Paper Art Round Up

While I was quilling away on a Quaker marriage certificate recently (there's that scroll design again, but with slightly different colors; Carole Foster of Running Dog Letters did the beautiful calligraphy), I had the pleasant thought that even though there probably isn't a single person on my block - or even in my city - also rolling paper strips at any given moment...

...all we need to do to find others who share our interests is go online - how lucky are we to live in this day and age? So in that light, I've rounded up a few examples of people who spend their time working with paper - plus one surprising material.

Tissue origami brought to life. Yes, tissues! This incredible stop motion video, made by Japanese ad agency Dentsu for the Nepia paper company, needs to be seen to be believed. Read all about it on Laughing Squid; there's also a making-of video.

Perhaps you saw this graceful cut paper cityscape as it raced around the internet. Gorgeous colors! Estonian illustrator and graphic designer Eiko Ojala created it for the lobby of the Affina Hotel in Manhattan. There are many more images on his website ploom.tv.

This next one is very fun... remember Justina Yang and her wonderful tessellated paper lamps and PANCAKE maps? Not long ago she came across some bark-like wrapping paper at an art supply store and knew immediately she had to 'bake' some paper croissants. I like the way she thinks.

And lastly.. not paper, but still fascinating. Mumbai jewelry company ORRA won the Best Platinum Jewellery of the Year Award for this cuff bracelet that features diamonds and platinum quilled coils. Inspired by sand dunes, the diamonds represent water lapping at sandy shores. Apparently platinum is quite pliable to work with, but even so, impressive!