It’s amazing what can happen in 12 months.

This time last year Mitch and I were dreaming big about our future and hoping to make Paperlab.co a reality. I think the real kick-in-the-pants for me was attending the Craft & Design as a career seminar (part of Craft Cubed 2012) where I had the opportunity to hear from and talk to wonderful crafters and artists including Ebony Bizys a.k.a Hello Sandwich and Beci Orpin. Both these ladies were so gracious with their time and encouragement and just hearing their story made it all seem like it could just happen. But what was that life really like?

So I decided to find out for myself and took a wander through the labyrinth of the Nicholas Building for open studios as part of last year’s Craft Cubed (you can read more here). That night I explored the nooks and crannies of this amazing space and spoke to lots of people and admired their wealth of talent and somewhere inside I was thinking… could this be us next year? Could we be something that people would want to share in and be part of? Could we do it?

I’m proud to say that yes! So far in 2013 Paperlab.co has built a wonderful community of followers and fans who enjoy creating and designing with paper and we are edging ever closer to finding our own digs to call studio home and bit by bit we have continued to grow and build quite organically and with much excitement and spring in our step!

So far Paperlab have held a number of successful workshops across paper sculpture, bookbinding and origami and we have also had 2 very successful free community events – Kirigami with Kanako Yaguchi and our Etsy Craft Party where 1000 paper cranes came to life at the Boyd building. Both of these events brought together so many wonderful people in the spirit of creativity and expression. The 1000 paper cranes have continued to bring a smile to lots of people and have appeared at St Micheal’s church in the CBD for the Hiroshima Peace Mass and most recently they took flight in a new installation at the Boyd building. Check out the pics below.

1000 paper cranes 1000 paper cranes

Koto player Chiemi Shepherd

All images above © Jackson Raine

1000 paper cranes

1000 paper cranes take flight at Boyd

 

Alongside all this there have also been private workshops for libraries, kids craft parties and hen’s parties as well as styling commissions for various businesses. We sure have been busy and we have enjoyed every single moment! All this has happened in under 12 months people… can you believe it?

So now we are in August – Craft Cubed month – and we’re so chuffed to be included in the satellite events this year. To have gone from attendees to participants is incredible and we are grateful for the opportunity. I even got to speak with the lovely team at Syn FM about the upcoming events. Have a listen here.

Here is where you can find us as part of Craft Cubed 2013 –

Wednesday 14th August – PaperLou presents Pop-Up Cards & Paper Flowers – A double feature with Laneway Learning

Saturday 17th August – PaperLou presents 3D Paper Art & Sculpture

Saturday 24th August – PaperLou presents Modular Origami – Taking Origami to the next level

Wednesday 28th August – Mitch presents Do-si-do Bookbinding with Laneway Learning

Saturday 31st August – PaperLou will host a drop in Paper Flower workshop at the Craft Hatch Market

craft cubed

Of course we have other workshops in September and you can find out about those here.

Mitch and I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events and would love to say a big THANK YOU to all our supporters so far! You really have made the last 12 months so amazing and we couldn’t have brought our Paper Revolution to life without you 🙂