Yours Truly Got Interviewed

The wonderful and resourceful blog of the Toronto Etsy Street Team features an ongoing interview series with Toronto-based Etsy sellers. For the purpose of this series, Michelle Wong of ElixirChicDesigns, a new jewellery label, and I, creator of Paper Turns, were paired to interview each other. It was a fun process, especially once we realised that we had a few things in common, including the fact that we both teach AND craft, and that we're both foodies. The fruits of our labour have now been added to the blog. Check out this interview with me. My interview of Michelle is here. Our interviews are numbers 93 and 94 in the series (a pretty impressive number, eh?), and if you scroll down on the T.E.S.T. blog and look to the right, you can find links to all the other 92 previous interviews. So much talent in Toronto!

Vacation Plans and the Canada Post Labour Dispute... The Gist: Expect Delays!

After a beautiful long summer weekend, which saw me salute my adopted country on Canada Day and wish my LGBTQ friends Happy Pride, Canada Post decided to make the life of small businesses such as Paper Turns a whole lot more complicated. As the result of an ongoing labour dispute, Canada Post has given notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that they will be locked out as of Friday, July 8. Canada Post will not be accepting, processing or delivering mail for the duration of the lockout.

What does this mean for Paper Turns? 

As Canada Post is the default shipping provider for any online orders to be shipped within Canada, please note that your domestic orders will be delayed until the labour dispute has been resolved. If you prefer shipping by courier, please contact me before placing your order on Etsy so that I can provide you with a quote. Shipments to the US and the rest of the world will be processed normally but routed through the US Postal Service.

Coincidentally, I will be on vacation from July 12 to July 20. Any orders placed by July 8 will be processed before I leave; orders placed between July 9 and July 20 will be processed after I return, i.e. after July 20.

Enjoy the summer!

Summer Camp with... Me!

My origami students with their creations on a June afternoon

A few months ago, a wonderful arts studio opened in the Upper Beaches in Toronto, just south of the intersection of Main St. and Gerrard St. The Simple Craft Company (formerly known as Unlimited Arts Studio) is a beautiful and welcoming space, offering a wide range of classes and workshops for kids and adults of all abilities. And guess what: yours truly is one of their instructors! I taught a few afternoon classes there in May and June, and I will be returning there for a one-week summer camp in August.



Here are the details:

When: Monday to Friday, August 8-12, 2016, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

Where: The Simple Craft Co., 152 Main Street, Toronto, ON  M4E 2V8, Phone: (647) 692-8793.

For Whom: Recommended for ages 8-13 years.

What: You'll be crafting with paper in all its shapes and forms. We will start a new project every morning, and at the end of the week you can take home five handmade treasures. You will  

• 

  Another impression from my June class

  create a stunning origami mobile
• fold a balloon from paper
• transform a newspaper into a beautiful box
• make a set of cards
• create a 3D paper aquarium

But this is more than just crafts. You will express yourself creatively, while having fun and making friends!

Cost: $160
Register before July 15th and receive 15% off!

Register here: https://www.thesimplecraft.com/products/origami-half-day-camp-august-8th-12th-9-30am-12pm

Cards, more cards, and wedding stationery

Just because I love sharing photos from craft shows, here's one from the Spring Artisans' Market at Sick Kids earlier this month.

And now that Mother's Day is behind us, Father's Day around the corner and we're in the midst of wedding season, you can probably guess what sort of cards are currently dominating my work desk. Sneak peak at a work in progress:

A photo posted by Paper Turns (@paperturns) on May 25, 2016 at 2:07pm PDT

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram!

I will soon be adding a Wedding tab to this page, where you'll be able to find lots of information regarding wedding stationery offers and custom-design options. If you have any questions about invitations, place cards, thank-you cards, or paper decor in the meantime, please email me at paperturns [at] gmail.com.
 
But now back to work!

Mother's Day cards, new card sets and more

After a terrific Spring Artisans' Market last year Paper Turns is delighted to be returning to SickKids Hospital for another one. Join me in the Atrium (170 Elizabeth Street, Toronto) on Friday, May 6, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and check out the new Mother's Day cards, the new mix'n match card boxes, seasonal greeting cards, origami magnets and more. Lots of other local artisans will be there too. You can also participate in a raffle and win, among other things, a handmade PaperTurns card set. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sneak peak at the cards in the gift box you can win at the raffle...

Instagram just got craftier...

Guess who just joined Instagram? Paper Turns did!

New paper artist on Instagram -> Follow! #paperturns #etsy #papercrafts

A photo posted by Paper Turns (@paperturns) on Apr 21, 2016 at 1:48pm PDT

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