Star-Filled Paper Pajaki Chandelier at The Paper Place

You know the saying, 'If you want a job done, ask a busy person'? Such was the case when I spotted an Instagram image of a stunning all-white pajaki in a shop window. Made by Heather Sauer, owner of The Paper Place in Toronto, Canada, and despite it being retail's most hectic season, she was kind enough to take these beautiful photos and answer my questions about its construction.

First, I'd best define a pajaki in case the term is new to you, as it was to me. The Polish word translates to spider, which explains why, when you look at the #pajaki hashtag on Instagram you'll see quite a diverse batch of photos...  colorful pajakis, many made with bright yarn pom poms along with images of huge, furry spiders... you've been warned. :)

 
According to a tutorial on Martha Stewart's site [edit: no longer available], paper chandeliers, or pajaki, are a traditional Polish folk craft designed to brighten up the home with bold spring blooms during the long winter. Traditionally made from reeds, tissue paper, and foil, these ornate decorations can be made from many supplies found at your local crafts store.

 

When I wrote to Heather, I exclaimed that her pajaki looked so perfectly made. I bet customers must comment on it all the time, as they should! 

The reality of owning a business means that her time is filled with administrative and non-creative tasks, but she replied to say she loves the holiday season and looks forward to designing and making the window display each year.

Last year she traveled with her mother and sister to the Christmas markets in Switzerland, Germany, and France, and was inspired by the paper stars and decorations everywhere. She had been wanting to try her hand at her own version of a pajaki, so decided for the 2018 window that she would incorporate the two ideas into one. Thus, she worked with a snowflake theme for the chandelier and fashioned all of the components from paper.

The elements on the chandelier are a combination of pieces I designed and patterns that I purchased (the tassel one, for instance). Some of the pieces I cut by hand and others were done on a cutting machine and then assembled by hand. The whole chandelier took about a week to make, working on it in chunks at a time. 

 

The basic construction is hula hoops that I covered in crepe paper, along with straws and a combination of text weight and card stock papers in warm white.

 

 The star light in the middle is one I actually purchased from IKEA (a necessary time saving cheat :). 

 

I suspended it from the ceiling at my studio and built it hanging to make sure everything was level while I strung the elements together. That part was a little more challenging than I expected, but I got there in the end. 

I went to school for Archaeology and Museum Management/Curatorship so, of course, now I have two retail stores - lol. But ever since I was little, I was forever making things and have always had a love of exploring the possibilities of what can be done with paper.

Heather has owned the Toronto, Canada store on Queen St. West in the heart of the city's Art and Design district since 2005. While it would be fantastic to visit the shop in person, The Paper Place online shop has a large selection and ships internationally.

You'll find thousands of papers from around the globe, crepe paper, gift wrap, washi tape, origami kits, ornaments, art prints, stationery, calendars, planners, party favors, and even gift items like on-trend embroidered brooches and Rifle Paper Co. enamel pins. That's quite a list!

The Paper Place is on Instagram as @thepaperplace and Facebook, @paperplace.

Wishing you a light and love-filled holiday season and a bright new year!