Paper Theatres // Pukaca

I hope that none of my friends with kids are reading this, because I plan to get something from this shop for every one of them! Pukaca is a Portuguese company that make paper theatres and finger puppets... so gorgeous and something for every obsession from prehistoric to fantastical.

I predict hours of imaginative entertainment!
(for kids AND their parentals... cause that's important too right?!)

You can get them either as printable pdfs or as a full ready made set.

Etsy shop is here
Australian stockist via here

Paper-crafted Gems // Lydia Kasumi Shirreff

The new issue of Uppercase magazine caught my eye this month (as it tends to each issue in fact) primarily because the cover features some pretty stunning paper crafted gems. On further note I discovered a talent I hadn't know before... Lydia Kasumi Shirreff. Such beautiful work so steeped in nature (she has quite a thing for gems, fruit and minerals it seems) and so vivid in colour. I'm slightly in love with that pineapple. Is that wierd of me?






You can have a lil look at the magazine issue in full here and buy it here.
If you like the top image too, it can be your desktop image via here

The Wind Portal Installation // Najla El Zein

This stunning installation by Lebanese artist and designer, Najla El Zein, was commissioned by the V&A museum for the 2013 London Design Festival. The 5,000 (hand folded!) paper windmills are joined together in strands to create an incredible 8 metre high gate that in combination with the provided (artificial) breeze, spin and whir as you walk through it.




It is not actually a physical gate but more of an optical illusion. It appears from a distance as a wall of paper that as you approach it seems to open up to let you through (apparently this is a effect known as 'trompe l'oeil'). The exhibit is a fabulous combination of very clever design and divine construction.




All images via Najla El Zein
The exhibit will be at the V&A until 3rd November 2013. Catch it if you can! 

Papercut Paradise // Eiko Ojala

This beautiful landscape by Estonian illustrator, Eiko Ojala, makes me want to jump straight in with both snowshoed feet (though maybe not right next to the bear because that would be abit scary!) The subtlety of the folds and cuts* are really quite something with even the birds in flight leaving a shadow behind them.

AND... it turns out the rest of his portfolio is equally as clever, quirky, and wonderful
(Just secretly, I don't think they're actually made of paper. Do you?) 

Handcut Paper Works // Donna Ruff

Most beautiful and ethereal handcut cut paper works by Miami artist, Donna Ruff. Some peoples' patience and precision amazes me!

3D collage by Ciara

I've always been a sucker for collage but this gorgeous poster by Ciara takes it to a whole other level. 3-Dimensional collage and handcut lettering! oh my!





See more of her work here. Lots of collage. Mostly 2D but lovely nonetheless!

Paper Puppets // With her Animal Poetry

These pint sized paper puppets are created by Hong Kong illustrator, Furze Chan. Inspired by animals in general and her pet guinea pig especially. Aren't they adorable little characters?! (The party hat donning penguin has got to be my favourite)

Moffitt.Moffit. for Raleigh Paper

Here lie two things I love almost as much as my family... Colour and Paper!!

Clever and oh so sleek Sydney design firm, Moffitt.Moffitt. worked with supplier, Raleigh Paper (now under BJ Ball) to promote the importance of paper in creativity and communication. They created a series of sculptures and artworks in glorious colour which were then used across promotional material.



The limited edition booklet documented the creative process of construction and then an A1 poster showed off it's gloriousness.

Paper thin armour // Morana Kranjex

I sometimes think that if I could change something about my wedding day, I would wear a paper dress instead. As much as I loved the frock I did adorn, a paper one would be perfectly fitting for a once-worn white coated affair don't you think?! It could be then hung up on the wall as a piece of art. (I comfort myself with the knowledge that the dress would probably be the cause of a million papercuts throughout the night and would end up a bloody mess... though perhaps these black masterpieces are the answer?!)

Morana Kranjec is a Croatian textile and fashion artist who creates incredible armour-like dresses from folded paper. Though they don't look all that comfortable they are intricately beautiful and are oh so striking. It's impossible to see where they begin and end.

cardboard camera kit

The camera shown here is not infact a plastic fantastic/gun metal old school camera as you may initially think... but a fully functioning camera made completely of cardboard. It is a medium format style pinhole camera. I have only ever taken one photo with a pinhole camera (and it was far from brilliant) but it is probably my proudest photo. No trickery. No machinery. Just the sun, a film and some lucky guesswork. Pinhole photography is the home of the happy accident.



This project is by UK designer Kelly Angood and is now on the home straight to be a real life product thanks to many a keen bean camera buff via Kickstarter (such a damn tooting excellent way to fund an idea!). It has been designed, screenprinted and is soon available for sale as a flatpack shipped right to your door. It's not too late to pick yourself up one of the first ones by pledging 30 GB squids here.



A few fabulous looking photos I found via this pinhole flickr group.


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Miniature treehouses and more // Ontwerpduo

I just discovered the fabulous world that is Ontwerpduo - A dutch duo of designers who dream up  wildly original creations (and then make them all themselves too!) Their cottage town project converts your potplants into magical little worlds fit for the most fussy fairy or elf. They are made of waterproof paper and come flatpacked to build yourself. Divine, oui?







In actual fact, everything this duo has on it's website is damn tooting excellent. I love the twisted grids of this 'unstationery' set too. Go forth and check it all out. You will leave feeling like your mind has been twisted ever so slightly!



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Revolution // Life Cycle of a Drop of Water

This is the most delightful little collaborative stop-motion film following the cyclical journey of a single droplet of water. Over a thousand still photographs were taken for the 1minute and 45seconds it spans... and even the credits are divine. The amazing pop-up book was created by talented paper magician, Helen Friel (check out her site - amazing work!).

It's a beautiful little tale that will make you treasure every drop like it were a little duckling!





Photography - Chris Turner
Paper Engineering - Helen Friel
Animation - Jess Deacon

Found via Present & Correct

Song Reader // Jessica Hische and Hambeck

A McSweeneys book, lettering by Jessica Hische, music by Beck and a framed papercut artwork - a match made in heaven I think, yes!

This cover artwork was completed digitally by Jessica Hische for Becks new experimental album that is sold in the form of a book of sheet music (to be reinterpreted by his musician fans)



Beautiful as the cover is, it's journey didn't stop there... going on to even more amazing things. Beck fan (and clearly a very talented soul too) has turned it into a marvel of papercutting and quilling and framed it. Such an unlikely collaboration, delicate procedure and such a stunning outcome - feels sort of fairytale like in a way & makes a nerd like me a little dizzy!



see the full stop motion process below

Flowers in the heavens // Benja Harney

I am very slow in posting about this as it was way back in September when I was bowled over by this beautiful installation (whilst pushing a rather shouty one year old hastily through the building) Hanging below the dome of the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney are these incredible paper florals in mouth watering colourful hues.



Created by the hugely talented, Benja Harney, and produced in a factory on huge scale... "unlike any project he's done before" he says. That man's creative flair knows no bounds!



photos from Benja's Paperform blog (thankyou!!)

Sui Tin Sung // Mini camping

I don't know what (or where) Camp Fair is but if this poster is anything to go by I think I'd quite like it there. Campfires are one of the best things in the world but one done in paper in miniature form... now that is truly something!