Blog

Christmas markets are a quintessential part of the festive season, bringing together artisans, makers, and small businesses to showcase their products in a beautifully atmospheric setting. In November 2024, I had the opportunity to exhibit at the Ely Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair, an event known for its stunning location, high footfall, and a discerning audience looking for unique gifts. It was a four-day event and in this blog, I will share my experience, key takeaways, and some advice for fellow creatives considering a similar venture.   Ely Cathedral is one of the most breathtaking locations for a Christmas...

Guest Blog – Yoko Ishikawa, owner of Japanese boutique store Norr Kyoto In May 2023 we travelled to Japan for a 3 week adventure of a lifetime! We started in Tokyo, then travelled on the Shinkansen (aka. Bullet Train) to Kyoto, Osaka & Hiroshima. On our stop in Kyoto we met up with Yoko, a lovely lady that got in touch back in 2020 after we had just finished our trade show at Top Drawer to see if we would supply her with our stationery to her store called Norr Kyoto. It was such a pleasure to finally meet in...

In a world where emails, text messages, and digital communication dominate, there's something truly special about receiving something handwritten through your letterbox. So how can you take your letter, note or card to the next level? Yep you guessed it, envelope art! Turning a plain envelope into a work of art not only elevates the experience of sending and receiving mail but also provides a canvas for your creativity to flourish. Envelope art is a delightful fusion of creativity, personal expression, and functional design. It's a way to add a personal touch to your correspondence, whether you're sending a letter,...

Japan is the ultimate haven for stationery enthusiasts, offering a diverse and unique array of pens, notebooks, inks, and other writing tools that cater to both functional and aesthetic preferences. So when we visited last year I truly was in my ultimate happy place! Japan is well known for its emphasis on craftsmanship and attention to detail & this was reflected in its stationery stores. We didn’t get to visit everywhere mentioned here (yes I already am planning trip no.2 but safe to say it won’t be for a few years whilst we build up funds again!)   1.  Itoya...