Easter Quilling competition!

This year, Easter Sunday falls on April 8th and with just under a month to go, we've noticed some exceptional examples of Easter quilling on the Quilling Cafe network already. We thought it would be nice to see what other great quilled Easter creations you can come up with, so for our first ever competition we want you to upload your Easter creations for the chance to win some card-making goodies. We've got some blank cards, envelopes (not pictured) and die-cut paper up for grabs for the winner.

To be in with a chance of winning, you need to be a member of the Quilling Cafe network. It's free to join and full of quilling artists from beginners to seasoned artists, but everyone has an equal chance of winning.

To enter, just upload a photo to the network of your Easter creation before April 8th. The most popular photo on Easter Sunday wins the prize!

So how do you find out if your photo is popular? The Quilling network has a very cool "Most popular" section where you can see who the most active members are and how popular content is on the site. Content that people have commented on and shared is recorded by the system and becomes more popular, so the more people that like your photo the more likely you are to win!

So, what are you waiting for? Good luck!

Quilling Cafe - a website made specially for you quillers

Hello my quilling fellows

I'm really excited to announce the launch of the first social network made specially for quillers like us.

Here you can blog your artworks, upload the photos of your lovely quillings and find tutorials. You can ask questions and get answers your from experience quillers, make groups, participate in forums, find quilling events held in your area and even win prizes by participating in our competitions. The choices are limitless and all in one place.

Quilling is a rare art form and is not known worldwide like other crafts. Is not as popular as painting or embroidery or jewellery making and the bunch of us who quill can feel lonely. At least that's how I felt sice the moment I discovered quilling. I very rarely see any quilling supplies in shops and never seen any books in libraries. There wasn't a specific place where I could ask questions or or get tips about how to quill. Which one is the best quilling tool? What's the difference between a slotted quilling tool and a needle point one? Where can I buy good quality supplies? What are the best quilling books? This are few of the many questions I asked myself in the past and had to spend ages online finding the answers. I many time wished that there was a place where I could just ask the question, go and do some quilling and come back few hours later and the answer will be there. I couldn't find a place like that so I made it myself (with help form my lovely husband, Andy) .

Quilling cafe is a great place to make friends and interact with people who have the same passion as you. It's free and easy to use. You can make an account in just few minutes or sign in with your facebook, twitter, google or yahoo account.

At the moment is just me and my husband there and we feel quite lonely. Please join us. The network is waiting for you to make the place buzzing. You are important so please let me know if you have any problems. Feedback is very appreciated. You can find me by clicking my name at the bottom of the page on Quilling Cafe

What are you waiting for? Go and have fun. Sing in and let's start socialising. Can't wait to meet you all there. See you on the other site :)

Quilled flowers in a frame

I made this framed quilling piece for one of my neighbour and give it to her as a Christmas present. She works near to where I work and sometimes she gives me a lift in the morning. I wanted to give her something to say thank you for her kindness.

A Christmas present

I made this origami box to accommodate 2 of the snowflakes I've quilled and gave it as a present to one of my work colleagues.

The white cut-out on the top of the lid supposed to be a snowflake. The problem (that turn out  not to a problem in the end) was that I didn't fold the paper enough times and it ended with 4 sides instead of 6 (as a snowflake should have). But I'm happier that it came out like this because it fits and looks better on the box.

I'm not a big fun of Christmas presents as most of the ones I received haven't brought me any joy. So I normally don't buy presents as I don't want to waste my money on something the other person might never use. But I do like crafting small things and give to people.

You can find the instructions for this box here and for the kirigami snowflake here

Last snowflakes this winter

It's time for spring now.

Quilled Snowflakes

Is that time of the year again when we decorate our house and the Christmas tree. I personalty have a small tree this year so I wouldn't need loads of quilled snowflakes to fill it.

I like quilling snowflakes so I'll make loads more to give as a present.

I have lots of quilled coils prepared so there will be more on the way.

All these snowflakes are different and I am planing on making more different ones.

Keep your eyes open as new quilled snowflakes desings will come.

Wow quilled Betty boop

I discovered this image on my flickr group. I used to watch Betty Boop cartoons when I was young so the image caught my attention. As the image is just a small icon in the group and it looks so much like the original my next thought was: " Hmm, what is this image doing in here as the group is mainly for quilling and paper crafts and this is just a photo of a cartoon?". I clicked on the image to see more of this person photos not even thinking that this can be quilled. Little did I know. When I got to the original art work I was confused for few seconds:"is this really quilling?" I thought "no it can't be" and then boom I realized "this is actually quilling. I am totally amazed.

But that's not it, Miguel Guiter has more amazing quilled work.

I don't know if you ever watched Laurel and Hardy. I love then, I grew up watching their silly comic shows on TV. Brilliant comics and even more brilliant work done by Miguel.

Oh I could go on and on about how good his work is but I will let you discover by yourself the rest of his wonderful work on his flickr photostream

Cross Stitch Wedding Heart

Cross stitch is another craft I picked up lately. It's so much easier to carry around in my handbag and do some while waiting 20 minutes for the train or while having a coffee in a coffee shop. I found that is even nice to make some stitches while in bed, just before going to sleep. Since it doesn't require to much brain work it sends me to sleep nice and relaxed.

This is one of my first projects. I made it for my friends wedding that happened last month. I wanted to make something special for them but I didn't have to much time on my hand or motivation as I was in the moving house mode. So one week before their wedding I was looking on the internet for ideas and I came across this cool website where they have lots of free patterns. Here is the link to the pattern. I added their wedding date and initials to personalise it.

The end result was meant to be in a nice frame but I was so busy, didn't have any time to buy one. So around 12 o'clock, on the night before the wedding, few hours before the flight (the wedding was in Turkey), I had to make up a frame for it. So, half asleep, I took a hard backing card, few bits of paper, a hole-punch and a ribbon and came out with this.

I'm quite pleased with the result taking in account little time I had. And I think my wedded friends were pleased too.

Watercolour poppy

Finally the moving is almost done. Few more boxes left to sort out but the main stress is gone. Is time to go back on making art.

Now, you are probably wondering how come there is a watercolour on a quilling blog. Well...you see, I am one of those people who gets board very quickly, who starts a project and rarely finishes it. Although quilling is my first and only love I am trying to learn to do other things and now is watercolour.

I've done just few pieces so far and this two are the best ones. I'm really having fun water-colouring but I have to say is harder that I thought. But I'm not giving up, at least not yet :)

Moving house

I am currently moving hose so it will be a while until I'll make anything again and have time to post it. My house is box city (you all know how it is) with no furniture as me and my husband moved into an unfurnished house. So there is a long way to go until we settle there.

This card is the last one I did before all this madness started.