Who would have thought that all it took to attract the attention of the Etsy Design Award judges were paper dolls?
Falcon’s Amanda Burnett certainly didn’t. In fact the Little Paper Cloud owner and founder didn’t think anyone would be interested in her individually unique and handmade paper dolls.
“I was at uni last year studying illustration design and I made these paper dolls for a fashion design class,” Ms Burnett said.
“Someone suggested I sell them so I started up an Etsy page in June last year and then a few months later I was announced as a finalist for last year’s awards.
“I was then announced as a finalist again this year.”
Ms Burnett creates the paper dolls in the image of the buyer or recipient, making every one individual and different.
She often gets families getting them done as a unique family portrait.
“I’ve even done different pets,” Ms Burnett said.
“So far I’ve done dogs, cats and even a horse.”
This is the second year for the competition which celebrates the people and talent that make Etsy a destination for creativity and original design.
The finalists, selected from hundreds of exceptional entries across Australia and New Zealand, span five categories: art, illustration and paper goods; home and lifestyle; fashion and accessories; new talent; and business as unusual.
The winner of each category gets a trip for two to New York to visit Etsy headquarters.
Etsy managing director of Australia and Asia, Helen Souness said she was once again astonished by the breadth of creative talent displayed by the 2015 Etsy Design Award entrants.
“The diversity of talent in Etsy’s Australian and New Zealand community and the quality of the goods they design, make and curate is remarkable,” she said.
“Selecting this year’s winners is going to be a challenge for the judges and the public alike.
“We’re honoured that so many exceptional talented creatives choose Etsy for their online home and are thrilled to be able to once again showcase some of the best of the Etsy seller community through the Etsy Design Awards.”
For more information about Ms Burnett’s Etsy store go to littlepaperclouds.etsy.com or find Amanda Burnett Illustration on Facebook.
