For some reason, I found it very difficult to roll coils in those early days, so I quickly moved on to alternate side looping and started making butterflies - and that's when I really got 'hooked'. I used the butterflies to decorate the woven paper bags and purses that I sometimes make, like this one:
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I don't make many bags these days, although I'd like to get back into it - such fun to do, using recycled magazine pages and gift wrap. There are plenty more examples on my Flickr page, if anyone is interested! http://www.flickr.com/photos/philippa_reid/sets/72157616173603679/
I'd love to hear about other people's first attempts at quilling. I'm sure it would reassure beginners to know how much easier it gets with practice!
Oh gosh yes, I remember it was one of the most frustrating crafts I'd tried, but I loved the look of it so much, I was determined to learn. I kept thinking if others can do it, so can I. Only after a nice person on a message board told me to make sure I was dampening my fingertips before rolling the paper around the needle, was I able to make some real progress. Now I wonder why on earth I didn't think of that myself?!
ReplyDeleteI can so relate, I fell in love with quilling back in 1975!
ReplyDeleteYou can read my story here:
http://customquilling.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-difference-year-makes.html
Continued here:
http://customquilling.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-very-first-quilling-project.html
Keep on Quillin',
Denise
http://www.customquillingbydenise.com/shop
http://customquilling.blogspot.com/
Great idea Philippa and show your work. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteHi, Philippa,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful butterfly and I love the idea of attaching it to a woven purse. You need to do a tutorial on that.
As for how I got starting in quilling, I have torn strips of paper and hand rolled them as a nervous habit for as long as I can remember (still do, actually - LOL!!!). While in high school I came across a quilling book and learned that I could actually create designs with the rolled paper. My mom bought me the book ("Decorative Quilling" by Mrs. Maud Wallace), a quilling tool, and two packs of paper quilling strips -- ivory and bright blue.
My first quilling piece was Winsome Willie the Owl. The quilling looked OK, but really ... a blue owl? I have quilled off and on ever since and still love it. There is just something about the feel of paper in my fingers and I really like.
Charlotte
www.theartofquilling.com