Helen Hiebert's Blog, page 5

Learning Through Paper

The Sunday Paper #543

February 16, 2025

I am really enjoying my online classes – I learn so much as the instructor. The Paper Year (a membership program) is now in its 5th year, and we had fun creating these Woven Paper Lanterns in January. Click through to watch the video, which also features other projects that members are working on, plus a sneak peek at our February project, designed by guest artist, Madonna Yoder. Registration for The Paper Year opens again in April. I am also currently guiding a group through the 7th annual Weave Through Winter, a month-long online class with a daily practice. More on that next week.

I love teaching in person too. We’ll be folding paper at the Red Cliff Paper Retreat in August (August 18-22, 6 spots left) and focusing on the various facets of hand papermaking in my Papermaking Master Class (June 23-27, one spot left).

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I enjoyed reading this article about an event in Atlanta in which three visual artists were paired with three composers, with the expectation that the results generated from their collaborations would be unique, enticing and meaningful. Click through to read about the collaboration between paper artist Kelly Taylor Mitchell and composer Chelsea Loew.

Kelly Taylor Mitchell’s handmade paper tapestry for A Homegoing intertwines natural fibers, textiles, and found bricks, serving as both a visual and performative guide in her collaboration with composer Chelsea Loew, exploring nature’s dual role as protection and barrier. (credit: Davida Cohen)

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This is a great conversation with Judith Solodkin, the sought-after printmaker trusted by artists from Louise Bourgeois to Howard Hodgkin. She shares her experiences as works from her personal archive go on auction at Christie’s.

Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010), Crochet IV, from Crochet I-V, 1998. Mixografía® print in red, on handmade paper, initialed in pencil. Sheet: 27⅜ x 33 in (695 x 838 mm). Estimate: $5,000-7,000. Offered in Contemporary Edition from 12 to 26 February 2025 at Christie’s Online. © 2025 The Easton Foundation / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

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Merrideth MacDonald is a paper artist who has been creating collages out of hundreds of little pieces of magazine paper for the last ten years.

One of Merrideth MacDonald’s collages out of little pieces of magazine paper. (Merrideth MacDonald)

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Dive into the enchanting world of paper sculpture. Check out this animated paper cutting produced for the recent 2025 Asian Winter Games.

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

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I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post Learning Through Paper appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

More Paper Love

The Sunday Paper #542

February 9, 2025

Here’s my final paper valentine post. I wish you all a week filled with love. I am not really a romantic, lovey dovey person, but I do thrive on the love you all send my way. Check out these three things that came across my desk recently:

Gail Murray sent me her a photo of her stunning heart lanterns (learn this simple structure in my YouTube video – Gail put her own paper twist on it). She says “I did go crazy making and mailing several of those to friends”! They are collapsible. Lucky recipients!I wrote last week about putting a heart on it, and Terry Englehart sent me her lovely version: hearts on a triskele globe (search triskele and you’ll find patterns and instructions).Barb Helander posted a wonderful video of the Slice-Form Hearts (a project in my book, The Art of Papercraft) that she created for a Valentine Exchange made from red linen cardstock and a gelli-plate printed paper. With the help of a Cricut cutting machine, 120 frames and 120 printed hearts were cut, and then each form was assembled. 27 members of the Canadian Bookbinders & Book Artists Guild participated in the exchange – search the hashtag #cbbag_valentine on instagram to view all of the Valentines.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

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It’s about time – foam packaging may have met its match. The infamous Miura-ori fold has another application as a packing material fabricated from cardboard.

The FOLD material could be wrapped around fragile items such as glass bottles (VTT Technical Research Centre).

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Illustrator Shelley Aldrich has an ongoing series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives based on traditional tunnel books and victorian puzzle purses (and sometimes, she combines the forms).

As seen on Colossal: ‘The Hobbit’ combination puzzle purse and tunnel book, open.

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Molly (@himollyanne on TikTok) saves money by turning paper bags into shipping envelopes.

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Véronique Buist asked Montrealers to submit photos of their most-liked places through social media and then embroidered the images on handmade paper. These are now on view at the Peter B. Yeomans Cultural Centre in Dorval, Quebec. Watch the video.

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Paper TidbitsHave you had a chance to listen to my interview with Catherine Lucky Chang on Paper Talk?We’ll be exploring folded forms at the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat, August 18 – 22, 2025. In person!I have one spot left in my Papermaking Master Class, June 23 – 27. Also in person.The Illustrated Accordion is now on view at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, in person and online.

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

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SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!

I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post More Paper Love appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

Put a Heart on It

The Sunday Paper #541

February 4, 2025

Continuing on the paper valentine theme from last week, there are many interesting historical paper variations, and the heart in hand is one of them. This is a favorite rendition – has anyone seen this piece at the American Folk Art Museum in NYC? I created a few versions using the instructions and templates found over at Byopia Press. I have to admit that cutting these out is simple enough, but assembly is tricky!

I got to thinking about the state of our world and for some reason the put a bird on it slogan from Portlandia popped into my head. I thought it might be fun to put a heart on It. Join the fun, and send me your version if you try it.

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A reader recently shared a review of the Picasso and Paper exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art. I searched my blog archive and found a post from January of 2020, in which I announced the show at the same museum, which seemed odd (would a museum host the same show twice)? The date of the previous exhibition gave me a clue, and a quick search revealed that the exhibition was delayed due to COVID. This is the only North American showing, and it offers a groundbreaking new look at Pablo Picasso’s lifelong experimentation with paper. Through March 23, 2025.

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I had the pleasure of interviewing Catherine Lucky Chang on Paper Talk, an artist, art educator, and yoga teacher based in Palo Alto, CA whose work combines papermaking, printmaking, and painting. Born in Atlanta, GA, she holds a BS from Skidmore College and an MFA from the University of Georgia. Chang’s practice is an exploration of inner peace, wholeness, and joy. Her abstract works on her own handmade paper range from small and intimate to large-scale and immersive. Her work has been exhibited in New York, California, Georgia, Florence, Cortona, and Crete, at institutions such as The Georgia Museum of Art, Whitespace Gallery, Rainforest Art Foundation, Madison Museum of Fine Art, and Tappan Gallery. Chang has participated in artist residencies worldwide, including Anderson Ranch and Penland School of Craft. She is represented by Tappan Collective in Los Angeles, CA.

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Since I’ve already made a bird reference, how about another? Nayan Shrimal and Venus Bird from The Paper Ark have launched The Parrot Project, creating lifelike paper portraits for a good cause. Each bird is made up of tiny paper bits, put together following a sketch previously made by the team. The pair also delicately paints each piece to truly capture the details that make the species so unique, such as the yellow spots on the head of the red-tailed black cockatoo or the ombre feathers of the Scarlet Macaw.

Red-tailed black cockatoo, by Paper Ark, as seen on My Modern Met.

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More birds! This is a heartwarming video about a guy who created a paper mama to nurse a young bird and get it back into the wild.

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Paper TidbitsWe are exploring a daily practice in Weave Through Winter (last chance to join us – we got started yesterday). I enjoyed this video that illustrates some of the benefits of keeping a daily practice.We’ll be exploring folded forms at the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat, August 18 – 22, 2025. In person!I have one spot left in my Papermaking Master Class, Sept 29 – Oct 3. Also in person.

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

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SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!

I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post Put a Heart on It appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

Paper Hearts

The Sunday Paper #541

January 26, 2025

Paper valentines creep into my online courses, and this week, a few members of The Paper Year have been exploring Julehjertes (do a search, you’ll find loads of designs).  I got inspired at our Open Studio yesterday, tried my own cut, and then I went for a little trip down a rabbit hole and discovered that the Danish printer, Alfred Jacobsen (1853-1924), issued sheets of glossy paper in many colors, with printed patterns for making these hearts on the back of the sheets. Customers could choose two colors.

We are so spoiled with our personal printers today! I printed my pattern onto the back of my papers, too. And then all I had to do was cut and weave.

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Jack Banham creates unique pieces with tiny strips of paper.

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I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Moana Balani, Creative Director at The Papermill in New Zealand, when she flew over to Tasmania to take my workshop last September. For over 35 years, The Papermill has provided a safe, creative, and supportive space for artists with intellectual disabilities, fostering their self-esteem, social skills, and confidence through training in papermaking and paper arts and crafts. The Papermill recycles used materials and plants, including weeds, to create high-quality handmade paper, striving to educate and promote creative, productive, and environmentally friendly solutions for utilizing waste materials. I was touched when Moana sent me a picture of the one-sheet tree that an employee created with their own handmade paper (this project is in my book, The Art of Papercraft).

Employees sorting plant fibers, one-sheet tree holiday decor.

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Book Becoming Art, co-curated by Simon J. Blattner, Maki Aizawa and Barbara Wells, is currently on view at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (through April 27). The exhibition includes 40 contemporary handcrafted books, all of them inspired by Japanese aesthetics and most of them created by artists in Japan.

Artwork by by Masako Kobayashi

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I love it when artists reproduce paper in other materials. Check out these notebook paper forms by Saori Matsushita on Colossal.

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More hearts = More love. Weave Through Winter begins on February 1st, and I am looking forward to creating a weaving-a-day along with participants. You can still join us! If you’d like to get a taste of paper weaving to see if you like it, check out my Woven Paper Heart tutorial on YouTube (just in time for Valentine’s Day).

Paper TidbitsStudio Carta has curated this lovely valentine collectionWe’ll be exploring folded forms at the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat, August 18 – 22, 2025. In person!I have one spot left in my Papermaking Master Class, Sept 29 – Oct 3. Also in person.I am considering attending the IAPMA Congress in China next fall. Are you?

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

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SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!

I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post Paper Hearts appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

A New Blank Page

The Sunday Paper #540

January 19, 2025

The title of this post comes from a woman in LA who lost everything in the fires. She was quoted in this article, The Unfathomable Loss of Artistic Heritage in Altadena, on Hyperallergic. Earlier this week, I was listening to an interview with Pico Iyer on Fresh Air, who lost all of his worldly belongings in a fire several decades ago. Since then, Iyer has returned again and again to a Benedictine monastery, where he practices silent meditation. He spoke about how his life at these retreats is different than his daily life, and how when he is on a silent retreat, he is able to reflect on how small we humans are, and how the earth will outlive all of us. He writes about all of this in depth in his new book, Aflame.

I also received an e-mail a couple of days ago from LA2050, a community-guided initiative driving and tracking progress toward a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles (since 2011). They’ve produced two guides filled with resources for those affected by the fires and those who wish to help: a Safety and Support Guide for Angelenos and this Volunteer & Support Guide.

I am thinking about everyone who has been affected, and I am hopeful that once we are able to move through the loss – with the help of community – we can begin again, and maybe even look forward to that new blank page.

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Speaking of LA, check out the exhibition, Many Small Cuts, at Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, now through March 8, 2025. Leigh Suggs  created a new series using the process of marquetry, carefully reassembling scraps of paper that were discarded from other works into one large new sheet of paper, where colors and patterns intersect to form controlled chaos. The labor-intensive cutting, assembling, and attention to detail yield intricate designs and imagery.

Esemplastic Fog III, 2024 30″ diameter, custom frame // Available at Abigail Ogilvy Gallery

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A reader recently turned me on to the work of Barloga Studios. This San Francisco Bay Area studio produces photographic prints of natural subjects printed on unusual backgrounds, including handmade paper.

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I had the pleasure of speaking with Alyson Stanfield on The Art Biz podcast. We talked about my experience of using an intermittent daily practice as a manageable way to fuel creativity and build momentum. We do this annually in my Weave Through Winter online class, which takes place every February. I look forward to participating in this monthlong challenge every year with the group. We get started in a couple of weeks – learn more about the class.

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If you’re in Bangkok, Craig Ancelowitz, who works for Awagami Paper in Japan, is having an exhibition at ATT 19. Lines on Paper runs January 23 – March 30, 2025. In conjunction with Craig’s exhibition, Mieko Fujimori, the master indigo artist at Awagami Factory, will be offering two workshops on February 8th and 9th. Participants will have the unique opportunity to engage with Anczelowitz during exclusive talks, where they will explore topics ranging from design and art to Japanese paper, as well as gain valuable insights into the realities of the creative business world.

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Paper TidbitsWe’ll be exploring folded forms at the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat, August 18 – 22, 2025. In person!I have one spot left in my Papermaking Master Class, Sept 29 – Oct 3. Also in person.I am considering attending the IAPMA Congress in China next fall. Are you?

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

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SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!

I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post A New Blank Page appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

The Illustrated Accordion

The Sunday Paper #539

January 12, 2025

What a week! From the fires in LA (thinking of everyone there) to a health scare for a family member (doing better), it sometimes feels difficult to keep going. I am so grateful to love what I do and to feel motivated, obligated, and committed to showing up here every week. Thank you for being here.

I admire the work of Matt Shlian, and the words in his recent newsletter, The Fold, grabbed me. First: “This past month I’ve somehow stumbled into making vessel forms in paper.” My take on his comment is that he made a new discovery – how cool! Second, Matt is struggling with ongoing health issues and has a surgery scheduled, which should provide much relief, but his insurance company is currently refusing to cover it. I’m spreading the word about his art sale – Matt didn’t ask me to do this, and I think that some of you might want to collect his work. Let’s help Matt and get more of his work out in the world! You can read the entire issue of his newsletter here and listen to my interview with him on Paper Talk.

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Each year the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center (KBAC) sponsors a non-juried exhibition, The Illustrated Accordion. This show is open to all emerging and established artists and focuses on books created in the accordion form. The deadline to enter is January 27th, but many works (available for purchase) are already featured on the website. The exhibition runs February 27 – March 21.

Laurie Moorhead, “A Day in the Jeweled City,” Star Tunnel book; paper, rubber stamps, watercolor, 2024, 3.5″ x 4″ x 1″ closed, Instagram: @lauriemoorhead

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Click through to watch this reel about how washi (traditional Japanese paper)—a material that had a presence in Japanese people’s everyday living for centuries—has breathed new vigor into ISSEY MIYAKE’s clothing design. This washi has led to an investigation of the material, as well as other paper variants, in the Spring Summer 2025 collection titled The Beauty of Paper.

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Treewhispers, an evolving international papermaking initiative celebrating the deep connections and shared stories between people and trees, is holding a 25th Anniversary Exhibition at the Artists Book House in Chicago. The exhibition runs from January 18 to March 22, with an opening reception on January 18 from 2–6 PM and a closing reception on March 22. The traveling exhibit and workshop series invites everyone to share their stories, poems, drawing, and artwork on handmade paper,  reflecting meaningful relationships with trees. Learn more about Treewhispers here, and listen to my interview with the co-founder of the project and current director, Pam Paulsrud, on Paper Talk.

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I shared this mesmerizing shortlisted animated short film by Kei Kanamori last week, and a reader sent me this video about the young director, which is equally interesting. He talks about how he uses his knowledge of origami (he’s been folding since he was six) to accurately create his animations.

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My popular online class, Weave Through Winter, begins in a few weeks, and I always look forward to creating a weaving-a-day along with participants. We create a daily practice as we explore a variety of paper weaving techniques, both historical and contemporary. Read more, watch the video, and sign up!

This course, which I’ve run for the past seven years, is the basis for my upcoming book, Weaving with Paper. I am currently reviewing the first round of text with images. This is exciting and terrifying at the same time – it overwhelming to see everything on the page and realize how many things need to be fixed. I am so thankful to be working with Storey Publishing (again) because they have many hands and eyes to work on catching every little mistake. The book is due out late fall 2025.

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Paper TidbitsHere’s a video highlighting what Paper Year members created in December. And here’s a secret: if you wanted to sign up for The Paper Year, I haven’t quite closed registration. You can still join us here (but I will be closing it early this week).Have you had a chance to listen to my conversation with Michelle Samour on Paper Talk.We’ll be exploring folded forms at the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat, August 18 – 22, 2025. In person!I have one spot left in my Papermaking Master Class, Sept 29 – Oct 3. Also in person.

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

———————————————————————————————––––––

SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!

I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post The Illustrated Accordion appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

The Best Kept Secret, 200 Years of Blooks

The Sunday Paper #538

January 5, 2025

Happy New Year! The beginning of the year is my busy season, and I have so many things to share with you this week!

January is when I open annual enrollment for The Paper Year, my yearlong online program (deadline to join is 1/10/25) and Weave Through Winter, my month-long online class (registration deadline is 2/1/25). Thank you to those of you who have signed up already!

If you’re interested in either class, please click on the images below to read more, watch the videos and register.

We are developing a wonderful paper community, and it is exciting to be able to offer these programs to a growing number of international participants. I learn so much from everyone I get to work with! Here’s to another year of fun together.

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I had a lovely conversation with Michelle Samour on Paper Talk. Samour is a multi-media artist whose work explores the intersections between science, technology, and the natural world, as well as the socio-political repercussions of redefining borders and boundaries. She is Professor Emerita of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts University, where she taught historical and contemporary approaches to working with handmade paper and pulp. Enjoy our conversation!

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The Best Kept Secret, 200 Years of Blooks, opens at the New York Center for Book Arts on January 16th. The curator, Mindell Dubansky, explains: “I refer to these objects by the convenient term blooks, a contraction of “book-look”. The goal of my studies and collecting endeavors is to determine the scope of the subject through the examination of thematic trends, makers and manufacturers, and object histories; to contextualize blooks within the realms of book history, material culture, and the arts; and to introduce the most interesting blook structures to artists and makers.” The exhibition runs through May 10, 2025.

The Care and Feeding of Books, Maker Unknown, 1947.

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Wowza! The world’s thinnest Japanese paper — just 0.02 millimeters thick and weighing a mere 1.6 grams per square meter, is produced by Hidakawashi Co. , whose customers range from the British Museum in London to the Louvre in Paris. They are utilizing the ultrathin paper in the restoration of cultural artifacts. The paper is durable and so thin that when it layered over documents, even detailed characters remain legible. It also resists yellowing and discoloration.

Hidakawashi Co. President Hiroyoshi Chinzei holds up Japanese paper with a thickness of just 0.02 millimeters in Hidaka, Kochi Prefecture. (Mainichi/Masatoshi Maekawa).

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Check out this mesmorizing shortlisted animated short film by Kei Kanamori.

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Paper TidbitsHave you had a chance to take a look at Helen’s 100 Papery Picks for 2024, which I published last week?Here’s a 3-minute overview of what Paper Year members created in 2024.We’ll be exploring folded forms at the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat, August 18 – 22, 2025.

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If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper?

Tell 4100 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

———————————————————————————————––––––

SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!

I occasionally have affiliate links in these posts – to products that I receive a small commission on if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

The post The Best Kept Secret, 200 Years of Blooks appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

Episode #133: Michelle Samour

You can listen to this episode by clicking on the white arrow above, or subscribe to the Paper Talk podcast on Apple Podcasts (or find more listening options on Spotify) so you never miss an episode. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it! Thank you so much.

Michelle Samour a multi-media artist whose work explores the intersections between science, technology, and the natural world, as well as the socio-political repercussions of redefining borders and boundaries. She has been a Scholar-in-Residence at the Tufts European Center in Talloires, France; and an Artist-in-Residence at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine; The Banff Centre in Canada; and at other institutions. Her work has been exhibited at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Massachussetts; the Museum of Modern Art in Strasbourg, France; the Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, WI; and at many other venues. Samour has been featured in Surface Design Journal, FiberArts, and Hand Papermaking, and is included in public and private collections. She is Professor Emerita of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts University where she taught historical and contemporary approaches to working with handmade paper and pulp.

Installation view of “Blue,” 2019, Pigmented paper pulp, specimen pins, 10 ft. x 20 ft. W x 5 in / 304.8 x 609.6 x 12.7cm,
Jamestown Arts Center, Jamestown, RI.

Samour has early paper memories of seeing the some of Dard Hunter’s papermaking artifacts at MIT, where his collection was prior to its current location at the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking in Atlanta, GA.

We talked about her paper courses at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she taught for decades, all-the-while keeping up her own studio practice.

Detail, “Eyes of God,” 2010, Pigmented paper pulp, gouache, 10 ft. x 20 ft. W x 5 in. / 304.8 x 609.6 x 12.7 cm, Each piece approx. 7 in / 18 cm DIA, Houston Center of Contemporary Craft.

Samour creates large scale installations that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the details while being surrounded by the work. We discussed the studio spaces and equipment she has developed over the years to accommodate the creation of large work from small components. (In one studio, she dumped water out an upstairs window to avoid hauling it).

Installation view of “Land of Milk and Honey: Stuck,” 2021, Pigmented Abaca handmade paper, Mother of Pearl acrylic, gouache, Installation dimensions: 40 x 112 in / 101.6 x 248.5 cm, Sheet dimensions: 8 x 10 in / 20.3 x 25.4 cm.

We also talked about Samour’s working methods and her  idea-based work, dealing with topics such as climate change and her Palestinian ancestry and displacement.

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Michelle Samour’s recommendations:

Radical Paper: Art & Invention with Colored Pulp, is a new book by Lynn Sures and Michelle Samour that opens the door to this art medium.The Invention of Nature, by Andrea WulfInventing Kindergarten, by Norman BrostermanDarwin’s Ghosts, The Secret History of Evolution, by Rebecca Stott

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You can find out more about Michelle Samour on her website and on Instagram.

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Music featuring excerpts of Makin’ Paper folk song by Peter Thomas. Listen to the full song and find out about other paper and book arts folk songs.

Gary A. Hanson did the sound editing for this episode. He practices and refines his skills in audio production while making his own podcast I’ll Have a Beer and Talk, a show about tech news, culture, weird animal stories and of course, beer. Gary is also the Deckle in Pulp & Deckle, a Portland-based community hand papermaking studio.

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The post Episode #133: Michelle Samour appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.

Helen’s 100 Papery Picks 2024

Happy New Year! Whether you’re just discovering this blog or you’ve followed it from the beginning (we reached the 500th post in 2024) thank you for following along on this paper journey.

This is the fourth annual end of the year list of 100 of my favorite papery things – from tools to tutorials, inspiration to online exploration – I hope you enjoy reading through it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

I would love to know your favorites too – please leave your comments below. You’ll notice that several of the recommended items came from other paper lovers this year. Thank you!

Feel free to share this list with your paper-loving friends. Enjoy!

Special thanks to Lisa Merkin for designing the graphic. 

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Paper: Figuring out which paper will work best for a particular project is tricky, but it can be a delightful journey. There are so many qualities – thickness, opacity, foldability – to name a few. My advice: try it and see if it works. If it does, it becomes a favorite paper. If it doesn’t, you learned something!

I discovered Cambridge Imprint this year, a company in the UK that makes patterned papers, stationery and homeware with a sophisticated palette and a distinctively English sensibility. I have convinced myself, that if I order enough sheets (paper is lightweight), the international shipping charge is reasonable.Also in the UK: Vintage Paper Co. Their patterns and designs are copies of, or influenced by patterned, decorative papers from the 1600s and onwards. (This link takes you to their papers, but they have many other products. Helen’s TIP: their sheets seem to be organized from most to least expensive, so be sure to scroll down if you are frugal, like me).Zó project is a social business, which preserves, supports, and expands traditional Vietnamese paper and the papermaking process in a sustainable and creative way. Check out their papers for fine art, packaging and printmaking.Porridge Papers in Lincoln, NE, has been creating handmade papers for design studios, calligraphers, printers and paper lovers for more than 30 years. They have a fun website, featuring paper lines, like Blue Collar, which includes papers called Warehouse, Time Card, Quarter Sawn and Overalls.Tony Carlone creates unique handmade sheets featuring unique blends of quality materials. For example, his London Hue Blend is one-of-a-kind blend of pigmented kozo, cattail, flax, sisal, yucca, cordyline, dracaena, daylily, natural cotton fabric scraps, gingko leaves, abaca, common reed, cotton, pineapple, corn, hosta, bush lily, iris, common reed seed heads and recycled pH neutral paper.You have to check out The Paper Foundation’s online shop (worth a visit, even if you don’t make a purchase). In addition to creating their own handmade papers with a nod to the past, they have a stash of old papers made by Barcham Green (rabbit hole alert).I had the good fortune of visiting The Japanese Paper Place in person for the first time this year. This website is a treasure trove with tons of information about Japanese paper. Helen’s TIP: The JPP has a retail shop in Toronto but the site is mostly for wholesale. If you are interested in any of their papers, fill out the Where to Buy form and they will respond via email with either a fitting reseller or the option to buy from them directly. Their retail order minimum is $150 within the US and $100 within Canada.These linocut printed papers by Crowing Hens bindery are available on the Colophon Book Arts website. Helen’s TIP: Colophon carries several other small lines of paper.I’d love to pop into Rochester Art Supply! It looks like they have everything under the sun, including a huge selection of decorative papers, some that I’ve never seen before.  I am going to order some of these Chinese woven papers right after I finish putting this list together. Recommended by Helen Spielman.Hiromi Paper is a fabulous paper shop in Culver City, CA. They carry an incredible variety of international papers, with an emphasis on fine Japanese paper. Their staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Recommended by Gouri Krishna.

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Techniques: There are so many ways to transform paper, and I am fascinated with all of them! Take a walk on the wild side with paper by following the links below – you might just end up in a paper vortex.

Rain Scott makes baskets from folded paper, origami style. While his technique is new and innovative, he pays tribute to the traditions of his people both in form (olla) and in color/pattern. Recommended by Helen Spielman.Marbled paper has captivated attention for centuries due to its fantastical patterns and impressive craftsmanship, and it is experiencing a resurgence in the craft world today. Check out this round-up of marbled paper products.Duncan Birmingham introduces you to pop-up structures in YouTube videos from the basics to advanced, showing his process and fixes along the way. Recommended by Jade Quek.Have you seen Claire Van Vliet’s Woven and Interlocking Book Structures (now available as a free PDF)?Francesco Guarnieri generously shares his Origami Paper Poems (folded designs) on his blog, and allows others to teach his models, as long as they are for educational purposes. Recommended by Jade Quek.I googled papercraft techniques, and this was one of the top hits, LOL. Helen’s TIP: you can get a copy of The Art of Papercraft e-book for $2.99 USD now through 12/31/24 (that’s a $10 savings).I created a series of papermaking videos in 2023, and several of them feature creative techniques that you can do during the papermaking process.Cathryn Miller’s blog, over at Byopia Press offers all kinds of tutorials for books and paper toys, and she’s done an advent countdown series for several years in a row.Goran Konjevod pleats paper in the most innovative ways!Paper folding was a popular exercise that Josef Albers taught at the Bauhaus. Check out these two folding exercises.

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Online Resources: I’m still a fan of actual books, paper, and libraries, but there’s no arguing that the internet allows us to share and learn about things we might never discover in the analog world. Many of these are repeats, and they’re worth repeating! Here are ten blogs and organizations that spread the love of paper.

The International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA) is a membership organization for paper artists. Helen’s TIP: the 2025 meeting will be held in China, which seems like a wonderful way to visit the country where papermaking began (I’m seriously considering this).Ann Martin enjoys blogging about artists and crafters who are creating beautiful things with paper at allthingspaper.net, and has been doing so since 2009. Artist Spotlights are a favorite with her readers, as are features about new art/craft books, tutorials, kit round ups, paper jewelry and ornaments of all sorts, and more. Occasionally she shows her own projects, usually paper quilling. Subscribe to Ann’s newsletter to read the latest posts, as well as worldwide paper news.Hand Papermaking’s print and online publications chronicle the finest work in the field of hand papermaking, while advancing the scholarship and production of handmade paper and paper art. The biannual print journal includes tipped-in paper samples; how cool is that?!North American Hand Papermakers is an organization that brings together people interested in hand papermaking, to encourage sharing of practical, historical, and artistic knowledge about the craft.Jade Quek keeps tabs for us on everything book and paper-related with her Book & Paper Arts Calendar. You can sign up for her monthly e-newsletter at the link.The Movable Book Society is a nonprofit organization that provides a forum for artists, book sellers, book producers, collectors, curators, and others to share enthusiasm and exchange information about pop-up and movable books.Do you listen to my podcast, Paper Talk? This past year, I conducted 17 interviews with papermakers, paper engineers, origami artists, surface designers, book artists and authors.Asosiasi Origami Indonesia (Origami Association of Indonesia) is an organization that spreads the love of origami through video instructions, conventions and public outreach through schools and events in shopping malls, community halls, etc. Recommended by Jade Quek.I spent a couple of weeks down under this year, where I had the chance to interact with several members of Papermakers of Victoria. This impressive group is committed to sharing and teaching the skills of making paper by hand, along with book binding, printmaking, collage, sculpture and many other paper arts. Members have access to a fully equipped studio as well as workshops, a library, online lectures and artist talks, an exhibition program and a quarterly newsletter called The Deckle Edge.This isn’t specific to paper, but I’m sure there are paper goods in many of these shops on this custom map and international list of creative reuse centers – stores that sell upcycled materials, craft supplies, and more. Recommended by Helen Spielman.

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Books/Magazines/Articles: My collection of books about paper continues to grow, and I have catalogued them on Library Thing. Here are ten new faves, some in my collection, some on my wish list.

I just picked up one of these books, a set of Mt 100 Writing and Crafting Papers, at my local bookstore. The selection of colorful and striking designs are printed on a variety of papers.Just look at this adorable (and clever) Book Light: Good Night Baby Dinasaurs, by paper engineer David Hawcock. Get ready for bed with some baby dinosaurs. Read the story then twist and the book becomes your very own nightlight. Sweet dreams!With a combination of inventive wrapping designs, inspiring personal essays, and step-by-step techniques, Megumi Inouye invites readers to transform the act of wrapping into a gratitude practice in her new book, The Soul of Gift Wrapping . (Helen’s TIP: listen to my interview with Megumi on Paper Talk).A landmark book that profiles an artistic movement that has operated largely outside the mainstream art world,  Radical Paper: Art and Invention with Colored Pulp, by authors/artists Lynn Sures and Michelle Samour, serves as both an overdue history and up-close look at the range, versatility, and brilliance of art created with colored paper pulp.I’m excited to open the pages of Peter Dahmen’s new book, Pop Up Sculptures, published by Poposition Press and due out this year.A couple of months ago, Kelli Anderson launched a remarkable, five-years-in-the-making project called Alphabet in Motion: How Letters Get Their Shape, an ABC pop-up book about typography, on Kickstarter. Helen’s TIP: This book is due out in Summer 2025, and it looks like you can still pre-order a copy.Congratulations to Radha Pandey, winner of the MCBA Prize (an international artist’s book award, given by the Minnesota Center for Book Arts) for her book, Flora of Mughal India. Helen’s TIP: Radha runs Halden Bookworks in Norway with her husband, Johan Solberg.Woman’s World, a 437-page novel by Graham Rawle, is collaged entirely from fragments of text clipped from the pages of vintage women’s magazines and reassembled to tell the 1962 story of Roy, and his sister Norma’s struggle to live up to the prescribed ideals of feminine perfection. Recommended by Helen Spielman. Japanese Paper Yarn, by Andra Stanton, shows you how to add new dimensions to your favorite fiber crafts like knitting, crocheting, macrame, weaving, or mixed media – with paper!I just opened an oldie but goodie on my bookshelf, Keith Smith’s Non-Adhesive Bindings. These poignant words were what I saw first: Binding is not an afterthought. It is one of the inter-related elements: the page, the picture/text, turning pages, and displaying. Structure must facilitate action.

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One-Sheet Wonders. Something that has captivated me throughout my career is how many ways a single sheet of paper can be transformed! Here are 10 one-sheet wonders that caught my eye.

Check this out: Notpla Ocean Paper is a printable paper, created with seaweed. Click through to see the one-sheet packaging products that the company is customizing for clients.I adore this! While away on assignment, the cartoonist and illustrator Alfred Joseph Frueh sent letters home to his wife Giuliette Fancuilli. Through collage, cuts and structural folds, Frueh demonstrates quite literally how space can be constructed through letter-writing, as the page forms the walls of a gallery.Artist Aron Wiesenfeld renders introspective scenes on a 3 x 3-inch canvas, the Post-It Note!Reina Takahashi transposes the expressive, refined flourishes common in calligraphy into this exquisite series of paper type.In Paul Cocksedge’s Shade edition, the intrusive fittings and flexes of conventional lamps vanish.Check out these cut and folded paper artifacts that were discovered on a lintel, where they are assumed to have settled after falling between floorboards about 350 years ago.Paper Space, by Chinese practice IM Design, was exhibited at the Origin Earth Art Festival 2024 for X’ian Contemporary Design Week. The design uses paper as a medium, which transforms from a two-dimensional plane into a three-dimensional space through cutting and folding.Issey Miyake’s On Washi paid homage to Japanese handmade paper, with pleated and draped forms with single sheets (supplied by papermakers Awagami Factory).Pop, fold and secure the tabs to create a set of house plants. This Green Plants Papercraft Calendar features six plants, with two different months on each of them.Wowza! Maho Motoyama has created a forest of Christmas tree-shaped boxes, each from a single sheet of green paper. (Helen’s TIP: click through to find links for tutorials on how to make these, plus many more boxes).

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Artists / Designers /Tinkerers: I once thought I might run out of people to feature on the blog, but I’m convinced that this is a never-ending list. Enjoy these 10 and I’ll introduce you to 10 more next year. 

Jennifer Falck Linnsen‘s hand carved paper sculptures are truly stunning. The foundation of her work (seen in collections and public spaces around the country) lies in the ancient Japanese paper and textile traditions of katagami and katazome.Have you ever thought about the edges of sheets of paper? Paulina M. Johnson has a way with them, creating images from nature, one strip at a time.Rob Kelly is a paper engineer extraordinaire who makes paper unfold in unique ways.Peter Callesen explores difficult ideas of morality and human impact on the environment as he transforms paper in a unique way.Barbara Earl Thomas builds tension-filled narratives through papercuts and prints, placing silhouetted figures in social and political landscapes. Her paper cuts influence her work in other materials which transform into large-scale installations that use light as the animating force and invite viewers to step inside her world of illuminated scenography.Lyndon J. Barrois Sr.has been creating gum wrapper sculptures for decades. The works are tiny and incredibly detailed portraits of historical figures and athletes in flight (think Patrick Mahomes). Apologies if this is behind the NY Times paywall, but the animated story is totally worth a peek if you can access it!The Hirsch Library at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, recently acquired more than 50 photographically illustrated books from Bea Nettles, a pioneer in book arts.A reader turned me onto the work of Jaq Belcher. The art of meditation and the ancient wisdom revealed in her art is accessed through the repetition and precision of cutting the seed shape over and over from a large sheet of white paper.I love the suspended works on paper by Sarah Sze.Simon Arizpe spent the fall as artist-in-residence at Zion National Park and created a pop-up map of the park.

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Tutorials + Classes: There are endless possibilities for what you can make from/with/of/on paper. Here are just a few ideas.

Darryl Bedford creates loads of tutorials for his unique knitted origami structures.Madonna Yoder at Gathering Folds creates amazing tessellations and teaches origami folders the principles behind folding, reverse engineering, and designing tessellations so they can fold whatever patterns they like.I have a growing list of free mini-workshops on my YouTube Channel.San Diego Book Arts hosts all kinds of online workshops about book and paper arts throughout the year.The Ultimate Papermaking School for Artists is an online class by May Babcock of Paper Slurry. Sign up for her inspirational weekly newsletter to get notified when she opens doors for registration.I run an online membership program called The Paper Year. We explore a different paper technique every month in a warm, creative, supportive community.Check out the beautiful and elegant origami mandalas (stars/flowers) that Falk Brito creates. Recommended by Jade Quek, who sought him out and studied with him, even though there was a language divide (which the language of origami overcame). He provides step-by-step diagrams and videos for his workshops.Shawn Sheehy creates moveable books and cards and offers online, on site and pre-recorded tutorials.I host the annual Red Cliff Paper Retreat and Papermaking Master Classes in my Colorado studio.Hive Center for the Book Arts, in Evanston, IL, is a collective of artists, teachers, writers, makers, experimenters, and curious humans who celebrate the book and literary arts – a place for people to gather, share ideas, and create. Join Hive for free community papermaking workshops through their Big Read programming.

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Inspiring Projects: It is truly amazing to witness the ideas that people come up with to contemplate what is happening in our world and to make it a better place via paper.

A recent exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the catalog – Drawing on Blue: European Drawings on Blue Paper, 1400s–1700s – traces the introduction and adoption of blue paper as a drawing medium.Tuan Ngyuen created  Washed Child with paper he’d previously used for drawings. He washed the paper and repurposed it into this new sculpture, connecting to the notion of transformation that is familiar to so many refugees and immigrants.This article is from 2020, but how fascinating! Daphne Mohajer va Pesaran provides an overview of some of her work for the Paper people – making clothing from paper in Japan project. There are very few communities continuing to make paper clothing or textiles throughout Japan – in Shiroishi, there are only four people who make the specially treated paper or the clothing itself, as there is no consumer demand. It is used in one annual Buddhist ceremony near Kyoto.This is a lovely story about William Huffman, who is frequently on the move around the globe bringing Inuit art to new cultures, setting up exhibits, networking and making connections that promote Inuit art and way of life to the world. Click through to see a Korean paper igloo.How fun! A giant paper boat that really floats and holds a person. 1070 square feet (100 sq metres) of paper were used to create the 12-foot long vessel. The boat weighs approximately 220lbs (100kg). 500ft (150m) of sticky tape and ten litres of glue were used to finish it.Wegroweco is a Santa Fe based educational nonprofit that is building a robust circular economy around textile waste in Northern New Mexico – via hand papermaking!About 6,000 origami houses were displayed on the steps of State Parliament on 31 July in Melbourne, Australia, as part of a campaign for State and Federal governments to build at least 60,000 social housing properties. I love this form of activism through paper, and a community element emerged too. Folders said “the activity opened the channel to have important conversations about homelessness and housing insecurity which, across a lifetime, impacts more people than many realize.”This is soooo exciting, and I can’t wait to visit, although the museum, with a ‘single sheet of paper roof’, still has to be constructed. Danish architecture studio BIG is expanding a former Aldi supermarket in North Jutland, Denmark, to create The Museum for Paper Art, which is being developed to celebrate the history of paper art in Denmark.This story, about a 2nd generation business owner in Singapore, is inspiring! Print N Matters is upcycling waste paper while building community around sustainability and craftsmanship.Check out this array of paper lanterns that were featured in the community lantern festival at Farnham Craft Town.

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Videos: If a picture is worth a thousand words, what does that make a video worth? Here are 10 videos in a variety of formats that I think are valuable to watch.

It was a treat to attend Paper on Skin in Tasmania last September. Set aside some time to watch the two halves of this fantastic runway show: Film one and Film Two.Eric and Martin Demaine are featured in a recent Also on Craft in America: Roberto Benavidez, who makes sculptural piñatas, (not your normal piñatas).Check out this video about Sophia Bogle, who restores old books. It is a fascinating snapshot into book restoration, and you get to see her unique tools and process. I love that she signs each spine’s interior, leaving her mark within each project in an invisible way.
Gruff: A new short film called “Gruff” features extraordinary artwork by filmmaker Julian Curi, who drew all of his characters and backgrounds by hand on paper, manipulated the drawings like puppets before the camera, and used computers to erase the wires, giving his film a uniquely intimate feel. The film centers on the relationship between its heroine, Hazel, and her emotionally distant father, Abuelo, a character loosely based on Curi’s own father. Here’s a brief segment on CBS Sunday Morning.This video shows how a town in India is keeping their papermaking tradition alive.I enjoyed Episode 102, in the Confluence Documentary Series: Material World (look for it on your local PBS station). It features many artists and how they interact with their materials. Matt Shlian (who I featured in this episode of Paper Talk) talks about his relationship with paper.Set some time aside to watch this brilliant video about washi made in Echizen(that’s the paper village we visited on the recent Japan Paper Tour, although we did not visit the mills that are featured in this video). Helen’s TIP: you will find a companion video at the link, along with other things to explore. These videos are soooo good, in so many ways, right down to the voice of the narrator.In about 1995, I had the opportunity to work with a producer who made films for Sesame Street. He created this fun film at Dieu Donné, where I was working at the time. I still remember meeting him somewhere on the streets of NYC on my bicycle – he wanted to share the catchy jingle he wrote – probably on a walkman. I was grinning ear to ear as I listened. Enjoy!This is a fascinating video that gives a nice introduction to French wallpaper. Watch as the narrator points out various intricacies about the paper and printing. The Art of French Wallpaper: the Huard Collection at the RISD Museum, is on view at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum through May 11, 2025.

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Tools & Supplies: Here’s an eclectic list of tools and supplies for papermaking and paper crafts.

Studio Carta in the Boston area carries exquisite tools & accessories for paper and book arts, among other things. Helen’s TIP: Owner Angela Liguori recently released her first book, The Ribbon Studio.Brien Beidler makes a small line of finishing tools, which are decorative leather stamps used to compose designs on book covers. Ooh la la!If you love stationery, you are going to be drooling over the work of Sora Ahsan.This Singer measuring gauge is handy for marking intervals, and it can also be used as a compass to draw arcs and circles by anchoring the slider with a pin and placing the tip of a marking pencil in the hole located at the end of the scale. The Singer (or Dritz) brands have a small piece of metal inside the plastic marker that acts as a spring so the marker stays put when you move it. Recommended by Marguerite Katchen.The Fons & Porter mechanical pencil comes with white lead. This is great for marking on black paper and marks come off with a kneaded eraser. Recommended by Marguerite Katchen.John Neal Bookseller carries the ColorWay Arts 2-in-1 Trim & Miter Tool, which is great for cartonnage, bookbinding, and paper crafts. Recommended by Marguerite Katchen.Get a couple of fun Koh-i-Noor MAGIC FX Colored Pencils – with multi-colored points. Recommended by Sarah Morgan.Someone turned me onto this magnetic tape dispenser, which I’ve fallen in love with. Helen’s TIP: I used the tape for the closure on this Photo Cube.I love paper and light and use these fairy lights all the time to illuminate small paper objects.Cutting circles can be tricky. Mr. Pen is my current favorite for that.

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Helen Hiebert Studio in Red Cliff, Colorado. Photo by Red Cliff Paper Retreat participant Dell Combs.

About Helen Hiebert Studio: My interest in how things are made (from paper) keep me up to date on current paper trends, which I write about weekly on this blog. I also host the podcast Paper Talk, featuring artists and professionals who are working in the field of hand papermaking and paper art (some of them are listed above).

Discover my most popular papermaking and papercraft resources – including information about tools and supplies, how-to videos, and paper tips – all in one place by joining The Paper Advisor (it’s FREE)! You are also welcome to join my free facebook group, The Paper Studio, where we share what we’re making with paper on Flaunt it Fridays!

I run The Paper Year, an online membership program, where we explore creative paper techniques each month in a supportive community. My other popular online class is called Weave Through Winter –  this course takes place each February as we explore the art and craft of paper weaving. I’m also the author of six books about paper crafts and papermaking, and I offer an annual paper retreat and host two papermaking master classes in my Red Cliff, Colorado studio each summer and fall. In 2025, I am hosting my first Taos Paper Retreat, which I hope to make an annual event.

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Happy Hols, Y’all

The Sunday Paper #537

December 22, 2024

Happy Solstice and a warm and merry holiday season to all!

We made these Photo Cubes last Tuesday at a mini zoom workshop I held to kick of registration for The Paper Year, my online membership community. The possibilities are endless, and the variety of photo cubes that participants created were amazing!

Watch the replay and learn how to make your own Photo Cube. Pictured below: snapshots from the zoom session by Holly Heaslip, Mindy Trost and Elaine Chu.

The Paper Year is now open for new members now through January 6th. Click through to read all about it and join us.

 

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After yesterday’s solstice, we are heading back into the light! I recently discovered the beautiful light work of Kawabi in Brooklyn. Maybe you saw this article in the NYTimes too?

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What a delightful story about how Kazzrie Jaxen folds paper (including recycled paper bags and music sheets) into holiday decor and gifts.

On a mantel, a pint-size Christmas tree spray-painted from white to bubble-gum pink overlooks a rainbow origami forest created by Kazzrie Jaxen. Photo by File Photo /Contributed

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This just happened: I was searching for something to fill this last spot on the blog. This article about sustainable practices caught my eye, and I started thinking about how sustainability is really up to us, as individuals and communities, regardless of what the government says (I like to think bottom up rather than top down). And then I discovered that the article is about Rachel Singel, someone I have talked to several times and worked with online. Serendipitous moments like this just make my day!  Click through to read this article about the sustainability practices of artists Karen Boone and Rachel Singel.

“Abide by the answer” shows the relationship between nature and art and how they interact more sustainably with artists making their own paper and pigments from natural resources.

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This is such a great headline and an equally wonderful story: Fold paper. Insert lens. This $2 microscope changes how kids see the world.

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Paper TidbitsWeave Through Winter opens for registration on 1/1/25. If you’ll be joining us, it is fun to reduce/reuse/recycle, and now’s the time to start your paper stash! Don’t toss all the used holiday wrapping paper, cards, announcements, catalogs, etc.

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Tell 4000 paper enthusiasts about your work by promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

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