Here is the original papercut artwork from a cover I did for the book 'Wandering Stars' by Sholem Aleichem. The book will be out soon, published by Penguin.

I was asked by Elle Collections to illustrate a tribute to the late Alexander McQueen. The issue is out soon, if not now and you can find my illustration on page 157.

They went for the green !!!

If you live in a city in the UK tomorrow you might be able to get a copy of the free magazine 'Stylist' for which I've done a papercut for their cover.

Last week was model making week at the studio, chopping away at bits of foamcore all day to make a scale model of my ceramic show at the Shire Hall Gallery in November.

At the moment I am working on 2 exhibitions for November. One will be ceramics the other papercuts so I'm feeling a bit dizzy from flipping between the two, but they do feed each other so I guess it's all good, this could make a cool dish... but then again...

A paper dress I created a few years ago specially for English Vogue has gone off on its own little adventure around the world as part of a touring exhibition 'Paper Runway'. At the moment it is staying with some new friends it's made at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main Street, Houston, Texas !!! Big thanks to Suzanne Sippel for sending us the photos !

It is my shop RYANTOWN's second birthday on the 28th of this month, and I have made this special editioned screenprint to celebrate the big day ! It is available only from the shop itself and also online via the Etsy shop. How time flies !

After a papercut is completed we color it by spraypainting it. The huge papercut we did at Somerset House's 'Pick me Up' exhibition was too big to spray indoors so we took it out into the yard, good from the point of dispersing the paint fumes but not so good when sudden gusts of wind appear threatening to blow this extremely delicate artwork halfway down the street !

A new print from last week . . . . in YELLOW !!!

I have been trying to get some new screenprint designs made at the studio recently.I'm quite into bright yellow at the moment, not that it's been too sunny in London this June, maybe it's just wishful summer thinking... more yellow on it's way though I feel.

More than anything else I love it when a box arrives at the studio containing 100s of a new tape design. Lorna was buying tapes marked 'Fragile' to use on packing parcels for things I sell on Etsy, then I thought "why not make my own FRAGILE tape ?" So I did !!!

Over the last year and a half I have been working on the pictures to go with a new Carol Ann Duffy childrens story called 'The Gift', it really is the most beautiful and moving tale. Eventually it is all finally coming together and begining to look like a book - these things seem to take forever - and will be coming out in September.
Exciting !

I have been snowed under with work for the last few weeks and have sorely neglected this poor blog ! Big apologies to you guys who check it out regularily only to be disappointed time and time again ! I promise to mend my ways and I am going to blog every day for the next 2 weeks - you will be so sick of me !!!

This is a hanky I designed and Error Solutions printed for twobirds bridesmaid, it's a little token a bride can give to a special friend and vice versa.

Twobirds have designed an incredible bridemaids dress that can be worn 1 million different ways ! It is pure genius and the lady behind them, Ariane, is very lovely too.
Check them out Here

My studio is currently overrun with cats and dogs ! I am preparing for a show of ceramicware at the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford in November, watch this space for developments.

There is a nice little piece in this months Elle (UK) mag collecting peoples summer holiday memories. This is a picture of me and my daughter Maria (now 21 !!!!!) taken at Bexhill on Sea in Sussex, it only seems like yesterday to me.

STOP PRESS ! 18 JUNE 2010

THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE PICTURE JUST RECIEVED A FIRST IN HER MUSIC DEGREE FROM NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY, needless to see me and Lorna are bursting with pride !

A teacher at the local school, Columbia Rd Primary, which is directly opposite my shop has suffered a terrible stroke that has left her disabled. The school is organising an auction to raise money to help make her home more suitable for her condition. This woman who has given of herself helping our children learn and grow now needs our help. Please visit their website to see how it is possible to contribute !

http://www.raise-the-roof.net

The papercut that I did for Coast Magazine is now on Ebay, all of the proceeds from the auction go to the Marine Conservation Society. You'll find it Here
I particularly love my friend Angie Lewin's linocut which you can find Here

We have just packed up in Somerset House and are moving back to the studio tomorrow. 14,000 people came to see the show over the 12 (Continuous!) days we were there !! I f you were one of those that made it down then I hope you enjoyed it !

Whilst we were working there we did a nice big papercut, our website designer and friend Karl made a time lapse film of it being cut out, follow this
Link

it takes a while to load, it kind of stops and starts so I went and made a cup of tea and when I'd got back to the computer it had finished playing it's way through , I pressed play again and it played lovely and smoothly second time.



Also if you go to this link

there is a filmed interview with me talking lots of rubbish !!

Quite a few people have blogged about the show so if you weren't able to make it in person you can get quite a good overview of the whole 'Pick me Up' show by following these few links -
What Katie Does
jocheung.com
Amelia's Magazine

Everything has been going well here, we've been busy printing the sleeves for "Reacharound" records first release. This is only our second day but we're already overwhelmed by the large amount of lovely visitors, including 'The Gentle Author.' You can read his interview with Rob Here