New Zealand Handmade: A Conversation with Emma of The Little Card Factory

There is something truly special about receiving a card - and giving one for that matter. Seriously beautiful handmade cards for all occasions can be found at The Little Card Factory. Here, their creator Emma gives us an insight into her creative world...

Who is The Little Card Factory?

I’m Emma. Although I must give credit to my lovely mum for giving me the name. I have made cards since I was young (although they have improved with age) and my mum always called me her little card factory…

What’s your “handmade groove ?”

Cards, cards and lots more cards! Although I have recently started playing with resin and hope to make some magnets with some of my card designs. I also did a lot of painting at university, and when I fancy a break from making cards I like to paint – anything big and bright, I find it very therapeutic.

What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)

My bedside lamp, a photo of my mum and dad, a book that I have just finished. I have read 4 Marian Keyes books in the last couple of months, they are just so addictive and I love just curling up and taking a time out. Apart from that, just lots of card ideas, I really should put them all in a box rather than letting them pile up! Also, a gorgeous pixie that Lisa from Big Little made. I was so excited to get him for Christmas.

Who are your creative role models? What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?

I take a lot of inspiration from day to day life. Little things that happen can turn in to beautiful cards. I love flicking through design magazines, I enjoy really simple contemporary work. I follow a lot of blogs too, one of my favorites would have to be Nothing But Bonfires – the writer is really in to her DIY crafty bits, and some of the pieces she creates for her home are just beautiful.

My mum is definitely a major role model in my life, I was always encouraged to draw and make cards when I was younger. She is a very talented lady and I am privileged to have been taught all the things that I have.

What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?

Travel, art and design, how to live a happy relaxed lifestyle, and the joys of living in New Zealand.

If you could go to three free workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?

I would love to go to a pottery workshop. My very first job when I was 15 was in The Pottery Café. Our customers came in and painted pottery and we then sent it off to be glazed and fired. I would love to learn to cast the pottery and get back in to painting it.

I dabbled in a bit of photography at university and really enjoyed experimenting in the dark room with my films. It would be great to get back in to that, especially with an expert to guide me.

The final workshop would have to be printing. Again, this is something I dabbled with at university, but as I majored in painting, I didn’t get to explore it as much as I would have liked to.

How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments?

I have a very patient man in my life that has been very supportive with The Little Card Factory and me running off to markets every weekend!! I seem to be unable to sit and watch TV anymore without rolling the ‘cubes’ for my cards. Rainy days also help, as I am a lot more focused when there is no sunshine tempting me to be in the garden.

What is your favourite creative screw-up?

While I was at university, my work was just a flow of creative screw ups, I found it was the best way to work. You have to push boundaries to really know where you can go. My favourite one with my cards would have to be when I was rolling strips of paper to make blocks so that I could produce a 3D feel with some of my cards. I realised that the blocks looked really good just with letters draw on, rather than having anything stuck over the top of them. This lead to an entire collection of cards, and the start of The Little Card Factory!

Kitchen table or studio?

Just the kitchen table. Luckily it is a very big one, it takes no time at all to cover the whole thing.

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?

I would love for my family to come out and visit New Zealand again soon. (I am from England for those that don’t know me) and just to continue growing The Little Card Factory. It is so exciting being able to do something I enjoy and am so passionate about.