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Emma Blue
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Day 26 of #marchmeetthemaker is [THIS OR THAT] and Day 26 of #marchmeetthemaker is [THIS OR THAT] and my question is this: papercuts or prints of papercuts? Yesterday I put my Etsy shop in holiday mode temporarily, as I want to avoid unnecessary Post Office trips while we’re in lockdown. I mount most of my papercuts in box frames, so these need bubble wrap and packaging and definitely do not fit through a post box. At my most recent fairs, I trialled selling prints of some of my papercuts. I’d been thinking about doing this for a while, as it seemed a good way to make my artwork more affordable/widely available (and easier to just pop into a post box) whilst still having the option of offering the actual papercuts and the bespoke commissions. The trials went well - yay! (thank you lovely humans) - and I’d been meaning to look into this more, but obviously there’s never the time...UNTIL NOW. Having to scale things back is actually giving me the opportunity to rethink ways of working and try new things. So for the next few weeks/months I’m going to focus on making papercuts for myself, from quotes that inspire me and from things that I love. And I’ll share them as I go along, hopefully brightening up all our feeds a little bit. And maybe when things reopen, I can get prints made of my favourites, or your favourites (if I’m that lucky!), but for now, my plan is to just keep making art, slow as I like, and share what I make along the way. #indierollermmtm #indieroller #indiebizlife #artinthetimeofcoronavirus #behindthescenesofanindiebiz #papercutart #selfisolationcreation #whenindoubtgotothelibrary #butnotrightnow #hermionegranger #makersgonnamake #bookish #bibliophilesunite
I love this Audrey Hepburn quote. This was a paper I love this Audrey Hepburn quote. This was a papercut for a keen gardener, and it feels quite apt right now, as we’re making the most of our outdoor spaces and I’m thinking about things I can plant that will bring beauty and food to the space I have. I think I might put some of the mint from the windowsill into a big pot outside, let it run rampant. 🌿🌻🌺🌞 #toplantagardenistobelieveintomorrow #positivequotes #hopeisimportant #gardenlove #indieroller #papercutart #coronacreativity #botanicalpapercut #inspiredbynature
Jumping back into #marchmeetthemaker here’s my o Jumping back into #marchmeetthemaker here’s my offering for [HOW IT’S MADE]: when I get an idea, the first thing I’ll do is make a bunch of sketches and try out various layouts. Once I’m settled on one, I’ll trace it and transfer it to the reverse of the paper I’m using. Then I start to cut, with my tiny swivel blade. This can take hours/days depending on the level of detail, so I usually have podcasts or music on in the background. I find it really therapeutic, and often get so involved I end up in a hunched ball of concentration. I try and remember to get up every now and then and do some stretches, or at least move a bit. After I’ve cut everything out, I then go over it again and neaten any rough edges or missed sections. Then it’s ready to mount and frame. Some of the papercuts I mount straight onto backing card, using tiny foam sticky pads. The lines of this one are too thin for that, so I glue the edges to a mount frame, which then sits inside a box frame. I can add in any background then. #indierollermmtm #indieroller #papercuttingartist #behindthescenes #howitsmade #makersmovement #creativecommunity #marchmeetthemaker2020 #davidattenborough
With all the craziness of the past week I’ve bac With all the craziness of the past week I’ve backed away from the gram a bit. I’m not feeling creative at all, but I’m being kind to myself. I’m sure it’ll come. It looks like kindness is growing out there in the world, and this fills me with hope. I’m going to try and focus on that. Stay safe lovelies. x #indieroller #creativecommunity #keepgoingindieroller #bekind #socialdistancing #covid19
#marchmeetthemaker’s day 11 prompt is [RANGE]: I #marchmeetthemaker’s day 11 prompt is [RANGE]: I make papercuts for myself, of things/people I love (hi Log Lady!), but I also get a lot of commissions, especially for weddings and anniversaries. With these, I take guidance from my clients, so they can be very varied. Lately, I’ve been looking to branch out into prints, and also pocket mirrors - I just wanted to have ‘Smash The Patriarchy’ on a mirror! Offering prints and smaller items gives more people a chance to own my work, which can only be a good thing, right? What other things would you like to see my papercut designs printed onto? . #indierollermmtm #indieroller #smashthepatriarchy #feminist #twinpeaks #loglady #etsyuk #personalisedweddinggifts #makersgonnamake #indiebiz
Day 10 of #marchmeetthemaker is [AUTHENTIC SPACE] Day 10 of #marchmeetthemaker is [AUTHENTIC SPACE] so this is where the magic/faffing happens! I’m lucky to have a spare room with space for a desk and lots of storage in this house. I used to work at the dining table and it got messy and stressful. It’s so good being able to leave half-finished things out to come back to. There’s still one corner I need to Konmari the shit out of (not pictured, no way), but I like my desk, and my window, and my growing ‘inspo wall’. I’m absolutely LOVING looking at all your workspaces, btw. I’m getting some serious space inspiration. . #indierollermmtm #marchmeetthemaker2020 #indieroller #indiebiz #indiecommunity #behindthescenes #showmeyourspace #kallax #kallaxtowerofjoy #mymessydesk #stationerylover #studiobehindthescenes
Day 9 of @joannehawker’s #marchmeetthemaker is [ Day 9 of @joannehawker’s #marchmeetthemaker is [ROUGH]: I make a number of sketches for each papercut, making sure I have all the components (leaves at different angles, petal and flower shapes, animal outlines and details, buildings, etc) before I work it into a rough design. Once I have that, I transfer it to the paper and start cutting, but I change parts as I cut, and add in more details as I go along. So my designs are always rough until I’ve finished cutting them. I like working this way, it gives me more freedom and means the finished piece always feels fresh to me. . #marchmeetthemaker2020 #indierollermmtm #indieroller #roughdrafts #behindthescenes #beforeandafter #papercutart #hawthorn #botanicalpapercuts #tinybirds #inspiredbynature #makersgonnamake #meetthemaker
Today’s #marchmeetthemaker prompt is [LOVE TO MA Today’s #marchmeetthemaker prompt is [LOVE TO MAKE] - one of my faves to make are flower circles. I love researching the different flowers (often I’ll add in the bridal flowers to a wedding papercut, or be asked to create something based on someone’s favourite blooms), and working out how to cut them, and how to fit them together into a circle. And of all the ones I regularly make, this Smash The Patriarchy papercut has to be my ultimate favourite. I’ve connected with so many amazing women over this papercut, and hopefully given those who’ve sneered at it something to think about. Hopefully. It’s apt that I’m sharing this on International Women’s Day. I’d like this papercut to be a relic one day. But for now, Happy International Women’s Day to all the brilliant feminist peeps I know, and to everyone working to dismantle The Patriarchy! ✊💙 #IWD #iwd2020 #indierollermmtm #indieroller #womensupportingwomen #smashthepatriarchy #fuckthepatriarchy #feminist #feminism #feministart #botanicalart #papercutart #sayitwithflowers #papercutartist
Today’s #marchmeetthemaker is [YOU] so here goes Today’s #marchmeetthemaker is [YOU] so here goes: ✨ Name: Emma ✨ Favourite colour: blue ✨ Superpowers: dog whisperer, will cry at almost anything, can sniff out a bookshop at 1000 paces. ✨ Weaknesses: cheese, films with street dance in, notebooks. ✨ Powered by: trees, the moon, books. ✨ Collects: shells and “nice” pebbles, dinosaurs, fabric. ✨ Current projects: trying to befriend the neighbourhood crows with monkey nuts and smiles, rewatching every series of Star Trek, building a simple website with all the bits I want. ✨ Favourite crisps: Walkers Salt and Vinegar. ✨ I think that just about covers it. Oh and I’m from Manchester, but now I live in Brum, via a big stopover in Derby. . #indierollermmtm #marchmeetthemaker2020 #indieroller #indiebizcommunity #meetthemaker #behindthescenes #mybigface #papercutartist #wearethemakers #bookworm #feminist #crowbotherer
My #marchmeetthemaker [CLOSE UP] 🔎 is a papercu My #marchmeetthemaker [CLOSE UP] 🔎 is a papercut portrait of David Attenborough (or ‘Grampy Dave’ as we call him in our house, wishfully thinking). And I’m gonna cheat a bit and add in [REDUCING WASTE] 🌱- I use up the bigger paper offcuts to add in other details, or I make notes/lists on them, recycle the small bits, and re-use packaging as much as I can. And as for [BRANDING] 💙☁️Well, I guess I’m my brand, since so much of what I create is commission work and a lot of it is quite varied. I do use the colour blue a lot, though. In case you hadn’t noticed! Aaaaaand I think that’s me caught up, for now. Happy weekend folks! Hope it’s a good one. ✨🌿💙 . #marchmeetthemaker2020 #indierollermmtm #indieroller #indiebizcommunity #makersgonnamake #wearethemakers #closeupportrait #davidattenborough #papercutart #papercutportrait #papercutartist #iheartdavidattenborough
#marchmeetthemaker2020 Day 3:[TIME] The majority o #marchmeetthemaker2020 Day 3:[TIME] The majority of my papercut commissions are for marking TIME. From the exact hour of a new baby’s birth, to a Paper Anniversary (or a Ruby, or Diamond!), to a special birthday, or an actual wedding day. The highest birthday I’ve gone up to so far is this 100 one!! And the youngest is a little one born just yesterday!! It’s really lovely getting to hear peoples’ stories, and it’s an honour to be asked (and trusted!) to help mark the special times in peoples’ lives. 💛⏰ . #marchmeetthemaker #indierollermmtm #indieroller #meetthemaker #makingmoments #astheworldturns #celebrateyourlife #loveisallwehave #paperanniversary #birthdaygifts #birdsofinstagram #inspiredbynature #100yearsold #papercutart #papercutartist #tellingyourstoriesinpaper
Happy World Book Day!! I get asked to do lots of b Happy World Book Day!! I get asked to do lots of book quote papercuts, and as a bookworm myself, it makes me particularly giddy to make something based on a book/writer/poet that I love. I’m with Hermione on this one☝️ 📚❤️📚💙📚 #worldbookday #worldbookday2020 #librariansofinstagram #librariansgonnalibrary #indieroller #indiebizcommunity #bookworm #librarylove #hermionegranger #harrypotter #bookstagram #whenindoubtgotothelibrary #bookish #papercutart #makersgonnamake
Day 2 of @joannehawker’s #marchmeetthemaker is [ Day 2 of @joannehawker’s #marchmeetthemaker is [HANDS AT WORK] So here I am working on one of my faves to cut - my Smash The Patriarchy flower circle. I love cutting the fuchsias, getting their stamens just right, but the best bit is when I’ve cut around the edge and get to peel it away. Small pleasures! I’m totally playing catch-up with this challenge, but I’m not gonna let that bother me. Slow and steady still means progress. How are you all getting on? #marchmeetthemaker2020 #indierollermmtm #indieroller #indiebizcommunity #makersgonnamake #behindthescenes #meetthemaker #papercutart #papercutartist #smashthepatriarchy #feministart #feminist
I may be a day behind, but I’m joining in with t I may be a day behind, but I’m joining in with the lovely @joannehawker’s #marchmeetthemaker2020 insta challenge. Here goes... . 1. [STORY] Emma Blue is a nickname I got when I was doing a zine waaaay back. (Well, the zine and my obsession with the colour blue!) From zines I moved on to making little books, teaching myself to bookbind along the way. I was a librarian (still am, part time now) and I started recycling the damaged books we had to throw away into paper sculptures, and THEN I started cutting designs into them, fell thunderously in love with papercutting, and here I am. I mostly cut my designs into plain paper nowadays, but will still have a play with maps or moon photos when the mood takes me. #marchmeetthemaker #mmtm #indieroller #indierollermmtm #makersgonnamake #meetthemaker #papercutting #bookbinding #tinybooks #artistsbooks #papersculpture #librariansgonnaplay
I made this little postcard-sized papercut (and le I made this little postcard-sized papercut (and lettered quote) as a response to @feministsworkforchange callout for art on the theme of Empowerment. I think about Caroline Caldwell’s (@dirtworship) quote/poster: “In a society that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act” so often. So much is set up to make us hate ourselves or feel inadequate, and it takes a conscious effort to begin undoing a lifetime of negative talk. This is my gentle reminder to be kinder to myself. (check out @feministsworkforchange for updates on their ‘Empower Bab!’ Project amongst other things!) #empoweredwomenempowerwomen #empowerment #feminism #feminist #smashthepatriarchy #artforgoodcauses #empowerbab #bodypositivity #positivevibes #papercutart #indieroller #makersgonnamake #grrlgang
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