Extract

Excitingly in my post this week is the latest collection from GFSmith, Extract. It's a paper project that I find particularly appealing, not only because it is great quality paper and excellent colours but because it has come about in an effort to reduce our paper + plastic waste.

Plastic has been something on my agenda for a little while (I'm big a fan of retailers like Buy Me Once who look to reduce disposable culture) but the issue has come to the fore this week with the poor baby whale on blue planet and an increasing number of recent worrying reports on plastic pollution.

I didn't realise that the disposable paper coffee cups that we all use daily are actually non recyclable - this is due to a plastic lining on the inside. A scary thought when we use 5000 of these cups a minute!

So it is great news to hear of a designer paper tackling this. After much development at the paper mill into finding a way to recycle these cups, we have extract. Something so positive and aesthetic too.

EXTRACT FROM G F SMITH - EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: extract, available colours: flint, shell, ember, pitch, aqua, khaki, mustard, cactus, moon + coral. weights 130 + 380gsm 

#gfsmith #extract #paperlove 

Manchester's First Stationery Show

Manchester's first Stationery Show kicked off in style last week. It was one of the most (if not the most) stylish trade shows I've been to - largely owing to the fantastic backdrop of the Victoria Warehouse. The new trade venue showcased the latest stationery products perfectly. A small but neatly formed show provided a wonderful selection of publishers, seminars, workshops and a relaxing networking area by the cafe/bar under some fantastic paper lanterns. A great opportunity to catch up with friends, trends and the latest in stationery.
Highlights included a handwriting/calligraphy workshop, a seminar on high street trends by Michael Weedon and the latest releases from Go Stationery - I especially loved the Monochrome collection.

MANCHESTER'S FIRST STATIONERY SHOW - IMAGES EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

round clockwise from top left: fantastic original features of the victoria warehouse, catching up with friends - katie of katie phythian design & me, colour block collection from go stationery, manchester stationery show promo area, monochrome notebooks from go stationery, michael weedon's seminar on high street trends, pics of the fantastic exhibition space, on trend pastel highlighters from stabilo, larger shot of the monochrome range, pic of the paper lanterns by the cafe/bar.

First Birthday Greetings

I'm feeling inspired by the lovely cards my daughter has received this past week for her first birthday.

With their lower price points, children's cards might be overlooked by publishers/retailers making first birthday cards sometimes difficult to find. Design wise, first birthdays can be tricky to work with as they could look too babied or too much like an older child's card. There is also some debate at the moment about the gendering of products for children, John Lewis recently wading into this when removing gender labelling of children's clothes.

Despite all this, there is some great design out there. I'm loving the current fresh colour palettes and innovative character illustration. Some top picks for you here.

FIRST BIRTHDAY CARDS - EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

top left: elephant first birthday card from paperchase, top right: gold bear birthday greeting card from ohh deer, second tier left: lion holding number one card from clintons, second tier right: circus first birthday card from clintons, third tier left: personalised girls and boys birthday card by rocks design, third tier right: party animals greeting card from ohh deer, bottom left: giraffe in hat first birthday card from paperchase, bottom right: first birthday card personalised by norma & dorothy.

Escapism

Here it is, the annual John Lewis report has arrived with the latest trends. Out is sensible women's suits or healthy eating spiralisers, that's too much reality for us. Escapism is the new key to current shopping trends. More unicorns, mermaids, rainbows, fun and fantastical please.

Thinking back on recent trends tropical leaves & pantone's 2017 Greenery colour, even these appear too down to earth for current needs (not surprising in a 2017 that's filled with full on politics and events). So the unicorn is here to stay. Here are some pink, sparkling and escapist top picks.

ESCAPISM - EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

top left: best birthday unicorn card by sooshichacha, top middle: unicorn garden folded notecards from paperchase, top right: rainbow unicorn card by gemma correll, second tier left: unicorn poop card by ohh deer, second tier right: unicorn happy birthday card by duke and rabbit, third tier left: orelia have a magical day gift card, third tier middle: unicorn with tassle card by meri meri, third tier right: unicorn star A5 sketchbook by paperchase,  fourth tier left: unicorn pop up card from paperchase,  fourth tier middle: star wand greeting card by ohh deer, fourth tier right: mermaid card by meri meri, bottom left: mermaid cake toppers from meri meri, bottom middle: rainbows birthday card by meri meri, bottom right: unicorn necklace by meri meri

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The Henries Awards 2017

So we have it, the winners of the Henries Awards 2017 have been announced!

While Paloma Mother's Day missed out on the spring season award, the Paloma Christmas Packs have proved again to be a winning formula in the Best Christmas Box or Pack Category, fantastic news! I have thoroughly enjoyed designing Paloma for Belly Button Designs right from creating the initial concept through to the award winning range it is today. I am so pleased to see it continuing the winning tradition.

Congratulations to all the winners, a fabulous show of talent this year. A full list of winners can be found here at PG Buzz.

THE HENRIES AWARDS 2017 - EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: a selection of winning companies and some of the collections. top left: stefanie dyment's new giftware collection - best giftwrappings collection, top right: lagom - best relations or occasions range, second tier left: hotchpotch - best contemporary trend range, second tier right: belly button designs paloma chrismas box - best christmas box or pack, third tier left: five dollar shake - best christmas counter range, third tier right: louise tyler - most promising young designer, bottom left: stop the clock design - best spring seasons range, bottom middle: redback cards - best humorous range, bottom right: art file - best male range

The Henries

Ooh it's that time of year again. The Henries Greetings Awards 2017 are this week! It's fantastic to see Paloma is nominated for two awards in Best Spring Seasons Range & Best Christmas Box or Pack. Paloma Mother's Day is one of the last collections I designed for Belly Button Designs so it's extra fab to know it has been nominated and for me to leave on such a high. Let's hope it's another winner!! Best of luck to all the nominees!!

THE HENRIES ARE HERE | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above top:  belly button designs paloma mother's day 2017 'on Mothering Sunday' - one of my favourite designs I created for the collection, middle right: henries 2017 logo, bottom middle: previous henries award for platinum, bottom right: parisian theme for this years ceremony, #progressive greetings

Thinking of You Week

The GCA's Thinking of You Week has been a great excuse to catch up with folk and get creative with the kids.

Thinking of You Week is a special week that harnesses the emotional power of greeting cards to create a wave of love, caring and happiness around the world. Sending handwritten cards generates positive feelings and wellbeing. Science has shown that receiving a handwritten card creates a lovely warm positive boost - Greeting Card Association

We had a great deal of fun creating these lovelies. Our rather large pile of post is all sent and off on its way.

INSTAGRAM THINKING OF YOU WEEK | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: instagram pics for #ThinkingOf YouWeek #SendaCardDeliveraSmile @GCAUK