Living in the online world as much as I do, at least when it comes to looking at paper art, it's easy to forget that real life is going on outside the world wide web. However, many people choose to not spend their time on social media looking at (and likely being influenced by) the work of others, but instead are focusing on what appeals most to them when it comes to creativity. A fine example would be paper quilling artist Shelly Krzyzewski in South Bend, Indiana.     

A recent post featured Jessica Janiak's brand new quilling book, Modern Quilling . The publisher, Search Press , has allowed me to feature a complete project from its pages to give quillers a taste of what they will be able to achieve by following Jess's clearly written instructions and step-by-step photographs.    I chose the appealing cover model - a vivid hummingbird - as the tutorial to share with you because 'tis the season... tiny, but magnificent hummers have arrived in Delaware for the summer months. I love watching them dart about and sip sugar water at a feeder in my backyard.  

A fallback topic for a post on this blog is almost always paper jewelry. Why? Because as an inveterate window shopper, I love the ease of researching the world via Google images, and because readers seem to enjoy the surprise that paper jewelry offers as much as I do.    Have a look at this latest round up of handcrafted paper jewelry. The half dozen makers create contemporary art jewelry... the kind that is not at all mainstream, yet is clearly admired by others. 

For the past seven years Tilly Viktor, a UK small business that offers paper strips, tools, kits, and tutorials, has enticed thousands of crafters to give quilling a try. It was launched by quilling designer, Jessica Janiak, who has now written a colorful how-to book, Modern Quilling .  

    Looking for a Father's Day gift with a handmade touch?  Celebrate dad, grandfather or the father figure in your life with these thoughtful Etsy finds.     With Father's Day approaching on Sunday, June 15, I'm reminded how tricky it can be to choose a gift for Dad that he'll appreciate. I prowled around Etsy to find useful, and even heartwarming, ideas that he'll treasure on his special day and all year long.        Handprint Fish Card

It's a treat to discover an artist who balances two crafts, playful design, and the rhythm of the seasons. This week, I'm thrilled to introduce artist Hannah Gebhart, the creative force behind  DinoCat Studio . Her printmaking and quilling work offer a joyful, intentional view of the world - one quirky animal or vibrant paper landscape at a time.   What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’