The air was cold and clean. Whisky was pure single malt. Made in the village where I lived. And venison was a staple.

So I thought I’d revel in a little bit of Scottishness.

The first is ANTA. Their factory shop was just down the road. And I fell head over heels in love with their handmade tartan stoneware.

Everything from ANTA is made in Scotland. The woolen yarn used for their carpets and tweeds is sourced in the Western Isles and is woven in the Borders. The oak furniture is made in the Highlands and some of the wood is homegrown. ANTA was created by designers Annie and Lachlan Stewart. And this is their amazing home.

The second bit of Scottish loveliness is Papa Stour. An online marketplace for all things handmade in Scotland.  Papa Stour embraces art, craftsmanship and design in its purest form, like this bone china pod…

or this handsewn notebook…

or this lambswood baby blanket…

Slainte Mhath!

Coulson Macleod is a teeny weeny company.

There’s Mark, he’s the Coulson half. And there’s me, Hannah, the Macleod half.

The business is built on love and driven by passion. This is true. This is not some made-up marketing spiel.

Mark and I met, fell in love, moved in together and then got bored of staring at blank walls. We knew what we liked. But couldn’t find it to buy. Or if we did, we couldn’t afford it.

Then we said, “I bet there are other people out there just like us,” (or words to that effect).

Coulson Macleod is our baby. We love it and nurture it. We wake in the night to think about it. We proudly tell others about it. We glow with pride when it does well. It is ours. And we’re on a wonderful journey.

Perhaps Mark and I are building big castles way on high. Just the two of us. You and I.

Limited edition vintage-style art print by Coulson Macleod

To solve that riddle with just one answer is beyond me, for love is many different and contradictory things.

In the early stages love is excitement and breathlessness, it is the ache of separation and the comfort of togetherness, and it builds inexorably to that moment when ‘I’ becomes ‘we’.

Later, if blessed, love becomes a stronger, less transitory thing, a foundation for two lives lived as one.

It is all around us, there for the taking, yet to seek it out is futile.

It cannot be bought or stolen or given.  It cannot be avoided or denied.

Love is the beautiful, wonderful, mysterious mortar that binds two souls together and I first heard its voice on the day I met you.

It has been with me every moment since.

This is what love is.”

Love Birds card courtesy of Ruby Wren

Written by Coulson Macleod.

Coulson Macleod’s oak-framed typographic art. £125

Coulson Macleod’s oak-framed typographic art. £125

Coulson Macleod’s oak-framed typographic art. £125

Our ‘Words’ collection is made in the exactly same way as our hugely popular ‘Love’ collection. Gorgeous chunky handmade prints. But only half the size, just 29cm x 29cm x 8cm.

We’ve kept the lovely vintage-style, with a rough-sawn solid oak frame surrounding a white-washed oak panel printed with distressed typography. All handmade with love in the UK.

Our ‘Words’ collection is unlimited in print quantity.

For anyone interested in knowing just what goes into a Coulson Macleod wooden art piece… the oak panel is cut and sanded by hand before being covered with a coat of diluted white lacquer wash to fill the grain, and then sanded and re-washed with the lacquer a second time. The panel is then over-printed with UV ink. The mitred frame is handmade using rough-sawn solid oak with a shadow rebate on the groove. We purposefully retain any defects in the oak to add to the charm and character of the piece. These can include knot holes, warps and water marks, so each frame is totally unique. The printed panel is then encased into the frame which is then glued and pinned, ready for hanging.

Inspired by a customer who wanted a ‘Love’ print, but just half the size. And we loved it so much, we just had to create some more. Let us know if you like them!

Our artwork ‘Love Makes The Ride Worthwhile’ is on page 11 on the Editor’s letter page. Susie Forbes says, “Finally — this Coulson Macleod panel (£149) with its sweet and poignant message takes us right back to feeling the love — and let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like it!”

So thank you very much Susie Forbes, Editor of Easy Living. You have great taste!

Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide wrote this lovely piece about us on his blog KR Connect,

“A few weeks ago, I discovered Coulson Macleod, an art business making waves from Northamptonshire. It’s the creation of Mark Coulson and Hannah Macleod, a couple who share a striking design aesthetic, radically positive ambition, and, most importantly, love.

I’ve bought several of their pieces, which are all hand-finished in limited editions. The works in the Love Collection are favorites of mine – bold typographic designs featuring declarations of feeling and famous romantic lines from classic movies. Other collections celebrate the pop culture of decades past, the icons of music history and the spirit of Cool Britannia – all topics close to the heart.

After I sent the team a note of encouragement, Hannah Macleod shared the company’s “simple little love story” with me. It’s also a story of smart, down-to-earth entrepreneurship. After falling in love, the couple began working together. Wanting new art for their home, but not able to afford high-end prices, they decided to design their own rather than deign to buy mass-produced prints, and thus Coulson Macleod was born.

Starting small in March 2009, Hannah and Mark didn’t have big dollars for promotion, but built their own website and showcased their designs online. The work spoke for itself, and with growing sales they could soon begin advertising in top interiors magazines. Now, Coulson Macleod fields orders from all over the world, and tracks the buzz on their blog. Brides-to-be have contacted them to ask if they can read out the quote from the “What Is Love?” piece at their wedding – a special request as this was written by Mark.

As Hannah described it to me, the company is “built on love and driven by passion”. The world needs more entrepreneurs like this. Here’s to spreading the Love.”

Coulson Macleod limited edition typographic art

The ultimate romantic gift. Written by Coulson for Macleod when he fell in love with her.

If any of you received a Coulson Macleod Love print for Valentine’s Day, do let us know. x

Coulson Macleod limited edition typographic art

The perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.

Coulson Macleod limited edition (x 250) vintage-style typographic art print. £149.

Free delivery within the UK.