Name, Location, Occupation
Jessie James
Sydney, Australia
Designer at Supply Paper Co.
Please describe your workspace:
My workspace is small, light, white and calming. At it's center is a recycled wooden trestle table that spans about 3 meters. One end of the table has my computers and digital equipment. The other is my lo-fi space, that's where I usually do all my drawing, lettering and assembling of my paper goods. I use one wall to pin up paper goods and other bits and pieces with kraft paper tape and mini pegs. The wall changes all the time, a mix of things I am working on, pieces from recent projects, inspiration for a new collection or just things I've come across in my travels. Then there are boxes, boxes and more boxes, stacks of paper, tools of trade, my little letterpress Adana machine sitting happily in the corner.
What are you working on right now?
I am always working on designs, products and editing paper goods for our Made to Measure line, which will be introducing letterpress fill-in invitations, note cards, tags and other goodies later this year. I am also working on future pop-up collections for the Supply Paper Co. online store - exploring the idea of creating an experience around an online store, with pop-up collections arriving every so often in limited quantities, available for a short time only. I am searching out things made with unmistakable care, based around the places and stories we’ve come across in our travels, and may be one-off, limited edition or handcrafted in small production.
What has been your most rewarding project to date?
Building
and launching Supply Paper Co.. Every design, every piece of paper,
every package from Supply Paper Co. goes through my hands. That in
itself means a lot to me. I have always had an innate need to make and
create things, write stories and draw pictures.
Which designers and artists inspire you?
Yumiko Sekine, Fog Linen
Nikole Herriot, Herriot Grace
Mark and Sally Bailey, Baileys Home and Garden
Sibella Court, The Society Inc.
Kara Rosenlund, The Travelling Wares
Claudia Zinan, Father Rabbit
Has there been a defining moment or turning point when you realized what you wanted to do for a living?
Actually
no, I think I have always been on this path, even when I didn't really
know it. I think I am lucky in that I have always felt this pull towards
design. Ever since I can remember I have drawn and made things, and I
can't actually define the moment I realized I could design for a living,
sometimes I still don't believe it!
What do you think is the most difficult aspect of working in design?
For
me, the thing I have the most difficulty with is the feeling that my
work is never quite finished. I feel an almost constant need to edit,
improve and strive. It is important to me to create something of worth.
Things that will be kept and treasured, made with thought and quality
workmanship. There is almost always a little sense of self-doubt that
goes along with creative work, I think.
What are you reading at the moment?
I
am reading The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly for about the sixth
time. It's probably my all time favourite book. I'm also reading,
skimming and gazing at my magazine favourites - Kinfolk, Fete and White.
What websites do you visit for inspiration?
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/supplypaperco/).
There is always so much to love. Sometimes I'll just get lost in my
inspirations I've pinned on my own boards, and sometimes I'll take a
look at what others are pinning. My current favourites are Beth of Local
Milk (http://pinterest.com/localmilk/) and Nikole Herriott of Herriott Grace (http://pinterest.com/herriottgrace/).
What are your simplest daily pleasures?
Tea, chocolate, pencils, paper.
Making, drawing and creating, always.