Quilled Ojibway Designs

Some time ago I came across Ojibway Indian beadwork while tooling around Google images and was struck with the idea that the designs provided mighty fine inspiration for quilling.

This coral piece was the first one I made, and later on I did another as decoration on the top of a chocolate box that was just too nice to send to the recycling bin.

It's come in handy as a holder of odds and ends in my craft stash... ribbons, beads, and such. You might recognize both of these pieces from the television demo video over there in the right sidebar.

I remember the friendly cameraman carefully panning over each one after first verifying that I'd made it. I'm pretty sure he couldn't imagine trying to quill and perhaps wondered why anyone would want to. :) By the end of filming however, I'm happy to say everyone present - there was also a producer, director, and sound engineer - was enthusiastic about the process. The producer and director even said they were excited about giving quilling a try when they returned home to L.A... two new converts!

Paper Sculptures - Patty Grazini

A reader recently sent me the link to Patty Grazini's website, saying she thought I would like her work. Do I ever! Prepare to be astonished....

Delia A. Ruggles - Arrested for arson for burning her apartment to collect insurance money. 1888

Patty didn't want to be known as a doll maker, so chose to make animal heads for her sculptural pieces because they bring about curiosity. Her most recent series is based on real people who committed crimes between 1885 and 1910.

Ada Turise - 16 years of age. Arrested for opium smoking. 1884

She researched the stories in The New York Times and has placed the newspaper article next to the corresponding piece in the Curtis Steiner gallery in Seattle. There are always unknown elements to the stories however, and Patty likes for the viewer to create his/her own interpretation about what happened.

Lena Scuccimaro - Arrested for baby trafficking. 1905

The all-paper figures are 12-18 inches tall, incredibly detailed, and beg to be studied. Patty enjoys the challenge of creating tiny embellishments and thinks of them as little delights to be found.

August W. Eckhardt - Arrested for the murder of Mary Ann Gaston, with a thrown knife. 1898

She gathers paper ephemera to construct the pieces from her travels, bookshops, and "abandoned corners". The layered elements and muted colors conspire to lend an air of mystery.

From Patty's archives:

Horse - paper, 18" height


Crane - paper, 12" height

Really and truly, take a few minutes to watch this interview with Patty in her studio. I promise you'll enjoy it.

And if there is a Nordstrom's near you, be on the lookout in April for a photographed collage made by Patty that will be used as part of store window displays nationwide.

Quilled "Can I Stay?" - Lavanya Naidoo

It's been such a beautiful week here weather-wise (downright bizarre for March if you really want the truth!) that I wanted to match it with something equally bright and delightful. Lavanya Naidoo's recent project titled, "Can I Stay?" fills the bill.

You might remember a previous feature about Lavanya and her superb quilling and design skills. She told me this particular piece was created as part of a portfolio package sent to design agencies in Cape Town, South Africa. Vanna was in the process of moving there and in need of employment. The package held her resume, portfolio, and an A2 poster (roughly 17 x 24 inches - big!) of the 'Can I Stay?' artwork. Needless to say, it led to interviews... what firm could overlook the person who asked such an eye-catching question?!

Allow me to add one extra pic this Fab Friday... I've been reading up on photography while coming to grips with a new camera. One technique for taking excellent close shots is the use of a large sheet of white poster board to create a seamless background... essential when taking those effective angled shots and exactly what Vanna has done here.


Facebook Finds this past week included:

DIY geometric boxes
World's largest origami crane
Stories cut from paper - Béatrice Coron
Cute cardboard playhouse

I hope your weekend will be a good one!

Revisiting Paper Couture - Jo Neville

About two years ago I featured creative paper projects designed by Jo Neville of Sydney. At the time she didn't have an official website, but I was delighted to discover recently that she does now. Paper Couture is a beauty and not only that, Jo is blogging too. I bet you'll enjoy reading the story behind the makeover of this reading chair.

After rescuing it from the curb and allowing it to languish for a good long time in the backyard, Jo turned the chair into an objet d'art for a collaborative exhibit. She replaced the worn upholstery with a ruched paper seat, piping, and flowers created from the pages of French novels.

Originally a graphic designer, Jo enjoys making everything she can out of paper, specializing in paper installations. Her custom stationery designs are uncluttered and simple - no doubt the exact reasons people find them so appealing.

Temple & Webster, an Australian homeware site, did a very nice interview with Jo recently that you'll find here.

Currently she's working on an installation at Murobond in Artarmon, NSW, which opens March 31 and will be on display throughout April. Jo is transforming the showroom into a flower shop called The Papered Flower - I expect it will be beautiful!

One last thing... be sure to check out the latest online issue of Paper Runway. Not only is it full of paper delights as usual, but Jo's stitched paper globe is featured on the cover.