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Sparkle Collective Q + A

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sparkle Collective
Britt Saunders is the creator of Sparkle Collective. Based out of Toronto, Canada
Sparkle Collective is fuelled by donuts, and inspired by cats and magic.

Sparkle Collective Artist Q & A:

How did you start?
My background is in graphic design, but I’ve been drawing since I was a kid! I was always kind of shy and apprehensive about sharing my artwork with others, but back in early 2015, I stepped out of my comfort zone and created an Instagram account to post some of my illustrations online. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but I ended up receiving so much encouragement that I decided to start selling stickers and handmade brooches just a couple of months later. Since then, I’ve expanded my product line to include enamel pins, patches, and apparel.

What is your process? What art tool could you not live without?
I usually sketch out all of my ideas on paper or my iPad, and then I refine and finish them in Adobe Illustrator. The art tool I probably couldn’t live without is my Apple Pencil!
I use it almost daily.


Where do you get your inspiration?
So many things! I’m continuously inspired by everything I loved when I was a kid, including rainbow colour palettes, outer space, and all things magical. My cat (and all of his cuteness/sassiness) also inspires me on a daily basis!

Is there anything you are currently working on that you are excited about?
I’m currently working on my upcoming fall collection, which I’m hoping to have available by early October. I’ll have lots of new pins as well as a few other fun surprises!

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Allison + Cam Q&A

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Allison Burda + Cam Gee,
Working collaboratively they make illustrations and animations as well as sell there own line of greeting cards. They create things in the spirit of colour and fun.

Allison + Cam Artist Q & A:

How did you start?
Neither of us went to art school but when we first started dating we realized we had an excellent creative dynamic. We made small comics, animations, and filled sketchbooks with little throwaway projects we made together. We got a lot of positive feedback from the people who saw our work so we started to post illustrations on a weekly blog and printed out some of our work to sell online. From there we were contacted by a few publishers and magazine art directors and started getting paid for our work. But it took years of taking on freelance projects and juggling 1 or 2 days jobs until we were able to make this our full-time gig.

What is your process? What art tool could you not live without?

One of us will mention an idea. If it’s digital work (like planning our cards and stickers), usually Cam will map it out; he’s amazing with rough sketching composition. Then one of us will flesh it out in Photoshop. I’m almost always in charge of colour. If we’re working with irl materials like clay, plaster, paint, wood then it’s kind of a free for all where we converge and diverge throughout the process until the project feels complete. Our work is always stronger when it’s a collaboration than
when we work separately

Where do you get your inspiration?

No one place. We love and collect children’s picture books, and we have a toddler who does bizarre baby stuff and his motions are often a jumping off point for animations. Usually ideas start in a sketchbook that seems to get the most action in the late evenings. Mostly we randomly put ideas on paper and then forget them for months at a time, then we revisit them and the idea feels stronger than it did in the beginning. If it makes us laugh when we come back
to it then it’s worth turning into something.

Is there anything you are currently working on that you are excited about?

We’ve been caught between some large and looming editorial contracts for the last 2 years which have all finished up for the moment so this is the first time in a while where we’ve been able to work on stuff that’s just for us. We’ve been working on plaster sculpture this summer and we’re in the middle of making everything we need to try out punch rug hooking. September is coming and our free time is almost up so we’re savouring this creative trial and error before the autumn
editorial rush picks up again.
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Smitten Kitten Q & A

We had the pleasure to converse with the owner of Smitten Kitten for our Artist Q & A.
Amy Kwong, the designer behind the brand, started Smitten Kitten in 2006 and
opened the I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU Gift Shop in 2014.

How did you start?

I started Smitten Kitten in 2006 after I quit my career as a creative director for a giftware company.
I loved the design process and over-seeing the creation of a product from start to finish,
but my design sensibilities didn’t align with the company’s vision.
After butting heads with them one too many times,
I decided to quit working for someone else and start my own company, and Smitten Kitten was born.
Hard to believe that was 13 years ago.

What is your process? What art tool could you not live without?

Well it’s not really an art tool, but I can’t live without my notes app on my phone.
Sometimes ideas come so quick (and I can be very forgetful)
if I don’t jot it down right away, even a few words, I’d loose it forever.
Reading back my notes doesn’t always make sense though.
What’s “Honbre some umbra”?! Who the hell knows. Auto correct is the ducking wurst.
When it’s time to launch a collection, which is twice a year.
I’ll go through my notes to see if any of the ideas have legs.
Then it’s off to races with my trusty sketch book and sharpie where the doodling begins!

Where do you get your inspiration?

Hmmm…not a source of inspo but I find a nice long drive on the highway in
my Mini helps me focus and clears my head.
Also, falling down the social media rabbit hole helps me identify what’s missing in the marketplace.
I’m a bit of a pop culture junkie, so memes and articles that flash across my screens stick with me.
My friends are a brilliant funny bunch too, so we tend to come up with ideas when we hang.

Is there anything you are currently working on that you are excited about?

Yup! Currently working on my 2019 Christmas designs.
Dead celeb RIP Christmas cards and letterpress holiday cards will drop in August at the NY Gift trade show.

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Greetings from Canada!

East meets West; Ontario based Everlovin’ Press and B.C’s Tom Froese have collaborated on a first-of-its-kind project to showcase Canada’s creative talent and elevate the art of letterpress!

The finished product is a beautiful collection of 10 limited edition letterpressed postcards, which is available now in our storefront, priced at $40.

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Each Postcard is designed by a Canadian artist, illustrator or designer, reppin’ Toronto we have ‘Doublenaut‘ and ‘Jacqui Oakley‘.

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Check out this video about the project –

http://vimeo.com/99310614