Heartwood Forest

It's a buzzing week ahead for many with the PG Live Show opening on Tuesday so I thought I'd take a moment out to share some photos from our visit to the beautiful Heartwood Forest last weekend. Admittedly it doesn't look very forest like at the moment because it is a new project set up by the Woodland Trust to reforest agricultural land. 600,000 new trees have been planted with plans for many more including an orchard. I recently watched David Attenborough's program Climate Change - the Facts (28min30 for the forests) which certainly brings home how important these reforestation projects are. It is something we are aware of in the Greetings industry. I'm always happy when I can add the FSC (non profit organisation promoting responsible forest management) logo on a new design and when using specialist eco papers. It's a double win for me, by supporting projects such as these we help the environment whilst at the same time gaining the health benefits of forest bathing. We certainly had a lot of fun at Heartwood.

HEARTWOOD FOREST | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: little miss G and mr J taking in the wildlife in heartwood forest - pinecones, poppies and dandelion clocks were definite favourites. 

#heartwoodforest #woodlandtrust #forest #reforestation #fsc #climatechange #forestbathing  

Luminaire Christmas

Just as the summer weather is kicking off I have received fab new samples of Christmas Luminaire. As quite often happens in the world of greetings whilst many are booking their beach holidays I've been having fun drawing Christmas trees! Following on from the lovely everyday range, we have added 30+ new festive designs. Here's a sneak peek of what to look forward to this coming festive season in the Luminaire collection from Katie Phythian Design.

LUMINAIRE CHRISTMAS | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: a selection of cards from the luminaire christmas additions I designed for katie phythian design, available now for trade direct from katie phythian design. 

#paperlove #luminaire #christmas #katiephythiandesign #katiephythian #contemporarydesign #painterly #new #iridescent #crystals #fresh #independentshops #exciting #stationerylove

Spring Adventures

Well that was a longer spring break than I intended! It's been a fast paced few weeks with extra projects to fit in. Happily it does mean that there will be lots of exciting news in the coming weeks of new designs, a good portion of which will be launching at Progressive Greetings Live! Can't wait!

SPRING ADVENTURES | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: I did manage to sneak out from the desk to the great outdoors and took this lovely pic of mr J wading through flowering wild garlic. 

#spring #wildgarlic #adventure #excitingprojects #pglive

Spring Break

Ooh I'm loving all the spring flowers popping up at the moment. I'm taking a little seasonal break from the Karika Nova blog. I'll be back soon with news of exciting new releases and projects. In the meantime catch me on Instagram + twitter for updates. Wishing you all a lovely Mothering Sunday and a fab Easter x

SPRING BREAK | IMAGE EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above: on a theme following lovely blue's in mother's day and fabulous blue fish, here's a picture i took on the ashridge estate of their famous amazing bluebells - pop over in late april early may to catch them, keep an eye on their bluebell watch for updates!

#bluebells #spring #easter #happyeaster #springbreak

Mothering Sunday Edit SS19

It's a late evening post this week owing to a busy few days. I've been shopping for Mother's Day cards for my Mum and Grandma. It's a great year (as last) of fab designs from on trend rainbows and figurative empowered ladies to sweet animals and classic flowers. Loving the subtle blue colours coming through. I found it very difficult to choose! Favourite's below including the ones I bought and others I would like to receive myself heh!

MOTHERING SUNDAY EDIT SS19 | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

clockwise from the top left: love the colours on this floral to a special grandma louise tiler card available from karenza paperie, on trend rainbow mum card from ohh deer, lovely koala mother's day card from noi publishing, mother's yay mother's day card from oliver bonas, claire picard to my wonderful mum from cinnamon aitch, how sweet is this 90s mama card from the hidden pearl company, rifle paper's happy mothers day card available from paperchase, mum i always look up to you card from ohh deer, happy mother's day card from noi publishing, shine above the rest mothers day card ferme a papier, happy mother's day card from paper salad,

#mothersday #motheringsunday #mum #greetings #paperlove #mothersdaycards #independentbusiness

Yayoi Kusama

I've been busy organising a polka dot themed birthday party for my little son and his play group friend. It got me thinking about the work of top selling female artist in the world, Yayoi Kusama. I've long been a fan of hers and was lucky enough to visit her exhibition at the Tate Modern a few years ago - complete with a signature Kusama 'infinity room' (amazing mirrored space filled with lights). A new one of these spaces just opened at Swarovski Kristallwelten featuring a crystal chandlier. I've yet to see the film 'Kusama - Infinity' that was released last year, it's certainly on my to do list! This incredibly iconic lady will be celebrating her 90th birthday this month - I'd like to think she is having a polka dot themed party too! Some Kusama dotty inspiration here.

YAYOI KUSAMA | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

images clockwise from the top: a still from the film 'kusama - infinity' seen here, pic from her infinity mirror room - phalli's field seen here in this great article on artsy, love love this make and wonder kusama inspired art box on trouva,  fab pic of the artist at work from victoria miro gallery, pic of yayoi kusama infinity theory on artsy, image of the passing winter from victoria miro gallery, 'kusama - infinity' poster seen here on imdb, fab kusama (catsama) greeting card from niaski who asks 'what if your favourite artists were cats?'

#yayoikusama #kusama #art #dots #dotty #inspo #paperlove #greetings

The Fish Can Sing

So it's world book day tomorrow. A few years ago when I mentioned I was travelling to Iceland (loved it there - waterfalls, rainbows + the northern lights - will search out some holiday pics for instagram), a friend gave me a copy of The Fish Can Sing by Halldor Laxness and I am just getting round to reading it. Following on from The Leopard post last year, this book has inspired me to look at the recent illustration trend for fish.

We're in the month of Pisces and in the year of Living Coral so it appears to be a good time to talking fish. As an icon, Fish seem to be catching the zeitgeist - this could follow on from the escapism trend for mermaids or it may more likely come from our love and concern for the oceans after we watched Blue Planet Two (topically on the front of this month's greetings today). I'm especially loving the work of Don Fisher who creates wonderful purses/pockets in the shape of fish, with great detail even on the inside. Eira Teufel's sequinned fish are certainly something special. Whilst they are a tricky icon to use in greetings there are some fabulous cards out there. Some favourites below.

THE FISH CAN SING | EMILY HAUCK KARIKA NOVA

above clockwise from top left: whale of a time from card nest, quite the catch from oliver bonas, the fish pisces zodiac card from blank inside, sardines from red cap cards, you got this from amy heitman, alfonsino case from don fisher, father's day fishes from amy heitman, redfish case made by don fisher available from ohh deer, lady marshmellow embroidered fish brooch from eira teufel, quirky fish gift wrap and card by katy pillinger designs, you're a keeper by 1canoe2 from papier, the fish can sing by halldor laxness.

Further reading/listening:

• A fab 'Reason's to be Cheerful' podcast out last week on Iceland here. 
• The favourite film in our house at the moment is Studio Ghibli's ocean themed Ponyo, little J and G love it.
• Fishing rather than fish themed card I designed for Cinnamon Aitch. 

#fish #fishes #greetings #paperlove #stationery #gift #iceland #halldorlaxness #thefishcansing #fishcansing #illustration #illustrationtrend #worldbookday #blueplanet #pisces #livingcoral