Gypsy chic issue 19 editor lorraine stylianou

the magazine dedicated to greeting card publishing and entrepreneurship

Gypsy Chic

magazine Issue 19 - 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR

THE YEAR OF THE DOG

The Envelope in the Room

JOIN THE PODCAST PARTY

BOOK NOOK

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ith w s w e i v r e t n I ! !

INSIDE! ckel, Helen ya Scott-Ro Lee Thomas, Fre ardingley W ia r to ic V d n a n Sanderso

CONTENTS 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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INTERVIEW WITH... LEE THOMAS

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BOOK NOOK

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INTERVIEW WITH... FREYA SCOTT-ROCKEL

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11 LIES, DAMNED LIES, AND FAKE NEWS 12 THE ENVELOPE IN THE ROOM 13 HAPPY NEW YEAR - THE YEAR OF THE DOG 14 INTERVIEW WITH... HELEN SANDERSON 17 TRADE FAIR TRAINING - STATESIDE

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18 JOIN THE PODCAST PARTY 19 2018 – WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT IN THE CARD INDUSTRY 20 INTERVIEW WITH... VICTORIA WARDINGLEY 23 THE CACTUS RANGE

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LfrEomTthT E R e Editor

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into at Christmas craft fairs (Lee Thomas of Gallery Design, and Freya Scott-Rockel), as well as an article featuring Victoria Wardingley’s gorgeous folk art-inspired furniture and paintings whom I became acquainted with via Instagram.

So how did you spend your holidays? I was glad to catch up on end of year accounts, do some stock taking, paint new canvases, and come up with new card designs. A good chunk of time was spent helping the kids with college assignments and overeating. I barely left the house.

I’d love to hear from you if there are any topics you’d like to see covered in future issues – my next one now probably 1 March 2018 – so drop me an email if you have some suggestions or want to feature.

For now, take a break and catch up on some creative ideas and other stationery related commentary.

Happy Reading x

elcome to Issue 19 of Gypsy Chic, the first edition of 2018.

The start of a New Year is a great way to assert ourselves, plan new projects, set new goals, and grow our businesses. With the coming of Spring, there’s nothing like chucking out the old, to free up space for new things in our lives. With that in mind, I’m certain you will enjoy reading Helen Saunderson’s interview where she introduces her business “Calm from Clutter”. As most home based card publishers will agree, our living and work spaces have no clear delineation and we could all benefit from applying Helen’s solutions to our jumbled lives (for example getting rid of the card stock propping up our beds and thinking of new methods of storage!)

This edition also features interviews with two new super talented Colchester artists I bumped

Lorraine www.lorrainestylianou.com

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Interview with...

Lee Thomas

of Gallery Design

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1. WHEN I SAW YOUR ARTWORK IN A LOCAL CAFÉ, I WANTED TO SHARE YOUR ANIMAL ILLUSTRATIONS WITH MY READERS (MY FAVOURITES ARE THE FISH, PUFFIN AND HEDGEHOG). TELL US HOW YOU PRODUCE THESE AS THEY LOOK LIKE A MIX OF PEN & INK. lll I tend to work initially with graphic pens and do a drawing on paper. Then I will move this onto the computer to further develop the piece. Some of the more recent pieces have been purely done on the computer but I’m keen to make sure that they don’t feel computerised.

The more creative the better for me.

My heart is really in my own work but I’m always dedicated to everything I do.

So at the moment I’m working in a corporate environment during the day, working on commissions and other design work in the evenings and the weekends are taken up with Christmas markets.

2. WHAT IS A TYPICAL WEEK LIKE FOR YOU AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND ILLUSTRATOR, AND WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LIKE MOST. lll Working freelance means that the week is never typical which is what I really love. So it is late nights and weekends but I really don’t mind that.

3. WHAT IS THE MOST LUCRATIVE PART OF GRAPHIC DESIGN? l l l It really depends on the client. I have a lot of experience in magazine design so I would command my highest rate as an Art Director.

4. YOUR REPEAT BIRD PATTERNS LEND THEMSELVES BEAUTIFULLY TO GIFT WRAP OR WALLPAPER. IS A STATIONERY BRAND SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO DEVELOP? l l l Yes I feel lots of my work would lend itself to commercial applications. I just need to work out how to get myself and my work in front of the right people.

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5. HAVE YOU MANUFACTURED ANY INTERESTING PRODUCTS FROM YOUR DESIGNS APART FROM PRINTS OR GREETING CARDS? lll No not really I have printed a lot of my work onto to canvas for sale and a couple of my boat pictures have gone into large lightboxes which I want to develop.

6. ARE THERE ANY COURSES YOU PLAN TO TAKE IN THE NEW YEAR, OR INTERESTING APPS YOU WANT TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF TO ENHANCE YOUR DESIGN BUSINESS? lll No courses or apps as such. I want to try and get my work into more online things. Its just finding the right ones when there is so much choice and opportunities.

7. WHAT OTHER PLANS HAVE YOU PENCILLED IN FOR GALLERY DESIGN IN 2018? (PERHAPS TRAVEL ON PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSIGNMENTS, A SOLO EXHIBITION ETC). lll I spend quite a bit of time in America visiting my 10 year old daughter Matilda so I’ve got a couple of exhibitions coming up in Maine to tie in with that. I’ve also lined up some UK exhibitions as well.

I have a series of pictures I want to develop based on America. Then it will be a big mixture of all the other things that I do I guess. Maybe it’s time to define myself a bit more but I love do lots of different things.

LEE THOMAS

Tel: +44 (0) 7800 796042 Website: www.gallerydesign.co.uk Email: lee@gallerydesign.co.uk Instagram: lee1973thomas

THE BOOK NOOK l There’s

an endless list of great business books out there to jump start your New Year and what better way to spend any Christmas money you received learning new things I’ve picked these two for no less reason than their subject matter is challenging and they have good covers – Judge a book by its cover, right? It’s always at the forefront of my mind – How can we disrupt the card industry. And after I finished these, I’ll be better placed to comment on that.

JAY BAER’S HUG YOUR HATERS: HOW TO EMBRACE COMPLAINTS AND KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS

ARUN SUNDARAJAN’S THE SHARING ECONOMY: THE END OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE RISE OF CROWD-BASED CAPITALISM £7.63 on Kindle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharing-EconomyEmployment-Crowd-Based-Capitalism/ dp/0262533529/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qi d=1510652452&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Arun+ Sundarajan%E2%80%99s+The+Sharing+Econom y%3A++The+End+of+Employment+and+the+Ri se+of+Crowd-Based+Capitalism

l This

book helps any business owner to deal with criticism in a constructive way and to keep the “moaners” on side – Indeed, helping them become some of your best advocates in the future.

HAPPY READING!

£9.99 on Kindle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hug-Your-HatersComplaints-Customers/dp/1101980672/ref =sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510653771&sr=81&keywords=Hug+Your+Haters+-+by+Jay+Baer

A New Year is time to think of new ways of doing business too – why can’t we share more, partner and collaborate? I’ve a number of friends currently running Kickstarter campaigns to raise funds for their start up.

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Interview with...

Freya Scott-Rockel

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1. TELL US ABOUT YOU….HOW YOU STARTED IN ART, WHAT YOU FOCUSSED ON IN TERMS OF YOUR BA IN FINE ART AND WHAT YOU’VE DONE SINCE E.G. DO YOU WORK FULL TIME AS AN ARTIST? lll I have been fascinated by art – looking at it and making it – from an early age. I have been painting and drawing frequently ever since I can remember, and studied Art as one of my principal subjects throughout my education, culminating in a 1st class degree in Fine Art. I love art from all different movements, from old classical art to contemporary conceptual art, and I feel that my art in its appearance falls right in the middle between those two sides of the spectrum.

For my degree, I focused first on colour and landscapes, then on the interior and the concept of the uncanny, changing everyday spaces into something a little unfamiliar and dreamlike.

Since my degree, I have continued my practice around everyday commitments such as work, trying to find venues to sell / promote my work where possible, and attempting to build my art into a full time career gradually over time. In terms of subject matter, since my degree I have mostly departed from the theme of interiors for now, focusing more on outdoor scenes, still life and the colours of the various seasons again for the time being.

However, the interior is a theme I may to return to soon.

I am very inspired by historic buildings and architecture, and by the North Essex and Suffolk countryside, and feel that these are themes that are almost inexhaustible as there are always more scenes / aspects that I have yet to paint.

3. HOW DO YOU MARKET YOUR ART AND WHAT METHODS HAVE YOU FOUND MOST PRODUCTIVE? l l l Marketing my art is an area that I want to develop. I mostly concentrate on searching for local opportunities for exhibitions or other activities, trying to get my art out in the public eye whenever I can. Some things that I have tried include approaching organisations that I think are suitable, e.g. tourist shops selling cards, card companies or local galleries directly, and also watch out for any local events where there is an opportunity to display my art.

2. IS THERE ONE THEME ABOVE ALL OTHERS THAT YOU RETURN TO IN YOUR PAINTINGS, AND WHY? lll I don’t think that there is any one thing, as there is too much out there that inspires me, but as aforementioned I am very inspired by landscapes / treescapes, the changing colours of the various seasons and by the effect that different surroundings (i.e. buildings and interiors) have on our psyche.

4. HOW DO YOU PRICE YOUR ART, OR IT IS A “MOVING FEAST” IN TERMS OF VENUE AND CLIENTELE? l l l I have set prices on my website, but am open to negotiation on these, and if exhibiting, often alter prices depending on the venue. I also price my paintings

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not just on size, but also according to the quality (e.g. amount of hours of work spent, quality of the finished result) and value that each piece has to me.

5. HAVE YOU HAD ANY LUCK IN DISRUPTING THE ART INDUSTRY E.G. ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS IN NEW, UNORTHODOX WAYS, OR CHALLENGING SOCIETY THROUGH YOUR SUBJECT MATTER? lll I haven’t really got to the point yet where I am able to disrupt the art industry but am always interested in trying to do things in new and different ways. I am not a political artist, as the themes that I am inspired by are mostly about creating a visual effect, though I am definitely interested in creating an impact on my viewers. Many of my larger paintings of interiors are designed to create a slightly unsettling effect, and to raise questions for the viewer about what exactly it is that they are looking at.

6. DO YOU THINK CREATING PRODUCT FROM YOUR IMAGES SUPPORTS OR DILUTES YOUR BRAND AS AN ARTIST? lll I believe that creating a bit of product from your art is ok, but I don’t want it to

distract me too much from my own ideas and artistic vision. So the answer is, I think that creating a product from my images supports my brand as an artist to an extent, but too much would probably dilute it.

7. WHO CURRENTLY OWNS YOUR ART – PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATES, UK OR ABROAD? l l l Almost all of the art that I have sold is currently owned by private individuals, although one work was purchased by an art therapist from St Clement’s in Ipswich and is now owned by the hospital.

8. WHAT PLANS/GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR 2018 IN RESPECT OF YOUR ART CAREER. l l l To approach more venues about the possibility of exhibiting / selling my art, as well as looking out for more local opportunities, perhaps including collaboration of some sort. I also plan to enter a painting for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition again, as I was almost successful the last time I entered.

FREYA SCOTT-ROCKEL

Website: freyasr1.wixsite.com/arts Email: freasr1@gmail.com

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IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF 2018…

AND THAT MEANS THERE IS ONLY 364 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS!

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lthough we’re just over the end of year festivities, the forward thinking card publisher has to swing back into action very soon with new designs at the ready for the January tradeshows – and that will most likely include a Christmas range.

For those of us who produce location specific designs with a Christmas theme, it may be worth giving some attention to the Mirror’s article on towns that hate Christmas most, and those who are most festive: http://www.mirror.co.uk/ news/uk-news/revealedbritish-city-hateschristmas-11624343

best to avoid: Norwich, Nottingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Bristol, Manchester, Canterbury, Reading, Leicester and Edinburgh. Apparently people from that fine city of Norwich detest Christmas most.

Instead focus on those towns and counties that love to celebrate: Peterborough, London, Derby, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Glasgow, Birmingham, Essex, Liverpool and Sheffield.

It is probably best to do one’s own research on the size of the market in these towns as well as bearing in mind, that as much as people moan about traditions, they will often still uphold them.

If you are looking for stockists to buy your City-scapes in snowflake filled snowglobes it may be

More stats may be gathered from figures from Royal Mail and other postal services.

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e p o l e v n E e Th m o o R in the Check out these gorgeous monochrome beauties‌.

Perfect for decorating, male ranges, or any collection that needs an air of refinement More interesting envelope features coming soon Currently available from Yorkshire Envelopes

https://www.yorkshireenvelopes.com/

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Interview with...

Helen Sanderson Professional Organiser

Let me introduce you to Helen Sanderson, a fellow graduate of KPI (Key Person of Influence business accelerator) now known as Dent. Helen is an interior designer, decluttering expert, professional organiser and founder of Ministry of Calm.

She is the creator of the Home Declutter Kit and offers workshops and coaching to people who want to declutter and create more space and order in their lives. Find out more about Helen at helensanderson.com Decluttering is relevant all year round, but particularly so as we head into a New Year; a great time to spring clean and start the year afresh. This is a perfect opportunity to think of new possibilities and to set new objectives. What do you want to create space for in your 2018?

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1. TELL US HOW IT ALL STARTED FOR YOU IN THE DECLUTTERING BUSINESS AND HOW DID YOUR EARLY INSIGHTS LEAD YOU TO THE PROFESSION YOU NOW SPECIALISE IN. lll I started off helping friends to clear their spaces and deal with unfinished business that was holding them back. I found it really rewarding work and also discovered that I had the perfect skill set for it. I understand it’s all about being able to hold a vision of how the space can be and being able to support people who are struggling to address something they find scary and insurmountable.

Like most professional organisers, I’m the type of person who gets a thrill out of clearing and transforming something from mess to tidy, whether that’s a house, a garage, a desk or wardrobe. I know that when I go and meet a client, I often get itchy fingers because I can see the solution and I can’t wait to help someone get there.

The hard bit is that the work has to go at the client’s pace and not mine, so I have to rein my enthusiasm in sometimes! But the best bit is about coming up with creative solutions to problems that my clients think are unsolvable, I love a challenge! I believe there is a strong element of creative problem solving, seeing things differently and not getting phased by a mammoth task. If you can think things through pragmatically then you can break down the piles of clutter and turn the space into somewhere beautiful, supportive and easy to use.

2. SINCE FINISHING KPI, HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS EVOLVED? lll Since finishing KPI my business has certainly changed and developed a lot. I was doing more interior design jobs at the start and now I am mostly focused on coaching people with cluttered homes through a life transition. Whether that’s divorce, a new child or downsizing, many people need help

going through a transition and it is really rewarding work. It also means I can draw on my therapeutic training which means I can bring all my skills to the table. And of course, I have developed a great platform and produced the Home Declutter Kit, workshops and a mentoring programme.

3. MOST CREATIVES, AND CARD PUBLISHERS IN PARTICULAR, HAVE HOMES BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH CARD STOCK, ART SUPPLIES AND MARKETING MATERIALS. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EARLY START ENTREPRENEURS WHO WORK FROM HOME, WANT TO BE LESS CLUTTERED BUT WHO CAN’T AFFORD WAREHOUSING AND FULFILMENT. l l l Oh gosh this is such a difficult dilemma!

One of the biggest challenges I have when working with clients, especially in London where space is tight, is when they are asking a room to do multiple jobs. For example, their spare room is their study, laundry drying room, guest room, creative workspace and the place they keep their stock as well as what I call the ‘don’t know’ room. It is such a challenge to get a room to work when it has multiple jobs like this and the best thing that I can suggest is to create separate areas. So one corner is the

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creative area, one corner is the stock area, one area has the guest bed. It can help to divide a room with a set of open shelves too, which helps to create a feeling that is two different rooms. Keeping things separate and in well-labelled containers really helps too. If you can store things out of sight as far as possible, it will also help by creating less visual noise. But I’m not talking about stuffing things away in drawers. It’s vital to get organised and down to essentials first, that way you’ll have less to store away

these days. And I know it is often worse for creatives, not just because you have more stuff in the form of creative supplies, but also so many ideas in your head. For me, part of the overwhelm is trying to hold too many thoughts in your mind, so getting them down on paper or a digital tool is a good start.

4. TELL US HOW YOUR HOME DECLUTTER KIT CAN HELP US TURN OVER A NEW LEAF IN 2018, AND HOW COACHING MIGHT HELP CARD DESIGNERS MAINTAIN A SENSE OF ORDER WHILST RUNNING CHAOTIC, TREND DRIVEN BUSINESSES THAT OFTEN LEAVE THEM FEELING OVERWHELMED. lll The kit is a practical solution to the practical problem of too much stuff clogging up our lives. I define clutter as a pile of decisions that haven’t yet been made. So the Home Declutter Kit (homedeclutterkit.com) uses a set of beautiful cards which take you through a simple, step by step decision making process.

I have made the first set of decisions easy for you – Keep, Recycle, Bin it, Donate, Action or Sell. Once the things you are letting go of are out of the way, you can focus on the things that are important to you, such as your creative work. Decluttering is really about connecting to what matters to you, not just throwing things away. Finally, I’ll show you how to sort and organise the things you’ve decided to keep into sections, which makes them easier to find. This bit of creating order and categories is really fun and will make 2018 a much more productive year for you if you can find what you need quickly and easily.

It’s not just about physical clutter though, I think we are all struggling with overwhelm

5. DO YOU HAVE A PROFESSIONAL COACH OR MENTOR TO HELP YOU IN YOUR OWN BUSINESS? l l l Yes, I have a coach and a mentor and I go to them at different times for different things. It helps me keep on track and deal with my own feelings of overwhelm when they arise. As a creative person myself, I often have many projects on the go and my support team help me stay focused on completing one before I move onto the next.

6. WITH ONLY TWO YEARS TO THE START OF ANOTHER DECADE, WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE MINISTRY OF CALM IN THIS PERIOD? l l l I aim to have an online course up and running that people can access from all over the world to help them clear their clutter.

To have quarterly workshops that people can attend, offering a space to explore more deeply what clutter really means in their life. To have published my new book and to have a team of angels who can go out and help more people to create calm from their clutter! Some international clients would be good too as I love to travel.

HELEN SANDERSON

For more information, watch Helen on Youtube: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rwYcWygB7QI&t=114s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=M1aKjxbQ33Q Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryOfCalm/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/MinistryofCalm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ministryofcalm/ You can reach Helen Sanderson on 07989 230244 or helen@helensanderson.com The kit is available for sale on Amazon or at homedeclutterkit.com

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TRADE FAIR TRAINING

- STATESIDE

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or those of you in the UK with a few dollars to spare and a desire to see how the Americans do it, check out:

http://tradeshowcamp.com/ Proof to Product is Katie Hunt’s podcast where she interviews TSBC alumni, speakers and business experts and offers free content aimed at product based businesses.

The website looks interesting and the podcast is probably worth a listen too.

Whilst tradefairs are the most well known routes to market, I’ve always got my beady eye on alternatives and will keep you posted when some new opportunities come into view!

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JOIN THE PODCAST PARTY‌

he start of a New Year is a great time to learn new things. The beauty of podcasts is that we can listen to them on the go, or relaxing with our eyes closed.

Hundreds of episodes are available to tune in to from the following 6 creative podcasts (available via itunes (Soundcloud etc)

Check them out here: biz rebellion (Kelly & Caroline) http://creativebizrebellion.com/

l Creative

l From

Maker to Manufacturing http://www.frommakertomanufacturing.com/

l Positively

Creative (Dorothy Collier) https://positivelycreative.libsyn.com/

They are invaluable for information business tips and tricks - opening a retail presence, growing the l Your Handmade Business (hosted by Isaac Watson) https://academyofhandmade.com/podcast/ wholesale side of your business and so forth.

Entrepreneurship is a lonely game sometimes so tuning in and hearing others face the same challenges will help restore faith.

l The

Merriweather Council for handmade business https://www.merriweathercouncil.com/pages/ the-merriweather-council-podcast

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2018 WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT IN THE CARD INDUSTRY

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uyers in 2018 will, as in previous years, be looking for a mix of features in the card ranges they buy that will include (in no particular order) simplicity, eco friendliness, innovation and flair. Sustainability, and on trend design, are always at the forefront of buyers’ minds as that is what the public wants and expects. Since the card market is being eroded by digital alternatives, stockists have to remain extra savvy on a number of fronts: pricing, customer engagement, and surprise.

Card designers will have their pricing and eco credentials scrutinized more thoroughly than ever before. Who wants their customer pointing out that a certain product consists of some undesirable component, or reminded

that their carbon footprint could have been a lot lower. We are in a fast paced fashion-led environment that is continually evolving, which means we have to be nimble, cost conscious, and insightful.

So let’s look at trends and colour palettes in 2018. Pantone has just announced Ultra Violet as the colour this year. I had a phone notification just 10 minutes after the news was announced – the things I like keeping up to date on!!

As we rise to the challenge of incorporating purple into our designs, we must also remember Pantone’s tagline – Make it Brilliant.

I quite like the idea of mixing 2017’s “greenery” theme with the purple for a rich, tropical look.

Whether or not you care for colour trends, the result we must be achieving in all our work is “Wow”.

I look forward to seeing the endless inspiration on Instagram, the catwalk, and elsewhere as the year progresses.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Interview with...

Victoria Wardingley

1. TELL US HOW YOU FIRST STARTED OUT PAINTING YOUR BEAUTIFUL FOLK ART AND COLOURFUL BIRDS AND WHERE DO YOUR IDEAS SPRING FROM? lll I’ve always enjoyed painting and drawing, even as a child, when I was encouraged by my parents and grandparents. I first started what I’m doing now when I moved to the village of Pill, where I now live, nine years ago.

My then new neighbour asked me to paint a cupboard for her after seeing some of my art work. I painted it cream with turquoise and orange flowers, and so many people admired it in her house she, and other friends encouraged me to try selling at markets. I found a few local markets and it went from there. I get ideas from anywhere and everywhere.

All my work is inspired by nature, but the style should have been described by customers as “Eastern European”, “William Morris”, “Scandinavian”, “Canal Boat” and many more! I don’t knowingly use any particular style, but I must be influenced by all those styles!

2. DO YOU SELL YOUR CRAFT ITEMS LOCALLY AND WHAT TYPE OF MARKET WORKS BEST FOR YOU? DO YOU HAVE AN ETSY SHOP AS WELL? [YOUR SMALL STOOLS, OWL STONES, AND LITTLE BADGERS ARE MY FAVOURITE.] lll I only sell my work at markets and try to stick to local ones. I go to various markets in Bristol and North Somerset, and many of these I go to on a monthly basis. I enjoy the local ones as I seem to have acquired regulars!

I get to know children in particular as they come to buy one of my ‘tiny creatures every

month, and some have huge collections. One mum told me that her daughters and their friends have so many they trade them in the playground!

3. YOU’VE DONE LARGE MURALS AND LARGER FURNITURE PIECES. HOW DO YOU SECURE COMMISSIONS – WORD OF MOUTH, LOCAL ADS, ETC? l l l I’ve done a big mural at the local primary school. My youngest still goes there, and the other parents know I paint, so I was asked by them to brighten a wall up. I confess I said I’d only do it if I could do what I wanted! I don’t do commissions for people generally.

I haven’t got the room in my house (I paint in my rather small kitchen) to have furniture from other people. One day I’d love a workspace, so I could start doing things for other people.

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4. YOUR GREETING CARDS ARE DIVINE AND EXCEPTIONAL – HAVE YOU DONE A TRADE FAIR YET, OR IS THAT IN THE PIPELINE? WHAT ARE YOUR BEST SELLERS AND WHERE ARE THEY STOCKED? lll I teamed-up with Cardtastic, also based in Bristol, who design and publish wrap and small square greeting cards.

We meet through a mutual friend and our collaboration began in Spring 2015.

Cardtastic was attracted to the nostalgic and folk-inspired blooms and birds of “handpainted stuff”. They have published a range of my cards and other products are in the pipeline!

Cardtastic exhibit at many trade shows in London and Birmingham - such as Top Drawer and Spring Fair. They supply to lovely shops across the UK, and have also exported my cards to Australia.

The designs “Blue Tits”, “Long Tailed Tits” and “Beautiful bouquet” are in Cardtastic’s Top 10 best sellers.

If you don’t have a stockist nearby you can also buy online at www.cardtastic.co.uk 5. HOW DO YOU JUGGLE FAMILY LIFE WITH CRAFT WORK? HAVE YOU A SET ROUTINE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? lll When I first started doing this about eight or nine years ago it was hard for my husband being at home at weekends with two small children. Now they’re older it’s

much easier and sometimes my daughter will come to markets with me to help out.

When the children were smaller it was great because I didn’t have to worry about childcare if they were poorly, or if they had an assembly for parents at school I could just go. I love working at home as I can listen to Radio 3 all day and drink lots of tea! I do have a routine. After the children have left for school I take the dog (Alfie, a rescue Staffordshire Bull terrier cross Jack Russell) for a walk where he likes to fetch a ball and have a good run about. I enjoy walking, and when you walk every day you can really see the changes in the seasons.

6. WILL YOUR GOALS FOR 2018 INCLUDE A COLOURING BOOK, PER CHANCE? SHARE A FEW OF YOUR PLANS UP TO 2020. l l l My goals for the next few years are to basically produce new items and designs.

I enjoy thinking about what I could paint next. It’s always great to get a new product that’s a success. In 2017 I had a few firsts - the bird mural at the school was my first mural, and I also painted a skateboard for my daughter. I’d like to do more of those!

VICTORIA WARDINGLEY

Email: victoria.wardingley@gmail.com Tel: 07941 917 750 Facebook: facebook.com/handpaintedstuff Instagram: handpainted_stuff

Let’s take a “leaf” from the Common Cactus as we head into 2018 l

BOT3

BE RESILIENT l STAND TALL l LOOK SHARP l DON’T BE A PR!*K l BE ON POINT l BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED

- HAVE A FANCACTUS NEW YEAR CTI1

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BOT1

BOT2

BOT4

BOT5

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ORDER FORM CACTUS & BOTANICAL CARD RANGES £1 PER CARD CODE

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CTI1 Thinking of you CTI2 Good luck CTI3 Thank you CTI4 With love CTI5 Happy birthday BOT1 Man of the Moment BOT2 Happy Birthday Dad BOT3 BOT4 Happy Birthday Husband BOT5 Happy Birthday Brother BOT6 Happy Birthday Son BOT7 Thinking of you BOT8 Good luck BOT9 Thank you BOT10 With love BOT11 Happy birthday

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A window on the world of a greeting card publisher

Gypsy Chic magazine