SPRING//SUMMER 2018 13 NEWS Register at www.stationerymatters.news to receive our biweekly industry e-newsletter STATIONERY+ Cutting edge The craze for mindfulness and anti-stress art therapy comes together in a new publication, Adventures in Paper Cutting. Renowned paper artist Emma Boyes joined forces with expert craft makers Katy Sue Designs to produce their first paper craft pad. Paper crafters can choose from 36 ready- to-cut designs, from simple to advanced, including trees, birds, feathers, butterflies, dream catchers and more. This beautiful and practical publication will help drive a growing appreciation for the therapeutic and creative nature of paper cutting. The pad begins with a seductive premise:“Transform a single sheet of paper into a beautiful piece of art,” and provides practical tools and advice to start the beginner on their journey, including a practice cutting sheet, directions toYouTube tutorials and handy printed tips from the artist. Emma Boyes, a recent guest on Channel 4’s Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, comments: “I love that a simple sheet of paper can be totally transformed into something truly beautiful with just a pencil, scalpel and whatever my imagination allows. I’m very excited to be working with Katy Sue Designs as this enables me to pass my passion on to those either coming to this craft for the first time or developing in their journey.” www.katysuedesigns.com Although we’re all about stationery at Stationery Matters, we’ve noticed that the trend towards the blurring of boundaries between product sectors is gaining momentum. Stationery retailers are boosting sales by expanding their product offer into complementary sectors like gift, books and craft.This was evident at Paperworld 2018, which included the quirkily named and expertly curated Mr. Books & Mrs Paper exhibition. Paperworld also aimed to inspire retailers with its Wrap up! show, demonstrating tricks and tips for effective gift wrapping incorporating the latest design trends.This issue we’re highlighting products in the craft and book sectors. Get in touch with the editor to tell us your bestselling non-stationery items, so we can share them with the industry on future Stationery+ pages. The Secret Life of The Pencil: Great Creatives and their Pencils The pencil in all its simple glory provides the subject for this insightful and visual volume. It gives an accessible insight into the lives, minds and pencil cases of some of our best-known creatives, offering up an unusual portrait of each pencil’s owner. Published by Laurence King and with a foreword by author William Boyd,The Secret Life of The Pencil is essentially a collection of photos illustrating in juicy close-up detail a diverse and wacky range of pencils, from the modest wooden models chosen by Stephen Fry and Tracy Emin, to the precision tool favoured by James Dyson and the precious mechanical pencil made from black and pearl marble worth thousands owned by Paul Smith. Although the photos take centre stage, scattered through the book are fascinating quotes about pencils from some of their famous users. Author Alex Hammond and photographer Mike Tinney have created a book that shows with brilliant clarity why the world’s most innovative creators still choose the pencil in this digital age, presenting it as the ultimate instrument of creative freedom. www.laurenceking.com FortheLoveofStationery! To find out more visit the National Stationery Week website now – www.nationalstationeryweek.com – and join in with this great event. Run by the UK stationery industry for stationery lovers everywhere! National Stationery Week is back for 2018 and will run from Monday, 23 to Sunday, 29 April.This year will mark the seventh time the stationery industry has worked together to promote stationery, in all its forms and uses, and the love of handwriting, to a consumer audience. Last year 74.5 million people,both online and in print,saw or heard information about National StationeryWeek and the brands and products that supported it.The sixth annual campaign in 2017 whipped up a storm of media interest and an outpouring of adoration for stationery among consumers, as it does every year. National StationeryWeek,and its #writingmatters theme,is the UK stationery market’s biggest consumer sales initiative. Its aim has always been to celebrate writing by hand,to inspire people all over the world to discuss and share details of their favourite stationery and stationers,and of course for everyone to send more letters and cards!The campaign’s 20,000-strong online community leads this,with consumer media and bloggers,suppliers,retailers,schools and the trade press all doing their bit. How to get involved and share the love for stationery with an even bigger audience… Join in with the daily themes of the 2018 Seven Days of Stationery, online or in store. Celebrate the myriad types and ways of using favourite writing and paper products. No cash required, just a great excuse to discover your customers’ favourite stationery. Monday 23 April: #makeanote Tuesday 24 April: #penandpencil Wednesday 25 April: #stationerytheworldover Thursday 26 April: #workhappy Friday 27 April: #aplaceforeverything Saturday 28 April: #getstuckintocrafting Sunday 29 April: #signaturesunday With support from leading brands like Crafters Companion, Nuco, STAEDTLER, Mustard, AT Cross and the London Stationery Show, there’ll be lots of fun and games – and great prizes to win – for customers and followers.