Here's how I wrap…

Individualised wrapping on Christmas presents this year. I particularly enjoyed decorating the wrapping paper myself.

Christmas Deco Paper Cut

I made a few of these little christmas hangers to send to friends at Christmas

Paper cut for Persephone on her first birthday

During Quiet January (as it is known in my world) I took on a special commission to create an artwork for a friend's baby based on her name, Persephone – the Greek Goddess of Spring and harvest.

I took inspiration from the Pomegranate mentioned in her story, and surrounded it with a celebration of meadow flowers. 

I also felt inspired to try it in two layers. The top (white) layer being outlines and defining shapes, with infills of gold beneath, mounted on mint / turquoise. 

Here are my printed templates…

I started by cutting out the top layer…

…and removed the template…

…to reveal the white top layer…

…then cut out the gold…

…and finally mounted it on the turquoise…

I wrapped it in purple tissue and bubble wrap and finished it off with a little 3-layer swing tag…

I also made a timelapse film of myself cutting out the piece…

A Saturday in Norwich before Christmas

Today I spotted the new window display at The Book Hive. It's nothing less than genius. A forest of silver birch simply made from painted polystyrene, surreal 'B's swarming around a hive, and a Narnia-esque lamp. Fantastically imagined and beautifully put together. 

I then went to a craft fair on St Benedict's where I was inspired by these handmade wreaths. I thought they were very tasteful and expressive.

Finally, I treated myself to an early Christmas present. At the craft fair on St Benedict's, Vicki Johnson's prints were on sale. I previously bought this as a card but gave it away. I wanted to buy another to frame but found this first and decided it will be perfect in my living room. I love it because it's so warm and lush. I love the shapes and curves, and I love how it's comfortably balanced without being symmetrical.   

Merry Christmas Garland

My amazing friend Kate made this Merry Christmas banner for me. It's got dear faces on bulbuls hanging at either end. I absolutely love it!!!

Mustard Cafe Pieces

My three pieces in the Mustard Cafe, Norwich, today.

New exhibition space in Norwich

Today a new department store opened in Norwich. 100% unique, Boutique Fusions sells "products and services offered by some of the best independent retailers in the UK."

It's not even on the high street, it's THAT special. I'm a big fan of Norwich Lanes. 

I'm really excited that I have the opportunity to show my work in their beautiful exhibition space at the top of the building. 

On display is my epic 'Space Bunnies' paper cut and my #3 'Do More of What Makes You Happy' paper cut in a floating frame. 

I'm very proud to be positioned next to an incredibly accomplished painter, Alexander Bell, whose seascape images really took my breath away. They are some of the most enjoyable paintings I've seen in a long time – I love their atmosphere. There's something captured in these paintings that gets flattened out and lost through photographic- and printing-processes. Something raw and honest combined with depth and mood. Absolutely stunning. To say I'm impressed is an understatement.   

Space Bunnies First Exhibit

Space Bunnies will be up in the Cherry Leaf Coffee House for the month of February 2014.
Below it sits my third cut of Do More Of What Makes You Happy.

The private view was held on 7 February:

Christmas Slotting Decorations

In November I visited my friend Kate in Cromer and we had a super crafting day where we made many slotting paper decorations for Christmas. 

There's a deer in white:

And a robin:

I packaged them up flat, with instruction cards and a Christmas post card:

They were for sale throughout December in the Mustard Cafe Bar, Norwich and they were pretty popular!

Can We Shall We

Included in my prize for winning the Rob Ryan Christmas 2012 Competition was a beautiful 'Can We Shall We' laser cut! 

I spent a long time wondering whether to place a colour behind the cut. Pale blue and royal blue we're strong contenders, but I decided to settle with white to show off the cut to the most. 

I'm really pleased to have this in my home. 

My Rob Ryan Vase

For my birthday, my lovely mum ordered me Rob Ryan's 'Bells' vase, which I've wanted for absolutely ages! 
Unfortunately, it didn't arrive on time and so my mum did this…

The next day it arrived…

And I chose white flowers for it…

White Lace / Doily Bunting

For my mum's big birthday I had my family around to my apartment and we had a little party. The night before they arrived I quickly made some bunting out of white paper doilies, which looked like incredibly tasteful white lace trim bunting! It was unbelievably quick to run out with my sewing machine. I could have made a few more lengths – I got a pack of 60 for just £1!

Baby Boy Bunting

I made a name bunting for a new baby boy. I hope he likes it! 

Winning entry of the Tatty Devine Hot House Animation competition!

In June, Henning and I worked on a short animation to enter the Tatty Devine Hot House competition. 

We had the idea of working with a travelling mandala. This was a perfect theme for the piece, as the mandala is associated with the far east – hot countries – something the Spring Summer 2013 collection is taking inspiration from.

I started by drawing all the pieces of the Hot House collection in Illustrator… 

I also drew some extra patterns, taking inspiration from henna tattoos. This was a natural connection, inspired from the Tatty Devine Holi party back in March! This is my beautiful faux sister, Auria, with a fresh glitter henna tattoo at the TD Holi party in London, March 13.

I also worked on the title and credit screen, animated background sun rays and sound design.

As the Hot House collection features jungle leaves and animals, it was really important to me that the film had a warm, humid atmosphere and tropical background sound. With the mandala's connection to the far east, it seemed fitting to adorn the scene with the sound of a sitar. This instantly gives the piece a relaxed ambience, which also connects to the mandala's association with meditation. 

The overall effect is a fascinating array of curiosities circling before you…  

The Hot House Mandala from Charlotte Vogel on Vimeo.

It took the majority of the weekend to get it done, but it was well worth the effort. Firstly, we enjoy working collaboratively – sometimes things get hairy, but we always find a way to make things work. Secondly, WE WON! 

Ours was one of three animations chosen to receive a prize and be screened at the London Short Film Festival in January 2014. 

We got a really lovely comment from Harriet Vine: 

“This is one of my favourite entries! I love the soundtrack and the way Charlotte incorporated elements of the collection in the pattern.”

See the other winners here.

A very big thank you to Henning for making making it all come to life! You can see more of his amazing animations here.

Prep for Open Exhibition

I've framed my favourite paper cut and will be submitting it to the PEER Open Exhibition at the Stew Gallery in Norwich, Saturday 16 Feb 2013.