Craft Focus - April/May 2021 (Issue 84)

10 Emma Boyes joins the product design team at Katy Sue Emma Boyes has joined the award-winning product design team at Katy Sue Designs. Whilst Emma has worked exclusively on the Adventures in Paper Cutting range with Katy Sue for more than three years, this month sees her take up a full-time position in product design within the growing company. Emma brings a wealth of design experience and fresh ideas around paper craft trends both in the paper cutting arena and more broadly. The stresses and lockdowns of 2020/21 have seen a significant increase in all craft sales generally as creative consumers try new hobbies, but the Katy Sue paper cutting range has hit a sweet spot with an increase of over 400 per cent in customers trying this mindful craft out for the first time. The Adventures in Paper Cutting craft pads and kits offer an easy entry level into the hobby which increases in levels of skill with ready to cut designs from simple to more advanced art in each craft pad. The finished pieces are often then gifted creating another level of enjoyment for both the giver and the receiver. Designs include dream catchers, trees, flowers, birds, lions amongst many others, with the simple process of cutting by hand, becoming a meditative process by which, you become intently aware of the paper transforming into a piece of art which is perfect for framing. Emma said, “I love paper and there’s no bigger thrill than to see a simple sheet of paper being totally transformed into something truly beautiful with just a pencil, scalpel and whatever my imagination allows. I’m so very excited to now become a full-time member of team Katy Sue as this allows me to spread my creative wings into so many new areas and to pass my paper passion on to those coming to this craft for the first time”. Visit https://katysuedesigns.com/collections/paper-cutting fo r further information. Jones take on fifth generation Jones & Co. (Nottingham) Ltd. has created a new position within their button sales team. Charlotte Ashley will be joining the business as graphic design and digital marketing lead in order to strengthen and progress Jones as the first choice for button sourcing. The Nottingham based company is a leading button supplier in Britain with more than 50 million buttons in stock. The company has an exceptionally experienced team, who know exactly how to source the best products, from shirt buttons to haute couture. Jones also has an on-site dye house which ensures quick volume turn around and fast response button sample dyeing. Charlotte, has a first class honours degree in Fashion Marketing and also completed her graphic design course at Shillington College. She has experience working in multiple graphic design agencies with a variety of different clients and also won the 2019 Nottingham Young Creative Award in the Graphic Design category. Her combination of fashion marketing knowledge and graphic design expertise makes her a perfect fit for Jones. Charlotte says she is excited to get started and help Jones Buttons grow as a business. Charlotte represents the fifth generation of the family as her great, great grandfather founded Jones & Co in 1909. Charlotte is known to Jones having spent her summer holidays working in the warehouse followed by her University Internship where she helped lay the foundations of the current website. Chairman, John Ashley, said “I’m thrilled that Charlotte is joining the team and look forward to seeing the progress the company will make as a result. Jones Buttons have such a diverse range of trade customers and the complexity of the industry is often overlooked with buttons frequently being the last item considered for a garment or other item such as something craft related. Charlotte’s planned projection of the company as the one stop source for all types of buttons through social media will I believe increase the awareness, knowledge and importance of this small but essential item.” If you would like to keep up to date with Jones Buttons please follow them on both Instagram and Facebook at @jones.buttons. Trotec launches Q Series Trotec has introduced a new laser cutter which could fast become a favourite for laser users. Using Trotecs tried and tested OptiMotion™ control system adapted from the manufacturer’s flag-ship Speedy range of engravers, the new Q500 cutter delivers a maximum processing speed of 2m/s without compromise on quality, delivering fine engravings up to a font size of 4 pt with sharp shoulders and defined details. Productivity is unrivalled when it comes to achieving high quality at high speed. The Q500 is available with two different laser source options to ensure optimum results depending on the application. The 60-120W power DC CO2 glass tube model is perfect for cutting applications, while the dual-source model which also features a 60W CeramiCore® RF CO2 source enhances speed and reliability for applications which involve a lot of engraving. Alongside robust and innovative Austrian engineering, the Q500 cutting system uses Trotec’s Job-Control™ software which acts as a print driver and is compatible with a wide range of graphic design programs. The new Q500 provides improved quality and speed compared to Trotec’s entry-level R500 model which has the same 1300 x 900 mm bed size, while not including all of the features found in the more advanced SP series of large format laser cutters. The new laser system is fully supported by Trotec’s UK subsidiary with extended warranty options and training available as well as ongoing support from the company’s large UK-based technical ser-vice and support team. Trotec has six showrooms across the UK and Ireland where the Q500 can be demonstrated and online demonstrations are also available by way of video link. Go to www.troteclaser.co.uk fo r more information or call +44 (0)191 580 1182 .