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