Card and Gift Blog: March 2013

One to Watch! New Greetings Card Publisher - Imperial & Metric

A few months ago I featured a gift boutique called Hirst & Hirst in a 'Meet the Retailer' feature (click here to see the blog post) and was introduced to a new Leicester-based company creating amazing illustrated greetings cards. It's always nice to stumble on new companies creating cards or gifts, especially in my home town, and I couldn't wait to show you a few images from their greetings card collection.

Behind the Design with Rosie Wonders ...

Say hello to ...

Rosie Marshall from Rosie Wonders

Tell us a little about yourself and your company?
I run Rosie Wonders, an East London-based design company. We make beautiful handmade greeting cards, jewellery and surprises; inspired by all things vintage, which I hope will evoke a sense of nostalgia and appeal to children and adults alike. The picture above is of me at Liberty embellishing Mother’s Day cards!

Back in 2010 a spark of inspiration struck Artist and Film-Maker Sarah Cole; an idea to create a series of useful mugs ... mugs that would look fantastic, be enjoyable to own, but also help us to pin down all of those interesting facts and figures that have somehow got lost or hazy since our school days. From that first moment of inspiration Cole of London was born with its own selection of charming mug designs that enabled "thinking while drinking". The collection has a great variety of designs from famous historical figures, to scientists and writers - providing unique gift potential for the whole family. Each mug is made from the finest quality bone china and decorated with a bright colour background and Sarah's charming illustrations. Since 2010 the Cole of London collection has expanded beyond mugs, and now includes: espresso cups, tea towels, cards, stationery and gift wrap.

Cute, Cool & Non-Chocolate Easter Gifts

Quite simply, more Easter goodies ...

'My 1st Easter Spoil Me' Baby Grow (available individually or as a set with matching t-shirt) for sizes 0-18 months. Purchase direct from Babatude Boutique, from £12.99.

Gorgeous Cards & Gifts for Easter

Not long now till we get a nice Easter break, so today I'm hand-picking a few more favourite Easter products hitting the shop shelves and online shopping websites across the land ...

Pack of ten notecards with bright Easter Bunny and Eggs design by Caroline Gardner, £4.95.

Have an Eggs-ellent Easter with fun greetings card by Louise Jenkins. Brightly coloured eggs and chicks on crisp white cards. Designs are available to purchase direct from the Illustrator Lou Etsy store for £2.50 each.

A small technical hitch has meant that I still have this fabulous Meri Meri Cupcake Decorating Party Kit to give away. If you entered the competition via our Facebook page please be assured your entry is secure and will be transferred to the new giveaway; you do not have to enter again.

Opulent and eccentric lifestyle brand Black Rose Love have recently added a selection of luxury candles to their jewellery and gift collection. The exquisitely scented, hand-poured, Eco-soy wax candles carry on Black Rose Love's signature dark, fairytale style. The candles are available in a variety of exquisite scents: Forbidden Love, Enchanted Dream, Dark Fairytale and Nightshade Kiss.

Essential Easter Greetings Cards

Are you ready for Easter? We're starting our spring posts with a few picks for essential Easter greetings cards ...

Bright, contemporary illustrated greetings cards from Liz and Pip with super cute chicks and bunnies. Available to buy from stockists nationwide, and direct from the Liz and Pip website, £2.25.

Behind the Design ~ Whale and Bird ...

Say hello to ...

Jamie Macdonald from Whale and Bird.

Tell us a little about your company ...
Whale and Bird is a brand new greetings publisher from Oxford. Focusing on the quirky and funny side of things.

Card & Gift Blog favourites Five Dollar Shake are entering into new territory with their latest collection - Glitter Ball - an amazing set of greetings cards for kids. The new Junior Shake collection uses all of the quality and attention to detail to be found in the grown up ranges in bright, appealing designs that kids will adore; I'm pretty sure a few adults will appreciate them too!

Letterfest is the creation of Graphic Designer, Wendy Harrison. Obsessed with typography and letterforms, Wendy has created a range of gifts that give new ways to display type around the home as a personalised keepsake or decorative memento. Designs are inspired by illuminated type and vintage letterpress, giving a depth and quality feel to contemporary pieces.

Launched in November 2011 by Jamie Mitchell and Mark Callaby, Ohh deer is a fresh, and extraordinary website selling high quality products that make wonderful, unique gifts. With backgrounds in the creative industries (in Architecture and Illustration) Jamie and Mark were careful to hand-pick Illustrators for the Ohh deer community; Designers offering objects that would stand out and be adored - the result is an amazing array of cards and gifts with the individual personalities of each Illustrator shining through. Working as a collective where everyone involved works to promote one another the company has attracted talented Illustrators, including Card & Gift Blog favourites, Gemma Correll, Jack Teagle and Anna Brown. Today's blog is a gallery of a few of my favourite items from across the collection.

Prettiest Mum and Mum You're the Best greetings card by Liz and Pip, £2.25 from stockists nationwide. See the Liz and Pip website for more information or to purchase online.

Behind the Design: Which Glasses Are Which

Say hello to ...

Hil Beavan (officially Hilary but always sounds a bit too grown up for me) from Which Glasses Are Which

Tell us a little about yourself and your company?
My real company is a graphic design agency that I run with a chap I met at art school, oooh quite a long time ago! We have a small team of designers and work for all sorts of people from big transport companies to animal charities and everyone in between! So when I had the idea to create these glasses cases, I knew we could create the designs ourselves, although I had never printed anything on tin before!

Ten Fabulous Gift Finds for Mother's Day ...

Ten more fabulous gift ideas, perfect for Mother's Day and beyond. Look out for a special discount just for Card & Gift Blog readers too!

Porcelain Jug with delicate rose design in mini to large sizes, £11.00-22.00 from Sophie Allport.

Notelet stationery with rose design (pack of six) £4.00 from Sophie Allport.

Personalised Charm Necklace by Merci Maman, £49.00 from Babatude Boutique.

Mix and Match Merci Maman Charm Bracelet, £30.00 from Babatude Boutique.

M is for Mother Cupcake Kit from Meri Meri, £10. Get 10% of any Meri Meri orders with discount code 'GiftCardMM'*

M is for Mother Apron from Meri Meri, £15. Remember you can get 10% of any Meri Meri orders with discount code 'GiftCardMM'*

Family Birthstone Crystal and Freshwater Pearl Bracelet, £38.00 from Poppy Sparkles.

Double Pearl Drop Earrings, £17.00 from Poppy Sparkles.

Dotty Tea pot (matching cups, mugs and plates also available), £24.00 from Idyll Home.

Fleur Enamel Jug, £27.95; Mug, £6.50 and Bowls, £6.50. All from Idyll Home.

*The 10% Meri Meri code is valid for one month, until 5th April 2013, and is for use on the UK Meri Meri site. To go to the site click here. There is also still chance to win a Meri Meri Cupcake Party Kit, until 15th March 2013; see the blog's Facebook Page for details.

Ten Great Gifts for Mother's Day ...

With Mother's Day approaching on 10th March (this Sunday) we're starting the week with a little more card & gift inspiration just for mum ...

Bird in Blossom and Fritillary I Natural cushions, £45 each from Emily Burningham.

Meri Meri started life as a kitchen table business in 1985. Armed with scissors, pens and a pot of glitter, Founder Meredithe (who's childhood nickname was Meri Meri) started creating cards for local stationery stores in Los Angeles. The cards were a huge hit, and the business expanded to keep up with demand; first with a network of mums working from kitchen tables, next was a move into a dedicated Meri Meri studio. Today Meredithe overseas a team of 20 designers and artworkers at the Meri Meri studio in Cheltenham, creating a fabulous array of cards, social stationery, partyware and gifts.