Blog - Upon a Fold

slashies feat. benja harney

2012-02-02T16:05:18Z

I was just this minute, emailed a link to this beautiful documentary series called Slashies. You really must check it out. I just watched the video of paper engineer Benja Harney and it’s so incredibly inspiring and beautifully captured too. I’m going now to watch all the others.

Thank you Rob for sending me the link and thank you Benja for allowing us this look into your magical and colourful paper world.

cut and paste

2012-01-31T17:19:35Z

There’s something about Liat Yaniv’s paper illustrations that make me feel happy! Check out her paper dolls too, they are the cutest.

UPPERCASE and my creative adventure

2012-01-30T10:14:02Z

My issue of UPPERCASE magazine just arrived and I’m really excited about it because I’ve shared a special story in there. It’s all about an unforgettable papermaking experience in Japan. I think this would definitely be my most special paper adventure yet, so I’m very lucky to be able to share it via this beautiful publication and issue dedicated to creative adventures.

During our last trip to Japan we visited a rural papermaking town just outside of Tokyo. We were lucky enough to be guided by local resident and paper artist Chiaki Morita. If you’ve been longing to embark on a creative journey yourself then I would really recommend this place. It is extremely beautiful in so many ways.

I have over 200 images from this journey and I’m thinking about having them printed and bound for myself and maybe a few extra copies for those of you interested in discovering this place a little further.

UPPERCASE magazine shows many of the images and details of the papermaking workshop too. If you love paper you will love issue 12 of UPPERCASE because it is filled with beautiful paper and people who are creating amazing things with it.

Thank you Janine!

peter gentenaar

2012-01-20T11:56:54Z

The blog turned two this week and I’m quietly celebrating with this papery post. I’ve been admiring these works by Peter Gentenaar for hours now.

More than 100 of Peter Gentenaar’s ethereal paper sculptures were hung inside the Abbey church of Saint-Riquier in France.

Peter’s sculptures are created by allowing pulp to dry and shrink in unison whilst attached to bamboo framework. He says, The tension between the two materials transforms itself into a form reminiscent of a slowly curling autumn leaf.
Just. So. Beautiful.

P.S. A big thanks to all the artists and designers who have inspired me everyday since starting this blog. I hope that via this blog I can continue to share with so many others, the beautiful works you make.

daniele papuli

2012-01-19T10:30:24Z

It was during a trip to Berlin in 1993 that sculptor Daniele Papuli discovered how to produce paper. Four years later and after much playing and experimenting with handmade paper, Papuli made his first paper work of art.

Papuli began his career using stone, wood and plaster so I find it fascinating that he became so engaged with paper and has since made it his primary material. I have to say, the images above truly blew me away. I hope you enjoy them too.

(Top image by Emilio Tremolada. All other images courtesy of Daniele Papuli.)

manuela betancourt

2012-01-15T00:07:21Z

I love these paintings by Manuela Betancourt.

piercing paper

2012-01-14T23:44:52Z

Threading, piercing, scratching, are all methods Erwina Ziomkowska uses to create her art with paper and pins. Just imagine threading all those pins! I love the different paper textures. They are so wonderfully weathered.

Erwina has an inspiring blog too. Check it out here.

rolling rolling rolling

2012-01-12T11:54:00Z

Since discovering Valérie’s work (see my previous post) I’ve had paper rolling on my mind. Here is another beautiful collection of work that has been made with rolled paper. French artist Michèle Guichard Soutif has been rolling paper since she was a little girl. I really love her patterns and colour combinations. These look so much like woven pieces to me.

helene tschacher

2012-01-12T10:43:44Z

I’m currently admiring Helene Tschacher’s paper world. You can too over here.

valérie buess

2012-01-09T09:28:09Z

Swiss-born paper artist Valérie Buess has been experimenting with paper for more than 20 years. These are some of her beautiful creations.

tales within triangles

2012-01-06T16:29:55Z

So this is what 3,500 hand folded and joined paper pyramids look like – wow!
Designer Eva Black made this beautiful hanging, titled Folded, from paper pieces she had collected over time – from old maps to artworks, paper bags, books and other telling paper remnants.

made of paper

2012-01-05T15:00:36Z

These baskets are handmade from 100% recycled paper by artisans at Best Before in Paris. Corinne Muller and Piotr Oleszkowicz from Best Before breathe new life into the ancient Korean craft of paper weaving and knotting.

Flat strips of paper are rolled into strong cords that are then used for turning into beautiful baskets. I found this great video by Aimee Lee; it shows master weaver Na Seo Hwan at work using the traditional Korean Jiseung method.

Aimee Lee is an artist and papermaker who specialises in Korean handmade paper (Hanji). Her research on Korean hand papermaking and weaving is truly enlightening so be sure to take a look.

(Top image by Aimee Lee. All other images courtesy of Best Before.)

yumiko arimoto

2012-01-04T11:00:29Z

I’ve been enjoying a little down time – reading mostly and swimming and walking. I’ve found many beautiful things online too like these embroidery works by Yumiko Arimoto for her brand Sina. Aren’t they beautiful?

Happy New Year friends. I hope you are enjoying some down time too.
xoxo

time for a sale in our shop of folds

2011-12-26T23:29:06Z

Yep, it’s SALE TIME! Click here to find 80+ paper and cloth goodies on sale now!

fideli sundqvist

2011-12-09T15:44:37Z

Some of my favourite paper works by Fideli Sundqvist.
Photography by Olivia Jeczmyk.

happy friday

2011-11-24T20:46:48Z

I just came across these little cuties. They are the newest creation by Yuki Nobuko. You can discover more of Yuki’s craft here in an earlier post. Happy Friday all!

P.S. I have sooooooooooo much to blog about. So many amazing papery finds in my to blog about list. Soon I promise! Things are a little Christmas crazy right now. xo

happy new year japan

2011-11-21T21:36:47Z

I bought this beautiful calendar this week from lovely Sass over at Ask Alice Stationery. Proceeds from this calendar goes to Japan’s Red Cross to help those trying to rebuild their lives after the devastating March earthquake. 12 awesome artists have donated artwork to make this happen, as well as a generous donation of paper and printing services by K.W. Doggett and Bambra Press. Buy here.

Artwork credits
Cover – Sass Cocker of Ask Alice.
January – Anna Blandford of Able & Game.
May – Harvest Textiles.
June – Sass Cocker of Ask Alice.

my favourite gift wrapping trio

2011-11-21T10:13:32Z

I spent Sunday gift wrapping and photographing. It was nice! I was preparing three new products for the shop but it wasn’t until I started playing with them that I noticed they made quite a handsome trio. These wax paper gift pockets from Japan are my new favourite thing in the shop and they look extra good decorated with these new gift tags and festive washi tape (sorry guys, the washi tape is now sold out).

workshop // paper stamp kit meets airvase

2011-11-16T16:27:06Z

Shibaura House in Tokyo recently welcomed a new burst of colour thanks to Torafu’s latest airvase attraction and far out doesn’t it look amazing?! Torafu created a special stamp kit made of paper to allow participants at the workshop to create their very own original airvase design. And btw that last image shows my current oversized object of desire – yep that’s Torafu’s giant airvase!

susan stockwell's frills and folds

2011-11-08T12:19:50Z

This is what I call a fashion statement. These dresses made of paper maps and money are Susan Stockwell’s sculptural study on colonialism and the British empire. See more of her work here.