Hi, I'm Natalie! I'm currently based in London, UK, with my husband, a messy roomful of art supplies, and a little collection of herb plants that I'm trying my best not to kill.
Sketch and Story started just as a casual thought. I was on the bus to work, scrolling through Instagram and seeing all these art supplies that I wanted to try - watercolor paints, pens, cute stationery. As I got off the bus and walked through Liverpool Street Station, my husband called to say good morning (he was on a work trip). I told him, "Wouldn't it be fun if I started a subscription box which sends a lovely collection of art supplies? Maybe I'll do it when I retire - I'll call it Scribbles and Nibbles!"
To which my dear husband said, "Why don't you do it now?" and the rest is history. (Although as you can see I decided NOT to go with the name Scribbles and Nibbles).
Sketch and Story is my little passion project, born out of my love for art and creative things. I didn't wake up one day and decide to open a business - but somehow Sketch and Story has become a bigger thing than I ever thought it would be! There is just so much to do that is completely unrelated to art : building a website, configuring the payment platform, balancing the financial accounts, designing social media posts, writing and editing emails, negotiating with suppliers, sourcing items from different parts of the globe. That's all in addition to actually testing and curating the art supplies, packing the boxes, hand-lettering them, and sending them into the wild to you, their lovely owners!
I'm learning new things every step of the way, and I am so grateful to all of you who have travelled this journey with me. This could not have happened without each and every one of you. Whether or not you are a current, past or future subscriber, thank you so much for being part of this supportive, creative community that is Sketch and Story.