Time at the bar folks, 'tis the last day of orders before the Christmas postage cut off date tomorrow! Treat yourselves to a nice 20% off of orders in my Etsy shop of £5 or over before tomorrow with code: HAPPYHOLIDAYS13

S X

Four weeks to go!

Gosh, it's a little while since I last posted, or at least it feels that way! I'm back at home in the UK getting incredibly busy for Christmas stalls and getting your orders out to you whilst the fella holds the fort back in Helsinki. Needs must! A little of what's been going on, and a little gifting inspiration to get you in the mood, just four weeks til the big day you know! 

We caught a ship to Tallinn, Estonia for my birthday. It was cold and romantic and we spent a lovely lazy afternoon sat in the most amazing restaurant for hours of eating. Dream floor, pink peppercorns and warm, fresh bread...I spend hours dreaming of having my own cafe/restaurant/pizzeria and if it were to happen, it might go something like this...ahem...

I also finally learnt to knit. YES!

I've been making new things for stalls. All a little late in the day but that's how it goes here I'm afraid! You will catch me at events here, including The Selvedge Winter Fair this weekend, sure to be a good one!

A taster of what I'll be bringing...the sweetest stocking fillers, including magnets, pocket mirrors, new brooches and necklaces, art prints, Christmas cards, totes, aprons and whatever else I can fit onto the National Express up to London Town! Do come and say hello!

Wish me luck! As always, you can shop online or drop me an email. S X

This week only...

Pick up some pre-Christmas bargains in my Etsy shop this week only, it's my birthday this week and I'm feeling extra sweet! Shop here and be sure to check out the other sections for perfect gift-giving ideas X

New tree decs...

We've had a wee smattering of snow over here! Brrrr it's getting cold...thermals at the ready! It has felt like the shortest Autumn I've ever witnessed, a week or two of beautiful bright yellow trees and blue skies, and now thrown into winter already...in October!

There is now just 10 weeks until Christmas, just to remind you! I've been spending my time wisely, cosied up inside drinking tea and getting ready for the Christmas events I have lined up this year. You can always check my events page if there's any which take your fancy, I love to meet you all! There's more dates to be added too so check back! My knitting I started to learn since being here is getting a bit better too now, Christmas pressies a-go! (lucky you)

I'm taking orders on my new tree decorations now for the next couple of weeks, so if you'd like one personalized  make sure you email me with your orders and requests! My email is stephaniecole[at]live.co.uk 

I've done lots already for first Christmases and personalized monograms, a special year and the perfect sweet gift...

Each one I've hand painted with acrylic paint onto natural wood slices, varnished and strung with festive string. They are £6 each including free postage to mainland UK and orders will be posted out in November. I will have some for the Christmas events I'll be at too, hope you like them! 

In other news, Society6 who you can buy products with my illustrations on from including cushions, note cards, tech cases for laptops, ipads and phones, tote bags and the likes has FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING through until this Sunday! I really like the new style tote bags, and my owl design is perfect for all your A/W carrying needs! Shop here...

Tonight I finally begin my Finnish speaking lessons. In December we will have been here a year. Still can't quite believe it. I'm hoping to add to my basic 'hellos', 'goodbyes', 'thank yous' and odd useless words and manic pointing...It's so easy to be lazy and British about language here because everyone's English is great, but I have to have a go, it feels a bit rude. Plus, I need to go home and impress everyone who asks! From now on, everyone is only allowed to speak Finnish to me so it's more of a necessity and I'm forced to learn, OK? ..wish me luck. X 

New Christmas cards!

My newly illustrated Christmas cards are 100% recycled and printed in the UK. They come complete with brown kraft envelopes (also recycled!) and are just perfect for writing up your good tidings and messages of festive cheer! Available at www.stephaniecole.co.uk as single cards or as packs.

Hope you like them! X

What's new?

Am back in Helsinki after three lovely weeks at home in the UK catching up on bits and organizing, packing, wrapping and all the rest which goes on backstage! It wasn't all work, I had a week in St Ives, Cornwall getting totally blown away and eating mountains of amazing food. It was pure bliss and now feels like a nice dream...

I think Cornwall is even more beautiful out of season (plus fewer tourists and a better chance of getting a table anywhere!) We visited The Minack Theatre which looked incredible looming in the mist, Mousehole, and the Lizard, ate mind blowing food with flowers on at Porthminster Beach Cafe and The Seafood Cafe and spent many hours reading magazines, drinking tea and spending time with my parents. We even spotted a seal swimming off the beach. Time well spent :) X

Getting seasonal

I'm currently home in the UK and holiday-ing in St Ives, Cornwall. It's absolutely blowing a gale outside but we wrapped up warm and ventured out to find a nice roast dinner, to no avail. Instead, we stood under a porch scoffing pasties, happy days! 

Can I ease you gently into my Autumn/Winter range of things...? I know we'd all like to hang onto the lovely summer we had for as long as possible, but I've already been sending boxes of Christmas bits to stockists and it would be rude not to keep you in the loop! 

My new Stag apron is perfect for Autumnal hosting, a thoughtful seasonal gift or for the super organised- Christmas (It is under 14 weeks away now after all!)

Screen printed in the UK in a nice Chestnut brown onto natural cotton canvas and tied with twine, available here for £20 including free p&p with mainland UK orders. I hope you like it, I know we'll be cooking up the perfect cold weather feasts in ours!

I have more exciting things to come, so stay tuned...didn't want to frighten you off with full blown festive singing & dancing just yet! I imagined the collection up in July, so personally, am fully there with bells on already! X

A little of lately

Hi! There's been a few things happening recently I thought I'd let you in on...

We are now selling on Not on the Highstreet, which is very exciting! Hoping it will open my work up to a broader audience, then I get a bit more cash to make more things- my head feels like it might explode with ideas! And the wheel goes on...let alone pay the rent/ phone bill/ food/ the odd flight home & my longing for new shoes...I'll crack it some day!

I have some new 100% recycled cards, in a nice square size for generous writing room, seen them in the shop yet? I've also made the big decision to offer you (in the UK) a nice FREE shipping option across everything. You're welcome!

There's four to choose from including a slushy 'Forever' swan design for weddings, anniversaries & engagements, a sweet new baby option, a 'Thank you' and a 'Cat Friends' Happy Birthday to match my new tote, below. They seem to have been warmly welcomed by you on Facebook, hoorah!

On a more personal note, we've both been fighting a miserable cold which hasn't been much fun. It's feeling a little cooler in Finland now, but still beautiful sunny days too as we merge into Autumn. Not dissimilar to the UK really. I'll be popping home soon mostly to launch Christmas (there, I said it!) stock I've been working on- will keep you posted...I read there's only 15 Saturdays or something left until the Big C, yikes! I'm also going to pop to Cornwall whilst I'm back, it's been a few years and I can't wait...

Plus, I've run out of my preferred tea bags and am using them each twice daily now, desperate times! I remember visiting my mum's uncle in Spain years ago, who had devised a washing line across his kitchen for hanging his precious 'Marks & Spencers English Breakfast' tea bags across to dry out and re-use. It hasn't quite got that bad here yet...

Before I got ill I had a really great week- I caught Kustaa Saksi's exhibition in Helsinki, who I hadn't heard of before but was totally blown away by his intricate & graphic big weaves. It's interesting how here in Finland, graphic designers are turning to textiles, seen Klaus Haapaniemi's work? It's rather beautiful too. 

Here's some images from the exhibition. I've never weaved before myself, and not sure that I'm patient enough but would rather like to have a go now...

I also had a nice evening of stitching & coffee drinking in a little gallery led by lovely Finnish textile artist Sonja Lofgren. I haven't stitched since I was at university and so enjoyed it, it's like therapy.

I embroidered fish & chips and dreamt of summer...

It's almost Design Week in Helsinki, more inspiring times to come, happy days! S x

Free Shipping!

For today only I'm doing a special code in my Etsy shop for FREE shipping, including on my end of the line sale items which will be taken out of the shop tonight- grab a bargain whilst you can! 
Enter code SHIPME at the checkout, shop here...

HAPPY WEEKEND! X

British Badger love

This week's been a pretty gloomy one for our British Badgers with the recent cullings...It's so sad- they are such magic and beautiful creatures. I felt compelled to paint one and posted it to Facebook in the week and it's now added to my Society6 shop in the form of gadget cases, prints, cards and cushions. I really hope they don't disappear off our countryside's radar all together...X

A new month, a new tote!

September is upon us which means Autumn (I LOVE Autumn) & back to school...ease yourself back into things with our fun, new 'Cat Friends' tote bag!

Screen printed in a nice deep berry magenta and a smattering of lovely illustrated felines, this tote will carry your books, shopping or cardi now it's getting chilly again. They also would make the perfect gift, woldn't you say? Shop for them here! X

This week.

Hi-O!

It's been a nice week, though crazy-hot. I suppose I shouldn't complain...our winter here is still lurking in my mind (shudder). 

I've been doing some advertising work for events at the lovely Berry Farm based in the Cotswolds. It's been a nice change from the norm, a bit of drawing and a bit of typography...

This one was clearly just for me, I love cats as you know. My sister is forever sending me photos of what Lola the cat is getting up to at home in my absence...sigh!

At the weekend we went to a cabin sleeping 20 friends and had lots of fun, including fishing, game boards, sauna, grilling and hot tub. We also visited Porvoo on the way home which I'd wanted to do for ages. It's a little wooden town on the river full of cute shops, cafes and not much else, but it was sleepy and lovely to be there.

The fella also wizzed this nice whale up on our newly acquired sewing machine- isn't he clever? I posted a pic on my facebook page which got a load more interest than half the stuff I post on there! Geeez! I'd fixed these jeans up for him a few times and it was high time they either got chucked or transformed. He was inspired by a picture I'd pinned on pinterest ages ago, lots of distractions over there for a rainy day if you've not had a peep before...dangerous in fact.

This weekend is Flow festival in Helsinki, woohoo! Have a good one X