Our Designers

Cherry Blossom Designers

While the majority of Cherry Blossom’s products are designed, made and sourced in-house, it also stocks gorgeous items created by talented New Zealand designers.

Wyrcan Art

Jan Jiang

(Jan) Yinghua Jiang
Originally from Beijing, China, Jan first came to New Zealand in March of 1999. Prior to this she graduated with a Fine Arts Degree from the Academy of Traditional Chinese Opera. She has also has also worked as a stage and costume designer for the BeiJing Television Station.

Despite initially coming to New Zealand to study english she continued on to gained a Graphic Design Diploma from the National College of Design and Technology and has worked as a graphic designer here ever since.

Since 2001, she has trained in the traditional book binding art with Mr Don A.Hampshire, who is a professional English bookbinder, and the most experienced bookbinding tutor in the South Island. As Don's star student for many years Jan has gone on to establish her own business WYRCAN book crafts art studio, selling most of her books in Christchurch and overseas.
Jan also tutors book art (teaching at CPIT，Hagley College and number of workshops around South Island).

Jan has been an enthusiastic and valuable part of the Cherry Blossom team since its inception in 2005. She produces beautiful journals and albums for Cherry blossom using the vintage fabrics and papers from Japan. She also loves to work on commissions for important albums such as weddings, christenings and anniversaries.

Black Swan Designs

Mel Blowes is an entrepreneurial Kiwi based in Christchurch, New Zealand with a background in photography, graphic design, visual merchandising and general craftiness.

She officially started her business Black Swan Designs in May 08, and hasn't looked back since. With a business course under her belt, she has enjoyed several interesting creative opportunities that have come her way, including a solo Exhibition, Unnatural Selection, held at L'Estrange Art Gallery of her panoramic photographs, a photo published on the cover of Some Other Country, a book of New Zealand short stories, and has also participated in several Craft 2.0 craft shows in both Christchurch and Wellington.

She's currently making lasercut brooches; little fantails, nikau trees and her new Japanese inspired designs, but also makes photographic pendants, large panoramic block mounted prints, and has a million and one other ideas that are patiently waiting their turn.

More of Mel's work can be found at www.blackswandesigns.co.nz.