Greetings cards

I'm not a big fan of greetings cards.  Apart from the Christmas cards I used to get from my Grandma (Frank's wife of The Frank Tool Roll fame.)  These were an indication of whether I was in their good books or not.  Normal card - I'd done something wrong.  Card with a bit of embossing - I was doing ok.  Anything with glitter - nailed it.

So we really weren't planning to stock any cards but then I came across Bewilderbeest aka Iain Hamilton.  His cards just seemed right - awesome illustrations and a tone of voice that just resonates with all things Tinker and Fix.  I bought one for Louise's birthday and we both liked it so much that we decided to stock all the tool related cards - but he does also does a great range of animal puns that you should check out.  We like his style so much that we asked him to draw our Christmas card and we’re busy thinking of other things we can ask him to illustrate.

We really weren’t looking to stock any other cards, but then we stumbled across ‘The Passenger Press Greetings Cards’.  To be honest, we were at a soulless ‘designer gift show’ – we wanted to see what was ‘out there’ that we might be missing out on. Turns out not much because we aren’t really candle and floaty scarf people. The only thing that caught our eye was Rhian Nicholas’ amazing work.  She makes all her Passenger Press cards using an antique letterpress in a studio in Glasgow – and you can absolutely see the brilliance of the machine in the texture and authenticity of the cards.  The fact that all of the images have been found in archives, museums, libraries or stately homes, means they all have a history and a story behind them.  Not something you can say about the selection in Clintons.

So we have the smallest range of cards - but we reckon they'd suit most occasions.  Here's our suggestion: 

Bewilderbeest: 

  • 'I'm nuts about you' - good as an anniversary card, birthday card or valentines day card
  • 'Nailed it' - great for a new job or exam success (we don't recommend as a valentines day card!!)
  • 'You rule' - good as a birthday card, new job or success
  • 'My other bike is a BMX' - for any time, for anyone who likes bikes!

Passenger Press: 

  • New Home - does what it says on the old fashioned tin!
  • Vintage design of Cabbages, Roses, Tulips, Tree & Watering Can - great for general cards - for birthdays, anniversaries, valentines etc. 
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