Yes, I know... I've been a bad, bad, bad blogger. But sometimes other things are more important than blogging I guess :) I'll try to better from now on!
Today I have a new Behind the Scenes for you.
Which reminds me that the winners of the last BTS have not been announced yet!So here they are:
Congratulations Miriam Prantner and Ann Jobes. You are the lucky girls who won a set of gorgeous Art Journey stamps! Please e-mail me your address so I can send them out to you! info@birgitkoopsen.nl
And now I'm happy to announce Darkroom Door!
I've met one of the owners, Rachel Greig, a couple of times at CHA and while teaching together in France and she is not only an amazing photographer and a very talented (stamp) designer but also a really sweet and funny person. Read on and learn a little bit more about her and her amazing company!
HI! My name is Rachel Greig, I’m one of the owners of Darkroom Door, a rubber stamp company based in Australia. My main role within the company is to design the products. As I am a professional photographer, my main inspiration for the artwork comes from my own photographs. I use these to create complete collections of rubber stamps and paper products that can be used by stamp artists and paper crafters in their own artwork. My other main role is teaching workshops at stores and events throughout the world. This helps inspire artists and gives them ideas on how our rubber stamps and products can be used within their own art. Teaching and designing are my favourite parts of my job, however as any business owner would know, we tend to juggle many balls – so it’s common for me to be doing the marketing, customer service, packing orders, book keeping and the creative direction of the company! There’s never a dull moment around here, that’s for sure!
I live near the beach with my husband and business partner Stewart, our two children Ethan (12 years) and Zoe (9 years), along with our pet guinea pigs and birds.
Darkroom Door was founded in 2007. However my journey into the craft world began back in the 90’s when I was at university studying for my Bachelor of Visual Art. Photography was my major subject and after I graduated I began my career as a professional photographer. During this time I began using rubber stamps to create my own handmade cards and it wasn’t long before I started thinking about using my own photos to design my own range of rubber stamps. At first I licensed the designs out for other rubber stamp companies to manufacture. A few years later, my husband and I decided to start our own rubber stamp company called Darkroom Door. The name is inspired by my love of photography and many many years spent in black and white darkrooms!
Our aim was to produce rubber stamps and paper products that could be used in card making, scrapbooking, mixed media and any other paper craft!
Darkroom Door first started in my photography studio where we manufactured the rubber stamps in my darkroom space! We have since outgrown that space and now have a warehouse where we do all of the manufacturing, designing and storage of our products. Our warehouse is on the NSW Central Coast of Australia, only a few kilometres from our home.
Darkroom Door offers rubber stamp sets which are cling mounted and sold in a clear DVD storage case. We also produce several ranges of single stamps such as Background Stamps, Photo Stamps, Collage Stamps, Frame Stamps and Word Block Stamps.
In our paper collections we offer Montage sheets, Photochips, Filmstrips and Wordstrips. These products are a collection of photographs that can be cut out and used in your own artwork.
It’s difficult to choose a personal favourite, but I do have a soft spot for all of the Photo Stamps. I love the simplicity of them and yet the versatility that they offer. You can be a beginner or and advanced stamper and use these stamps to create stunning cards. As these are designed from my own photos, I also remember where each photo was taken, so that is pretty special to me.
My favourite product is always the latest ones we release – mainly because they are fresh and new and I enjoy discovering new ways to use each stamp! I have some ideas in my head on how I’d like to use the stamps when I am designing them. But when the rubber is in my hands and I can start experimenting, all sorts of new ideas happen! That’s what’s exciting for me!
From the
beginning all of the products are designed by myself with some help from
Stewart when needed. Stewart is a graphic designer, so he is very handy when it
comes to typesetting and creating patterns. Stewart is able to bring all of my
crazy ideas like the Word Block stamps and various different Background Stamps
to life!
We have recently introduced a new designer - Godelieve Tijskens, a well known stamper from Belgium, who has started designing some stamp sets. It's great to add in some new styles to the mix!
How do you think the scrapbooking/mixed media scene will evolve in the upcoming year.
Right now it’s all about colour! Whether it’s paints, inks or sprays, it’s all about having no rules and enjoying yourself. I love how lots of crafts are mixing together – it’s not just card making or scrapbooking, many people are using different elements to cross over in different crafts. It’s an exciting time!
Is there anything exciting you would like to share with us?
Darkroom
Door has just released a new range of Background Stamps, Collage Stamps and
Frame Stamps! You can see them all on the website here:
http://shop.darkroomdoor.com/
Where can we find your company?
Website: http://www.darkroomdoor.com/
Blog: blog.darkroomdoor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkroomdoor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darkroom_door
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/darkroomdoor/
Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/darkroomdoor/
Do you have a technique video available that you would like to share?
Embossing Resist with Distress Stains
More videos can be found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rachelgreig
And last but not least we have a wonderful give away for you today!
One lucky reader will get the complete Bright Blossoms Collection including two stamp sets, Montage sheet, Photochips, Filmstrips and Wordstrips!
How awesome is that?!
How you can win? That's easy! Visit the Darkroom Door website. Find your favorite Darkroom Door stamp (set), come back here to tell us which it is and why. You can leave a comment until Tuesday, May 16, midnight (GMT+1) and the winner will randomly be picked and announced in the next Behind the Scenes.
Good luck and have a happy weekend!
