Sunday, March 25, 2012

Let's Talk Paper Piecing

This week, "The Art of Wild Abandonment" (the online class I'm taking) is focusing on paper piecing and using other texture elements. It's not something I've done a lot of in my art journals, but I found it a lot of fun.  It is also a good way to use up patterned paper, so it fits perfectly into Ali Manning's De-stash Challenge to use patterned paper.  For this page, I paper pieced some quilts which fit three different sides of my personality (my inner country girl, my seaside home, and my urban/rocker chick self). I'm really quite happy with it.
The Wild Abandonment class is co-taught by Christy Tomlinson who I take it does a lot of paper piecing in her "She Art" classes.  She has this very cool video on her blog where she makes a canvas using some of her product line that allows you to skip the paper piecing part of a She-Art canvas. Paper piecing does seem to be coming a bigger and bigger part of paper crafting.
So, let's talk paper piecing.  Do you do it? Do you like it? Hate it?
Is using pre-made paper-pieced products "cheating" or just part of the fun? 
Are punches and quick-cut, sizzix, etc. dies better or worse than cutting things my hand?  
Is it "original" art to use premade shapes? Does it matter?
Do tell.  I'd love to hear your opinions.
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"Let's Talk" is a semi-regular series designed to inspire frank discussion and sharing of information on issues relating to photography, art and blogging. 
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15 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 25, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    Love, love, love this piece of art Rinda. I have used paper piecing for cards before and have downloaded piecing patterns and then cut them out with my Craft Robo so perhaps that is cheating but it works for me.

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  2. SianMarch 25, 2012 at 11:40 PM

    I think the quilts are beautiful, so I am definitely voting yes! to paper piecing. Is it art? I don't think it matters, as long as it's fun to do

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  3. AmyMarch 26, 2012 at 12:13 AM

    I tend to agree with Sian, I don't think it needs to be labelled art, as long as it is fun, it is all good!
    And, I have to say, I think, in 2012, it is almost impossible to create ANYTHING in any artistic stream that is truly original - I see crediting original sources as being a bigger issue as colour, shape and form all seem to repeat every few years.

    I love your piece today, it is feminine and strong at the same time.

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  4. helenaMarch 26, 2012 at 12:44 AM

    love your piece and the 3 different character quilts. I'm with Sian and Amy - as long as I enjoy the process and the final product I don't care what anyone thinks about rules or cheating

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  5. CheriMarch 26, 2012 at 4:58 AM

    Wonderful piece Rinda - love the quilts! I don't think there is any right, wrong, or cheating to paper piecing. Patterns or original hand-torn pieces, all the same. I think of it as a "craft" unless it is really taken to a new level... I have some incredible paper pieced art sculptures - 3D pieces that are so lifelike you wouldn't believe it is just a bunch of paper. Check out here: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/05/29/the-beauty-of-paper-art/ or google "3D art from paper" and click on the images. Some of this stuff is stunning!

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  6. CheriMarch 26, 2012 at 4:59 AM

    that was supposed to be "I have SEEN some incredible..."

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  7. TerryMarch 26, 2012 at 6:24 AM

    Very interesting about your three different sides! Lately, I have been thinking that so much comes out in my art that I want to be, but don't dare!! I have done bits of paper piecing, but not in this manner! Love your three quilts! Have a wonderful week!

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  8. KarenMarch 26, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    I love quilts, and this piece is just charming. I love that you chose papers that represented different facets of your personality. I've done paper piecing for cards, and perhaps a scrapbook page once in a while. I enjoy it, and don't see anything as "cheating," unless you are copying a design without crediting it.

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  9. Renee!March 26, 2012 at 12:43 PM

    Very nice piece! I liked the questions. As an artist, I always feel better if I use my own designs and papers although I do use bought papers in my mixed media collage, but not the 'paper piecing' technique. I also try to create original "looking" pieces... but that's want I'm comfortable doing. I agree with everyone else that if it makes you happy, that's what matters most!
    Thanks for visiting my blog... happy creating!
    Renee
    xoxo
    http://fussitup.blogspot.com/

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  10. scrappyjackyMarch 26, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    I love this piece,Rinda...and how you have incorporated the different parts of your 'personality into it.
    I can't say I'm over keen on paper piecing myself as I find it rather fiddly and frustrating to do....but frequently love what other people do with it.
    I tend to agree with Sian as well....enjoyment and having fun is what it's all about.
    I think of myself as a crafter rather than an artist and I'm more than happy to use premade shapes....the end piece is still unique to me....and that makes it as 'original' as it's likely to get.

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  11. Carolyn DubeMarch 26, 2012 at 2:50 PM

    This is wonderful! I don't care what someone uses- especially when they have fun creating it. I am thrilled any time I use up something that I already had!

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  12. laurieMarch 26, 2012 at 6:11 PM

    i have never done any paper piecing put love your three quilts and the dimensions of yourself they represent!

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  13. AbiMarch 27, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    This is so beautiful. I agree with a lot of the above comments, it doesn't matter if it is pre cut or not, if you are enjoying playing with paper that is the main thing!

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  14. PetraBMarch 29, 2012 at 1:46 PM

    This is such a wonderful piece, love the paper piecing quilting!

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  15. Ali ManningMarch 31, 2012 at 4:48 AM

    I totally totally love this page - the idea of creating a little washing line of quilts is genius! Thanks so much for playing my de-stash challenge. Your the Queen of Using Scraps :)

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