Finding PIPO's Upcycled Envelopes...

PIPO has a website dedicated to the Upcycled Envelopes here. You can also follow the facebook blog and all the updates on the Upcycled Envelopes page here! (Lots of photos from today's craft fayre, too).

Reet Sweet Crafts!

PIPO was at Leeds Corn Exchange today, participating in Reet Sweet's Neo Craft Fayre. Lots of people dropping by, lots of wonderful designer-makers and lots of tempting purchases!
Check out the Facebook Page for tons of photos! Happy Easter!

Pantone Tarts

It's been a while since I last blogged but these certainly whet my appetite in more ways than one! These Pantone tarts were created by Emilie Griottes, a French food blogger with a penchant for happy, colorful, adorable food. You may be asking yourself, can food be adorable? Yes, it can. These edible color chips are just one of Emilie’s culinary inventions; but you can search all of Emilie’s projects by color as well. In the meantime, I’ll leave to drool over this delectable rainbow…

News from the world of PIPO...

If you'd like to keep up-to-date with PIPO's Upcycled Envelopes, simply click this link here to sign up to the newsletter. A quick form and a few simple details and we're away...

Adventure is where you find it...

"Adventure is where you find it, any place, every place, except at home in the rocking chair."
Wally Byam, founder of Airstream Inc. 

Byam was a leader in developing both a romance and enthusiasm associated with the automobile and recreational vehicle culture. Having recently visited the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Farm, I am now on a mission to travel the length of Africa (in an Airstream, if possible).

A piece of history.

My own a wonderful solid wooden desk that used to belong to my Grandad in his dental surgery. He bought it using war tokens during the war and used it right up until he died. It was going to get thrown out but I couldn't bear to see a huge piece of history get lost in time....
I've often wondered about the history behind many things in the charity and vintage shops - who used to own it? How old is it and how did they come across it? What did people live through whilst they were in posession of it? Dubbed the 'paper hyperlink', this lovely use of QR codes would certainly answer those - and many more - questions. Read more here.

If I had so many pencils...

Then I would definitely keep them in the most amazing pencil box ever made! With a blank plaque on the front for personalisation, the box measures about half a meter square and 20cm tall. Look how well it stacks and all the amazing pencils you could keep in there.
I'm sold. Maybe I should become an artist!
Available from none other than The Pencil Museum!

The Pencil Museum!

Would you believe there is a museum dedicated to pencils?! I know - how incredibly exciting. Thanks to a post by Zinc White on Facebook, I am now adding this to my list of summer excursions.
They host the world's longest pencil, the James Bond style World War 11 pencil; you can follow the history of pencil making and also find out exactly how we get lead into a pencil today.
Click here to link to their website.

Reetsweet Craft Fairs

I am particularly proud of my friend Reetsweet's Rebecca Drury for how well she is doing in her bid to promote handmade crafts in the UK through a variety of craft fairs around Yorkshire. I remember when she first started out at the Corn Exchange, Leeds and she was very nervous and worried about how well it would go... PIPO was pleased to be able to display and sell her handmade cards, stationey and gifts and is even more so pleased now two years down the line....
Now she holds the events regularly, has to hand pick the crafters from a plethora of magnificent work - and has even been asked by Topshop to help find some crafters for their craft concession, and sell work through a festival. She has worked incredibly hard and it seems that I keep coming across her name in all places, high and low. You can read her feature in the Guardian Leeds here.
And this picture, incase you're wondering, is a not very flattering one of PIPO at the Corn Exchange Christmas Fair selling Book Clocks, Upcycled Envelopes, Button Bird Gift Tags, and Tin Can Angels (wonderful Christmas decorations made from recycled drinks cans). I actually look quite busy here!

PIPO's Upcycled Envelopes

PIPO now has a site dedicated just to the Upcycled Envelopes! Due to their popularity, we decided to give them their own site, with room for their own pictures, news and orders. Made from unwanted and recycled materials and papers, each envelope is self-sealinga and comes with a plain notecard for you to customise and send off in the post!
PIPO can also create personalised ones just for you, your company or your party/wedding. Got a particular theme and you want to add that extra bit of sparkle? Why not send your invites out in personalised envelopes, or send a personalised envelope for your guests to return their RSVPs. Have a look at http://www.upcycledenvelopes.com/ and don't forget - feedback is always welcome! :)

First Apartment Furniture

Check out this furniture by Our Paper Life, an American company who makes completely affordable furniture for the first/student home. Made entirely out of recycled materials, there's no need for glue or fixtures, and it can hold up to 160 pounds in weight. Pretty amazing. Read and see more pictures here.
You should also check out dornob.com and subscribe to their newsletter. There's some nifty stuff on the blog. Very inspiring.

Logic will get you from A - Z...

This quote by Einstein in a typewriter has been painstakingly cut from a single sheet of card by Tina Tarnoff. The artwork is mounted on beautiful, Indian cotton rag paper, then displayed on a sturdy 11" x 14" black mat. More can be seen in her online Etsy shop and she also has a blog. With paper cutting becoming fairly ubiquitous, it's hard to find someone who isn't riding on the back of now cult Rob Ryan. Although this cutting isn't so subtle with its air of romanticism, I think this quote sings to my very heart and I love it.

Christmas wishes...

I've been doing a bit of stumbling around the good ol' tinterweb and have found some delightful paper goodies. The first is this beautiful letterpressed clock by WitShop (I think I need it right now) and also this lovely paper cutting by Tina Tarnoff (stunning). Have a gander and fall in love...

Christmas Craft Fair

Don't forget about the Christmas Craft Fair this Saturday and Sunday at the Corn Exchange in Leeds, 10am to 5pm. PIPO will be trading Sunday and there will be (as always) some awesome crafters and beautiful things to get you in the Christmas spirit. See you there!

I wouldn't mind a paper cut from here!

These paper cuts are absolutely amazing. I cannot get my head round how someone can have so much patience. I've had a go and it isn't easy I can tell you that. Instant gratification is what I need! I particularly like this one of the two lovers on the bike. Have a look at this article for more photos. Rob Ryan eat your heart out!

Sheffield University Global Enterprise Week

PIPO has been invited to hold a talk at the University of Sheffield's Global Enterprise Week about craft business start up. How exciting! Find out how PIPO got the idea and got started.... and watch her tremble with nervousness on the stage! It will be great to see other crafters and their work and ideas. For more information, visit their website.

PIPO at Leeds Corn Exchange

Stumbled across these pictures from one of the Reet Sweet Craft Fairs. More photos of the fair here. Products featured in the photos: Envelope Journals, Notebooks, Over-sized Gift Tags, various Handmade Greetings Cards and Gift Tags.

Inc. Creative

inc.creative is an Enterprise Gateway in the centre of Keighley, West Yorkshire and supports enterprise and business start ups. They are supported by Leeds City College and The European Regional Development Fund. They offer: 




- Window display selling designer-maker products created in or for inc.creative  
- Laser cutting service available to manufacturers and designer-makers 
- Co-working space for creatives using MAC Design Suite, Final Cut Pro and Photoshop  
- Hot desking space for anyone wishing to take a break from working from home 
- Leisure courses and workshops in art, media and design-based learning 
- Social networking (knit and natter, sewing cafe, creative meeting place) 
- WIFI, MAC suite, film making equipment 
- Shared membership of inc.creative and Factory 4

Lost in a stack of magazine piles?

Stumbled across this book list, which I will be looking into swiftly:

Whether you buy or borrow these references are sure to make all your projects eco-chic

• 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew
• Trash-to-Treasure Papermaking: Make Your Own Recycled Paper from Newspapers & Magazines, Can & Bottle Labels, Disgarded Gift Wrap, Old Phone Books, Junk Mail, Comic Books, and More
• Craftcycle: 100+ Earth-Friendly Projects and Ideas for Everyday Living
• The Big-Ass Book of Crafts
• The Envelope Mill: Recycle Magazines into Beautifully Crafted Envelopes/Book and Templates

Ooh 'eck...

I was advised to stumble upon stumbleupon. Man alive it's brilliant! I've just spent the last few hours checking out dozens of sites from just one click. Thanks David :)