"If we would take a little pains, the nettle would be useful. It needs very little soil, no care, no culture. It is difficult to gather. That is all." Victor Hugo.
I have a complicated relationship with stinging nettles. For nearly my entire life they were completely invisible to me. I’d walk straight into a patch of stinging nettles without realising what was about to happen. This happened with much higher frequency when I started trail running. My friends found it somewhat horrifying (and sometimes comical) that I would plunge straight into a thicket to get a better photo of the sunset. I like playing with fire, though, so it was inevitable that I would try to make ink out of nettles one day. These cards are the outcome of that work.
The ink used to colour the nettles is made from locally foraged stinging nettles. They were harvested (carefully!), simmered in water, and converted to a stable coloured pigment through a process that is nothing short of magical.
The illustration and text (both sides) were printed on our vintage printing presses. The illustration is hand carved, and the text is set by hand using individual metal letters. Each card is individually numbered. There were only 100 of these cards produced. When they're gone, they're gone.
The card can be used as a greeting card (write on either side / both sides). It can also be framed. The ink used to decorate the nettles is from foraged colour and it will eventually fade as it is not light fast. The outline and text are, however, light fast so you will never lose them.
When you purchase this set, you will receive three individually numbered nettle cards, three envelopes, and an information booklet about the process. Each set is ready for gift giving, wrapped in a case and a belly band.
Cards: A6 (105 x 149 mm), printed on UK-made, 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper (FSC-certified "recycled"). All text is hand-set metal type, illustration is hand-carved.
Envelopes: 100% post-consumer waste, recycled paper (FSC-certified "recycled").
Wrapper, and belly band: UK-made, recycled card (FSC-certified "mixed").
Information booklet: digitally printed onto 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper (UK made).
