Helen’s 100 Papery Picks 2024

Joyful New 12 months! Whether or not you’re simply discovering this weblog otherwise you’ve adopted it from the start (we reached the five hundredth publish in 2024) thanks for following alongside on this paper journey.

That is the fourth annual finish of the 12 months record of 100 of my favourite papery issues – from instruments to tutorials, inspiration to on-line exploration – I hope you take pleasure in studying by it as a lot as I loved placing it collectively.

I might like to know your favorites too – please depart your feedback beneath. You’ll discover that a number of of the advisable gadgets got here from different paper lovers this 12 months. Thanks!

Be at liberty to share this record along with your paper-loving mates. Take pleasure in!

Particular because of Lisa Merkin for designing the graphic. 

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Paper: Determining which paper will work finest for a specific mission is hard, however it may be a pleasant journey. There are such a lot of qualities – thickness, opacity, foldability – to call a couple of. My recommendation: strive it and see if it really works. If it does, it turns into a favourite paper. If it doesn’t, you realized one thing!

1. I found Cambridge Imprint this 12 months, an organization within the UK that makes patterned papers, stationery and homeware with a classy palette and a distinctively English sensibility. I’ve satisfied myself, that if I order sufficient sheets (paper is light-weight), the worldwide transportation charge is affordable.
2. Additionally within the UK: Classic Paper Co. Their patterns and designs are copies of, or influenced by patterned, ornamental papers from the 1600s and onwards. (This hyperlink takes you to their papers, however they’ve many different merchandise. Helen’s TIP: their sheets appear to be organized from most to least costly, so you should definitely scroll down if you’re frugal, like me).
3. Zó mission is a social enterprise, which preserves, helps, and expands conventional Vietnamese paper and the papermaking course of in a sustainable and artistic means. Try their papers for wonderful artwork, packaging and printmaking.
4. Porridge Papers in Lincoln, NE, has been creating handmade papers for design studios, calligraphers, printers and paper lovers for greater than 30 years. They’ve a enjoyable web site, that includes paper strains, like Blue Collar, which incorporates papers known as Warehouse, Time Card, Quarter Sawn and Overalls.
5. Tony Carlone creates distinctive handmade sheets that includes distinctive blends of high quality supplies. For instance, his London Hue Mix is one-of-a-kind mix of pigmented kozo, cattail, flax, sisal, yucca, cordyline, dracaena, daylily, pure cotton material scraps, gingko leaves, abaca, widespread reed, cotton, pineapple, corn, hosta, bush lily, iris, widespread reed seed heads and recycled pH impartial paper.
6. It’s important to take a look at The Paper Basis’s on-line store (value a go to, even for those who don’t make a purchase order). Along with creating their very own handmade papers with a nod to the previous, they’ve a stash of outdated papers made by Barcham Inexperienced (rabbit gap alert).
7. I had the great fortune of visiting The Japanese Paper Place in particular person for the primary time this 12 months. This web site is a treasure trove with tons of details about Japanese paper. Helen’s TIP: The JPP has a retail store in Toronto however the website is generally for wholesale. If you’re all in favour of any of their papers, fill out the The place to Purchase type and they’re going to reply by way of e mail with both a becoming reseller or the choice to purchase from them straight. Their retail order minimal is $150 throughout the US and $100 inside Canada.
8. These linocut printed papers by Crowing Hens bindery can be found on the Colophon E book Arts web site. Helen’s TIP: Colophon carries a number of different small strains of paper.
9. I’d like to pop into Rochester Artwork Provide! It appears to be like like they’ve every little thing underneath the solar, together with an enormous choice of ornamental papers, some that I’ve by no means seen earlier than.  I’m going to order a few of these Chinese language woven papers proper after I end placing this record collectively. Really helpful by Helen Spielman.
10. Hiromi Paper is a superb paper store in Culver Metropolis, CA. They carry an unimaginable number of worldwide papers, with an emphasis on wonderful Japanese paper. Their employees could be very educated and useful. Really helpful by Gouri Krishna.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Methods: There are such a lot of methods to remodel paper, and I’m fascinated with all of them! Take a stroll on the wild facet with paper by following the hyperlinks beneath – you would possibly simply find yourself in a paper vortex.

1. Rain Scott makes baskets from folded paper, origami model. Whereas his approach is new and modern, he pays tribute to the traditions of his folks each in type (olla) and in colour/sample. Really helpful by Helen Spielman.
2. Marbled paper has captivated consideration for hundreds of years as a consequence of its fantastical patterns and spectacular craftsmanship, and it’s experiencing a resurgence within the craft world at this time. Try this round-up of marbled paper merchandise.
3. Duncan Birmingham introduces you to pop-up buildings in YouTube movies from the fundamentals to superior, displaying his course of and fixes alongside the way in which. Really helpful by Jade Quek.
4. Have you ever seen Claire Van Vliet’s Woven and Interlocking E book Buildings (now accessible as a free PDF)?
5. Francesco Guarnieri generously shares his Origami Paper Poems (folded designs) on his weblog, and permits others to show his fashions, so long as they’re for academic functions. Really helpful by Jade Quek.
6. I googled papercraft strategies, and this was one of many prime hits, LOL. Helen’s TIP: you may get a replica of The Artwork of Papercraft e-book for $2.99 USD now by 12/31/24 (that’s a $10 financial savings).
7. I created a collection of papermaking movies in 2023, and a number of other of them characteristic artistic strategies that you are able to do through the papermaking course of.
8. Cathryn Miller’s weblog, over at Byopia Press affords every kind of tutorials for books and paper toys, and he or she’s completed an creation countdown collection for a number of years in a row.
9. Goran Konjevod pleats paper in essentially the most modern methods!
10. Paper folding was a well-liked train that Josef Albers taught on the Bauhaus. Try these two folding workouts.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

On-line Sources: I’m nonetheless a fan of precise books, paper, and libraries, however there’s no arguing that the web permits us to share and find out about issues we would by no means uncover within the analog world. Many of those are repeats, and so they’re value repeating! Listed here are ten blogs and organizations that unfold the love of paper.

1. The Worldwide Affiliation of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA) is a membership group for paper artists. Helen’s TIP: the 2025 assembly shall be held in China, which looks like a beautiful solution to go to the nation the place papermaking started (I’m severely contemplating this).
2. Ann Martin enjoys running a blog about artists and crafters who’re creating stunning issues with paper at allthingspaper.internet, and has been doing so since 2009. Artist Spotlights are a favourite together with her readers, as are options about new artwork/craft books, tutorials, package spherical ups, paper jewellery and ornaments of all kinds, and extra. Sometimes she exhibits her personal initiatives, often paper quilling. Subscribe to Ann’s publication to learn the newest posts, in addition to worldwide paper information.
3. Hand Papermaking’s print and on-line publications chronicle the best work within the subject of hand papermaking, whereas advancing the scholarship and manufacturing of handmade paper and paper artwork. The biannual print journal contains tipped-in paper samples; how cool is that?!
4. North American Hand Papermakers is a company that brings collectively folks all in favour of hand papermaking, to encourage sharing of sensible, historic, and inventive data concerning the craft.
5. Jade Quek retains tabs for us on every little thing e book and paper-related together with her E book & Paper Arts Calendar. You may join her month-to-month e-newsletter on the hyperlink.
6. The Movable E book Society is a nonprofit group that gives a discussion board for artists, e book sellers, e book producers, collectors, curators, and others to share enthusiasm and trade details about pop-up and movable books.
7. Do you take heed to my podcast, Paper Discuss? This previous 12 months, I performed 17 interviews with papermakers, paper engineers, origami artists, floor designers, e book artists and authors.
8. Asosiasi Origami Indonesia (Origami Affiliation of Indonesia) is a company that spreads the love of origami by video directions, conventions and public outreach by colleges and occasions in buying malls, neighborhood halls, and so forth. Really helpful by Jade Quek.
9. I spent a few weeks down underneath this 12 months, the place I had the prospect to work together with a number of members of Papermakers of Victoria. This spectacular group is dedicated to sharing and educating the talents of constructing paper by hand, together with e book binding, printmaking, collage, sculpture and lots of different paper arts. Members have entry to a completely geared up studio in addition to workshops, a library, on-line lectures and artist talks, an exhibition program and a quarterly publication known as The Deckle Edge.
10. This isn’t particular to paper, however I’m certain there are paper items in lots of of those outlets on this customized map and worldwide record of artistic reuse facilities – shops that promote upcycled supplies, craft provides, and extra. Really helpful by Helen Spielman.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Books/Magazines/Articles: My assortment of books about paper continues to develop, and I’ve catalogued them on Library Factor. Listed here are ten new faves, some in my assortment, some on my want record.

1. I simply picked up one among these books, a set of Mt 100 Writing and Crafting Papers, at my native bookstore. The choice of colourful and placing designs are printed on quite a lot of papers.
2. Simply have a look at this lovable (and intelligent) E book Gentle: Good Night time Child Dinasaurs, by paper engineer David Hawcock. Prepare for mattress with some child dinosaurs. Learn the story then twist and the e book turns into your very personal nightlight. Candy desires!
3. With a mix of ingenious wrapping designs, inspiring private essays, and step-by-step strategies, Megumi Inouye invitations readers to remodel the act of wrapping right into a gratitude apply in her new e book, The Soul of Reward Wrapping. (Helen’s TIP: take heed to my interview with Megumi on Paper Discuss).
4. A landmark e book that profiles an inventive motion that has operated largely outdoors the mainstream artwork world, Radical Paper: Artwork and Invention with Coloured Pulp, by authors/artists Lynn Sures and Michelle Samour, serves as each an overdue historical past and up-close have a look at the vary, versatility, and brilliance of artwork created with coloured paper pulp.
5. I’m excited to open the pages of Peter Dahmen’s new e book, Pop Up Sculptures, printed by Poposition Press and due out this 12 months.
6. A few months in the past, Kelli Anderson launched a exceptional, five-years-in-the-making mission known as Alphabet in Movement: How Letters Get Their Form, an ABC pop-up e book about typography, on Kickstarter. Helen’s TIP: This e book is due out in Summer time 2025, and it appears to be like like you may nonetheless pre-order a replica.
7. Congratulations to Radha Pandey, winner of the MCBA Prize (a global artist’s e book award, given by the Minnesota Middle for E book Arts) for her e book, Flora of Mughal India. Helen’s TIP: Radha runs Halden Bookworks in Norway together with her husband, Johan Solberg.
8. Girl’s World, a 437-page novel by Graham Rawle, is collaged fully from fragments of textual content clipped from the pages of classic ladies’s magazines and reassembled to inform the 1962 story of Roy, and his sister Norma’s battle to reside as much as the prescribed beliefs of female perfection. Really helpful by Helen Spielman. 
9. Japanese Paper Yarn, by Andra Stanton, exhibits you easy methods to add new dimensions to your favourite fiber crafts like knitting, crocheting, macrame, weaving, or combined media – with paper!
10. I simply opened an oldie however goodie on my bookshelf, Keith Smith’s Non-Adhesive Bindings. These poignant phrases have been what I noticed first: Binding just isn’t an afterthought. It is without doubt one of the inter-related components: the web page, the image/textual content, turning pages, and displaying. Construction should facilitate motion.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

One-Sheet Wonders. One thing that has captivated me all through my profession is what number of methods a single sheet of paper could be reworked! Listed here are 10 one-sheet wonders that caught my eye.

1. Examine this out: Notpla Ocean Paper is a printable paper, created with seaweed. Click on by to see the one-sheet packaging merchandise that the corporate is customizing for purchasers.
2. I am keen on this! Whereas away on task, the cartoonist and illustrator Alfred Joseph Frueh despatched letters house to his spouse Giuliette Fancuilli. By collage, cuts and structural folds, Frueh demonstrates fairly actually how house could be constructed by letter-writing, because the web page types the partitions of a gallery.
3. Artist Aron Wiesenfeld renders introspective scenes on a 3 x 3-inch canvas, the Put up-It Word!
4. Reina Takahashi transposes the expressive, refined prospers widespread in calligraphy into this beautiful collection of paper sort.
5. In Paul Cocksedge’s Shade version, the intrusive fittings and flexes of typical lamps vanish.
6. Try these lower and folded paper artifacts that have been found on a lintel, the place they’re assumed to have settled after falling between floorboards about 350 years in the past.
7. Paper Area, by Chinese language apply IM Design, was exhibited on the Origin Earth Artwork Pageant 2024 for X’ian Up to date Design Week. The design makes use of paper as a medium, which transforms from a two-dimensional airplane right into a three-dimensional house by chopping and folding.
8. Issey Miyake’s On Washi paid homage to Japanese handmade paper, with pleated and draped types with single sheets (provided by papermakers Awagami Manufacturing unit).
9. Pop, fold and safe the tabs to create a set of home crops. This Inexperienced Crops Papercraft Calendar options six crops, with two completely different months on every of them.
10. Wowza! Maho Motoyama has created a forest of Christmas tree-shaped bins, every from a single sheet of inexperienced paper. (Helen’s TIP: click on by to seek out hyperlinks for tutorials on easy methods to make these, plus many extra bins).

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Artists / Designers /Tinkerers: I as soon as thought I would run out of individuals to characteristic on the weblog, however I’m satisfied that this can be a endless record. Take pleasure in these 10 and I’ll introduce you to 10 extra subsequent 12 months. 

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Tutorials + Courses: There are infinite potentialities for what you may make from/with/of/on paper. Listed here are only a few concepts.

1. Darryl Bedford creates a great deal of tutorials for his distinctive knitted origami buildings.
2. Madonna Yoder at Gathering Folds creates superb tessellations and teaches origami folders the rules behind folding, reverse engineering, and designing tessellations to allow them to fold no matter patterns they like.
3. I’ve a rising record of free mini-workshops on my YouTube Channel.
4. San Diego E book Arts hosts every kind of on-line workshops about e book and paper arts all year long.
5. The Final Papermaking College for Artists is an internet class by Might Babcock of Paper Slurry. Join her inspirational weekly publication to get notified when she opens doorways for registration.
6. I run an internet membership program known as The Paper 12 months. We discover a distinct paper approach each month in a heat, artistic, supportive neighborhood.
7. Try the attractive and chic origami mandalas (stars/flowers) that Falk Brito creates. Really helpful by Jade Quek, who sought him out and studied with him, despite the fact that there was a language divide (which the language of origami overcame). He gives step-by-step diagrams and movies for his workshops.
8. Shawn Sheehy creates moveable books and playing cards and affords on-line, on website and pre-recorded tutorials.
9. I host the annual Purple Cliff Paper Retreat and Papermaking Grasp Courses in my Colorado studio.
10. Hive Middle for the E book Arts, in Evanston, IL, is a collective of artists, academics, writers, makers, experimenters, and curious people who have fun the e book and literary arts – a spot for folks to collect, share concepts, and create. Be a part of Hive without cost neighborhood papermaking workshops by their Large Learn programming.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Inspiring Tasks: It’s really superb to witness the concepts that individuals give you to ponder what is occurring in our world and to make it a greater place by way of paper.

1. A latest exhibition on 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.
2. Tuan Ngyuen created Washed Youngster with paper he’d beforehand used for drawings. He washed the paper and repurposed it into this new sculpture, connecting to the notion of transformation that’s acquainted to so many refugees and immigrants.
3. This text is from 2020, however how fascinating! Daphne Mohajer va Pesaran gives an outline of a few of her work for the Paper folks – making clothes from paper in Japan mission. There are only a few communities persevering with to make paper clothes or textiles all through Japan – in Shiroishi, there are solely 4 individuals who make the specifically handled paper or the clothes itself, as there isn’t any shopper demand. It’s utilized in one annual Buddhist ceremony close to Kyoto.
4. It is a beautiful story about William Huffman, who’s ceaselessly on the transfer across the globe bringing Inuit artwork to new cultures, establishing displays, networking and making connections that promote Inuit artwork and lifestyle to the world. Click on by to see a Korean paper igloo.
5. How enjoyable! A large paper boat that basically floats and holds an individual. 1070 sq. toes (100 sq metres) of paper have been used to create the 12-foot lengthy vessel. The boat weighs roughly 220lbs (100kg). 500ft (150m) of sticky tape and ten litres of glue have been used to complete it.
6. Wegroweco is a Santa Fe primarily based academic nonprofit that’s constructing a sturdy round financial system round textile waste in Northern New Mexico – by way of hand papermaking!
7. About 6,000 origami homes have been displayed on the steps of State Parliament on 31 July in Melbourne, Australia, as a part of a marketing campaign for State and Federal governments to construct no less than 60,000 social housing properties. I really like this type of activism by paper, and a neighborhood ingredient emerged too. Folders mentioned “the exercise opened the channel to have essential conversations about homelessness and housing insecurity which, throughout a lifetime, impacts extra folks than many understand.”
8. That is soooo thrilling, and I can’t wait to go to, though the museum, with a ‘single sheet of paper roof’, nonetheless must be constructed. Danish structure studio BIG is increasing a former Aldi grocery store in North Jutland, Denmark, to create The Museum for Paper Artwork, which is being developed to have fun the historical past of paper artwork in Denmark.
9. This story, a couple of 2nd technology enterprise proprietor in Singapore, is inspiring! Print N Issues is upcycling waste paper whereas constructing neighborhood round sustainability and craftsmanship.
10. Try this array of paper lanterns that have been featured within the neighborhood lantern pageant at Farnham Craft City.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Movies: If an image is value a thousand phrases, what does that make a video value? Listed here are 10 movies in quite a lot of codecs that I feel are precious to observe.

1. It was a deal with to attend Paper on Pores and skin in Tasmania final September. Put aside a while to observe the 2 halves of this implausible runway present: Movie one and Movie Two.
2. Eric and Martin Demaine are featured in a latest Craft in America episode, 
3. Additionally on Craft in America: Roberto Benavidez, who makes sculptural piñatas, (not your regular piñatas).
4. Try this video about Sophia Bogle, who restores outdated books. It’s a fascinating snapshot into e book restoration, and also you get to see her distinctive instruments and course of. I really like that she indicators every backbone’s inside, leaving her mark inside every mission in an invisible means.
   
5. Gruff: A brand new brief movie known as “Gruff” options extraordinary art work by filmmaker Julian Curi, who drew all of his characters and backgrounds by hand on paper, manipulated the drawings like puppets earlier than the digicam, and used computer systems to erase the wires, giving his movie a uniquely intimate really feel. The movie facilities on the connection between its heroine, Hazel, and her emotionally distant father, Abuelo, a personality loosely primarily based on Curi’s personal father. Right here’s a quick section on CBS Sunday Morning.
6. This video exhibits how a city in India is holding their papermaking custom alive.
7. I loved Episode 102, within the Confluence Documentary Collection: Materials World (search for it in your native PBS station). It options many artists and the way they work together with their supplies. Matt Shlian (who I featured on this episode of Paper Discuss) talks about his relationship with paper.
8. Set a while apart to observe this good video about washi made in Echizen(that’s the paper village we visited on the latest Japan Paper Tour, though we didn’t go to the mills which might be featured on this video). Helen’s TIP: you’ll find a companion video on the hyperlink, together with different issues to discover. These movies are soooo good, in so some ways, proper right down to the voice of the narrator.
9. In about 1995, I had the chance to work with a producer who made movies for Sesame Avenue. He created this enjoyable movie at Dieu Donné, the place I used to be working on the time. I nonetheless bear in mind assembly him someplace on the streets of NYC on my bicycle – he needed to share the catchy jingle he wrote – most likely on a walkman. I used to be grinning ear to ear as I listened. Take pleasure in!
10. It is a fascinating video that provides a pleasant introduction to French wallpaper. Watch because the narrator factors out varied intricacies concerning the paper and printing. The Artwork of French Wallpaper: the Huard Assortment on the RISD Museum, is on view on the Rhode Island College of Design Museum by Might 11, 2025.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Instruments & Provides: Right here’s an eclectic record of instruments and provides for papermaking and paper crafts.

1. Studio Carta within the Boston space carries beautiful instruments & equipment for paper and e book arts, amongst different issues. Helen’s TIP: Proprietor Angela Liguori just lately launched her first e book, The Ribbon Studio.
2. Brien Beidler makes a small line of ending instruments, that are ornamental leather-based stamps used to compose designs on e book covers. Ooh la la!
3. Should you love stationery, you will be drooling over the work of Sora Ahsan.
4. This Singer measuring gauge is helpful for marking intervals, and it can be used as a compass to attract arcs and circles by anchoring the slider with a pin and putting the tip of a marking pencil within the gap situated on the finish of the size. The Singer (or Dritz) manufacturers have a small piece of steel contained in the plastic marker that acts as a spring so the marker stays put if you transfer it. Really helpful by Marguerite Katchen.
5. The Fons & Porter mechanical pencil comes with white lead. That is nice for marking on black paper and marks come off with a kneaded eraser. Really helpful by Marguerite Katchen.
6. John Neal Bookseller carries the ColorWay Arts 2-in-1 Trim & Miter Instrument, which is nice for cartonnage, bookbinding, and paper crafts. Really helpful by Marguerite Katchen.
7. Get a few enjoyable Koh-i-Noor MAGIC FX Coloured Pencils – with multi-colored factors. Really helpful by Sarah Morgan.
8. Somebody 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 Picture Dice.
9. I really like paper and light-weight and use these fairy lights on a regular basis to light up small paper objects.
10. Slicing circles could be tough. Mr. Pen is my present favourite for that.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Helen Hiebert Studio in Purple Cliff, Colorado. Picture by Purple Cliff Paper Retreat participant Dell Combs.

About Helen Hiebert Studio: My curiosity in how issues are made (from paper) hold me updated on present paper traits, which I write about weekly on this weblog. I additionally host the podcast Paper Discuss, that includes artists and professionals who’re working within the subject of hand papermaking and paper artwork (a few of them are listed above).

Uncover my hottest papermaking and papercraft sources – together with details about instruments and provides, how-to movies, and paper suggestions – multi function place by becoming a member of The Paper Advisor (it’s FREE)! You might be additionally welcome to hitch my free fb group, The Paper Studio, the place we share what we’re making with paper on Flaunt it Fridays!

I run The Paper 12 months, an internet membership program, the place we discover artistic paper strategies every month in a supportive neighborhood. My different standard on-line class is known as Weave By Winter –  this course takes place every February as we discover the artwork and craft of paper weaving. I’m additionally the writer of six books about paper crafts and papermaking, and I provide an annual paper retreat and host two papermaking grasp lessons in my Purple Cliff, Colorado studio every summer season and fall. In 2025, I’m internet hosting my first Taos Paper Retreat, which I hope to make an annual occasion.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Should you learn this weblog recurrently, would you think about making a donation to assist the analysis, writing, design and supply of The Sunday Paper? Or, maybe you’re all in favour of selling what you are promoting in The Sunday Paper.

Because of everybody who has already pledged your assist!

———————————————————————————————––––––

I sometimes have affiliate hyperlinks in my weblog posts – hyperlinks to merchandise during which I’ll obtain a small fee for those who make a purchase order. Thanks to your assist!