Monday, March 10, 2014

Here it is... the PaperLove Blog Hop!

I just love, love, LOVE paper, it inspires me to experiment and subsequently I use it a lot in my work. My relationship with paper is not very sophisticated but of the 'cut and stick type' with a little bit of the 'obsessive hoarder' thrown in. Having a background as a Graphic Designer I adore the printed variety although this can be swayed with any kind of paper that may catch my eye for some reason. 
How can truly declare my love for this versatile material? Paper for me is definitely a visual and tactile thing... in fact instead of writing fancy words about my feelings for paper I'm just going to mess about with the stuff and see what happens! 
One thing which always amazes me about paper is it's strength, a contradiction when we see delicate things made out of paper or old documents which have survived the test of time. I also enjoy the way that with printed paper the content remains, recorded forever as if it is a concrete method of sealing a thing for life. This as where I am hoping to demonstrate my love for paper. I have a beloved collection of U&lc magazines. U&lc was a product created by Herb Lubalin and the International Typeface Corporation and was designed to advertise and launch new typefaces. The magazine was a great success and lasted from 1970 - 1999. Of my many personal copies I have a double issue of Volume 17/ N°2 from spring 1990. So I have decided to set myself a PaperLove brief... to reinvent the content by sacrificing one of these copies and to experiment with the 68 lovely newsprint paper pages.

niceandfancy.blogspot.com

niceandfancy.blogspot.com

My first experiment was to create a new format using the same content. By ripping up the original pages of the magazine I created 272 new pages and bound them up with string.

niceandfancy.blogspot.com

niceandfancy.blogspot.com

The second experiment, to reinvent the original information recorded inside the magazine. U&lc was primarily dedicated to launch new typefaces so I have designed a typeface using 'bits' of letters and other elements found in the original magazine. 



Thirdly, to use the paper to make a new item or design that is not related to the original form or function. I have begun to make paper rosettes from the torn pages they will be used to create patterns and textured backgrounds for other projects. My main occupation these days is creating patterns so I will use these rosettes to create new designs.
One thing which has become clear to me working through this creative process is that paper truly inspires me and I never know where I might end up when messing about with the beloved stuff. I do hope you have enjoyed my little rambling and experiment with paper. Continue to be inspired and delighted by paper by following the whole of the PaperLove Blog Hop which continues below.

The PaperLove Blog Hop is a celebration of all things paper! Follow the links to discover more bloggers who love paper and use it to inspire and delight. And if you want to explore a whole world of paper, and stretch your paper passion further with a host of creative projects, why not join the innovative new online course PaperLove (starts March 31). Led by book artist Rachel Hazell, PaperLove is a five week creative adventure for paper lovers. Find out more here.

 

11 comments:

  1. Super Dawn - what an amazing magazine. The fonts are just fabulous.Love the paper rosettes as well.

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  2. What greate things you do! Love it.
    /Camilla Olsson - also in the blog hop www.camillaolssonart.wordpress.com

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  3. I covet your magazine stash, how fab. I love the rosettes, I shall come back and see what else you do soon {*}

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  4. Love the typography, what a treasure having that collection of magazines, great source of inspiration. Love your rosettes, they would make a great pattern! :-)

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  5. I love your paper rosettes. Will you share how you fold them in a blog? thanks for hopping!

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  6. ...oh yes! And how clever! I think this is a brilliant way to recycle/reinvent an old piece, limited only by the piece itself. Awesome assignment! I'm all for just diving in. The most original and pleasing outcomes tend to happen this way, far more than those that are 'planned' which can come off as contrived and some what lacking... Excellent work! I hope you are inspired to repeat the exercise :)

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  7. Thank you all for writing such nice things about my post, yes, it could be a good idea to share how I make my paper rosettes on my blog... will do!

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  8. I have never seen that magazine before! I have a really serious addiction to magazines. Beautiful. And loved your post!

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  9. Thanks for your comment, this bloghop is so much fun, your post is so creative and original. Thanks for sharing your love of paper :)

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  10. Blog hop visit. Such an exciting blog you have here. So happy I signed up for this. thanks for visiting www.cosmoeclectic.com

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  11. Lovely work Dawn, love your paper flowers :)
    Rosie Martinez-Dekker

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