We All Have A Story...

 

Hello lovely people and welcome to The Painted Card, the home of words and all things painted.

We are the husband and wife team who run this little creative business near Richmond, North Yorkshire.

I (Sandie) am the self taught illustrator, wordsmith and creative driving force behind the business, while hubby Garth is hands on Mr.Practical, being just the best at cleaning, fixing & preparing treasures found. Garth (Mr.W as i tend to address him on social media) is also the one who picks me up when i have a wobble (quite often to be honest), who encourages me when i want to throw the towl in, and who will happily watch from the sidelines when i am in my happy place chatting to our wonderfully supportive customers. 

Together we create a little bit of magic here in Yorkshire.

All my illustrated greeting card and booklet illustrations are created freehand using old fashioned pencil, pen, and paper, and they are brought to life with a teeny little brush and lashings of watercolour paint. When i first started creating my cards, it took me a year or so to realized that, as much as i loved the painting process, I could not earn a living by painting each one. So, i decided to try and reproduce my work in print. Not the easiest thing for me to do to be honest, because firstly, i knew nothing about printing and secondly, i only had basic computing skills and i didn't actually like or want to use a computer. But, needs must and i started, muddling through, making mistake after mistake, ending up in tears when i failed and jumping with joy when i had the occasional triumph! It took me such a long time to figure it all out, but eventually i got there, and making that move allowed me to start to create my very unique range of printed cards that have been received with open arms, and very often a big hug. Until recently, all our cards have been printed in-house, but we have now started working with a UK printing company who can print our full range in both the volume we need and the quality we insist on. We (well, me actually) still print some orders ourselves, but having our full range printed in greater volume allows for more wholesale opportunity. We want to keep spreading The Painted Card love as far and wide as we can, because we know that, not only have i created something very special, but i have created something that is also wanted and needed. So sharing  with the world is a must.

Using our individual skills, Garth and i have created the most unique little business, and our message is a simple one. We offer gentle words of love, encouragement and understanding. Our creative business was born during the darkest of times, and its accidental creation has, not only helped me, but it has opened the most magical door that anyone can enter. As our business evolves , so do we and so does our range. Along side our greeting cards, we now have our Keepsake Love Range, little gift boxed booklets filled with my poems and words. Our uniquely hand illustrated up-cycled vintage pieces are also now available (a happy accident born during lockdown). You can find them in the 'Re-Loved In Swaledale' department, which is re-stocked as and when we find treasure (and actually have the time to photograph and list them!).

Before i go, i want to introduce you to our logo bunny, Eric. He sits on every one of our cards, tags, order sheets, headed paper and of course our website. I named him Eric after my Dad, because Dad is the reason for this accidental but oh so positive little business. I wanted Dad to be with us on every part of this healing journey, to be with us as we grow, not only as a business, but as people.

We hope you enjoy looking around our unique little shop. You're probably ready for a cuppa by now, so grab one and take a wander around at your leisure.

If we can help in any way, please do get in touch.