THE JOY OF PAPER QUILLING: DEANA FAIRFIELD

THE JOY OF PAPER QUILLING DEANA FAIRFIELD

Paper Quilling is an art form that many people have never heard of before and yet it has been in existence since the 1500s. French and Italian nuns tore paper from damaged bibles and used goose feathers (quills) to coil the paper and decorate religious artifacts.

It then became popular among the “upper class women” in the 1600s and was referred to as Paper Filigree. The gold edging was removed from books and used to create intricate designs to adorn their personal belongings. Interest in Quilling faded towards the end of the 18th Century.

There was a short-lived revival in the 1970’s and 1980’s and then it fizzled out again.

Quilling’s comeback in the 21st Century has taken on a whole new twist and moved well beyond torn books.

New papers, tools and techniques have inspired quillers to take their designs off the flat page and create 3-dimensional works of art that bear no limits as to size or imagination.

Why do I want to share my Quilling art? – To inspire others.

This is an art form that absolutely anyone can do. It does not require special skills, just a set of hands. It takes days, rather than years to master. Best of all – it is fun!

One tool, glue and a strip of paper is all it takes to walk history forward.

– Deana Fairfield