{ Sneaky Peek } A Diamond Anniversary card
I was commissioned to make a paper cut card for a very special couple celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, 60 years, something to truly be celebrated.
Where to start with a commission, the awful prospect of a blank sheet of paper!
The commissioner had seen my work before and liked the idea of having two birds, a heart and leaves, so to the scribbles.
I start with a few thumbnail sketches to get the idea fixed on paper, to try out a few of ideas, get the major components in the right places and the overall proportion and composition "right"!
At this point I tend to walk away and let the ideas circle through my sub conscious and thought for the rest of the day. Somehow this "sets" the idea of how I should cut the piece and I can develop the design a bit further.
And then BINGO! It all clicks into place and the design flows from the pencil onto the paper.
A bit of time and patience and here it is, all cut out.
I backed the paper cut with a lovely matt gold paper which gave the card a lovely glow and I'm told the special couple were delighted with their card.
New prints on the block!
I've FINALLY got around to taking photos of a couple of new prints and also some better pictures of some old favourites. It's been lurking on my (never ending) to do list for about a month and I was finally inspired to get my camera out and get snapping!
I was so pleased with the results that I kept working into the wee small hours and listed the newbies and revamped the older listings!
So first of all the newbies.....................
And the old favourites............................
Sneaky peek Thursday - LOVE papercut
I though I would share a slightly un-sneaky peek with you all! I've dug through my photos and flicked through my sketch book to share the story and scribbley sketches of the development of my LOVE papercut.
I have been mentally playing about, for a few months, with the idea of doing a paper cut with the infinity symbol and the word love and I'd done a couple of scribbles ages ago. But I felt they weren't really "me" and had left the idea looming in my sketch book.
While idly wasting time, ehhm I mean "researching" on Pinterest I can across a tattoo of the word love formed into an, almost, heart shape and whirr, whirr, click, click the wheels began turning again.
Would this make a better basis for the LOVE cut? Could I make it "me" enough?
I sometimes worry that my sketch book is like the inner working of my mind.....and when you look at this page there are at least four ideas I'm working on....at once!
Almost there, not completely convinced about the flowers and leaves on the bottom of the "heart" shape.........
A few more sketches later and BINGO! It's LOVE, it's "me"!
Here it is, all framed up!
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I've had such an UNBELIEVABLE resoponse to this wee papercut that I'm going to give all you wonderful, fabulous, followers, likeres, fans and friends a special Valentines treat! (exciting isn't it!)
Until and including 1st Feb, I'm going to give anyone in the UK FREE postage on this papercut, just enter the coupon code UKLOVE12 on my
.
Now I KNOW lots of you fantastic lot are based overseas and I don't want you to miss out on the treat.......but (there always is isn't there?!) to post the papercut framed overseas costs a small fortune sooo I will post it to ya FREE but unframed just enter the coupon code LOVE13 on my
to get a 20% discount.
This crazy life
I love working on a new design and cutting it out for the first time, I'm never sure exactly how it's going to look, very pleased with this one!
Snow.......hurray.......hurrah!
If you've not had a look on the site yet, go now! It's AMAZING, you will lose at least an hour of your life,....just looking at things!
I've been working on a new design this weekend for the 6x4" exhibition which takes place in Dundee next month. The exhibition "will explore the postcard as a distinctive artistic medium in its own right". I'm quite excited about this wee papercut and I can't wait to see the rest of the exhibition!Here's a wee sneaky peak of the sketches I've been working on........
excited.com!!
Tonight I'm off to Aberdeen to the lovely Claremont Gallery for the launch of their Artisan Winter Exhibition which features some of my work.
VERY excited about this, I was a student in Aberdeen so it's full of very fond, somewhat hazy memories! The exhibition opens on Friday, 23rd November and runs until the 19th January so if you're visiting any relatives in the North East over the festive season, pop along and have a look!
Friday I'm going to be framing, collecting, packing up and organising for Saturday when I'm taking part in Creative Heartland in The Albert Halls, Stirling.
This is a brand new event with art, craft, live music, storytelling, design and debate. EXCITED......again! There is going to be some fabulous work on display and I think it'll have a fantastic, buzzy atmosphere!! I'll have a selection of work for sale and be giving papercutting demonstrations. So if you're in Stirling and are in need of some inspiration for Christmas presents come along and see us!
And as if ALL that wasn't enough, I'm off to the Country Living Christmas Exhibition at the SECC in Glasgow on Sunday! Can't wait to see all the lovely stuff and start getting in to the Christmas spirit!
At last I've got them ALL printed!
I feel like I've been running on sand for the past couple of weeks and now I've finally got my Christmas designs done it's a bit like the calm before the storm!
It's been a bit of an epic exercise getting the cards screen printed.....mainly due to my impatience and rushing, which inevitably means I make a mistake and have to redo things......sometimes MORE than twice!
Now they're done I'm REALLY pleased with how they look! As always they're available in my Folksy shop and my Etsy shop.
I know it's only October, but...........
Anyway........on the plus side I know it's only October, and I'm normally one of those ranting about getting Halloween and Bonfire night over first, but in the interests of being slightly organised!............I did get a whole load of Christmas cards screen printed today......
............do note my very high tech and heavily customised drying rack.........or the piano!!
I'll post some proper photos when I get ALL the designs printed. (and yes, this is part of the almost brilliant day story!)
And in other news I've reached 300 liker-ers on my Facebook page so to celebrate and say thank you I'm going to have my very first GIVEAWAY!!! Stay tuned for further details....soon.....I promise!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am now going to have a REALLY hot bath......with a bottle of wine!
Fab Friday!
I can't believe that it's the last weekend of Open Studios already, the week seems to have flown by.
As this was the first year I've taken part I really didn't know what to expect. How many people were going to turn up and was anyone was going to buy anything?
Grow old, original paper cut......
off to a new home.
My home, original paper cut.........
off to a new home.
Birdie, original paper cut.........
off to a new home!
My greatest expectations have been far surpassed on ALL counts! I've had a steady stream of visitors every day, all of them have been lovely (I'd love any of them to pop in and see me......anytime!) I've had quite a few commissions and I'm delighted with what I've sold!
Open Studios has arrived!
I've had an absolutely fantastic opening weekend to Perthshire Open Studios! It's surpassed all my expectations. I've had lots of really lovely visitors, had some interesting chats, sold some work and just generally had a fab time! The past few weeks have been really busy, filled with lots of hard work and late nights but NOW it feels really worthwhile!
Everyone has been really interested in how I design and then actually cut out my paper cuts and it's been fun discussing my work and where I get inspiration from.
The Open Studio event runs until the 9th September and I'm open 10-5 every day and 10-7 on Saturday, so do pop in and visit me, venue 70, green route!
Tuesdays' sneaky peek!
It's recharged my batteries after the battle to get my studio emptied and decorated and I'm raring to go!
I thought I'd show you what I'm working on at the moment and how I go about making a papercut.......
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| Grow old with me papercut, initial design sketch. |
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| Grow old with me, 1/3 cut out, right side.
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| Grow old with me, 1/3 cut out, wrong side. |
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| New paint delivery! |
Paint-y, paint-y, sand-y, sand-y!
On a slightly more exciting note I also managed to get these two paper cuts finished, framed up and off to their new homes.
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| This day I will marry my best friend Doris & John 6th August 2011 |
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| One day like this, a variation on the happily ever after cut. |
Right......back to the sanding. My consolation is that I'll soon be putting everything back in the studio.