Mr Yen: Hand cut paper art

New Year, New Start...

2012-01-24T15:20:00.000Z

Hello!

After planning my 2012 #12MonthPlan late last year I thought long and hard about the direction I wanted to take my work in 2012. As I mentioned previously in this post, I am going to focus less on selling my work to start focusing more on designing paper cut pieces for clients and companies. The Mr Yen shop will still be operating and I will still be paper cutting, but i'll not be spending as much time on things related to selling my work.

To do this, and to focus on design work, I realised I would have to generate my income from somewhere other than from selling my paper cut pieces, so - I've decided to go back into full time employment!

From Thursday....I will be working full time, at the place I currently work part time (Muji) so I can focus on creating more paper cut designs without the added pressure of selling my work to generate my income. I know some people could see this as a step backwards - to go back to working for someone else, when I have been self employed for just over a year....but going back into full time employment gives me the freedom and time to design some new paper cuts without any pressure, so I see it as a step forwards and a positive thing to do to keep the Mr Yen business alive and well!

I will still be doing everything Mr Yen, such as blogging (for both myself & Paper Runway) paper cutting, sending out a monthly newsletter and running the shop, it's just it will be more of part time venture for a while.

With all this being said, I am still very interested in designing paper cuts and sticking to my goals mentioned in my 12 month plan, so I don't want this to sound like Mr Yen is going to disappear, it's just that I need time to focus my energies on creating some design pieces and going back to full time employment takes off some of the pressure in relation to earning at the moment.

As always, I wanted to be completely open and honest about my plans and what I intend to do, and I feel the need to share my plans because there are probably other self employed people who would like to do the same thing, but are probably thinking what I thought initially - that this is a step backwards.

I see this as a positive step forwards to keep doing what I love doing - paper cutting!

The Mr Yen Twelve Month Plan

2012-01-19T11:03:00.001Z

I have been adding ideas to this post since the end of last year and have decided to just publish what I have for now as I will probably add to it later anyway...

I have taken inspiration from this blog post over on The Academy Blog and have chosen a word that I want to use when focusing in on the things I plan to do this year!

My Word of the year is: Action

I have realised that procrastinating because something I've done might not be good enough just yet, is holding me back from opportunities that I want to grab with both hands - so 2012 is the year I do this!

This year I want to focus more on papercut designs and illustrations for companies and clients (inspired by my graphic design degree) and less on selling papercuts - which means the Mr Yen shop will be taking a back seat. I will still be updating and adding to the shop when I can, plus I would love to create a few seasonal paper cuts!

I now feel it's time for me to start creating illustrations that I feel have a purpose and communicate something. I've been paper cutting for over four years now, so I feel I have the skills to create things well and to a set deadline - I just need the opportunities to display these skills and work with some amazing companies and clients! I would love to create illustrations for editorial work and would love to create paper cuts for several magazines, newspapers and books.

I will be updating my progress frequently over on twitter, (& here on the blog) where you can follow my progress using the following hash tag #12MonthPlan.

I would love for you to join me this year while I work through my goals and I would equally love to hear from you on your own monthly or yearly plans!

***

Mr Yen 12 Month Plan:

To create a paper cut book cover design.

To start work on a book of my paper cuts.

To create a paper cut illustration for a cosmetic company.

To create a papercut installation

To work with a paper company to promote their papers

To create a range of editorial illustrations

To have a solo exhibition of my papercuts

A few dream clients I would love to create paper cuts for are:

Liberty

Vogue

Crabtree & Evelyn

Uppercase Magazine

The Guardian

The Times

Penguin
The New Yorker

***

If you would like me to create any of these things for you, you can see my portfolio website here and get in touch here. If you have any information on how to go about creating/doing any of these things I would appreciate any help I can get...you can send me emails here.

Flower Of The Month - Hyacinth

2012-01-06T09:00:00.003Z

I'm pleased to announce the start of a new series of posts for the blog - Flower Of The Month.

I've decided to introduce this new monthly post as I will be focusing on creating and designing lots of floral paper cut art this year and I thought it would be nice to include some information about certain plants, herbs and flowers that I will be paper cutting so we can all learn something new along the way! (if you have any other information about this months flower, I would love you to leave it in the comments below)

Each post will be accompanied by a free desktop calendar that you can get by signing up to the Mr Yen Newsletter here and several images and information about each flower. I want the posts to be more about the images, with the information as a little extra - and as I've wanted to focus my designs on floral designs for a while now, I thought 2012 would be the year to start this. I hope you enjoy these posts and I would love to hear what you know about this months flower!

***

Flower Of The Month: January

***

Hyacinths are extremely fragrant and range in colour, from striking deep purple to pure white and subtle pink.

***

These flowers have a very feminine look to them - with a bold fresh fragrance and the simplicity & formal appearance of the flowers themselves, this flower has a striking impact.

***

It is said that just inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of these flowers relieves greif & depression

***

These flowers would make a lovely addition to any spring bouquet or arrangement where you want a strong yet feminine fragrance.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T10:48:00.000Z

I hope you've had a great start to the New Year! I will be back to posting here regularly again this week and there are lots of new things I have planned for the blog and business this year, so I hope you will join me for a busy and fun filled 2012!

The Mr Yen Sale
To celebrate the new year and to make way for the changes to come, I've decided to have a sale on all stationery items (which includes the Mr Yen Christmas tape) , all papercut jewellery and a few papercuts too! You can head on over to the newly designed Mr Yen shop here to view all sale items.

All items are very limited and once the few items left have sold, they will not be replaced - ever, so why not head on over to get yourself a bargain as some pieces are up to 50% off!

Changes...

2011-12-19T21:35:00.001Z

It's been over a month since I last blogged, so I thought I would check in to explain why... It's time for some changes to Mr Yen, in both branding and things that I create - which will affect what I blog about, how I blog and how I work. Hopefully this new way of working will mean more regular posts here and more free time for freelance design projects.

New Branding:
I'm planning to fully launch the newly branded Mr Yen early next spring and I'm currently working away on these changes to make sure things happen when they should! (as you can see from some of the changes already happening with the shop and this blog)

Earlier this year I created a Six Month Plan for all things Mr Yen, which I've found extremely helpful in making my goals successful, so I'm applying this process to a whole year of planning everything I would like to achieve for 2012.

This year has been a great year, but it has had it's ups and downs. I feel I have achieved some fantastic things, but there has also been low points too. To be honest, the low points are mostly from the first six months of the year - when I didn't plan anything, but the last six months has also had some low points too. These low points mostly relate to cash flow (which again can be linked back to improper planning on my behalf) or potential features of my work in various publications which fell through at the last minute.

What I've learnt over the last year:
This year has been a huge learning curve where I've enjoyed both good and bad points as it has opened my eyes to what needs to change and how I need to go about changing them, while being thrown in at the deep end, as most of the things I have done have been the first time I have had to do them. I feel this first official year of business has been a sort of test run and practice for the real thing.

This year I've experimented with various products, promotional techniques, advertising methods, press opportunities and things to focus on as a business, which has really helped me hone in on what I want to be creating, for who and how to get my work infront of the right people. I feel so much more prepared for the upcoming year and as I've learnt so much this year I feel it's just a matter of putting everything into practice.

For some reason, while planning things that I want to achieve in relation to my business, I always feel as though I should be keeping an eye on what everyone else is doing and as though I should plan for things at the last minute in case I want to change my mind. For example, when I hear people complain that August is too early to be preparing for Christmas (when really it's too late!) it makes me question myself, so I put things off for a few more weeks (or months) when really if I trusted myself and went with my instincts I would start planning Christmas in early spring time. I've realised that constantly looking at the way other people conduct their business is not the way to go about organising my own business so I need to change the way I plan and organise things. This year I will hopefully be starting the year with everything I need to make my business successful. From business plans, accounts and promotional/marketing plans to having a whole years worth of papercut designs, photo shoots and catalogues completed.

Marketing and Promotion:
This year I have left marketing and promotion of my products too late due to being unorganised and not getting things like an actual physical press pack made up (or a digital one either!) leaving me to rush something together at the last minute when people ask for information, so I don't have the time to get an image of a product on a white cut out background for example. Again, as I have learnt from missing out on several opportunities this year because of things like this, I now know what needs to be done from the start. I also feel that having a clear focus of things makes a business run smoother, so things like planning a years worth of marketing and promotion will be extremely beneficial as I will know what needs doing each month to keep on track - which then helps me to know what needs to be done on a weekly and daily basis too.

Throughout the year I've experimented with ways of promoting my work through channels such as blog banner adverts, contacting blogs for features, paying for adverts on blogs and websites and using social media such as twitter, Facebook and this blog which has made me focus in on what works best for me and my business...next year I would love to see Mr Yen products in magazines and newspapers!

What's to come in the new year for Mr Yen:
The Mr Yen blog - I will be changing what I blog about, how and when I blog too. I will also be changing the weekly posts that I have schedule at the moment, such as "Thursday Finds" to things more appropriate to what products I will be creating next year.

The Mr Yen shop - I will be focusing in on large scale papercuts, while taking inspiration from all things floral and natural. I have wanted to focus on botanical designs and themes with my work for a while as these are the things I love, so I will be stopping the majority of my other papercut pieces to focus on these new designs.

Mr Yen & social media - It's time I changed the way I used twitter and facebook in conjunction with my work and this blog, so there will be a more definite focus on what I mention on these platforms from next year.

One last thing...
Mr Yen Customers - This year I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing and friendly people, as customers of the Mr Yen shop and as people who I have created design work for - without you all I wouldn't be able to do what I love and develop my ideas and designs, so I would just like to say thank you for all the support and kind words that you have given me over the last year.

I hope you will join me on my journey next year in making Mr Yen bigger and better and I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

See you in the new year!

Monday Morning - Six Month Plan Update

2011-11-07T09:00:00.083Z

Good Morning!

Well it seems like so long ago that I last managed to get a chance to blog! I have been very busy with preparation for the Art Market I will be going to in Holmfirth this Sunday coming up. I've been planning and designing my stall, making papercuts, getting some packaging created and planning things to make sure I don't forget anything on the day!

For the rest of this week I will be carrying on with my Art Market prep, while also working on the Christmas window display for Hannah Zakari, that I will be installing on the 21st of November up in Edinburgh. I thought it might be a good time now, to give you an update on the progress of my Six Month Plan....

So far, I have completed several of my goals, but as each of these have been worked on - each thing has brought up new opportunities that I have lead to more work and interesting things, so a few of my Six Month goals have been delayed until the new year! So here are the things I've completed so far and the things that have been delayed until next year...

Six Month Plans Completed already...

* A papercut window display - preferably a Christmas one!

This Goal is still in progress and I will be installing a papercut window display for Hannah Zakari on the 21st of November.

* A few papercut illustrations for some editorial work (such as magazines, newspapers etc)

This goal was recently completed as I created a papercut design for Issue 3 of Paper Runway, which you can see here.

* To exhibit/display my work at a craft fair/trade fair

I will be exhibiting my work at my very first craft fair this coming Sunday at the Art Market in Holmfirth - if you can get to it, I would love for you to come by and say hi!

* To have my work stocked somewhere outside the UK.

Mr Yen Papercuts are now stocked in Halifax in Canada, in a great boutique called Inkwell. You can visit the Inkwell website here.

* To have my papercuts on display in some local businesses.

I have recently added some framed papercut leaf pieces to be in a paper craft exhibition in a local café to me in Leeds, at Café 164. You can see these pieces any time between 7th of November (today!) until the 16th of December.

Six Month Plans Still To Be Completed...

* A papercut book cover design.

I would love to create a papercut design for a company such as Chronicle Books or Penguin, which also leads me onto a newly added goal for next year...

* To start work on a book of my papercuts.

I would love to create an actual book, to be published by a publishing company such as Chronicle books. I love the books they bring out and I would love to create a small picture book of some floral papercuts!

* A papercut illustration for an advert for a cosmetics company

I would still very much like to create something for Crabtree and Evelyn. I think my work would suit some of their more floral and feminine products and I would love to work with them as a company.

* Create a papercut installation.

I think this goal is one of my personal favourites as since I've started planning a Christmas papercut window display, I love the idea of creating papercuts on a large scale!

* To work with a paper company to promote their paper and business.

I would love to get the opportunity to do this as it is the materials side of things that made love using paper to begin with. I think a small ad campaign, using the companies papers in creative ways using papercut imagery would be great!

As I am still working towards the rest of these goals and would love to secure more of them for early next year, if you have any information on how to go about creating/doing any of these things I would appreciate any help I can get...you can send me emails here - and if you would like me to create any of these things for you, you can see my portfolio website here and get in touch here.

Paper Runway Guest Post

2011-10-26T17:05:00.000+01:00

Today in my guest post for Paper Runway I talk about the screen printed designs created by Paul Farrell.

Click here to read more.

***

For last weeks guest post for Paper Runway I featured the screen printed designs created by Mengsel Designs.

Click here to read more.

WIP Wednesday - Guest Post: Finest Imaginary

2011-10-26T09:00:00.067+01:00

Good Morning!

For todays post, I thought you would like to hear from another guest blogger, so I present Kim Lawler from Finest Imaginary and her 10 top tips on how to prepare for a craft fair! If you would like to contribute a guest post on how to prepare and organise yourself for a craft fair, just send me an email and I would love for you to share your knowledge with the Mr Yen readers.

***

Top 10 tips for Craft Market Preparation!
For the past couple of years I've been attending numerous craft/design and art markets with my brand Finest Imaginary. The most recent event that I took part in was Renegade Handmade, one of the largest craft markets in the UK. I feel I've picked up some super useful tips along the way that'll make your market experience run smoothly, and help your preparations be stress free!

1) Prepare well in advance.
Eventually you'll be able to do most of it on the fly, but certainly for your first few fairs you'll need to pack your boxes/case a few days in advance, and even have a checklist so that you don't forget anything! It's much better to be prepared!

2) Remember your float.
Your float (or, cash tin with loads of change in it) is essential! How else will you be able to give your first customer, who will undoubtedly present you with a £20 note for a £3.50 item, their change? I generally like to have around £20, with a couple of notes and lots of pound coins.

3) Consider your stock.
Deciding how much stock to take to a fair can be a tricky one, but don't stress out too much about it. Just consider your audience and take what you think's best. You can always prepare a lookbook/brochure so that if anything sells out so customers can still see what products you can provide & what they can buy online.

4) Run through your display.
If possible have a go at setting up your display on a kitchen table, making sure that you have all the necessary display items & props. This makes it much easier to figure out how you want everything laid out on the day.

5) Bring some essentials.
I always make sure I have the following in my stall suitcase:
* Masking tape
* A stapler
* Spare paper
* Pens
* Blu-tac
* Pins
* String
* Calculator (I usually use my iPhone)
* Tissues
* A project to work on (usually my sketch book)

6) Grab a stall buddy.
Having someone to man the stall during toilet breaks & lunch runs is very useful, it also makes the day less boring if it's quiet too!

7) Record your sales
You need a way of marking down your sales so that you can transfer them to your book keeping later on, I have some printed spreadsheets that I take.

8) Don't forget the incidentals - business cards, table covers, price tags & bags.
Along side your stock you'll also need
* Business cards/leaflets (you'd be suprised how many get picked up!)
* All your products need pricing, either individually or as groups
* Paper bags for the customers to take the products away, or whatever packaging you prefer!
* Insurance (public liability insurance, take your docs with you!)
* Table coverings... I always have a white tablecloth
* Spare packaging
* Equipment for quick fixes (maybe you need to switch a chain on a necklace, or make an impromptu card set)
* Snacks & drinks

9) Get there early!
If customers are starting to come in at 10am, get there for at least 9.15 so that you can set up your stall with plenty of time! I've been late before due to silly trains, and it's very stressful setting up at the last minute.

10) Most importantly, have fun & smile!

***

Finest Imaginary is the brain child of Kim Lawler, a recent 9-5 deserter, coffee drinker and kitty lover. Finest Imaginary takes a serious obsession with stories, monsters and make-believe and transforms it into sweet jewellery, clever notebooks and awwww-inducing accessories.

Monday Morning - New Projects Revealed!

2011-10-24T10:23:00.001+01:00

Good Morning!

After a busy week last week, having no time to get anything up on the blog it's time to get back to normal with todays post.

***

I'm pleased and very excited to announce a few projects I've recently worked on. Firstly, I was asked to create a papercut design for the cover of Paper Runway, Issue 3 - the handmade issue! You can see the cover I created below, which is a lace papercut design made up of different tools that can be used to make things by hand. You can pre-order your copy here, with the issue going live on November 1st.

The second thing is...a tutorial I contributed to the book Handmade Typography Workshop, by Charlotte Rivers. I've mentioned my contribution to this book on the blog before, but I've only just got my hands on a copy! You can see a sneaky peek at the tutorial I created below and if you want to have a go at creating your own papercut you can get your own copy of the book here.

Monday Morning - Collaboration With Duke Studios For Leeds Fashion Show

2011-10-17T22:22:00.000+01:00

Good evening - my internet connection has been playing up all day today - so gave up on it and went away to get some other work finished, which is why this post is so late.

This weekend I attended the Leeds Fashion Show, and if you follow me on twitter, you will know that something I designed (in collaboration with Duke Studios - who did the actual cutting and assembling) was finished and placed in the VIP goodie bags for the event. The promotional pieces were created by kiss-cutting into grey board for the tree design, with laser etched typography and lasercut/etched plywood logos.

I would just like to say a huge thanks to Duke Studios for all their hard work and that it's been fun to collaborate! Plus, a huge thanks to Leeds Fashion Show for giving me the opportunity to create something for the event - I had a great time!

I hope you've had a productive Monday and a restful weekend!

weekend goodness - weekly update

2011-10-17T21:57:00.001+01:00

A little later than expected, but if you missed any posts from last week - here's a quick catch up!

Monday Morning

Shop Update - tape, cards, tags

Inspiration Tuesday

Visual Thinking

WIP Wednesday

The first guest post from Print For Love Of Wood

Weekly Paper Runway Guest Post

Naomi Shiek

Thursday Finds

Ceramics

Feature Friday

Romi Hefetz

Feature Friday - Romi Hefetz

2011-10-14T09:00:00.001+01:00

This weeks Feature Friday is Romi Ceramics. Romi Hefetz specialises in ceramics - she makes and finishes each unique piece by hand at her studio in Long Island City, New York using a porcelain slip-casting technique to create her pieces. I love the clean lines and shapes she creates - I think the contrast between the structured and formal ceramic pieces and the free-form glaze patterns create a very striking look! Plus how amazing does the last image look?! - they're salt and pepper shakers!

Website // Shop

Thursday Finds

2011-10-13T17:31:00.000+01:00

All images can be clicked to take you to their source.

I hope to see you here tomorrow for Feature Friday!

Paper Runway Guest Post - Naomi Shiek

2011-10-12T10:00:00.000+01:00

Today in my guest post for Paper Runway I talk about the papercuts created by Naomi Shiek.

Click here to read more.

WIP Wednesday - Guest Post: Print For Love Of Wood

2011-10-12T09:01:00.001+01:00

Good Morning!

For today's WIP Wednesday, I'm proud to introduce to you the first ever guest blogger on the Mr Yen blog - It's Jacqui Sharples of Print For Love Of Wood. Today Jacqui will be giving us some hints and tips on how to prepare for a craft fair/event. If you would like to contribute a guest post on how to prepare and organise yourself for a craft fair, just send me an email and I would love for you to share your knowledge with the Mr Yen readers.

***

Print For Love Of Woood

If possible it’s a good idea to do research and visit fairs or trade shows you’re applying for. You should visit as many as you can for inspiration, shop window displays are great for inspiration too - It's best if you can practise your stand layout and give yourself plenty of time allowing for the unexpected!

Insurance 
Well organised crafts fairs insist that you have Public Liability Insurance. If you need public liability insurance, www.a-n.co.uk is supported by the Arts Council England and offers low cost artist insurance from £28 per year including access to 10 magazines.

How much stock should I take?
Too much is better than not enough, empty tables don’t sell! Take what you can; surplus stock can always be hidden under the table. You should aim to take three times what you intend to sell. For example, I hope to sell three of each print so I take nine of each. 

Do you offer bespoke or customised work? Take along a piece or a portfolio of work and make a clear sign. It's a good idea to take a broad range of products from smaller items to the more expensive ones you create.

SeventySeventyOne Design

Cash, cheque or card? 
Take plenty of loose change as well as smaller notes as most customers will have been to a cash machine so they will have £20 notes. I took a £50 float and ran out of £5 notes!  Be prepared and decide beforehand whether or not you’re going to accept cheques. As of the 30th June 2011 Banks no longer guarantee a cheque so you will be taking them in good faith. Having said that I took cheques and know many others doing the same and had no problem.  There’s an interesting article on the taking card payments at shows on the Craft & Design website.

Don’t forget… 
Write a checklist of the little things you will need, but will often not think about until it's too late such as signage, business cards, a wholesale price list, a notebook for sales, receipt book, price tickets, scissors, string, double side sticky tape, pins, power cables, packaging etc plus a drink and something to eat.

Clare Gage

The fun bit! 
Designing the layout for your stand, personally I think this should reflect you as a brand well as your product. At last years Holmfirth Art Markets Clare Gage stood out for me with her products beautifully displayed alongside her branded packaging. Shelves provide height and interest, a faux front of cupboard doors to allow for storage for stock plus it’s sturdy so customers won’t be afraid of picking products up! Don’t forget people like to feel!

Seventyseventyone Designs stand at the The British Trade Craft Fair lets the products speak for themselves with a minimalist approach, which also reflects the brand itself. Props, as well as adding height, can also double as storage for transporting your products for example vintage suitcases or wooden boxes up turned. Also - branches, coat stands and screens all provide valuable hanging space!

If you can’t afford branded packaging think paper bags and a DIY stamp or stickers. This is good advertising for your brand and it shows you care about your products.

Last of all, smile and don’t hide behind your stall! I take my printing press for customers to print a free postcard which helps explain my process, but is also a good ice breaker and promotion for my workshops.

I’ve created a pin board for inspiration on Pinterest - Craft Stall Inspiration - do take a peak and if you have any inspiring photos I would love to see them so please leave a link in the comments below.

Above all make new friends and have fun! Jax x

***

Print for Love of Wood is a small design and letterpress studio in Lancashire, dedicated to the love of wood type and tree hugging paper. It is a labour of love by award winning freelance graphic designer Jacqui Sharples, a Lancashire ‘lass’ inspired by a passion for print, the smell of ink, vintage typography and her collection of wood type. Jacqui prints in house on a range of vintage printing presses, including a Victorian treadle, using traditional methods of hand setting type.

Website // Shop // Blog

Inspiration Tuesday - Visual Thinking

2011-10-11T08:55:00.000+01:00

Image from here.

Good morning!

Today I'm carrying on with my list of 21 Inspirational Things and the next thing on my list is number two - Visual thinking.

2. Visual Thinking
During my time at University I was constantly told to stop writing lists of ideas and just get some imagery down that relates to what I want to create. That never worked for me. The best way for me to think visually is to actually make something and see how it works as an actual piece - not just a flat drawing. I suppose this is probably influenced by the medium and method I use to create things, but just drawing some ideas down didn't do it for me.

I think the best way to think visually is to adapt to what suits your medium (and your brain!) most. Below are a few ways that I have found to help me think visually:

Creating collages/mood-boards that evoke a certain feeling or theme.
Collecting ephemera that I find inspirational - knowing that a very specific thing about it will help me with my project development (such as a specific colour or typeface)
Making rough 3D versions of my idea - so I can actually see what needs adapting or changing and how.

These methods of visual thinking help me decide and experiment with things like colour, layout, size, material, shape, use and context of my designs.

What methods of visual thinking do you use and why?

Monday Morning - Shop Update!

2011-10-10T12:38:00.000+01:00

Good Morning!

Just a quick update this morning to let you know that the Mr Yen Christmas cards are now available for purchase - perfect if you need to send your Christmas cards out early. Also, the existing Mr Yen hand cut cards are now available with a lovely red insert, just for the festive season!

I hope you have a great productive Monday! See you back here tomorrow for an Inspiration Tuesday post where I will be talking about visual thinking.

weekend goodness - weekly update

2011-10-09T18:51:00.000+01:00

Kinfolk: Dinner for Two from andrew+carissa on Vimeo.

Hello - I hope you've had a relaxing weekend! Here's this weeks weekly update if you missed anything through the week...

Monday Morning
A new Mr Yen Papercut Collection was launched - M.Y Papercuts

Inspiration Tuesday
A post about finding inspiration in everyday objects.

WIP Wednesday
My first post of planning and organising for my time at The Art Market.

My guest post for this weeks Paper Runway feature.

Thursday Finds
A look at some stylish notebooks by Whit & Whistle

Feature Friday
Some beautiful ceramics by Suite One Studio

Feature Friday - Suite One Studio

2011-10-07T15:32:00.000+01:00

For todays Feature Friday I present to you Suite One Studio.

If you, like me, love ceramic pieces, simplicity and excellent hand crafting skills, then you will love the pieces created by Suite One Studio. These delicate pieces are created without molds - making each one completely differently and unique, plus Lindsay makes all her own glazes too!

If you would like your own piece of modern handmade porcelain pottery you can visit Lindsay in the following places...

Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Thursday Finds - Whit & Whistle

2011-10-06T09:00:00.001+01:00

Todays Thursday Finds post features the stylish notebooks created by Whit & Whistle.

Paper Runway Guest Post - Imeon Designs

2011-10-05T10:15:00.000+01:00

Today in my guest post for Paper Runway I talk about the paper pieces created by Imeon Designs.

Click here to read more.

WIP Wednesday - Preparing for the Art Market

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000+01:00

Well, this week feels as though it has been at least five days already! As you know, one of my Six Month Goals was to attend my first craft fair and I was accepted to have my papercuts at The Art Market on November 13th.

Now...as this is my first craft fair, everything is new to me. From making up enough stock to take (what is enough?!) down to how to get a display layout sorted for my stand (it's on the to-do list!) so I thought it might make interesting reading for those readers who have never attended a craft fair yet either.

The Art Market I will be attending is on the 13th of November, so I thought from now until then I would dedicate my weekly work in progress posts to my preparation for the market! I will discuss everything I need to do to prepare, including all the mundane bits, like how much money I should take for a float, what promotional pieces I should take, what I should do about receipts, getting public liability insurance and the more fun things, like what I will be selling at the fair and how my stand will look.

***

If you are someone who has attended a craft fair before and you have any tips or links to how to prepare for a craft fair I would love it if you could leave them in the comments below. If you have a lot of tips, I would be very interested in you guest posting on the Mr Yen blog to share your knowledge with us all!

I hope to see you back here for tomorrows Thursday Finds post!

Inspiration Tuesday - Finding inspiration in everyday things

2011-10-04T11:09:00.001+01:00

Last week I started a new series for the blog called "21 Inspirational Things" and today is the first post (posted again, as blogger deleted the original post)

1. Finding Inspiration in Everyday Things
I always find the simple things the most inspirational and I get the majority of my inspiration from nature. I love the mix of structure, colour, form and detail that you can find in nature - from leaves, trees and flowers, to food, bugs and animals. I love how nature can be so simple, yet so detailed at the same time and I think repetition and symmetry have a lot to do with this.

Plus if all else fails and I need inspiration I just take a quick break, grab a coffee and take Toby for a walk - which clears my head immediately!

What everyday objects/things give you inspiration?

Monday Morning - M.Y Papercut Collection

2011-10-03T08:29:00.001+01:00

Good Morning!

This morning I thought I would introduce my new customisable silhouette design (if you haven't seen it yet) that is the first of many in my new collection I am calling M.Y Papercuts (It was also recently featured here on Design*Sponge - thanks Grace!)

Below I have explained the collection and included images of an example. You can get your very own framed personalised botanical silhouette here in the Mr Yen shop if you're interested!

NEW Papercut Collection: M.Y Papercuts

What is M.Y Papercuts?
It's a new collection of customisable papercuts, made specifically for each individual that purchases them!

Where does the M.Y come from?
M.Y is the initials of Mr Yen, but I also want it to imply that these papercuts in the collection are just for you - so when someone asks what it is you can say it's MY papercut!

The range will develop to include the possibility of adding dates and text, plus there will be a variety of sizes and framing options. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them, so just leave them in the comments below - and as this collection is going to be a large part of what I want to do, I have created a specific section for it here on the blog.

Thursday Finds

2011-09-29T13:10:00.000+01:00

For this weeks Thursday Finds I thought I would highlight some of the fantastic new things by Present & Correct! Each image can be clicked to take you back to the Present & Correct shop.

Paper Runway Guest Post - Paperfaerie

2011-09-28T08:14:00.000+01:00

Today in my guest post for Paper Runway I talk about the book sculptures of Paperfaerie!

Click here to read more.

WIP Wednesday - Papercut Leaf Necklaces

2011-09-28T00:11:00.001+01:00

Hello!

This week I've been working on an idea that I've been wanting to try for a while...papercut leaf necklaces! I have had these leaf designs for a while and have wanted to adapt them for this purpose for a long time - it's just been one of those things that I have put to the bottom of the to do list. Well, on Monday I decided it was time to get them made!

They are now available in the shop here at an affordable introductory price and if you don't want to use them as a necklace you could always make a mobile with them!

I would love to see what you've been working on this week, so why not a leave a comment below with a link we can all visit!

Inspiration Tuesday - 21 Inspirational Things

2011-09-27T08:31:00.000+01:00

Hello!

Hand Cut Papercut Leaf Necklaces - in the shop now and more details given on Wednesday!

This week's post is a bit of a refresher of last weeks post for my 21 Inspirational Things series, which for some reason has been deleted by blogger!

Due to the post being deleted, I thought it would be best if I just explained the idea behind the 21 Inspirational Things series again....It all came about due to my week without a computer (which happened at the beginning of this month) and what I found out while researching. I came across so much helpful and inspiration information that I wanted to share with you and so I thought they best way to do this would be as regular posts here on the blog - as the weekly Inspiration Tuesday posts.

So, now you have a quick reminder, lets get on to the post! Last time I only mentioned the first thing from my 21 Inspirational Things - but I think it might be more interesting for you to see the whole list. If there is something you really want to know more about or you just want to get more details about a specific one of the 21 Inspirational Things then you can just tune in for that post!

Below is the full list of 21 Inspirational Things and I will start next week with number one and work my way through the list over the weeks! I hope you will join me every week, but if not, I hope you come back when the post you want to read pops up!

21 Inspirational Things:

Find inspiration in everyday objects.
Visual thinking is vital.
Think conceptually and concisely.
Find your strengths and weaknesses - then use both.
Don't sit waiting for the phone to ring - do stuff!
Work fast and to a high standard.
Invent your own style
Entertain and communicate.
Don't be seduced by technology.
Create your own visual language.
Understand the market you are going into.
Have a basic understanding of the print process.
Be aware of other illustrators and illustration work to see where you fit in or stand out.
Create a lot of work.
Make lots of noise and often - its the best way to get your work seen.
Do your own thing and enjoy it!
Ideas win over technique
Experiment, a lot.
Have a lively imagination.
Be curious, passionate, determined and adaptable
Be self confident.

Monday Morning - October Sponsorship

2011-09-26T08:57:00.001+01:00

Good Morning - I hope you all had a great weekend!

This weekend I've been rather busy with working at Muji and I had the pleasure of surviving this zombie chase game in my hometown of Leeds! What have you been up to?

***

Today I thought I would mention that the blog is open to sponsors for the month of October, plus, as I haven't really explained here in great detail about how to become a Mr Yen blog sponsor, I thought it was time to give you a few more details!

Why become a Mr Yen Blog Sponsor?

When you become a Mr Yen blog sponsor you will get your business/blog/website seen by just over 700 subscribers - and as I post at least once, every day (except Sunday) you and your business will have the opportunity for lots of exposure! I also update the Mr Yen Facebook and Twitter pages regularly throughout the day too, which has a combined following of over 2366 people!

You will get a dedicated post to your business/blog and yourself which will feature what it is you do - plus it will be a nice way to welcome you to the Mr Yen blog and its followers. With affordable prices and the option to be a sponsor for one or three months at a time, it's a great way to test out online advertising for your business!

You can read more details here where you can send me an email for a blog sponsor pack, click here to email me or just click the image above!

I hope you have a productive Monday and come back tomorrow to see the next installment of my 21 things series (which I have only just realised that last week's post has disappeared from the blog! - that should be fixed tomorrow too!)

Mr Yen Stationery - Printed Pattern Note-card Sets

2011-09-23T16:53:00.001+01:00

Hello again! For the final installment of posts to finish off Stationery week here on the blog, I will be featuring the Mr Yen note-cards.

Note-Cards - (Available in sets of six, with envelopes)

These note-cards are great for writing little thank you notes to friends and family, sending to a friend 'just because' or a nice way of just saying 'hello'!

Each A6 note card design is printed onto uncoated 300gsm luxury card, with a plain white back so you can write clearly on them - plus as they are printed on uncoated card, they have a nice textured feel to them too! There are six note-cards in a set and you can choose to have either six of the same design - or one of each design. The note-card sets come with six crisp white envelopes, that have a diamond flap seal and each individual note-card is hand embossed with the Mr Yen logo!

Mr Yen Stationery - Jotter Sets

2011-09-23T14:54:00.000+01:00

For the second installment of today's post for Stationery week I thought I would show you the jotter sets available in the shop!

Jotter Sets (Available in sets of either two, four or six)

These A5 staple bound jotter sets are great for doodling, making lists or taking notes - plus with 24 pages each, they are a great affordable option instead of a notebook. They are each made up of100gsm paper and you have a choice of either getting your jotters with lined or gridded paper. They have a great smooth surface for writing and drawing and, the best bit of all, you get more than one in a set!

Each image can be clicked to take you directly to the jotter listings in the shop and I thought you might appreciate a discount code for 10% of your whole stationery order in the shop too! - so....for 10% of your stationery order, click here to shop and mention the code BACK2SCHOOLSEPTEMBER at checkout.

Mr Yen Stationery - Printed Pattern Notebooks & Sketchbooks

2011-09-23T08:22:00.002+01:00

Happy Friday!

I wanted to get these posts out one a day all this week, but things happen and circumstances change - so now the missing posts from Wednesday until now will all get posted today!

For the first installment of today's posts for Stationery week I will pick up where I left off - Notebooks and Sketchbooks!

Notebooks

All Mr Yen notebooks are filled with blank pages so you can write down those daily to-do lists and feel great crossing each task off (even if you only write it down to cross it off!)

These A5 staple bound notebooks are great for quickly writing down those fantastic ideas you have just before you fall asleep too! With a nice amount of 32 pages, and being made up of 100gsm paper, they provide a great surface for writing and making notes in. They would be would perfect to take out and about with you as they're lightweight and the perfect size to fit into a small bag - so no more forgetting those spontaneous ideas!

Sketchbooks

All Mr Yen sketchbooks are filled with blank pages so they are great for sketching, doodling and drawing in - they're just waiting for you to start a new project and get your ideas down on paper!

These A5 staple bound sketchbooks provide a great textured surface for drawing and would make a great little book to collect your ideas and those little interesting pieces of paper you always seem to collect on your travels! With 32 pages, and being made up of 120gsm paper, they provide a great surface for doodling and sketching. They would be would perfect to take out and about with you as they're lightweight and the perfect size to fit into a small bag - so what are you waiting for? - it's time to start your next masterpiece!

Mr Yen Stationery - Printed Pattern Cover Notepads

2011-09-20T23:31:00.001+01:00

For today's post of Stationery week on the blog I thought I would talk about the printed pattern cover notepads in the shop.

These flip top notepads are part of the Mr Yen printed pattern stationery range and they are great for shopping lists, writing down recipes, those ideas you have just before falling asleep, to-do lists, organising your day, creating knitting patterns or sorting out your monthly accounts in style...plus with their grey board backing they're perfect for when you are on the go!

With a huge amount of pages (100!) and 80gsm paper, each A5 notepad provides a great surface for smooth and easy writing, with each page of paper having a patterned side and a plain side....plus you can get every patterned cover notepad with either plain, lined or gridded paper!

Every cover is specifically folded to fold flat over the top of the notepad so it can lie flat and not get in your way while using it and each notepad cover has the Mr Yen logo blind embossed on the front of it at the bottom center - creating an elegant and tactile aspect to the cover.

Each image can be clicked to take you directly to their listing in the shop and as I will be posting all about the Mr Yen stationery range this week, I thought you might appreciate a discount code for 10% of your whole stationery order in the shop! - so....for 10% of your stationery order, click here to shop and mention the code BACK2SCHOOLSEPTEMBER at checkout.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to find out more about the notebooks and sketchbooks!

Mr Yen Stationery - Crossed/Dotted Notepads

2011-09-19T21:08:00.001+01:00

As I mentioned this morning, it's Stationery week here on the blog and I thought I would start with featuring the crossed & Polka dot notepads that are available here in the Mr Yen shop.

Also, as I will be posting all about the Mr Yen stationery range all this week, I thought you might appreciate a discount code for 10% of your whole stationery order in the shop!

For 10% of your stationery order, click here to shop and mention the code BACK2SCHOOLSEPTEMBER at checkout.

***

These crossed and polka dot notepads are great for doodles, sketching and making your own patterns! ...plus with their grey board backing they're perfect for when you are on the go - You could even use them to wrap tiny presents for your friends or to wrap around a small bunch of flowers!

Each A5 notepad has a generous amount of pages (50 sheets!) that are 80gsm paper and they have a great surface for smooth and easy writing. With each piece of paper, on both notepads having a patterned side and a plain side, you can decide which side you want to use and once you have finished, each page is easy to remove from the pad.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to find out more about the printed pattern covered notepads!

Monday Morning

2011-09-19T10:33:00.000+01:00

Good Morning!

Today I'm planning a whole weeks worth of posts to go out this week about all the Mr Yen stationery products - starting with the dotted and crossed notepads today! I am officially declaring this week as stationery week on the Mr Yen blog, so if there is anything you would like me to cover, or questions you have about any of the Mr Yen stationery - just leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

If there is a particular item of stationery you would like to know more about, this is what I will be posting about this week and when:

Monday - Crossed and Polka Dot Notepads
Tuesday - Printed notepads (gridded, plain, lined)
Wednesday - Notebooks & Sketchbooks
Thursday - Jotter Sets
Friday - Notecards

If there is anything else you would like me to explain in more detail, just let me know in the comments!

Hope you have a productive Monday!

weekend goodness - weekly update

2011-09-17T08:00:00.000+01:00

Hello!

It's been a while since I last had a weekend goodness update hasn't it?! Well I do work all week on Mr Yen then go to work at Muji on a weekend, so I never get time through the weekend to get a post together - so because of this, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a weekly update in case you missed anything through the week! This weekly update now be a regular thing until I no longer have to work on weekends - which I hope is very soon!

Monday Morning - Back in business!

Inspiration Tuesday - The start of a new series - 21 Things

WIP Wednesday - The results of my lasercut adventure

Thursday Finds - Three interesting Letterpress videos

Feature Friday - Botanical illustrations on ceramic travel cups by Yevgenia

Have a nice weekend!

Feature Friday

2011-09-16T09:27:00.001+01:00

Today's Feature Friday features Yevgenia

I think I came across her work on the front page of Etsy - which always has a great range of products and designers! Yevgenia creates hand painted goodies, that all have botanical elements on them. I think the gold and silver on black looks amazing! The products are fantastic, but I also love the photographs - they'reso simple and clean.

To read more about Yevgenia, click here to visit her website about page, or click here to read her Etsy Featured seller interview.

| Website | Shop |

Thursday Finds

2011-09-15T09:53:00.009+01:00

WIP Wednesday

2011-09-14T09:17:00.001+01:00

Hello!

For today's WIP Wednesday I thought it would be a nice idea to show you what I managed to get done on the laser cutting machine last week at Duke Studios (thanks James and Laura!)

I designed this piece the week before to test out using the laser cutting machine and while I was testing it out on paper, I used elements of the design on acrylic and leather too. Playing around with this machine and different materials gives me so many ideas for products....I think the acrylic would make great coasters and the leather would make great bookmarks!

While I was getting my test pieces cut, here's what I was given by Duke Studios - two small lasercut Duke logos. Don't they look great?! - I love the detail and the depth you can achieve with the laser cutter!

Monday Morning

2011-09-12T09:00:00.026+01:00

Good morning!

Last week was a quiet week here on the blog, as the week before (on Thursday) my computer cable decided it had had enough and it gave up on me! It's all sorted now though and I'm back on track with lots of things to share this week from my analogue week...including a new range of papercut products, some illustrations, some inspiration, some photographs and some lasercut examples....maybe I should stay off the computer more often!

Today I will be organising a few things, getting caught up with emails and starting a few exciting and interesting projects! The photo above is from this time last week - I actually had the chance to take a step back and generate some new ideas and have a play around. I'm also thinking about keeping a sort of video blog of me creating the papercut window displays for Christmas - including all the making, designing, installing and travelling etc - I think it might be quite interesting to document it all and then fun to watch back - even though I think having to record myself will be quite scary!

Hope you have a productive and successful Monday!

Thursday Finds

2011-09-01T01:00:00.000+01:00

Todays Thursday Finds post features work by Karolin Schnoor on Etsy. I hope you will be back tomorrow to join me for a Feature Friday post.

WIP Wednesday

2011-08-31T17:55:00.000+01:00

For todays WIP Wednesday post I've been working on creating a papercut design to be lasercut at Duke Studios - who I will post more about early next week. This will be the first of my designs that I will try out on a laser cutting machine, so I hope it works out and that I've done it right!

This design is made up of several leaves in a circular shape, with extra dots and spots added in between the leaves. As this is the first time I have created something for a lasercutter I don't know if this is too detailed or if little bits will get cut off, but I will let you know how it works out....now, it's time to finish it off and I will upload photos of it as soon as it's been cut out.

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-08-30T13:18:00.000+01:00

This Inspiration Tuesday post features the blog Upon A Fold. The following images are from this post, but there are so many more amazing paper finds on Justine's blog - head over there now and get lost for hours in all its amazing paper goodness!

Monday Morning

2011-08-29T11:58:00.001+01:00

Good Morning!

I hope you are all enjoying the bank holiday weekend in the UK! Today I will be having a day of planning a few things for Christmas and putting a few finishing touches to the August Mr Yen newsletter, which will be sent out on Wednesday. As it's a bank holiday, I thought you might like to have a read of last weeks posts if you didn't have time to read them earlier....

Inspiration Tuesday

I posted about my Flickr Favourites.

WIP Wednesday

A new papercut that I created in a Papel Picado style for an Exhibition piece.

Thursday Finds

Paper craft and music videos with Petra Storrs & Paloma Faith.

Feature Friday

Five From The Ground - great photographs, styling and wire sculptures.

(the image above is of the new Letterpress thank you cards included with every Mr Yen order!)

Feature Friday - Five From The Ground

2011-08-26T13:47:00.001+01:00

Today's Feature Friday is Five From The Ground.

After visiting their website I stumbled across an "Info" section which has some amazing photography and styling. I think the photographs have a great rich feeling about them and you can see all the items have character.

While I was searching through the site I came across these tiny wire sculptures! I love how detailed and intricate they are, plus I think the simple photographs really show them at their best - the pieces speak for themselves!

All Images belong to Five From The Ground and can be clicked to take you back to their source.

You can visit their online shop here and their blog here.

Thursday Finds - Petra Storrs

2011-08-25T15:53:00.000+01:00

For today's Thursday Finds post I thought I would share the work of Petra Storrs. Petra is a London based artist who works as an art director, set designer and fashion/costume designer for clients such as Sony Music, Rolex, Vogue, Dazed & Confused and Christian Louboutin.

Below are two videos that Petra worked on....the first one as an assistant art director and creator of all the paper pieces and for the second video she created all the paper pieces. It just goes to show how versatile and creative work with paper can be!

Speaking of creativity with paper....did you see my latest guest post over on the Paper Runway blog? You can see it here.

WIP Wednesday - Exhibition Papercut and Letterpress Gift Tags

2011-08-25T15:50:00.000+01:00

For this weeks WIP Wednesday I thought I would show you what I've been working on....I've been creating a completely unique and one of a kind papercut for the We Are Raw exhibition. I was recently asked by We Are Raw if I would contribute a papercut piece to their 5th birthday exhibition and I said yes!

You can see all the other contributors here and all of the money raised from the collaborative artworks will be going to the local charity the Wood Street Mission, helping children and families that live in difficult circumstances.

I thought I would use this as an opportunity to experiment with my style and design something that is heavily influenced by Papel Picado - the traditional Mexican craft of papercutting.

Something else that I have been doing this week is taking photos of the NEW Mr Yen Letterpress gift tags! I have been planning to create these for a while and have finally had them printed and listed for sale here! I wanted something meaningful and simple so they don't distract from the gift they are attached to - but also enhance the gift giving experience by adding a tactile element. So you can now have your very own set of four gift tags, with a choice of either grey or white ribbon and all for a very reasonable price!

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-08-23T13:15:00.000+01:00

For this weeks Inspiration Tuesday Post I thought I would share my recent Flickr Favourites.

Enjoy!

1. figs from the garden, 2. phew., 3. august 1, 4. 　, 5. Dance in the Rain, 6. sunday lunch, 7. Wakefield: the Hepworth gallery July 2011, 8. Untitled, 9. TABF 2011, BOOTHS

Feature Friday

2011-08-19T09:00:00.022+01:00

This weeks Feature Friday is Anthony Hughes.

Have you seen the amazingly unique work by Anthony Hughes? No? Well take a look below and then visit his website to view more of his fantastic hand printed and textured hardwood flooring or his digitally printed textured wall coverings.

All images can be clicked to take you to their source.

The Mr Yen Catalogue 2011

2011-08-18T16:27:00.000+01:00

I have been working on getting together a Mr Yen Catalogue for my products for 2011 and have finally finished it! You can view it below...I would love to know what you think!

I will also be producing a Christmas Catalogue and Christmas Look Book so keep an eye out for those nearer the time!

Thursday Finds

2011-08-18T09:00:00.026+01:00

Todays Thursday Finds are beautiful Handmade books by Natalie Stopka. I hope to see you here tomorrow for a very interesting and creative Feature Friday post!

Found via Coulson Macleod
All images can be clicked to take you to their source.

WIP Wednesday

2011-08-17T08:49:00.000+01:00

Hello how are you today? This week is flying by so quickly for me, but I think that's because I've been so busy taking new photographs of every product I have for the shop! I decided the black and white photos weren't really working out - sales decreased, people always asked to see colour versions and generally the interest in products had gone.

So - I didn't waste any time in looking for inspiration and and started to look around for a new angle to try styling the photographs in. I wanted to make sure people knew that they were buying a papercut unframed and I wanted to show the delicate details without distraction. I ended up finding a few pieces of this wood and decided to use them. They had slight wear and tear and a nice texture, with some great typography to boot, so I was sold as soon as I saw them - plus I think the texture adds just enough interest as to not distract from the papercuts.

So after a full two days taking photographs and editing most of them, I am now just editing photographs of all the Mr Yen greeting cards - which should all be uploaded by the end of the week.

Hope to se you back here tomorrow for a Thursday Finds post!

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-08-16T08:07:00.000+01:00

Hello!

Today's Inspiration Tuesday post focuses on finding beauty in simple things - something I will be concentrating on today.

All Images can be clicked to take you to their source.

Hope you have a great day! I will see you here tomorrow for a WIP Wednesday post.

Monday Morning

2011-08-15T09:00:00.051+01:00

This morning I will be taking photos of the Mr Yen Stationery, last week I started to take new photos of my papercuts and all because I feel the black and white images are confusing for people. I've been asked several times to see the images in colour - even though all my items and props are black and white, so I decided to introduce some colour to make things a little clearer. The shop should have a brand new look by the end of the week!

While I'm on the subject of stationery, I thought I would let you know that until the end of August you can get 10% off your whole Mr Yen Stationery order! - just use the code AUGUSTSTATIONERY2011 as a coupon code at checkout.

***

I have also listed the first of my Recycled & Rescued framed papercut off cut pieces, listed here - the first design using some off cut feathers from my other papercuts. These will all be framed and will all be different - with each framed piece being one of a kind (you can see the first one above) Once this one is gone, there will be no others exactly like it, but there will be more framed feathers (just of different feathers and compositions)

The frames I've used sandwich the feathers between two pieces of acrylic and are held together by steel screws. The steel screws and 'feet' can be unscrewed to rearrange the composition too, so you can have them anyway you want!

I hope you have a productive Monday and I will see you back here tomorrow for an Inspiration Tuesday Post!

Feature Friday - Cookie Cutter

2011-08-12T10:16:00.001+01:00

This weeks Feature Friday is Cookie Cutter.

Sandy from Cookie Cutter creates plushies made from Japanese cotton & linen and they each have their own little personalities! I love the mixture and use of fabrics with the cute, playful designs. Plus she makes an amazing cushion with a notepad design!

All images can be clicked to take you to the Cookie Cutter Etsy shop and to keep up to date with new designs you can click the following links to visit her blog or follow Cookie Cutter on Facebook/Twitter.

Thursday Finds

2011-08-11T09:00:00.023+01:00

This Thursday Finds post is a small collection of images I've found interesting this week. I will see you back here tomorrow for a fun Feature Friday!

All images can be clicked to take you to their source.

WIP Wednesday

2011-08-10T11:08:00.000+01:00

This week I've been working on an application for the position of guest blogger with Paper Runway and I can now announce that I got the job!

I will be posting all about paper and the many things that can be done with it, so if you create things with paper or you use paper to make amazing art pieces that no one has seen yet - send me a quick email here if you think it would be suitable to feature on Paper Runway and I will see what I can do.

The pieces that haven't been featured anywhere yet will have more of a chance to be blogged about, so what are you waiting for - get in contact with me here.

Why not head on over to read issue two or read the introductory interview with me over on the Paper Runway blog.

***

This week I have also finished my first international wholesale order for the fantastic Inkwell Boutique in Canada - which is another of my six month plan goals completed - thanks Andrea!

See you here tomorrow for a Thursday Finds post!

Inspiration Tuesday - Wood & Workspaces

2011-08-09T09:27:00.002+01:00

Hello. Firstly I would just like to say that if you are based in London - or any other place with riots taking place, I hope you're safe! You can follow @Riotcleanup on twitter to support what they are doing or search for the hashtag #riotcleanup to see what you can do to help.

I find it amazing to see the community gathering to sort out the streets today and clean up the mess of all the riots, plus, the fact that twitter is being used to create such a positive impact is fantastic! I wish I could be there to help.

***

Back to todays post -

This Inspiration Tuesday post is all about wood and workspaces - enjoy! I wil see you back here tomorrow for a WIP Wednesday post.

{source}

Monday Morning - New Photographs!

2011-08-08T09:00:00.075+01:00

Good Morning!

This weekend I found this piece of wood with some great typography on it and it inspired me to take some experimental new product photos. I've also included a sneaky look at a new framed design that will be available later this week in the Mr Yen shop.

These new framed pieces (shown in the first image) will be made up from the offcuts of this papercut and will be the first Mr Yen papercuts to be sold as framed!

***

This week I'm completing one of my #SixMonthPlan goals too - I'm am working on finishing a wholesale order for my first stockist outside the UK! I will reveal who/where later in the week once the order is complete and shipped out, but I'm quite excited to have my work stocked there!

Hope you have a productive day and I will see you back here tomorrow for an Inspiration Tuesday post!

weekend goodness

2011-08-06T13:42:00.001+01:00

Hello! I hope you're all having a great weekend so far. This morning I had a quick visit to my Dads house to have a rummage around for props for some new photographs and I found this piece of wood and lots of others like it in his shed. I love the typography on it and the wood has a great texture to it, I think it will definitely have to be used in the new photos, what do you think?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Thursday Finds - Uguisu

2011-08-04T23:21:00.001+01:00

Today's Thursday Finds are all from Uguisu. If you plan to visit the Uguisu website, I suggest you set some time aside because you will be there a while - looking over the beautiful images and amazingly interesting products! All the images can be clicked to take you directly to the listings in the Uguisu shop, then once you've finished filling your furoshiki with lovely Japanese goods, why not head over to the Uguisu blog!

WIP Wednesday

2011-08-03T20:46:00.000+01:00

This week I have been working on my application form for the November Arts market, which if I'm successful, will be my first craft fair, while trying to gather some information to make a sponsor information pack available...so,

It's official, the Mr Yen blog is now open to sponsors!

Why Now?
I want to open the blog to sponsors now as I really enjoy creating the Feature Friday posts and looking around for inspirational things to find for my Inspiration Tuesday and Thursday Finds posts and I see sponsorship as an extension of these.

Who Should Apply?

If you are interested in becoming a Mr Yen blog sponsor, you can click here to send me an email to register your interest or you can click the sponsorship link above to get more information.

Handmade Type - New Papercut Design

2011-08-02T10:43:00.002+01:00

I just thought I would make a little announcement about a new papercut design that I created for the book Handmade Type Workshop, created by Charlotte Rivers and published by Thames & Hudson.

You can see the papercut below, which is in the shop now!

As soon as I get my hands on the book I will be back to do a review on it as I know of a few other talented people who have contributed to it too. I created this papercut design as a tutorial for the book and I'm so excited to have my work published in an actual book - thanks so much Charlotte for asking me to take part!

You can see an interview I did here for the Thames & Hudson blog on the book Handmade Type Workshop.

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-08-02T09:37:00.000+01:00

Lo Bjurulf for IKEA

Monday Morning - New Beginnings

2011-08-01T13:27:00.001+01:00

Hello!

It's a new month and a new week, which means a new to do list with lots of things coming up this month! The Mr Yen newsletter is going to be sent out later today, with a free desktop calendar and a little treat to do with the Mr Yen stationery. You can sign up here to find out what the treat is when the newsletter goes out later today!

A little peek of whats coming soon!

I also thought I should update you on my development so far on my #SixMonthPlan...

* I'm in the process of arranging two Christmas window displays for this year! (one in Edinburgh and another in London!)

* I have been contacted by some very interesting people to create a few paper goodies for a wedding photo shoot.

* I have a potential new stockist in Canada

* I'm finishing up my application form for the Arts market in November to send out this week.

Still on my list, to achieve before the end of the year...

* A papercut book cover design.

* A papercut illustration for a cosmetic company.

* A few papercut illustrations for some editorial work.

* To create a papercut installation.

* To have my work displayed in a local business as an installation or art piece.

* To work with a paper company to promote their business using my papercuts

I am still working towards these goals and would love to secure more of them by the end of this month, so if you have any information on how to go about creating/doing any of these things I would appreciate any help I can get...you can send me emails here - and if you would like me to create any of these things for you, you can see my portfolio website here and get in touch here.

Have a great Monday and I hope you're having a great start to the month!

weekend goodness

2011-07-31T09:59:00.001+01:00

On a Sunday morning walk with Toby this morning, I realised autumn has officially begun. This year has gone by so quick, but I'm excited to for the next five months ahead for all I've got planned and what I want to achieve!

Feature Friday - Sara Paloma

2011-07-29T17:13:00.000+01:00

This Feature Friday is Sara Paloma.

I only recently came across her work and I love every piece! I love the shapes and forms she creates and the photographs just finish off the look of elegance and sophistication her brand has. The second image of all her ceramic bottle vases is so striking yet simple.

You can visit her Etsy shop here.

Thursday Finds

2011-07-28T09:40:00.001+01:00

My last guest post on the Poppytalk blog is now live - head on over here to see my Thursday Finds from this week!

WIP Wednesday

2011-07-27T20:19:00.003+01:00

Hello!

Hope you're having a great week so far!

This week I've been planning some details for my six month plan - mostly which companies I would like to work with on each goal, plus I have already had a few offers to create papercut Christmas window displays for two companies so far, which I've said yes to both - proof that the internet is amazing! If you have a twitter account you can follow my progress by using the following hashtag #SixMonthPlan. I would love to see your six month plans too if you feel like joining in!

I have also created the papercut that you see above - which uses this card design on an A4 format, for a potential new stockist which is local to me. It will also be going into the Mr Yen shop soon too!

**************

On a side note, I have had this blog for over three years now (I can't believe how quick those years have gone!) so I have decided to open it up to sponsors. I am still in the process of creating a sponsor information pack which I can send out to potential new sponsors, but in the mean time I have added a clickable banner in the side bar which you can click to register your interest (up there at the top right!) or you can just leave a comment below and I will add you to my list.

Hope to see you back here tomorrow for my Thursday Finds post!

Inspiration Tuesday - Paper: Folds & Colours

2011-07-26T10:23:00.000+01:00

All images can be clicked to take you to their source.

Monday Morning - Six Month Plan Update

2011-07-25T10:13:00.003+01:00

Good Morning!

I thought I would start the week with an update of what I posted about on Friday - my six month plan....

By the end of this year I want to achieve the following: (I have added a few things since Friday!)

* A papercut window display - preferably a Christmas one!

{This goal is now getting started, with a few offers coming in - so thanks for all the mentions and spreading the word!}

* A papercut book cover design

* A papercut illustration for an advert for a cosmetics company

* A few papercut illustrations for some editorial work (such as magazines, newspapers etc)

* To exhibit/display my work at a craft fair/trade fair

* Create a papercut installation.

* To have my work stocked somewhere outside the UK.

* To have my papercuts on display in some local businesses (as installations)

* To work with a paper company to promote their paper and business.

I am still working towards the rest of these goals and would love to secure more of them by the end of this week, so if you have any information on how to go about creating/doing any of these things I would appreciate any help I can get...you can send me emails here - and if you would like me to create any of these things for you, you can see my portfolio website here and get in touch here.

Hope you have a productive Monday!

By the end of this year...

2011-07-22T12:38:00.004+01:00

While I was on twitter the other day, I mentioned how quick this year is going already and how there are still so many things I want to do before the year is out...which then got me making a list of things I want to achieve before the end of the year.

I thought it would be a good idea for me to make a public note somewhere of these things - to keep me on track and to keep me motivated, so...

By the end of this year I want to achieve the following: (which will probably get added to!)

* A papercut window display (preferably a Christmas one!)

* A papercut book cover design

* A papercut illustration for an advert for a cosmetics company

* A few papercut illustrations for some editorial work (such as magazines, newspapers etc)

* To exhibit/display my work at a craft fair/trade fair

* Create a papercut installation.

* To have my work stocked somewhere outside the UK.

* To have my papercuts on display in some local businesses (as installations)

* To work with a paper company to promote their paper and business.

I will make a blog post about each goal, to explain more in depth about what I would like to do and how I plan to achieve it, but for now I just want to get them written down and make a start on them!

If you have any information on how to go about creating/doing any of these things I would appreciate any help I can get...you can send me emails here - and if you would like me to create any of these things for you, you can see my portfolio website here and get in touch here.

Wish me luck!

Feature Friday

2011-07-22T08:28:00.001+01:00

This weeks Feature Friday is Coulson Macleod.

Coulson Macleod are the friendliest people you will ever meet and are fantastic supporters of Mr Yen. I love their use of typography, materials & textures and each piece always has a very unique and luxurious look to it.

What's not to like...friendly service, interesting typographic designs, a range of styles for your piece to be designed in, a variety of frames to have your piece mounted into and even stylish gift vouchers.

Plus...they are having a sale right now, so head on over and bag yourself a typographic treat!

Website || Blog || Twitter || Facebook

Thursday Finds

2011-07-22T08:15:00.000+01:00

My third guest post on the Poppytalk blog is now live - head on over here to see my Thursday Finds from this week!

WIP Wednesday

2011-07-20T09:23:00.000+01:00

A little photo set up that I've been working on this week...

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-07-19T23:08:00.001+01:00

This Inspiration Tuesday I thought I would introduce you to Brian Ferry and his inspirational photography (if you don't already know him). I find his photographs that have a paired down and simple aesthetic very inspirational, and I think everything from the compositions to the lighting create such a special feeling within his images. You should definitely visit his portfolio or blog to be inspired, you wont be disappointed!

All Images can be clicked to take you to their source.

weekend goodness

2011-07-17T19:01:00.000+01:00

This weekend I had a little experiment with tiny papercut offcuts, from my customisable name and date papercuts, in a magnetic acrylic frame. I will take some better photos through the week so you can see the frame clearer.

What do you think?

Feature Friday

2011-07-15T22:09:00.001+01:00

Hello!

Today's Feature Friday blog post is a little late as I've been so busy all day (taking Toby to the vets twice in once day, plus several other days through the week - all ear infection related) Also I haven't had time to get round to writing up my "Truth about selling handmade" post yet, so stay tuned for that next week!

***

Anyway, on to the feature!....

After my first guest post over on Poppytalk I was contacted by Anne Smith who wanted to show me her botanical illustrations which you can see at the bottom of this post, but she also mentioned that she illustrates maps and as soon as I saw them I fell in love with them!

Illustrated maps are quite popular at the moment and I think Anne's maps are fantastic, they definitely stand out from others that I've seen and I think I will be saving up for one of her prints from her etsy shop. I love the mixture of typography she uses, plus the layouts and colour choices are so well thought out too!

To see more work by Anne, you can visit her in the following places -

Website || Etsy || Blog

If you have something you think would fit well for a Feature Friday blog post or you just want to show me your work, you can send me an email here.

Have a good weekend!

Thursday Finds

2011-07-15T18:51:00.002+01:00

Apologies for the late posting, but.... my second guest post on the Poppytalk blog is now live!

Head on over here to see my Thursday Finds from this week!

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-07-12T07:31:00.001+01:00

All Images Can Be Clicked To View Their Source.

Monday Morning - Papercuts on Display

2011-07-11T11:06:00.000+01:00

Hello - I hope you had a good weekend!

The past week I have been working on some orders for my stockists, while looking for more stockists - which has led to me thinking about how customisable papercuts can be stocked in shops. I thought it would be a good idea to have an example papercut, with some information about how I create customised pieces and what is available so I came up with the following setup...

I used an acrylic frame to display the papercut and a small piece of bent acrylic that holds the signage and information - I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner! I have contacted a few interesting places to stock my work and now I'm just waiting to hear back so things can be taken further!

In other news, I mentioned on twitter last week that I would like to write a blog post about "The Truth about Selling Handmade" well, what I have experienced and know from my first year of creating/designing on a freelance basis anyway. Now, this topic is really important to me and I don't want to rush it and then feel like I should change bits later, so I will be working on this all week and it should be up by Friday - I hope you will find it just as interesting and as helpful as I do!

Hope you have a nice productive Monday Morning!

Thursday Finds

2011-07-07T10:21:00.001+01:00

Today's Thursday Finds are posted over here on my very first contributor guest post for the Poppytalk blog!

I hope you can stop by for a visit.

WIP Wednesday

2011-07-06T15:20:00.000+01:00

This weeks WIP Wednesday is experimenting with grey & white envelopes, hand cut lace designs, white ribbon and book pages.

All will be revealed soon!

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-07-05T00:07:00.000+01:00

For this weeks Inspiration Tuesday I asked Natasha Newton, Of The Blackbird Sings for some advice about how creating a variety of work can gain you access to different audiences.

About Natasha
Natasha is a professional artist and illustrator living and working in Suffolk, England and Paris, France. She has had her work used as book cover designs for several books by Jorge Bucay (published by Random House) and her art is also used for a range of stationery products printed by Moo.com. If you would like to learn more about Natasha, click here to read her full biography.

On Accessing Different Audiences...
"One thing I've noticed is that different artworks attract different audiences. I always assumed that the larger pieces would take much longer to sell and so I was sometimes a little reluctant to take the huge amount of time needed to make a large painting on canvas because of this. But I was completely wrong!

On the few occasions I've made really large pieces, they've actually sold fairly quickly. I was surprised by this, but then someone explained the reason why and it made perfect sense: the type of people who visit galleries to buy artwork tend to be fairly wealthy (not always of course, as many different people buy from galleries, but this is often the case)....because they're fairly wealthy, they tend to live in larger houses, and these larger houses have larger rooms with larger walls - therefore requiring larger artwork!

So by making larger fine art pieces, I'm appealing to a wealthier clientele and I also make smaller paintings on canvas, which are more affordable for people who have a love of original art, but don't have upwards of a thousand pounds to spend.

At the next level, I make small originals on paper (often unframed) or the little 'found art objects' like my recent painted stones, which are even more affordable and appeal to people on a limited budget. I also sell high-quality postcard prints of my work to people who can't afford any of the above options! So you see, if I just concentrated on making one type of artwork, I'd probably only appeal to one type of person. It's far more interesting for me - and better for my career - to enjoy working on many different pieces and attract a wider audience at the same time. I think that this is some of the best advice I can give. Just follow your heart, and if you feel that you want to make large scale, expensive pieces; just do it! If you have an original idea and the talent and expertise to see it through, then your pieces will find the right audience."

Thanks Natasha for such honest and helpful advice!

| Natasha Newton Website | The Blackbird Sings on Etsy |

| Natasha Newton Blog | Natasha Newton Twitter |

| Natasha Newton on Facebook |

(All Images copyright of Natasha Newton)

weekend goodness

2011-07-03T08:41:00.001+01:00

Hello - I hope you're having a nice weekend!

Me and Toby were ill all day yesterday and so I didn't go into work at Muji...but that gave me a chance to have some time to draw. These are just a few quick sketches of leaves - that I had drawn in my second year of university - and I have been editing them to turn them into papercut templates.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Feature Friday - The Old Red Hen

2011-07-01T07:30:00.000+01:00

This weeks Feature Friday is The Old Red Hen on Etsy. I recently came across this shop through 'recommended to me' shops on Etsy and I just love the photography of every product.

Below you can see a small selection, but I recommend looking through their sold items too - just to see the amazing photography!

Have a nice weekend - I will be back with a weekend goodness post on Sunday!

Thursday Finds

2011-06-30T10:00:00.003+01:00

Stunning visual research about "vegetables and their powerful colour"

{Source}

WIP Wednesday

2011-06-29T21:01:00.000+01:00

This week I have been working on the Mr Yen Catalogue for 2011 and starting to get some ideas down for a promotional mail out to send to design agencies/companies and illustration agents looking for freelance design work for now until Christmas.

If you would like to stock Mr Yen products you can get in touch here and I will send you the finished catalogue....below you can see a few example spreads...

See you back here tomorrow for a Thursday Finds post!

Inspiration Tuesday

2011-06-28T09:19:00.000+01:00

{Source}

Monday Morning

2011-06-27T09:24:00.000+01:00

Good Morning!

Today I will be sending emails, sorting out a PDF catalogue of all the Mr Yen products - to send to prospective stockists (if this is you, get in touch and I will gladly send you one when they are ready to go!) and sorting out the next Mr Yen Newsletter (you can sign up here to receive it)

I'm also going to try and get outside with Toby at some point today to enjoy this summer weather!

I will leave you with a video/song that I found yesterday!

Hope you have a productive Monday!

weekend goodness

2011-06-25T08:00:00.001+01:00

It's been a while since I shared my Flickr Favourites, but I thought it was time to show them off as there are so many talented people that I follow on Flickr and there are some great pieces being uploaded with the change in seasons! To see more of my Flickr Favourites just click here.

1. Untitled, 2. Untitled, 3. other people's gardens, 4. The Peacock and the Moon, 5. autumn color hydrangea, 6. Upholstery bits, 7. new posters, 8. :: june 10 ::, 9. Untitled, 10. Spring (sake bottle) has come ;), 11. Untitled, 12. Untitled, 13. Handmade Home: Office Nook Update, 14. Corners of my home, 15. my (other) table, yesterday., 16. bulbs 2

Feature Friday

2011-06-24T16:00:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I've done a Feature Friday blog post, but after seeing Says The Tree Miniatures on Etsy I couldn't resist quickly showing you these cute little buildings! (if you haven't seen them already)

They are all very reasonably priced, and the shop has a few other interesting goodies that I haven't posted here - so why not head on over and check out the whole shop here!

Thursday Finds

2011-06-23T08:00:00.000+01:00

{Source}

WIP Wednesday

2011-06-22T23:49:00.001+01:00

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you will know that I have been working on a detailed, large scale papercut quote by Doctor Seuss that reads "Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way". I documented the whole process of this papercut - from initial hand drawn idea, down to final finished piece - with all the bits in between being photographed too. You can see a few images from the process below (in reverse order), but if you would like to see more you can see all the photos here.

I would also like to say a special thank you to all the people who commented on both Facebook & Twitter and for all the re-tweets and mentions too! - especially Isa of Noisette Marketing who has mentioned my work quite a lot recently, (with a mention of this papercut project here) it's very much appreciated! You should all go check out the Noisette Marketing blog 'The Academy' here, it's full of great tips and advice!

This papercut is limited to an edition of only 10 ever being made and all 10 are only available here.

Oh and I have updated my 'About me' section on the Mr Yen Website, so if you would like to get to know me better, just click this link and have a little read!

Inspiration Tuesday - Typography & Quotes

2011-06-21T09:39:00.000+01:00

Today's Inspiration Tuesday Post focuses on typography & quotes.

The first image is one that I created for a project at University to promote a Library, and the text is cut straight into the book.

The second image is hand lettered chalk by Dana Tanamachi, which I think is amazing! I would love to be able to create typography this way and I love the temporary nature of using chalk.

The final image I chose purely for it's simplicity and style. I think at some point it would be great if I could learn some calligraphic styles of writing, as I think they would make great papercut pieces!

See you back here tomorrow for a WIP Wednesday Post!

Monday Morning - Paperwork...and not the fun kind!

2011-06-20T11:29:00.000+01:00

Good Morning!

This week I will be catching up on some admin and paperwork - the filing and sorting kind, not the cutting and folding kind!

I'm also in the process of creating something interesting and exciting in relation to how Mr Yen products are displayed with my current and future stockists, and on that note - if you are interested in stocking my papercut artwork or printed stationery in your shop or boutique, you can send me a message here.

Hope you have a productive Monday and I will see you back here tomorrow for an Inspiration Tuesday post.

Thursday Finds

2011-06-16T09:00:00.042+01:00

Good Morning!

This is the first of the Thursday Finds blog posts.

I want these posts to be short and full of interesting and inspiring images without explanation. You can click either the image or the caption to take you to the source of the image. Enjoy!

A quick note...the third image (of the crystal) is from a blog that has images on it that are not safe for work.

{source}

{source NSFW}

{source}