Quilled Joy

There are few things in life more perfect than the quilling of the often imitated, but never duplicated Yulia Brodskaya.

Today I share her colorful scrolls, lovely letters, and one of my most favorite words as a way of wishing each and every one of you much joy throughout the new year. Here's to all things wonderful in 2012!

Facebook Finds this past week included:

Amazing quilled snowflake cake
I printed out a flock of these winter birds to make gift tags and they were beautiful! They'd be gorgeous as a garland too.
100 year old sweet letter found in a chimney

See you next year!

Quilled Japanese Temple Tree

Recently I heard from Motoko Nakatani, who you might remember is a Japanese member of the North American Quilling Guild and supplier of my favorite quilling tool. She asked if I would like to see pictures of the work of her friend, Hitomi Shouko, who often quills supernatural creatures called yokai. People believe yokai generally exist as monsters... clearly not your typical quilling subject matter, but intriguing nonetheless. You can see images of Hitomi's yokai at her website.

But Hiomi's project that Maggie especially wanted to introduce me to is the one you see pictured here... it's an impressive quilled tribute to the Shiwafuruinari Temple tree. Located in Iwate, Japan, the temple's sacred tree, called a goshinboku, was destroyed by a typhoon a very long time ago.

Later, the mummified remains of a white fox were found inside the broken tree. A legend evolved that those who desire a long life should look for the hair of the white fox around the tree.

On March 11 of this year, you'll remember that a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan. Hitomi was there at the time studying this temple. Fortunately she survived and was able to return to Tokyo. Hitomi says many mysterious places are located in the mountains, rivers, and coastal areas of this part of Japan that was so badly damaged. Progress is being made in reconstructing the area, and she hopes a peaceful way of life will someday be restored.

More Sephora Holiday Decorations

A follow-up on the beautiful paper decorations that are in abundance at Sephora stores this festive season... Sue Custer was out shopping again, (just teasing you, Sue :)) this time at JCPenney where she came across a Sephora shop within the store. Lo and behold, a big, round poster with a quilled design of lovely lettering and greenery was on display. We're wondering if the quilling was first done by hand or is it completely digital?

Sue also snapped a photo of some dramatic paper sculptures high on a shelf. I was curious if Hannah Sitzer created these decorations, so emailed her to ask. She replied that she and her team made all of the handmade paper flowers inside Sephora stores this season, but no, not these.

Now.... not for a moment do I think this will compete with Sephora's amazing display, but while watching Love Actually a few nights ago (an annual tradition at my house) I had the idea to show you our crab ornament. What's a Christmas crab you ask? Well, if you've seen the movie, you know there was more than one lobster present at the birth of Christ. Thus it stands to reason a crab was there as well.

Here he is, with claws re-glued after barely surviving this year's great Tree Topple. I'm not positive what the fellow is made of, but I'm fairly certain that under the coating of red lacquer there's some sort of fibrous paper, and marvel that he was crafted by hand. Chesapeake Bay crabs are a popular summer feast here in Delaware and we think of them fondly all year long... and that's the real reason for owning a Christmas crab.

One last shot of holiday decorations for today. Licia Politis sent me this photo that her daughter snapped in a Sydney shop - huge ornaments that hit all the trendy notes in this season of making.... black/red/white, sheet music, and buttons... quite eye-catching!

Quilled Wreath

December is flying! It's hard to believe it's already time to wish those of you who celebrate, a very merry Christmas. I hope all of your last minute preparations will fall magically into place.

This beauty was created by Beth Reece of Virginia who has only been quilling since last spring. Proof that as long as one has an eye for design and the desire to work small and with care, it's possible to do great things with strips of paper.

Facebook Finds this past week included:

A kraft paper wall-tree
Classy paper bunting kit
Stunning origami crane tree
Make a chevron paper bow
Smitten by this crumpled flower card
Festive wrapping paper to print

I'll be back next week with new things to share, but for now I'd like to wish each and every one of you a very special weekend ahead!

Wrapping Paper Fashions

Recently via Twitter I was introduced to Vivid Wrap Ltd., located in Bath, England. The company's decorative papers are gorgeous, and yes, printed in such bright and beautiful colors, the name is an apt description.

Created by Professor Marjorie Lee Woo

While checking out Vivid's Facebook page, I was delighted to come across photos of paper fashions created by professors and students from the LIM College of Fashion and Visual Merchandising in New York.

Created by Alexis & Lisa Michaelides

They used Vivid Wrap to create couture apparel for the first Paper Runway competition sponsored by Kate's Paperie at the National Stationery Show this past May.

Vivid's papers are handmade in India from recycled cotton that is screen printed, also by hand, with water-based inks.

Created by Edin Guiron

After many years of working for Hallmark, Steve Williams launched Vivid Wrap in 2007. Gift wrap, bags, and boxes are stocked in fine British stores and museum shops, and the company is expanding to outlets in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Created by Gina Mercatili

In the video you'll see Vivid papers being created... it's a fascinating process to watch, and as an avid piano jazz fan, I have to say I sat back and enjoyed the music too. A nice little break at this busy time of year.



photo credit: Steve Williams

Lauren Fensterstock - Black Mirrors

Way back in my very first month of blogging, I featured Maine resident, Lauren Fensterstock, whose intricate and dark quilling installation, Parterre, composed of black paper, charcoal dust, and Plexiglas, was on display at Bowdoin College in Maine.

Recently Lauren's Black Mirrors, which also features black paper and charcoal, was part of a dual artist exhibit titled A Third Nature, this time at Aucocisco Galleries in Portland, Maine.

Black Mirrors was inspired by Lauren's fascination with the framing tool called Claude Glass, a black convex mirror used by sketching artists in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to reflect picturesque landscapes. The mirror was popular because it reduced and defined an image of nature in such a way that it would appear perfect.

Lauren explains her materials... "Charcoal is known for its ability to absorb and purify the air around it. In 'A Third Nature' the charcoal appears to obscure and destroy an image of ornamentation [paper quilling], while acting as a grounded and healing physical presence."

Currently her work is on display in Texas through February 19 at the Austin Museum of Art in a site-specific installation entitled Two Takes on One Space. There she's used cut and curled black paper to create monochromatic landscapes... "two dramatic room-sized floor pieces that appear to contain the wildness of nature, one a tranquil reflecting pond, and another a teeming mass of vegetation." I would love to see this, as I would all of Lauren's work, and appreciate that she is elevating quilling within the art world.

See many more images of Lauren's work at her website.
All images of Black Mirrors via Aucocisco Galleries.

Bookshelf Christmas Tree

I realize this photo has been circulating the internet for ages, but even if it's new to just a few of you, it's worth it because...


...what paper crafter among us doesn't have a ton-o-stuff piled on shelves?! I'm thinking it would be a hoot to take a few minutes this weekend to arrange my overloaded bookcase to look like a Christmas tree... someone hold me to that, please!

Photo credit: Apparently the tree was first featured on hoi pippo with credit given to ijm.nl for the concept, but a search proved fruitless... whoever came up with the idea gets my vote for tongue-in-cheek holiday decor.

Facebook Finds from this past week:

Snowy desk inspired by Andy Singleton's icy paper winter wonderland
Colorful Christmas cracker gift boxes
Pretty origami star
Gorgeous gift wrap printables
Little folded tree earrings
Brilliant idea to help children quill - twist ties!
Rolled paper monogram
Hang onto those cardboard tubes - snowflake ornaments

I hope you'll have a great weekend and thanks so very much for taking the time to visit here, especially at such a hectic time of year.

Stylized Christmas Tree Card

If you like to make cards that tend toward minimalism, and/or need a design that goes together pretty quickly, this one's for you...

Pardon the grainy photos - my camera rebels like crazy against metallics.

A rubber stamp inspired the stylized silver tree to which loose coil ornaments, and punched snowflakes and stars were added randomly. A paper cutter made short work of slicing metallic strips to form the tree. Because the large S scroll needs to stand firmly on edge, two strips were glued together for extra strength.

A gratuitous shot of my dining room table... am quite pleased with myself for decorating way earlier than usual as I'm typically the last minute kid - even if the holly leaves are already starting to curl and our tree (the trimmed tree, I mean, not this glass one) has fallen over twice - ack!

And more about Sephora holiday windows...

In the Sunday New York Times, Bill Cunningham's On the Street weekly photo essay offers a particular clothing category that's caught his eye on the city's streets. This past Sunday it was black coats and guess what?... he contrasted them with the all-white laser cut paper decorations that resemble lace curtains in the windows of the grand Sephora store on Fifth Avenue.

According to Bill, they are the most elegant holiday windows in the city this year and they really do look lovely in the picture. (Of course it doesn't hurt that the building itself is pretty spectacular!) No paper flowers in sight though, so this store received a different treatment than the Sephora displays featured here on Monday. In Bill's On the Street video, he talks about the windows. You can catch a glimpse of them at about the two minute mark.

Paper Flowers at Sephora

I love it when readers let me know me about paper delights they've come across in their travels, whether online or in real life. Sue Custer of the Custom Quilling design team recently sent photos she phone-snapped at the Sephora store in Missouri's Chesterfield Mall. The flowers are gorgeous and look, there's even quilled lettering!

Curious about who created the display, I put Google to the test... up popped a link to a fabulously detailed article written by the flower designer herself, Hannah Sitzer. She's the owner of Antlre Creative, a concept, design, development, and manufacturing agency that produces retail environments.

I know you'll enjoy reading it, but first I can't resist sharing a few of her pictures, taken while team members were installing about a million flowers - well, actually 5000 - in Manhattan Sephora stores late at night. I'm sure it was a ton of work along with fun...

as long as you're okay with heights and shaky scaffolding - not for the faint of heart!

Huge, golden gardenias were made to decorate windows. Each is about two to three feet in diameter. Gorgeous!

First three photographs: Sue Custer
Last three photographs: Antlre Inc.

Dragonfly Wing Necklace

If pressed, I'd have to say I love necklaces most of all in the great lineup of jewelry possibilities. Rings and bracelets can sometimes get in the wearer's way, but a necklace... well, it can be put on and forgotten until a compliment is received.

I feel sure this lovely one would draw intrigued looks and questions. Perhaps it's a map or a bit of starched lace?

No, actually it's a gossamer dragonfly wing created by Amelia Cunard of VectorCloud. Usually she works with birch wood, but instead used a special water and tear resistant paper to create this intricate pendant.

Curious about laser cutting, I asked Amelia how she happened to learn the art.

I started my Etsy endeavor almost two years ago when I was pregnant with my son Noah. I had been working with a non-profit organization in the south Bronx, training teenagers to design projects using CAD programs. There I was exposed to a variety of machines, including a laser cutter. The experience opened up a new perspective of what I could do to combine my architecture/furniture design education with the desire to work independently from home.

Because of my background, I work with wood most often, but I've designed paper pop-up cards in the past and am currently exploring more ideas for paper.

I'm looking forward to Amelia's future creations. By the way, VectorCloud is also on Facebook.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone... and speaking of Facebook, here are this week's Finds:

Holiday Pyramid Scheme (triangle gift boxes)
Cute paper owl to cut, fold, and glue
Pretty quilled wreath with novel holly leaves
Seven epic paper art projects
Steampunk quilling

Christmas Ornament Round Up

Karren Doll Tolliver, who previously shared photos of Munich store windows that had been decorated with huge quilled trees, sent along another nifty find. This time it's large and lovely quilled snowflakes she spotted at a Christmas market in Bamberg, outside a little shop called Mohren Haus.

Karren tells me they were made in two sizes - seven and ten inches in diameter - and appeared to be rolled and glittered poster board.

Here's a pretty folded star tutorial from the Norwegian blog, Home by linn. The step-by-step pictures are excellent, plus there's a translate button at the top of the page. I want to make some!

So far this holiday season I've tried these ball ornaments using origami paper I had on hand... they are quite easy to make, light as a feather, and definitely livened up our gray skies while I snapped the picture.

A tutorial for the top and bottom baubles can be found here
and the middle one, here. Both are from the site, Homemade Gifts Made Easy.

This honeycomb ornament by Becca Feeken is similar to the middle one above, but it's made with a Cricut. I'm thinking it wouldn't be impossible to do by hand though, once a template is drawn and cut out. Lovely shape.


Lastly, I had some fun making this pine cone mobile/ornament. Come on, humor me.... it looks a little bit like a pine cone, doesn't it? Maybe? :) The full tutorial is on Canadian Living's website, but I first heard about it from Anne Gracie.

If you've posted a paper ornament on your blog, or have seen a good one in your travels, feel free to leave the link in the comment section for the rest of us to enjoy.

And don't forget - the Origami 101 Book Giveaway is on until Saturday the 10th. Two winners!

Welcome New Sponsors!

Goodness, the months certainly fly by. Here it is already time to introduce the new shops whose ads will be displayed throughout December on the site's sidebar

Melissa Bilyeu might be a familiar name to you, as last month her letterpress shop, Paper Ink Press, was featured here. Because she didn't already have enough to keep her busy with that shop and a baby - hah! - Melissa opened Paper and Present.

She's rounded up a lovely collection of supplies that will bring a stylish, rustic look to your gift wrapping... kraft paper, baker's twine, tiny wooden clothespins, and letterpress tags, just to name a few... all those little pretties we see on popular design sites are conveniently gathered in one place. Melissa is offering a 25% discount with code Paper 25 all month long.



If you aren't familiar with the tinyprints company, they have a wide selection of personalized greeting and photo cards, and offer very speedy shipping... in fact, there's still time to choose your Christmas cards and holiday cards.


Looking for self-inking stamps that feature your return address or a way to easily add a monogram to cards and invitations? Tinyprints has a wonderful variety of customizable stamps, as well as all sorts of embossers, party favors, and photo books.



Last by not least, Sena Spearman's shop, Paper Me Jewels, has returned with handmade ornaments and jewelry. She makes this unique paper pine cone in a variety of elegant styles and colors.

There are also attractive necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to choose from, all created with paper that Sena paints by hand using rich colors.

Happy shopping!

Origami 101 Review and Giveaway

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

Some time ago I was contacted by Creative Publishing International about their desire to produce an Origami 101 book. I immediately knew who to recommend for the task, as I've admired Ben Coleman's work ever since featuring his incredible origami bonsai. Lo and behold, later on I learned that Ben had indeed been asked to author the book. Thanks to having been sent a review copy that I've had the chance to examine, I must say he doesn't disappoint!

Any origami anxiety you might be harboring will disappear as you fold your way through all forty seven figures, including a roosting robin, tyrannosaurus rex, flying dragon, swans, star, and tree ornament. Come to think of it, there's time to make an entire Christmas tree full of colorful figures. It would be a great family project, as origami is suitable for school age children as well as adults.

Ben developed a unique "glow-fold" feature for the book that takes the confusion out of typical origami diagrams. The glow-fold shows exactly what surface is going to move during a fold and where it went after it was folded... brilliant! His illustrations also clearly show which edges are open and which are folds, something that has frustrated me in the past as I tried to orient the figure to match up with diagrams.

In addition to the book's clear instructions, a DVD is included that shows Ben's hands folding each figure as he talks us through the steps. It's extremely helpful to be able to pause the disc or back up if you need to see a fold repeated.

Like the little penguin? I do! He's probably the easiest figure in the book. Then I skipped ahead to the crocus and one of the swans and successfully did them too. I'm positive if I put my mind to it, I'd be able to do every one of Ben's creations - his directions are that precise.

The book comes with a dozen squares of glow-fold paper, and the DVD contains files you can use to print out as many squares as you like. Ben recommends not using the color shaded paper until a model has been mastered with practice paper, and mentions that he ordinarily uses lighter weight paper than the type provided with the book - regular computer paper is fine.

Can you believe it? Another giveaway!

The publisher has offered to send a copy of Origami 101 to two winners in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. (I'm very sorry, folks elsewhere.) Leave a comment to enter. Winners will be randomly selected on Saturday evening, December 10, notified via email, and announced on this post and the All Things Paper Facebook page. Good luck!

Ben is offering a 25% off coupon code for the purchase of Origami 101, available in his Etsy shop, Benagami. Use code ORIGAMI101 at checkout.

Congratulations to Elyse and LDH! Their numbers were selected by random.org and they've been notified by email. Thanks so much to all who took the time to enter.

Antique Book Necklaces

For those of you who love books just as much as paper jewelry, here's a winning combination... a dear set of antique book necklaces. Margaux Kent of Philadelphia and Etsy shop, The Black Spot Books, sources the leather covers from vintage wallets, doctor's bags, sofas, and chair covers.

She uses Strathmore acid-free drawing paper for the pages and sews them by hand with linen binder's thread. Margaux's tiny journals are also stocked at an impressive list of places...The Library of Congress, Anthropologie, and the ever so quirky Mütter Museum in Philly, to name just a few. In addition to book necklaces, she enjoys creating all sorts of unusual things from "olde things, treasures found and recovered from misfortune and neglect, relics of the unusual, the confused and the macabre..." I marvel at people who write and reimagine the old into new the way Margaux does.

Facebook Finds from the past week... and oh, there are some good ones!

Remember the Edinburgh Book Sculptures? Ahhh, the mystery seems to have come to a fitting conclusion.
Clever paper towel and tp tube tree ornaments
Pretty paper gems (and templates)
A new interview with Yulia Brodskaya
Stylish update of the 70s folded magazine Christmas tree
Beautiful quilled lettering

There's still time to enter the Botanical PaperWorks giveaway ($25 gift certificate to spend in their online store and a coil bound eco-calendar). Ends Sunday; U.S. and Canada residents.