Five years ago I wrote a plan. A simple plan to find and gather the most inventive and beautiful paper goods from around the globe, and to make them available for all to enjoy. Tick.

In this plan (in big red underlined print, not to be missed) it clearly stated that I should continue to do this until I felt it time to do something else. Tick, tick.

The last five years have been nothing short of amazing. The connections, collaborations, and the places Upon A Fold has taken me has been fulfilling beyond words. I’ve achieved everything I set out to and more and now I feel like it is time to ponder a new plan. I feel like it’s time to do something else!

I feel sad to be saying goodbye. But I also feel excited for the changes ahead. I have so many ideas in my head and I’m really looking forward to having the time to explore them. I love paper so much and always will but it’s time to make room for other materials, other opportunities and other (hopefully fulfilling) projects.

Thank you to all the bloggers out there whom kindly blogged about Upon A Fold. Thanks also to all the talented magazine folk for the abundance of editorial we received over the years. Upon A Fold’s offerings would not have reached so far and wide without you.

To my customers – you guys have been incredible! I have loved receiving your emails, letters, postcards, tweets and so on. Your passion and enthusiasm for Upon A Fold inspired me daily. From those who bought one beautiful card to those who bought half the shop ;) I say thank you, thank you, thank you. Retail is certainly not easy but I have been so fortunate to have an audience that truly appreciates a good paper find!

So what’s next? Honestly, I don’t know. First up, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my little Maro who has had to share me with my work for the last 11 months. I’m also looking forward to having dinners with Matt again instead of eating at my desk! I also really want to start making things again. My head is full of projects on hold. I’m looking forward to un-holding them. Actually, I can’t wait.

My love and enjoyment for finding beautiful things has not diminished one bit, so I will continue on my path of discovery, especially for all things handmade and Japanese. Join me on Instagram to stay in the loop. This will be where I share things and delight in what others are sharing too.

So now for the really good news! We’re having a BIG sale! Absolutely everything is reduced by 40-80%. The sale will run until our last open day – June 30.

Hooray, enjoy, goodbye and thank you!
Justine xo

Something very beautiful I just watched and wanted to share. It’s a film by André Gidoin & The Makerie Studio.

All filmed in camera, the horses on the carousel are spaced to spin in sync with the camera’s frame rate, creating the illusion of motion. Each one is carefully studied to follow the one before it, so that once animated they appear to be galloping.

I also loved the music. It’s by Marcus Loeber.

Yummy new finds have just been added to the shop. Admire them here. xx

Hello again. It has been a while I know. I just wanted to share some happy news :) Matt and I just became parents to our little boy Maro. All is wonderful and we’re so excited to have him with us after 9 long months!

I’m taking a short break from blogging so I can give the little guy my undivided attention. The shop will run as normal and you can find me over at Instagram in the meantime. See you back here soon. Wish me luck! xo

Image: The beautiful baby shoes shown above are made entirely of handmade washi. Even the laces and stitching thread are washi. Via Japan Style.

Julie Wilkinson and Joyanne Horscroft are The Makerie Studio, a creative collaboration producing unique three dimensional paper sculptures for both commercial and artistic purposes. Here are some of their more recent works. These guys are amazing. See more of their work here.

I so much enjoy writing for print, especially when the printed matter is the beautiful UPPERCASE Magazine. The latest issue 17 is all about stationery and paper, paper, paper! If you love stationery then you will really love this issue and I hope you’ll enjoy my little Renaissance in Stationery story (pg 54) too!

My tiny but tough 4WD and I have enjoyed many road trips throughout Australia. It’s such a big country with a vast and diverse landscape that is so distinctively Australian. So when I first saw these hand cut works by artist Nicola Moss I knew she must have been an Aussie. There was something very familiar about her flora forms and paper cut landscapes. I really love her work – it makes me want to go exploring this beautiful country once again.

Nicola Moss bases her work on observations of ecological relationships within the natural environment. She develops her research through numerous site visits. Moss’ interest lies in how people connect, shape and interact with the natural environment, through development, conservation and culture. – SGAR

Images courtesy of Nicola Moss // Spiro Grace Art Rooms (SGAR)

Beautiful textiles by Hiroko Takeda. Something I stumbled upon today that I just had to share. xx

I’m really looking forward to an exhibition titled KIRIGAMI: Scissors + Paper, that will be held at the Japan Foundation Gallery later this month. The exhibition belongs to the wonderfully talented kirigami artist Kanako Yaguchi. Kanako’s fascination with kirigami began over 15 years ago. She now travels the globe exhibiting her beautifully cut works and demonstrating her skillful way with scissors.

Combine the Japanese words for kiru (to cut) and kami (paper), and you get kirigami – like origami, but with scissors. The wonder of kirigami is in its simplicity, with everyday objects coming together to create playful kaleidoscopes of colour and form. – The Japan Foundation, Sydney.

The Japan Foundation in Sydney is hosting a number of events where you can meet the artist and learn how to make kirigami works of your own! For more information about the exhibition and other events please click here.
(Images // KANAKO YAGUCHI, kirigami works.)