Impressions from the Flea Market at the German School

The annual spring flea market at the German International School in Toronto was mostly about reselling toys, children's clothes, and German books. But they also invited Etsy sellers along, and as a German Canadian I couldn't resist the opportunity to show my greeting cards to a new audience. I made all of my recent cards with English and German text and was thus able to offer a small line of German cards.

The many children that were there were particularly intrigued by the magnets. They always are. When a girl spotted my pile of mini-origami paper, she asked me if I could show her how to fold an owl, and when I said yes, she bravely folded along. I say bravely, because the owl is not the easiest animal to start with, nor is 5x5 cm the most user-friendly size... but she did very well! When a boy came along, the three of us folded a fish, which was a little easier for the kids. All in all, it was a fun event for all of us. If you've missed the German cards, but would like to buy some and can't find them on Etsy, just send me a message.

German birthday, Mother's day, wedding and baby cards

Origami magnets: flowers, cranes and fish

Paper Turns goes German for a few hours

The German International School Toronto (980 Dufferin St., Toronto) is hosting a Spring Flea Market on Saturday, April 16, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Paper Turns will have a table there!

Do you know someone whom you'd like to say "Herzlichen Glückwunsch" to, or who'd appreciate a birthday message in German? Stop by my table! In addition to cards with German text, I will be selling cards with English text, black cards, and card sets, plus the ever popular origami magnets.

Tschüss bis morgen!  

Love is in the air

It's cold and gloomy, you've just discarded your new year's resolutions, and you can't wait for something to brighten your mood? Well, think about chocolates and butterflies in your stomach, the smell of roses, and the "warm-and-fuzzy" feeling only a loved one can give you. Valentine's Day is only three and a half weeks away! Just enough time to get excited and to start writing cards. I've been working hard on some new designs, and these two beauties are about to hit the Etsy store.
 

Article no.: 16WE-A6-BLA15121

The first design is made from black textured card stock in A6, and it features a woven heart made from a shimmery pomegranate-red ungeishi paper as well as chiyogami with a pink cherry-blossom print.

The second, and slightly smaller, design is a burgundy-red card featuring a double-layered heart cut from fibered white paper and dark-red striped tissue paper. It is adorned with little wooden hearts with pink, green and white stripes. 

If you would like to pre-order any of these cards, or if you require expedited shipping, please get in touch. If you need an extra-special custom-designed card that is truly one of a kind, I can help too. I look forward to hearing from you!

Article no.: 16WO-JP-BUR15121

Impressions from the Winter Village

It was the first really cold day of the Winter, so the Local Maker Market, which arose out of converted shipping containers right beside the skating rink at Evergreen Brick Works truly deserved to be called "Winter Village". At least the fire pits and the hot apple cider kept us warm, and the food from all those gourmet food trucks supplied the energy for a full day of interacting with Christmas shoppers. Card sets were popular among those who still needed a gift for a friend or a mom-in-law, and lots of last-minute shoppers picked up a Christmas card or two. Many customers were also drawn to the origami magnets. Thanks to everyone who stopped by despite the cold! Here are a few impressions from December 19.

Merry Christmas & 

a Happy New Year!

Holiday Market with Paper Turns

Paper Turns is pleased to be one of over 50 local artists and crafters to have set up shop in the Evergreen Winter Village. I'll be selling holiday cards, card sets (need a gift for a stationery lover?), origami magnets, cards for a whole year's worth of occasions and more at my little booth inside a converted shipping container. Join me and all the other talented vendors for an exceptional shopping experience on the final weekend before Christmas. At the other vendors' booths, you can find home decor, stationery, jewellery, accessories, skin care products, and many other beautiful and carefully hand-crafted gifts. Just look for the Local Maker Market inside the Winter Village.

When: Saturday, December 19, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, CRH Gallery, 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto ON, M4W 3X8

There will also be a variety of different foods, cold and hot drinks, live music, activities and games, a skating rink, and lots of places to warm up by the fire or indoors. Entry into the Evergreen Winter Village is free.

There's also the Saturday Farmers Market (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), and a matinee production of the play Tails from the City by award-winning Toronto playwright Marjorie Chan at 4:30.

Check out the Evergreen Winter Village picture gallery on Facebook!

I look forward to seeing you there.

Black Friday/Weekend Sale... My way of giving thanks to YOU!

Welcome to the Black Friday / Weekend Sale in the Paper Turns Etsy Shop! 

As a token of my appreciation for my customers, I'm giving all of you 10% off any orders of $25 or higher. Use the coupon code BLACK10 at checkout. Valid through Monday, November 30.

The 2015 Holiday Collection

Paper Turns is proud to present the 2015 holiday collection and it includes lots of new takes on old favourites. You will be pleased to hear that I listened to your request for more reindeer cards. If you loved last year's poinsettia wreath, you might like this year's wreath with charms. For those of you who have loved the owls-with-shades summer card series, I have a little surprise: my owls have swapped the sunglasses for Santa hats and delight in the dazzle of sparkly snowflakes. This year's Hanukkah series features the star of David in different forms. Whether you prefer origami or wire, I'm sure there's a holiday card for you. Also, many models from the 2014 collection continue to be available. Check out the Christmas and Hanukkah card shelves in the Paper Turns Etsy store.

Please note:

• All cards are BLANK inside.
• All cards are sold with a matching envelope and are placed in a transparent plastic wrapper for protection before they are shipped.
• The wooden dreidel in the Hanukkah card pictures is not part of the product.

Christmas Cards

The Origami Reindeer

Article no.: 05GO-A6-LAT15101

This card features a modular origami reindeer folded from two different shades of brown origami paper. The background motif is a German print with a moose and fir-tree woodcut design. The brown accent strip is cut from fibred silver-speckled Japanese paper. The wish, "Merry Christmas", is handwritten in gold. Dimensions of the folded card: 10.8 cm x 15.7 cm.

 The Origami Wreath with Charms

Article no.: 05CH-A6-GOL15101

This card features a modular origami wreath, folded from two different types of green fibred Japanese paper. Attached to it are three different gold metallic charms: a candy cane, holly, and a small heart, engraved with "Merry X'mas". Each charm has a little red satin bow tied to it. The card stock is gold with a fibre pattern and is decorated with strips of white and red Japanese paper. Dimensions of the folded card: 10.7 cm x 15.7 cm.

 The Origami Owl — available in two colour combinations

Article no.: 05GO-A6-TUR15101 (turquoise card)

This festive winter card features an origami owl with a Santa hat, sitting on branch surrounded by big, sparkly snowflakes.
The card comes in two different colour combinations.

• The turquoise card is decorated with turquoise/silver snowflake paper and features a brown owl. The brown owl's Santa hat is decorated with small white pompom. No lining paper. 
• The black card is decorated with white/silver snowflake paper and features a black owl. Inserted is a sheet of Japanese lining paper to write on. No pompom.

Article no.: 05GO-A6-BLA15101 (black card)

The branch on each card is cut from a textured Japanese card stock in dark brown. Dimensions of the folded card: 10.8 cm x 15.7 cm.

Hanukkah Cards - SOLD OUT

 

The Origami Star of David with Dreidel (SOLD OUT)

Article no.: 06JO-A6-SEA15101

This card features a star of David and a dreidel made from Japanese papers in shades or blue, silver and shimmery turquoise. The origami star of David is folded from chiyogami (precious silk-screened Japanese paper) with a blue and silver print pattern. The same chiyogami forms the basis of the dreidel placed at the bottom of the card. The sides of the dreidel feature the Hebrew letters ש ["shin"] and ה ["hay"]. The wish, "Happy Hanukkah!", is handwritten and underlined with velour ribbon. Contains a loosely inserted sheet of Japanese watermarked lining paper to write on. Dimensions of the folded card: 10.7 cm x 15.7 cm (4 1/4" x 6 1/4").

The Wire Star of David (SOLD OUT)

Article no.: 06WI-A6-WHI15101

This card features a star of David ornament folded from blue wire. The star is tied with black thread to a silver bow at the top of the card. If the card ever gets recycled, the silver bow can be untied, and the star ornament can be easily removed from the card and used as decoration. The card stock is white obonai (i.e. with visible fiber) and adorned at the top and bottom with two layers of silver and blue Japanese paper, cut in a zig-zag pattern. The wish, "happy hanukkah", is handwritten directly onto the card stock in silver. Dimensions of the folded card: 10.8 cm x 15.7 cm (4 1/4" x 6 1/4").