Wow - things are pretty hectic!
When I was asked to join NOTHS (Not On The High Street . com) earlier this year, I was a bit nervous about it. It's quite expensive to join and you have to pay the whole lot up front. However, I decided it was worth going for it. Orders started trickling in pretty much straightaway and it was chugging along quite calmly until the beginning of this month.
NOTHS asked me if I'd be willing to let them put my 'Life is Good' print in their 'last minute' Xmas catalogue. I jumped at the opportunity and sales have gone completely mad! I was warned by them that this might happen, but really I had no concept of what it means to be promoted by such a huge company until the last couple of weeks.
If you're thinking about signing up with them as a seller, it's a big up-front cost, but it certainly delivers in terms of orders - especially at this time of the year. So definitely worth considering.
On top of that I'm getting a few follow-on commissions since doing the Wisley Craft Fair - which is really great. That was another risk that has turned out to be worth it. Committing to taking a stand at any of the big fairs is quite a major expense and always a risk because you never know how you're going to do. If you're a artist/maker/seller, the only thing you can do is talk to other artists/makers and get recommendations as to which fairs have been good for them.
So it's going to be a busy few weeks of packing and posting, followed by a busy January-February of commissions.
I also want to finish my Peace Sign which I started some time ago. Here's the current photo of that piece in progress.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Monday, 26 November 2012
Wisley Contemporary Craft Fair
I've just finished exhibiting/selling my wares at the RHS Wisley Fair. I hadn't exhibited there before. It's always a risk signing up for something new as the stands are so expensive, lights cost extra, the shell scheme for hanging pictures costs extra etc etc. However, it turned out to be a really great fair and was pretty much heaving with people from Wednesday morning to Sunday afternoon! I'm completely exhausted, but it was definitely worth braving the M25 twice a day for a week - I HATE that motorway!
So hopefully I'll be back there again next year and possibly at Henley in June (also run by Craft in Focus).
Thank you so much to everyone who came along to support the event.
So hopefully I'll be back there again next year and possibly at Henley in June (also run by Craft in Focus).
Thank you so much to everyone who came along to support the event.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
The Lord Mayor's Show poster
So FINALLY the Lord Mayor's Show poster has gone up around town. People have been taking photos from all over the place! If you see one somewhere, please do send me a photo and try and include the location if possible. Thanks!
Stanmore Station
Canada Water (Docklands)
It's also been spotted at Bond Street Station and at Earl's Court.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Special Commission
I've just finished working on a papercut commission which is destined for a family in Dubai. My client was very specific about all the tiny details that you can see in the picture, from the man singing with a microphone, to the lady of the house tending the plants, with her doctor's bag on the table. Many of the other tiny little details are also specifically to order.
The piece measures approximately 22cm x 22cm.
The piece measures approximately 22cm x 22cm.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
October Workshop
We had great fun yesterday! What a great group of interesting and creative women! Here are some of the papercuts they produced. All these pieces were cut from 15cm sq origami paper.
Catherine
Catherine
Frances
Gillian
Janie
Marsha
Nicky
Nicky
Christine
Sally
Sally
Monday, 1 October 2012
The Lord Mayor's Show 2012 - Poster
So here it is - I can finally show you the poster I was working on over the whole of the summer!
It's fair to say that quite a lot of it is bizarre and surreal - but that completely works with papercutting so no problem there!
My brief was to show the Guildhall surrounded by a parade of characters. Some of them are the traditional uniformed folk that accompany the Lord Mayor on his annual parade. Others were specifically requested - such as Dick Whittington, a pianist, a snake, a pig, chickens, people dressed as fish, a thistle. And others were of my own choice - such as the Pearly King and Queen and the chap dressed in a canoe costume. Plus much much more! Take your time and have a browse around!
It's fair to say that quite a lot of it is bizarre and surreal - but that completely works with papercutting so no problem there!
My brief was to show the Guildhall surrounded by a parade of characters. Some of them are the traditional uniformed folk that accompany the Lord Mayor on his annual parade. Others were specifically requested - such as Dick Whittington, a pianist, a snake, a pig, chickens, people dressed as fish, a thistle. And others were of my own choice - such as the Pearly King and Queen and the chap dressed in a canoe costume. Plus much much more! Take your time and have a browse around!
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Monday, 17 September 2012
Nanny papercut - new commission
I've been commissioned to papercut a piece for a family whose long-term Nanny is leaving them to go travelling. My brief was to portray the three children with the Nanny in an outdoors setting. They enjoyed visiting castles and gardens. The two family cats and a tray of cupcakes will go in there somewhere too! The first picture is my initial, very rough, drawing that I submit for approval before starting the papercut.
Friday, 14 September 2012
Indian Elephant (re-cut)
I cut a smaller version of this elephant about a year ago - but forgot to make it available as a print. As I get so many requests to do more, I thought I'd re-cut a larger version with a bit more fine detail in it. Also available as a print.
Monday, 10 September 2012
Ceilidh Papercut
I finished the commission today. I need to mount it on green, but we haven't decided which green yet. Here are the options. I'd be tempted by Jewel as I think it really pops out on that colour. But ultimately it's not my choice.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Wedding Anniversary commission
I've been commissioned to produce an Anniversary papercut for a couple who wish to have a piece depicting their wedding party, which was an Irish Ceilidh! The papercut is white and will be on a green background - although I haven't sourced the final green yet. It's a similar sort of piece to my Morris Dancing papercut, which the couple actually saw in my Hampstead Exhibition in February. The piece is 40cm x 40cm.
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Rabbit
Now that the Lord Mayor's Poster is all finished and safely with the photographer, it's given me a chance to finish of a couple of things that have been sitting around my studio for a while.
Here's little rabbit! She measures approximately 16cm x 16cm. She's available to buy (unframed) for £225. If you're interested, please contact me.
Here's little rabbit! She measures approximately 16cm x 16cm. She's available to buy (unframed) for £225. If you're interested, please contact me.
Monday, 27 August 2012
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Sugar Skull II
Nearly finished my next Sugar Skull. The original will be available on
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/folkartpapercutsbysuzytaylor when it's finished.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Spring Workshops
Saturday 31st May 2014
and
Saturday 14th June 2014
Please email me at craftysooz@gmail.com
if you'd like further information and a booking form.
and
Saturday 14th June 2014
Please email me at craftysooz@gmail.com
if you'd like further information and a booking form.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Giveaway Results
HERE WE GO!!!!
Well done Kat Kelly - please email me your postal address and I'll get that Balloon print right off to you with some of my cards too!
My email is craftysooz@gmail.com
Friday, 17 August 2012
Sugar Skull II
I've fancied doing another Sugar Skull for a while. And since my back has been playing me up this week, it was a good time to sit in a comfy chair and draw, rather than lean over my desk and cut! Took me all day to draw this one out. Looking forward to cutting it now.
Friday, 3 August 2012
Exhibition Video for YouTube
This video was taken at the opening of my current exhibition. It was a little disconcerting having someone follow me round with a camera - not something that I've ever experienced before! But amazingly I don't come across like a complete fool and even sound like I know what I'm talking about!!! It's a few minutes long if you've got the time to watch, please do :)
Monday, 30 July 2012
Letter 'K' and Rabbit drawing
I finished my letter 'K' papercut and in the meantime I drew out a topiary rabbit which I'm looking forward to cutting. My letters are available for purchase on Not On The High Street, Etsy and Folksy - whichever is your cuppa tea and I'm also going to make them available as prints as I gradually build up the alphabet. Could take all year! Here's the Etsy link https://www.etsy.com/listing/51786193/papercut-initial-original-papercut
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