Mar 25, 2017

NEXT STOP ON THE CRAZY TRAIN



Instead of stitching last night, I spent about four hours in the Happy Chair drooling over pictures of what I think might become my next rabbit hole.  I'm just in the discovery phase...looking at pictures and hunting for websites, but so far this looks like something that might be fun to try on those days when needle and thread are just not blowing my skirt up (which is almost never, but a girl likes to be prepared).  Besides...it's paper and a very few simple tools.  What's not to love about THAT?!


Added later...

OK.  Now I get it.  I've been sitting here trying to figure out why I'm so enamored with this...is it the colors?  The shapes?  Playing with paper?  What the heck is it that is drawing me to this?!

So I went to the Wikipedia and here is what I found:

During the RenaissanceFrench and Italian nuns and monks used quilling to decorate book covers and religious items. The paper most commonly used was strips of paper trimmed from the gilded edges of books. These gilded paper strips were then rolled to create the quilled shapes. Quilling often imitated the original ironwork of the day.[1]

In the 18th century, quilling became popular in Europe where gentle ladies of quality ("ladies of leisure") practiced the art. It was one of the few things ladies could do that was thought not too taxing for their minds or gentle dispositions. Quilling also spread to the Americas and there are a few examples from Colonial times.[2]

Many quilled art works can be found on cabinets and stands, cribbage boards, ladies' purses, a wide range of both pictures and frames, work baskets, tea caddies, coats of arms and wine coasters. Storage boxes, larger than most jewelry boxes with drawers and/or tops that opened, quilled lock boxes, and much more. Some items were specially designed for quilling with recessed surfaces. Quilling was also combined or married with other techniques such as embroidery and painting.[


Hahahahahaha!  Nuns and gentle ladies of quality!  Yep!  That's me alright!

Well, at least now we know why I like this stuff...

13 comments:

  1. Oh, that's gorgeous! Quilling and...paper bits forming background underneath the leaves and elsewhere? It looks fiddly but I love the results.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MY mind is racing thinking of ways to turn this into needlework. I see lots of possibilities!

    JHM

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gorgeous! Definitely turn it into needlework grab a copy of the picture print​ it in grayscale to use as a pattern to transfer to fabric then print a color copy. Ta-da!
    You could use yarn & make a pillow or cover for a footstool
    It could be a latch hook or crewelwork or regular surface embroidery too. This open up a while new world of embroidery patterns. I've never done anything from a real kit or pattern and have always drawn my own and had at it. Don't even know if I'm doing stuff "correctly" or not. But so far everything I've done looks good to me plus my backs r always neat so... Y'all have a blessed day in what ever way brings joy. Blessings Baa

    ReplyDelete
  4. GORgeous colors! I love it and I enjoyed our little quill paper history lesson. Thanks! I'll be excited to see what you do.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I bought my daughter quilling supplies for Christmas. Yes, I did that because I love quillng and I was going to instill my love for the art of quilling into her. Well, I watched her make her first card with a butterfly on it. I discovered it is truly an art, a beautiful art, and I think it takes some practice. I will be excited to hear about and watch your quilling endeavors. Because, you see, I already planned on "trying out" the art using my daughters tools. So please keep us posted. Be ever so patient and stay enthused! So we all will become inspired to try the art of quilling! Best of luck💐

    ReplyDelete
  6. Haha got to know it won't be too taxing for your mind!! The picture at the top is so pretty and not at all what I thought of when you said paper quilling. I hope you do decided to try it, I would love to see more of it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Obviously typing is too taxing for my mind, I meant good to know not got to know. Ha!

      Delete
  7. I always thought about trying quilling but then I stop thinking about it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I always thought about trying quilling but then I stop thinking about it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just looking at the photo and the swirls of vivid color and it looks like a Coni creation....something that would
    appeal to you Sister Coni.....Surprise us....

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen. Just gorgeous. I could never even begin to attempt something like that but I can appreciate it's beauty. Hugs and Prayers, Cathryn

    ReplyDelete
  11. Not too taxing for the mind? Looks taxing to me! Bhahahaha...

    ReplyDelete