The Book Tree Press

Valentines Papercutting Workshop

2012-01-31T15:04:00.000Z

Valentines Workshop in Papercutting

Saturday 11 February 2012

2 – 4.30pm

As an alternative to all the red and hearts adorning the shops ready for Valentines Day, and after many requests I’m offering a papercutting workshop at The Book Tree Press HQ in Leith.

Spend the afternoon creating a beautiful paper cut framed artwork inspired by this great tradition. Take inspiration from a quote, poem, song lyric, intertwining lettering with your illustrations. This might be a creation for your loved one, or a treat for yourself.

All abilities welcome – honestly!  

£22 (frame included)

Places are limited so please book your place by emailing lucy@thebooktreepress.co.uk or give me a ring on 07796920533. Ta!

Lucy

How to Use a Spirit Level

2012-01-30T13:51:00.001Z

This week’s blog post is an illustration I have been working on over the last week. Cut+Paste are a student design agency from the Graphic Design department at Edinburgh College of Art. They invited me to create an illustration for an alternative ‘How to…’ guide they are designing and printing to raise money for the Lake Victoria Disability Centre in Musoma.

The book will be available as both a silkscreen edition and a digital version later in the year. The brief I was given was to illustrate ‘How to use a Spirit Level'. I felt that something a little bit comic was appropriate.

If you are curious for more information on this project visit their blog at: http://wearecutandpaste.tumblr.com/

In the press....

2012-01-16T14:39:00.000Z

The frost is settled in a lovely white layer on the roofs opposite my studio window reflecting what felt like a quiet start to the new year, until one afternoon three phone calls brought with them three intriguing enquiries...

Firstly I was reminded that I had sent of an image of my paper Carriage Clock on request to Living Etc a month or so ago, it seemed the issue had now finally hit the shelves. A wander down to Tesco (very glam) revealed an exciting mention in their Best Buys of 2010 (February Issue). A later call brought the information that the clock had already been featured in Homes & Gardens the previous month, and as a result of this exciting press coverage I was approached to sell a range of products from The Book Tree Press with CultureLabel – the online shop for the arts selling artworks and products from organisations including the V&A, Tate and The British Museum.

http://www.culturelabel.com/shop/the-book-tree-press

Before celebrating these developments, I had to rush down the workshop to get printing, cutting and folding more clocks, all safely boxed and lined up on the studio shelf as I type. Rush over now though, and I think it deserves to mark the moment a little, so I decided to start a brand new shiny year by popping a few btp favourites into a January Sale for a short time only – Sale ends 31 January so get in quick!

http://thebooktreepress.bigcartel.com/category/sale

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-12T16:08:00.000Z

Hello folks!

Not much news to report but I just wanted to drop you a note to wish you a very Happy Christmas!

Thank you very much for all your intrigue, curiosity and purchases of my creations over the last year. I hope this festive illustration brightens up your winter afternoon!

Lucy x

PS. Please order any items from the web shop by THIS FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER in order that arrive with you in time for Christmas!

Christmassy books and things...

2011-12-05T15:09:00.000Z

I've quietly working away gearing up for Christmas since about June (or at least it feel like that!) It's a lovely feeling to box up all the paper bells, candelabra, cards and screen printed papers and put them into the hands of our wonderful Royal Mail to whisk them of to a gallery down south or over the sea, almost as exciting as receiving a parcel myself!

Orders have winged their way to my new stockist Yard Gallery in Holywood, Northern Ireland; mima down in Middlesbrough; and New Brewery Arts down in Cirencester. I also sent off some oversized candelabras to the Bowery in Leeds for a festive window display. In addition to all this Merriment Makers took a box of treats for their Pop-up Exhibition this weekend.

Tomorrow I will be at Life is Good in Morningside for a very classy workshop as part of their series 'Not tonight darling....' We'll be making a beautiful booky paper christmas tree and Prossecco & mince pies will get you in the christmas mood.

Cost £12.

Tuesday 6th December, 6.30- 8.30pm.

Please call into the shop or call Jill on 01314473339 / 07903585682 to book.

Heading south of the border

2011-10-19T16:16:00.000+01:00

I am indeed using this space as a notice board again, however I wanted to spread the word about this exciting event coming up on Saturday. Do pop come and say hello if you are in the area, there are some great names on the bill.

The Beach House Opening Night

2011-09-08T11:31:00.000+01:00

Images: The Beach House (Photographer: Peter Cloke 2011), Where do seagulls go on holiday? (Photographer: Jonny Barber 2011), Beach Hut Platter (Photographer: Peter Cloke 2011), Friends, Beach Huts, Artist's Books (Photographer: Jonny Barber 2011).

The Beach House runs until 9 October at Broughton Delicatessen, Barony Street, Edinburgh

Exhibition Opening!

2011-08-25T16:22:00.000+01:00

I am delighted to invite you along to the launch of a collection of new work in an exhibition opening in Edinburgh next Thursday. Drinks + nibbles will be served to celebrate at Broughton Deli 7.30 to 9pm on Thursday 1 September.

New work includes silkscreen prints inspired by trips to the seaside and paper installations of beach huts.

Pop in and say hello!

Lucy

Lost in Marrakesh

2011-06-23T11:32:00.002+01:00

In April I was fortunate to be awarded a Craft Maker Award from the City of Edinburgh Council to facilitate further research within my practice as an illustrator. This exciting development enabled me to set up more processes within my small studio and buy important materials. However more significantly it has introduced freedom for experimentation and a 'playground' to explore process in my work.

The two images above were two of the first silk screen prints I produced with the help of the grant. They were inspired by a trip to Marrakesh in Morocco in February and are made up of layer upon layer of textural marks. I was fascinated during our visit by the stucco plasterwork, mosaic tiling and a beautiful terracotta pink which adorned the walls of main streets, which quickly narrowed to alleys then passages and eventually inevitably drew you to a dead end and the entrance to someone's home. We got happily lost most days trying to find our way out to the walls of the old city and back to our hotel. But leaving the slight apprehension caused by a strange place aside, this was definitely the best way to explore and discover unique Morocco. I hope to return soon to see the rest of the country, in particular the white and blue washes of the Atlantic coast.

(top: 'Morocco' 2011 edition of 6

bottom: 'The Bike Shop' 2011 edition of 6)

Itching to get making?

2011-06-08T15:41:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Just a quick little post to let you all know there's still spaces available on both the Wearable Paper workshop on Saturday and the Book Trees workshop on Tuesday... details below.

Saturday 11th June
Wearable paper
Use paper in imaginative ways to create a wearable accessory. Combine folding, texture, stitching & colour to transform an everyday material into something beautiful.
2 pm to 4.30 pm
£20

Tuesday 14th June
Book Trees
Create a unique book in the shape of a tree. Using carefully selected papers and design, produce a sophisticated and individual artwork.
6.30 to 8.30 pm
£18

Email lucy@thebooktreepress.co.uk to book a place or give me a ring on 077 969 20533. All abilities welcome.

Ask me how it's made...

2011-06-03T16:02:00.000+01:00

Last night saw the opening of the exhibition Paper at Craft House Concept. Steph Marsden, the creative head behind Craft House Concept approached me back in February to discuss the curation of a series of exhibitions at the shop inspired by materials. As soon as she mentioned paper I did not need much persuading, it is such a fantastic and versatile material that I fell in love with a long time ago.

After an open call for submissions we received entries from all over the UK and even the odd suggestion from Europe. The entries excited and also challenged us we sorted through and brought out the best of the selection. Even more exciting though, was the moment the packages started to arrive at the shop last week.

The exhibition represents artists, designers and craftsmen who all work in some way with paper. Process is celebrated in the collection as each creator started with the same material but the results are varied and innovative, no two are alike. Even within the artists who cut paper there was great diversity. The exhibition includes work by Helen Snell, Turnhurst and Julie Linn using a laser cutter; Hannah Greenwood’s use of a Robocutter and hand cut work by Janine Partington and myself.

The question floating around the room at the opening was definitively ‘just how was that made?’ Each method of cutting does end up with a linear slice through the material, however each device leaves a unique ghost on the finished piece. For laser cutting the burnt edges add character and scarring that add texture to the article. The robocutter leaves a smooth line, accurate and digital in nature. Hand cut work with a scalpel leaves a story told through the angle of the cuts, small snags and the linked branches holding an image together. All of these features are exploited and manipulated by artists to produce beautiful and unique results.

Claire de Ruiter moulded silk fibres to create a beautifully fragile and feminine pair of paper slippers. This contrasted with Rosalind Bunter’s moulded scissors and doll’s clothing made from white pulp. Hannah Lobley’s Paperwork series explores moulded paper treated with wood working practises to create robust and solid objects. Travelling bookbinder Rachel Hazell brought work that brought the traditional craft of bookbinding into clothing and jewellery. This reflects perfectly Steph’s vision of living with craft carried throughout the shop. Jenny Pope’s delicate vessels are built from porcelain paper clay. Paper plays a vital role in the making process of the artwork, however the material itself is burnt away in the firing process. In a similar case, Janine Partington uses paper cutting regularly in the process of vitreous enamelling however has only recently began to see the templates made as artworks in themselves.

As a natural researcher I am delighted when artwork inspires the kind of animated discussion we shared last night around the paper works. The subject of which pieces were Craft, which were Fine Art and what role design played was an important consideration as we arranged the artworks and worked out the relationship between the shop and the gallery space. Andy Singleton's colourful birds burst out of exhibition case to drift out in the shop reminding me that craft follows function and causes the same perpetual question I find popping up in book exhibitions on a regular basis; how do you display a functional object in the way it was destined, available to handle and use, and yet protect the fragile artwork. In a digital world I look forward to seeing where the future of paper lies and it fights for its place as a valuable material. I suspect it will not be retired to the box of cassette tapes and floppy disks quite yet.

Paper is on at Craft House Concept until Sunday 17 July.

Craft House Concept

31E Minto Street, Edinburgh

www.livingwithcraft.com

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 5 pm and Sunday 12 to 5 pm

Images to follow.

Paper Exhibition at Craft House Concept

2011-05-30T10:53:00.001+01:00

Hello folks,

I am delighted to invite you to the opening of an exhibition I have some work in this Thursday. Come along if you are free and enjoy a tipple whilst looking at an innovative and beautiful collection of paperworks.

To celebrate the exhibition 'Paper' at Craft House Concept which explores some of the most exciting possibilities of using paper as a material I am running two creative workshops at The Book Tree Press headquarters.

On Saturday 11th June discover Wearable paper. Use paper in imaginative ways to create a wearable accessory. Combine folding, texture, stitching & colour to transform an everyday material into something beautiful. The workshop runs from 2 pm to 4.30 pm and costs £20.

Then on Tuesday 14th June I invite you along to a classic workshop making Book Trees. Create a unique book in the shape of a tree. Using carefully selected papers and design, produce a sophisticated and individual artwork. This workshop will run for 6.30 to 8.30 pm and costs £18.

For more information on anything or book a place on either workshop please email lucy@thebooktreepress.co.uk or phone me on 077 969 20533

Thanks for reading, hope to see you soon!
Lucy

Rome wasn't built in a day....

2011-03-25T15:33:00.000Z

... but occasionally designers set themselves little challenges such as a one day project - fond memories of art college are flooding back!

This week I set aside one day to design and print a little book I have been pondering over for a while. There's no such thing as a seagull?' was inspired by early outings with my husband's parents. They have become keen bird watchers over the last few years and after being corrected several times as I commented on seagulls around Leith, I soon learned that the seagull in itself does not actually exist, but is instead the commonly mistakenly identified herring gull or lesser black-backed gull!

Bird watching lesson over! I hope you enjoy this sneaky peak into the new artist's book which I hope will make you chuckle. A copy is winging its way to my in-laws now and lets hope they enjoy my playful observations and a little pride that they have managed to educate me on my bird species!

This is a digitally printed edition of 40 books measuring 105 x 105 mm. It will be available to buy this coming Tuesday at the Artist's Bookmarket hosted by The Fruitmarket Gallery, retailing at £10.

Artist's Bookmarket

Tuesday 29 March 2011

4pm to 9pm

The Fruitmarket Gallery
45 Market Street

Edinburgh EH1 1DF

Spring Workshops

2011-03-08T14:25:00.000Z

Back by popular demand, I am happy to announce a short series of Spring Workshops.

This set of three intimate workshops will give you the chance to give bookbinding a try for the first time, or to learn some new skills if you have never made a book before. All abilities are welcome for each workshop, and to keep the workshops nice and cosy, giving each of you even more of my attention there are only 4 places for each workshop so book early! Don’t worry if they book up I will add more dates.

Mother’s Day Workshop
Tuesday 22 March
6.30 to 8.45 pm
£20
Another chance to make a traditional hardbound book with a lovely ribbon bookmark, this will make a lovely mothers day gift, or a nice treat for yourself.
Alternatively, book yourself and your mum onto one of the later workshops, I will happily provide a gift certificate to give her on the day.

Book Tree
Tuesday 5 April
6.30 to 8.30pm
£15
Spring in is the air so we’ll be making book trees. The contemporary twist on traditional bookbinding skills makes a lovely and sophisticated decorative book.

An introduction to bookbinding
Tuesday 19 April
6.30 to 8.30pm
£18
In an introduction to basic bookbinding I will teach you about paper grain, make a simple book using pamphlet stitch and a second book using a Japanese stab binding. You go home desperate to make more yourself!

To book or for more information email lucy@thebooktreepress.co.uk and give me a ring on 077 969 20533.

Look forward to seeing you soon!

Bookmarket at The Fruitmarket Gallery

2010-12-08T15:19:00.001Z

Christmas Wrapping Paper

2010-12-01T15:20:00.000Z

As promised here is the baubles print I revealed on Festive Friday! I love the red on white and was thinking I should work with this more, until I spent the rest of the weekend trying to get rid of red ink from myself and all screen printing equipment! Sets of two sheets tied with a luxury red ribbon, are ready for sale at the Christmas markets next week. After a very active few weeks, it is finally time to turn the factory that the flat resembles back into a tidy studio.

Important news about Christmas Fairs!

2010-12-01T11:51:00.000Z

Due to recent weather conditions the Bellevue Christmas Fair this Saturday (4th Dec) has been postponed until NEXT SATURDAY 11th December. All the same stalls will hopefully be there plus homemade edibles, children's crafts and Father Christmas!

Same time and place Bellevue Chapel, Rodney Street - 10 til 12 noon.

However it is not all bad news.....

Goods from The Book Tree Press will still be on sale this weekend at Merriment Makers pop-out Christmas Boutique. Pop in and say hello to Nicola and warm up with some mulled wine while you shop.

Festive Friday

2010-11-26T17:01:00.000Z

Its gone dark outside the studio window after a beautiful crisp sunny day, a beautiful day which disappointed me however by not bringing the promised snow that always fills me with excitement. A dark winter Friday afternoon seemed the perfect opportunity to create a festive addition to this year's collection.

This decorative design will form a red repeat pattern on the first wrapping paper from The Book Tree Press. Watch out for it at the Christmas markets next week.

Enjoy your Friday,

Lucy

Paper Christmas!

2010-11-22T12:22:00.000Z

I am delighted to invite you to two very special workshops just in time for Christmas. Enjoy a little time out from this busy period to relax and make a truly special gift. Reward yourself for all your hard work with a glass of hot mulled wine and a little Christmas shopping.

Saturday 11 December 2 - 4pm

Paper Christmas

Craft House Concept are hosting their first Christmas workshop where you can make a unique delicate paper bell decoration and card for £12. Mulled wine and mince pies will kindly be provided by Craft House Concept plus they'll be offering 15% discount in the shop.

How do I book?

Please call Steph on 0790 090 1481 with your payment details or email info@livingwithcraft.com to reserve your place. Alternatively please send a cheque with contact details to:

Craft House Concept

31E Minto Street

Edinburgh. EH9 2BT

Tuesday 14 December 7 - 9pm

Hand bound journal

A cosy bookbinding workshop in the home of The Book Tree Press. Treat yourself or someone special to a traditional hard bound book, perfect as a journal or sketchbook Cost £15.

How do I book?

Please email lucy@thebooktreepress.co.uk or call Lucy on 077 969 20533 to reserve your place. Alternatively please send a cheque with contact details to:

The Book Tree Press

Flat 3, 264 Leith Walk

Edinburgh. EH6 5EL

Places are limited so we do require you to book for both workshops.

Best wishes,

Lucy

Now the weather's getting cold outside.....

2010-11-20T14:48:00.000Z

There is a flutter of excitement in my tummy already just thinking about decorating the house for Christmas, German Markets, choosing gifts for friends and family, the scent of mulled cider, carols drifting out of Churches and of course roast turkey with all the trimmings. My mouth is watering as I type. I love this time of year and as I prepare to spend my first Christmas in Belfast my mind has been drawn to thinking of all the family traditions I might miss at home, and the new traditions I am able to create!

I think family and traditions have inspired the Christmas collection which I have been busily creating, packing up and sending off to various shops and customers around the country. As I deliver packages of all shapes and sizes to the post office I am reminded of the excitement that accompanies opening both expected and unexpected parcels at this time of year. Paper trees illustrating the tale of The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson make great table centre that can be brought out year after year. Candelabra and bell hanging decorations look beautiful on a traditional tree but also work well hanging from a mantle piece, in a doorway, or used as napkin rings. Traditions are all very well but don't let them dictate decorations this year, why be creative with your decorations and brighten up unexpected corners of your home.

In particular I delighted to meet Debbie Bryan at last month's Great Northern who has devoted a whole stand to The Book Tree Press in her shop near the Lace Market in Nottingham. Pop in and say hello if you are near by.

Debbie Bryan Studio and Shop

18 St Mary's Gate

The Lace Market

Nottingham NG1 1PF

Her shop looks so beautiful online that I really wanted to deliver the stock in person so that I could have a chance to look around.

Along with showing off papery Christmas gifts in shops I will be taking part in a number of Christmas Fairs where shoppers will be able to spend a festive morning picking up some beautiful hand crafted bargains.

Look out for me at:

Bellevue Chapel Christmas Market

Saturday 4 December 10am -12 noon

Rodney Street

Edinburgh EH7 4EL

Bookmarket at The Fruitmarket Gallery

Thursday 9 December 6.30 - 10 pm

45 Market Street
Edinburgh EH1 1DF
0131 225 2383

Magpie Market at The Lot

Sunday 12 December 12 - 5 pm

4 - 6 Grassmarket

Edinburgh

A Great Northern Success

2010-11-01T19:53:00.000Z

Last weekend's fair at the lovely Spinningfields in Manchester was a great success. Along with large numbers of the public who came to visit the fair it was great to see a few old friends who popped in the say hello and see what the press has been up to recently. The photographs above are deceptive, seemingly showing the only quiet moment of the four days we were there.

Along with meeting new friends through the public during the fair I spent quite a bit of time wandering around the other stalls and meeting the stall holders. Favourites included Samantha Bryan's wonderfully illustrative fairies, Catherine Hammerton's exquisite wallpapers and Helaina Sharpley's illustrative wirework. Still exhausted after preparing and participating in the fair I am now working hard to fill orders made and commissions given, and replace stock in time for upcoming Christmas fairs - all nice jobs of course though!

Launch of a new range of products for your home

2010-10-20T12:11:00.000+01:00

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft opens tomorrow and it will include the launch of the first products in the new homeware range from The Book Tree Press. The clock may remind some of you of the ornamental clock previously displayed on top of a paper cut shelf.... however in it's new form this functional clock will sit happily on any shelf in your home. Watch this space for a wall clock on the way!

The lampshade was developed for a private commission and turned out so well I have decided to launch it in other colours and printed patterns, including this mellow brown version. Special credit goes to my lovely friend Sarah for her wonderful ideas!

Both products are available to order through a bespoke service and hopefully will be appearing in a shop near you very soon.

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

2010-10-04T18:00:00.001+01:00

I have been busily working away in the studio for the last few weeks getting ready for The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair which is now only three weeks away!

I am particularly excited about this fair as it brings the recent work from The Book Tree Press back home to its roots in the North West. I love Edinburgh but home will always be Greater Manchester and this fair, although still only three years old is quickly growing. Set in the heart of the new business district of Spinningfields the fair will host some of the best designers-makers in the UK. Please come along to explore and say hello and perhaps pick up some early Christmas presents, don't shout I know its early to talk about Christmas!

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
at Spinningfields, Manchester
22-24 October 2010
www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

The Treehouse Bookshop

2010-10-04T17:50:00.001+01:00

A little illustration I did this week to invite people to an upcoming exhibition from The Book Tree Press in Manchester. Coming through lots of letter boxes soon....

Books and Wine

2010-10-04T17:27:00.000+01:00

Every now and then I get a job to do which makes me wonder if someone has made a mistake, do I really get to do this as a job? Surely someone will realise their horrific mistake any minute and rush to stop me. One of those lovely jobs happened this weekend. I had the delight of going down to a little place called Wigtown in Dumfries & Galloway to take part in the annual book festival.

I was invited down to do a children’s workshop and spent a very enjoyable but rather busy few hours creating revolting recipe books with a group of 8 year olds. I am continually amazed by the creativity and imagination of children. I began by reading out a few gems from Royal Dahl’s Revolting Recipes and taught them each to make a simple book then set them off dreaming up tasty treats, planning the ingredients and illustrating their recipe books. Some highlights included a marshmallow pillow, vegetable bracelets and a slightly frightening pizza that came with a safety warning and directions to ring the fire service during the instructions. My highlight was the number of little dears who came along at the end to thank me and ask me to sign their little books, where I quickly replied ‘You do know I’m not really famous right!’

The weekend at the festival allowed me to peruse the many bookshops, mingle with some authors and catch up with a few friends from last year’s festival. I did have to continually avoid the question ‘So what have you written then…?’ This innocent and perhaps obvious question to ask at a festival about books led on to confused looks when I began to explain about sculptural book works and artists books.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Deirdre Nelson, the textiles artist who is this year’s Spring Fling Artist in Residence at the Festival. She spent the week gathering words to develop into an artwork to be revealed at next year’s Spring Fling event. Other favourites included Phyllida Law, John-Paul Flintoff sewing his own clothes and Eric Robson (attention GQT fans!)

My final input at the festival was a commission by Allison Ouvry Events, as seen at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year, who invited me to create scenes and puppets for her shadow puppet performance of Peter Pan. Although a short deadline this was a lovely job that took me flying back to childhood. Photographs to follow and hopefully more projects like this...

Deirdre's blog http://dstitch.blogspot.com/

Allison's puppets http://www.allisonouvryevents.com

Festival information http://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/

Shiny new Stockists!

2010-08-20T12:21:00.000+01:00

After a busy month of printing, folding and binding, I am delighted to launch a new range of products from The Book Tree Press. The range includes screenprinted handbound notebooks, seed packet cards, sculptural books including paper hot air balloons and our popular book trees. The focus of this range has been celebrating the sculptural form of the book and its tactile nature: special attention was paid to printing process, paper selection and the quality of every stage of the design. It includes several artist's books inspired by place, as in the case of Kirkcudbright - an artist's view, and inspired by narrative in The Red Shoes based on the tale by Hans Christian Anderson.

The launch of the new range coincides with a number of new shops kindly stocking products from our little press. In an earlier post I celebrated the launch of Craft House Concept which is up and running filled with a range of beautiful homeware. The Spider and the Fly is another new shop opened by Emily Chandler where the new products are also stocked. Edinburgh Printmakers continue to support the work of the press and products can be found in their gallery shop.

Finally last week I delivered a nice package of cards, notebooks and artist's books to The Marchmont Gallery. Thanks to the team in Marchmont who not only provide all my framing needs but also provide valuable support to both established and emerging local artists in Edinburgh.

Creative Boom Interview

2010-08-16T12:05:00.001+01:00

A quick post to tell you about a recent interview I did for the blog Creative Boom which appeared today. How exciting! Take a look...

http://www.creativeboom.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/08/16/interview-with-illustrator-lucy-roscoe-of-the-book-tree-press/

Craft House Concept

2010-08-16T11:58:00.001+01:00

I recently had the pleasure of working with a new shop which opened this month in Edinburgh. Steph Marsden is a local furniture and product designer and maker with a passion for craft and sustainability. Not content with her design business, Magpie Design Industries, she has created a shop which sits at the centre of the community, but which also bridges the void between and home interiors and craft. The result is a space in Newington filled with high quality, carefully designed and crafted furniture and products. Notable designers includes to beautiful woodwork of Sarah Thirlwell, who launched her first table at the shop opening, and the textiles of Lorna Syson who launched a new cushion with is entirely natural. The shop also stocks the playful and fun ceramics of Studio at 37.

I worked with Steph to develop a bespoke gift box illustrating the shop and some of Steph's favourite products. Each box is screenprinted on recycled paper, in keeping with Steph's sustainability values, and hand folded. This lovely little project was great fun to work on and upholds the philosophy of this new business which promotes craft as a viable solution in design.

Craft House Concept

31E Minto Street

Edinburgh

EH9 2BT

www.livingwithcraft.com

info@livingwithcraft.com

0131 667 7700

Two upcoming events!

2010-08-03T15:30:00.000+01:00

The Book Tree Press will be selling at two exciting events this Saturday. Both events allow you to see brand new stock from the press including artist's books, hand bound notebooks, cards and other papery goodies.

Summer Fair

Date: Saturday 7th August

Time: 12pm-3pm
Venue: Bellevue Chapel, Rodney Street
Cost: Free

The first event is the Summer Fair at Bellevue Chapel. There will be an opportunity to purchase home baking, local crafts, superb photography and support local charities, along with lots, lots more! Alternatively, relax and have a cuppa and a chat in our cafe. There will be face painting and other activities for children.

www.bellevuechapel.org

ECA Graduates at The Fringe Market

Saturday 7 August to Friday 13 August.

Trading hours are 11am - 8.45pm.

The second event lasts for the whole of next week. I will be selling alongside other graduated illustrators from Edinburgh College of Art. Come along and see what happens following the degree show and see where these designers go next. On show & sale will be original prints, limited edition digital prints, cards, hand-painted ceramics, ceramic jewellery, illustrated coasters, sculptural books. We will be on the Royal Mile in the Market right next to St Giles Cathedral.

The illustrators involved are:

Lindsay Grime

Sophie Martin

Kasia Matyjaszek

Vangeli Moschopoulos

Tamsyn Mystkowski

Jamie Robertson

Lucy Roscoe

Hannah Rye

Miriam Sturdee

Libby Walker

Penguin Design Award 2010

2010-07-05T15:43:00.000+01:00

This design for the 2010 Penguin Design Awards was shortlisted in the Puffin category for children's books.

This design for Carroll’s classic novel offers a contemporary paper wonderland, showing Alice as the central character in perhaps the most famous scene from the narrative, the Mad Hatter’s tea party. The shadows created by the cut paper and the hidden grinning cat watching from above show a darker undertone of adventure, appealing to older children and the adults who read with their child, however hand-lettering retains a sense of fun. The back cover connects the fantasy with the real world by depicting Alice falling down the rabbit hole, the place where the whole story began.

At a lovely award ceremony at the Penguin offices in London the winners were announced and congratulations to all the winners. It was great to see how different art schools around the country approached the same two briefs in such unique ways.

See all the shortlisted entries at Penguin Design Awards

Degree Show Opening is a success

2010-06-15T11:40:00.000+01:00

The degree show opened at Edinburgh College of Art on Friday and a busy weekend followed. Thanks to Jonny and Fi for posing so well in this image! The most popular pieces of work have been a sculptural book based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and a bespoke paper cut created especially for the window of this exhibition.

The show now closes on Sunday 20 June, a change to the original advertisement of Tuesday 22 June.

Degree Show 2010

2010-06-09T10:44:00.000+01:00

An opportunity to see the research developed as part of my postgraduate study at ECA. The exhibition shows a collection of artist's books and sculptural illustrations, including an interactive artist's book library, celebrating the book as an interactive object, an event to be engaged with.

The Reading Room

2010-06-09T10:12:00.000+01:00

Recent invitations posted out promoting my work at the Degree Show 2010 at Edinburgh College of Art. The invitation arrived flat with a bundle of promotional postcards, but opened out into small and cosy room with an opening door. Hopefully they will inspire guests to come and see the show!

Upon a fold

2010-05-17T16:41:00.000+01:00

I wanted to share this great website and blog from Australia I found recently. Thanks to the folks at Upon a Fold for finding and sharing so many amazing paper works through their site. Visit them at http://uponafold.com.au/

Easter Mailer

2010-05-15T20:10:00.004+01:00

I designed this Easter Card to send as a promotional mailer at Easter time. It doubles up as a seed packet so you can grow your own peas and then use them in the recipe on the back of the card. My first pea pod has just emerged too...

New website

2010-05-15T19:59:00.003+01:00

A brand new shiny website is online now at www.thebooktreepress.co.uk!

Reveal 2010 at Edinburgh Printmakers Gallery

2010-05-15T19:33:00.005+01:00

Two of the pieces I submitted to exhibit at Edinburgh Printmakers graduate exhibition this spring. The first is an installation of a paper shelf and carriage clock inspired by the novel 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. The second is a garden book, inspired by the Arabian proverb 'A book is like a garden carried in your pocket'.

Thanks to Angus Bremner for the photograph of the garden book.

Shop in a box...

2010-05-15T19:10:00.005+01:00

I wanted to share this project I finished recently. The brief was to design a book made from one A2 sheet of paper. This slightly unusual book starts out as a box, but opens out into an illustration of a vintage or antique shop, with smaller books folding out into different departments and cubby holes of the shop.

A very busy December

2010-01-11T18:59:00.017Z

Christmas at Solway Books, Kirkcudbright

Solway Books invited me to create a Christmas window for them. The paper cut Christmas tree I made for the occasion illustrated Hans Christian Anderson's classic tale 'The Fir Tree'.

Also for sale in the shop were Christmas cards and decorations, as well as miniature versions of the tree.

Thanks Solway Books for your warm welcome!

Book Launch

Kirkcudbright - an artist's view

An edition of 100 oriental fold, screenprinted books was launched in November with the help of GC Books, the publishing arm of Solway Books.

The book is available from Solways Books, Kirkcudbright, The Book Tree Press and amazon.co.uk priced at £38.50.