Specialising in creating handbound leather books and photo albums using traditional longstitch bindings and locally sourced handtorn paper, McTavish Designs will be one of the stallholders bringing talent to this year's Curated In The Quad.
WHO IS BEHIND MCTAVISH DESIGNS?
Can you tell us more about you and why you set up the company?
Back in 2018, I made a couple of leatherbound sketchbooks for my own personal use and realised that I enjoyed making them just as much as I enjoyed drawing and sketching in them. So after making some more, I started selling them at craft fairs around town and also opened my online shop at mctavishdesigns.com.
Can you tell us about the products you are selling at Curated In The Quad?
The majority of my books are made with blank paper, so they can be used for virtually anything. I also have books that have professional grade watercolour paper and then some with a mixture of coloured tones which are better for people who want to sketch and paint. Just recently I have made a couple of musicians books that contain a mix of lined, blank, music stave and guitar tab pages. Great for any songwriter looking to jot down their ideas.
Why did you decide to take part in this year’s Curated In The Quad?
McTavish Designs has been taking part in Curated in the Quad for the last few years and it is always the highlight of the year. In my previous career as a semiconductor engineer, I spent some time in Germany and fell in love with their outdoor Christmas markets. Curated in the Quad has that same festive feeling about it and I really enjoy my days in the wooden huts – even though it can be a tad cold at times.
What are you looking forward to at Curated In The Quad?
I mostly look forward to meeting the one or two people who are just as obsessed with paper and stationary as I am. There are not many of us about, but it is always a pleasure to have a chat and find out what kind of art or writing they enjoy and what they might use my books for. I also love catching up with the other vendors and seeing what they have been busy doing for the past year.
What’s your message to people coming to Curated In The Quad?
Wrap up warm and take your time wandering around all the stalls. So many of the vendors love and live for what they produce and sell. There’s usually a fascinating story behind every one of them.
Follow McTavish Designs on social media to keep up to date with their products!
Instagram - @mctavishdesigns
Facebook - McTavish Designs