Forest animals inspire Roo-Tid homeware range

Roo-Tid makes items such as tea towels, oven gloves, aprons and cushion covers, all bearing wildlife designs.

Carly and Rob Stalker were inspired by creatures such as foxes, badgers, squirrels and birds.

The pair, both 33, met when they were students at what is now Arts University Bournemouth. Rob is a freelance web designer, while Carly was a designer in magazine publishing and marketing.

“It’s always been a dream to start our own business, something creative,” she said.

“It’s something we wanted to do but, like everyone else, we were too scared. Our careers were going really well and I was getting promoted and had nothing to moan about but it wasn’t really enough for me.

“I left my full time job and was freelance as a designer while setting up Roo-tid. Then it all came together.”

The name come from a dictionary’s explanation of how to pronounce the word ‘rooted’. “It looks quite nice and stands out a little bit,” said Carly, who creates the designs.

“Animals have always been a passion of mine and my husband’s. We used to live in Bournemouth town centre but we moved to Verwood and we back onto the woods.

“Every animal in our collection is one that’s visited us. We’ve taken photographs of them and that’s where it all started.

“We’ve got two very naughty house rabbits and they’re going to be in our next collection.”

The British-made products, available online, also include tote bags and greetings cards. Designs are printed with eco-friendly ink and the paper is from sustainable, managed forests.

Roo-tid is due to be at the trade show Top Drawer at Olympia London and at Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace.

“We’re very aware that the market we’re trying to get into is very competitive. We’re under no illusions about that. We knew it was going to be tough and it is,” said Carly.

“The vital thing is believing in yourself really but the feedback that we’ve had to date is people like the designs and are willing to pay for them.”