all things paper

Flower Ring - Inni Pärnänen

2012-05-25T09:00:00.003-04:00

Jewelry designer Inni Pärnänen of Finland worked with unusual materials to make this lovely ring.

photo by Sade Kahra

Composed of burnt paper, candle wax, iron, and cotton thread, the dimensional flower is a striking art piece. She also uses traditional metals to create jewelry along with a few oddities... cow horns, for example! Visit her gallery.

Facebook Finds this past week:

Frame a stylish geometric print
A new take on recovering hardback books
Paper and Present (think wrapping supplies, washi tape, and baker's twine) is celebrating its first anniversary with discounts and a giveaway - your odds of winning are superb.

This weekend is not only nice and long due to Memorial Day here in the U.S., but it's the kick-off to summer too, my very favorite time of year. Have a good one!

CONFETTISYSTEM

2012-05-23T09:00:00.007-04:00

I marvel at people who are able to take ideas that are so very simple, yet incredibly effective, and turn them into a sought-after business. Paper fringing, for example... Nicholas Andersen and Julie Ho of CONFETTISYSTEM do a tremendous amount of it. And yes, the name is all caps - it attracts attention, as does everything they make!

Mannequin heads inspired by exotic birds created for the clothing line, Opening Ceremony.

Based in New York City, the duo have backgrounds in set design and sculpture, and began making decorations for friends' parties and musical performances after discovering how well their ideas meshed.

Target

Playful designs, all hand-fringed, have been created as props for window displays in flagship stores and to decorate private celebrations.

J.Crew

Articles about their work are name-dropping extravaganzas... brands such as Lanvin and Mercedes Benz, and music artists Beyonce and Beach House have utilized CONFETTISYSTEM's festive creations.

This gold T was the cover design of the New York Times Style Magazine, March travel edition.

Simple tissue paper and cardboard are used most often, although Nicholas and Julie also work with mylar and fabric. In addition to garlands, tassels, and confetti-filled geometric piñatas, they have a line of intriguing twisted silk charmeuse necklaces available via the website.

Their work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Japan, and Holland.

Need some cheering up? Browsing CONFETTISYSTEM's fun projects just might be the ticket. And here's an interesting 01 Magazine interview with Julie and Nicholas.

Paste Collages - Denise Fiedler

2012-05-21T09:00:00.002-04:00

It never fails that I come across something eye-catching each time I scroll through Pinterest. You too? One recent morning it was the winsome image of a book page pooch...

Just one click transported me to the whimsical world of Denise Fiedler's collage art, simply called Paste.

It takes talent to inject personality into scraps of of paper! A variety of vintage printed pages are fair game for Denise's collages of dogs and other animals, as well as people. She accepts orders for custom designs if you have a special idea in mind.

Denise worked as a designer for stores such as Marshall Field & Co. and Crate and Barrel, and then started her own textile-based fashion and home accessory business in San Francisco. In 2009 she added original collage design to her bag of creative tricks after coming across books and flash cards in a box of flea market finds.

The hoopoe bird and three egg nest are limited edition pieces created from 18th century hand-made marbled endpapers from France.

For style mavens, Denise creates fashion and furniture collages... this mid-heel shoe and Bertoia chair, for example. At times she uses marbled paper from India, antique letters from France, and European paper trims.

Paste collages are mounted on 4-ply board and framed in black or white. See many more designs on the website and at these U.S. retailers.

Guggen’ Dizzy - Mia Liu

2012-05-18T08:00:00.007-04:00

While working as a ticket taker at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Mia Wen Hsuan Liu, an art school grad student at the time, was compelled to use tickets as her medium. Tickets (purchased in bulk from the museum), colored masking tape, a motor, and plywood resulted in the creation of an op art-reminiscent series. Consider this photo just a tease... you'll find fascinating images on her Flickr page... really, it's worth the click!

Guggen’ Dizzy
New York Guggenheim Museum Tickets, Masking Tape, Motor and Plywood
H178 x W178 x D20 cm Each
2009-2011

Mia Liu began by drawing geometric designs that she translated into huge, three dimensional wheels of color. Masking tape adhered the two sides of each ticket together; they were then arranged on rotating sheets of plywood. The entire installation, as seen at the IT Park Gallery in Taipei City, Taiwan last fall, took three years to complete. Yes, she had helpers... can you imagine how many hours this took to do?! Find an interesting article about the exhibit here.

By the way, thanks to everyone for the nice comments and links to your quilled birds on Wednesday's post - so many wonderful examples!

Facebook Finds this past week included:

Make colorful boxes made from gardening calendars and catalogs
Print out and fold a Geoball container
Paper straw initials as wall decor

Wishing you a lovely weekend. I have something very fun to show you on Monday; hope to see you then!

Quilled Bird Designs

2012-05-16T09:10:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking about the zillions of quilled birds that are flying around the internet. Birds are so varied and colorful, it's no wonder many of us like to try our hand at replicating them with paper strips.

Here's a card I made that features a Jacobean fellow, inspired by a crewelwork design. I seem to be on a roll with good luck cards lately.

The marbled background was the cover of a museum brochure originally - I wish I had an unlimited supply; love it! After doing a run of marriage certificates and wedding invitations in subtle colors, I enjoyed using such vivid shades of quilling paper.

Same goes for this little parrot. Whimsical and bright, I made him as part of a collection of baby animals to go on a frame for one of our nephews. Now that I'm taking such a close look, I see he kind of looks like he's tip-toeing along the branch, ha!

Wendy Verity of Australia made this adorable abstract owl... sorry the pic is a bit overexposed, but we can make out the clever design just fine. She rolled silver-edged paper with green and purple to give his eyes such a nice shine, and he looks very handsome against the Cuttlebug embossed background.

If you're new here and would like to see a recap of some other birds I've quilled, visit Donaville Herrick's beautiful new site, Dearest Nature, where she kindly featured several of my feathered friends earlier this week.

If you've quilled a bird (or even a flock!) you'd like to share with everyone, I hope you'll post a link in the comments section.

Welcome May Sponsors

2012-05-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

If you typically receive new posts via email or a reader, you're missing out on these lovely shops... thus I do an introductory feature each month.

Melissa Bilyeu of Paper Ink Press not only creates great letterpress designs, but having placed a few orders, I know firsthand that every single item she sends out is perfectly pressed and packaged.

These cute African animal and Bird on a Branch note cards are going for a song right now.

Melissa will work with you to design your wedding, birth announcement, or party invitations.

Just type "Paper" in the Paper Ink Press coupon code box when placing an order to receive a 15% discount on any purchase.

Brooke Rasmussen of Brookeshore Designer Stationery contacted me recently to introduce her product line, and I'm so glad she did... her bright note cards and invitations are instantly appealing and fun.

Along with graphic design skill, Brooke is a teacher and California ocean lifeguard. Her love of sun, surf, and sand clearly comes across in her color-coordinated graphics.

If you prefer to order via Etsy, Brooke has a shop there too, but you'll find all of her cards and latest designs on her website. She welcomes custom orders and will create a personalized design just for you. I'm crazy about the water ring initial cards above... they remind me of a day at the beach!

Returning May advertiser, Brenda Kee of bstudio, continues to impress me with her stylish silk ribbon offerings.... she's always coming up with something new and pretty.

This au courant Chartreuse Necklace is chic! It's spool knitting all grown up... Brenda gives the white silk ribbon an ombré effect by coloring it with acid green chartreuse fabric dye. The curved metal tube is the perfect focal point.

I hope you'll visit Paper Ink Press, Brookeshore Designer Stationery, and bstudio, and keep them on your radar. If you place an order, be sure to mention that you saw their ad on All Things Paper.

Handmade Wedding Card

2012-05-11T09:00:00.009-04:00

Wedding season is here! Of course any month at all can be the perfect time, and I find it fun to keep an eye on popular color palettes, fashion, and decorating trends, down to the smallest detail.

To my way of thinking, this extra large card created by Chelsea Ward of Notional Notions brings together all that's special about a springtime wedding. Beautifully combined light, but earthy colors with rich textures, torn layers of paper, stitching, casual hand lettering, and sheer tulle overlays add up to make an art piece that's deserving of a frame.

Allow me to sneak an extra photo into this Fab Friday/one pic post to show the full effect. I'm betting the couple will love it!

Chelsea studied studio art in college and then moved to Italy where she developed a love of watercolor painting. She's now back in California where she's focusing on writing and illustrating children's books... see several delightful stories on her website. Multi-talented Chelsea also makes personalized altered books and recently launched a line of clever pearl snap earrings and bracelets, available in her shop.

Facebook Finds this past week included:

A gorgeous (albeit pricey) folded 'paper' vase
Mother's Day printable gift wrap
A round up of paper flowers
Make a pyramid gift box
Pretty (and pretty simple!) paper wreaths

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all moms who happen to read these words!

Graduation Cards

2012-05-09T08:45:00.006-04:00

I'm far from the first person to design a pennant card, but a celebration is in order when there's a new graduate in the family. Rumor has it he checks in here from time to time... hello, youngest son!

After completing umpteen years of school this week, he's in the midst of job interviews, so instead of Congratulations, (too many letters to fit the space anyway, ha) I went with a most heartfelt 'good luck' sentiment.

Truth be told, in the past he's asked me not to make him cards because then he feels obligated to keep them. Understood; it's a guy thing. Now that he's received this one virtually, I'll save it for another occasion, making it a win-win for both of us. :)

I used Gelatos to make the vertical color swipes on heavily textured cardstock. (They're so much fun; you'll feel like a kid with a box of new crayons!) The letter-stamped triangles were glued to an embroidery floss roping - two bright colors twisted together and stiffened with glue - fastened in place with gold brads.

For a more traditional look, this perfectly quilled mortarboard and diploma card from Suzana Ilac would make a graduate feel extra special. See additional photos of the clever design on her blog, Quilling with Fun.

Have you made a graduation or good luck card you'd like to share? I hope you'll leave the link in the comment section for all of us to enjoy.

Diana Ferguson Artisan Jewelry

2012-05-07T10:00:00.005-04:00

Just when I think I've seen everything there is to see in the paper art world, something completely new and different crosses my path...

Diana Ferguson of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin combines her own digital art with handwoven chain work to create eye-catching paper and metal jewelry. Not only does she use typical silver and gold, but also alternative metals such as niobium, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and brass.

Originally Diana experimented with origami paper, but found the weight and strength of cotton rag watercolor paper to be more suitable for her sculptural shapes. For example, this rose cuff bracelet is strong and rigid, yet flexible enough to slip easily over the wrist. Diana glazes the paper elements with a polymer to protect against moisture and fading.

From gracefully curved isosceles trapezoids in muted colors (google to the rescue; geometry class was a while ago!) to playful, shiny gold petals mixed with vintage Playbill lettering, Diana creates lightweight and comfortable earrings.

I think the simplicity of this design and the botanical patterning created with collage and mixed media techniques makes it my very favorite.

Find Diana on Facebook, or if you're lucky enough to be in Chicago the weekend of June 1-3, meet her in person at the Eastside Millenium Art Festival.

Paper Magnolias

2012-05-04T08:50:00.007-04:00

Karin Toll is a jewelry and home accessories silversmith with a picturesque studio in Sweden's countryside. In addition to silver, she enjoys working with paper, occasionally doing printwork and quilled lettering, but today I can't wait to show you this...

A beautifully realistic magnolia blossom - one of many, actually - that Karin created for a wedding reception. She also made table centerpieces, place cards, napkin rings, and a colorful chandelier and archway, all with paper flowers - see them here.

Facebook Finds this past week included:

Paperless - a paper art exhibit in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Nifty folded gift box (video)
Embroider a notebook cover
DIY butcher paper picnic baskets

I hope you have some nice plans for the weekend ahead - enjoy it!

Papercuts - Lisa Isaacs

2012-05-02T09:15:00.011-04:00

I don't remember how or when I happened upon Lisa Isaac's blog, Handmade in Israel, but I do know I enjoy her posts. Even as a young child, Lisa was sure an art career was in her future as she has always been busy with her hands and making things. In addition to sharing her latest paper cutting projects on the blog, Lisa features events, holidays, local foods and flora, and trips taken with her family to interesting Israeli locations.

She has a degree in Graphic Design from John Moores University in Liverpool and worked as a graphic designer and art director before her children came along, all the while making special cards to send to family and friends. Lisa approached a local store that immediately took on her cards, and has been cutting and sticking bits of paper ever since. A special niche is personalized Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah albums. She goes to great lengths to incorporate the child's interests on the cover and pages.

Because her work looks so precise, you might suspect Lisa relies heavily on a die cutting system, but this is not the case. "All my cutting is by hand, apart from the occasional use of flowers and stars for which I have punches. I use a scalpel - the same one I have had since college - and a large pair of scissors. People often expect me to have all kinds of fancy equipment on my desk, but it's really nothing more than that!"

"I start my designs by making a rough sketch. I am by no means an illustrator, but am not bad at drawing. I've made my own templates for all kinds of things by now too, and use them as well. I have my trademark round head with the little sticky-out ears in many different sizes!"

Lisa also creates cards, albums, and pictures for weddings or any special occasion... as examples, this card for a birthday boy who loves the game of Scrabble and a simply adorable dog that would be cute in a nursery.

Handmade in Israel's blog and shop

Frank Ideas - Paper Necklaces

2012-04-30T07:55:00.001-04:00

Sydney's Rowan Shaw of Frank Ideas makes all sorts of fashion accessories from unusual things like rubber and wool that are better seen than described - really, go see - but I'll be focusing on her paper jewelry.

Perhaps Rowan's necklaces are more avant-garde than many of us would wear on a daily basis, but they have a definite place on fashion runways, magazine pages, and for attention seekers, anywhere and everywhere.

This dramatic beauty brought Phantom of the Opera to mind.

I asked Rowan to tell us why she enjoys creating with paper:

...because of the colours and textures. As you can tell I'm quite eclectic, both in my taste and the materials I use for making jewellery. I find working with paper therapeutic when I'm in the right mood. You have to to be patient and gentle to create with paper and since most of my life is a chaotic flurry of activity, occasionally it's nice to take time to think and be quiet and work at a slower pace.

Paper string fringe and wooden beads in black and teal.

Ahhh, pea blossoms and early summer - I can't wait.

Touches of peach are surprising and pretty.

Rowan will soon be embarking on an adventure to the Australian outback in search of inspiration and ideas. Not to worry - incredible pieces are listed at Frank Ideas, ready to be posted while she's away.

Leaf-its and an Announcement!

2012-04-27T08:30:00.009-04:00

This pretty image of ginko leaves caught my eye on Design Boom. Surprise, surprise, they aren't true leaves at all despite the shaded colors that make them look positively real. Leaf-its, as they are called, are pages torn from little paper tablets (similar to those ubiquitous sticky notes we all know and love) that not only can be used for writing memos, but also for a bit of desk or wall decorating. Designed by Sangwoo Nam of Korea, the company is Appree. Find Leaf-it decor ideas in the site's Archive section.

Allow me to change the subject from note pages to book pages... yes, All Things Paper in book form! I'm delighted to share the news that just this week I submitted a paper crafting manuscript to Tuttle Publishing. I've brought together eighteen talented paper artisans from around the world to create brand new, exciting designs. Due to be released in 2013, All Things Paper (working title) features stylish and purposeful projects that are beautifully photographed and carefully detailed, step-by-step. You'll find novel ideas for paper cutting, folding, painting, printing, punching, rolling, shaping, stamping, stitching, and even crocheting - whew! I'll be sure to let you know the moment it's available.

Facebook Finds this past week included:

Cardboard and paper prom dress
Pre-school craft necklace all grown up
Give your scuffed iPhone a fresh look
Wall art from paper circles
Make pretty pencils from origami paper

Enjoy the weekend!

Lift Bridge Cards and Crafts

2012-04-25T09:10:00.004-04:00

Michigan's Deb Charlesworth of Lift Bridge Cards and Crafts is an excellent stamper and bookbinder. I've known Deb for quite a while via blogland and always learn something new from her posts. (Deb's husband, by the way, loves to quill! How about that - a partner who is also into paper-y things?)

Deb enjoys designing useful, blank books and recently shared pictures of this aqua beauty. It would be the perfect place to record memories from a seaside vacation or honeymoon. Because of the many pockets, CDs of trip photos could be included, along with printed pics, ticket stubs, and other mementos. The stamped foam core board cover has a special niche for shells and a even a little fish charm.

Deb stitched the binding with waxed linen thread over ribbon.

Because she is an engineer by profession, you can be sure everything Deb does is well-organized. Lucky for us, she has written detailed posts over the past month or so on how best to use digital tools to organize craft supplies. Find the first in the series here with links to the next three posts. And if you're interested in getting started in stamping and/or bookbinding, Deb has compiled lots of helpful tips.

She's also on Etsy.

Raven's Paper Jewelry

2012-04-23T09:10:00.003-04:00

This is what Raven Murie of Ohio has to say about paper... "It is endlessly interesting. The things that can be done with it... I've cut it and folded it, colored and crumpled it, sewn and torn and dipped and glued it, painted and pierced and done everything to it but eat it."

Currently she uses durable flax, abaca, and other fibers to make paper from which she creates one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces. Because handmade paper is durable and lightweight, it's a perfect material for earrings.

Cerulean Flower Earrings

These ruffled blossoms are shaped from premium flax fiber.

Umber abaca fiber earrings

This pair reminds me of tiny dancers wearing floaty dresses.

You might be fascinated to hear from Raven about her main occupation:
"By day I work at repairing phone lines --- climbing poles and slinging ladders around. One thing I was happy to discover: copper phone wires and paper make fascinating partners. When flax paper dries around wire, the magic is complete. The paper shrinks, buckles, and makes all sorts of interesting wrinkles.

By the way, if you happen to know (or if you yourself are) another woman doing the job I do, let me know. I'd love to meet a sister/tech. The guys I work with are great, but it would be even cooler to meet someone more like myself."

Ribbed Aurora Swirl

Raven made this colorful pair from highly beaten abaca fiber. She applies earth pigments in crayon form to the wet surface of the strong abaca sheets just as she pulls them from the vat.

I asked Raven how she happened to start making fibrous paper: "I came to papermaking by chance: my weaver's guild offered a one-day workshop in papermaking and it caught my fancy for a time. A few years later I had a chance to take a college course taught by the printmaking artist, Julie Harris, and by the time the quarter ended, I was truly launched. I read everything the local libraries offered and began to collect and build papermaking equipment so I could continue to explore at home."

Jellyfish

And yes, this pure flax paper pair really do resemble jellyfish with swinging tentacles! Raven often turns to nature as inspiration for her designs.

"In my own house there are lampshades I have made over the years, reflecting the paper I was producing at different stages. About three years ago I hit upon a technique I liked so much for its undulations and organic character that I started experimenting with making it in miniature. The earrings began there. I have made other jewelry forms that I wear myself: hairpins, hatpins and decorative pins, still in the trial stages."

Green Spires

Here she sculpted and stacked handmade abaca and flax papers and interspersed the layers with silvery-blue glass beads. Raven says the paper discs are flat when wet, but as they dry, they take on all sorts of interesting curves.

Plum Cape Earrings

These do look just like little, swishing capes, don't they? She makes them with pure flax paper, and again, adds pigments to the pulp at the vat stage, which makes the color permanent.

See many more earring examples at Raven's Paper Jewelry.

Papier Maché Japonais

2012-04-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

It's no secret around here that a pretty papier maché vessel will stop me in my tracks.

Case in point, I was thrilled to come across this beauty, and it even comes with a tutorial (if you don't mind translating French). Aline Caron of My Little Fabric covered raw papier maché with white paint and Japanese cherry blossoms that she cut from patterned paper and decoupaged on glowing gold leaf.

And the little golden bowl next to it... zip over to Aline's post to see its interior. Well worth the click, as her photography is simply beautiful!

Facebook Finds this past week included:

Faux underwater scenes at Anthropologie
Cute paper diamonds to make
and coffee filter florals too
Topographic paper cuttings on display

Have a beautiful weekend and remember, the Paper Works giveaway ends on Sunday!

Paper Cut Quotes

2012-04-18T08:40:00.004-04:00

Kashmira Jhaveri of Ant Design Gifts is a graphic designer who creates stylish paper cut wall art. She's able to make all sorts of magic with favorite phrases or quotes.

I love the way Kashmira displays her work in floating frames that look fresh and modern. Perhaps best of all, the frames don't steal any thunder from the simply designed paper cuts.

Are you or your mom into Zumba? Mother's Day is coming up!

I can't imagine new parents anywhere who wouldn't appreciate a sweet, personalized paper cut that announces their baby's name and birth date.

I asked Kashmira how she makes her paper cuttings. "I create all of the designs on my beloved imac which is hooked up to my other beloved machine that cuts what I ask it to. I then finish the design by hand to clean up any imperfections."

I was also curious about the name of her company and Etsy shop, Ant Design Gifts. Kashmira replied there was no special meaning really, but perhaps some practical logic behind it. She wanted the business to start with an 'A' so it would feature at the top of any alphabetic listing, and also liked the idea of a short, memorable word. The word ant came to mind because they are from nature, hard-working, and organized - traits that Kashmira admires.

I really enjoy her blog where not only will you see the latest designs, but also be treated to excursions around London where she lives.

By the way, a few ad spaces are available for May. If you'd like to take advantage of ATP's traffic volume and reasonable rates to promote your creative business or blog, contact me at ann.b.martin at gmail.com

"Paper Works" Book Giveaway

2012-04-16T07:40:00.001-04:00

***The giveaway has ended. Scroll down to see who won!***

A newly released title here in the U.S., Paper Works, is one I'm quite sure all paper enthusiasts will enjoy perusing. According to Ginko Press, the 256 page paperback compiles the best of paper artwork, fashion, installations, and sculptures from respected artists all around the world.

I haven't had a chance to see the book personally, but the Paper Works flip through video is a very nice preview. Some of the featured art has been seen online and even on this blog, but there appears to be plenty of intriguing new work too - 900 illustrations, in fact!

Delicate paper is shown in the many ways it can be transformed into abstract or realistic designs.

We'll be introduced to sculptural carved books, room-size installations, and paper couture.

Ginko Press has offered to send a copy to one mainland U.S. reader who leaves a comment below. The giveaway will end on Sunday, April 22nd. A winner will be selected at random, announced on this post and the All Things Paper Facebook page, and notified via email. Good luck!

Congratulations to rennbridy! Her number was chosen by a random generator; she's been notified and is delighted to be the winner.

Paper Flower from PaperPhine

2012-04-13T08:00:00.005-04:00

Perhaps you're familiar with the name, Linda Thalmann - and not just because of this feature - but because you've come across her beautiful site, PaperPhine. Linda sources paper yarn and paper string from around the world; she sells it and creates unique jewelry with it too.

Creative talent obviously runs in the family, as Linda's mum and dad made this stunning bloom using leftover bits of brightly colored paper twine. Her father is a retired engineer and Linda tells me he's currently trying out all possible "structures". We'll be treated to more paper flowers on the PaperPhine blog soon!

Meanwhile, should you want to try your hand at making twine flowers of your own, Linda has posted a few tips and other ideas here.

Facebook Finds this past week:

Learn to make seed paper
Quilling book giveaway
Cool papercut lamp video
C herry blossom kirigami tute

Speaking of pretty cherry blossoms, the tree in my back yard is in full bloom today, which definitely takes the edge off Friday the 13th! I hope your weekend will be just as beautiful.

Crumple Design - Paper Earrings

2012-04-11T08:15:00.004-04:00

Elizabeth Laskar and Jezella Pigott recently launched a line of playful summer earrings as the first venture of their company, Crumple Design. Inspired by 1960's paper dresses, Japanese simplicity and origami, as well as land art, each pair of earrings featured in the Paper Tales collection is retro-stylish and handmade in England.

Jezella

EL and Jezella combine their talents - EL is an eco-fashion consultant and Jez is an artist - to create eye-catching jewelry that has minimal effect on the environment, but makes a splash as a fashion statement.

The vibrant designs celebrate nature and relate to environmental challenges. A portion of the proceeds of each pair sold goes to conservation projects around the world... polar bears, water preservation, and improving bee habitats to name a few.

Jez's drawing of multi-colored raindrops...

was translated into Hyperlove that reverses to show the Crumple honeybee logo.

Perhaps you've heard of 60's British fashion siren, Twiggy? She would have been right at home on magazine pages modeling these op art-inspired lovelies.

Jez and EL use high quality, responsibly sourced paper, non-toxic glue, and sterling silver to make the earrings. Nearly every component can be recycled - although I can't imagine turning in the sample earrings they sent to me. I expect they will look great for a long time to come!

If you happen to be in Oxford stop by the OxFork Cafe to see a window Jez and EL collaborated on that features colorful, origami-inspired birds - wearing earrings, of course!

Find Crumple on Facebook and Twitter.

Tree of Life Quilled Marriage Certificate

2012-04-09T08:00:00.004-04:00

Here's a marriage certificate I quilled for a couple late last fall. The bride-to-be contacted me to create a novel design that would be a surprise for her fiancé on their wedding day. We considered a variety of ideas and she decided on a tree of life. She said they both love vibrant colors and had decorated their home in greens and purples; in fact, they would be wearing green and purple for the wedding! The leaves were quilled in shades of green and the outlined trunk was deep purple.

Riva Brown of Living Letters Studio hand lettered the lyrics of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" and drew signature lines where the guests would sign as a pledge of support for the couple in their marriage.

I enclosed a signed provenance paper to be kept with the certificate or separately. A provenance gives details of an art piece - who commissioned it, created it, when, where, and in this case, a brief history of quilling. Sometimes it is placed behind the document inside the frame - a nice surprise perhaps, to whomever reframes the piece and finds it... oh, maybe fifty or a hundred years from now!

Fabergé Inspired Lamp

2012-04-06T09:15:00.002-04:00

You might remember the exquisite tessellated lamps of Ilan Garibi. I was happy to come across one of his newest creations made as an ode to Fabergé eggs. Composed of the durable and forgiving paper known as elephant hide, it was featured at a lighting and origami exhibition at Hankin Gallery in Holon, Israel this past winter.

Ilan subscribes to the basic tenets of origami - no glue, no cuts, just folds and creases. Check out his delightful new website.

I wish you a weekend as lovely as the lamp's glow, and if you celebrate Easter, may it be a joyous one.

Facebook Finds this past week include:

Paper money sculptures
Love to color? Easter egg print-out
Pretty paper-covered, laser-cut butterflies
Fab letterpress cards at a steal
A paper artist round-up

Zipper 8 Lighting, The La Plata, and More!

2012-04-04T09:15:00.006-04:00

It's time to introduce April sponsors... pretty pictures ahead!

You might remember Allison Patrick from past All Things Paper features. She has a knack for creating designs with a wow factor, and to prove it, here are a few of the newest lamps in her shop, Zipper 8 Lighting.

Cocktail umbrellas!

Punched flowers!

Soda can pull tabs!

The La Plata is a brand new shop owned by Melina Szapiro. Her necklaces and earrings feature bold geometics that are up-to-the-minute stylish. Melina texturizes cold porcelain clay against letterpress metal plates and hand paints it with acrylics.

Chevron Indigo Necklace

Radial Necklace

Geometric square post earrings

Returning sponsors include Meg Bollinger of Calyrew who creates gorgeous handmade paper and applies it to useful items. This vivid coat rack would be a unique shower or wedding gift, and also perfect for Mother's or Father's Day.

Sweet Spot Card Shop returns this month too. There's always something delightful and fun happening in Sandy Diaz's store, be it cards or jewelry. How about some quilled sushi with your wasabi?!

Brenda Kee fills her shop, bstudio, with little lovelies. Here she's created a silk ribbon dragonfly and cattail scene on a sweet burlap pillow - perfect for a summer wedding in the country. As Beyoncé would suggest, Put a Ring on It!

I'll enjoy dropping in on these shops throughout the month to see what's new, and I hope you will too.

Paper Jewelry - Dafna Yarom

2012-04-02T08:40:00.001-04:00

As a student of graphic design at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, Dafna Yarom participated in a handmade paper workshop. Later, an extended visit to Japan led to an exploration of making art with paper. After returning home to Israel, she began to meld her interest in paper making with beautiful metals, beads, and cords. Here are several examples...

A vivid shell necklace is composed of fuchsia paper pulp and decorated with fine pieces of recycled glass, a silver wire spiral, and glass and pewter beads.

For this bold pendant, Dafna combined a circle of sterling silver with a woodcut pattern she engraved in paper pulp. An antique Moroccan printing block found in a flea market was used to make the mold for the silver circle and engraving.

Dafna twisted silver and gold metallic papers to create a rustic disc pendant.

This last example (and perhaps my very favorite) is a dramatic black and gold paper flower aptly named Evening Elegance.

Dafna's book, Creative Paper Jewelry, was released in 2010 and features how-to projects. In addition to wearable art, she creates interesting drawings composed of handmade paper, some of which can be seen on her Eco-Friendly Jewelry Facebook page. Dafna's work has been exhibited throughout Israel.

Paper Flowers - Dragonfly Expression

2012-03-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

I was introduced to Dragonfly Expression via a Facebook mention by Bellenza, a wedding ideas site. Chantal Larocque, the French Canadian owner, creates such an enormous variety of pretty paper blooms, it was difficult to choose a favorite. The vivid colors of these rosettes won my heart!

Chantal also makes realistic peonies, dahlias, marigolds, daisies, and poppies - all are lovely and surprisingly realistic. Her work has been featured in boutique and store window displays, as wedding bouquets, on place cards, table numbers, favor boxes, and in an Avon catalog, just out this spring.

The flowers begin as die cuts, but Chantal often alters them by hand to give each one a unique look. She told me she enjoys design challenges and in fact, her very favorite thing to do is make a client's vision come true. Chantal also has a Facebook page where you can see photos she just posted of cream and white rosettes used as escort card holders for a wedding - so elegant!

Facebook Finds this past week included:

Pretty tassels from twisted paper roping
A beautiful, updated quilling pattern
Cute bunny garland as Easter or nursery decor
A clever twist on the lowly egg carton

Wishing you a fun-filled weekend!