Vicky Yorke Designs

Today is Indie Friday - t he Colourful Independent alternative to Black Friday.   As anyone who has followed my shop will know I have never had a Black Friday sale - only colourful weekend sales! Personally, I find the whole concept of Black Friday rather depressing. It sounds so bleak and sapped of life. And actually if you look into the history, it's not that great... Many people think it refers to the day that shop keepers go into the black (- showing profit as opposed to being in the red financially), but it actually refers to the black days of financial crashes and references a day marked by disaster or misfortune. According to Dictionary.com it was first used by factory managers in the 1950s to describe the Friday after Thanksgiving because so many of their workers decided to call in sick, thus extending the holiday. The article goes on to say: "About 10 years later,   Black Friday   was used by Philadelphia traffic cops to describe the day after Thanksgiving becau...

Today is the day to tell you about my events... Well I've actually already done several this year, but you can still find me hosting a pop-up stall in the courtyard at The Farmer's Den, Cookley , Worcestershire this Friday (25th November), and at ' The On Your Doorstep ' Winter Market at the Beefeater, Kingswinford this Sunday (27th November). I will then be back at The Farmer's Den for my final pop-up of the year next Friday (2nd December).  If you can't make it to one of my physical events, I am also taking part in the Just A Card & Handmade Hour Christmas Fair , which is a great place to visit to find lots of interesting independent artists, makers and retailers. You can of course also shop with me directly at my online store , through my store on the SHOP app , (search Vicky Yorke Designs) which allows you to check-out with multiple stores at the same time - ideal for Christmas shopping; and through my Facebook Page  shop. You will also find me on Cookl...

I love visiting independent stores and gift markets at any time of the year, to wander round looking at the treasure trove of loveliness and finding beautiful presents for loved ones - and little treats for myself! But at Christmas I think independents really come into their own. The stores are beautifully decorated, the gift stalls are fabulously festive and there is always a warm welcome! They've been adding to the loveliness all year... It's just really special and I know they are waiting for you to pop along and give them their time to shine! Today is my absolute favourite day of Just A Card Indie Week, because it's the day I get to shout about my favourite independent businesses! All of these designers, makers and independent stores are doing an incredible job of enriching our lives through creativity and / or community. This year I've decided to focus on independents who are local to me. I've created a little paragraph about each, but please take a look at the...

Just a card ...and a whole lot of love “If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought just a card we’d still be open.” The above is a quote by gallery owners, shortly after they were forced to close and forms the essential message of Just A Card , a grassroots campaign on a mission to encourage people to support, value and buy from artists, makers, independent shops and small businesses. Every sale, even just a card, is vital to their prosperity and survival.  It's a very important message. Products baring my brand and my designs feature in stores at all levels of retail and I believe we need them all. I would never say don't shop with the big stores - they absolutely have their own advantages and conveniences and I enjoy them as much as the next person. My message this week is don't forget about the little stores. We don't have the advertising budgets of the big stores and social media is no longer helping us to be found online - It's much harder ...

Just A Card pin designed by Angela Chick . This week is Just A Card Indie Week and I will be supporting the campaign to tell you why shopping with creatives and independent shops is so important in the run up to Christmas ( - and always!). It's also a good way to tell you a little bit more about me and what I do... I’m Vicky and I'm proudly wearing my Just A Card Christmas pin in the image above. You can support the campaign by buying your own pin here . I'm a surface pattern designer and illustrator and I create warm and happy designs for products, which I hope spread a little positivity out into the world. I use illustration combined with typography to create work that is decorative, bright and inviting. I draw or paint all of my designs by hand, before they are scanned into the computer to be digitally coloured. I live in a semi-rural village in Worcestershire, UK and my designs are often inspired by the beautiful countryside that surrounds my home with collections in...