Friday, 7 December 2018

The Art of the Fold, by Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol. Review.


How to Make Innovative Books and Paper Structures
By Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol
Laurence King Publishing
Hardback, £24.99
ISBN 9781786272935

Star rating: *****

This spellbinding papercraft book is a labour of love by renowned book artist Hedi Kyle. In The Art of the Fold, the magician reveals a careers-worth of secrets – all her very best innovative paper-folding moves.  Although this book deals with bookcraft – a very specialized field – the author’s folding tricks can be applied to general papercrafting – including cardmaking and box-making. The designs all possess wow-factor architectural beauty – and yet are achievable via clear step-by-step illustrations and accompanying instructional text. The co-author, incidentally, is the author's daughter - so this book is very much a family affair.

The book is divided into five sections: The Accordion (yay! Pleats), Blizzards (these are books that have pocket- or boxlike enclosures), One-Sheet Books (Booklet Fold Star Pop-up – a gift for cardmakers), Albums, and Enclosures.

Many of the designs incorporate the surprise factor – such as flag books, “which may be described as a portable, expandable file that can display an array of materials in an animated way.” Clock the Wheel of Fortune – a starlike marvel.  In the Enclosures section, you will find the Sling Fold – a book that’s a bendy card, and also the Telescoping Ziggurat, similar in effect to a quilled shape. All in all, it is origami meets pattern-making in an irresistible mix.

This book would make a delightful gift for a papercrafter. It would be great to dip into on a wintry evening or crafty weekend. Lots of ideas to mine for cards and keepsakes.

Note: I was supplied with a review copy of this book.


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