On Motherhood and... Sheep Pajaki!

My personal artistic pace and time for bookarts and other creative endeavors has been recently altered (to say the least). This Spring my firstborn made his entrance into this world! Graham is his name, and currently drooling is his game. He truly is my greatest creation yet. 

I'd like to share the Pajaki paper chandelier I made for him. Pajakis are wonderfully decorative and geometric. I love the symmetry that goes into designing them, and the range of embellishments that can adorn the structured form are so enticing. They are a traditional folk art from Poland and the name translates to "spiders of straw". I have been ready to try my hand at constructing one for some time now, and a baby-mobile-type-thing was the perfect excuse. 

If you are interested in learning how to make Pajaki, I strongly encourage you to take the class offered at Two Hands Paperie. Taught by one of the shop owners, Mia Semingson, this class is so popular it can usually be found on the current class listings. 

Here is the link to the Pajaki class offered this Fall: 

http://www.twohandspaperie.com/Pajaki_Paper_Chandelier_Class_p/class_pajak.htm

Photos: Mia Semingson

Pajaki seems to be enjoying a resurgence as of late, and I love some of the modern takes I have seen (I'm usually a sucker for contemporary design twists honoring historic tradition). Some decorative embellishments common to traditional Pajaki are pompoms, paper flowers, and tassels. While I love all of these types of ornamentations, I had something specific in mind for this baby-themed Pakaji... SHEEP! 

Photo: relaimedwool.com

First of all, I have no interest in learning how to needle felt, and second of all Heidi Leugers makes the most fantastic sheep ornaments from reclaimed wool, so really the only task was to choose the perfect flock of 6 for the Pajaki! 

Here is Heidi's website if you are interested to know more:

http://www.reclaimedwool.com/

I used paper, pompoms, and straws from Two Hands Paperie.

Photos: twohandspaperie.com

Covering the straws in paper was quite meditative.

I kept the rest of the Pajaki embellishments on the simple side - I wanted the sheep to be the focal point. I loved the exercise of engineering the geometry design! I also contemplated my son as I was creating. Making art for specific people always seems to invite intimate meditation on that person, and I was grateful to have this project to bask in my new assignment as a mom.

Well enough about the process - here is the final result! I definitely encourage anyone to have a go at Pajaki!

Spring Classes - Star Stitch (again) & Light It Up! Paper Fireflies

The next round of classes at Two Hands Paperie has begun, and the full class list sure is exciting! I might just finally get around to taking Mia's Pajaki class like I say I'm going to every time. 

I'll be teaching the Star Stitch Binding class again, as it was met with such enthusiasm last Fall. As of today, there are only 2 spots left, so if you are at all interested you'd better sign up! The Fall class was so fun, this really is a satisfying project. Everyone's books turned out so great.

Here's a couple photos of the books we made in class.

Star Stitch Binding Class - Sunday February 8th 11-5

class info link is here 

The other class I will be teaching is a continuation of the Light It Up! series we've been offering, using Lilypad Arduino sewable electronic technology. This project is just so fun because... well, who doesn't like twinkling lights? We will paper-collage a firefly environment to fit inside a large mason jar. And then we'll stitch up little LED lights with conductive thread and make it all glow. The LilyTwinkle Arduino board gives the whole thing magic and flash.

I love fireflies. We don't have them here in Colorado, but this way I can just make my own.

Light It Up! Paper Fireflies Class - Sunday March 8th 12:30-4:30

class info link is here

Visit the Two Hands class webpage for the full offering of Paperie goodness this Fall.

http://www.twohandspaperie.com/Classes_at_Two_Hands_Paperie_s/1854.htm