Monday 21 March 2011

From the Wilde, A interview & Chance to win a Poppy Treffry tea towel.

Competition now closed.

The lovely Helen has agreed to be my first guinea pig.... ahem... I mean interviewee! I hope you all enjoy finding out a little bit about her and her wonderful emporium.



Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.
My name is Helen Wilde, I live with my husband, a Beagle called Bunty and a house Rabbit called Pan in a little Derbyshire village, I launched the online emporium www.fromthewilde.com in July 2010.

What made you start? Until 'From the Wilde' was born last July I was working for Europes largest art publishing house as a fine art dealer and running one of their galleries. After a rather nasty health scare at the start of last year I decided that I needed to move out of the city and go back to the countryside that I've always loved. I hung up the suit, bought some wellies, got married, bought a dog and created 'From the Wilde' - I've always been passionate about contemporary design and British craft, I have a Ceramics degree and had always wanted my own gallery.



Do you consider yourself/the business a sucess? Why is that? Having not been in business for a full year yet I consider everyday a success! whether it be a new follower on facebook, a magazine feature or a new client.

What do you want your business to grow into? a beautiful online emporium of handmade quality products, I don't want to create a mass market of hundreds of artists or be a jack of all trades!



Is this what you thought you would be doing when you left school, What were your dreams? I always knew it would be something craft/design led - I gave up a place at Oxford University to do a pottery course!

Do you prefer handmade or high street? What are you favourite shops? Always handmade, I actually prefer antique/vintage products to new - our house is over 200 years old and i can never resist a good antiques market! (or skip to that matter) I believe in spending money on quality products and looking after them!



Whats your "secret vice"?  I most certainly have a penchant for 'Mulberry' handbags (If my husband asks - they were in the sale... honest - ;) and don't laugh.. seeds! I love growing my own veg, fruit and flowers - I have drawers full of seeds!

One thing you wouldn't tell your parents? a very long time ago I was lucky enough to live in St Ives and whilst there i was arrested for skinny dipping... O the shame!

Helen is offering our readers the chance to win a Poppy Treffry tea towel  Simply comment on this post and tell us what you love best about From the Wilde. A winner will be selected at random on 25/3/2011

And for those of you that either don't win or can't wait till then, Helen is giving our readers 15% off with the code 2222


21 comments:

  1. my favourite is Muffin Wrap :)

    szmarzena(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  2. Really interesting interview, I love that collection of cushions, very nice!

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  3. From the Wilde has tons of gorgeous stuff...but I do love the plates...especially the "Bear Smells Cake" side plate...my OH's name is "Bear" and that would make a very appropriate gift lol

    @BearsBlueGirly

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  4. What a fab choice of items - one of my favourites are Hannah Turners Bird Egg Cups - they're brilliant! Great interview & a really good view of 'success'. x

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  5. Great things on that website, but I think I like the owl tea cosy best:
    http://www.fromthewilde.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=35_100&product_id=60

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  6. I love all the button badges, they're gorgeous!
    @superluckydi

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  7. I love the egg cups, they're fab and so different!!! @casperthegh0st

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  8. Great interview :o) I always like seeing the person behing the shop. Really difficult to choose but I really like the egg cups (they are on my wanted list now!)

    Dottie x

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  9. @needaphone this has really inspited me for my Deryb school fair in June x

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  10. i love the egg cups, especially the owl ones! @ashlallan

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  11. A very inspired interview, thank you! Love Orange Sitting Hare and "Light as a feather" oil (it is stunning).
    The tea towel reminds me of our holidays in Cornwall, my favourite place.

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  12. Love the Serving plates, especially 'Sleeping Cat' and 'Peacock'

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  13. Forgot to say following @DawnieEa

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  14. So much choice but the egg cups are just fab!

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  15. Sorry - Twitter name for above comment is @sugarplum70

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  16. I like all the different cushions best they look great!
    @sophiejanem

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  17. The "Beatty" Apron is so pretty
    @rajmse

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  18. I love the lovers lights, they are so unique!
    From the wilde is a great new site I have found!
    @vickyd4v3

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  19. There are so many gorgeous things but I really love cushions and one of my favourites is the Mr & Mrs Wool cushions.
    Facebook - Kirsty Fox
    Twitter - @bloomingfox

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  20. i love Bee Mine Earrings

    karen scammell
    twannywun at hotmail dot com

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