INGE THOMAS: Quilling or paper filigree
Quilling or paper filigree is a technique using paper strips to form shapes,
ovals, circles, diamonds et al, glued together to form intricate patterns and designs.
It became popular during the Renaissance era, where nuns and monks would use the
scrape gilded strip cut off from books to decorate crosses and frames.
From there it spread over Europe where women of wealth would embellish items
around their home such as, boxes, frames and even desks.
The process became known as quilling as during the Renaissance
a quill was used to role the paper strips around.
It is sometimes called filigree since the scrolls of paper, especially the gilded strips,
looked like the fine filigree found in gold and silver jewelry.
Today with the influx of colored papers, people all over the world are able to create
both simple quilled designs and elaborate pieces of fine artwork.
Quilled pieces can still be viewed as two-dimensional images but many quilling artists
make their pieces three-dimensional to be viewed from the sides as well as the front and some from all sides.
ovals, circles, diamonds et al, glued together to form intricate patterns and designs.
It became popular during the Renaissance era, where nuns and monks would use the
scrape gilded strip cut off from books to decorate crosses and frames.
From there it spread over Europe where women of wealth would embellish items
around their home such as, boxes, frames and even desks.
The process became known as quilling as during the Renaissance
a quill was used to role the paper strips around.
It is sometimes called filigree since the scrolls of paper, especially the gilded strips,
looked like the fine filigree found in gold and silver jewelry.
Today with the influx of colored papers, people all over the world are able to create
both simple quilled designs and elaborate pieces of fine artwork.
Quilled pieces can still be viewed as two-dimensional images but many quilling artists
make their pieces three-dimensional to be viewed from the sides as well as the front and some from all sides.
"The Seed of Yesterday, the Flower of Today and the Apple of Tomorrow"
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow…
What was, what is, what will be…
The Past, the Present, the Future…
We can reflect on the past the seed that was,
but for today many do not stop to reflect upon it.
Today is something that comes and goes?
The seed of yesterday is the flower of today,
yet even with the beauty of the blossom before use,
we dream of the apple yet to be.
The fruit of tomorrow.
The flower awaits it’s time to come gives us promise of another day.
The blossom is not appreciated until it becomes the past.
We reflect on the seed that was and the apple to be.
However, it is only today do not neglect the bloom of today.
If one does not take great care of the flower of today,
the apple of tomorrow might not be.
Matted 12.75” x 12 5/8,” framed 13” x 13”
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow…
What was, what is, what will be…
The Past, the Present, the Future…
We can reflect on the past the seed that was,
but for today many do not stop to reflect upon it.
Today is something that comes and goes?
The seed of yesterday is the flower of today,
yet even with the beauty of the blossom before use,
we dream of the apple yet to be.
The fruit of tomorrow.
The flower awaits it’s time to come gives us promise of another day.
The blossom is not appreciated until it becomes the past.
We reflect on the seed that was and the apple to be.
However, it is only today do not neglect the bloom of today.
If one does not take great care of the flower of today,
the apple of tomorrow might not be.
Matted 12.75” x 12 5/8,” framed 13” x 13”
“Midsummer’s Night Storm”
Trying to capture moments in time but also change in perspective.
Not just looking at the big picture but small notes that aften overlooked
or lost in the vastness of the environment around us.
The glass frame represents what one would see looking out their window,
at night during a thunder storm
Quilling (Paper Filigree )
Image 9.5” x 7.5,” framed 14.25” x 11.25“ (Stained Glass Technique)
Trying to capture moments in time but also change in perspective.
Not just looking at the big picture but small notes that aften overlooked
or lost in the vastness of the environment around us.
The glass frame represents what one would see looking out their window,
at night during a thunder storm
Quilling (Paper Filigree )
Image 9.5” x 7.5,” framed 14.25” x 11.25“ (Stained Glass Technique)
