happy holidays

chiyogami snowflakes

i've always adored The Paper Place on Queen Street West. My trips down that neighbourhood never fail to end with me in the shop drooling over their beautiful chiyogami collection.

a couple weeks ago, m. and i dropped by the store and picked up a few chiyogami pieces to make into holiday cards. they've sat on my studio table ever since...until i saw this!



The Paper Place is holding a holiday contest to give away an incredible stack of Chiyogami paper worth $2000! And entering couldn't be easier. One comment on their website earns you one entry; mentioning them on your blog earns you five extra entries, and adding a link to a photo of work you've done with their paper earns five more entries. Go here for more details!

and so, with this extra incentive, today i took a break from grad school applications, and headed downstairs with a pair of scissors.



ah, i do love the spirit of holiday crafting.

(please please please let me win that giant pile of paper. i wouldn't know what to do with it all but i'd be so happy.)



tomorrow i'm excited to be going to City of Craft before heading to my symphony chorus concert. i only have an hour to spare, but i just couldn't miss City of Craft because of all the talented artists and artisans on the vendor list. so, that's where i'll be tomorrow at noon. and if you're in the toronto area, you should be too!

letterpress magic

i've always had a soft spot for the beauty and elegance of letterpressed cards. two weeks ago, i finally crossed off one of the items on my 2008 new year resolution list: to learn how to work a letterpress machine. it was a windy saturday when my accomplice mike and i shuffled over to KOZO studio in toronto's east chinatown to attend a one-day letterpress workshop, where we de-mystified the magic of the vandercook press.

it. was. soooo. much. fun!



i had no idea that setting up the press was the longest part of the whole process. but after everything was properly set out and tightened and inked and etc, seeing that first proof come out of the machine - i was bouncing with joy. mike caught me in the moment:



and here they are. my very first letterpressed cards!



at $3000-5000 for a vandercook, i realized i need to find cheaper hobbies!! i think i shall stick with my gocco baby for the time being. but this was a wonderful introduction and maybe, maybe someday i will venture more into the letterpress world.

if you are in the area, KOZO studio will be holding its holiday market every Thursday to Saturday until December 24th, featuring local artists and artisans for all your holiday gifting needs. (psst...some of my stuff will also be selling there.) come out and support handmade!