What’s inside: This posts highlights some of the most inspiring examples of quilling that we found when we were learning the craft.
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Why these examples?
When you start quilling as a handicraft, you learn the basic shapes. Then you begin thinking, “What can I make?”
Today, we’re going to look at that together!
When we learned quilling, we had never heard of the craft before. We were learning it in our Charlotte Mason co-op. After the first week, the “homework” was to find inspiration for a final project we could complete by the end of the semester.
Well, there are so many inspiring examples out there, I wanted to highlight a few so that you could begin thinking of your final project if you decide to do a semester of Quilling handicraft.
Inspiring Examples of Quilling
Colonial America
Quilling, the art of paper coiling, has been around for a long time. It existed before the name “quilling” began to be associated with it in Colonial America – they used feather quills to do the coiling.
Here’s a fun juxtaposition: A picture of a quilled peacock feather! Do you think they used a feather quill to make it?
Metal Filagree
In medieval times, quilling was called paper filigree to distinguish it from metal filigree.
Metal filigree is used for intricate designs, sometimes for jewelry or other adornment.
Paper Filagree Jewelry
I think it’s a bit funny, but you can make paper “filigree” jewelry like earrings. Typically, these will be shellacked or decopaged to make them a bit sturdier and longer lasting.
Honey’s Quilling has a nice tutorial on Paisley Earrings.
Malaysian Flower
Look at this beautiful flower! I like this because of the symmetry, the colors and the 3D addition of the center of the flower. This type of design is totally accessible for the beginner. You could make nice note cards with this design. Tutorial shows how to make it.
Bird
Here’s a beautiful bird from Angela at Crafty Angels with a step-by-step tutorial. She uses a double-sided quilling comb to get the squished feathers look. Advanced quillers do use more tools than are required when you learn the craft. Mostly for ease, I think – I am not advanced!
However, the bird tutorial shows a very useful practice for anyone – she prints her model out to use as the “frame” of where her design goes. It’s not a blank background. That can be useful for complex designs.
Snowflakes
The Artsy Craftsy Mom has a lovely tutorial on Snowflakes. She shows you how to make the basic shapes and how to arrange them. Perfect for beginners. If you choose your own colors, you can make your own custom snowflake!
Owls
Birds of all types are excellent subject matter for designs. Here are some very cute Quilled Owls. Adorable! Full tutorial on how to make these little owls.
Here’s a fancier owl so you can see where you can go with these ideas.
Fancy Peacock
Peacocks are lovely to quill. And for some reason, quillers love to create them.
Artist Study as Inspiration
Van Gogh’s Starry Night: Many people love to quill this subject, so there are lots of interpretations and variations out there.
Another one:
Think of a famous picture that you like and maybe there is a quilled interpretation!
Violin
By making an outline of a familiar shape or object using paper strips, you can fill the design with beautiful patterns that add to the impression of your object.
R2D2
Iconic images are also good for quilling.
Lobster
The artist at Quantum Artistic has some fantastic advanced tutorials. Here she shows how she made her Maine Lobster. She sells quilled tutorials on Etsy. Etsy is a fabulous place for advanced inspiration – all kinds of quilling artists showcase their work there.
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Letter Outlines and Fills
Spelling words or names or initials is another fun project. In general, the letter outline is quilled, the shape is either filled with quilling or kept empty with the outside of the letters being “filled” with quilling.
Heart
Back to some simpler designs. This one has a tutorial of a heart which is great for beginners.
Gallery of ideas
World of Quilling has a nice gallery of ideas. I liked the basket of flowers – it’s a good composition of a lot of individual flowers.
Fantastic Quilling Artists
These will get you thinking about what can be made. The examples below are to show you what some amazing artists have created after years of working with this handicraft. When you select your first project, try to keep it smaller than these examples!
Anna Chiara Valentini
Here’s an artist featured in this post “40+ Examples of Creative Paper Typography Art By Anna Chiara Valentini” at DesignBolts. I’m sharing this to give you an idea of how complex and amazing your designs can get.
Yulia Brodskaya
My Modern Met featured Brodskaya and took a look at how she made some of her designs. The work that goes into these is incredible.
Justine Kuran
All Things Paper often features quilling artists. Kuran shows how the smaller pieces fit into a large complex piece. You can also visit her gallery online.
Guidelines for selecting a project
- Think about making something that you can give as a gift.
- A small framed picture is a good project for a semester. Something 8” x 10” might be a fine first project.
- Stay within your compass! You are just starting out in this handicraft, so start small.
- If you select a project which you complete in the first week of a 12-week semester, then that might have been too easy. Consider making a second project with a little more challenge.
- Again, if it’s too easy but it took you a month, you can make another like it to give as a gift. Grandparents like this sort of thing – a handmade item from their grandchild!
- Make a more complex project for your next project.
- Choose something you will enjoy making.
Feeling Inspired Yet?
Plan quilling for your next handicraft semester. Start small with the basic shapes and work your way up to a project inspired by one of the ideas I’ve shown you here.
Just grab a quilling kit like this one and maybe a how-to book like this one and jump in!
Summary
I hope this gives you some ideas to think about when you select a project to work on for the semester. And if you need still more ideas, search for specific quilling items on Etsy or Pinterest.
Enjoy!
