Thursday 24 December 2015

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!





Wednesday 16 December 2015

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.

Friday 27 November 2015

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.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

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").

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Fall Craft Shows: Some impressions

Etsy Market at Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto


On October 25, Paper Turns returned to Evergreen Brick Works for its second Etsy Market. 40 crafters offered a great range of local artisanal products to an audience of young and old, while the weekly Farmers' Market offered local produce and yummy food. The event was in the open air (only with a roof over our heads), and everyone was grateful for the sunshine and relatively warm air, something we couldn't take for granted in late October...

As always: greeting cards for all occasions

 

Paper Turns was offering holiday cards for early Birds and a whole range of new card sets. Many customers commented on what they deemed the "prettiest sign-up sheet ever", where customers can provide their email addresses in order to receive regular updates on Paper Turns' craft show appearances and special sales. 

The next event for Paper Turns at Evergreen Brick Works will be the Holiday Container Market on December 19. Stay tuned for more details.


One Stop Shopping at the Newmarket Community Centre


On November 7, Paper Turns participated in a special fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association (York and South Simcoe) at the Community Centre in Newmarket. More than 40 vendors set up shop for this great cause, children were entertained by a balloon artist, Frozen's Elsa, and a face painter, and the supportive customers enjoyed the raffle, the auctions, and some local poutine. They didn't hold back with their donations, so the organizer was able to raise over $6,000. It was a fun day, and a great opportunity to contribute to an important cause.


Monday 5 October 2015

Upcoming Etsy Market with Paper Turns

Impression from the Etsy Market in August 2015
 
A market hall full of Etsy vendors... including Paper Turns!
















Paper Turns is returning to Evergreen Brick Works for another Etsy Market on the last October weekend! Just like in August, there will be over 40 craft vendors who will sell their unique and locally crafted wares. You can find anything from ceramics and knits to toys, home wares, and greeting cards! The Paper Turns table will feature the new 2015 holiday greeting card line (Christmas & Hanukkah), some autumnal/Halloween cards, a broad range of birthday, wedding, new baby and thank-you cards, greeting cards for many other occasions, blank cards, card sets, and origami magnets. If you're looking for seasonal gifts, why not consider buying a card set or some unique origami magnets made from gorgeous Japanese paper? 

When:  Sunday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, The Pavilions, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto ON, M4W 3X8.

Close-up of the Paper Turns table at the Etsy markt in August
For more information see http://www.evergreen.ca/whats-on/event-details/11613/

The Etsy Market is hosted parallel to the Farmers' Market, and there are several other events for kids and families as well as a free Yoga class taking place during the same time, in case you need an additional reason to come out and browse the craft market...

I look forward to seeing you there!

Friday 2 October 2015

Paper Turns to take part in Fundraiser for CMHA

Save the date: On Saturday, November 7, 2015, Paper Turns will take part in a fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association. 
Paper Turns will have a full table with holiday cards, cards for many other occasions, gift tags, card sets and origami magnets. If you're thinking about holiday gifts, this is the right event for you. There will be over 40 vendors to shop from - it truly is a One-Stop Shopping event.
Hours: 1-5 p.m.
Location: Newmarket Community Centre, 200 Doug Duncan Drive, Newmarket, Ontario.
For updates, the full list of vendors, and to RSVP, please visit the event's Facebook page. For further information on the organiser and the cause go HERE

Bring the kids as well! There's a kids area with a face painter, balloon artist, photo booth, craft section, a singer, and a candy buffet table. Entrance to the kids' area is $3 per ticket or get 4 tickets for $10.
In addition to the 40 vendors, the event also features a silent auction (with over 150 items!), a Henna artist, a Thai Massage therapist, a magician, Elsa and a Minion (think of the children's delight!), and delicious treats from the Wickedly Sinful food truck.

The entrance fee to the event is only $2 (payable only for ages 16+), which goes to a great cause and will get you a raffle ticket and a commemorative bracelet.


Tuesday 22 September 2015

First Birthday

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me....

Can you believe that Paper Turns was officially launched one year ago? What an amazing first year this has been. Thank you all for your support, your purchases, your suggestions, custom design requests and the many shout-outs that have helped push this little venture off the ground and get noticed around the world.

If you'd like to join in the celebration and treat yourself to a special card or two this week, please use the coupon code 1BIRTHDAY, which will get you 10% off everything in the Paper Turns Etsy shop for the remainder of this month. Expiry date: September 30, 2015.

Paper crane chain birthday card. Art. no.: 01CC-A2-BLA15071

Monday 3 August 2015

The Etsy Market @Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto will feature... Paper Turns!

Come visit me next weekend at the Etsy Market at Evergreen Brick Works! Paper Turns will be among over 40 craft vendors who will sell their unique and locally crafted wares at the market. You can find anything from ceramics and knits to toys, home wares, and greeting cards! My table will feature all my latest creations, including a broad range of birthday, wedding, new baby and thank-you cards, greeting cards for many other occasions, blank cards, some holiday cards for the early-bird seasonal shoppers, and card sets. I will also be launching a new product... Pssst, it's a surprise!

When:  Sunday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, The Pavilions, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto ON, M4W 3X8.
For more information see http://www.evergreen.ca/whats-on/event-details/11613/

The Etsy Market is hosted parallel to the Farmers' Market, and there are several events for kids on as well, in case you need an additional reason to come out and browse the craft market.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Etsy Market

Update: If you would like to see some impressions of the market, go HERE.

Sunday 5 July 2015

Want an awesome and totally unique card? Let me design it for you!

Is there someone in your life who deserves an extra-special card? Maybe your best friend has a big birthday coming up, and you just can't find the perfect card? Or you'd like to give your significant other a card that reflects special memories or particular interests - things that aren't on your average store-bought card, or that you don't know where to look for? Maybe your brother is getting married, and you think he deserves so much more than the cliché wedding card that's available in stores? Or you need to say thank you for something really awesome, and flowers just won't do? Perhaps you're looking for a card with a birthday wish in German, Japanese, or Russian and can't find one where you live? I am here to help!

In addition to the card lines that I sell on Etsy and at craft shows, I create one-of-kind cards for individuals who approach me with special requests. Whether it involves merely making a small change to a card that is already in my shop - altering the colour, size, or text on the cover - or designing a completely new card from scratch, I welcome creative challenges and would be happy to design a card for you.

To give you an idea of the possibilities, let me show you a few examples of custom-design work that I have done in the past. 

1. Birthday card for a young woman

One customer asked me to make a special birthday card for a dear friend who loved bright colours, had just taken up gardening, and was proud of her first home-grown sunflowers. On the basis of this brief, I created origami sunflowers, and played around with my flower-print card stocks and my brightly coloured special papers. Once I had two basic ideas with some additional design options, I sent the following pictures to the customer for feedback. 

The first two basic suggestions to play around with
Finished result 

After emailing back and forth a little bit, and trying out a variety of small changes to the placement of the individual components of the card (always documented by photographs), the customer decided on a final version. I never glue the individual design elements of a customised card until the customer is happy with every small detail and I have received final approval.

Once the customer had approved the ultimate design, everything was glued, and the card was then placed - together with an envelope - in a plastic wrapper and passed on to the customer.    

2. Birthday card for a customer's father

First and final version of the card (before gluing)
When a customer approached me with the request to create a birthday card that would reflect the recipient's interest in playing cards and his love of whiskey, I came up with a card that combined a store-bought set of mini playing cards (from the scrapbooking section) with a whiskey glass and decanter that I made from vellum paper, golden brown layers of washi, and white paper. I placed these elements on textured Japanese card stock in a wood tone to create an overall vintage theme that would correspond to whiskey and aging. Seeing the first version of the card, the customer then expressed interest in an adding a toast to the birthday wish. The photos show the first and the final version of the card.



3. Wedding card for a gay couple

Upon browsing my Fall 2014 collection in search of a wedding card, one customer stumbled over a birthday card that featured a chain of cranes in rainbow colours and decided to request a custom-made wedding card featuring rainbow colours instead of purchasing a more conventional "Congratulations" card. The request also included tying the card to the grooms' interests in musical theatre and dance as well as books and baking, respectively. I was also aware that the couple had a connection to Jane Austen. 

Rainbow-coloured wedding card with ribbon woven through
Following this brief, I created a card that would open in the centre, with a ribbon woven through that could be tied into a bow to close the card. Each side of the card was dedicated to one of the groom's interests. The left side featured a Fosse-inspired bowler hat (card stock & satin) and tap shoes; the latter were made from black craft foam with textured silver foil for the taps and black thread sewn on to create laces. The right side featured a cake (black card stock, white paper & silver foil) as well as a handmade miniature edition of Pride and Prejudice, which contained, in still-legible mini print the first two chapters of Austen's novel. The rainbow backdrop was created with velvety momi paper from Japan.


4. Diwali card set


Set of 6 Diwali cards

The cards I design for religious holidays most often reflect my own Judaeo-Christian cultural roots. That said, I am also always happy to design cards for other religious holidays and cultural festivals.

One customer asked me to create a set of small Diwali cards that would feature a diya, and that could be distributed among friends to wish them "Diwali Mubarak". The customer picked the colour of the card, approved the design of the diya, and then received a whole range of finishing options, some of which are depicted below. I am very pleased with the final result and so were the customer and, as I was told, the recipients of the cards.  
Different design options tried out on the Diwali card before settling on the final version


5. Christmas card set with wishes in German and English

A German customer ordered Christmas cards from my 2014 Holiday Collection but wanted only three of the requested fifteen cards to contain the English Christmas wish, "Merry Christmas". The remaining twelve cards were to feature the same wish in German, "Frohe Weihnachten".

 
Christmas Wreath card set in two languages: English and German
The text says "happy birthday!" in German

Sometimes, custom design is as easy as switching the language! This applies, in fact, to all of my cards. Would you like one of my signature crane cards or any of my other cards with a wish in a language other than English? Let me know!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

You wonder: how do I place an order, how much does it cost, and how long does it take?

If you would like to order a custom-made card, there are several different ways to get in touch:
  • Send an email to paperturns AT gmail.com
  • Send me a message through this blog (on the right)
  • Send me a message through Facebook
  • Request a custom order through the Paper Turns Etsy Shop 

Don't worry if you lack ideas for the card. We will work something out together, and I am always happy to provide a range of suggestions.

Even though my customers are receiving unique works of art that are specially designed according to their wishes, the cards are affordable, too. The cost of each individual card depends, obviously, on the materials used and the amount of time involved, but I am very aware that nobody wants to spend $20 on a card. For most of the custom-ordered cards to date, I have charged between $9 and $15 (everything included, except shipping). Small customisations of cards in my regular collection (e.g. mere language changes on text labels) are cheaper, and I also offer discounts on card sets. Once I have rough specifications for a card (size, detail, time frame), I can provide you with a quote. You can pay by credit card (through Etsy), e-transfer (Canada and Europe), cheque (Canada), or cash (Toronto).

The time frame depends primarily on four factors: how early we settle on a design; how much work the individual card details require; whether I have all the requested materials in stock; and how full my work schedule is. The turnaround is usually between 2 and 5 days, but at busy times, it can be 2-3 weeks (or longer if I need to order special supplies). This does not factor in shipping times. I therefore recommend getting in touch as early as possible, especially if you require international shipment.

Do you have any questions that I have not yet answered? If so, please write a comment below or send a message. I look forward to working with you!  

P.S.: I also design wedding invitations! A future blog post will feature this topic. In the meantime, I can provide samples and quotes for invitations upon request.  

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Happy Canada Day!

Paper Turns wishes all Canadian customers around the world a Happy Canada Day!

I have a special offer for all customers that are based in Canada: FREE domestic shipping on all orders today and tomorrow! Use coupon code CANADADAY2015 when ordering from the Paper Turns Etsy store on July 1 and 2. Only two days, and only for orders within Canada. Happy browsing!



Sunday 28 June 2015

Happy Pride!



Paper Turns loves colour and diversity and makes cards for everyone!

Here is a beautiful rainbow card I am proud to have specially designed* for a wonderful couple in the past:


*Stay tuned for a new post on custom design in the coming days!

Saturday 9 May 2015

Great Turnout for Paper Turns at the Artisans' Market @SickKids Hospital

The Paper Turns table at the Artisans' Market @SickKids, Toronto

Paper Turns cards were a big hit for Mother's Day shoppers. The Mother's Day card range sold out within the first 90 minutes!

Large black card (Art. No.: 17OR-SL-BLA-15051) and navy card (Art. No.: 17OR-SL-NAV-15051)

The large square cards in black and navy, featuring a small bouquet of origami flowers in varying shades of pink were the first to fly off the shelf. The A6 cards in green, lilac and navy were gone shortly afterwards.

Mint green card (Art. No.: 17OR-A6-MIN-15051) and lilac card (Art. No.: 17OR-A6-LIL-15051)

Navy/lilac card (Art. No.: 17OR-A6-NAV-15051) and navy/yellow card (Art. No.: 17OR-A6-NAV-15052)

Once the Mother's Day cards were gone, many shoppers requested the immensely versatile large blank linen cards in different colours to be customised on site for Mother's Day. The large linen cards were popular with those who shopped for wedding cards as well. I had my gold pen handy, and thus the cards could easily be adorned with a "Happy Mother's Day" wish, or a "Congratulations, [name of bride] & [name of groom]".

Another big hit were the funky new owl card sets. They sold out after a few hours as well. Each set features three little cards in bright green, each with a cool-looking owl sitting on a branch and sporting shades. The owls in each set are red (with yellow shades), orange (with teal shades), and yellow (with pink shades).  

Owl card set. Article No.: 00JO-SE-GRE15051


A little boy who had just come from a medical procedure was wowed by the origami birds on my cards, and when I asked him to pick a bird shape, and to choose a colour from my big pile of mini origami sheets, I folded a little crane for him on the spot, which pleased him and his mom immensely. Get well soon, little boy!

Here are some close-up impressions of my table:


It was lovely to meet and chat with the many visitors to the Artisans' Market, and to introduce a new range of people to the Paper Turns brand. I certainly had a great time and am already looking forward to my next craft show. Stay tuned!

Monday 4 May 2015

Upcoming Craft Show Featuring Paper Turns!

Paper Turns will be selling greeting cards at the upcoming Artisans' Market at SickKids Hospital in Toronto on Friday, May 8th, 9:30am-2:00pm. The Artisans' Market is in the Atrium/Garden Terrace of the Hospital at 170 Elizabeth Street (you can get there using the entrance at 555 University Avenue as well).

At my table you will find both my most beloved card ranges (e.g. plenty of signature crane cards in all colours, cherry blossom cards, dragonfly cards...) and my new cards for Mother's Day, for children, for sick people, for summery occasions and more. You can also order cards, or discuss your stationery needs and ideas with me. I can customise cards on site as well! 

If you've missed the "Etsy Made in Canada" show or the "One of a Kind" show, this is your opportunity to meet some fabulous local crafters. No admission fee! 

I look forward to seeing you there!




Thursday 2 April 2015

Happy Easter!

Easter cards



Why not make a beautifully crafted card in spring colours part of your Easter presents or decorations? The signature ornament on all 2015 Easter cards is a handmade origami bunny made from colourful foil. The Easter cards come in two sizes.

Art. Nos.: 14OR-A6-MIN15031 (left) and 14OR-A6-MIN15032 (right)

(1) The A6 cards are made from light green linen card stock and feature mixed green & gold chiyogami, accentuated by beige card stock. An origami bunny in purple or gold foil is placed just off centre, and a satin bow in a matching colour is placed below. Cards can be custom-made with bunnies and ribbons in other colours as well. Options include pink, blue, orange and bright green foil. The card comes with a white envelope.



(2) The A2 series comes in two card-stock colours: red (with a red envelope) and mint green (with a white envelope). Each card features colourful rabbit-patterned chiyogami, matching white tissue, and origami bunnies in red (on the mint green card) or silver (on the red card).

 



Article No.: 14JO-A2-MIN15031

Article No.: 14JO-A2-RED15031