Every good story starts with an idea, a pen, and some paper. And that s how my story began. It started with a little girl, cutting up & glueing any paper or cardboard she could find. Making cards & paper toys while leaving a trail of destruction in her mother s cereal cupboard. I spent time with my artist Grandfather, marvelling at his beautiful sketchbooks and art papers. Swapping letters & homemade cards with pen-pals, treasuring their wonderful exotic letters & stamps they d bring all the way to my doorstep in little old Northern Ireland. I now have had 25 years of professional experience working in art and design, after a degree in Fine Art Printmaking, I continued to make cards & stationery for friends and wedding stationery for family. In June 2010, I launched arbee* cards, rebranding in 2014 as arbee* stationery & design. I adore the romance & beauty of vintage design borrowed from a time when paper ruled the world, and people stayed in touch with long, loving letters delivered over land and sea. For me, the beauty of paper is in the texture and feel. I adore the way inks react on different papers and I try to make each card a little work of art. I only use the finest artists materials and hand-finishing techniques to create my unique stationery. Handcrafted artisan products have an intrinsic personal value over mass-manufactured goods, and this is reflected in every part of my product range. Everything is sourced as ethically and locally as possible, and I only use recycled or responsibly-sourced papers and non-toxic inks, with traditional paper-making tools. In July 2010 I set up my stall at St.George s Market in the heart of Belfast and watched in delight as my designs and crafts have been wrapped up in paper bags destined for a new home sometimes down the road and often across the globe. Since then my product range has grown and diversified. You can still find me every other Saturday at my beloved market in Belfast; hugging a hot cup of tea and wrapping up paper bags full of my designs and swapping stories with the wonderful people I meet.