Dear friends,

My inspiration for Ida & Ink comes from my oldest friend, Ida. She is very prickly, rather rotund, and unfortunately manages to steal all of my chocolate biscuits without warning.... Like me, she also loves to paint. Worth mentioning: she is a hedgehog, and she introduced herself to me many moons ago.

The thing about Ida is that she carries around an inkpot everywhere she goes, and when she paints, something unbelievable happens… her paintings come to life! They save the day! Stuck in the rain without an umbrella? Ida will paint you one. Need a cool-off on a hot summer's day? A three-scoop ice cream (with sprinkles) floats right up from the page.

You can follow her adventures and observations in my Notebook, but first, let me tell you why her story matters so much to me.

I am sharing Ida & Ink because I want to preserve something precious.

The whimsical, the handpainted, the handcrafted, the imperfect, the slow. Every day I see a push for the sleek and the "frictionless," and I fear we are losing what it means to be human. The only AI I am interested in is Artsy Ida.

So this is what we are here to do: 1) to create and share whimsical art inspired by the magic all around us. 2) To support the animals who teach us so much — just like Ida — through everything we make and sell. 3) To champion other artists and craftspeople who use their own kind of ink to save the day.

My artistic process always begins with a story. Daydreaming about tales of curious creatures whose adventures make their way onto my stationery, prints, and ceramics. Each hand-painted piece arrives with a story attached, because I believe the things we surround ourselves with should mean something. They should make you smile when you notice them on a Tuesday morning. They should remind you that the world is still full of magic — and that you are an important part of making it better (a portion of everything sold goes towards animals that need it most).

I am so glad you found us. Our story is just beginning, and I hope with all my heart you will be part of it!

With love,

Nina (and Ida)

A Note from Me to You

Nina (right) and Ida (left) in 2002