Holchester Designs: Where everyday stationery becomes art to treasure

From her North Oxfordshire studio, surrounded by sketchbooks, pencils, and the gentle hum of family life, artist and designer Rachel has built something quietly remarkable.

Holchester Designs, her sustainable stationery brand, is a celebration of everyday creativity with a collection of practical yet beautiful paper goods and textiles designed to be used, loved, and cherished.

Each piece begins as a hand-drawn illustration, brought to life with colour and pattern, then produced responsibly using recycled papers, vegetable-based inks, and zero-plastic packaging. It’s stationery that looks good, feels good, and does good too – the kind of thoughtful design that elevates the everyday.

This winter, Rachel adds something new and utterly charming to her range: the Seasonal Fruits Recipe Notebook. A joyful blend of artistry and function, it captures the warmth of family kitchens and the rhythm of the seasons through her signature hand-drawn fruit motifs.

Bound with a sturdy bronze-coloured metal coil, its A5 size feels satisfyingly substantial without being cumbersome – perfect for propping open beside a mixing bowl or tucking neatly onto a bookshelf. The hardback cover gleams with gold foil lettering, while inside there’s room for up to 100 recipes, from cherished family favourites to modern-day TikTok sensations.

Thoughtfully designed for real use, every detail has been considered: a conversion chart printed inside the cover, a gold ribbon page marker to instantly find your favourite, and a pocket at the back for handwritten clippings or recipe cards.

The pages – made from luxurious 100gsm white stock – are thick enough to withstand enthusiastic note-taking or the occasional kitchen smudge. And, true to Holchester’s values, each notebook is handmade in small batches by another independent British maker – the aptly named Stationery Godmother.

But beyond the craftsmanship lies something more personal: Rachel’s belief that the best notebooks aren’t the ones we save for “best,” but the ones we use and fill with life. “I’m all about using your good notebooks every day,” she says. “It’s something that’s been on my design list for a very long time, and I finally found the right partner to bring it to life.”

The result is a notebook designed to be lived with – a keepsake that gathers meaning with every meal shared and recipe passed down. The Seasonal Fruits Recipe Notebook is, in Rachel’s own words, “the cherry on top” of her Winter Gifts collection – joined by a matching weekly planner and list pad, both printed in the UK on recycled paper with vegetable inks.

Each piece embodies the same sustainable spirit and painterly charm that defines Holchester Designs. For those seeking a gift that combines artistry, utility, and a sense of care, Rachel’s work offers something special – a reminder that sustainability and beauty can live harmoniously, and that the small things we use each day can still be made with extraordinary thought and heart.

To explore the full range of Holchester Designs products or to get in touch with Rachel about her creations, visit holchester.com. There, you’ll discover the artistry, care, and sustainable ethos that make Holchester Designs the perfect destination for thoughtful festive gifts.”