All Things Paper
By Ann Martin
Tuttle Publishing, 2013
Paperback, £14.99
You know how you still read papery books even though you
have a Kindle? Each has its place, right? Well, this delightful new title is
like that. All Things Paper – the book
is an outgrowth of All Things Paper – the blog. I wouldn’t want to do
without either one.
Ann Martin’s blog is a cornucopia of papercrafts from around
the world. It’s a place to discover new techniques and appreciate the ingenuity and skill of papercrafters and paper artistes. (Ann is a quiller herself. It is on her blog
that I first saw the fantastic new trend which combines quilling with
typography.) All Things Paper – the book
captures the spirit of the blog. The spotlight is on the talented
contributors, each represented by a project in their area of papercraft expertise.
The book has the
warmth and buzz of an open studio/workshop day. There’s a capsule bio of each
contributor. Then a step-by-step project (20 of them). Each project is photographed by the contributor
– logistically necessary to keep costs down – you couldn’t exactly fly
everyone in from around the globe for an in-house photoshoot. This practical
measure, which might have resulted in a patchwork of projects, has actually been
an enabler. Each contributor takes the brief very seriously and does an ace can-do
job. There are plenty of tips, extension
ideas, and insightful asides.
Like Ann’s blog, you find techniques in the book that you
have not seen elsewhere. For example, Linda Thalmann’s gossamer beaded Fine Paper Yarn Necklace (I’m familiar
with paper cord, but paper thread of the fineness used here is new to me); or
Benjamin John Coleman’s Loosely Braided
Makigami Pendant, which is made with
a sort of sophisticated version of pâpier-maché. There are also a couple of exceedingly clever recycled projects – Richela Fabian Morgan’s Everyday Tote Bag, which is constructed from brown bag handles
(lovely texture, and on trend with kraft paper), and Alison Patrick’s Phone Book Letter Holder, which has a
jumbo quilling vibe.
At the end of the book, there’s an Artist Gallery and
Directory – so you can check out the contributors' blogs, websites, and/or
on-line shops after your book browse.
Note: I won my copy
of All Things Paper – the book, in the worldwide book giveaway on Ann’s blog. Thanks
so much, Ann – for the blog, and the book.
Visit All Things Paper:
http://www.allthingspaper.net/
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