PaperieLove

When I was young, I used to take my $2.50 pocket money and walk down to the Cooma Cannons supermarket to buy fresh, new exercise books and sharp lead pencils. This was in the pre Typo-and-trendy-BigW-stationery days so my exercise books were all feint lined, boasting orange and black striped covers or even fancy printed wood effect?! The feel of new paper and the scratch of a sharp lead has always been a dearly held treat for me.

I’ve always enjoyed painting and creating cards but I never really thought about making them to sell. Honestly, it all began last Christmas, at the end of 2013, when I decided to make maple roasted nuts for all the guys in the family, as a cost effective gift. The labels were an afterthought but once I’d drawn them I realised that other people might like to buy some for themselves! Feeling a bit self-conscious about putting my stuff out there, I posted one or two pics on Instagram with a small message about the tags being for sale on the small chance that anyone was interested. To my surprise, those photos generated a few sales, with others expressing their disappointment post-Christmas, saying that if they’d known about the tags, they would’ve bought some too. The following Christmas rolled around and again, I resorted to just posting a couple of pics – I didn’t want to force myself on anyone or be annoying right?! And this time even more sales came in. After being lovingly scolded by a friend for not “advertising enough” and realising how much I enjoyed creating hand painted cards for people, I decided that 2015 would be the year I’d take them more seriously. I have had a 30 year love affair with words and paper and this is simply an extension of the relationship.

What my customers love most about the cards is that they are unique and handmade. In a world of manufactured, mass produced, $1 card stands, I think people are excited to have access to something which has character and is a feature of the gift, instead of a forgettable chuck-away. My aim is to create products which my customers can relate to and can use to reflect their own personality and style. These cards will be written in by them and will be accompanying gifts chosen and given by them to their own friends and family so I want them to feel proud of what they’re giving, as if the card is an extension and statement of themselves. This is why the entire range is completely adaptable to each person’s taste.