
- fabric items
- mosaic
- stained glass
- painted furniture
- painted items
- paper items
- metal items
- handmade candles
- ceramic
- porcelain
- perfume
- jams
- honey
- jewelry
- serving plates
- soap
- Christmas decorations
- quilts
- cards
- local authors
- leather items
- items for men
- upcycled items
- etc.
