By Alli Bartkowski
30 Paper Projects for Creativity and Relaxation
Lark Books 2016
Paperback £16.99 UK/$17.95
US/$20.95 CAN
ISBN 978-1-4547-0901-5
Star rating: ****
You’ve probably clocked that mandalas are a craft trend. A very big craft trend. Contemplative circles with whorls, swirls and
arabesques – it was only a matter of time before somebody designed quilled
mandalas.Yes, the art of paper filigree is a natural for crafting mandalas.This new book of 30 mandala designs at
various skill levels is by Alli Bartkowski, appropriately, a quilling guru.
Alli Bartkowski is the mastermind behind Quilled Creations, the very lovely
company that brings innovative quilling gadgets to eager crafters (Dome Molds,
Quilling Crimper, Border Buddies, combs – all are cool quilling tools marketed by Quilled
Creations).(Despite the tempting gadgets, quilling is a very cost-effective
hobby – little is needed to get started besides quilling strips, a quilling
tool, a few toothpicks, and glue.)
First of all, full marks to the publisher for making this a
large format book – the jumbo pages show off the magnificent mandala creations
in full-colour photographic splendour. These are accompanied by same/size line
drawings to facilitate placement of the quilled components.
Surprisingly (expecting ornamentation overload?), there’s
plenty of variety in the 30 designs – some are representational, others purely
pattern – but all are awe-inspiring crafty achievements. A Rainbow of Fishes is a clever design of interlocking swirling
fish (carp?) – very cleverly constructed in a colourful vortex. Golden Circles makes use of crimped
quilling and golden gilded quilling strips – it really has an Art Deco
ambience. Butterflies – this pretty
mandala creates the illusion of movement – butterflies moving outwards from
centre to edge. Mandala designs include Snowflakes (6- or 8-pointers), Tree of Happiness, the exquisite Henna Design, Lotus Flower
– all are bursting off the page, begging to be made. All the designs look very
modern – no fusty granny quilling here.
As for the how-tos – well done. At the start of each project
there’s a diagram showing the required quilling shapes and the required size of
circle templates for precisely-sized coils (if any) – very handy. Step-by-step
how-tos follow, accompanied by the previously mentioned full-size charts.
You may ask – what to do with the finished mandalas? They
would make fun wall decs – but that is not the point – the joy is in the making
as well as in the contemplation.
If you are seeking a crafty gift, this book would make a fab
one, especially accompanied by a few packs of quilling strips and maybe a
quilling gadget or two.
Note: I was supplied
with a review copy of this book.
No comments:
Post a Comment