Happy Thursday!
With today being the first Thursday of Uniko's birthday month, I thought I would share a bit about how, when & where Uniko began. I think it has been a while since I shared this story... 2016!
You might want to grab a drink, I didn't realise how much I waffled on and apologies to those who have heard all this before!
Since as far back as I can remember I have always been creative and enjoyed a variety of crafts. My late Nana and Mother were both creative, enjoying various crafts from sewing to knitting to making cards. So being creative has kinda embedded itself into me!
When I moved to the North East of the UK from the South East back in 2002 I was working as a full time nurse in the NHS, having graduated back in 2000. I was new to the area and made friends at work, but working such long hours I wanted to make friends outside of my job.
With my love of card making and stamping really taking flight in 2008 after the sudden death of my mother I found the wonderful world of blogger and began blogging and joining in with all things stamps over at Hero Arts.
It was soon after, that I found a handmade card class at one of the local further education colleges. It was so much fun getting together with like minded creative people that I went on to do another semester. The tutor of the course Joy, was a lovely creative lady who told me about a Textiles & Surface Design Degree and it was at a Paper Crafts show in Newcastle that I came across a stand with all the course details.
Anyway, back in 2005 I started a BA (Hons) in Textiles & Surface Design. Though the course concentrated more on drawing, sewing and printing across fashion, interiors and the gift industry. I saw more and more links and associations with the paper crafting industry. In 2008 my mother died suddenly and my whole world turned upside down, I was close to quitting everything, including my degree. However, I decided that life was too short and instead of quitting the degree I quit nursing and concentrated my efforts into the degree. It was in my final 2 years that the idea of Uniko was born.
It was during those 2 years that I concentrated my designing towards stamps, patterned papers and developing my business idea. Here are a couple of drawings from those two years which inspired my first 2 clear stamp sets and more recent ones...
So, after all that back in February 2012 on Saturday 11th, Uniko Studio (which it was called then) was open for business.
So how the name Uniko come about?
I am a HUGE fan of Marimekko a Finnish design company and at Uni I was known as 'Marimekko Girl' by a number of my tutors!
One of my all time favourite designs that can be found on various items around the house is by Maija Isola and is called Unikko, seen below.
So partly in homage to my favourite design, memories of going to Finland with my mother and wanting to be 'unique' compared to many of the UK stamp companies/designs that we current when I began the name & company Uniko was born.
I started small launching just 2 clear stamp sets (which are now retired, they may make a reappearance one day as trends change).
After 9 years so much has happened and changed not only with how Uniko has changed, developed and grown with now over 190 products available on the website. But so much has happened to me too, I have got married, have two beautiful children, moved house AND with all that YOU my friends, loyal customers and blog readers have stuck by me and helped me to keep going and to enjoy bringing you (in small amounts) products to use in your love for paper crafting.
It really does bring me so much joy each time I see a new customer order and a huge grin on my face when I see a card or project around blog land and social media with Uniko products used on it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you that makes this happen.
Now for a little bit of inspiration before I tear up! Lockdown has made me even more of an emotional mess - haha!
Some old favourites...
If you made it this far, well done & thank you!
Today I would LOVE to hear what you would like to see come back from retirement over the years AND/OR what you would LOVE to see released!
I will of course be choosing a lucky comment for a Uniko prize. Winner will be announced Sunday 7th March 2021 along with all the other 9th Birthday Celebration Winners ;)
Crafty Hugs
Thanks for this look back! Great story. As to stamp sets to bring back, that first one with clocks and gears would be a fine one to see again!
ReplyDeleteSo fun Bev, congrats to 9 years and many many many more!
ReplyDeleteI love Marimekko!
Beautiful throwback Bev, and I know Uniko since 2014 and love to be part of the Uniko family since 2016!wish you many more milestones!....and you are doing great while being the lockdowns, keep going!
ReplyDeleteI loved your story Bev, well done on all you have achieved
ReplyDeleteWay to stick with your dreams!
ReplyDeleteYou were brave to quit a solid career
like nursing and start a business. Congrats on making it to 9 years! I love all of your floral stamps. I’d like to see more masculine stamp sets, as I struggle in making masculine cards.
Always good to read about the beginnings of Uniko. I actually would like you to bring back the clocks and cogs set and as I didn’t know about Uniko at that time I don’t have that set. One of my favourite Uniko sets is Uniko Style because there’s nothing else on the market like it. I’d like to see more sets in that style please! 😁 x
ReplyDeleteGreat to read about your journey Bev. Yes, I got to the end with no probs🥳
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday...Celebrate in Style💃🏼👯♂️💃🏼👯♂️💃🏼👯♂️💃🏼👯♂️💃🏼
Bev - it's lovely to read how Uniko came to be. I still have those first two sets and do use them too! Many congratulations on 9 years - here's to lots more to come. I think you're amazing juggling the company, the kids and the hubby. Hugs, Deborah xx
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely Throwbacks and so nice to hear your back story!!! I would love to see some more whimsical cutesy sets!
ReplyDeleteThat was a good post to read... I have only just found your company and I really like your floral stamps, so I would love to see more new designs in the future xx
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't know the full story, just some of it. It's strange how life twists and turns isn't it. I'm so glad you were able to carry on and finish your degree and come up with the idea for Uniko. It's so interesting to see the early designs. I'd love to see a clock stamp set come out again - it could have one large stamp that was a circle, one with dashes to represent minutes but that could also be used as a pattern, some smaller circles, some leaves and flowers you could stamp on the large circle to make a wreath, and numbers 0 to 9 and clock hands. What do you think?! Vicky x
ReplyDeleteI would like to see some images related to sewing or quilting - my second love. I'm a new customer having won twice. It was difficult to choose which sets I wanted from all that you have. Being American, I avoided sets that put a "u" in a word that wouldn't belong! lol There's still plenty to choose from! Best wishes as time goes on and congratulations on your 9th year!
ReplyDeleteloved your post, Bev - time goes by so fast - you have achieved so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI would like to see some masculine background images to help me create for my male friends/ relatives
I love those first stamps you made. I think they would be popular again if relaunched. Fab story and I hope you keep going from strength to strength. Hugz
ReplyDeleteI really like your card style. At them moment my favourite stamp set is Explosion! and Explosion!additions. I do not know the "old" retired stamp sets so I cannot tell which one I would like to come back ;-)
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Nicole G.
I loved reading your journey..it's commendable...Wishing you loads of love and success with each passing year.I would love to see this very first of yours clock set to make a comeback.
ReplyDeletelove these arty projects
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story, it is very inspiring, well done for sticking with the degree. I still feel relatively new to bogland and card making but have found it a warm and welcoming place and my collection of Uniko products is steadily growing, so thank you and congratulations on your 9th birthday xx
ReplyDeletewow, I love reading your story. very inspiring! I love your first flowers!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading your post and enjoyed the catch up Bev. You where the first stamping company that I bought from. I loved those DVD/CD cases they came in and stacked them proudly on my shelf. I then sourced the cases and future stamps, from other companies where then also stored in them x. Well done you on following your dreams and giving up your job. Yes lots has happened, especially with the arrival of the 'beans'. I love your products, I love the amazing inspiration from yourself and the design team.....Thank you x. It sure must have been a tough year with the pandemic Bev and here's to a brighter year x.
ReplyDeleteI had a little smile at the clock set, which is neatly stored in it's case and is proudly sitting on my shelf.....along with the dies, which I had a code to indicate that the stamps had dies to match.... x.