I'm back!

Gilbert and me with his handmade Easter balloon

Anyone who has kids knows that the transition to parenthood is quite something: lots of intense emotions (deep love, tremendous excitement, anxiety), a whole lot of sleep deprivation, a radical shifting of priorities, a steep learning curve regarding your new role and pertaining to the baby's behaviour, health, nutrition and development, and a new set of challenges with regard to time-management and organisation, baby-proofing, etc. etc. etc. I'm still in the midst of all this, of course, and I'll never cease to learn, but I've also somewhat gotten used to the fact that there's this new person in my household now, have developed a wee bit of a routine, and carved out chunks of time to dedicate to Paper Turns again. In other words: I'm back!

 








What's new? I'm working on a few new designs, but I'm also getting ready for Mother's Day, and with that, my first craft show of the year. I look forward to returning to the Spring Artisans' Market at SickKids Hospital; my fourth one - it's that great a market! Come and visit me on Friday, May 11, 10 am - 5 pm in the SickKids Atrium at 170 Elizabeth Street, Toronto.

I've also been working on a few special commissions. For example, a grandma-to-be contacted me recently with the request for a woodland-animal-themed card for her first grandson. I played around with a few of the animals she suggested, including owls, rabbits and bears. You can see both one of the drafts (on uncut card stock), and the version she ended up ordering. I really love creative challenges like that, and I'm excited to work on the next ones, which I'll show you in June. 

 

Finally, I've joined other Canadian Etsy sellers in offering free domestic shipping for part of this month. If you order any of the cards in my Etsy shop to an address within Canada between May 1 and May 14, shipping is on me. You're welcome! Time to celebrate the snail mail revolution.

Happy Summer!

It's promising to be a warm and sunny Sunday -- no better reason to head to Toronto's Evergreen Brick Works for the day. Their Sunday Farmers' Market is well worth a visit, but even more importantly (I think so anyway), the Brick Works are yet again host to a selection of over 30 local artisans this Sunday. Whether you'd like to treat yourself to a new pair of earrings, get a gift for your best friend's new baby, stock up on handmade soaps, buy a greeting card for your cousin's wedding, or pick up a ukulele to complete the Hawaiian summer feeling: the Etsy Marketplace will have something for you!

Here are the details: 

When: Sunday, August 7, 10am - 3pm

Where: Evergreen Brick Works, North Pavilions (Farmers Market), 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4W 3X8


 

Have you seen my new cards yet?

Much like last year, Paper Turns will be present at the Brick Works with a big table full of greeting cards for all sorts of occasions: birthdays, weddings & engagements, birth, sympathy... I will also have a big selection of blank cards, which include some customer favourites such as the cherry blossom, dragon fly, signature crane and fish cards. If you have been following me on Instagram, Facebook or Etsy, you will also know that pandas and sunflowers have been added to my line of blank cards. I will have a bunch of each for sale at my table  Are you a Pokémon Go player or know someone who is? Then you might want to come to the Brick Works not just to go on the hunt for Pikachu  & Co. but also to get your hands on my new Pokémon Origami Heart cards. I'm sure you know someone who is "a real catch" and deserving of this cute card. Of course, I will also have lots of card sets again. I know you'll want to add them to your own stationery stash, but they also make lovely gifts... just sayin'! Finally, as always: plenty of origami magnets for your fridge and notice boards. 

Panda card (Art. no.: 00JO-JP-WHI16061), Sunflower card (Art. no.: 00JO-A2-YEL16071) and Pokémon cards in different colour combinations

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday! Stop by my table and say hi. :)