No I haven't picked the blog back up, but I had to post this! I have been a paper cutter since I was ten...probably earlier if you count the millions of little things I snipped with scissors from any paper I could lay my hands on! My actual first Scherensnitte was done at 10 however. I am amazed when I think at 10 I went into the Piece Good Shop (fabric and kind of craft shop in Virginia Beach when I was little), and used my allowance to purchase a "Scherensnitte" book.
It had preprinted pieces on parchment and I thought it was the most amazing thing ever! It was too hard to cut with scissors and so my dad showed me an x-acto knife. I'm sure my mother wasn't too keen on it, never have asked her about it really! I was ADD then and still am. I'm sure she was scared I'd slice my finger off, but I never did. What I did do is start to cut these intricate pieces and loved doing it. I found it challenging and relaxing.
My first book was Amish Quilts. Very straight forward lines and shapes, but very pretty. I was hooked and started buying books as I could find them and afford them. I gave many gifts away over the years and people always loved them.
Scherensnitte was an unusual craft that not too many people did and I think that was part of the enjoyment as well, it allowed me to be a little different and carve my own space out in a very talented family. My sister is a beautiful decorator and painted, sculpted, scrap booked and many other things, my mom does anything and everything, my cousins are very gifted artists, my dad builds and designs things, my grandmother and great grandmother are/were talented seamstresses, knitter, painters, etc. Hard to stand out surrounded by talent. No one in my family does this and that makes it special to me. That may sound selfish, but it's very important to feel like an individual and this has given me that in the world of artistic talents.
Today is my mother's birthday. I try to make her a special handmade gift every couple of years and then buy thoughtful gifts in between. A couple of years ago I made her a hand painted banner for her studio. I have made many things over the years and try to do something in a different medium each time. This year she will get a hand cut Scherensnitte from yours truly. I found a book at our local library called: Scherensnitte, designs and techniques for traditional paper cutting by: Susanne Schlapfer-Geiser. The original paper cutting in the book was done by: Christian Schwizgebel (1957). I adapted that and did it on white stock paper and mounted on acid free card stock and then framed it. I hope you enjoy looking at it and try your hand at paper cutting. It's a wonderful craft to learn and you are never too old!
I don't know when I'll post again. I am having the urge to blog a bit, but trying to post on a steady basis is not very conducive to my life currently. I wish you all a wonderful day and enjoy the images!
Until next time Dear Reader,
Chatty Cathy
