I have had a busy busy couple of weeks. Lots of planning for my wedding next September, working with Marc Bingham on our artist collaboration, planning for my Christmas line of books and stationery and recording a new EP with Heg Doughty and The Wolf Chorus.

About a week ago I came across a picture which I fell in love with. So much, that it pushed me to start using my Pinterest account which is something I used once and never went back to. I found it on a book arts blog whilst googling away for some inspiration for some new books to make.

 

I would love to be able to make something like this but I do not have the skills at the moment to produce something so detailed. But I am working on it :)

These two are what I have made...

 The book in the background in the first picture is far from perfect but not bad for my first try as it was quite a difficult pattern and you would be surprised how much maths is involved in folded book art! The second book that is a half moon folded vintage novel (used and damaged - it now has a new lease of life) is my favourite as there is just so much I want to use them for. These books are a standard novel size (5.5" in width and 8" in length). I am now working on a larger book which I will be listing in my Etsy Shop when finished, along with a packet of mini cards of different colours, shapes and sizes to be used as an alternative guest book. Each guest can write their message on the cards and slot them into the book. The book can then be mounted to a wall or displayed anywhere in your home for people to admire!
I will be adding it to my normal Etsy shop and then again to my Etsy Wedding shop when that is up and running. Without even realising it, nearly all of my wedding range is derived from a vintage source of some kind so I will working with that theme to create unique, vintage and vintage inspired wedding stationery, favours and decorations. :)
Now I have the recording out of the way I can focus on this a bit more which is very exciting.

Anywho - I am about to start learning to drive and have my very first lesson in an hour so off I pop!

Me and Samson wish you a happy crafty Wednesday! xo

  

Collaborations!

I've been planning to collaborate with other artists for a while now. Over the next few months I will be working with two North West based artists taking their artwork and creating notebooks, sketchbooks and albums from them. We will be selecting a number of prints to use and I will encorporate them into the front covers of my handmade books.

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Marc Bingham - Creator of 'Twisted Pixels Illustration.' He is an illustrator and graphic designer. He is interested in sci-fi ideologies and incoporates this into his artwork and currently sells prints and clothing online. He will be creating some bespoke work for this project which is very exciting!
You can check him out in these hiding spots:

Blog

Website

Etsy Shop 

Stuart Taylor - Stuart is a 3d charactor animator who has recently graduated from Stoke University. One of his latest projects was designing a music video for musician Heg Doughty
for her song 'Red' ; a song based on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Stuart has designed a set of prints taken from the animation of this song which we will be using to create the sketchbooks.
You can check him out in these hiding spots:
Blog
Vimeo
 

I'm very excited about working with these two amazing artists. The work that will be created will be very different from the things that I make at the moment, which I believe to be a great thing. It's always a good idea to try new things, experiment and expand work creatively.

Over and out x

 

15% OFF SALE!

Hello you lovelies!

I am having a sale in my Etsy shop! All you have to do is enter the coupon 'PAPER15' on checkout to receive your 15% discount on your purchase! 

Offer ends on Sunday :)

www.thepapergardenuk.etsy.com

Monday Favourites

 I can spend hours on Etsy just browsing all the beautiful things, wishing I had the money to spare to buy everything!

I lovelove anything remotely 'bird on a wire' and I've been taking my holga out with me to see if I can get some good pictures to use as covers for my sketchbooks. I've been browsing Etsy this morning and found these lovelies that have offered a surge of inspiration on this rainy Bristol day.

 Bird on a wire pillow cover by Shabby Creek Shop

Birds on a wire print by Carolyn Cochrane

 

Birds on a wire messenger bag by jennyjen42

 

Birds on a wire vinyl decal by vinylfruit

Birds on a wire - papercut wall art by Talesha Touched

There is something about the bird on a wire theme that really inspires me and its strangely calming. Although I've not managed to take the perfect picture to use for my own work, I may experiment with this theme as a stencil. Off to get the acetate, craft knife and acrylic!

Happy Monday! :)

Stephanie xo

Handmade Wedding - Bespoke stationery

For the past few months I have been planning a wedding stationery line to run beside my other journals and sketchbooks. All will be completely handmade, bespoke and of course materials will be as recycled as much as possible! I've set up thepapergardenweddings Etsy shop as I think it's a good idea to keep each line seperate and soon there will be plenty of things to purchase in there.

 Although it's been in my mind for while, I think this range has taken back seat, but since setting a date for my own wedding I've gotten giddy and started making things I want for our day!

I spent the past few day making these little decorations on mass! They are Japanese star books made from handmade papers and pages from an old vintage novel. I think they'd look great hung from the ceiling at all different heights! :) I listed them in my Etsy shop today as I didn't want to wait for the wedding shop to be open for these lovelies! 

I've put them up in sets of 5 at the moment but they are available made to order in larger quantities. Have a look here.

xo

Lupus Butterfly Book

Last year, someone who I love dearly was diagnosed with Lupus. She has had a tough year but being the brave and beautiful person she is, she has stayed strong and is dealing with the disease incredibly well.
Dedicated to her, my hero, those whose lives have also been touched by Lupus and to raise awareness about the disease, I will be creating a set of journals marked with a butterfly (an international symbol for Lupus). The journal will be interspersed with messages and memories of those who are living with Lupus and those who have friends/family touched by the disease.
Money made from sales of the books will be donated to Lupus UK, an exceptional charity who support those who have been diagnosed and those who are approaching diagnosis. Please do have a look on their website at the amazing work they do: www.lupusuk.org.uk

If you would like to take part in this project please email me at: thepapergarden@live.com

Stephanie xo