A Hexham independent business has moved into larger premises after outgrowing its first shop less than two years after opening. Hanji, the paper-art and bookbinding business run by Yvette Ja, has moved across St Mary’s Chare into the former Bureau of Dreams gallery.
The move gives Hanji more room for workshops and new creative projects, while allowing Yvette to continue selling the personalised origami maps, handmade books, kits and other paper creations that launched the business.
New space planned for workshops and installations
Yvette opened Hanji on St Mary's Chare in November 2024. She said the original premises had quickly become too small and that she had been looking for a space where the business could grow and host drop-in workshops.
“I had outgrown my first shop on St Mary's Chare, so I was looking for a space that I could grow in and deliver drop-in workshops,” she said.
The opportunity came when the unit across the road, formerly occupied by Bureau of Dreams, became available. Yvette said she took the chance to move into the larger premises.
“It was just my luck that the unit across the road, formerly Bureau of Dreams, was becoming available, so I jumped at the chance to move,” she said.
The new shop is intended to support drop-in sessions for families as well as more ambitious installations. Yvette said the larger windows would help her develop new ideas, while the extra space would make it easier to bring people together through shared creative experiences.
“It's this bringing together of people, through shared experiences, that I wanted to bring to Hexham,” said Yvette.
“The new space allows me to provide drop-in workshops to families and the larger windows will help me envisage new, ambitious installations.”
From Northumberland flowers to paper creations
Over the summer, Yvette worked with Bellingham-based flower farmer Roisin Taylor, of Verde Flower Company, on A Room in Bloom at Newcastle's Novum Festival. The installation was devised by producer Maria Baranowska and combined locally grown Northumberland flowers with Yvette's large-scale paper flowers.
The project also operated as a live workshop, with more than 500 people making tissue-paper flowers during the two-day event. Yvette and Roisin have since reworked the installation for Seaton Delaval Hall and have plans to take their work to other venues across Northumberland.
Hanji opening times and next Creative Quarter event
Hanji is part of St Mary's Chare's Creative Quarter, a group of artists, makers and galleries that holds late-night shopping events. The next event is due to be held on Friday, October 30.
The business is currently open from 10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Saturday, giving visitors the opportunity to browse Hanji’s paper work and find out more about its workshops and creative projects.