Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Thank you for your support!

Today we have reached nice milestones that I would like to share with you!

HanjiNaty has now more than 1,500 followers on Pinterest!!
Are you a Pinner, yourself? You can find us here : https://www.pinterest.com/hanjinaty

On Etsy, I personally have now more than 1,000 followers! My shop, HanjiNaty, has over 1,300 admirers, too! That's simply amazing!

Thank you so much for your support!

Here are the other social media platforms where you can connect with me :

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/HanjiNaty/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hanjinaty/
Wanelo : https://wanelo.com/store/hanjinaty
Keep : https://keep.com/hanjinaty
Polyvore : http://hanjinaty.polyvore.com/


Friday, September 11, 2015

HanjiNaty featured on "The Chilly Dog" blog!

This week I was lucky to be featured on The Chilly Dog blog!

This fantastic blog, dedicated to crafts and creativity, has a lot to offer to crafting and art lovers : tutorials, interviews, link parties, tips and useful information.... make sure to bookmark this great Web resource!

You can read the article here :
http://www.thechillydog.com/2015/09/featured-artist-hanji-naty.html





Monday, July 27, 2015

Handmade Korea Fair - What an amazing experience!

The huge craft show HANDMADE KOREA FAIR was held in the Hall B of the COEX Complex in Gangnam, Seoul from July 23 to July 26, 2015.

HanjiNaty was there for the 4-day event! Here are a few pictures from the Fair :



 No need to say that I was very excited to be part of this amazing adventure! There were over 500 booths in the Fair, including mine.




All the items for sale in my booth were handcrafted by me. All my products is made with high-quality Hanji paper from Korea. 



My booth was filled with different types of items : hair accessories (hair pins, pony tail ties, etc.), jewelry (earrings, necklaces, and brooches), and home decor items (pen holders, coasters, magnets, and plates).



I was lucky to have a wonderful booth partner! My friend Seula was with me on Thursday and Friday, to welcome visitors, answer their questions and make sure communication was smooth with my Korean clients (as my Korean language skills are limited). She did an awesome job, thank you Seula!





For the last two days of the Fair, my beloved husband was there with me. As always he was unbelievably helpful as my booth partner, driver, motivator, translator and salesperson.




A lot of visitors took pictures of my booth, and picked up my business cards. I was pleased to see that some Korean bloggers wrote about my shop :
★ http://cafe.naver.com/handarty/7179
★ http://blog.naver.com/marananta199/220431325775
★ http://blog.naver.com/hsk2459/220431220450




Sunday, July 12, 2015

Handmade Korea Fair.... in 10 days!


As I proudly announced in a previous blog post, I will be participating at the end of July in HANDMADE KOREA FAIR, a large craft show held in the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in downtown Seoul!

For the longest time Handmade Korea Fair was a distant project, something exciting and a little scary for sure, but that was relatively far in time. Now when I look at my calendar I realize.... it's in 10 days!

Getting ready

For the last few weeks, I have spent most of my awake time crafting Hanji paper items, in order to get ready for this Craft show. I had an ambitious target of 1,600 items, but I have to admit that I will most likely not reach that number in time for the Fair!.... I am now revising my plan, and aiming for a total of 1,100 items.

If you were to visit my apartment in Iksan you would see that I literally took over the living room, that is now my Hanji workshop! There is paper everywhere, supplies and tools on every free surface, and bins of hardware, paintbrushes and cardboard scraps all around the house! I have to take the time here to thank my husband and our four cats for their amazing patience.

Now that time is running out, I will have to prioritize and be as strategic as possible with my time and energy. There are so many things I would like to be making, but I have to make choices!.... It is no easy task for me.


New products in the HanjiNaty booth

In my booth at the Fair I want to make sure to offer an interesting selection of accessories and home decor items, and I especially want to focus on my patchwork collection. I have been crafting new square coasters (with ledge) to complement the pen holders and round coasters I am already offering to my customers.

I am also working on different sizes of hair pins, as my Korean customers often request smaller pins that would fit their style better. At the Fair people will now have the choice between 5 sizes of hair pins, from mini (3 cm) to jumbo (10 cm).


Where to find me

Handmade Korea Fair will be held in the B Hall of COEX, from July 23 (Thu) to July 25 (Sun). The Fair will be open to the public from 10am to 7 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 10am to 6pm on Sunday. The entrance fee is 10,000won.

Here is a map of the Fair. My booth is marked in blue (number A18) :


How to get to COEX : http://www.coex.co.kr/eng/visitors/directions-map-2

See you there!




Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Handmade Korea Fair 2015 ~ We will be there!

I remember reading this saying a few months ago : "If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough." After thinking about it for a while, I can now say that this sentence has motivated my decision to take a leap of faith and sign-up for one of the largest craft shows in Korea!

HANDMADE KOREA FAIR is a huge craft show, dedicated to handmade arts and crafts. It is held in the B Hall of COEX, the International Convention & Expo Center in Seoul. 



Last year, about 60,000 visitors visited the Fair during the four days of the event! That's pretty impressive!

The 5th edition will be held from July 23 to July 26, 2015... and we will be there!

I have decided to dive right in and sign up for this amazing event! HanjiNaty will have a kiosk for the 4-day event, and you are more than welcome to visit us if you happen to be in the South Korean capital city!

I will keep you posted with the latest developments and the progress of my preparation for the Fair. It will surely a challenging summer, but I am ready to work hard to reach my goal!

Stay tuned for more stories!


In the meantime, you can find more information regarding this event here :

Official website : http://www.handmadekorea.co.kr/


Saturday, May 30, 2015

HanjiNaty at the 2015 Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival~!

The 2015 edition of the Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival was held in the beautiful city of Jeonju (Jeollabuk-do province) from May 2 to May 5 2015.

This year was the 19th edition of this event, and I was really looking forward to it, as last year's edition was cancelled (following the tragic accident of the Sewol ferry).

HanjiNaty was there for the 4-day event, with a booth in the market area. During the Festival, I had the occasion to meet some wonderful people, present my handmade creations to many visitors, and fraternize with my fellow Hanji artists and artisans.


New products in the HanjiNaty booth

In my booth I was offering to visitors a nice range of Hanji paper earrings, hair barrettes, and home decor items, including coasters, plates, tissue box covers and pen holders.

Handmade hair accessories, including headbands and barrettes,
were available for sale in the HanjiNaty booth.
Recently I have started to create new jewelry pieces, including brooches and necklaces. I have also added to my collection pony hair ties, that were quite popular!

Visitors seem to appreciate these latest additions, and it is giving me the desire to continue my exploration! I am planning on working on some leather bracelets with Hanji paper beads; I'll keep you posted with my progress, of course.


Meaningful encounters

One of the things I love the most about participating in festivals and craft shows is meeting customers, fellow artisans and visitors, and have the time to chat with them.

We made sure to place a sign in our booth that our visitors can expect to be served in English, Korean, French or German!

My husband and I put our linguistic skills to good use during the Festival, as we had the chance to meet visitors from France, Austria, North America, Australia, New Zealand, China, and of course, Korea.

People were generally very kind, and genuinely interested in my creative process. I had to answer the question "How did a foreigner end up doing Hanji crafts?" a few times; it is a fair inquiry, I believe I am the first Westerner to ever sell their own Hanji creations in the Jeonju Festival.


... The right site for the Festival?


This year, new brooches, pony tail ties, hair barrettes and
necklaces were available in the HanjiNaty booth.
This year the Festival site was once again set up around the Hanji Industry Support Center and the Traditional Cultural Center, a few blocks away from Jeonju City Hall. Despite the fact that these recently-erected buildings are very attractive, they remain fairly unknown to the general public.

Visitors and tourists are still naturally drawn to the Hanok Village, a popular traditional neighbourhood where you can find many art galleries, tea shops, tiny museums, etc., and where the Festival used to be held (until 2012), rather than the new Festival site.

I think the Festival is suffering from this lack of visibility, as the foot traffic wasn't as abundant as expected. I personally know several people who had difficulty finding the site, even when taking a taxi (many drivers didn't even seem to know where the Festival is located, which is quite troublesome).

It seems logical to have the Festival celebrating Hanji paper next to the Center dedicated to this sublime material, but we have to ask ourselves: is it the right location for a Festival that aims to attract large numbers of visitors? Is it the best way to host a successful event, that is appealing to the tourists, profitable for the vendors, and fruitful for the Hanji industry and community?

Odd configuration

Another thing that could be improved for the next edition of the Jeonju Hanji Festival is the configuration of the site.

This year, the Festival was spread on a wider radius, and the different zones (hands-on activities, Hanji market and stage area) were quite far from each other.

I think it would be beneficial to have the different zones closer to each other, and all grouped around the central stage area. In my opinion, it would keep the festive spirit up, and improve traffic to the different areas of the Festival, including the market, the shops inside the Cultural Center, the kids' zone, the National Contest Exhibit, as well as the hands-on activities. It would also encourage the vendors to keep their booths open later in the evenings, when the fashion shows attract visitors at night.

A great experience

Overall it was a great experience. I had a good time, met some fantastic people and did some good business. I was happy and proud to be participating in this event in Jeonju, the city where I discovered Hanji, and where I learned Hanji crafts. You can count on me for next year, especially knowing that 2016 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Jeonju Hanji Festival!


Thank you so much to my wonderful husband and partner.
Many thanks!

I want to take the time to warmly thank the people who helped and supported me throughout this adventure.

All my heartfelt gratitude to my extraordinary husband and partner, without whom I would have never succeeded the way I did.

I am also very grateful to all my friends (including my beloved Hanji teacher) who took the time to visit my booth during the Festival! I was also thrilled to see my Hanji friend Jan Coveney from Hanji Happenings, who visited Jeonju with her lovely sisters. It was wonderful to see you and feel your encouragement and support.

I want to especially thank my friend Byung Tae Goo for the beautiful photos you can see in this post.

See you all next year for the 20th Edition of the Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival !

Thursday, April 23, 2015

2015 Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival : We'll be there!



I am thrilled to announced that Hanji Naty will have its own booth at the 2015 Jeonju Hanji Festival!

This annual event will be held from May 2 to May 5, 2015 in the area surrounding the Hanji Industry Support Center in Jeonju (Jeollabuk-do province, South Korea).

For the 19th edition of the Festival, visitors will have once again to participate in many various activities and events, including hands-on workshops, fashion shows, exhibitions, an open-air market, etc.




The Festival is always a very festive occasion to discover the amazing work of Korean Hanji paper artists! You should be able to admire the work of the winners of the National Hanji craft contest, which is always outstanding. 

HanjiNaty will be there!

We will be there for the four days to present our latest creations to the visitors! You can expect new items in the Hanji Naty booth, including Hanji paper necklaces, hair accessories, earrings, pen holders, coasters, magnets, and more!



The Festival site is open and admission is free for all visitors. If you wish to do some hands-on crafts some fees apply, depending on the project you want to tackle.

You can access the Festival website here (in Korean only) : http://www.jhanji.or.kr/

See you all in Jeonju !

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Big 2 !!


This month we are celebrating the second anniversary of Hanji Naty! Yay!

On February 24, 2013 I was opening my own online boutique, on the website Etsy.com, specialized in handmade and vintage items. It's been a great adventure so far, and I am so thrilled when I think of the future of my business!


Last year, when my online shop turned one, I made a recap of some amazing moments that happened in my first year. It is fantastic to see that my progression has continued, and that new doors keep on opening! 2015 is going to be an exciting year for Hanji Naty !


Developing my online business
  • I sold 60 items in my second year (compared to 24 items in the first one), for a total of 84 sales!;
  • My items have been sold in eleven different countries, including the USA, Canada, South Korea, Ireland, Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Israel;
  • My shop offers now a wider range of products, including hair accessories, key chains, brooches, pen holders, coasters, magnets, earrings, trays, boxes, etc. More than 175 items are currently for sale in my online boutique;

Butterfly Hanji Paper Magnets OOAK Colorful Butterflies Zen Asian Decor Handmade (set of 4)




Creating New Products
  • In the fall of 2014 I created a series of unique and colorful patchwork coasters. They have been very popular items in my shop this year, as well as in my booth in the Wonju Hanji Festival;
Patchwork Coasters Hanji Paper Coasters, Colorful Organic Design Handmade Zen Great Gift
My Hanji patchwork coasters are among
the most popular items in my Etsy shop.

  • I have expended my offer of hair accessories, adding mini barrettes and long thin hair pins to please different types of hair;

Hanji Mini French Barrettes Hair Pin Striped Green Red Swastika Stainless Steel Barrette (Set of 2)   Slim Pink Purple Hanji French Barrette Thin Long Hair Pin Striped Girly Colors Skinny Hair Barrette Stainless Steel Barrette

  • You can now find Hanji brooches in my online shop :
   

  • I am constantly creating new styles of Hanji paper earrings, to please all tastes and styles. Recently I added new round and oval earrings; the earrings are made of wood, and are covered with hand-cut Hanji paper :
Green Turtle Hanji Paper Earrings Dangle Green Brown Design Good Luck Fortune Hypoallergenic hooks Lightweight Ear rings     Blue Round Bamboo Hanji Paper Earrings Dangle Bamboo Design Peacock Blue Black Hypoallergenic hooks Lightweight Ear rings


Participating in my very first Festival
    • I had the chance to present and sell my creations in a complete different setting, but most importantly, it was a golden opportunity for me to be in direct contact with my customers;
    • It was also a beautiful occasion to meet and connect with my fellow Hanji craftsmen and craftswomen; 
    • After a wonderful encounter with a couple of Japanese art gallery owners, some of my patchworks coasters are now for sale in an art gallery in Seoul, Capital city of South Korea!

Being a part of the Etsy Community
  • In the second year I continued to be more involved in the Etsy community, participating regularly in the promotional activities and games of different Etsy teams;
  • Since January 2015, I am the proud Captain of the Strategic Promotion for Success Team (SPS Team). I am extremely happy and grateful to have the opportunity to work with a great group of Leaders, who are dedicated artisans and artists who spare no effort to help our teammates thrive and succeed;

Being more visible on social media platforms 
  • In the last few months I have deployed more energy to increase my presence on different social media platforms :
    • I regularly participate in the Crafty Saturday Show and Sell on The Chilly Dog's awesome blog www.thechillydog.com;



A special discount to celebrate the second anniversary of HanjiNaty!

  • I am thrilled to offer you 20% OFF on all the items in the online shop to celebrate the second anniversary of HanjiNaty!
  • Use the coupon code "THEBIG2" at check-out to enjoy a nice 20% discount!
  • The coupon is valid until March 31, 2015;

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Feeling Lucky?... Enter this Giveaway to Win Gorgeous Handmade Items!

We have several handmade gifts we are giving away this month! Entering the Giveaway takes only a few seconds, and you will have a chance to win some pretty awesome handmade items!!

The rules are simple :

  • Enter the Giveaway, by following the simple instructions in the box below. Your inscription will be completed within minutes, I promise!
  • The drawing ends on February 28, 2015. 
  • One winner will be announced, and this person will win ALL the items offered in this month's giveaway! Woot!
  • Remember : Entrants must live in the United States. (sorry for the others... but nothing is stopping you from sharing with your American friends!)
  • Be sure to post and share this Giveaway opportunity with all your friends!



What can you win this month?

coasters1

Sponsor 1.  Hanji Naty 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HanjiNaty 


Giveaway Item :

A set of six (6) colourful round coasters, made of high-quality Korean Hanji paper. 100% handmade. Made of sturdy, solid core cardboard, covered with hand-cut Korean Hanji paper (mulberry paper), the coasters have been varnished twice with a water-based varnish for durability and a nice shiny finish.                   






greenglass necklaceSponsor 2:  Serendipitini Jewelry https://www.etsy.com/shop/SerendipitiniJewelry

Giveaway Item :

Wire wrapped recycled glass necklace similar to beach glass with triple strand cord. 17" length.















a Rafflecopter giveaway



Wanna be a part of this great Giveaway?

We are looking for monthly giveaway sponsors and blog hosts for these giveaways which appear on several blogs. This is a great way for you to get more exposure for you! 
Here's the link to more info. 


Many thanks to Teena from Serendipitini Jewelry for taking the initiative of this monthly Giveaway! Check out her blog at : http://www.serendipitini.com/


Friday, January 23, 2015

Exclusive interview on the "Work Your Art" blog!

I am very proud to share here a link to an exclusive interview I gave to Debbie, the heart and head of the "Work Your Art" blog that specializes in marketing and promotion for selling crafts and arts online! It is a very well-done blog, filled with great information, tips, worksheets, etc.

You can read my interview here :
http://www.workyourart.com/interview/a-conversation-with-natalie-from-north-jeolla-province-south-korea/

Thank you very much, Debbie!


Handmade Hanji Paper Creations