I think you’re much more likely to find one-of-a-kind products from small businesses than the big ones. We create things that are personal and unique – a part of our journey and a result of the skills we’ve developed over many years. Many artisan creators take more time to craft their products too, with an attention to detail that gives you a superior quality item.
Have you had that feeling recently when you buy from a small business? When you know you’re contributing directly to the local community – and not just the people behind those businesses, but their local suppliers, galleries, market stalls and high street spaces as well. It’s lovely to feel you’re adding to the local economy and spirit of an area by supporting a small business.
Having their own small business means entrepreneurs and artisans can showcase their talents authentically. So by supporting them, you’re encouraging a more diverse marketplace of delightful and unique ideas. From innovative products to beautiful creations, we get fresh perspectives and the chance to own pieces that inspire more joy than something off a production line. That’s how I feel anyway – I love the creativity we can bring into everyday life.
Small businesses care about their customers and strive to provide excellent service. They take the time to understand your needs and offer a personal touch that’s hard to find from larger businesses. When you buy from a small business, you're not just another transaction – you’re joining a supportive community that values your satisfaction and wants to see you return. I love receiving emails from my customers on how they love their purchases and the personal touch I’ve added to their orders, such as handwritten postcards and freebies.
Many of us small businesses prioritise sustainability and eco-friendly practices. They often use local suppliers, reduce waste, and choose environmentally friendly materials. Buying from them means you contribute to a greener future and support businesses that care about the planet.
When you order from me, depending on the products, they’ll either come in no packaging or wrapped in compostable sleeves. I use FSC certified stock and 100% recycled cardstock for my paper products, envelopes, packaging slips, and backing boards for prints. I have a sustainability page if you want to learn more about steps I’ve taken to make my business as eco-friendly as possible.
We also get to invest in our communities and make a positive impact. When you choose to buy from small businesses who care about the world, you get to support creativity, local economies, personalised service, and the environment. So, the next time you need a product or service, consider the incredible benefits of supporting small businesses in your local area or online, if you’re able to. Together, we can create a thriving and vibrant marketplace that supports people and brings us together.
Are you on the hunt for unique gifts and some small yet delightful stocking fillers for houseplant lovers, gardeners, and foodies? Look no further! I’ve got you covered, with thoughtful gift suggestions for all the nature-loving people in your life. All the gifts mentioned below fit in the £20 and under budget, with many of them under £5, making them perfect purchases for stocking fillers and Secret Santa.
As an avid indoor gardener who's recently ventured into outdoor vegetable growing, I've developed a newfound appreciation for bugs. Bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles catch my eye more often now. Here are some favourite nature-themed gifts:
For those not keen on bugs, Floral Washi Tapes would be a great choice for gardeners who appreciate flowers.
If you're like me and adore indoor plants, you know how much joy they bring. Houseplant-themed gifts will make us smile in no time. Here are some popular botanical gifts:
As someone who enjoys cooking and watching culinary competitions on TV, I appreciate the vibrant colours of vegetables and fruits. Here are some fantastic food-themed gifts:
In my shop you'll find many budget-friendly gifts, with most products costing under £10, and starting at just £3.20 for washi tape. These items are small and sturdy, making them perfect for stuffing stockings. Don't forget to add an orange first!
If you're in need of low-cost gifts for Secret Santa, exploring these collections listed below should help, depending on your budget.
If you're running short on ideas but you know your recipient will appreciate gifts from Katrina Sophia's product ranges, a Gift Card might be the perfect solution, with values of £10, £25, £50, or £100.
These great gifts started their life as watercolour illustrations, hand-painted by myself, and I take pride in transforming them into vibrant, high-quality items that bring joy and a touch of greenery to your life.
Whether you're searching for a big gift or smaller stocking fillers, you're sure to find the perfect thoughtful present for your loved ones, especially if they have green thumbs, are budding houseplant collectors, or appreciate homegrown vegetables. Happy gifting!
]]>The other 6 designs were created as part of the English Garden collection in 2022.
I am pleased to now offer a total of 20 designs. I still have so many ideas I want to bring to life, and I am excited to expand the range in coming years. Let's take a dive into the world of washi tapes to explore their versatility and the endless creativity they offer.
Washi tapes are known for being very versatile. They stick easily to many surfaces like paper, cardboard, glass, and plastic. This makes them super useful for all kinds of creative projects. You can use them to make handmade greeting cards, decorate scrapbooks, or jazz up your home decorations. I love securing envelopes and gifts with washi tapes, just to make recipients smile! I usually use kraft brown wrapping paper because washi tapes always look great with it. With so many assorted colours and patterns to choose from, you can always find a washi tape that's just right for your project.
Washi tapes are not only versatile but also very forgiving. The sticky part on the back is so gentle you can easily stick and unstick them without ruining your project - handy if you're a perfectionist (or even if you're not)! You can change your mind and move the tape until you're happy with how it looks. Washi tapes are fantastic for putting your postcards up on the wall as they rarely leave any damage or marks when you remove them.
There are plenty of different designs of washi tape out there. You can find tapes with flowers, leaves, shapes, animals, food, and even ones for different holidays. This means you can be really creative with your projects. You can mix and match tapes to create unique patterns or use them to make your existing designs even better. The possibilities are endless.
Washi tapes aren't just for making things look pretty. They're also very practical. You can use them to colour-code things, label stuff, or make visual schedules and lists. They make organising things a bit more fun!
Washi tapes are eco-friendly, as they are made of traditional Japanese rice paper which comes from natural fibres such as bamboo, hemp, or tree bark. The paper tape and its adhesive are both biodegradable and compostable. I supply my washi tapes in their own cardboard boxes for safe keeping, which is also recyclable.
In short, washi tapes are more than just colourful sticky stuff. They're like a magical tool for your creativity, making your DIY projects special and unique. With their versatility, ease of use, and lots of design options, they're a must-have for anyone who enjoys being crafty.
So, whether you're an experienced crafter or just starting out, give washi tapes a try. These little rolls of joy can turn ordinary things into something amazing and let your creativity shine.
]]>As references I used my own photos, together with a few vintage books on ferns. Because of how detailed ferns are, each piece took longer than usual to finish but it was really rewarding when I saw the collection starting to come together and look wonderful.
I’ve also thrown in something different in some of the designs, namely anemone and forget-me-not flowers, and these images work well alongside the ferns!
There are 5 new cards, a postcard set, 4 individual postcards, a washi tape and 2 prints!
I am elated with how this collection has turned out. I love everything I have created but I am particularly delighted with the washi tape - it works so well with my fern paintings! I hope you enjoy my new collection as much as I do.
I am always in awe of plants and consider them to be magical. From their ability to propagate, to their vibrant colours and resilience, they captivate us with their remarkable qualities. I want to explore the magic of plants and how they nurture our spaces, reconnect us with the natural world, and continue to surprise us.
One of the best qualities of plants is their ability to be propagated. Through various methods such as seeds, cuttings, or division, they can multiply and create new life, showcasing their impressive cycle of growth and renewal.
Plants have a profound impact on our surroundings, transforming spaces into nurturing havens. Whether in our homes, offices, or outdoor gardens, their presence brings a sense of tranquillity, purifies the air we breathe, and contributes to our overall well-being.
Plants adorn our world with beautiful colours. From the delicate pastels to the vibrant hues, their blossoms and foliage bring joy and wonder. Their captivating colours remind us of the beauty that exists all around us.
Plants exhibit remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. They adapt to different environments, endure harsh conditions, and bounce back from challenges. Their ability to persevere and thrive inspires us, reminding us of our own inner strength.
Plants hold a secret power in their pigments, allowing us to extract natural dyes. Their pigments can transform fabrics and fibres, creating a range of wonderful colours. From the vibrant yellows of turmeric to the rich purples of elderberries, the art of plant-based dyeing is a magical process that connects us with ancient traditions and the wonders of colour creation.
Through the miraculous process of photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight, water, and nutrients into life-sustaining energy and oxygen, shaping the very foundation of our ecosystems. Their ability to harness the power of the sun is truly magical and is essential for our existence.
In a fast-paced and technology-driven world, plants offer a gateway to reconnect with the natural world. Tending to a garden, cultivating houseplants, or simply spending time in nature reminds us of our connection to the Earth, grounding us, and providing solace in its simplicity and beauty.
Plants possess many enchanting qualities that make them truly magical. They propagate, dazzle us with their vibrant colours, demonstrate resilience, provide natural dyes, harness the power of sunlight, nurture spaces, and enable us to reconnect with the natural world. As we pause to appreciate the wonder of plants, let us embrace their magic and cherish the extraordinary gifts they offer us every day.
]]>This garden-themed card is the perfect choice to celebrate Father's Day with a heartfelt touch. This vibrant card captures your dad's love for gardening and his nurturing nature. It's a thoughtful way to recognise his dedication and express your gratitude for the beautiful outdoor space he creates.
Delight your dad with the beauty of nature with my Sunflower art print. Featuring a stunning watercolour illustration, this print will add a touch of joy and wonder to any space - one of many designs that showcase the diversity and magnificence of the natural world.
For the dad with a green thumb, my Tropical Garden desk pad is an ideal gift. Its botanical inspired design and practical functionality will bring a touch of nature to his workspace. This desk pad provides a perfect surface for jotting down notes, sketching ideas, or organising tasks with a warm aesthetic.
If your dad loves plants, this tote bag is the perfect Father's Day gift. This practical, stylish and eco-friendly bag is designed for plant enthusiasts, combining functionality with a touch of nature. Surprise your dad with the Plants Are Magic tote bag and celebrate his love for plants in style.
Whether your dad is a busy professional, a dedicated hobbyist, or simply someone who appreciates a well structured day, the Busy Bee To Do list pad is a practical and meaningful gift that will make his Father's Day even more special.
Make this Father's Day unforgettable with a thoughtful gift from my collection. Whether it's a hand-painted art print, a nature-inspired greeting card, botanical stationery, or elegant accessories, my products reflect the magic and beauty of the natural world. Show your dad how much he means to you by choosing a gift that celebrates his passions and brings joy to his heart.
Explore the collection and make this Father's Day truly special.
]]>In February I was runner-up in the Emotive Design category for PaperAwards for my Botanical Valentine’s Day cards and Wildflowers postcard set.
I did something different for my new Top Drawer stand - I had my illustrations printed onto vinyl wall stickers and arranged them around my product display to add even more colour. I had a great time and gained some new fantastic stockists.
I launched a new collection during my show at Top Drawer called English Garden. I am absolutely chuffed with my new designs all about gardening and I enjoyed the challenge of painting vegetables and gardening tools.
I felt that my washi tape range could use some spiky cacti - so I added two lovely new cactus designs, plus a dark version of my existing Houseplants design.
I redesigned and restocked my tissue paper and stickers with my illustrations printed on them, which I use to package shop orders - I love to make opening your orders feel like receiving a beautiful gift!
I worked on a wonderful project with Nottingham Castle. I was asked to create an illustration of the Catchfly - the county flower of Nottingham - and I adapted the painting into a pattern design which was printed onto the range of giftware!
At the end of the summer I decided to finally start renovating my studio after thinking about it for a few years,and I began stripping the wallpaper from the walls and ceiling. My studio is quite large so it took some time, and to make matters worse I did it in the middle of a heatwave! After the wallpaper was all down, I painted the walls white and the ceiling a lovely shade of green. I had planned to strip the carpet and repair the concrete floor underneath as well but I decided it would take too long, so I am waiting until I can take at least a week off to do the task some time in 2023.
I finally completed a toadstool card collection, ticking it off my ‘product ideas’ list. I am so happy with these new designs - I love how cute, autumnal and magical the cards are.
I went to the first deaf art retreat ever in the UK. It was held at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and I had such a great time. I got to meet fellow deaf artists from different disciplines and had lots of interesting conversations. It was the first time in my creative career that I felt I actually belonged to a community. There were no communication barriers between us, and we all had a common background as deaf artists to build on. I am hoping there will be more retreats in the future - I am definitely keen to join in again.
My 2023 goals are:
My first goal for this year is a simple one, but potentially difficult too. I want to make more time to be creative - not just to develop products but for my own enjoyment. I have bought a couple of new sketchbooks which I hope to fill up by the end of the year. In 2022 I struggled to find time from receiving increasing numbers of shop and wholesale orders to fulfil - which I am eternally grateful for, of course! I have started to feel out of practice and find myself facing the Fear again, and it becomes harder to get started without overthinking. I need to remind myself of the time back in 2016 when I undertook the Year of Creative Habits course and painted almost every day. I am counting on overcoming my hesitation and making more time in my schedule to paint this year.
I tend to do my tax return at the last minute in January, a few weeks before the filing deadline. It always gets nerve-racking as the end of January approaches and takes focus away from other business. I have got a real plan this year to establish a good habit of updating my accounts weekly so I stay up to date. I will block out time on Friday afternoons to collect receipts and update my accounts. I haven’t done my latest tax return just yet, but I am going to do it first thing this April and then from there I can stay on top of the next one. If all goes well, I should be able to keep up with my schedule after next Christmas instead of worrying about tax!
Here’s hoping for a wonderful and productive year for us all! As always I appreciate your support - be it an order, your comments on my social media, or sharing my work online and by word of mouth - THANK YOU so much.
]]>I recently launched a variety of new greeting cards, and this time it is not a collection! There are 12 new designs and while several of them are suitable for Valentine’s Day you’ll also find a few cards for birthdays, thank you and new home as well. It was a great opportunity to look at all of my collections over the last few years and see how I can expand existing ranges and categories with brand new paintings. I had a lot of fun painting all of these, some were challenging but as always I persevered. It was actually quite refreshing not to make a collection for change and let my creativity flow into different areas. I would love to do it again.
If you want to snap up one of my Valentine’s Day cards for next month, I recommend buying it as soon as possible. The reason is because I will be out of the studio for the whole of February! I am getting married and then soaking up the sun on our honeymoon. I will close the doors on 30th January and return to work on 27th February.
It is all very exciting and I am looking forward to having a proper break which feels like a rarity since I went self-employed.
My shop will remain open while I am away but all orders placed after 30th January will be dispatched as soon as possible from 27th February.
]]>Toadstools have been one of the topics on my ‘product ideas’ list forever and I decided it was high time to start designing a new card collection all about them, as they always remind me of autumn. I finally made the decision and was raring to go and turn the collection idea to reality!
I painted several toadstools of various sizes and styles in one sitting. I let myself paint without overthinking and I actually loved everything about my first batch of paintings. I only repainted a couple, which is rare!
With the illustrations scanned in, tidied up and ready to go, I started planning the collection. I decided on creating thank you, birthday, new home, and new baby cards.
Alongside new hand lettering styles made on my drawing tablet, I came up with six designs and I absolutely love how cohesively they fit together. The designs also look fantastic against kraft brown envelopes.
This is not my first time creating designs based on toadstools. I already have a toadstool washi tape and wooden decoration in my shop, both of which are popular with my nature loving customers, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce additional toadstool designs to my full range.
I not only painted a stunning illustration of the Catchfly, I also transformed it into a captivating pattern. This pattern has now been beautifully printed onto a wide array of products, including cards, prints, gift wrap, mugs, tea towels, and coasters. It brings me immense joy to see how my Catchfly illustration breathes life into these functional and delightful giftware items.
I feel incredibly honoured that Nottingham Castle trusted me with this project. It gave me a chance to show off the beauty and importance of the Catchfly, while also celebrating Nottingham's history and resilience. I put a lot of love and hard work into this project, and I am overjoyed to share the range with you!
I really hope you'll fall in love with the Catchfly collection, just like we have. Each item is a special reminder of how magical nature can be and the amazing things that can happen when people work together.
]]>So, happy late 2022! I hope you are having a great start of the year so far. 2021 for me was a mixed bag, but unquestionably better than 2020. It was really nice to be able to see my family and friends again, some of whom I hadn’t seen for nearly two years.
I also chose not to attend reopening markets in 2021 due to fear of catching coronavirus, and just as significantly, being unable to communicate at events with a mandatory mask protocol due to my deafness and inability to lipread. I was frustrated at first but what could I do? I decided it was not productive to dwell on it. I looked for the upside - I had more time in my schedule to do other things rather than prepare for markets, and my weekends are my own again for pure leisure! Without further ado, here are my highlights of 2021...
My Wildflowers postcard set was featured in the January issue of Modern Gardens magazine. Of course I had to pick up a copy!
Top Drawer S/S 2021 was postponed to 2022 while the pandemic was still ongoing, so they still organised a virtual trade show where we got a chance to connect with buyers via an online portal. It was not quite the same as the real-life show, but I enjoyed the opportunity at a difficult time and received a few orders.
I decided to invest in a drawing tablet. Over the last year, it has been an incredible addition to my art process. The drawing tablet eliminates excessive pencil lines, and the convenience of the tablet actually enhances my drawing skill. It is so much easier to sketch and my linework is cleaner because it is so easy to undo the stroke compared to using an eraser. I still paint traditionally though - I just print out the drawing from the tablet and transfer the linework onto watercolour paper using a lightbox before I start painting.
I welcomed Nottingham Castle and RHS Bridgewater as new stockists!
I started offering a ‘naked’ packaging option for greeting cards to wholesale customers with my new card clasps that keep the envelope safe. I’d spent several months testing samples and I found a supplier that carries great low-tack clasps that are paper based and 100% recyclable. I am really pleased with their eco-friendliness compared to plastic sleeves! I also started to offer compostable sleeves for customers that may prefer their cards to be more protected.
This is more of a personal than business achievement but it did heavily inspire my latest collection that I launched at the end of February - English Garden. I grew 2 varieties of tomatoes, 3 varieties of runner beans, courgettes, radishes, Swiss chard, strawberries and purple sprouting broccoli. The radishes and broccoli weren’t successful but the huge success of my tomatoes made up for it - I ended up with so many green tomatoes which I had to harvest before the first frost in November. I have turned all of the green tomatoes into a delicious chutney.
I launched 13 new cards which I think is a record! I created 4 Valentine’s Day, 3 Mother’s Day, 2 Father’s Day, and 4 Christmas cards. I incorporated my love for houseplants into each of the new designs. I am excited to be offering even more card choices to my customers.
One of my dreams over the last few years finally came true - I designed and produced washi tapes to add to my range. I love how beautifully they came out, and to my delight they have been a hit for my stockists and my shop. I also designed a second collection of wooden decorations and a screen printed tote bag, which are also houseplant themed.
Whew - it looks like 2021 was all about houseplant designs. Houseplants make us happy - I can’t imagine my range without them!
Reviewing my 2021 goals, it looks like I more or less achieved all of my goals for the year. My first goal was to create more products often and I am definitely proud with how many products I designed, although if I am tough with myself, I feel I could have designed more if I didn’t lose motivation over the summer. Sales suddenly stopped coming in for a couple of months, which I believe is because of my terrible reach on Instagram. How many times have I told myself not to put all of my eggs in one basket!
My second goal was to step up with marketing. I tried a few Facebook ads and sending more newsletters, which did bring in a few more customers, but I didn’t see massive results so I did get a bit demotivated and let it slide towards the end of the year. Now I am being reminded of this as my Instagram reach is struggling again - I would like to get back on top of it this year, especially during the quietest periods.
My third goal was better planning, and oh my gosh - setting this goal was a game changer. All 4 card launches I did were well planned and I avoided a last-minute rush by designing about 1-2 months in advance, providing plenty of time to get them produced and shipped out to suppliers. The same for my Christmas cards, wooden decorations and washi tape which I launched in October and November - which was early for me! I found that being organised reduced stress greatly and I will try to keep in the habit.
I would love to learn from those goals and keep them up for many years to come. I am on the fence about the goal of creating more products often, though. All of my products tend to sell really well when they launch, but their sales slow down eventually due to my struggles with marketing. I am also ordering in larger quantities since I now receive regular wholesale orders. As a result my studio space is starting to feel very crowded with all the new products, so I will probably work harder on marketing and try to reach more new customers rather than creating new products, burning a hole in my purse, and filling up my studio.
Finally it is time to talk about my goals for this year despite the late start…
Instagram is my favourite social media platform. It is very visual and a fantastic way to discover fellow makers and connect with customers. I have neglected other social media and my blog due to being busy and bad at juggling several channels. It has become clear to me that I am overly reliant on Instagram to bring me sales. It is my sales converter by an order of magnitude over any of my other platforms, but Instagram’s algorithm has become more and more unpredictable so my reach varies wildly. When my posts flop my sales are instantly and dramatically affected too. I want to make some changes to how I use social media, which will include getting back on Twitter and Pinterest and blogging more this year. I accept that fluctuating sales is a reality of running a small business, but I hope that this move will reduce the impact of a single platform.
And that’s it! I decided to have just one goal this year. Marketing and social media doesn’t come naturally to me because I struggle with language and access issues, particularly as video content is so important these days. I am not confident about marketing at all so this goal is going to be a challenge for me.
What are your goals this year and how are they working out so far?
Thank you so much for your support last year and this year so far. Have an amazing rest of the year!
]]>These designs are influenced by my newly discovered passion for gardening and growing food. I've enjoyed challenging myself with painting vegetables, gardening tools, flowers, and little garden friends!
This collection is by far my longest project - I spent half a year on it, mostly painting various vegetables and gardening tools repeatedly until I was happy with them. These were subjects I wasn’t used to painting - I had definitely become too comfortable painting houseplant leaves! I am just glad that I started early, so I can launch in time for Top Drawer, my first and only tradeshow of the year.
I am thrilled to introduce something a little different to my full product range. I am looking forward to fulfilling the wishes of those customers who said they would love to see some gardening themed cards and stationery.
I am really pleased with the new cards and I love how they look together as a collection. I am particularly delighted with their colourful appearance, as opposed to the green themes of my current houseplant cards! I am also satisfied to be offering a wider choice for baby and congratulations cards.
The collection includes 9 new greeting cards, 2 desk pads, 2 list pads, a planner, 3 washi tapes, a postcard set, and a print. I have so many more ideas and I'm excited to expand the collection in the future!
Not holding the highest of expectations, I submitted my Botanical Valentine’s Day cards and Wildflowers postcard set. Fast forward to just before Christmas, I was delighted to receive another email saying I had been shortlisted!
My Wildflowers postcard set was chosen for an award category - Emotive Design. The three other categories were Exciting Use of Colour, Engaging Print, and Best Stationery Design. I was simultaneously totally surprised and jumping for joy at the news!
This award was judged by several important people in the industry - G.F Smith, Design Museum, Pencil Me In Shop, Fortnum & Mason, Five and Dime, Nest, The Hambledon, Postmark, and V&A Museum, so having my work recognised was a huge pleasure.
The next step was down to the public, to start voting for the winners and the runners-up. I spread the word via social media and kept my fingers crossed. It was a waiting game for a few more months and then in early February the finalists and runners-up were revealed…
…and I got a runner-up place! Although I didn’t get the final place I couldn’t be any more pleased to be a runner-up in the Emotive Design category for PaperAwards. I also felt immensely grateful to be shortlisted in the first place.
When I attended the trade show it felt surreal to visit the PaperAwards area and see my postcard set and greeting cards with my name on display. I was also given a certificate and got to stand alongside finalists and fellow runner-ups for photographs.
To everyone who voted for me- I can't thank you enough, it really means a lot!
]]>I am so pleased to introduce a new product to my stationery range - washi tape! There are 10 designs for you to enjoy - from summery citrus, to autumnal toadstool, to festive treats.
It was an interesting challenge, both to design something so small, and to create new patterns out of my existing paintings. I had to go through a trial and error process to make sure that each design does not look too samey, by rotating the elements individually. It was not as simple as copy and paste!
I’ve decided to add washi tape to my product range because I think it is brilliant and I use my washi tape purchases a lot. It is eco-friendly due to being completely paper based, and furthermore is tough, water resistant, and peelable. I use it for making my shop orders look pretty and for hanging postcards on the wall- I am really excited about using my own washi products next time!
I’ve also designed a cardboard box to store and protect each washi tape. This will be great for my brick-and-mortar stockists as it is a great way to display them. Each box has a ‘window’ so you can peek at the washi tape design inside! Furthermore, packaging my washi tape in boxes is better for the environment, given the alternative is plastic wrapping with presentation stickers.
I hope you love them as much as I do!
I picked out five of the world’s favourite houseplants with stunning patterns and shapes - Watermelon Peperomia, spotted Angel Wing Begonia, Monstera Monkey Mask, classic Monstera Deliciosa, and pink tinged Maranta aka the praying plant.
These leafy hanging decorations started off as watercolour paintings, and then were UV printed on die-cut birch plywood. The UV printing means that the designs are scratch and water resistant. They are finished with beautiful cotton twine strings in green hues.
I may launch them before Christmas, as they are not specifically meant for Christmas tree decoration- in fact, they can be hung on the wall all year round!
I couldn’t be happier with my new hanging decorations, and I hope you will agree that they make brilliant gifts for houseplant enthusiasts! I am excited about creating new designs in the future, because I really love adding this kind of product to my range and seeing how my watercolour illustrations look when printed on wood.
I am so pleased to share my new Christmas card collection! It is aptly called ‘Festive Houseplants’.
This time there are four designs, and I am delighted that it involves houseplants (and a cactus). I’ve worked on this collection for quite a while, trying to make it as festive as possible! I love the addition of gold foil detail which certainly helps with the festive vibes.
I like how alternative the designs are - and that they are also suitable for anyone celebrating the season and not just Christmas, as there is no ‘Merry Christmas’ lettering across the design and the card is blank inside.
Bumblebees are a social species and the biggest type of bee, measuring up to 2.2cm. They collect nectar and pollen, and they don’t need to store food for winter – they hibernate underground. I think bumblebees are adorable with their fluffiness and bumbling nature!
Paintings pictured are white bumblebee, red tailed bumblebee, and common carder bee.
There’s only one species of honeybee in the UK. They live in colonies but they’re mostly domesticated, living in hives and making honey. Unlike bumblebees they don’t hibernate because they store food for winter and cluster together to stay warm. They’re the fastest and most hard working out of all the species of bee!
Solitary bees are known as the star pollinators of the bee world. They don’t live in colonies, serve queens or make honey like bumblebees or honeybees, but they’re the most effective pollinators. They drop more pollen as they fly because they don’t have pollen baskets on their legs! Solitary bees work alone and nest in cavities of brick walls, hollow plant stems, or underground burrows.
Paintings pictured are patchwork leaf cutter bee, ashy mining bee, and red mason bee.
Bees are amazing for pollinating plants, trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife and the food we need to survive. Despite my fear of being stung, I love to watch and appreciate them in my wild garden. And I love them even more after I studied and painted them. They’re adorable! I hope you enjoyed seeing snippets of my bee study painting and learning a few bee facts.
]]>I have always liked screen-printed cotton bags and really wanted to create one using my designs, but as it was not a vector-based file my Plants Are Magic watercolour illustration was never suitable. I also didn’t know how to make vector drawings. I tried a few times before, using my old Adobe Illustrator software, but I couldn’t get to grips with it at all!
By complete coincidence I recently purchased a drawing tablet for personal use and discovered that most drawing apps have a vector feature, so when you draw something on a tablet it will turn into a vector drawing automatically! What a revelation! It opens lots of exciting possibilities when it comes to designing products. Leading on from this discovery, I picked up the idea of a Plants Are Magic tote bag product again and gave it some further thought.
I decided I would redraw my Plants Are Magic illustration, tweaking the design a little so it would look better as a vector drawing. I was aiming for a simple white line drawing on a green bag.
Vector is new to me and it has taken a bit of trial and error to get the result I want. While it can be frustrating at times, the challenge it presented is actually one of the fun parts of my business. Every time I face obstacles and come up against problems to solve, I know it is worth the effort as the practice means I will improve for the next time.
I really love this new product and I am incredibly proud of it. I adore this shade of green and the lightweight cotton texture is gorgeous but still sturdy enough for everyday use.
Recently flowers have been on my mind and for the new range I picked daffodils, bluebells and tulips. Daffodils are perfect for the spring season as it gets warmer and nature starts to wake up again. I chose tulips for my mum because they are her favourite flower. As for the bluebell - well, I have a bluebell art card of this flower already but I just felt motivated to paint another one. I love bluebells!
I am already brainstorming more ideas for more Mother’s Day cards next year, but for now I love my new flowery range and I hope you do too!
Hurrah! It has been a while since I designed a Valentine’s Day card. I think it has been three years since my last collection. I am always unprepared for Valentine’s after the Christmas rush and readjustment in January. One of my New Year goals is to ‘create more products often’. My goal is to create at least one product per month. I think that having a straightforward goal will help me succeed.
I knew that I wanted to start off with something botanical. I have loads of ideas in one of my many sketchbooks, and one day I went through them all to refresh my memory. I ended up with 13 rough drafts and produced four new designs out of it!
I am so pleased with my new Valentine's Day cards. When I first received the cards, my excited yelp scared poor Bonnie! My favourite of the cards keeps changing every time I look at them but at the moment I think it’s my I Want To Grow Old With You card, which is inspired by the large form Monstera Deliciosa in my bedroom. Or it could be my Love You Sweetheart Plant card - I just love the pink colour injected in the design!
We may still be in lockdown during Valentine’s Day; I hope lovers around the world will be able to kindle romance at home. Perhaps if your home or your partner’s is full of plants like mine, one of these cards would be perfect to set the mood!
Unfortunately yes. All of the markets I booked in advance cancelled their events. What would be my second tradeshow cancelled too. All the potential sales and new wholesale orders from these events, gone. They make up a big chunk of my income. Mentally I was doing okay until mandatory mask rules came into effect, which was a real culture shock for me and the D/deaf community. After struggling the first few times with masked faces out and about, I became anxious about going out at all, and in turn it affected my creativity, motivation, and focus.
But there are definitely a few positives. I am so grateful to still receive purchases from my web shop and Etsy. It is less than I projected for this year but I did receive a few wholesale orders. I have participated in some online markets popping up; they don't seem to attract as many sales as 'real' markets but it is always lovely to discover and connect with like-minded folks.
I had time to try growing cactus seeds and vegetables which was therapeutic and rewarding! And I remembered to keep myself hydrated because things slowed down - when things get busy I tend to forgot to drink. I hope that as things get back to normal I will continue this good habit and look after myself!
Without further ado, I am sharing what I have achieved in 2020 and then my goals for 2021.
I attended my first ever tradeshow in January. It was really hard work, not just the event itself but the preparation period beforehand. After having a very successful exhibition I booked another stand for 2021 (next month!) but unfortunately that has now been postponed to 2022.
Royal Horticultural Society discovered me in Top Drawer and decided that my products should be displayed in their Wisley shop! I received an email from them placing a massive order while I was still there, and I weeped in the middle of the event. Happy tears!
My Potted Plants Thank You card was featured in Country Homes & Interiors magazine and I bought a copy! It was surreal but very pleasing to see my work in a magazine I can buy in the shop.
I launched my biggest collection to date just after Top Drawer, and it went down a treat! I am really proud of this collection. The idea had been in my mind forever and I am happy I finally translated it to functional stationery!
With the help of Curated Makers my products got selected to be stocked in John Lewis Trafford Centre for four weeks in February. Due to coronavirus it sadly had to be cancelled a week early, but it helped shop sales and grew my social media audience during and after the pop up!
When my business became noticeably busy in 2019 I made a decision to apply for Access to Work so I can stop relying on my partner to help me to communicate in markets. My claim got approved just before my Top Drawer event and I was able to use a BSL interpreter for the first time! I also got to bring one to my first market of the year. It was a very different experience than bringing my partner but I was excited to have proper support. I didn't get to make the most of my ATW due to the pandemic but I hope I will this coming year if things settle.
I had the pleasure of painting a portrait of two beautiful dogs. I designed and printed a bespoke thank you card for a skin care company. I painted two exclusive illustrations for independent businesses. I did a wedding commission with a great brief. I normally struggle to find space in my schedule for freelance work, but when I do I really enjoy doing it - it is always a nice change.
I completely overhauled my website, including updating my product descriptions and adding new product photos. It is now cleaner and easier to navigate and I am very happy with the changes. I hope you like them too!
I introduced wooden hanging decorations to my product range and I am thrilled with how my watercolour paintings look printed on wood. I have some new ideas in the pipeline!
Now onto my goals...
Now I feel attuned to my new reality, I am hoping that my motivation and focus will improve when I go back to my studio in the new year. I also tend to hoard money instead of reinvesting in my product range, advertising etc. I need to recognise that I can afford these expenses and try not to be afraid to spend more regularly. This year I launched two new collections and a print and I feel I could do more next year.
I rely heavily on Instagram to bring traffic to my shop and that is not always good. I need to improve my email marketing as well as exploring the new territory of paid advertising. I have said that my growth is not what I hoped for the last several years so I think I am missing something here and I am hopeful that stepping up on marketing will help me reach further.
I'd like to think that I am organised. I am good at organisation, especially when it comes to physical things. But when it comes to marketing and product launches - nope. I tend to leave things to the last minute. So I am hoping to put my organisational skills to better use! I think perhaps finding an hour or two every week to sit down and look ahead of my schedule to see if there are anything I need to start planning on rather than doing things day to day like I always do.
What are your New Year goals? I'd love to know! I hope your year was not too bad and that 2021 will be a better year that allows us to reclaim our lives. For the meantime I offer heartfelt thanks for your amazing support this year!
]]>I wanted to reuse some of the illustrations from last year’s Christmas card designs, which I really love! I came to the idea of printed wood hanging decorations and started to visualise my lemon and clementine illustrations being printed on die cut wood. I painted eight more festive designs to go with them.
As it is an entirely new type of product for me, I found myself in the deep end and had to learn quickly. I couldn’t visualise the size of my decorations so I had to make paper prototypes. It’s important for me to understand what the end result might look like in real life - even if it is just a badly printed paper cut-out! I experimented for a bit, tweaking the designs and choosing a perfect size for each piece.
While I designed my decorations, I looked for manufacturers and compared unit prices, which was a long process. After several weeks, I finally found a supplier I was completely happy with and ordered my first run! I was very nervous during the production but I was also very excited about the potential.
When they arrived, as always I let out a little happy shriek and gave myself a minute to let the excitement settle. As the illustrations are directly printed on the surface of wood, they look beautifully textured - the wood grain coming through the print of my original painting works really nicely!
They come with fabric ribbons in red, green, gold or cream colour. It’s a great feeling finally completing my decorations with ribbons - I have been working on them for a while and I am very proud of how they have turned out!
Hurrah! It’s the first new product of the year. I know, I know…it’s been a while. This global pandemic has really thrown me off, especially when face coverings were made mandatory. For a deaf person, not being able to see people’s faces is disconcerting.
Just as I start to adjust and get to grips with my new reality, it is autumn. Already! I asked myself, ‘what have you been doing for the last 6 months?’ but then realised I shouldn’t beat myself up. I have had some wholesale orders (preparing orders takes up a LOT of time), I undertook some useful admin work, and I joined some ‘virtual’ markets. I also adopted a greyhound, which has been a tad distracting!
But, back to work, and just a month ago I started thinking about a couple of new products to launch before Christmas. This Moths print is one of them! The print is inspired by a meeting with a cinnabar moth in my back garden. It was a warm day, and I was wandering around enjoying the spring air. What I initially thought was a beautiful red and black butterfly suddenly landed on my hand. I said hello and was surprised how long it stayed, and I used the time to whip out my phone and take some photos.
Wanting to know the name of this butterfly, I looked it up and discovered that it is in fact a moth! My previous experience of moths was that they were brown or grey coloured. I also thought that they only emerged at night, so I was puzzled as to why a moth was flying about in the middle of the day. A little bit of research taught me that whilst most moths fly at night, some moths are specifically day flying moths! This experience led me to look at all the other colourful moths that exist and inspired me to paint a collection of day flying moths. The result is the creation of the Moths print, which I feel complements my British Butterflies and Beetles prints very well.
I painted the moths with watercolour and a little gouache. I then scanned them and arranged them together. I decided to go off-piste and make them less uniform than my Bugs designs…and I LOVE how it turned out! I think the colours and details are incredible. I am proud of it and I hope you like it too. This new design is available as both A4 and A3 sized prints.
]]>In the run up to Top Drawer in January I was advised to design a new range to launch at the event, so in the autumn last year I started to think about what my next collection would be. Wildflowers have been one of the collections on my to-do list for a while and I felt most excited and inspired about them.
During the Christmas rush I spent some time thinking about the collection, what type of products would the range includes, and learning more about wildflowers and choosing the ones I was going to paint. I used my Observer’s book of Wildflowers and RHS website for research.
I finally managed to find time to start painting and designing the range in December. I painted about 20 wildflowers and whittled it down to my best 12 for my first design of the range – British Wildflowers print.
I also designed four patterns from my wildflower illustrations. When I decided that I wanted to make patterns, I was stumped about where to start with so many wildflower illustrations in front of me! I had a brainwave and used my research to base my patterns on wildflowers that are mostly found in summer, spring, shady woodlands, and meadows. I found these groups of wildflowers actually work really well!
The product in this Wildflowers collection I am most proud of is Wildflowers Set of 6 Postcards.
It was SO hard to narrow down my wildflower paintings to 6 favourites but I eventually got there with my kind partner’s help. I wanted my postcard set to have a Victorian botanical vibe so I went for a very dark grey background with contrasting white text for plant name, which I feel works really well with my colourful wildflowers. I also decided to go for a different-than-usual paper stock for the set – ‘acquerello’ laid paper that is gorgeously cream and textured with fine-lined markings. It was a risky move and I was so happy when I saw it in print for the first time – it was exactly what I imagined it to be! Yay!
The new collection was received really well in Top Drawer and most of the new products received a lot of orders!
I am glad I pushed myself to do the patterns, which I always find myself in the deep end designing, and also trying a new paper stock for the postcard and notebook sets. I want to be more adventurous in the manufacturing area of my business (where I outsource primarily) rather than sticking with the usual cards and prints – which sold really well, but I feel like my vision is bigger than this: I want to see my illustrations on everything, from functional wares to textiles! I am a tactile person so that reflects my ambition.
Thank you for reading, I think it’s clear that I am fond of my new collection and I hope you love it too!
I hope you all had a lovely holiday season and a great start to the New Year.
2020 already! Where did last year go? 2019 flew by as I continued to develop my art practice and grow my business and in a blink, it was gone. So, welcome 2020, I am excited to see what it brings.
I love having my online shop and, even though they are very tiring, I love market days too, especially because I get to meet lots of the lovely people who support my business.
Markets and fairs are such a good way for makers to showcase their work. When I am at these events, I am often reminded of the Just a Card Campaign, which was set up by artist and designer, Sarah Hamilton. The campaign aims to encourage people to support artists, designers and small, independent businesses, by reinforcing the message that all purchases, even ‘just a card’, does make a difference. So, while I can’t buy all the goodies that I come across, buying something small, like a card, really helps creators.
Being able to support myself as an artist and maintain my practice through income generated from my illustrations, can be very challenging. Whilst I would really love to sit and make art all day, the reality is that, like makers of any kind, I must keep finding new ways to sell my work in order to make a living!
So last year, with the hope of increasing my wholesale business, I applied for a stand at the January 2020 Top Drawer event – the UK’s leading lifestyle trade show for design-led brand – and I was excited to be accepted into their Spotted area in this month’s show.
There was a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get ready for the show, as well as developing my new Spring Summer 2020 designs (more of that next month) so I was grateful to have the support of my partner, Aneurin, especially with the technical side of getting the wholesale catalogue ready and preparing the stand plan.
The show, held in London, is a regular, bi-annual event where buyers and retailers from all over the country can come and have a look at makers of all types: it is a five day event – two days to set up your stand and three days for the actual show, meeting, greeting and networking.
It was very nerve-racking and exciting. Being quite a shy person, it certainly stretched my communication skills. We had a British Sign Language interpreter with us, which helped. I managed to say hello to everyone who passed by and learnt a few things about networking along the way. We aimed to be easily accessible, clear about the range of products available and take orders quickly and efficiently. Adding SKU codes underneath every product on the stand, with a clipboard stacked with printed order forms, a calculator and a card reader at the ready, led to some very positive remarks on our organisational skills!
The show went very well, far beyond my expectations. I met lots of independent retailers and gained EIGHT new stockists. One of them was the Royal Horticultural Society, which is one of my dream stockists. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I received an email from them placing an order! Happy dance! It is a great start to 2020 for Katrina Sophia!
Whilst there wasn’t much time to have a look around at all the other stands, I did come across some fantastic new-to-me artists. Do go and look them up:
Both Emilia and Alice are now on list for items as we do up the house.
It was an exhausting five days. Luckily, we were glad to be able to enjoy some home comforts by staying with my mum in London! Thanks Mum!
A big shout out to my partner, for his outstanding support both before, during and after the show. I am looking out for something special for him for Valentine’s Day!
And lastly, but not least, as 2020 begins its sprint, a massive THANK YOU to all of you who have supported and continue to support my creative business, from reading my blog to buying a card to commissioning work.
I’ve launched a brand new Christmas card collection! It’s called A Taste of Christmas.
If you are a small business owner like me you will understand how we all have to start thinking about Christmas in the middle of summer and launch in the autumn to make the most of the festive season, and coming up with Christmassy ideas while the sun is still shining can be difficult! Luckily I came up with the rough idea of my new collection earlier this year while it was still chilly in spring and I have thought about it for months. A few weeks ago I felt ready and jumped in and started planning.
I knew I wanted to do a food-related Christmas card collection because I wanted to evoke a warm festive feeling, and the foods we eat in the festive period give me that warm fuzzy feeling instantly. There are also scents that give me that feeling – oranges, mince pies, cinnamons, fir spruce, vanilla, and so on.
I ended up with three different designs around this food / scent theme and these are Winter Fruits, Seasonal Scents, and Holiday Treats. I absolutely love each of them, especially Winter Fruits because it was the first design I created for the collection. When I create a collection It’s always the first design I am most proud of and I think it is down to the special moment of realisation where the design process is underway and going in the direction I hoped for.
I hope you will agree that my new cards radiate the festive feeling we get run up to Christmas and that all these three designs make a lovely collection.
Can you tell how excited I am for Christmas?!
If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I’ve been painting greenhouses! As a plant lover, I naturally enjoy visiting greenhouses and last year I decided that I want to create more greenhouse paintings for my shop. So I’ve made efforts to visit more, and most recently made a day trip to the University of Leicester Botanic Garden to visit theirs!
I collected all the best greenhouse photos I have taken and picked one to paint. It was daunting to get started and I procrastinated because I wasn’t confident I would be able to pull it off, but a few weeks ago I sat down at my painting table, ignored the Fear, and got finally started. Looking back I wish I had just got stuck in instead of putting it off for so long!
The end result two days later was a confusion. It was a mixture of:
Did I paint it?
I like it but I don’t like it either.
I beat my Fear?
This is not my style?
Wow, I really painted a scene!
After getting some feedback from my partner and Instagram followers, I came around and now I feel that it is a lovely piece. Because of popular demand I decided to get it printed, so it is now available as A4 and A3 prints!
Last week I painted a Cacti Scene from another of my greenhouse snaps. I had a dilemma whether to add a background or not… and I haven’t decided yet! Here’s hoping that I continue to push Fear aside and paint more greenhouses. I am excited to see how this collection will grow.
I painted Plants Are Magic a couple of weeks ago. The idea of painting an illustration based on this phrase has been floating around in my head since last year, and I decided to finally sit down and translate the idea to paper. What I have created is not quite what I envisaged, which does happen often with all the ideas I don’t act on quickly enough – my expectations have changed and the ‘fresh eyes’ are gone. At the end of the day though, I still love it!
To my surprise, when I did my usual routine of sharing the illustration on my socal media and collecting feedback, this illustration received a whopping 800 likes, several comments, and shares from plant loving friends on Instagram.
I seldom record videos of my art process but I want to make more in the future. I thought it’d make a great way to connect with my audience and show how I paint my work, and interestingly it is also quite educational for me because watching myself paint makes me aware of how I navigate across the illustration and think about what I would do differently next time!
I originally designed this GROW piece for my collaboration with Brynn & Co on an embroidery design and embroidery kit / PDF.
When I started researching suppliers, I established that I wanted a good quality, thick, 100% cotton, landscape, long handled shopping kind of bag. After several days searching and contacting potential suppliers, I finally found the bag that is exactly what I am looking for. Asking for samples so I could inspect the material and printing quality really helped me to make a decision of choosing a supplier.
I am really thrilled with the end result, and I hope you like it too!
I have a ‘to paint’ list pinned to my notice board in my studio. But I’ve found that while having a list can be useful, it can be overwhelming deciding where to start because that list is SO long!
My list is organised into categories, one of which is ‘patterns’. I think my pattern ideas have been sitting there for over a year untouched, so this year I thought it was high time to tackle this part of the list.
I spent the last few weeks working on two new patterns, both using my existing artwork and painting new elements. I am so thrilled about how they turned out. I wasn’t confident with making patterns but my confidence is growing after collecting inspiration, reading helpful articles about pattern making, like this post by lovely Natalie, and ultimately throwing myself in at the deep end.
I am excited to carry on with this project creating more patterns. So far, I’ve made Woodland, Butterfly, and Leafy. You’ll see them popping up on new products on my shop in the near future, including the new notebooks I will launch this week!
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