Wee Bit Deid Greetings

The idea for my Scottish sympathy cards came from a moment that stuck with me at Blair Castle, where a letter from Queen Victoria is displayed — written on the black‑bordered mourning paper she used after Prince Albert died. There was something powerful about it: the respect, the symbolism, the way she found a quiet, dignified way to show her grief. It made me think about how we, in Scotland, often deal with loss — with honesty, warmth, and sometimes a wee bit of humour to soften the blow. That blend of tradition and real human feeling is what inspired me to create my own line of sympathy cards, rooted in Scottish character but carrying the same sense of thoughtfulness Victoria showed in her correspondence.

After losing my mum and my gran just eleven months apart, four years ago, I knew that whenever I launched these Scottish sympathy cards, it had to be done with meaning. May felt like the right month — it’s the middle name they both shared — so releasing the collection then became my own quiet tribute to them. They’re dearly missed every day, and creating these cards is a way of honouring their strength, their humour, and the love they passed down. I know they’d have been proud of the idea — Scottish‑style sympathy cards with honesty, warmth, and a wee touch of humour, just the way they liked to face life.