Old Wives Tale

"Inspired by nature, traditions and tales. My work is centred around illustration where I like to use intricate detail alongside a simple pallet or layout.

Living in North Wales provides me with a wealth of stories, myths and tales not to mention the beautiful foxes, badgers and hedgehogs that come to visit in the garden."



The very lovely Hannah at Old Wives Tale has beautifully illustrated swans, ravens, foxes and mice alongside eloquent quotes to create a wonderfully different greeting card or delicate print. Lovingly depicted with pen and ink, these animals come to life and earn their place to be framed and admired.

Printing Jenni

Christmas gift buying never fails to make me feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing the special someone the gift is for will be adored. HOWEVER. Sometimes, isn't gift wrapping just such a pain? Cellotape and long hair doesn't mix, so while I think I've been creative wrapping gifts to make them look like a cracker, I often come away dazed, confused and a fringe full of sticky tape and ribbon. My generous mother on the other hand, has the task of keeping the mounds of gifts for people together in a neat organized pile. 

If only there was some way I could stylishly avouid gift wrapping, or my mum could keep everyone's goodies kept together?

Ta-da! Printing Jenni has hand screen printed small and large tote bags in a wonderfully Christmasy illustration. The small red stocking bags would be perfect to fill with sweets and delights and for me to avoid wrapping gifts, just adding a little complimentary green tissue paper as stuffing. While the larger stocking, tree and star printed natural canvas, fair trade, tote bags look the perfect size to pile high with ready wrapped gifts for someone you're spoiling.

Perfect.

Christmas with Sophie In Disguise

Christmas = winter. Winter = wrapping up warm.

Combine the two and you fairly often result in festive itchy jumpers you only wear to cheer up your nan. However, it seems some the 'cool' kids on the block manage to carry off an over the top knitted jumper, wearing them with pride and flauting them down the streets (Bob here at Nook & Cranny looks quite handsome in his collection). Now Sophie brings us Christmas geek chic in the form of a quirky shaped card with 'warm wishes' noted inside. Perfect if you know a cool kid or irony for your nan. Either way, they're part of Nook & Cranny's pick & mix offer - jumpers all round!

The Joy of Ex Foundation.

The sarcasm behind the name of this group almost sums up the tone and humour behind Sally's work at The Joy of Ex. Having only started the foundation in may of this year, and having the prints, tea towels and bags proudly on display at Nook & Cranny, the popularity so far is amazing. Take a look at the work, and then we'll pull at the heart strings with the story behind the concept.

"Sally doesn’t really consider herself an overly nice person, but when her own divorce almost cost her her smile, she started writing a funny novel to make herself giggle. And whilst writing the book she decided to start The Foundation. She wasn't exactly sure exactly how she could possibly help anyone. So as a writer, she started a little Facebook group to help people to smile more… cos sometimes in life there is nothing else you can do.
Then people started asking her for merchandise and books featuring all her silly quotes. She had some printed, and people from all around the world started buying them. Sally now puts aside a chunk of the money she earns, to try and help people when they get stuck going through a rough break up."

How thoughtful can one person be? Whether you are succuming to the heart ache of a break up, having a bad day or know someone who is described perfectly in the form of a beautiful statement postcard, these beauties make everyone smile. Personally, my favourite is 'I'm in a love triangle with Ben &  Jerry'. Jen on the other hand sleeps with books and I posted one to my mum on her birthday, knowing she is 'proud to lick cake bowls'. The bright colours, simple text but fantastically funny announcements draw in the crowds themselves, but knowing why Sally is hoping they cheer people up and knowing that profits go towards counselling and support for people in need, only makes you love them more.
Pop in to Nook & Cranny and find the satement that best suits you, or get one for a friend in need and feel the glow of pride knowing how happy the world could really be.





Christmas with Bels Art World

Because sometimes you don't need the colours red and green, velvet and glitter to make a card look Christmasey. Bel has featured her wonderful characters in the trademark muted hues that make up Bels Art World and celebrates Christmas with Nook & Cranny, available now instore.

"the nice biscuits, not the horrible ones"

One of our favourite tea towels from To Dry For and one of Nook & Cranny's favourite sayings. We love it when you, the wonderful public and polite customers, are happy to engage and strike up conversation with us. Not only does it perk up our day being able to interact with another human being face to face, rather than endless emails, it's just nice to be nice. Don't you think?

Suck UK - My Cuppa

Everyone's different, everyone has their own little quirks, whether you choose to listen to heavy metal, train in the evenings in wrestling or put extra salt on anything that gets eaten. Whatever your penchant, Nook & Cranny never judge. However, the Suck UK 'My Cuppa' charts seem to spark up conversation and judgement. OK, so I like my cups of tea rather milky. In fact, the colour of the mug is closer to the colour of my tea. I thought it was only my typically traditional British parents that lovingly bullied me for this, but customers seem to have raised a few eyebrows too.

How do you take your cuppa? In a Suck UK 'My Cuppa' mug of course!