'Tis the season

My business of selling handmade paper goes through seasons, and ebbs and flows (as does my mood to make handmade paper!). Right now I am in a quiet season for selling my seeded papers but my other business of selling my framed Petal People is in full swing, which suits me just fine as I welcome the creative break from making paper full time. (I don't sell my original framed Petal People online but you can find them at Valley Artisans Market, an artisans cooperative in upstate New York where I am a member. I make greeting card prints out of some of my selected designs, which can be purchased in my Etsy shop.)

Right now, I am pressing flowers and leaves just as fast as my garden will produce them and opening flower presses from what I pressed earlier in the spring. Here are a few of my latest creations.

I love this girl with her flowing skirt because the entire body, including arms and legs, were made from one single flower:

The body of this figure was made from a potato vine from my flower box. I love how it looks like it has shoulder pads because of the shape of the leaf:

OH NO! My balloon got away!

Can you picture how this girl is walking, arms outstretched and slowly prancing so as to show off her new outfit? I imagine it is made out of feathers and she doesn't want to put her arms down so as not to crush the feathers.

If you would like to know more about pressing flowers and making Petal People for yourself, I have created a new tutorial in my Etsy shop, 8 pages long with plenty of photos, that you can purchase here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/77788055.

Thanks for looking!

Plantable paper hearts

A little teaser of the article on my plantable paper hearts in GreenCraft Magazine!

At the newsstand!

Yay! The magazine is out with my article. Look for it on pages 53-55 in this, the Autumn 2014 issue!

Paper display

Here is an even better photograph of the display of my seeded papers that I posted below. They were used at a June garden wedding earlier this summer.

Credit to Bean Art Photography & Pauleenanne Design

GreenCraft Magazine

I am so excited that GreenCraft Magazine contacted me earlier this summer and asked me to write an article for their publication about my seeded paper. I recently saw the proofs and can't wait for everyone to see the article on my plantable paper hearts. Look for the issue of the magazine that comes out in August and is available at stores like Michael's and JoAnn Fabrics!

How should I use my plantable place cards at my wedding?

I have had many a bride find my shop, love my plantable papers but then feel stumped how to incorporate them into their wedding or display them. Here's a shout out to some talented people who have had clever displays to get the ideas rolling for you. I have punched holes in flat cards and added a string so that brides could attach tags and cards to trees, around mason jars and to a small favor bags. One bride got some low flower boxes and planted wheat grass in them, then tucked the pieces of paper standing up into wheat grass. She used different colors of plantable paper to indicate the dinner choice for each guest. I have also had brides use my miniature envelopes so they could tuck a small piece of plantable paper inside each, then use them as place cards. For that same couple, I made full-size cards and envelopes that matched the name cards, and the bride and groom used them as thank you notes to bring the theme full circle.

I loved how one couple used smooth river stones to anchor their handmade paper down against crisp white napkins at an outside wedding:

Most recently, Pauleen Vacca — who owns a full service event and marketing firm in Rochester, New York — purchased my seeded paper for one of her clients and came up with this clever way to display them:

I love getting photos from customers who show me how they use my products. If you have been a customer of mine, please send me your pictures and I will give you a shout out here!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful men who have the great honor of being somebody's dad - and mostly especially my dad! Hope you all have a great day and don’t get too many ties…