The Butterfly & Toadstool
Meet the designer
Hi I'm Dee, a surface pattern designer and product creator living and working in southwest Scotland.
I personally design and make every piece within my collection of illustrated stationery, art and gifts using my watercolour illustrations. I sell to customers around the world through my online shops and also stock a wide range of gifts shops across the globe.
Read on to find out more about my inspiration, how I design my products and where, and how The Butterfly and Toadstool cares for our planet.
Each of my designs starts off as an idea which I get down on paper using watercolour paints. I then pull groups of my illustrations together into stories to match the feel and colour palette of my original idea.
Next I transform these digitally into beautiful seamless patterns which can now be applied to my range of products.
These include paper products like greetings cards, stationery, wrapping paper and art prints, as well as ceramic and enamel mugs.
.png)
I'm so lucky to have a lovely home studio and workspace where I spend my time designing, creating, making, packaging and shipping my products from.
Nature has a huge influence on my work and I draw inspiration for each design from the beautiful forests and stunning coastline that surround my home.
Nature is important to me way beyond the inspiration it brings, so it's vital that The Butterfly and Toadstool is committed to producing sustainable products with eco-friendly packaging wherever possible.
I’m delighted to say that the steps I’ve taken to reduce the plastic in my business and products has won The Butterfly and Toadstool the status of ‘Plastic Free Champion’ as presented by Surfers Against Sewage.
I also have a strong environmental policy and supports 3 environmental charities through the sale of The Butterfly and toadstool products. You can read more about this using the button below.
"Walking amongst the trees, searching in the undergrowth, and being surrounded by wildlife is where I truly feel at peace. The ever-changing forests bring an abundance of inspiration all year long. I can’t help but collect fallen acorns, crispy lichen and swirling sycamore seeds. Each foraged token has a story to tell, a memory that pleases my soul, and these are the moments I want to capture in my work, to share with you the charm and serenity that nature can bring." - Dee Leslie