If your spirits could use lifting or perhaps you're simply in need of a distraction, I have just the ticket... an ever so pretty collection of paper art jewelry from A and Co, a brand new Etsy shop. I met artist/owner Serena Principato on Instagram... stopped in my tracks by her hand-painted designs and perfectly lovely photographs.


As a longtime admirer of watercolor art, I struck up a conversation right away. Serena told me she was planning to open an Etsy shop as soon as she found time, so I guess we could say thanks to the pandemic (I'm kidding!). Italy's lockdown gave her a chance to dedicate the many hours it takes to set up shop.


Each piece that Serena paints is one of a kind with designs inspired by tattoos and tarot cards. The special findings she chooses complement her appealing artwork with extra star power. The process involves creating a painting and then cutting it apart into pleasing shapes. Several layers of protection are applied for water resistance befo…

Here's an uplifting story that I think you'll enjoy whether or not you quill. (You may need to read to the end to see why I chose to use this descriptor in conjunction with such a serious topic.) Last May I was contacted by sixteen year old high school student, Sarah Nicole in Quebec, Canada, who was about to embark on a significant quilled piece that would be a year-long project as part of her IB course work.


I was impressed by the attention to detail with which Sarah explained the feedback she would need from me as a resource person in the coming months, and her reasons for choosing quilling in particular:

As I have been fascinated by quilling for a few years, I have decided to make a quilled piece about the environment in order to sensitize the students from my school to environmental issues, but also to the art of quilling, which is very unknown where I live.

Sarah mapped out a schedule and planned the design over the summer, and in early September sent both to me for a…

It's a stressful time, but as the saying goes, this too shall pass. Lucky us, we're paper enthusiasts so our interest provides a welcome distraction, With that in mind, I set out virtually to discover the paper art and paper crafting books that will be coming our way this spring and summer. While most are scheduled to be released in April or later, they can be pre-ordered... yea, something to look forward to!


If designs that feature a colorful mix of traditional quilled coils and on-edge strips appeal to you like they do me, Sena Runa's second paperback, Quilling: 20 Beautiful Designs, looks like a winner. [Note that this is not the correct cover image even though it is the one shown on Amazon currently... here is the correct one.] This collection of how-to projects will be available on July 7 from GMC Publications. I know what you're thinking... that's a long time to wait. But once libraries reopen, perhaps you can borrow a copy of her popular first book... it&#…

Dare I say paper jewelry is becoming even more popular than it was just a few years ago? Using Etsy as a barometer, there are more than 250 pages of paper jewelry listings! I came across enough stellar examples to fill several blog posts, but for now, here are ten wonderfully creative finds... something for everyone from dressy to boho chic.


The geometric shapes of Japanese Ikue's paper earrings are so appealing... they seem like little books with perfectly splayed pages, and actually, that isn't far from the truth as a bookbinding technique is used to create them. The pages have gilt edging that adds elegance. The website ikue.work is gorgeous with lots of information about the making of these lovely pieces.


Paper beads have come a long way from the ones we made in elementary school. Sophie Burande of Ginger-Bijoux in Switzerland designs playful, wearable art with recycled paper beads. This dimensional necklace is complex, yet so light you'll hardly remember you're …

The things I do for you, my fellow paper quillers! Ha, just kidding, kind of. This past weekend I waded through more YouTube quilling videos than can be imagined to pick out the gems I'm sharing below. I gravitate toward videos that showcase modern designs, move along without excess chatter, and perhaps this goes without saying, have high quality sound and lighting.


This one from the HandiWorks YouTube channel is a good place to start because it goes over the making of 35 quilling shapes. I also like their video that features 10 types of quilled foliage.


Cecelia Louie's channel Paper Zen features both quilling and the use of SVG electronic die cut files. It's safe to say every new quiller has questions about gluing... her Quilling Glue Basics video focuses on five tips. Cecelia has created a number of quilling playlists that you're bound to find helpful, especially if you're new to the game and/or if you'd like to try your hand at on-edge letters and numbers.


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