Hannah Dale is from Lincolnshire and is the wonderful artist/founder behind Wrendale designs, one of our most popular Brands here at Mollie & Fred - it's not hard to see why. Over the years Hannah has developed her company massively, she started out studying zoology at Cambridge University and then went on to be a stockbroker in London. In 2008, she moved back to Lincolnshire permanently, married her husband and had their first child Amelia.
When Hannah Dale came back to Lincolnshire there wasn’t a career available which matched her qualifications, so she decided to take a chance at creating something truly special – she began making personalised nursery paintings which was something she loved, they became very popular. It was suggested to her that she should begin designing cards which included her classic hare, duck, fox, pheasant, geese and dog designs. It was difficult to get her products into stores but she was persistent and it paid off, stores started to re-order which meant that customers had liked them! Her company began to flourish and her husband left his job so that they could run the business together.
As the business was expanding rather quickly she collaborated with Portmerion to make lovely bone china mugs (which has now increased to other ceramics and kitchenware). Hannah credited that “it is a true collaboration and they have the same eye for detail and quality that we would expect for our brand”.
We at Mollie & Fred have just started to stock her fabulous New range of Wrendale Junior plush which was a new market for Wrendale and a leap from their regular homeware range. Hannah Dale has brought her lovely illustrations to life in the form of plush characters Rowan (Hare), Autumn (Fox), Webster (Duck) and Mabel (Hedgehog). Hannah Dale who has an eye for detail wanted nothing more than to be able to capture the character of the artwork in her plush characters, which meant precisely going through a number of fabrics and materials to help bring the artwork to life.
'Rowan'
Rowan is a bit of a daredevil and is always getting up to mischief. He likes to show off and his friends describe him as a bit of a joker. In his spare time he loves cooking and his speciality is carrot en croute. The speediest of all his friends, Rowan loves to tear across fields. He is always on the look for a tortoise for a re-match...
'Autumn'
Autumn is a true romantic at heart and loves sunsets, long walks and curling up with a good book, Although a little shy, she's always the first to lend a hand to a friend in need, In her spare time she like to collect amusingly shaped pebbles and research her family tree. She loves nature and her perfect day would be a picnic in a flower filled meadow with friends.
Webster is highly intelligent but distinctly lacking in common sense. Fluent in Squirrel, Rabbit and Sparrow, he can solve an algebra puzzle faster than anyone you know, but will just as easily forget where he left his nest and end up having to build a new one. He is never on time but his friends describe him as the life and the soul of the party, so no one minds when he turns up late. Fun fact - Webster once performed the lead role in the ballet 'Duck Pond'.
'Mabel'
Mabel works night shifts and loves a good nap. She is always on the look out for a cosy spot to curl up in. A natural leader, she likes to give rousing speeches to her fellow woodlanders and, between naps, is a passionate campaigner for road safety, Mabel's favourite hobbies are needlework and sketching and she loves a good game of scrabble. She takes a keen interest in astrology and considers herself a typical Aries.
Here is a short clip of Hannah Dale creating the plush characters.
We're so excited to be able to stock all the gorgeous Wrendale Designs products, especially the new plush range. For all of our Wrendale Designs products shop here.
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