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.

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.

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.

Majo Bautista 

Tona Bell 

Louise Best 

Cathy Bluteau 

Jennifer Bomgardner 

Giova Brusa 

Lindsay Buck 

Beka Buckley 

Joanna Caskie 

Jonathan Chapman (Mr Yen) 

Halle Cisco 

Sarah Clare 

Cathryn Clarge 

Dawn Clarkson 

Rhiannon Connelly 

Jenny D'Fuego 

Molly Dhiman 

Ian Dudley 

Ayisatu Emore 

Akmal Farid 

Monika Forsberg 

Claire Fritz-Domeney 

Louise Gale 

Chrissy Gaskell 

Julie Hamilton 

Emma Hawman 

Rachel Hazell 

Holly Helgeson 

Claudine Hellmuth 

Kim Henkel 

Sarah Hoffman 

Joanne Hus 

Paula Joerling 

Beth Kempton 

Julie Kirk 

Eos Koch 

Katie LaClair 

Kristy Lankford 

Michelle Manolov 

Doreen Marts 

Rosie Martinez-Dekker 

Tori Mears 

Maria Mederios 

Lise Meijer 

Debbie Miller 

MaryJane Mitchell 

Suzy Naidoo 

Grace Noel 

Hannah Nunn 

Camilla Olsson 

Jo Packham 

Rachelle Panagarry 

Monette Pangan 

Melanie Paul  

Nicole Piar 

Jen Pitta 

Liz Plummer 

Julie Reed 

Michelle Reynolds 

Lisa Rivas 

Angee Robertson 

Natalie Ryan 

Aisling Ryan 

Elisabet Sapena 

Kyrrha Sevco 

Jamie Sprague 

Elizabeth Steele 

Terri Stephens 

Juniper Stokes 

Mary Tanana 

Maike Thoma 

Linda Tieu 

Gabrielle Treanor 

Tammy Tutterow 

Deborah Velasquez 

Jordan Vinograd Kim 

Cat Whipple 

Brooke Witt 

Katie Wood 

Amelia Woodbridge

 

PapeLove BlogHop - inspiration from my studio!

In my quest for paper inspiration for the PaperLove project and after scouring Pinterest for a couple of days I decided to spend some time in my studio and go through the wealth of 'papery' things that I hoard there. First of all I looked in the most obvious places like my set of drawers already organised to contain scraps of paper of every different type and colour imaginable. I chose some pieces that I particularly like, transparent tissue papers, lots of chocolate and sweet wrappers, envelopes and coloured paper bags. 

I then got out my fruit papers... you mean you don't collect fruit papers? well you better get started then. I have been saving them for years, I love the 'poor' graphics and patterns that you find on them and of course the crinkly fragile tissue paper. I also collect the graphics and illustrations found on fruit boxes, but that's yet another story and forces me to hoard bits of wood as well as paper :)

Just looking around my studio I found lots of evidence of paper experiments, paper rosettes, folded paper (I wouldn't call it real Origami) and cutouts, 60's wallpaper boarders which I keep for no particular reason, and cut and sew projects which incorporate magazine and newspaper cuttings.

I own many old books which I buy from car boots and second hand shops, often only bought for the cover design or the feel of the paper it is made from. Many foreign books are in this collection in languages that I will never understand.

I have an 'out of control' number of magazines of every different kind, literally piles of them and I have a feeling I will never throw them away. The only problem is this collection continues to grow. Some of my old magazines include numerous issues of the famous U&LC which was a large format magazine printed on newspaper. Many of the copies are now yellowed but they are fabulous just the same.

Finally I got out my sketchbooks which have many cut and paste paper patterns which I then elaborate by filling in with line work. I usually use this technique when I am designing Efuto envelopes to send off around the world to my surface pattern friends.

Basically I was amazed to find that my studio is jam packed full of paper in every size, form and condition. This proves to me my love and attraction for this humble material. I am pleased to say that whilst nosing around in my studio I came up with the idea for what will be my PaperLove project. So much for Pinterest… I had all the inspiration I needed at home in my study!
The PaperLove Blog Hop organised by Paperphilia will be going live on March 10th. Time to get down to creating some paperlove work for my blog post, see you then :)

PaperLove Blog Hop and the 'Spirit of Paper'

Paperphilia is organising a PaperLove competition and blog hop and as you can imagine I can't resist taking part. The PaperLove Blog Hop will be a celebration of all things paper, read more about it here.
So to begin to get in the PaperLove mood yesterday I visited an exhibition called 'The Spirit of Paper' at the Palazzo Barolo in Turin. It showed over 300 pieces of origami with additional short films, workshops and fun interactive exercises to accompany the works of art. It could'nt have come at a better time and below you will find some of the photos I took. 

 

Very traditional animal forms but wonderful just the same!

I quite fell in love with this pineapple!

Fabulous fox!

There were many traditional origami pieces featuring animals and insects, I particularly loved the little mouse and his pineapple, and this fabulous fox. 

 

Colourful and fun.

Complex!

I was very surprised to see so much colour and use of patterned paper. Modern origami uses both, a lot of the forms were created by folding up to 5 sheets of coloured paper at the same time, just mind boggling! 

Pattern

... more pattern

... and more pattern!

The exhibition is housed in the dark brick cellars of the fabulous Barolo Palace in the centre of Turin, a spectacular and suggestive place to admire these wonderful paper creations! The photograph below is taken at the entrace to the palace where a gigantic version of the classic origami Crane takes pride of place among the historical elegance.

Gigantic origami Crane

I already have a PAPER board on Pinterest but I think it will be getting a big boost from now on as I am looking for paper inspiration everywhere. I hope that these photographs may inspire you too, especially if you are taking part in the PaperLove project, see you soon with more paper loveliness!

It's here... the Tropical Fusion Blog Hop

Welcome to the Tropical Fusion Blog Hop. For 4 days 45 surface pattern designers are linking their blogs together to create a feast of new and exclusive designs. All you have to do is click on the link at the bottom of each post to move on to the next blog. To start the blog hop from the very beginning just click on the logo over on the right and you will find yourself at Groovity Designs.
You have probably just come over from Anne M Bray's blog Pattern Recognition and taken in her fab patterns. Now it is time for me to reveal my designs which have been created especially for this blog hop. The theme is Tropical Fusion and incorporates the Pantone Color of the Year 2014 - Radiant Orchid. 

I have taken my tropical inspiration from the luscious growth of vegetation - flowers, grass, roots, trees, leaves, fruits and seed pods. My original sketches were scanned and digitally elaborated to invent unique motifs to work with. 

With the wealth of icons I'd created I then began to put together my main design. I wanted it to be strong and really make the most of the Pantone Color of the Year 2014 - Radiant Orchid to give an important beginning to the collection. With a lot of movement in the design and a bed of dark leaves below… (you know how much I love my feathery leaves) the pattern began to emerge. It has rhythm and style, is rich and detailed, and above all, dark and luxurious. The 'Lush & flourish' collection is completed with complementary designs which all pull together to create a very tropical collection!

For more tropical goodies just click on the link below to move on to the lovely Maike Thoma's blog Pattern jots where you will find more beautiful designs and inspiration. I do hope you have enjoyed your visit here at Nice and Fancy, please come back soon. You can follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.

Announcing the Tropical Fusion Blog Hop!

Next Saturday, yes it's almost here, the Tropical Fusion Blog Hop will begin. Over 50 surface pattern designers will link their blogs together to form an inspirational 'blog hop' with the theme Tropical Fusion featuring of course the beautiful Pantone Color of the Year 2014 Radiant Orchid. Nice and Fancy will be taking part and you must be sure to come and visit.

So please make a date from the 18th through to 21st of January 2014 you can run through our blogs and enjoy a taste of new, exciting and inspirational work. Make sure you have some time on your hands and a cup of tea handy, it's gonna be a load of fun. See you there... I mean here :)