Paper Filigree

What is Paper Filigree? Paper Filigree or Quilling, is the art involves the use of strips of paper rolled, shaped and glued together to form decorative designs. The paper twists, looped in forms, rolled or handled in other ways to create shapes that make up the designs for decorating cards, boxes, bags, boxes, portraits, jewelry, etc. There are techniques ranging from basic to advanced, and papers of different sizes, which are used depending on what you want to do (3D miniatures, abstract design, tubular flowers or other). The same technique can be used up in the production of baked goods (using fondant instead paper obviously). The Quilling should not be confused with "watermark", first used in the papyri of ancient Egypt, the Middle East and China.History of QuillingThe history of this technique dates back to early V century convents in France and in Italy. There, monks and nuns applied the technique of filigree to fine threads of gold and silver to embellish sacred images. During the Renaissance, these French and Italian nuns and monks used the "quilling" to also decorate covers of books and other religious items using for the first time slips of paper to replace the strips of silver and gold. The rise in price of these precious metals, forced them to use the golden edges of the pages of their books. These strips were roled to create tubular shapes, imitating the ironwork of the period. Later this art comes to England, and by the Victorian Era, it was practiced by noble ladies. It is in the 18th century where Quilling became popular among the ladies of the elite throughout Europe reachng eventually the Americas. It comes to Puerto Rico by our Spanish ancestors (and European influence in general). Currently, there are only a few Puerto Rican artisans filigree paper certified by the Departamento de Fomento Industrital, including me. It is an art form that we must not lose.Basic materials for Quilling:1) Glue, 2) Template circles (and / or rule), 3) Winder ("Slotted Tool"), 4) Scissors 5) Pins, 6) Colored paper strips (usually 1/8 "wide ) 7) Toothpicks and 8) Grapples.
How to do Quilling?The paper strip is placed in the groove of the slotted tool, and then begin to roll, the circle is removed, placed in the template (for size) depending on the design you want to do, the circle is then pinched and glued at the tip.