Customer Reviews

Paper Illuminated: 15 Projects for Making Handcrafted Luminaria, Lanterns, Screens, Lamp Shades and Window Treatments

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
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This book succeeds at two levels. First, it does what the title promises to do. It shows a dozen or more projects, all centered on the common theme of paper and light. There are window shades, lanterns and screens, laid out in plenty of detail for the skilled reader to follow. The projects differ in complexity, from kid-friendly simplicity up to tasks requiring some light carpentry and electrical wiring. There are no exotic tools or materials required - any good craft store would have just about everything, except for some of the unusual papers. Even they aren't compulsory in most cases, lots of alteratives will work well.

The second level is where this book delivers its real value. You'll get past the fixed recipes for defined projects in a hurry, then want to experiment on your own. Hiebert offers dozens of techniques that can be applied in ways limited only by your imagination. There are "marbling" techniques based on soap bubbles or chalk, coloring processes like tie-dye and batik, and lots of others. She gives tips on testing materials and light bulbs for safety, and a few pointers about combinations likely to cause problems. She also hints at some of the issues in turning your craft into a business.

There's somthing here for every level, from the rainy Saturday crowd to the professional artisan looking for something new to try. It's good fun - try it.

//wiredweird

This book delivered 110%. I was looking for instruction on how to create simple paper shades. What I found in this book is that and much, much more. The explanations of the interplay of light and paper, the surprisingly simple processes to create subtle beauty are fantastic. All of the projects in the book use basic skills and tools, the line drawings are very easy to follow and picture the process very well. The photographs are beautiful and inspiring.

This is a great book on making paper lanterns, but also includes projects such as accordion blinds or screens, that use paper's translucence. I like the inclusion by the author of various artists who work with paper lighting. Quite inspiring!

Some craft books assume that you're already committed to doing this stuff seriously. Among the many things I like about this book is that it shares the author's enthusiasm for what you can do creatively -- but doesn't burden you with long equipment lists or require the acquisition of "serious" skills. Yet Helen Hiebert includes several photos of accomplished art using illuminated paper, stuff that made me say OOOOooooh!

It's all about the paper, and the book encourages you (or at least me) to explore what can be accomplished. Chapters are devoted to enhancing paper (an intro chapter explaining what you can purchase or make -- this made me say OH COOL!); paper and candlelight; paper and natural light; paper and incandescent light; and lamp basics. The initial projects begin with lamps made from folded paper (lit by the little "tea light" candles) and could be done in a few hours. Even bigger project eschew woodworking; a room divider cleverly uses canvas stretchers (easily acquired in an art supply store), and Hiebert shows how to replace an old lampshade with a paper one you make yourself.

This isn't all lamps and lampshades, mind you. It would never have occurred to me to create my own horizontal accordian blinds using the gorgeous craft paper I've found at the art supply store, but the easy-to-understand instructions have me staring at one window in particular with a loud Hmmmmmm.

The book is very accessible, and I can imagine spending several putter-y, creative afternoons trying out the techniques demonstrated here. I haven't permitted myself to do any of the projects yet, but only because I gave myself a stern lecture about the OTHER projects I have to finish first. But oh boy, do I want to try these!

This is one of the best books i have found for getting use full information and ideas about what you can do and how to do it along with examples of what other professionals have successfully done.