Miss Milly
Miss Milly is a vintage floral stationary & lifestyle studio & online shoppe. We create authentic, flower-filled paper products reminiscent of an English country garden with a whole lot of heart, to make your life a little more beautiful. Lovingly designed and made in beautiful South Africa.
The Miss Milly paperie & lifestyle studio is based in the beautiful (and hot!) Lowveld. And it’s here amongst trees and wildlife, big skies and little miracles, that all the pretties are born and take shape before finding a home in your hands.
Six years ago my husband’s (then boyfriend) lifelong dream came true to work in anti-poaching. He is a true conservationist with an incredible passion for Rhinos and their protection. The first 3 years were endless goodbyes as he was deployed for a month at a time, many tears, long, lonely and stressful nights when he was leading his team to the battlefield. During the day I could keep my mind busy with my 9-5 but with night the enemy would come and I would pace around the house, restless and worried about his safety.
During this time I discovered washi tape and fell head-over-heels with the vintage floral design. I washi-taped everything because it was just so beautiful. It made for the loveliest brooches, earrings, etc. – transforming the ordinary into pretty. And suddenly the nights became shorter and my mind was still as I prayed while working.
In my stillness and prayers a new dream started to fill my heart – the dream of my own stationery range. I knew I had to bring the vintage floral print to life through my designs and at the same time, combined my love for paper with it. The first range was born and I called her Dearest Milly.
Since then, the design has been painted as the most beautiful watercolour flowers. Flowers filled with hope and grace and authentic hearts. If you look at them long enough you will see my Miss Milly heart in them. And if you look closely you will see tiny Sweet Pea flowers that were weaved into the design – to remind me of my beloved grandmother and her beautiful way of loving life!Although we live under the same roof these days, he is still away from home 2 weeks a month and my hands and heart still seek beauty with my paper pretties.
