OUR STORY...
We are a small family company based in scenic Suffolk. The beautiful British countryside, a love of nature & wildlife (especially our two cats Winky & Moo) & a desire to create cards that people wanted to keep, led us to start Feather & Hare in 2019.
Whether we are travelling afar or exploring the hedgerows of home, the wonderful world around us provides so much of our inspiration. When not busy sketching in the studio we can be found pottering in our back garden, walking footpaths through fields, exploring a woodland or collecting pebbles by the sea.
WHAT WE DO...
MEET THE TEAM
Lauren
Founder & illustrator of cute things! Lauren is the creative force behind Feather & Hare. Always drawing since childhood, it took until her 30’s to have a little faith in her silly sketches & turn them in to the much loved little characters that make up the F&H range.
She loves the countryside & is always looking for a shepherds hut or a treehouse to steal away to for the weekend…tucked away in a quiet spot to with just the hares & owls for company. One day she hopes to have sold enough cards to retire to a little flint cottage in North Norfolk with Mr F&H & the moggies.
Fun fact – Eats an unbelievable amount of yoghurt & has a secret soft spot for sea shanties!
Andy
More commonly known as Mr F&H! Andy is Lauren’s right hand man, regularly spotted at events but also responsible behind the scenes for all things technical…like running the website, being good with numbers (never trust an artist to do maths!) & general all round good egg!
An engineer by trade he loves all things boring & becomes positively childlike around a steam train! He can never sit still & is always tinkering with a new project. He is particularly passionate about his garden and when not working he can be found in his vegetable patch or tending to his dahlias.
Fun fact – Regularly drinks a triple espresso before bed!
Winky
Full name Orion but nicknamed Winky…he is F&H’s grumpiest member of staff & general menace. Full name Orion, he is chiefly responsible for pest control…by which we mean bringing mice in to the house & testing Lauren & Andy’s reflexes!
When not attempting to take a nap on Lauren’s laptop & sending all manner of nonsense emails to customers or deleting important documents, he can be found curled up on his favourite sofa or terrorising the local wildlife. Often affectionately referred to as Wonky Winky after having an artificial knee ligament fitted so one leg always sticks out slightly!
Fun fact – If he tells you he’s not been fed….it’s a lie, he has!
Moo
Full name Kamura, but affectionately known as Moo…he is definitely the fluffiest member of the team! He keeps everyone on their toes ensuring that every order that goes out isn’t completely covered in cat hair!
Chief morale officer he is always amenable to a head scratch or belly rub & will often check to see if the postman or any visitors would like to oblige. Unlike his brother he is embracing old age & spends most of his day asleep in a sunny spot & any odd bouts of activity are soley reserved to the early hours of the morning when he will run up & down the stairs like a small hippo.
Fun fact – Once jumped in to a lasagne!
CHRISSIE & FRANCESCA
Otherwise known as Lauren’s Mum & Sister! They are always helping out behind the scenes, the unsung heroes of F&H often only being paid in cake & cups of tea…they are endlessly supportive & tireless cheerleaders for F&H!
Chrissie can often be found manning the stall at markets & events & Francesca almost single handedly ties every individual gift tag at mind boggling speed. She also made our beautiful nephew Albie who inspired a range of Christmas cards & keeps us all laughing & giggling. From filing receipts to proof reading & packing orders, we wouldn’t be here without them.
Fun fact – Both world class Misophobes!
OUR PHILOSOPHY…
Our lovable little characters are a bit of whimsy in a busy world & our hope is they make people smile, keep them connected, spread joy…& maybe even share a little giggle or two.
Whether it’s a wintery walk in our wellies or a barefoot paddle on the beach, so much of our inspiration is drawn from the natural world, so preserving & protecting it is a cause close to our hearts. We believe in the importance of fresh air, being outdoors & surrounding ourselves in nature as a remedy to modern life…so our work will always advocate for a greener world too.
From the simple things like planting wildflowers in our garden to the big things like sourcing all our materials from sustainable & recycled sources, we are always trying to soften our footprint. You can read all about how we are doing our bit on our Environmental Policy page.
SHOP SMALL…
Most of our weekends are spent trading at an array or markets & events…none of which are ever very profitable as we spend them all shopping small at the other stalls!
We always come home with a new little treasure or find the perfect present for our friends & family, something special, something they never knew they wanted, something made with love. Whether it’s a hobby or a craft they’ve been honing for years, there is something so satisfying about supporting an artist, maker or creative. Our home is filled with beautiful things we’ve collected over the years from little independents & every one has a story about where we were, who we met or how we felt. When we order online from a small business it’s always so exciting when the postman drops it through our door & you unwrap a beautiful parcel packaged with ribbon, a sticker, a stamp or a little card inside that says thank you…& you know how much they meant it.