i miss being here . . .

i know, this poor old journal has been lacking in entries these days,

and i do miss being here...

i think the instant nature of instagram 

has taken over my image sharing... 

but like facebook (which i am not yet* on)

not everyone is there on instagram...

and it is here where i want to, and must take the time, to get back to...

regardless of lack of posts here

believe me there has been lots going on behind the scenes, 

and truthfully never seems to be enough hours in the day !

i've had another small trip to japan (it seems to be my second home of late...)

 this time, over easter holidays when the studio closes for a week or so,

i went with a dear and kindred friend 

and her lovely girls to celebrate our big number birthday's this year 

(yes that four-o is looming)

the previous post's photo was taken and posted when we were there... 

we went to see the cherry blossoms... and cherry blossoms we saw

it was a wonderful and inspiring trip, as always

and i've come back with so many ideas my head is still spinning...

but between the trips this year it has been head down believe me !
we have started and made a good dint in to all our christmas stock for the year

as well as keeping up the usual ranges to all our lovely stores 

(the new happy tags are proving to be well loved)

so i thought i'd give you a sneak peek at this year's christmas bird designs...

there is a third one which i'll save for later

the snaps (above and below) were taken as 

we worked on building up stock of them a week or so ago, 

i love the clay and work at this stage

i wish i could keep them that way... 

the wet clay, the fingerprints, the place between just made and about to be something... 

i think that is why i take so many photos of this stage of my work

it is a way of preserving this delicate space 

the space between the breaths that clay takes...

we have also been working on a new range of monogram work

and earrings to finally get up in the online store...

we have finders keepers in sydney on june 1 and 2 

and then a month or so later in brisbane 

so we are making sure there's lots of new goodies for all those that pop along...

i'll be back in the next week with news of our 3rd birthday sale in our online store... 

YES i can't quite believe it has been three years, 

but it is a good excuse for some cake and a little sale...

AND there's some major exciting, life changing, news in the paper boat press HQ 

all will be revealed as the next couple of months creep on...

until next time

hello

and thanks for not giving up on this funny-little-rambling-place for my work and words...

* facebook, well yes, i hardly have time for here, or catching up with emails 

and all the other reasons which i won't list here... 

i'm going against the grain i know 'every business should be on facebook' etc.... 

well i'm bucking the trend for now, i'm not saying never, just not today,

or tomorrow... sometime maybe when i have more time**

**not sure when that will be

p.s. my instagram name is paperboatpress if you are interested, 

i can commit to that because my phone is often, ok, nearly always with me... 

oh and i've started pintrest... same name...

live in simple faith
just as this trusting cherry
flowers, fades, and falls

issa

new in store

happy tags and name garlands are released !!!
we've been working hard creating some new little bits and pieces
for our retailers and online shop . . .

after the much loved five packs of little word tags (which are still available)
we have added these new little five packs
with flowers, hearts, and stars
in three colour ways...
blue
red
and pink

we also have the popular vintage button stars, hearts, and flowers
in mini versions as five packs too
there is a little bit of stock already online
with lots of other packs heading to our stockists around the country
(we will restock asap if they get low on stock online)

also, the new and exciting name garlands are finally released
they are priced per letter at $12.95
(the stringing up of the garland is all part of the overall price)

we hope you like these new creations

for more info or to purchase these new items visit our SHOP

have a lovely weekend !

high tea with mrs woo

so, as the years have passed in this ceramic studio and creative life
i've made friends far and wide,
kindred spirits, connections
and life long bonds . . .

one of these precious and inspiring meetings
has come in the form of 3 sisters
the talented and inspiring
' clothing desingers, makers, merchants '
juliana, rowena, and angela
from the label high tea with mrs woo

the girls have been stocking my wares in their stores
in sydney and newcastle for the last few years,
we've also shared many an email,
dinners here, there, and in other cities
and basically been a little community of support to each other
in this hard working, time poor creative world . . .

so when the gals asked if they could include one of my cloud brooches
as part of their autumn winter collection 2012
i said yes before the question was even finished being asked
and really feel it more an honour than a request and order of stock . . .

so here we are now
with their collection now released (and divine as it is)
you can see the whole collection HERE
including the piece called 'as sure as rain' that includes my cloud brooch
and then you'll understand more why i am gushing here
and proud to call them friends . . .

congrats girls on living the dream and
thank you so much for merging a little corner of my work with yours

the girls have a beautiful blog (with an equally beautiful title)
if you feel like a look-see you'll find it HERE
(all photos on this post care of the high tea website and blog)

and in other news, the local (to brisvegas) staple that is MAP magazine
has released a new online weekend edition
aptly called weekend edition . . .
the lovely linsey who heads the team
came to the studio the other week to interview me
(and take a snap) for the launch issue which came out last week
you can read my little bit here
and then stay a while and have a look around, you'll be glad you did . . .

this week around the studio . . .

we are well and truly in full swing again for the year
with new products getting made,
and old favourites getting restocked too

working in a open verandah studio
lends itself to having little visitors from time to time
be them birds, or raindrops
or leaves . . .
the leaf above seemed to fall like a musical note the other day on that tray of work . . .

in other news
i am doing a special order for some
fabulous fashion designers
(that just happen to be good friends of mine too)
i am mighty chuffed about it and
all will be revealed in time . . .
there is a hint above, but only a hint . . .

hope you are having a lovely week

holiday snaps . . .

as promised i'm back with a few of my favourite holiday snaps i took
on my recent trip to kyoto . . .

it was a much needed and loved trip away . . .
above are some special corners of kyoto.

i spent some lovely time with my friend michelle and her mum on this trip . . .
with one of the highlights being a trip to the pavilion of the silver temple
somewhere neither of us had been
(even though we have both visited kyoto many times before)
it was lovely to share this place, and its amazing gardens with
a friend from home . . .
(silver temple gardens photos top left and bottom left above)

another extra special day on the trip
was with my friends justine and shozo
this beautiful couple have the most wonderful store
of japanese furniture, ceramics and objects
shibui homewares in west end brisbane . . .

we spent the day between antique markets in the grounds of a temple,
wandering the streets of kyoto and having a long lunch in
the amazingly styled and decorated hello cafe
(image bottom left),
stopping by a teahouse, and ending in a wonderful dinner in a
much loved restaurant of theirs . . .

and through the afternoon with them there was a visit to an antique store
where i purchased one of my treasured things EVER . . .
that story needs a post of its own, and i will do so someday . . .

i feel truly grateful that my holiday was shared with such dear friends along the way . . .

that is one of life's greatest gifts i think
to share beautiful memories

today i treasure this trip,
other trips i've taken near and far,
and those loved ones i've traveled with
you know who you are . . .

the photo says it all . . .

it is true . . .
it has taken a while to get back into things this year

last year ended with the biggest year on record for this little studio
literally thousands and thousands of ornaments
and tags, and calendars etc etc
flew away to new homes,
most days of the week the studio light was on
as christmas drew closer . . .

i don't like using the words burnt out, but it is the right
description for how it all felt by the end,
and then the reason for my absence here,
the lack of replenishing stock on the online store and
the emails that we are still getting through . . .

i am not complaining about the tiredness
the years end bought my way
as this work, this studio,
is one of my greatest passions . . .

but sometimes you just need some time out

on the month away from here i caught up with friends
saw films on the big screen and from my couch . . .
read books,
designed some new things for the year ahead
(details to come)

and even managed a week walking the streets of kyoto
(one of my favourite places)
and a place where i was inspired and refreshed
i'll be sure to share some photos and stories of that adventure soon

in the mean time . . .
HELLO
and i hope your new year is filled with
beautiful memories already
and with more to come as each day passes

i'll be back soon
(i know i say that a lot)
but i promise i will . . .

happy wednesday
x

merry merry merry

i hope this long overdue post finds you all well and happy
and looking forward to a lovely christmas . . .

here at paper boat HQ we are downing tools,
popping the bubbles, and looking forward to a good old break
over the silly season

it feels like, and indeed has been the way, that we've had
christmas with us all year in the studio . . .

we started making the ornaments in february
which are now sitting on trees all over the
country, and indeed the world . . .

thank you to every single one of you
who have shared 2011 with us, through reading this blog,
buying our work online, selling it in your beautiful shops,
said hello at markets we've attended,
sent emails and letters of love and support,
who have featured the work in magazines and online

i'd like to say a special thank you to
my wonderful stockists around the country
thank you so much for supporting the work we make
and making the links in the chain
of getting the work to those who chose it for their lives . . .

also a big thank you to everyone at anthropologie
who have worked so kindly and respectfully
over the last few years to see the release of my ceramic collection
in their stores earlier this year . . .
one of the highlights of the year for me personally and professionally
thank you

and last but not least to my wonderful team
everyday you come with love and enthusiasm
in whatever part of the business you work in . . .
and even when there are hard times in our personal lives
the space we create has seemed to be a place for solace too . . .
who would have thought . . .
it truly makes the whole experience of running this
little studio a whole lot more important than the
things we make . . .
but also makes the things we make all the more real
and full of love

every year at this time, there is without fail, a time of reflection
and each year there is triumphs and tragedy
laughter and tears
good and bad
wine and water
sunshine and grey skies
and this year is no exception

i wish for you all a safe and happy christmas time
and a new year filled with hope

we will be taking some time off and the studio will
be up and running again from late january
( somewhere around the 23rd )
our online shop will still be open just maybe not restocked as we'd hoped
and i will try and get through my incredible backlog of emails
( so sorry if yours is one waiting for a reply )

so thank you
thank you
and merry
merry

love kylie
x

real living . . .

some more lovely press
this time in last months real living . . .
thanks so much to the team and stylist who put
this great spread together
it is so nice to see the work displayed this way
pages and pages of it too . . .

we are still filling and packing and sending orders
looking forward to our paper boat christmas partee
tomorrow night too . . .
not sure where the weeks go

x