I'd like to say I've always been creative and always known that I would one day be running my own little business selling some cute little things that I'd made, but the truth is, I honestly had no idea I was capable of doing such a thing!

My name is Charlotte, and I spend my days working with prisoners in the depths of addiction, and my evenings designing and making cards and wedding stationary with a vintage English country feel.

You might think that my day job and Etsy passions are an impossible mix, but the truth is that believe it or not the two compliemendteach other perfectly, well for me anyway! In my day job, I spend my time attempting to help men regain their lives, their self-respect and rebuild the relationships they have lost through their substance misuse. In my day job I constantly point out the good and great in others lives, and challenge them to change what they want and need to.

I LOVE my day job, and I love how much of myself I have to give to it, but at times you can find yourself in a place where you're burning out. Badly. So, for me, that's where The Little City Paperie comes in!

For me, my shop is an opportunity to take some time out for myself, put something on the ipad, and spend some time creating something beautiful from scratch. Instead of intensely psycho-analysing a person, and then writing a report about them whilst staring at a computer screen, I'm coming home to individually, slowly handcraft a card with the name of a brand new baby on it, or creating personalized wedding stationery for a soon-to-be-wed couple.

I truly believe that without the creative outlet that is my shop, I would have burnt out from my day job long ago, so for me, The Little City Paperie isn't just a project or an extra bit of income, it's my lifeline and it's what enables me to continue to do the day job that I love!

I'd love to hear from you if any of this rings true to you too, thanks for reading!

Charlotte xoxo