Keep Calm and Cut Some Paper
When Emma Boyes began her paper designs it was mainly to keep the maternity leave boredom at bay, she never anticipated where it might lead and she certainly never expected that her hobby might catch on with others.
But with more individuals increasingly aware of mindfulness practices Emma’s designs are helping many people spend peaceful hours cutting away.
Emma’s spectacular paper designs can take weeks to complete, they are striking and take pride of place in homes right up and down the country. The intricate designs are complex but they also seem out of reach to us mere mortals. It all seems too intricate, too finicky and virtually impossible.
Emma doesn’t believe that’s the case and she’s now made the impossible possible with her ‘Adventures in Paper Cutting’ pads.
“The feedback has been great,” said Emma. “People have found them to be really mindful, it gives people a task that absorbs them and takes their mind off everything else. Everyone seems to enjoy doing it and the best part is at the end when people have a lovely piece of artwork they created.”
Emma brought out her first pad over a year ago, initially she was planning one craft pad to test the waters but the response was so enthusiastic she has now completed four, including a Christmas version and she’s currently working on her fifth.
Like all the best ideas, they always start from something simple. Each pad is on a ring binder, all you need is a scalpel or a sharp craft knife and a cutting mat. Tear the page out and you’re all set to go.
With twelve original designs each template is repeated three times, giving 36 templates in total and the added practice sheets. The initial designs are aimed for beginners and the simple but elegant layout will help build the confidence of the new user before they progress through the rest of the pad. The designs advance through intermediate stages before ending with more complex designs.
According to Emma there’s plenty of time to lose yourself in your task: “The beginner designs could be done within an hour or so and the advanced ones could easily take a couple of hours or even a few days depending how confident you are.”
Emma is thrilled people have found contentment in her cutting pads because she’s dedicated much of her recent time to producing them.
“I haven’t really done any exhibitions or created new designs because it’s all been about the craft pads. Each one takes up to two months to produce and while I still take on private commissions I enjoy making paper cutting accessible to everyone. My latest one is filled with more advanced designs for people who are looking for more of a challenge.”
What started as a hobby has morphed into a whole new lifestyle and Emma couldn’t be happier:
“It’s given my the opportunity to work for myself. My litle girl is at school, so I drop her off and I work from nine until three. I get to spend the evening with her and then when she goes to bed I usually put in another couple of hours in the evening. It’s full time work but being my own boss gives me flexibility I couldn’t have imagined before.”
Who knows what the future holds but you can be sure that Emma is always on the lookout for new designs: “I’m very much inspired by nature. I’m very outdoorsy, we moved originally from the North East because we wanted to be close to the lakes. It’s my happy place and where I get most of my inspiration from, which is reflected in the style of artwork I produce.”
The pads are a fantastic idea, the thrill of getting to the end of something and not having made a mistake is extremely satisfying and seeing the transformation is a single sheet of paper into an actual work of art is exceptionally rewarding.
www.emmaboyespapercutartandillustration.com
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