October is almost over and the weather is starting to turn. But this is an exciting time of year, when we start to think about Christmas! Our last blog post (here) showed you some of our new pieces: jumbo tote bags, washbags and candle gift sets as well as our delicious new Bergamot & Ginger hand and body cream.
But we've got even more new items to share with you!
Five New French Inspired Greetings Cards
We have designed some new greetings cards - good for Christmas, or indeed any occasion. They make a lovely keepsake - we know some customers who have framed their cards and hang them as a picture!
All our cards are designed and printed in the UK. The cards and envelopes are made from recycled paper and biodegradable plastic sleeves.
Here is the latest range.
Here is the latest range.
French Doors Greetings Card. Hand-drawn blue pencil sketches of French doors, windows, shutters, ironwork and a door knocker, all on crisp white, with our FW monogram on the central double door. It is the one I'd send to anyone who loves to travel, or who can never walk past a handsome building without stopping to look.
Swan Wreath Greetings Card (Navy and Sage). A swan in a pearl tiara, framed by a watercolour wreath of eucalyptus, ivy, ferns and berries. We think of it as a festive, quirky, rather regal portrait. On deep navy it feels dramatic and wintry; on soft sage green it is calmer, with more of a countryside feel. Which one would you choose?
Toile de Jouy Greetings Card. Teal / turquoise pastoral scenes of courting couples, a fountain, a little sailing boat and trees, set on a cream linen-textured background. It is inspired by the 18th-century French fabrics that have decorated country houses for generations, and it sits happily alongside French country decor of any age.
Vintage French Adverts Greetings Card. A collage of early 20th-century style French newspaper adverts on aged parchment, full of witty typography and dramatic slogans. It has the spirit of an afternoon spent rummaging through a brocante, minus the dust. A favourite for anyone who loves vintage French ephemera.
The French Door Tote Bag
If you travel regularly to France (like we do!) you'll know that in every French city, town and village, there are doors and doorways that just need to be photographed. We've been taking pictures of beautiful entrances for years, and decided to turn one of these into this wonderful image, printed in a deep French blue colour on a lightweight, natural-coloured cotton tote. The ornate doorway has carved stonework, scrolls, a fanlight arch and panelled double doors, beneath a wrought-iron hanging sign that reads French & Wilder. Below it sit our FW monogram, website, Instagram and shop address.
It has two shoulder-length handles and measures 380 x 420mm, which is generous enough for a market haul, a book and a baguette, or a shop around Hexham on a Saturday morning. As tote bags go, it carries a little joie de vivre wherever it goes.
Gifts for Anyone and Everyone
We have a wide range of gifts for anyone and everyone. November and December are our busiest weeks, and the shop fills with people hunting for something thoughtful.
For the home, there are hand-poured candles, flower diffusers, and cushions and tea towels in our signature French designs. For the person who loves a little luxury, there is our Bergamot & Ginger eau de parfum and hand and body cream. We also have scarves, jewellery, lavender bags, washbags and aprons, and a gift card for the person who's impossible to buy for.
Small gifts are just as welcome. Slip a greetings card inside a French Door tote bag with a handwritten note, and you have a present that feels personal rather than predictable. Or give someone a swan button badge they can pin on their clothes to give them a smile.
Come and See Them
You are very welcome to visit us at 25 Market Place, Hexham NE46 3PB, where Nathan and I would love to show you the cards in person (they're even prettier in your hands). We're open 10am-4pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday. If you can't make it, you can browse the full range at frenchandwilder.com , and you'll find more of what we're up to on Instagram at @frenchandwilder.
Happy browsing!
Michael and Nathan
