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In conversation with...Stephanie Dyment
Full Circle
Below: The inaugural Paper Chain by Stephanie Dyment card collection from Woodmansterne spans 37 cards.
In what is a happy ‘full circle’ story for both parties, Stephanie Dyment has forged a significant licensing agreement with Woodmansterne Publications for her designs to now appear in dedicated ranges. Having worked for the publisher before setting up her own eponymously named card company, PG caught up with the talented greeting card creative about her Woodmansterne homecoming. “I feel rather emotional, in a good way, about my launch with Woodmansterne,” admitted Stephanie Dyment, referring to the inaugural Paper Chain by Stephanie Dyment greeting card collection. “I feel so fortunate that while we as individuals and businesses will invariably have problems to face, by looking at the bigger picture, drawing on your experiences and being true to yourself, good things can happen. This is one of those times, for me,” summed up Stephanie. Prior to setting up her own greeting card company, Stephanie Dyment Card Company, with her husband (and popular sales agent) Ashley Leatherland in January 2015, Stephanie had worked as part of the Woodmansterne studio team for seven years. “I loved working at Woodmansterne; I learned so much, and it was where I met
Ashley, who was then working as a rep for the company,” explained Stephanie. Joining as a junior in-house designer, it was Stephanie’s first “proper” office job. “I remember it feeling rather daunting at first, going from a handson design degree followed by a period of freelancing into a computer-based studio, designing cards featuring top brands, such as the V&A as well as all manner of special occasions designs.” Stephanie soon got into her stride and made the most of the opportunities she was given, including being taken on inspirational trips to Paris, Barcelona, India and Japan by the publisher. “They were amazing trips and they really did inspire me,” said Stephanie. It was following the Japan trip that she developed
the Stephanie Rose collection for Woodmansterne, which clinched the Best Trend Range award in The Henries 2005, with Stephanie winning the Most Promising Young Designer or Artist award in the same year. With a young family in daughter Ella Rose and son Freddie, Stephanie left Woodmansterne, but continued to develop
Inset: Stephanie with some of her Glick giftbags and cards she has designed. (Photo credit: Amy Esposito) Far left: Stephanie and husband Ashley Leatherland at The Henries 2005.
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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE