Supplier Showcase: Papaver Designs

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Brides Up North Featured Supplier, Poppy Lee of Papaver Designs, tells Brides Up North all about her gorgeous designs, perfect to announce your big day or decorate your wedding venue.  Home grown talent indeed!

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How and why did Papaver Designs begin?

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I have always had a passion for art and enjoyed drawing and creating things from a young age. Art has always been in my life.

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In 2007 I started my Textiles and Surface Design degree at Cleveland College of Art and Design. It was here where I was first introduced to the card and gift industry. It had never crossed my mind before that this was something I would enjoy. From the first assignment I was hooked, passionate about doing more with the new skills I had learnt. I still didn’t know what career was right for me and was dreaming of owning a little boutique in a quaint village selling crafts, cards, gifts with unique furniture like refurbished chairs and bureaus. In reality it was just a dream. It was at my degree show where the thought of designing cards and gifts as a career choice came to me. I received so many compliments on my hand cut designs, people saying they would buy my products if I could reproduce them. I was starting to think it was a good idea.

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I took my entire final major project to a lovely lady at ‘Be Enterprising’ which is run by the council to support new businesses in County Durham. I needed to know how to run a business. I needed to know if they thought it was a good idea. Before I knew it I was being funded and was selling cards and lanterns under the name of Papaver Designs. I wouldn’t wish to be doing anything else. It’s my dream job, and although I would still like my little boutique sometime in the future, Papaver Designs is a perfect alternative.

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What stationery/decorations would you choose for your big day?

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I am not married. I do have a wonderful partner of 8 years who is my life and I love him very much but we are still young and are in no hurry just yet. Every girl however dreams of their wedding day and I would love my lanterns to be in every room glowing into the early hours of the morning. Pale plums and woodland greens would kiss every chair, dress and invite alongside hints of cream. I am enticed by henna wedding adornments, Moroccan furniture and Islamic designs, the patterns and detail that go into them are amazing and would love this to feature amongst woodland themed garlands and bouquets that cover every wall and surface. This would reflect us both perfectly a unique entwinement of our tastes and lifestyles. We would like something quirky as well, like fire eaters and circus acts. It would all be held on a muddy field in the middle of nowhere with our dog Sophie as the ring bearer, causing mayhem as she greets every guest.

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Do you have any new designs for 2011?

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I am designing wrapping paper as we speak, as well as a new collection of cards and a new lantern design, all to be ready for the summer. I am loving folk art at the moment and my designs will be a mixture of this combined with some of my more traditional inspirations. I’m also working on some new ideas for wedding products designing bunting, garlands, favours and more new lantern styles. It’s all going on in 2011!

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Can you do bespoke designs?

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I am more than happy to work with clients to help them create the perfect wedding design to suit their styles and tastes.

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What decorations are available to order – tell Brides Up North about your new range…

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Currently for sale I have three lantern designs as well as my cards and two wedding stationary designs – all of which can be changed and personalised. I have other products in the pipe line including wrapping papers, favour boxes, paper garlands and bunting.

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Where do you get your inspiration from?

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I enjoy looking at mandalas and stained glass windows. I adore the traditional designs of henna tattoos and the more modern paisley designs. I like to see churches and mosques, anything that grabs my attention. Everyday life is hugely inspiring. I’m surrounded by books and paintings in my home along with a lot of antiques and pottery. I love being outside and seeing nature. Flowers and plants feature throughout my work in a stylised manner. I often visit museums and galleries for further inspiration and the internet is a useful tool.

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What products are available?

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I have a whole range of wedding stationary available including save the dates, menus, invitations, table numbers and wedding favours. However if there is anything I do not have I am happy to create a mock up free of charge. My lanterns are my most popular product, they are machine cut then assembled by hand. They are hand painted and as such can be completely tailored to any taste. Some can be personalised with initials, the date or full names if desired. If someone wanted a complete range, unique to their wedding I would be more than happy to help.

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Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them?

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I have been thinking a lot about this question. Anyone with a passion for colour and who appreciates the time and effort which I put into my work would be a dream client.

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Thinking about it, Kristie Allsop is my icon, I love her whole ethos of life and she has such an appreciation of the handmade and adores vintage. I would love to do an event for her. My Wedding Heart collection would be the design of choice. I can see it in a vintage pale pink with handmade ribbon from bits of vintage fabrics, bringing stitch and embroidery into it to create something beautiful and unique (which has given me ideas for a new vintage wedding collection- ideas come from everywhere!).

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What design would you suggest for the Royal Wedding?

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I’d make lanterns from my Henna wedding collection for the Royal wedding. It would be a beautiful royal sapphire blue with a white tea light (I only use battery operated tea lights for safety). The lantern would be tied in a bow with a pure white silk ribbon covered in tiny crystals. I think the text would be simple but curvaceous with their initials and the date.

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Where are you based and where can you supply?

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I am based in Stanley, County Durham and can supply all over the UK. However, lanterns come ready made so please be aware that postage will be via courier. I do offer a delivery service within a reasonable distance. Please contact me for details poppy.lee@live.co.uk and we can sort something out. Stationery can be posted.

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What are your prices, are you doing any special offers?

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I have a several packages of wedding stationary available please check out my website for further details www.papaverdesigns.co.uk.

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But for an idea on price:

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A large lantern is £8.95

Save the Date is £2.00

Invitations are £3.00

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I also offer packages. For example, for £15.00 you can buy a package which includes: 1 x Save The Date, 1 x Invitation, 1 x R.S.V.P, 1 x Small Lantern, 1 x Place Name, 1 x Menu, 1 x Gift Tag and 1 x Thank You card.

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I am also having a giveaway as part of the launch of The Tiny Gallery (another of my endeavours) which all Brides Up North readers are welcome to enter. They could win one of my lanterns as well as some cards and other prizes from Karen Syms – The Tiny Gallery founder.

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Can you offer a special discount to Brides Up North readers?

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10% discount to all Brides Up North readers quoting ‘Bride’ when placing an order. Valid for 3 months.

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How long do you take to turn around an order?

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It all depends on the size and nature of the order. Custom orders will naturally take a little longer due to the consultation and design process. An existing design can be turned around in a shorter time period. Upon confirmation of final designs and quantity of product orders, I can usually complete orders within a 4 week timeframe although I make every effort to minimise the turnaround time. Saying this, I would ask anybody considering using my products to contact me as soon as they could, to give maximum time to trade thoughts, ideas and designs so I could make the perfect products for them.

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How can I get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order?

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You can email me directly at poppy.lee@live.co.uk or phone me on 07502332329.

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You can also find online at:

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www.papaverdesigns.co.uk

www.poppylee.blogspot.com

www.etsy.com/shop/PapaverDesigns 

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I use Facebook and Twitter too, just search for Papaver Designs

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Finally, why do you read Brides Up North?

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I really enjoy the real wedding section of the blog and the celebrity weddings are so inspiring, it is nice to see what can happen when money is not an option. I love being able to see the contacts that are featured all in one place, the lists of wedding showcases to go to is great for suppliers as this information is really hard to come by in advance.

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Papaver Designs is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier

Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier

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