Happy Holidays!

As the year 2018 is coming to an end, I thought I'd show you some highlights from my year:

The first Father's Day in my household

Commission to make thank-you cards for the dancers of "It's Raining Men"

Etsy Pop-Up at Evergreen Brickworks with my mini sales assistant

Wedding cards

Makers Market at the Withrow Farmers Market

The popular "Get well soon" cards got a sibling: "I'm so sorry"

My little guy celebrated his first birthday!

Holiday Market at SickKids last week

Another Etsy Pop-Up at the Brickworks ... in colder temperatures

Holiday cards

And how was your 2018?

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From my family to yours, have a wonderful holiday season filled with love, joy, peace and laughter, and an amazing new year! 

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Weathering the Storm

Walking along Yonge Street, north of Lawrence, I spotted a cool sign today. "If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm", it read, and it's so true. Literally speaking - in our climate, at least - and metaphorically, too. When I'm going through a burst of inspiration and make a whole range of cards that are beautiful, and intricate, and eye-catching, I leave a bit of a tornado of paper scraps and card stock behind that I first need to clear before I can tackle the next creative sunburst. Also, I'm bound to make the occasional cards you don't like in order to arrive at the ones that will become bestsellers. And outside of card-making, as a mom, I sometimes have to deal with tantrums and crankiness that will make my baby's rays of sunshine - his smiles and his curiosity - even more special. What do I do to weather the storms in my life? I'm creative. I craft, and I dance. Yup, you read that right. I'm not just a paper artist, I'm also a dancer. (And the too are related!)

It's that time of year again when my dance company is taking the stage. This year's show is entitled Weathering the Storm: we dance our way through the seasons, and all types of weather they throw at us! From the snow storms we're so familiar with as Canadians to spring rain, you'll see it all on stage. We hope to brighten your day with 22 original numbers in styles ranging from ballet, to tap, to jazz.

Our show dates are:

The Paper Turns "Four Seasons" card set

• Wednesday, June 13, 8pm
• Thursday, June 14, 8pm
• Friday, June 15, 8pm
• Saturday, June 16, 2pm (matinee)
• Saturday, June 16, 8pm

Venue: 
Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Avenue, Toronto (across from Spadina subway station).

Don’t let all tickets blow away! Get yours HERE. I hope to see you there.

If you want to learn more about my dance company, PushPULL Dance - "Dancing Professionals, Not Professional Dancers", go to http://www.pushpulldance.com/toronto.html.

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.

The Baby is Here

Hello World! 

My name is Gilbert, and I am KD's latest creation. But I'm not for sale! Now that my mom has to take care of me, she won't be posting much for the next little while, and there won't be any holiday craft shows. She's still running the Paper Turns Etsy Shop, though, and she'll be popping up at craft shows again next spring. And then I get to come with her, yay! Can't wait to meet you. 

Gotta nap now. 

- Gilbert

A Summer of Farmers' Markets and Outdoor Events

Paper Turns at the Evergreen Brick Works Etsy Market - Photo: Evergreen Brick Works

 

 

 

Summer is my favourite season. Sure, it could be a wee bit cooler on certain days, but overall, I love being able to spend hours on end outside, without a jacket, soaking up the sun, and enjoying some gelato. I also love farmers' markets. Walking from tent to tent in the morning and then creating a summer salad with fresh produce for dinner makes for a perfect day, in my opinion.

Made of paper, Paper Turns greeting cards are obviously sensitive to the elements, which limits my ability to participate in outdoor markets, but the combination of fresh summer air plus a roof in case of rain is still irresistible. This is the reason you've seen me pop up at the Etsy Markets at the Evergreen Brick Works every summer for the past few years. Sheltered by the Pavillions and yet outdoors, and usually with a farmers' market a few feet away, it's a perfect environment. If you enjoy this as much as I do, you'll be pleased to hear that Paper Turns will participate in two Etsy Pop-Up Markets at Evergreen Brick Works this summer! Here are the details:

     Etsy Marketplace at the Sunday Market

Come explore 30+ Etsy artisans, local food, and refreshing drinks at Evergreen’s weekly Sunday Market on July 30, 10am-3pm.

More information at https://www.evergreen.ca/whats-on/event/etsy-marketplace-at-the-sunday-market/

     Etsy Marketplace: A Summer Wednesdays Pop-Up Market

Bask in the setting sun at Summer Wednesdays! Explore local Etsy artisans and enjoy the tastes of local food trucks, wood-fired oven platters and ice cold beer. Wednesday, August 23, from 5:30-10pm at Evergreen Brick Works.

More information at https://www.evergreen.ca/whats-on/event/etsy-marketplace-a-summer-wednesdays-pop-up-market/


Last weekend I had the pleasure of being part of the Makers' Market at the Withrow Park Farmers' Market for the first time. I shared a tent with Green Eyed Kitty Jewelry, and we all had a wonderful morning. The organizers made a short video that gives you an idea of the creativity represented at the market (you'll see Paper Turns at 2:35min). The Makers' Market takes place twice a year, and the next one will be on September 30. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be back for that one, and if you look closely at the picture below, you'll know why. But hopefully again next summer!

Watch me dance

Remember when I was telling you how much my greeting cards have to do with dance? I mentioned then that my dance company, PushPULL Dance Toronto, was preparing a new show that would take place at the Al Green Theatre in Toronto in June 2017. Well, it's almost June and I am excited to finally tell you more about the upcoming performances!

Hey, it's me! Want to see me dance?

Sometimes real life can be more bizarre than anything you could have imagined...

Don't miss your chance to experience Stranger than Fiction, PushPULL Dance Toronto's 13th annual production about the unusual of the usual, featuring 18 original pieces in styles ranging from ballet, to hip-hop, to contemporary.

You will not only get to see me as a dancer on stage, but you will also have a chance to see my work as a choreographer. I've created a piece that combines jazz dance with modern dance and that is shaped -- much like my greeting cards -- by colour and distinct patterns. It's funny, wacky, a little bit strange, and it may not surprise you that I've taken inspiration from the 1960s... But that's only one of our 18 pieces, each of which represents a unique take on all that is stranger than fiction.

The truth is tickets go fast, so get yours before they genuinely disappear! Get yours here:



Our show dates:

• Thursday, June 15 - 8pm
• Friday, June 16 - 8pm
• Saturday, June 17 - 2pm (matinee)
• Saturday, June 17 - 8pm
• Sunday, June 18 - 2pm (matinee)

Admission: 

• $15-$25 
• General admission
• Wheelchair seating available

Venue:

• Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
• Bloor/Spadina, TTC subway lines 1 & 2

It's a family-friendly show so feel free to bring your kids, too. Hopefully, I will see you in the audience!

If you follow me on Instagram, watch out for my Stranger-Than-Fiction-related contest in mid-June!

I'm still here!

Origami Easter chicks populating my desk...

I know I haven't written anything or added new cards to the shop in a while. So sorry about that! My day job in academia has kept me very busy these past few months, as I am currently teaching two courses at two different universities, one of which has me commute two hours one way, twice a week. Oooff! Unfortunately, this has left me with very little time to update PaperTurns. Buuuut...

   ... the Etsy Shop remains active and open for business, even if you'll have to be patient for a wee
       bit longer when it comes to new designs.
   ... I managed to participate in the Toronto Etsy Street Team's Valentine's Pop-Up at their new
       gallery! (More below.)
   ... and I booked my first Spring Market! For the third year in a row I will be returning to the
       Spring Artisans' Market at SickKids Hospital, which always takes place the Friday before
       Mother's Day. Mark your calendars and check out the market on Friday, May 12, 10am-5pm, in
       the Atrium of the hospital (170 Elizabeth Street, Toronto). You'll find me there with plenty of 
       cards for Mother's Day, weddings, birthdays, baby showers and many other occasions, as well as 
       card sets and origami magnets. And yes, there'll be new cards, too! Yay--finally!

For now, let me wish you all a wonderful spring, and to those who celebrate Easter: Happy Easter!

This is how you say "Happy Easter!" in German

Finally, here's a glimpse at the Valentine's pop-up that was held at the Toronto Etsy Street Team's new gallery space on 906 Queen Street West in early February. It's a beautiful space where all year long pop-ups, workshops, exhibitions and other events will take place. Check it out!

And the pop-up continues! Trinity-Bellwoods looks soooo pretty in the snow, so take a stroll and pop in. 906 Queen St West (near Shaw) - we're open till 6pm. . . #etsy #paperturns #handmade #trinitybellwoods #valentinesday

A post shared by Paper Turns | KD Urschel (@paperturns) on Feb 12, 2017 at 10:09am PST