… that’s of course my humble opinion, but Noriko Ambe’s use of paper-cutting in a three-dimensional setting is just way too impressive to not swoon over. I could probably link pictures from now until the end of eternity, but these pictures below are only from her series where she cuts designs into books and catalogs of other artists. But don’t worry; it’s not malicious. The point seems to be finding some underlying pattern in the art of the other artists. Whoa!

Polly Verity makes amazingly intricate paper sculptures. Her geometric forms turn sheets of paper into medium-defying series of sinuous curves, and her meticulously crafted animals are imposing in spite of their small stature.

These works from Pawling Print Studio really speak for themselves. Sister duo Janet and Trisha create patterned works for the home, and make bland everyday objects a little less so. It’s the little things that count!

(They also use recycled materials. Can’t complain there.)

For four more days, the works of Paula Stokes will be on display at the Shift Studio! A glass artist as well as printmaker based in Seattle, Stokes likes to explore human nature and psychology in her pieces, using the relationships among line, color, form, and texture in bold and interesting ways.

www.paulastokes.com
www.shiftstudio.org

Oscar luncheons, gift bags, extravagant over-arching grandeur in the midst of economic crisis, blah blah. Things are getting somewhat interesting, though, as Minneapolis, Minnesota’s cute little Zeichen Press will have their cards represented in the much-savored gift bags.

Above is an example of my favorite one of the cards, simply because horseshoe crabs are amazing, amazing things, and letterpressed cards, in all of their textured glory, are amazing, amazing things as well.

Hollywood folks who will receiving Zeichen Press cards include Richard Jenkins, Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Danny Boyle, Stephen Daldry, David Fincher, Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant, Robert Downey, Jr., Philip Hoffman, Michael Shannon, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Marisa Tomei.

Zeichen Press offers an array of hand-made letterpressed goods, including cards, coasters, and CD sleeves.

www.zeichenpress.com

In this green day and age, people are constantly trying to find alternatives to paper. Now comes an alternative you may not even have heard of. POOP PAPER. That’s right — paper made of poop.

Buffalo poo is the newest star in this movement of animal poo products, brought to you by the cleverly (and/or atrociously) named Dung and Dunger! Made in Idaho and printed by artist Daniel Hidalgo and Victor Bruha, it’s the American version of elephant dung paper. They sell one of a kind animal prints using the paper, primarily targeting national park-goers. They even set up shop at Yellowstone National Park once in a while.

The first buffalo dung print made by Dung and Dunger!

Detail of the dung… doesn’t it look so silky and smooth?

Let’s break down the paper-making process for you into easy-to-digest terms.

** COLLECTING **
Heaping globs of steaming or rotting buffalo poop get scooped up… not an easy thing considering they consist of grasses and foliage and are therefore quite delicate. The heaps are collected from private bison herds in Montana, near Yellowstone National Park.

** STERILIZING **
The dungy poo gets boiled in a pot, possibly in something like a pot, possibly in something similar to what you’d make soup in. Apparently, though, it doesn’t smell all that bad.

** SLURRYING **
The boiled poop is combined with recycled paper pulp, because by itself, it’d be much too fragile to hold together. The wet sheet is molded and transferred onto a “couching sheet,” for drying.

Rinse and repeat. Most custom papers are created using a similar process… poop-free or not.

Need more poop products? Try these cute Mr. Ellie Pooh cards and books.