Our Story

Note from the founder:

"This is my promise to you, Sheep, being fulfilled to the best of my ability. I wish I did this while you were still around to see it but at least the world will get to see the amazing things you've done for us and the passionate talent that inspired me to pursue a life of creativity.

You are so dearly missed each and every day, but the love you gave us remains strong, and no where is it clearer than in these drawings.

I love you dear Sheep, hearty strings."

Our story is that of the founders beloved grandmother, Elaine "Sheep" Reynolds.

Born on the 1st of October, 1943, Elaine grew up in post war London, with memories of playing in bomb ruins; a memory that lead her to write her first short story "Frogs in my pocket".

At a young age Elaine moved with her family to Sale, Manchester, where she met her future husband at her new school and planted the roots of what would be become a very large, very close, very loving family.

She started her career as a nurse and ended it as a manager of a care home for those with severe mental health needs, showing her caring nature and kind spirit. But never once did she forget her artistic roots and storytelling ability.

A mother to 3, later a grandmother to 10 and a great grandmother to 5, as well as her furry partner in crime 'Dora Doggy', all to whom she was known affectionally as "Sheep". She had a lot of stories to tell, fuelling a new generation of creativity and curiosity as well as a witty sense of humour. She wrote books, told bed time stories, painted water-colour portraits of all her family as children and made incredible water-colour paintings that will forever be treasured centrepieces of her families walls.

One of the many ways this incredible woman showed her love was to draw funny, creative, beautiful cartoons of "sheep" doing improbable and silly acts. These were treasured so dearly they became the highlight of any birthday and were saved to be treasured forever more. These were a source of humour and joy but more clearly a strong act of love, or in her words, she was sending "Hearty Strings".

In her final days the founder of this company, her grandson Josh, made a promise to Elaine that her work would be published for the world to see and that everyone would share in the joy and talent that she gave to her family.

Mission

Bringing Smiles to Every Occasion

At Hearty Strings, our mission is to spread joy and laughter through our delightful greeting cards. We believe in the power of a handwritten note and aim to create memorable experiences for both the sender and the receiver, making every occasion a little more special.

Commitment to Craftsmanship

We take pride in our craftsmanship, ensuring that every card is produced with love and attention to detail. Our original designs by Elaine Reynolds not only bring smiles but also reflect our dedication to quality, creativity and the preservation of Elaine's hand-drawn artwork, making each card a treasured keepsake.