scissors + paper rock!

Paper Mystery - Part 1

2012-01-16T17:42:00.001+10:00

Happy New Year! I thought I'd start 2012 with a fabulous paper story I've only just come across.
It's the most beautiful story. Here's to a poetically beautiful year ahead :)

A wonderful paper mystery unfolded last year in the city of Edinburgh... paper sculptures appeared all over the city, beginning with the Scottish Poetry Library in March. An exquisitely carved paper tree, mounted on a book, was left on a table in the library with a gift tag addressed to the library's Twitter account @byleaveswelive...

The tag said:

It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree... We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words... This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas… a gesture (poetic maybe?)

There was also a gold-lined paper egg next to the tree.

This was nestling the words of (Scottish poet) Edwin Morgan's poem A Trace of Wings.

No-one had seen anyone leave the sculpture in the library and it appeared to be a one-off gesture of appreciation.... until...

in late June, when a similarly crafted gramophone and coffin appeared anonymously at the National Library of Scotland.

These pieces were sculpted from a copy of (Scottish author) Ian Rankin's Exit Music. For this offering the tag read:

For @natlibscot – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas... (& against their exit)

Next it was the turn of the Filmhouse (home of the Edinburgh International Film Festival), with the secret arrival of an intricately constructed paper cinema, complete with an audience appreciating a story coming to life before them....

with (again) the now-familiar tag:

For @filmhouse – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas... and all things *magic*

Then, in early July, the Scottish Storytelling Centre discovered a paper dragon sitting on one of their window sills, also carved from an Ian Rankin book.

For @scotstorycenter – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas... Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story...

Up until August, these were the only sculptures to appear.

They attracted a lot of media attention and the pieces were given their own display cases for

all the visitors who subsequently came to see them.

They thought it was the end, but there were more... Part 2 next week :)

Tis the Season...

2011-12-07T13:37:00.001+10:00

Some jolly good paper fun for this month from Linus Hui, a Hong Kong based artist who has a penchant for making paper costumes and self portraits. Maybe he's the paper art equivalent of Cindy Sherman ;) He certainly has a very original take on ironic comedy. Visit his Flickr photostream to get into the Christmas cheer mode. Happy holidays!

How to Crash a Royal Wedding Party

How to Be Courageous

How to Be Safe in the Waters

How to Blend in with Nature

How to Charm Pants Off

How to Dress Accordingly at a Cocktail Party

How to Judge Jury and Execute

How to Scratch Your Nipple Discretely

How to Transform Yourself Into a Crazy Ballerina from a Movie

If I Only Had a Heart

Crazy wow!

2011-09-12T20:39:00.001+10:00

One of the fun things I love about 'paper posting' is the amazing extremes that can be found in works...

However, I don't think I've ever been quite as blown away as when I first saw Michael Hansmeyer's columns...

Aren't they crazy wow?

The innovations in cardboard architect have been powering ahead in the last few years.

Forget its 'boxy' reputation, these computer-generated designs were created using a subdivision algorithm

to allow between 8 and 16 million surfaces on the cardboard.

The construction of these columns is just as amazing...

thousands of laser-cut cross-sections have been stacked one upon the other.

Three machines took 15 hours to cut out all of the 'slices' for one column.

So intricately beautiful and so recyclable too as no glue is used in their construction...

each 'slice' or cross-section piece is placed over a core which holds them all in alignment.

Apparently, Hansmeyer is planning to build structures as his next project.

It's crazy wow but it's also incredibly cool, don't you think? :)

See more of Hansmeyer's work here.

via.

Paper Pop-Ups

2011-08-30T10:58:00.000+10:00

I've been thinking about New York a lot lately and so it seemed appropriate

to post on these fun paper artworks that popped up on the web.

They are the work of Daisy Lew, who currently lives in NYC.

I love how her pop up pieces use icons of the city to represent its cityscape.

From the top view it's a big apple...

... and from the side it's The Big Apple :)

The other reason I think she's a super ace woman is because of her motion graphics work

on two of my favourite movies, The Royal Tenenbaums and Darjeeling Limited :)

The Royal Tenenbaums from Daisy Lew on Vimeo.

The Darjeeling Limited from Daisy Lew on Vimeo.

You can see more of Daisy Lew's work on her portfolio.

Paper Pendant Lamps

2011-08-04T19:01:00.001+10:00

A simple dose of paper innovation for this month...

Such a simple idea but so exquisitely beautiful, Michael Wolke's pendant lamps are made

from overlapping strips of cardboard.

The form is gorgeously modern but I think it's those delicious peeks of green and white

with quirky bits of black text that have won me over.

I love how the inner edges of the cardboard have a woven look to them too :)

Find out more about Michael Wolken here.

found via

Paper Highlights

2011-07-16T15:11:00.000+10:00

One of the things I love so much about paper is how flexible it is to interpretation.

Usually one would see this in the way it has been manipulated... folded, cut, moulded etc.

However, as a medium, it has another distinct means of display... illumination.

There are so many ways that light can be used on paper in conjunction with the

manipulation of form... and that's just what the University of the Arts in Bremen,

Germany, have done to mark their 350th year anniversary.

This interior installation is constructed entirely of folded paper.

Different panels have been suspended throughout the Library staircase,

which runs over five levels.

Each panel has a series of images and text which are projected onto their surfaces.

I love how the medium of paper, so prevalent in a library,

has been used to show a reflection of the information contained within the building.

I couldn't find an attribution for the designer of the paper panels and their projections.

If your German is good you might be able to find it on the University of the Arts website.

Photos © Bremen University

via

Paper Office

2011-06-24T22:20:00.000+10:00

In the age of the 'paper-less office' it's more than just a bit quirky to find an office constructed almost entirely out of cardboard. This is the workplace of Dutch advertising agency Nothing, created by Dutch designers Joost van Bleiswijk and Alrik Koudenburg on a tight budget.

Desks, tables, bookshelves, columns and stairs have been fashioned from 15mm honeycomb cardboard on a 'no glue, no screw' design ethos.

Isn't the effect amazing? It's so funky and I love how some of the panels have been decorated. Having been through the nightmare that is creating an office fitout, this looks like heaven to me :)

Visit Project Joost to see more.

Images © Joachim Baan

via

Newspaper Wood

2011-06-05T10:57:00.001+10:00

Mieke Meijer's Newspaper Wood

How many times, as a student, have we all created something for assessment and then promptly put it away as we moved on to the next assignment? Well, that's exactly how Mieke Meijer's Newspaper Wood began its inception... and its four year hiatus until Meijer met Arjan van Raadshooven and Anieke Branderhorst of Dutch designlabel Vij5. It was with their mentoring and manufacturing knowledge that Newspaper Wood was able to move from 'great idea' to innovative product.

Newspaper Wood creations by eRNs + Greetje van Tiem

While the recycling of newspaper is certainly not new, the quirky idea of turning it back into wood has the appealing quality of a reversal. I think that's what makes this product so exciting - there's a fabulous circular motion to this process of wood - paper - wood. I also love the simplicity of the layers the paper adhered and cut to reveal a pattern similar to the grain of wood or the rings in a tree.

Newspaper Wood by Mieke Meijer

For the Milan Design Week 2011, Vij5 invited a group of Dutch designers to experiment with the Newspaper Wood material and present their creations as part of the Vij5 exhibition. I've picked out some of my favourites for this post from rENs, Breg Hanssen, Greetje an Tiem and Ontwerpduo. By all accounts the Newspaper Wood doesn't have the strength of its original source, but they've been able to make some cute products from it, don't you think?

Breg Hanssen

Greetje van Tiem

rENs

Ontwerpduo

For more information, visit Meike Meijer's or Vij5's websites.

Images Courtesy of Vij5
via

Book of Art

2011-04-04T11:23:00.000+10:00

Another impressive book art find – this time from the very talented Isaac Salazar. I love that his creations are so architectural in nature... the pages are folded to form the textual sculptures in a 3D pop-up diorama. These three are my favourites... a pretty cool life manifesto I think... Read Create Dream :)

Salazar has a Flickr set of his book art and there's a Book of Art Etsy Store too.

Paper Preparations

2011-03-07T10:47:00.000+10:00

Sarah's getting ready for a new exhibition and on her blog, Little Paper Bird, has been chronicling her progress... it's been fascinating to watch her inspiration and pieces come together. So often, paper works are presented as a fait accompli, but being able to follow Sarah's thoughts as she creates the pieces for this exhibition has been just fabulous.

Look how this...

... has become this...

[don't you just want to run your hand over it?]

Or how she has been playing with this paper cut and folded book...

Or follow how she is piecing together this enchanted forest and little paper houses...

Visit Sarah's website for updates on her forthcoming exhibition.

The Book Cell Project

2011-02-22T13:14:00.000+10:00

Anyone who visits here regularly will know that I have a bit of a soft spot for book projects... and so it is, another one :) The Book Cell Project was a temporary installation at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in 2006 by Matej Kren. What I love about this, and what makes it so special, is that these books are from the Foundation's library and that all of them were returned to the shelves afterwards... isn't that fabulous? It makes them more of a living thing I think :) I like the idea of being able to walk amongst and within these sculptures that at once reflect the meaning and the physicality of the foundation. For more information on Matej Kren, visit his website.

via

Paper Convention Collective

2011-01-28T13:21:00.000+10:00

A little bird has just told me that there's an A4 Paper Festival coming up in 2011 from the Paper Convention Collective. Better still, they are calling for talented paper artists to apply – whether you are into paper artistry, paper design + art, or paper engineering + installation. A first of it’s kind in Australia, the Paper Convention Collective festival will run in conjunction with the Sydney Finders Keepers market. They are also looking for paper loving volunteers to help out. So....... if you are interested contact them here: hello@paperconvention.com

You can join the Paper Convention Collective mailing list here or find out more about them in this interview.

Nip Tuck Fold

2011-01-23T15:31:00.000+10:00

As you can see, I had a bit of difficulty choosing which pieces of London-based artist, Abigail Reynolds, to feature in this post. Each of them appeals on a different level, or at least for differing reasons. I think this is what makes her work so very special. There is the contextual play between photos of the same subject taken decades apart. Then there is the 3D or tactile play of depth and form which heightens the meaning and consequence. Reynolds makes use of the 'found' object in her collages of tourist guides, atlases and encyclopedias sourced from second-hand markets and bookshops. I love how Reynolds' work plays with the mind on the notion of 'place'... but it's the obvious analogy of time folding which tickles my fancy most :)
To see more of her work, visit her website.

via

* * * * * * * * * * * *

2010-12-24T08:31:00.001+10:00

Thank you Lesley for letting me know that this beautiful piece
is called Hidden Etching by Lizzie Thomas :)

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

Thank you so much for supporting Scissors + Paper Rock! this year...

Looking forward to a wonderful 2011 :)

Paper Bags

2010-12-19T19:31:00.005+10:00

origami fold bags

I have a particular love of packaging, paper and bags, so you can imagine how excited I was to see these magnificent creations from the graduation collection of Dutch designer Ilvy Jacobs. Fresh from her degree in Product Design at the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Jacobs has launched herself upon the world with a collection that is at once breathtakingly exquisite but also mindfully functional. Her design process began with thoughts of the ubiquitous brown paper bag and its sustainability. These investigations led to the development of a range of fabric-reinforced paper and cardboard from which she then created a variety of functional shapes.
"These bags give a new view on everyday luxury and creates a new silhouette for the well known paper bag. By transforming its usual shape I try to make it stand out and hopefully it will be cherished instead of being just thrown away." Ilvy Jacobs

Apparently, you can buy her bags here, though I had difficulty finding them... I wouldn't be surprised if they were all sold out ;) Perhaps the best place for updates is on Ilvy Jacobs' website.

airplane bags

paper fold bags

crunch bags

paper taped bags

photo credit - Igor Kruter
found via Famille Summerbelle

Paper lashes

2010-12-04T14:45:00.000+10:00

The 'wow!' factor on these amazing paper eyelashes was so huge and immediate for me that I've just had to post about them straight away... are you still gasping too? How exquisite... how utterly inventive... and how fun!

Paperself is a London based company who have vowed to lead a 'paper revolution', and if these lashes are anything to go by, I'm going to keep a close eye on them to follow the spectacle. With inspiration drawn from Chinese papercutting, each design has its roots in a symbolic subject from the ancient Chinese culture... horses are symbols of success, peonies for happiness and good fortune and peach blossoms for love and romance. They have two styles - across the top lids or at the sides of the eyes (adds new meaning to having crows feet!). You can find out more about Paperself here.

via

Paper sculptures

2010-11-20T19:41:00.002+10:00

I think the wonderful paper sculptures of Sydney artist Anna-Wili Highfield are so visually arresting because they are at once suggestive and literal. A painting graduate of the National Arts School in Sydney, Highfield happened upon her chosen field of sculpture while pregnant and looking to create something for her unborn child. Each sculpture of cotton paper is pieced together with thread on a copper wire moulding. Highfield speaks of how she enjoys working with materials like paper and copper precisely because they cannot be manipulated too much. What she calls their "integrity" in having limitations of form which forces her work to be more process driven. “I leave the stitches and the threads on the surface so you can see. I find it intriguing when you can see how something is made… more intriguing than when it is hidden.”

You can see more of Highfield's work here.

via

Architectural Paper

2010-11-08T18:05:00.001+10:00

I'm loving these paper cities created by Stephanie Beck. For me, it's the inherent movement and sense of discovery that comes when my eyes follow the lines, making sense of shapes and interpreting their meaning. As Beck explains...

"My work is inspired by images of archaeological sites, architectural history, aerial photos and my own explorations through various cities. My strongest influence at the moment is the city where I currently live, Philadelphia, where buildings are in a constant state of construction and destruction. I enjoy seeing the bones of these structures, on top of which strong skin is hung, yet which is so easily torn down again. I see these buildings as surrogates for ourselves, revealing our attempts at order and stability despite, or because of, our very human frailties. But secretly, I am most driven by a sense of wonder and play."

To find out more about Stephanie Beck's work, visit her website.

via a petit bruin

Paper narratives

2010-10-02T15:05:00.015+10:00

There is an immense body of paper cutting work by the talented Molly Bosley but, for the sake of sheer brain space and *gasp* factor not leading to hyperventilation, I've decided to limit this showcase (for now) to her exquisite story pods :) Aren't they amazing?

The art of paper cutting is endlessly fascinating to me – the physical dexterity and skill is, in itself, so impressive. What I find so interesting and breathtaking about Bosley's work is how she has made these blank sheets of paper convey emotion and narrative. These tiny pods reveal not just a time and place, but also a feeling of history and consequence; microcosms of worlds familiar to us.

The intimacy created by key-holing these narratives within a papier-mâché balloon heightens the sense of being privy to the enactment of a secret drama; a glimpse into the story of someone else's life. That this mini narrative is then encased in a wooden display box plays with our perceptions of a found object, or perhaps a treasured piece of ephemera, to be displayed on a shelf.

"I want to create an art that is arresting, yet familiar, like a memento you find tucked away in between the pages of an old book."

You can find more of Molly Bosley's work, on her W ebsite, Flickr Photostream and Etsy store.

Local Cut

2010-08-18T19:31:00.017+10:00

Images courtesy of Edwina Corlette Gallery

One of the things I find so frustrating about finding all of these amazing paper creations is not being able to see them in person... So, it's rather delightful to be able to feature an exhibition I've seen. The magnificent work of Emma van Leest is currently on show at the Edwina Corlette Gallery in Brisbane, and there is definitely something quite breathtaking about seeing these exquisite cuts at close range. Van Leest first witnessed the art of paper cutting whilst on residency in India where it is regarded as a devotional act, with each cut seen in the context of a prayerful ritual. Melding this observance with her own devotion to the hand-made, van Leest is now a leading Australian artist in this beautiful craft. You can see the Brisbane exhibition here and more of van Leest's work on her website here. I've added a few more pics below too :)

Paper worlds

2010-08-14T09:23:00.010+10:00

I think one of the most enduring characteristics of paper is it's ability to be made into something. It really is so evocative for "the possible"... the blank page, ready for creation. While all paper artisans must surely approach paper in this way, I do love the way Florian de Visser has gone about creating alternate worlds from paper products in the spaces in which he's found them. Imagine being the refuse collector in de Visser's home town of Eindhoven (Holland), coming along to clear the street of all the empty cardboard boxes from shops, and finding someone has created a sculpture from them. It would feel like a gift, don't you think? :)

"My projects are storytelling and always contextual, at any scale level.

The story of the global cardboard cycle and the local stories of Eindhoven that joined the cycle are shown in a circular final installation of white paper scenario models on thin metal tripods, slideshow of the street installations, a soundscape, and me as a storyteller.

With this project I try to show the layers of a city, how a street can unrecognizably change in time, how the meaning of stories can change in no time, but how everything is still connected in some way. I try to trigger people to look with different eyes to the world around them, and maybe understand a little bit better the growing network of stories we’re part of.

You can find out more about Florian de Visser's paper worlds on his website.

via

Pulp Innovations

2010-07-17T08:22:00.017+10:00

So many innovations are appearing in the area of recycled paper, it seems to have become an art form in its own right. I think the clever people at Studio Jo Meesters share the same view as they've presented their new Pulp Collection as scenes from a Vermeer painting ;)

SJM have devised a collection of interior design products utilizing a mixture of shredded newspaper, glue and water. They make a positive mould using discarded vessels and apply layers of their pulp material to create the form of each piece. Once this has dried, they cut the piece in half and remove it from the mould before gluing it back together and applying the final layers of the Pulp mixture. An epoxy resin is used for the final coating to make the pieces waterproof.

I love that the photos refer back to times when we re-used and re-purposed our waste materials in the home rather than discarding and going off to the shop ;) While this may not be the most environmentally friendly innovation on the block, it certainly does utilize paper waste in a practical way for how we live now. The Pulp Collection was presented at the Salone del Mobile 2010 in Milan. Find out more about the Pulp Collection at the Studio Jo Meesters website.

Found via

Photography by Lisa Klappe

Inspirational Blog: Little Paper Bird

2010-07-04T17:36:00.016+10:00

Spine Book

Recipe Book

Concertina Book

Experiments (I love this image!)

I've been a bit remiss in my paper blogging duties lately so I think another "Inspirational Blog" homage is in order... and this one is a most fabulous find, Little Paper Bird. Sarah creates handmade books from her studio in Leeds in the UK and I think she fits in beautifully here because she loves everything about paper and books.

"I’ve always liked books, ever since I can remember. The way the paper feels in my hands, the rustle or snap as the pages turn. I like the way a book can sit innocently on the shelf and yet open to reveal any number of surprises. I love the endless possibilities..."

Have a peek at Sarah's wonderful blog. You can also visit her Etsy store. And, if you hurry, she's having a gorgeous giveaway of this handmade book (below) on her blog :)

Giveaway Book :)

Dream in paper

2010-05-19T17:49:00.009+10:00

A short film about paper HERE... how could I resist? :) In All the World I Dream of Paper is by Petra Storrs, a London-based art director and costume designer. Enjoy!

p.s. Can someone tell me how to put a video in a post please? Everything I've tried just isn't working... looking forward to anything you can suggest ;)

via

Crocheted Paper

2010-05-04T14:27:00.008+10:00

I think it's pretty obvious that the works I admire the most have a generous dose of humour illuminating them ;) ... and so it is with this wonderful find. Ivano Vitali painstakingly recycles newspaper by working strips into long thick threads which he then rolls into massive balls resembling your everyday ball of yarn. These in themselves would be magnificent arts pieces - graphic over-sized representations of circular motion of recycling. And he does this without the use of scissors or glue in a performance of slow manual sculpting for exhibitions where audience participation is encouraged. If I were lucky enough to be there this would be more than enough to have me applauding and raving to everyone I know, but it gets better... Vitali then takes it all one step further by knitting, crocheting and weaving on his home-built loom his special version of print yarn into incredible textiles. What comes after applause? I think it's Bravo! :) Visit Vitali's website to learn more.

Via Handmade Charlotte

Paper interference

2010-04-24T15:25:00.007+10:00

Few things have the allure of a piece born out of humour and the Veasyble project by Gaia is a fabulous example of this. It makes sense that Gaia as a group got together purely for the pleasure of designing... it shows, don't you think? The freshness and playfulness in these pieces, which include visors, bags, ruffs and masks, bring a wonderful sense of adventure to their paper accessories. Each piece has been designed to be converted into a means of isolation or hiding. I rather like that dichotomy of the extravert and introvert in each item. See more of Gaia's projects on their website here.

via

A way with books

2010-03-14T14:25:00.012+10:00

It seems I just can't stay away from books for very long... and quite frankly, who would want to? ;) Here's another fascinating 'booky' find for you. The work of the incredible Alberto Hernandez - a Spanish graphic designer based in London. He calls his book work "hybrid novels" and the example above is entitled Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. So just what is this hybrid novel? Well, Hernandez describes it as the interplay of text and images, photography and information, graphics and typography in whatever representation it takes to create a multidimensional surface that not only holds the reader's attention, but also begs their participation. Talk about immersing yourself in books ;)

I think what appeals to me most is how this method can revitalise your connection to a much-loved classic. While reading can often be perceived as a passive passtime where we 'receive' the story, if you like - this kind of dynamic narrative allows you to interact with such a known classic and I imagine make you think more about its direction and meaning in a much more hands-on way.

You can out more about Alberto Hernandez's work here. I found it here.

Creative Universe

2010-02-28T19:42:00.018+10:00

Creativity is all around us... is just what two French artists have set out to show with their conceptual agency Le Creativ Sweatshop. Mathieu Missiaen (Ndeur) and Julien Morin (Make a Paper World) are the bright young things who are intent on bringing out the creative possibilities in the everyday and what I love most about their objective is that they seem to regard paper as the perfect medium to express this joy :) Since Le Creative Sweatshop launched itself on the design world in January 2009 they have been busy making all sorts of commercials with their paper wares and, well, generally regarded as a voice of modern communication in a DIY culture. Isn't it fabulous that just as we are heading into the (necessary) age of the paperless office that the 'modern means of communication' is once again paper? ... That makes me smile :)

You might like to have a good look at Le Creativ Sweatshop website which is overflowing with the incredible works they have achieved in the last year. I thought you might like to see the paper shoe and bracelet artworks of Mathieu Missiaen prior to the creation of the 'sweatshop'...

Found via

People of the Book #31: Nel Linssen

2010-02-14T21:13:00.016+10:00

Have you ever noticed no matter how intricate a piece of paper artistry may be it still somehow retains its minimalist aesthetic? Okay, maybe not all paper creations fit into my broad sweeping statement, but it is interesting just how many do. Is it a case of our perception? Do we unconsciously process each piece in our brains and end up referring back to the humble sheet of paper? I've been musing on this theory while searching through the many images of Nel Linssen's paper jewellery. Aren't they exquisite?

Dutch artist, Nel Linssen, began experimenting with the creation of paper jewellery in 1986 and is now internationally celebrated for her magnificent pieces. Her collection of necklaces and bracelets are created from a special cardboard called 'trough' and her process of design has been one of research and trial & error. I think this fact is at the heart of her success... Her research has not only been concerned with shape but also with colour, cut and folds, and light and shade - all integral to the interplay that occurs when one wears a piece of jewellery. Her work is known to 'come alive' on the wearer which is easy to imagine when one regards these continuous modular sculptures. For a more comprehensive peek at Linssen's paper jewellery, visit her website.

Found, of course via the wonderful Paper book.

Fictitious Paper

2010-02-09T10:21:00.011+10:00

Charles Clary creates fictitious worlds out of paper. By layering these sheets into strange land formations, he challenges the viewer to suspend disbelief and enter into his "fabricated reality". He sees these forms as a "viral growth" that transforms space into a living environment.

I got to paper as a medium in a very round about way. It started when I was in graduate school and wanted to combine my sketches with my paintings and keep the aspects of both mediums. I started cutting out my drawings and mounting them to my paintings. So now the paintings functioned more as backdrops or environments for these drawings to reside in. Once I got to this point I realized that my paintings were more of a documentation of this viral environment that needed to be physically created.

He now almost exclusively uses heavy card stock of varying textures to build these other worlds on wooden supports, seeking to lure the viewer into a new environment of peripheral engagement. Charles Clary is currently represented by Rymer Gallery in Nashville, Tennessee. You can also see more of his work on his website here.

Addendum: Charles Clary also has a fabulous blog Percusive Art where you can see more of his current works.

Found via

Dictionary Story

2010-02-08T11:00:00.021+10:00

This is a wonderful little story about the power of words and a celebration of their meaning. Sam Winston originally produced A Dictionary Story as a handmade artist book in a limited edition of 100. The finished product was a sumptuous experiment in empowering words with their own meanings, both within the narrative itself and the typographical page layout. Needless to say, these lovelies are collector's items nowadays. You can see copies of the original at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the British Library, Tate Gallery or Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Biblioteque Nationale de France in Paris or the Getty Research Institute in LA.
Then the spirit of the dictionary (a resource for all) arose and a new edition of the book was proposed and posted on Kickstarter for public funding. Not surprisingly, it was a roaring success and the copies are now available for purchase.

What makes this project so interesting and so much fun is the way Winston has created a world that graphically illustrates the balance between the safe-but-boring and high-risk-excitement... all with text and the exploration of its meaning and typographical form.

The words themselves go on an adventure and break free on the pages, with letters spilling out every which way. Chaos reigns until Alphabet calls them all back to order... so cute :)

Sam Winston says: "Initially A Dictionary Story started as a short narrative in which certain words from the dictionary became living characters that met each other –

'Spring's next victim was Lawless who was rejoicing in being knocked away from such a boring neighbour as Lawful. Lawless landed straight on top of Lawn which suddenly became very unruly. After some time Lawn was no longer and in its place sat Jungle, happily spreading its creepers across the page.'

From exploring the meaning in writing it was then applied it to its design. As I came to set the type I realised, by creating two columns, you could have the story running in one whilst the definitions of the words made images in the other."

If you'd like to have a look yourself, you can find Sam Winston's site here and his shop here. You can also see a video of Winston explaining the project on Kickstarter here.

Ed note: I have the images a bit mixed up here, but basically, the A4 sized edition is the new one and the long slim format is the original handmade artist book.

via here

Paper Portrait

2010-02-02T13:25:00.014+10:00

Now, maybe I should have a warning at the beginning of this post because it is rather freaky ;) but I do confess that I absolutely LOVE it! The innovative and (I think) totally brilliant Eric Testroete has developed a means of making a 3D portrait out of paper that can be put together in much the same way as a model plane kit. He came up with the idea for Halloween last year and has now documented how to do it yourself on his art portfolio. Don't you agree this is totally fabulous?! It's like being part of a cartoon while living your life! Testroete says that his inspiration came from seeing the "big-head mode" in video games... and as a video games designer, he probably knows a lot about them ;) See more on his w ebsite or Testroete's Flickr Photostream.

Found via thisnext

The fabulous Mister Rob

2010-02-02T09:57:00.019+10:00

Valentines already? I've never really been one for Valentine's Day. The whole commercial production of it is not something I usually enjoy. However, I'm making an exception this year for a piece of exquisite artistry that says more to me about putting in the time and dedication to a relationship than a bunch of roses ever could... It is, of course, by the fabulous Rob Ryan - a limited-edition hand-screenprinted Valentines lasercut. So gorgeous. I wonder if my partner will guess that it's going to be a shared present? ;)

If you're very speedy, you can find them on Rob Ryan's Etsy store here.

And while we're talking about the fabulous Mister Rob... have you seen his new book? It's been released in conjunction with the Yorkshire Sculpture Park exhibition and is filled with gorgeous photos that detail the process of construction and installation. Have a peek here to find out more and you can buy a copy here.

Thanks to The Daily Smudge for heads-up on this wonderful book :)

Paper lanterns

2010-01-31T11:52:00.012+10:00

Don't you just love the bold graphic effect of these paper lanterns? I think it would have been heavenly to stroll through these rooms amongst this magical setting. This is the work of Paula Arntzen... the simple paper lantern used as the decoration (in this case for a New Year's Eve party). It was also her graduation project for the Arnhem Mode Biennale in 2009. Too late to crash the party now but you can see more of her work on her site here or at the Intermezzo Gallery here.

McBook?

2010-01-26T18:45:00.008+10:00

Okay, so I guess I'm on a bit of a 'book thing' at the moment... but I do love books, in whatever form they come in, and I think most of you do too so here's some more... A book cover for your Mac iBook? How fab is that?! The people at TwelveSouth came up with this nifty idea and I think they should be congratulated. The covers are hardback leather and modelled from vintage book designs. Like any other cover, they work to protect your laptop... my question is, what protects your lovely faux-book..? :)

via Famille Summerbelle

Book Hotel

2010-01-25T19:05:00.011+10:00

Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to a fabulous 2010 here at SPR, though I think my heart must still be on holiday because this amazing hotel is the first paper-related story that has caught my eye this year :) Fancy a holiday in East Berlin staying in a book-themed hotel? Kind of fun I think. The initial idea for the Michelberger Hotel began as the shared household of a group of friends. Their dream has been realised, but you can also stay with them in this 119-bedroom budget accommodation. Find out more here. I found them via here.

People of the Book #30: Jum Nakao

2009-12-11T00:01:00.020+10:00

Scissors + Paper Rock! will be taking a break for the Australian summer holidays, and for my last post this year I'm more than just a bit excited to feature a very special paper find from the wonderful Paper book. This is one of my very favourite paper fashion stories... one of those moments that you read about and soooo wish you'd seen in person...

The work above was an entire fashion show by Brazilian designer Jum Nakao during the San Paulo Fashion Week in 2004... and every single outfit is made of paper. The 'A Costura do Invisivel' (Sewing the Invisible) exhibition was an absolute sensation at the time because, at the end of the show, the models tore off every outfit leaving a mass of destroyed paper dresses on the catwalk... shredded outfits that had taken 180 days to make by a team of 150 people! [Definite *gasp* factor!] So, why would someone do such a thing? Well, this is what Jum Nakao had to say in an interview at Ping Mag...

"All of my works, for example the paper-made “A costura do invisivel” fashion line , have a playful relationship with the spectator. This lightness is necessary to get a distance from reality and a connection with the invisible, with people’s imagination, to let them see it from a different perspective - a less realistic one. These works lack concreteness and a clearly defined form, which would not allow the spectator’s personal interpretation. I see them more as an interface, so whoever looks at them participates and is able to find its own meanings."

The incredible detail and effort that went into each garment is just breathtaking. Nakao selected a vegetable-fibre paper which gave a slight transparency to the outfits, which were embossed and laser-cut into lacework patterns... all of which combined to form an ethereal fairytale feel to the collection. It has a definite *sigh* factor too, particularly as these pieces are now gone I presume, or at least not in their complete form... but maybe that's part of Nakao's fun? We can still look at these photos and imagine making our own or twirling them around in our imaginations?

Jum Nakao's website can be found here. There is a blog here and a YouTube feature of the fashion show here.

Thanks so much for your support in what has been a wonderful first year of blogging for me. See you next year :)

Book tables

2009-12-09T21:43:00.014+10:00

Brunswick Bound [photo credit]

Layers by Richrd Hutton

My love of books reaches quite far beyond the objects themselves... it's how they are individually designed, what they contain, and even how they can be used once they are no longer needed. Now, while I do struggle with the whole concept of unwanted books, I am so very impressed when I come across employment for these pieces that is not only imaginative but entirely practical. Above are two examples of books being used to form a table - aren't they just sublime? The first two photos show the Melbourne bookshop, Brunswick Bound, and their book counter, designed by architect Christie Petsinis. The last photo shows designer Richard Hutten's entry in the Milan Furniture Fair from 2008. Love books, love recycling, love design... I'm thinking a book desk would be very nice indeed;)

Found via here and here

People of the Book #29: Hussein Chalayan

2009-12-08T12:24:00.008+10:00

The next item from the wonderful Paper Book comes from the well-known fashion designer Hussein Chalayan. It's a simple idea, but so exquisitely simple I think it just might make the list of my all-time favourite things.... It's a paper dress that can be folded down to envelope size and posted! Can you imagine the fun you could have with this? This meditation on Absence and Presence was part of a 1999 exhibition of Paper Fashion which toured Europe extensively. You could buy them a few years ago now from the V&A, but alas, those fine days are gone now. Hussein Chalayan is a 'serial innovator' in fashion and art. You can follow his amazing career and latest news on his blog here.

People of the Book #28: Violise Lunn

2009-11-28T10:51:00.010+10:00

Next in line for paper fashion creations in the wonderful Paper book is Danish fashion designer Violise Lunn. Lunn's studio is bursting with her beautiful couture collections of dresses, accessories and bridal wear, but she has a passion on the side that's more interesting for us at this site... she also creates the most exquisite paper dresses and shoes. Her paper work seems to be not only inspiration for her couture pieces but also objects of delight in themselves for pushing the boundaries of the imagination for paper construction. As Lunn says on her website:

"Finding perfect freedom in [paper] through sculpting figure silhouettes, angels and her favourite theme: shoes, she allows herself to play with otherwise impossible compositions. Sheer lightness and utter fragility combined with experimental reflection about what these objects represent, amounts to such almost untouchable objects, that they have instantly become collectors items. Allowing herself to divide her time between these two artforms, the usable and the useless, Violise Lunn lets them feed each other with inspiration."

Violise Lunn's website has a full overview of her work and more information on her process. There's also a great interview with Lunn at Living Creatively here.

Book Lights

2009-11-20T10:31:00.012+10:00

The sculptural nature of objects that have been fashioned from books have a poignancy way beyond their form... I've been thinking about this a bit lately trying to fathom why these sculptures, like my arts piece from My Handmade Heart and the handmade paper lampshades above by Margarita & Ludwig, command a... is it a reverence? or perhaps simply an appreciation that there is a depth and content way beyond the shape in which we now see them? Visit Fashion is my Muse for a wonderful meditation on the importance of content. Find these lovelies pictured above here or at their blog here. I found them via here and here.

Building books

2009-11-14T11:28:00.008+10:00

I find the amazing installations of Jan Reymonds so very inspiring and uplifting because they say so much about the book not only as a thing of beauty but also as a useful and necessary part of our lives. The majority of the photos above document the "24 heures du livre" exhibition in Romainmôtier in Switzerland. In this small town after the annual book fair, Jan Reymonds takes all the unsold books and works his magic to give the books, as he says, "a last life" before they are disposed of. To my mind he does so much more than that. I love the symbolism of the book as part of the very fabric of our lives; a necessary component that supports us and even shelters us as it educates and fascinates. While I did squirm to read that the books were later just thrown away I'm still in total awe of these installations and what has become a tradition for this town, attracting visitors for its own sake. Found via here and here.

Photo credit - Tim Tom Flickr page.

People of the Book #27: Susan Cutts

2009-11-07T20:52:00.019+10:00

There are so many examples of the myriad of ways that the simple sheet of paper has been manipulated and folded and cut etc. Not so many, however, whose work is actually built on the premise of actually fashioning the paper themselves in order to give meaning to their pieces. Such an example can be found in the work of Sussex-based artist Susan Cutts. All of the pieces featured above have been formed by Cutts' application of her own handmade paper-working process, working with raw fibres and fashioning them according to traditional European techniques. It is this complex structure of fibres that enables her to fashion these forms without the need for glue, stitching or armatures. What makes this process even more interesting, for me anyway, is that Cutts was a London College of Furniture graduate - don't you think that's just wild? For me, the way that a piece of furniture might be fashioned from some wood resonates so strongly with the building of a handmade paper mass that can be molded and formed into a dress! It's also interesting that dress is the central theme in her work - that it is a layer we employ in much the same way that the fibre layers construct a form, or identity. What I find particularly fascinating, though, is Cutts' investigation into how individual components lose their original identity once orchestrated and layered into a new form.

‘We shape the clothes we wear, making them as individual as a thumbprint and like a thumbprint they can expose and betray.’ (Susan Cutts)

It is this interplay between the wearer and the observer that intrigues Cutts and provides the impetus for this amazingly beautiful and exquisite work. You can find out more about Susan Cutts' work on her website. There's also a very informative biography of her work here. I found her via the wonderful Paper book.

Paper shoes!

2009-11-03T21:16:00.012+10:00

I've just seen this fabulous post over at Meet Me at Mikes and could not resist sharing immediately.... Paper trainers! Aren't they fabulous? David Brownings is the man behind these wonders. You can see more of David's work here and actually buy your own pair of paper trainers at David's shop here. I'd love to see an art installation of these trainers running all over the walls ;)

People of the Book #26: Gary Harvey

2009-11-01T11:22:00.011+10:00

If you're reading this blog, I think it's a fair presumption for me to say that we all love paper. I admit I have stockpiles of the stuff, literally... it's the stock that excites me so much - the feel of one, the weight of another, all colours and textures. Sadly, though, this obsession does have an ethical dimension which I find pin-pricking me quite often these days... Recycle, and restrain myself from unnecessary waste, seems to be how I currently deal with it. Luckily, paper is perhaps the one medium which is most easily recycled at the present time. So we see many artists employing recycled paper in their works, even in the fashion industry...

Fashion designer Gary Harvey's Newspaper Dress was part of a stunning exhibition during London Fashion Week in 2007 which showcased a collection of eco-conscious couture. The dress is made from 30 copies of the Financial Times, but there were also dresses made from other second-hand items such as bottle tops and plastic bags, old suits and army jackets, to highlight the throw-away mentality in society by recontextualising them.

I like it. It makes people think about paper wastage and adds a 'value' to the medium which sadly isn't felt by most in the community (probably the people who don't read this blog!) ;) You can find the collection here and view his complete works on his website here. Found via the wonderful Paper book.

People of the Book #25: Michael Cepress

2009-10-24T19:44:00.012+10:00

We have finally reached the third and final section of the wonderful Paper book, and I have to confess that it's my favourite... Paper Fashion. Yes, I am a closet paper doll hoarder and I get the feeling I'm not alone in this particular fascination...

Michael Cepress is an artist intensely interested in the male wardrobe. He was commissioned by the Greek cultural organisation ATOPOS to create fashion from paper for the 2006 exhibition, RRRIPP! Paper Fashion. These fabulous pieces, in a series entitled Collars for the Modern Gentleman, are the result. Made from Yellow Pages directories they explore his fascination with fashion's relationship to gender and popular culture. What I love about his pieces is that he focuses on fashion as art and his use of paper to create these collars seems to emphasize that link. Already nominated for awards and exhibitions along side fashion greats such as John Galliano, Issey Miyake and Hussein Chalayan, he seems to have succeeded in this quest. You can check out Cepress' collections on his website here and view his blog here.

Inspirational Blog: Skinny LaMinx

2009-10-19T19:52:00.015+10:00

I love this photo :)

I'm starting a new post theme today: Inspirational Blog... paper-related blogs, of course ;) I think it's time. I'm loving all the professional folk wowing us with their wares, but I'm ready for some quiet achievers too... what do you think?

Conversely though, I'm starting with a big name in the blog world... Heather Moore aka Skinny LaMinx. I know... you know her, you love her, you've been following her blog for years... I have too but it just struck me (about 15 mins ago) that I'd always regarded her as a fabric designer, screen printer, home furnishings queen extraordinaire. It has previously somehow skimmed my consciousness that the screens and designs for her work were actually paper cut creations of the most fabulous kind. Not only that, paper cutting is a medium she frequently employs for her work. Look at all these beauties lined up together above. Heather has just returned from some time away from her work and her blog and pictures 2, 3 and 4 above are the magnificent results of her 'down time'. A talent to be celebrated I think :)

If you haven't done so already, have a lovely wander around the Skinny LaMinx blog, website, shop and Cutouts Portfolio.

People of the Book #24: Takeshi Ishiguro

2009-10-17T13:41:00.011+10:00

It's been a while since I've posted a new entry in this Paper book series. For those who've joined us here in that intervening time, I feel I should introduce you to this wonderful find... Paper: Tear Fold Rip Crease Cut is a magnificent volume of contemporary paper artists and artisans who work in many areas of life. It's a celebration of this amazing medium, but not necessarily featuring artists who work exclusively in the genre...

And so it is with our next paper genius, Takeshi Ishiguro. An Industrial Design graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, Takeshi Ishiguro has worked extensively in both the USA and Japan but has now set up his own studio in Tokyo. Visit his website here and you will see some of the amazing projects he has been working on, like his performance in zero gravity project (in collaboration with the national space development agency in Japan). It feels quite gratifying then, that such a designer should turn his attention to creating a book with a pop-up paper lantern. Lit by three small LEDs and a low-voltage adaptor, it is more of an atmospheric object in function. It reminds me of childhood and all the fascinating paper pop-up books that would make the subject come alive. Of his motivations, Ishiguro says:

I always hope to create things to make people happy

He's certainly made me happy :) Visit his website to see more and you can find out more about the Paper book here.

Hina Aoyama

2009-10-10T21:47:00.009+10:00

Paper cuttings feature quite regularly around here so I'm sure you are thinking to yourself "Oh yes, another one, isn't it pretty..." ... and yes, the paper cuts of Hina Aoyama are exquisitely pretty, so delicate and ethereal. The thing is, though, this is not laser work, it wasn't even done with a scalpel... Hina Aoyama cuts out all of these by hand with scissors! *gasp!* I just can't get over this. There's a YouTube video of her cutting a piece if you don't believe me ;)

To see more of her beautiful work, there's her website here and her Flickr Photostream show here. Aoyama only speaks/writes French and Japanese, but there is a CV in English here.

Paper Face

2009-10-04T21:16:00.007+10:00

Anyone who's ever worked in graphic design, publishing or some other profession targeted by paper companies will know the sheer delight and joy that accompanies the arrival of the free paper swatches :) There was always a bit of healthy competition in my day, but always – always – they vied for your attention in book swatch form... You know what's coming, don't you? The above photos document the fabulous work of graphic designer Hector Sos, creator of this totally unforgettable rendering of stock examples for the Torres Paper Swatch Book Company. Granted, it's a bit of an in yer face idea, but I think it's brilliant :)

Photography by Xavier Mandiola

Found here via here

Streaming consciousness ?

2009-10-01T23:09:00.008+10:00

There's a fabulous installation in Cordoba, Spain, that is flying all over blogland at the moment... a sprouting stream of books exploding from buildings. It so definitely caught my eye and I hope you like it too. It's just too cool, don't you think? This is the work of Alicia Martin. Apparently, over 5000 books were used in its creation... pretty amazing really when you consider the tunnel structure she has used to support the work. (Now this would be a rather fab place to read!)

Above is some more of Alicia Martin's work. You can view her portfolio here.

via Black Eiffel + Designverb

Poetry in motion

2009-09-29T13:53:00.006+10:00

Always come back with a bang I say ;) Isn't this work just stunning? The artist is Ebon Heath, visiting professor of graphic design at Lehman College in the Bronx, NY. He began with a love of typography and a desire to see it evolve a physicality of its own. His typographical mobiles certainly do this. There's almost a feeling of viewing a living thing, don't you think? I love that the words and letters themselves are the art form; the central entity rather than a facilitative tool. As Heath says:

We use type daily yet rarely appreciate the form of a letter. By liberating type from the confines of the page we not only free the words to express the content in a new dimension of scale, volume, and movement, but also force the reader to become a viewer. This process reveals the form of our letters while creating a new relationship to our language in our ability to feel versus only read the content.

You can view his website, Listening With My Eyes here.

Temporary break in transmission

2009-09-12T23:45:00.006+10:00

I'm out of town for a couple of weeks, but I will be back :) I'm afraid I won't be able to reply to your comments until I return but please still leave them... Also, feel free to wander over past postings if you need a paper fix! Cheers, Kylie x

People of the Book #23: Thomas Allen

2009-09-12T15:01:00.010+10:00

American artist Thomas Allen has tapped into one of his culture's most striking vintage paper icons - pulp fiction. It's an arresting subject matter that he has recreated into the more dramatic form of a 3D sculpture. He cuts out the two-dimensional figures of pulp fiction book covers and refashions them into a graphic depiction of the action within. Anyone lucky enough to have a ViewFinder as a child will identify with the orientation of these images. Like the good old ViewFinder, the appeal is in that captured moment of intense action and emotion. His work also, however, retains that misogynistic feeling of the pulp fiction genre. I was unable to find a website for Thomas Allen, but you can view a selection of his work on the Foley Gallery site here or download the Georgia Review PDF article and photos on his work here. I found Thomas Allen via my lovely Paper book.

*p.s. Okay, maybe misogynistic is a bit strong, but they are very much of their time and values... think Mad Men in a pulp novel! ;)

And so the postscripts thicken on our 3D pulp adventure... ;) I've just received a lovely comment from David Ingle, one of the editors of the Georgia Review, inviting us to see how they utilized a piece by Allen on their cover... So, what do you think? I'm actually fascinated with the idea of representing a 3D structure of a traditionally 2D one back onto the cover of another two dimensional media... I love the way the depth transference has affected the way I regard the magazine as an entity... Okay, my late night musings aside, let me know what you think :)

Georgia Review (Vol 61, No.1) Spring 2007

Calendar time!

2009-09-07T23:35:00.015+10:00

January 2010

November 2010

July 2010

Mock up of July

October 2010

What is it about calendars? Even the most modest edition has me enthralled, turning the pages in wide-eyed expectation of the treats awaiting me... Who knew that the eyes could get even wider! Have you blinked yet? It's good to take a moment to settle... a moment to readjust your neurons and your processing electro-impulses... This is apparently what a calendar can really be... This amazing work of art was the visual communication graduation project of Johann Volkmer this year. The all-white designs open to an A3 size with each month featuring a unique paper cut... The only problem is, I don't think I could write on this. It needs its own shelf for grand display methinks! :) See more of Volkmer's work on his website here. There's a special site for the calendar here and a video of the calendar being assembled here.

Found via designboom

Photography by Kristian Barthen

It's Nice That!

2009-09-04T20:41:00.009+10:00

Rob Ryan exclusive screen print

to be found in this magazine below...

It's Nice That - issue #2, due for release 1st October

I'm getting a lot of lovely emails lately telling me about things coming up and going on in the world of paper... it's rather nice actually ;) They get their news out there and I get to tell you what's happening... what could be nicer?! So, I'm rather chuffed then to be able to tell you that the next issue of It's Nice That has an exclusive Rob Ryan screen print enclosed if you pre-order your copy before midnight 30 September.

No, I don't get anything out of this... just the warm inner glow that all Rob Ryan fans reading can have the opportunity to snaffle up an exclusive print by the master himself, and have a nice read while you're about it!

Visit the magazine website here to secure your copy :)

Love for Sale...

2009-09-03T16:53:00.020+10:00

Voluta

Voluta flat pack

Click HERE to watch the Voluta assembly instruction video

Oh this is so lovely... it is pure love... and now love is for sale! Do you remember my post about the wonderful Mia Pearlman and her exquisite paper cuts? Well, I've just received an email from her mailing list telling me that one of her lasercut paper sculptures, Voluta, is available for sale...! *Eeek!* I hear you say... I know! I'm excited too :) I often look at these breathtaking installations in museums and dream about being able to have something similar in my home. Do you do that too? Well, now we can!

Voluta has been created in conjunction with the exhibition Slash: Paper Under the Knife at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, 7 October 2009 - 4 April 2010. Mia Pearlman will be creating a new sculpture for the exhibition, entitled Inrush. There will be artist talks and a Voluta demo. You'll also be able to purchase a Voluta sculpture from the Museum shop. Made from translucent high impact polystyrene, it comes flat-packed in a limited edition of 250, with each one individually signed and numbered by the artist. There are video tutorials on the Net to help you fashion it into an amazing swirling, three-dimensional vortex you can see above. To order your very own Voluta sculpture, click here. You can read more information here, and if you'd like to revisit Mia Pearlman's website you'll find it here.

People of the Book #22: Selina Swayne

2009-08-31T15:18:00.019+10:00

Book Installation on the Serpentine

Anatomy of Type

No Title series of books from cut photographs

Selina Swayne, in collaboration with Hanna Bayatti

Selina Swayne is a graphic designer excited by the idea of challenging creative methodology. Her focus on design details and how to manipulate and play with the boundaries inherent in graphic design forms a mainstay in her work. Swayne is the next artist featured in my wonderful Paper book, and in particular, her No Title series of books constructed from cut photos and illustrations, in collaboration with Hanna Bayatti. These are very curious works which challenge the expected conventions of a book. Firstly, they are in concertina form, which has given the artists more scope for playing with form and function. Secondly, the cut photos and illustrations are merged into a seemingly-limitless rush of visual exposure to produce a dramatic world of no boundaries, in the conventional sense.

"I am interested in what it means to be a graphic designer... (in) where the boundaries of the discipline lie and how to cross them."

It has got me thinking of all those children's books coming out, like Belonging, where there is no text, just illustrations for the reader to construct their own meaning... Of course, by the very selection of images, the artist is controlling the direction of the narrative, so there will always be boundaries of one sort or another... It's an interesting area of graphic design and kind of cool, don't you think? You can find more of Swayne's work here.

Post No Bills!

2009-08-28T19:22:00.006+10:00

I'm sorry I've been off with the pixies lately, but I have a real treat for you to make up for it! Something simple but oh-so deliciously effective, it amazes me that someone didn't think of this a long time ago...

Have you heard of Mr Eric Ku? He's a 26 year old Graphic Designer and graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York who seems to have taken the world by storm with a set of what he calls "exercises exploring the concept of redefinition". He has quite a few irons in the fire (so to speak!), and I will share them all in good time, but for now here is his Post No Bills project. This exercise was all about redefining the ever-present Post No Bills stencils that we all see around cities on buildings and building sites etc. He's taken the ubiquitous stencil format and created a gallery of designs that could be used on buildings instead. Pretty cool I think. You can find his website here.

scissors + paper rock!

Paper Mystery - Part 1

Tis the Season...

Crazy wow!

Paper Pop-Ups

Paper Pendant Lamps

Paper Highlights

Paper Office

Newspaper Wood

Book of Art

Paper Preparations

The Book Cell Project

Paper Convention Collective

Nip Tuck Fold

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Paper Bags

Paper lashes

Paper sculptures

Architectural Paper

Paper narratives

Local Cut

Paper worlds

Pulp Innovations

Inspirational Blog: Little Paper Bird

Dream in paper

Crocheted Paper

Paper interference

A way with books

Creative Universe

People of the Book #31: Nel Linssen

Fictitious Paper

Dictionary Story

Paper Portrait

The fabulous Mister Rob

Paper lanterns

McBook?

Book Hotel

People of the Book #30: Jum Nakao

Book tables

People of the Book #29: Hussein Chalayan

People of the Book #28: Violise Lunn

Book Lights

Building books

People of the Book #27: Susan Cutts

Paper shoes!

People of the Book #26: Gary Harvey

People of the Book #25: Michael Cepress

Inspirational Blog: Skinny LaMinx

People of the Book #24: Takeshi Ishiguro

Hina Aoyama

Paper Face

Streaming consciousness ?

Poetry in motion

Temporary break in transmission

People of the Book #23: Thomas Allen

Calendar time!

It's Nice That!

No, I don't get anything out of this... just the warm inner glow that all Rob Ryan fans reading can have the opportunity to snaffle up an exclusive print by the master himself, and have a *nice* read while you're about it!

Love for Sale...

People of the Book #22: Selina Swayne

Post No Bills!

No, I don't get anything out of this... just the warm inner glow that all Rob Ryan fans reading can have the opportunity to snaffle up an exclusive print by the master himself, and have a nice read while you're about it!