The pendant is one I featured in a Jewel School how-to article for Bead Trends. People are always surprised to learn that the jewelry I make is actually paper - no doubt because of its gilded sheen. Back issues of the magazine are available from Bead Trends if you'd like to learn to make a necklace of your own. 
It's pretty, isn't it?! No boring, plain handle for this inventor. Jenn, a jewelry maker and digital paper collage sheet creator, enjoys graphics so much she's designed six handle choices for the tool. Jungle Wild = cute!
She's also written a tutorial on paper beadmaking that she includes with the purchase of the tool or it can be ordered separately. I'm thinking beadmaking is a project that could keep crafty kids happy for long intervals this summer.
You can reach Jenn at JustJennDesignz@gmail.com or visit her Etsy shop.
Maeve kindly sent me pictures that were taken during set construction. Behind the scenes shots are great... I love seeing how everything on a big project like this one comes together.
Maeve, along with Jamie Hannigan, Lisa's brother, also made the wonderful pop-up books that are featured in the video for Lisa's song, Lille.
Lisa's CD Sea Sew was released in the U.S. in February.
It's no wonder she wanted her music videos to have a hand-crafted look, as Lisa stitched all of the song lyrics on a piece of linen which was then photographed as the liner notes. It took a month to complete and she says she enjoyed the process, "...a really lovely solitary time for me." Those of us who work with bits of paper can certainly relate.
Remember though, it's unethical to use someone else's design for your own gain unless you have permission. There's always a way to significantly alter elements to make a design your own - have confidence in your ability to do just that.
Introduced to Masahiro Chatani's origamic architecture at an early age, Tracy was fascinated by how a single piece of paper could be transformed into a beautiful three-dimensional object by simple cuts and folds. Hundreds of cards later, she says she's still excited by seeing a design spring to life from a blank sheet of card.
Tracy is currently a grad student working toward a career in science. She says she looks at the wonders of nature in the microscope daily and feels inspired to design beautiful things - that art and science go hand in hand.
And be sure to check out this link to see a tutorial on crafting chic wall decor from those nuisance junk mail circulars that arrive in our mailboxes like clockwork.
Patricia has written a book I'm really looking forward to, called home, paper, scissors - Decorative Paper Accessories for the Home. It will be released by Potter Craft Publishing in August.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Jo Lynn originally worked as a magazine art director and art buyer, but turned to dimensional illustration to satisfy her love of collage and paper. Not surprisingly, there's much interest in her work in China and Japan where paper creations are revered.
Jo Lynn begins by working from a sketch she has drawn in pencil and marker. She chooses a palette of papers that she customizes with paint and pattern, cuts out all the elements, and then constructs the piece in layers, using foam core, balsa wood, tape, and glue. Her graphic design background comes into play as she often works with art directors and photographers to place products such as jewelry or fashions within photos of her dimensional pieces, creating advertisements and catalog covers.
She also creates bouquets of custom ordered paper flowers, has written two books of animal, holiday, and seasonal projects for young children, and is currently working on a personal collection of butterflies and insects.
I look to nature, the greatest designer, for inspiration. In my work I try to capture the luscious color, rich detail, and endless variety that I see in nature and at the same time add my own sense of fantasy. Jo Lynn Alcorn
Here's a wordy variation that makes lovely use of the pages of an old book - recycling at it finest.
A money rose takes the guess work out of selecting the perfect graduation gift.
Suanne offers these tips for taking eye-catching photos - something that's especially important for internet sales:
Later during the same trip, I was excited to visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History because I'd read about the incredible glass flower exhibit. Here are two examples of Mountain Laurel - I can't get over the fine detail, and in person it's even more spectacular. It's hard to believe the models on display aren't real plants.
The collection contains 847 species and more than 3000 models created by German glass artisans Leopold Blaschka and his son, Rudolph, over a span of five decades beginning in 1886. They were commissioned by a professor who wanted life-like representations of plants for the purpose of teaching botany. The life-size models are remarkably accurate and replaced the crude paper mache and wax models that were available up until that time.
The Blaschkas used lampworking, a type of glassblowing that uses a torch to melt clear and colored glass rods. When the rods are in a molten state, they're formed by blowing and shaping with tools and hand movements. Although the plants are composed almost entirely of glass, small amounts of copper wire, animal glue, oil paints, and yes... paper were used to create the structures.
You can find complete instructions in the May issue of CardMaker Magazine. There's also a pretty filigree Mother's Day card by Quilled Creation's Alli Bartkowski in the same issue. CardMaker is sold at newsstands and via regular subscription, plus it's now available in a digital format that comes with the extra feature of access to two years of archived issues... just think how many card ideas and technique instructions that would be! Click on the digital format link to check out a sample issue.
It features the work of Iraq war veterans who have transformed the space into a papermaking studio. These interventionist artists recruit returning soldiers who cut, beat, and cook their uniforms into pulp, and then form them into sheets of paper which they use to create statement art. Thus, the veterans begin the cathartic process of reconciling their time in Iraq. During the course of the exhibit, the public has been invited to participate in papermaking sessions and perhaps more importantly, much-needed conversation between civilians and veterans. 
Open Wound - Eli Wright 2007
Artist Books - Combat Paper Makers 2007-2008
Jessica uses overbeaten flax and mulberry fiber to make the paper for her jewelry and sculpture pieces. She often prints the wet paper with paints and inks; it acquires a unique shape as it dries (and shrinks) over a reed or wire form. You can see an informative explanation of the process she has created here.
In addition to paper, Jessica makes innovative sculptural beadwork jewelry and also works with felt, epoxy, and precious metal clay. You can see many more examples of her designs at her website, and also a show schedule. Jessica will be featuring her handmade paper sculpture and jewelry at the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D.C., April 22-25.
Here's a sample page to give you an idea of the layout. These are some of my favorites - pop up cards by Tracy Chong.
Several of my quilled designs are included along with quite a few by paper filigree expert and author, Claire Choi. This window card, which features a gold-gilded ring coil flower, mulberry paper, and stamped metallic leaves, is one I created for the book. It would be suitable for so many occasions... birthday, wedding, get well, or even as a sympathy card.
I love the elegant and soft look of this cherry blossom stationery with matching envelope that I just printed out. I plan to use it to write an Easter note to my parents who live too far away to visit often. They'll be pleased as they much prefer a handwritten letter to a phone call or email. This is the pink version - it's also available in light blue and lavender, plus there are many other designs for each season of the year. Choices, choices!
