Winner of best stationery design award.

Well that was a surprise I can tell you.

For those of you who know, and some who don’t, my other day job involves creating posh stationery. I set up the brand Text From A Friend a couple of years ago and it has grown quite fast in the last two years since I bought my very own foil press and took control of printing.

I was really chuffed to win. I’ve never won anything. Well, apart form a knitted clown that gave me the heebie jeebies so I promptly left it out in the rain. By accident, of course.

The awards are part of Top Drawer London trade show that takes place twice a year. Sponsored by G.F Smith the paper people and judged by buyers from the likes of Selfridges and Paperchase. Over the 3 days the show is open hundreds of independent businesses rock up to show off their creations and meet lots of potential stockists from the UK, Europe and beyond.

It’s a big deal to us really small businesses as you never know which buyers are going to spot you (or spy from a distance as they never give away their name tags). And it’s always a bonus to meet other creatives, small business owners and new shops to stock our wares in.

So now that one award is in the bag the pressure is on to create the next new range or product that will bag me another heavy glass plaque for my shelf.

Start sending me some texts will you? That’s how my Text From A Friend brand started. My original phrases for my cards came from actual texts from real friends and now no one texts me so I can’t share their secrets.

How selfish of them…