Say Hello to My Cards at The Little Ginger Bee in Hadleigh!

I’m absolutely buzzing to share that my new range of cards is now in stock at The Little Ginger Bee Company — a beautiful little eco-conscious shop on Hadleigh High Street in Suffolk!

Behind the till you'll find the lovely Toni, who always has a smile on her face and the most positive attitude. It’s filled with wonderful eclectic treasures made by all sorts of Suffolk makers — crocheters, artists, and creatives of every kind. This is the first bricks-and-mortar shop to stock my card range, which makes it all the more special.

Hadleigh holds such a dear place in my heart. It’s the market town where I spent many of my childhood years — first visiting my incredible grandmother, Diana, the lady who gave me my first iPad and taught me how to draw on it. I still can’t get over the fact that someone nearing 80 was showing me how to use something most young people hadn’t figured out yet!

I still dream about her special house by the river Brett — a home full of her personality and charm. Even though I moved to Marlow in Buckinghamshire last year, this part of Suffolk will always be a slice of home.

Haybales at Groton – A Special Card with a Story

Haybales at Groton

Among my designs, you’ll find one that’s especially close to my heart — inspired by the nearby Suffolk village of Groton — simply called “Haybales at Groton.”

A day or two after returning home from the whirlwind of my final term at Oxford, I found myself back in Suffolk, driving through the blissful, green, swaying fields with my mum. I can’t even remember where we were headed, but we spotted an inviting little path that eventually led to a field of haybales.

We waded through the long grasses, our billowing skirts making a soft swishing sound and picking up bits of foliage as we walked, not quite sure where the path led. I remember feeling so ready for a summer of freedom — of art, of slow moments — and that was exactly what I got.

After an intensive time of city-living, endless essays, mounting pressure, revision, and noise, the simplicity of the field of haybales was astounding for me.

That day among the haybales kickstarted a summer of artistic companionship, endless inspiration, and a deep sense of peace. For that one afternoon, I wasn’t a graduate or unemployed — I was simply someone happy to be free.

I remember tossing my sunhat into the air like a mortarboard — a little nod to the graduation I’d attend the following month. At the time, I didn’t know whether I’d passed, failed, or anything in between — I just revelled in the joy of the moment.

When we returned the next week, the haybales were gone — just a plain, empty field again. That fleetingness somehow made the memory feel even more special. And that’s exactly what I love to capture in my art — those quiet, serendipitous moments that find you when you’re not looking.

My beautiful mum sketching amongst the haybales

Who knew a few haybales could bring so much joy — and inspire a card design...!

If you happen to be local to Hadleigh (or fancy a little trip!), do pop into The Little Ginger Bee Company. It’s the perfect place to pick up something unique, support local makers — and definitely worth visiting just to meet the lovely Toni.

With love,

Ophelia x

(Whimsically Ophelia)