Meet The Makers - Origami-Est
This week for Meet the Makers I want to introduce you all to the super lovely Esther from Origami-Est. Esther is a total paper ninja and she creates wonderful objects, decorations and accessories from beautifully printed paper. I caught up with her to ask her all about creative business and her goals.
What made you want to work with paper, have you always loved origami?
I have always had a love affair with paper. Recently I have rediscovered stashes of paper I used to hoard when I was younger, there’s something about the beauty of colour & print combined with the versatility of paper that gets me very excited. I first became really intrigued by origami while studying graphic design at uni, all my projects would often have 3 dimensional solutions and my origami addiction commenced! It’s bizarre to look back and really see how my obsession has evolved!
What is your favorite part of running your own creative business?
Such a tough question, I keep deleting and rewriting my answer! I would probably have to say the opportunities it has provided for meeting really fascinating people. Whether that’s through my workshops, stockists, collaborations or good old social media stalking. I have met some truly inspirational people & am certain I still have plenty more to meet.
If you could own a brick and mortar shop where would it be and what would it be like?
Oh my word, what a dream! I am torn with the location, I currently live by the coast in a gorgeous town called Deal. A studio/shop on Deal would be incredible as it’s already a place thriving with independent shops. But I would love to pioneer something where there is a real need for more independent shops to pop up with the hope to encouraging more to appear – no idea where that location would specifically be, but there are plenty of towns in the UK needing some independent pizzazz! It would definitely be somewhere that I could do some folding, run workshops but also support other makers with lifestyle products that reflect my taste (predictably monochrome with pops of colour).
Have you got any new ranges or workshops coming up?
I am very excited to have recently designed my own papers, which will soon be available to buy. There’s a choice of 3 patterns, all of which, very bizarrely, inspired by some pottery I painted which went a little viral on Instagram! In the next few months I am in various locations for workshops, from the Pop Up Café in Deal, to Studio NL in Leicestershire, The Grasp Project in Bournemouth, Quill in London & Southwood Stores Showroom in Buckinghamshire.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Some of the best advice I have been given is actually from a fellow creative business owner. A few years ago we met for coffee & it quickly became evident that we run our creative enterprises very differently. She had a background in business & I have a background solely in art & design. There were so many nuggets that she shared with me, from really knowing how to price things to whether creating a product was really worth my time and resources. Something that really resonated was when she said;
“If you value your skills and your time, others will value it too & invest in you”
It may seem simple but I think it’s so important to remember. As a creative it’s so easy to be fearful of the business side and so easy to fall into the trap of devaluing your skills. I am constantly reminding myself and others of this.
I have always had a love affair with paper. Recently I have rediscovered stashes of paper I used to hoard when I was younger, there’s something about the beauty of colour & print combined with the versatility of paper that gets me very excited. I first became really intrigued by origami while studying graphic design at uni, all my projects would often have 3 dimensional solutions and my origami addiction commenced! It’s bizarre to look back and really see how my obsession has evolved!
What is your favorite part of running your own creative business?
Such a tough question, I keep deleting and rewriting my answer! I would probably have to say the opportunities it has provided for meeting really fascinating people. Whether that’s through my workshops, stockists, collaborations or good old social media stalking. I have met some truly inspirational people & am certain I still have plenty more to meet.
If you could own a brick and mortar shop where would it be and what would it be like?
Oh my word, what a dream! I am torn with the location, I currently live by the coast in a gorgeous town called Deal. A studio/shop on Deal would be incredible as it’s already a place thriving with independent shops. But I would love to pioneer something where there is a real need for more independent shops to pop up with the hope to encouraging more to appear – no idea where that location would specifically be, but there are plenty of towns in the UK needing some independent pizzazz! It would definitely be somewhere that I could do some folding, run workshops but also support other makers with lifestyle products that reflect my taste (predictably monochrome with pops of colour).
Have you got any new ranges or workshops coming up?
I am very excited to have recently designed my own papers, which will soon be available to buy. There’s a choice of 3 patterns, all of which, very bizarrely, inspired by some pottery I painted which went a little viral on Instagram! In the next few months I am in various locations for workshops, from the Pop Up Café in Deal, to Studio NL in Leicestershire, The Grasp Project in Bournemouth, Quill in London & Southwood Stores Showroom in Buckinghamshire.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Some of the best advice I have been given is actually from a fellow creative business owner. A few years ago we met for coffee & it quickly became evident that we run our creative enterprises very differently. She had a background in business & I have a background solely in art & design. There were so many nuggets that she shared with me, from really knowing how to price things to whether creating a product was really worth my time and resources. Something that really resonated was when she said;
“If you value your skills and your time, others will value it too & invest in you”
It may seem simple but I think it’s so important to remember. As a creative it’s so easy to be fearful of the business side and so easy to fall into the trap of devaluing your skills. I am constantly reminding myself and others of this.
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Thanks so much Esther! Don't forget to take a look at Esther's beautiful products on her website and keep your eyes peeled for an origami workshop near you!
Thanks so much Esther! Don't forget to take a look at Esther's beautiful products on her website and keep your eyes peeled for an origami workshop near you!