From Paper Cut to...Quilt?!

I am the most fortunate person in the world because I have an amazing aunt who can quilt anything! She sent me the best surprise a while ago (and by 'a while ago' I mean more than a year).

First let me preface this by saying that I am a descendent of beekeepers, so honey bees represent something very special to my family.

My aunt took this papercut I made, used it as a pattern, and made me THIS AMAZING QUILTED PILLOW COVER!!

The photo quality is not the best...that's what you get when you use an old cell phone! And yes, my dad has a HUGE record/cd collection.

I have already said it many times, but thank you so much, Aunt Sunny! This is truly a gift I will cherish forever. And by the way, I am still hoping that one day I get that quilting lesson we have been talking about :)

A Little Bit of Home

Playing with design ideas...I have so many presents to make for so many amazingly kind/generous people!

 Side Note: I hate the walls in my house. Grrr...

The 'New' New Paddle

Aloha everyone!

I got a new paddle a while ago. The only problem: almost everyone in my club got the exact same one.

The new paddle. 

I knew that I needed to do something to my paddle to make it easier to spot and identify. But what? My sister helped me come up with a brilliant idea: make a sticker.

I bought some permanent waterproof vinyl and transfer tape, and I was ready to go. 

I knew I wanted a design with a Polynesian-vibe. Something that had to do with paddling or the island. I began sketching ideas and found that I kept coming back to two elements: the sun and taro leaves. My design represents both.

After I had my design, I cut it out of vinyl.

This was my first time using vinyl!

A little transfer tape, some delicate placement, and a lot of rubbing later... I have a 'new' new paddle!

My Friend

A card for Jeff, 

The best, most knowledgeable war reenactor I know, who also happens to be my favorite customer...large coffee, egg sandwich with raclette and/or a croissant, coffee refill (see Jeff, I still got it!). 

A scene from the Civil War. 

Biological Specimens

Aloha, all!

So I have this really fun iridescent paper I have been wanting to use. I decided to test it out on some butterflies and I think it worked really well! I put them in a shadow box frame and now I have the beginnings of my very own bug collection. I have to say, I'm MUCH happier having a paper bug collection rather than a real one, that's for sure!

What do you think?

I See A Little Silhouetto

Currently searching for a muse. I need some inspiration! 

A while ago I made a bunch of silhouettes for my good friend MP. She wanted them of her three children and nephew, and planned to give them as gifts for Christmas. It was a lot of fun! Since then I have done a number of other silhouette projects, including a set of my cousins, sister, and I. 

Silhouettes: classic, easy, and fun!

MP sent me this great picture of the framed silhouettes. Some of you might even recognize the heart on the wall... Thank you, MP!

Barred Rock

Hang Time

Another outrigger canoe cut! This one was just for fun. Our mixed novice crew, just after a remarkable maneuver that prevented them from a major huli.

They also came in 1st. Go team!

Paddle, Paddle, Paddle Your Boat!

Hello, everyone! It's a beautiful day here on the island...too bad I'm stuck inside. The colors outside my office window are so inspiring and vivid. I feel like Im back in school, watching the clock tick and counting down the hours until I can leave. But this is worse, because the beach is right there. Holding candy in front of a baby, my friends. It's just dangling there, taunting me. Ugh.

On to the cut:

For a while I was using a club paddle in outrigger practice. It's nickname was 'The Beast'. Then my friend Tim stepped in and offered me a new paddle to borrow: SO MUCH BETTER. I used it until I got my own a few weeks ago, and decided to make him a paper cut as a 'thank you'. I took a picture at our first race of his boat crossing the finish, and designed the cut around it (that's him in seat 3). The club boat is a little plain, so I spiced it up a bit (still on a Tahitian kick!). Thank you so much, Tim!

Making A Bag Stand Out From The Crowd

First of all, the weather on the island for the past few days has been AWFUL. Nothing but rain has left most of the island flooded. Im glad I live up in the mountains!!

So, my friend Marisa asked me to make her a paper cut for a really neat project: she is going to be traveling soon and like many people, has a black suitcase. She wanted to be able to tell hers apart from everyone elses, so her plan was to use my cut as a stencil and spray paint her bag.

She wanted something 'Hawaii-like', so I came up with and cut this design (the cream color is the cut, I just placed it on a black background so you could see it):

And then we tested it out:

This is how it turned out:

On to the real thing:

And presto! Now she will be able to easily identify her bag, and I am left with tons of new ideas floating around my head!!

The Sun And The Seed

The sun gives it's energy to the seed, which in turn gives it's energy to the earth. I designed this polynesian tattoo cut around a sleeve tattoo I saw on the beach.

(If anyone uses this for a tattoo...send me a picture!)

Pimp My Board #2

Even Zeke Lau's board isn't safe!

Pimp My Board #1

I thought surfer Holly Beck's board was missing something...so I designed her a new one.

Testing, Testing

Im testing out a new design for my blog header. I thought, "Why don't I have one of my paper cuts up there??"

So, what do you think?

This is what I had up there previously:

Tahitian Jellyfish

Aloha everyone! I had a great, relaxing weekend. What a beautiful island!

So, exciting news:

I am in the beginning stages of putting together an art show fundraiser here on the island!!! I haven't decided yet whether or not to accept pieces out of state (input is greatly appreciated!), but I will be sure to let all you artists know!

Oh, and I finished a paper cut! A jellyfish with a Tahitian spin.

A Delicate Balance

I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. Work + play + art....I have so much to juggle! Anyway, enough whining. I should just buckle down and do it already!!

In the meantime, here is a cut I did over the summer for my cousin's birthday.

Throw A Little Polynesian In The Mix

Aloha everyone!

I haven't done any new work in a while but I have a good excuse: I now live in Hawaii! It is so easy to get distracted here. I get all set up to start paper cutting again and then I notice a double rainbow outside my window, or a friend stops by to see if I want to go to the beach, or there is a slack key concert going on RIGHT NOW, or I want to go check out the rooster sitting in the yard... the entertainment here is endless! So, two months later, I have started cutting again. My new studio space? My sunny front yard!

Anyway, I have been admiring all the polynesian tattoos I see people sporting around the island.  I have started designing paper cuts based off of traditional polynesian designs. Here is design #1: