The Journey
Wow… 10 years! It feels like yesterday that I was sat on my sofa, my six-month-old asleep in her cot, completely flustered over whether I could actually do this. I remember hovering over the ‘pay’ button for three years of domain and hosting, my heart racing, getting all hot under the collar at the commitment.
That moment was terrifying—but I backed myself, I backed my ambitions, and I haven’t looked back since.
I think about that day often, and honestly, I have to pinch myself to believe how far we’ve come. To everyone who has supported Created by Magic over the past decade—whether you’ve ordered from us, shared our work, or simply cheered us on—thank you. I literally couldn’t have done this without you.
Year 1: From the Couch to the Garage Office
In the early days, Created by Magic was a business built during my little girls nap times and long evenings. My first products were personalised child nursery prints, created on Hobbycraft card stock. The original branding was playful and colourful, reflecting the nature of the prints I was selling.
As the business grew, I needed more space. Our old kitchen units found a new home in the garage, giving me my first dedicated workspace—though it was far from ideal. Freezing in winter, shared with the tumble dryer and the occasional spider, it wasn’t glamorous, but it was a start!
Year 2: A First Award & a New Creative Direction
I soon realised that Hobbycraft paper wasn’t the best quality, so I streamlined my materials to ensure my prints were as professional as possible. This year, I won an early years award for my nursery prints—a huge milestone at the time!
My beautiful dog Bella inspired me to experiment with digital pet portraits. Little did I know, they would become one of my best-selling products in the years to come.
Year 3: A Rebrand & Expanding into Weddings
As the business evolved, so did the branding. The logo became more refined, shifting from the childlike aesthetic to a sleek, flat purple design. Around this time, I started receiving requests for venue illustrations in the same style as my pet portraits. As soon as I added them to the website, demand skyrocketed, leading to my first wedding stationery orders.
This year was also a big personal milestone—my little boy came into the world, and all of a sudden, it became a bit more of a juggle. Balancing a growing business with a growing family was challenging, but it only strengthened my determination to make Created by Magic a success.
Year 4: Wedding Stationery Takes Off
With venue illustrations gaining traction, it made sense to focus on building the wedding stationery side of the business, alongside an already busy pet portrait offering. The business was evolving organically, responding to customer demand.
Year 5: Big Wins & a New Home
This year brought some incredible achievements. I won the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award and was later recognised by Jacqueline Gold’s Women in Business Award. Sadly, Jacqueline passed away the following year, making this recognition even more meaningful.
I was also shortlisted for a competition that offered a free exhibition space at the Birmingham Autumn Fair—a real honour!
Amid all this excitement, we moved house during the COVID-19 pandemic. The highlight? Our new home had a purpose-built office. It may have been a little dated, but it was warm and finally gave me a proper workspace.
Year 7: NatWest Accelerator & A Special Friendship
I joined the NatWest Accelerator in Southampton, which gave me invaluable insights into business growth, particularly for my wedding stationery. Through this programme, I met Natasha of NK Photography, who became a wonderful friend and creative collaborator. We worked on styled shoots together and regularly shared ideas—proving that business is about more than just work; it’s about connections.
Year 9: Industry Recognition
This year, Created by Magic was nominated as a finalist in the UK Wedding and Honeymoon Awards (UKWHA)—a huge honour and testament to how much the business had grown.
10 Years of Magic: The Vision for the Future
As I look to the future, I see an exciting road ahead for Created by Magic. This milestone is not just about looking back; it’s about pushing forward, refining our offerings, and continuing to create artwork that holds deep meaning for our customers.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next decade of magic!
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