Forest Garden Centre

This beautiful display is at Forest Garden Centre, doesn't it look amazing. There is so much attention to detail and every shelf is full to the brim. If you are near by and would like to pop in to see all of their beautiful displays oh and of course their fabulous selection of plants here is their full address Forest Garden Centre Oddford Lane, Twodales Nr Matlock, DE4 2EX.

New Studio

All last week we spent decorating and making furniture for my new studio, and today was my first day in it, it was GREAT. I had finally out grown my loft and Cavania decided to expand yet again and we took on another office in the gorgoeous old brick building in the village. The accounts, sales and Christian all have been there for the past 17 months and now I have joined them.
I found this antique auctioneers slope in Drummonds an amazing reclamation yard in Hindhead, Surrey.
Today another new member of the team started, so a big welcome to Gemma who is my artwork assistant.

Happy 5th Birthday Cavania

I can't believe that Cavania was five on Friday 11th July, it seems so long ago and only yesterday all at the same time! I can remember so clearly watching the first sheet come off the press the nerves, hundreds of butterflies in the tummy and the feeling of excitement. Thank you to everyone for their support and encouragement, the next five years are certainly going to be even more challenging.This is a card from our first collection 'Card Art', oh how we have changed.
Christian and I at the Harrogate trade show, this was the morning after the exhibitors party, umm we are not hung over, really. Christian and I had a couple of friends over on Saturday night for dinner and we thought we would try out our Hot Rock. Its a great thing and your guests have to cook their own meal so no slaving away in the kitchen for hours beforehand. Simply prepare vegetables and marinate meats and seafood leave in containers and pour yourself a nice glass of wine or champagne with strawberries. Check out the Hot Rock website at www.cafe-raclette.com Christian, Jem & Cecilia tucking into prawns and scollops. It's all Jems fault that Christian and I met nine years ago, they worked together in 1992 in Kunnunarra, Western Australia. When Christian landed in the UK he decided to drop by his old friend and I was at a party in Jems garden.

Hot and in the Press

This months adverts in Greetings Today, Gift Focus and Autumn Flower.
I have just had a quick cup of tea and a peak through some of this months trade magazines. We have a few new adverts running at the moment which were great to see in print as it's always a little scary. Designing and taking advert photos is much more difficult then designing cards!! To our delight we have also been featured in a number of articles too.
Magazine-Gift Focus issue 48, Feature- Wrapped to go
Magazine-Gift Focus issue 48, Feature- Gift and Home
Magazine- Gift Focus issue 48, Feature- Hobbies and pastimes

Man's Creche

Ian the Wonder Agent sent this to me yesterday and we all thought it was brilliant in the office, did give us a laugh.
Christian & James wishes there was a Man's creche next door! As if they aren't childish enough.

Harrogate Home & Gift 2008

It's Harrogate time the trade show we have all been waiting for and it starts Sunday 12th July. For all the other trade shows we are running around all stressed out but the mood is defiantly different for Harrogate. For those of you have been before you will know how relaxed and fun Home & Gift really is, jazz bands, pimms on the lawn and all set in the town center.And for a wonderful afternoon tea one simply must visit Betty's
The show it's self is spread out over many venues and marquees scattered through out the town. The atmosphere is brilliant everyone is there to do business but in such a relaxed way, and the evenings in the town are so much fun too with all the exhibitors and visitors sitting around the restaurants and pub gardens. I can't wait, fingers crossed for sunshine and I'll see you there. x Kathryn and Laura bring your dancing shoes :)To register for your ticket visit www.homeandgift.co.uk , this is a trade only show for shops, sorry.

Meet another Karen Sanders!

How bizarre...whilst searching the web for an artical I found another artist called Karen Sanders in the Netherlands. Curiosity got the better of me so I just had to email Karen and say hi, and to my surprise she emailed me back. I know the old wives tale says we have a twin some where in the world.
If you put your name into google who will you find?
Visit Karen's website www.karensanders.nl