I'm writing this on a very cold and blustery evening, sheets of rain battering the window beside me and wind howling around our old house. I've just read yet another lovely email from one of our customers. She writes about how happy her friend was to receive a gift parcel from our shop, beautiful treats that she chose with love and care, which we wrapped for her in tissue and ribbon. It always heartens me when people feel the need to write lovely notes of thanks and it reminds me of how incredibly lucky Julia and I are to have such loyal customers, who still choose to shop with us after we closed our bricks and mortar store in Lewes a couple of years ago. Thank you to everyone who placed an order with us this year, each and every one of those orders gladdens our hearts. We wish you a very happy new year xxxx
The irises bred by celebrated gardener Cedric Morris are renowned for their delicate beauty and unusual shades. Ragged flags in muted tones of coffee, cream, mauve-pink and deep purple ripple with colour in unexpected combinations.
Paper artist Julia Smith - a self confessed 'flower obsessive' who also happens to be one half of the FLINT team - has created these exquisite paper replicas inspired by visits to last year's Chelsea Flower Show, where she fell in love with the irises Sarah Price's 'Nurture Landscapes' garden, and to the garden that Cedric created, Benton End, in Suffolk.
Julia taught herself how to make paper flowers long ago when she was a child, having been given a book by her mother. Over recent years, she's taken up the craft once more and now sells her work via our website, through various fellow retailers and sends her flowers to collectors all over the world.
To learn more or to place an order,
please click the images
Our latest collection from our favourite cashmere designers 'Cocowai', is a rainbow of colour and nothing beats the cosseting, luxurious feel of a super soft shawl next to your skin. Choose from a juicy palette of strong brights to subtle neturals. To place an order or to learn more, click the images...
For me, mothers come in many guises.. I consider myself very lucky to consider my own mum a friend and colleague too, someone I've worked alongside for almost twenty years and it's unusual I know, judging by the many reactions from aquaintances over the years (!) however, I believe there are aspects to being a mother that I can attribute to many of my friends. Mothering, motherly instincts, nuturing, loving aspects of their personalities are all valid reasons for giving thanks this Sunday. With this in mind, I've put together some gift ideas that I hope might bring a smile to someone you know who might need a treat. Click the violets below to take you to our edit..
However you decide to spend Sunday, I hope you have a lovely day x
We've just launched a new website dedicated to Heidi's recent styling work for her varied clients, across industries from fashion to furniture. Take a look at her portfolio here -
As the year draws to a close, we'd like to thank all our customers for their loyalty again this year. For those of you who visited our studio, attended our workshops and placed orders on our webstore, we thank you all. We're looking forward to hosting more events here in Sussex, so stay tuned for updates via our Instagram page @Flint_lewes. In the meantime, we wish you a merry Christmas, one and all. With love, Heidi and Julia xxx
Being married to a man with a travel company means I'm lucky enough to hitch a ride on many of his work trips and no matter where we end up, I'm always on the look out for local treasures. An empty suitcase is an absolute no negotiable MUST on my journeys as I invariably come home laden with rocks and stones (which I can never resist collecting) as well as all the glorious bits and bobs I find. One of my greatest pleasures is sharing these hauls with my customers who seem to share my love of the locally made, the tactile, the unusual and exotic things I seem to find.
Our latest trip was to the Samburu in Kenya, which stunned me with it's crystalline landscape of shimmering mica pinks and silvers and it's shrubby trees. The heat was intense and the sun baked landscape was parched due to the late rains. Luckily it did rain whilst we were there, in short violent bursts but turn your head for a second, look back and watch in wonder as the thirsty trees and bushes seemed to revive in all their fleshy greens almost in front of your eyes. Elephants were a plenty and were happy in the rain, as we travelled down to the waterholes to watch the creatures gather, darkened skin gleaming with wet mud.
Lamu on the coast is a short hop from the mainland and a beautiful way to end a trip on safari. The local community heavily depends on tourism and has had a rocky time recently and I was overwhelmed by the welcome we received. Losing myself in the sandy alleyways and twisted backstreets felt like going back in time, in fact you get the sense it's been the same for centuries. I met so many wonderful, friendly locals, all inquisitive, so proud of their town and many makers of exquiste treasures, from fabrics, to baskets and beads. All made it home with me and, hopefully, home to you. Happy browsing xxx
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