Stars Hollow

Stars HOLLA!

As a papercut artist I'm always looking for ways to combine my craft with my interests... And with the news of the upcoming Gilmore Girls Netflix reboot, and 183 episodes of the Gilmore Guys podcast under my belt, a Gilmore Girls themed papercut seemed inevitable...

 

As all Gillies know, Gilmore Girls is set in the fictional small town of Stars Hollow, located approximately 30 minutes from Hartford in Connecticut.

I love personalised maps, and since my search for a Stars Hollow papercut map turned up zero results I began plotting to cut one out... I used an aerial photograph of the Warner Brothers studio back lot (where the show is filmed) to ensure the correct locations of the buildings.

 

Many of the houses and businesses within Stars Hollow have distinct exteriors, although perhaps only an avid Gilmore Girls viewer could distinguish them all... For this reason I sprinkled identifying symbols and initials across the map.

For example, Luke's Diner is topped with the recognisable coffee cup logo, Miss Patty's School of Ballet has a pair of ballet slippers, and Taylor Doose's Old-Fashioned Soda Shoppe has an ice-cream shaped window.

Over the past 21 months the popularity of the Gilmore Guys podcast (hosted by Kevin and Demi) has united the Gilmore Girls fan base, and formed friendships via social media. 

Rather than make my Stars Hollow papercut into a print, I turned it into postcards in the hope that Gillies would send handwritten messages to one another! I know I'd rather receive a postcard than a tweet any day...

The postcards are made from high-quality, lightly textured card and I am so happy with them! To purchase one visit my etsy shop: OhCutItOut.etsy.com

And now for the important bit: Team Dean, Team Jess or Team Logan?

Until next week...

-Karen

The Big Easy

My latest project was a series of New Orleans inspired papercuts...

Papercut #1:

The first piece I cut was intended to look like an intricate back tattoo.

I pulled the circular text from the drum kit at Preservation Hall, a music venue in the heart of the French Quarter "established in 1961 to honor one of America’s truest art forms – Traditional New Orleans Jazz."*

Although Preservation Hall is located on St. Peters Street, 'Rue Bourbon' (also in the French Quarter) seemed more fitting for this papercut, especially in a tattoo-style font.

Papercut #2:

New Orleans infamous ghost stories and witchcraft legends inspired the bridal skulls of my second papercut.

'Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo' on Bourbon Street is named for New Orlean's notorious Voodoo Queen. Here you can stock up on talismans, candles, tarot cards, incense...

The word 'Lafayette' on the top hat was borrowed from the ironwork gates of Lafayette Cemetery. A pair of ironwork gates were also included on papercut #1.
 

Papercut #3:

The final papercut in the series is presented as a beautiful poster. The Big Easy is one of the city's many nicknames...

Inspiration for this piece was taken from the cemeteries of New Orleans, often referred to as 'cities of the dead'. Due to the high water table "departed loved ones are interred above ground"** (Caskets would literally float if buried in a traditional grave.)

The name 'Toussaint' on the central tomb is for Allen Toussaint; the musician, songwriter and influential figure in New Orleans R&B who sadly passed away last year.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this series of papercuts. The New Orleans influence is clear in each piece, and the repetitive floral pattern and tattoo-style font tie the three pieces together.

 

Which papercut is your favourite?

Until next week...

-Karen

* http://preservationhall.com/hall/history/
**http://www.experienceneworleans.com/deadcity.html

The Lost Art of the Mix CD

A few days ago I found a stack of mix CD's I made back in 2006, with embarrassing Clipart covers to boot... The track listings are mostly made up of bands who have all but disappeared from air play. In the era of digital music the mix CD has also all but disappeared, along with the cassette tape before it.

Do you still buy CD's? 
Do you still have a device to play CD's on?
Do you still buy music?

I do. I still buy CD's and, more recently, vinyl too. On Saturday afternoon I found myself sat in a pile of more than 300 CDs: looking at the cover art, unfolding the booklets, reading the thank yous. Some of them had posters enclosed. Posters!

If I like a band's music I will buy their album regardless of the cover... But if the cover is a work of art, I will buy it quicker.

As a music lover, one of my goals is to one day see my artwork on the cover of an album or EP. Since that day has yet to arrive, I've created some fun papercut covers with accompanying playlists. I like to think they're a significant step up from my Clipart days...

Playlist 1: Motivational

These songs are from a longer playlist I made in my final year of uni. Sit in front of a knitting machine for 6 hours a day and you'll be listening to The Cars on repeat too...

1. The Cars - Just What I Needed
2. ZZ Top – Cheap Sunglasses
3. Wolfmother – Vagabond
4. Fruit Bats – Dolly
5. King Charles – Bam Bam
6. Placebo – Every You Every Me
7. Rock N Roll Soldiers – Funny Little Feeling
8. Ellie Goulding – You My Everything
9. ELO – Sweet Talkin' Woman
10. Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait


Playlist 2: Love Songs of the 70s

I'm a sucker for a cheesy love song from the decade of flares and facial hair. Okay, so 2 of these songs are from the late 60s... I cheated. What you gonna do?

1. Andy Kim – Rock Me Gently
2. Eric Clapton – Layla
3. Little River Band – Reminiscing
4. The Zombies  - This Will Be Our Year
5. Nolan Porter – If I Could Only Be Sure
6. Frankie Miller – Fool In Love
7. Lou Reed – Satellite of Love
8. Fleetwood Mac – You Make Loving Fun
9. Led Zeppelin – Thank You
10. Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years


Playlist 3: Trains/Traveling

During my uni years I frequently traveled up and down the country on busy trains. A longer version of this playlist saved my sanity on many a long journey...

1. The Horrors – Still Life

2. Led Zeppelin – No Quarter
3. Florence + the Machine – Breath of Life

4. The Boxer Rebellion – Spitting Fire

5. Simon & Garfunkel – America
6. Tame Impala – Alter Ego

7. Florence + the Machine - Shake It Out

8. Alt J – Something Good
9. Led Zeppelin – That’s The Way
10. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man

What CD's or playlists have you been listening to lately?

Until next week...

-Karen

Halloween Crafts

Traditionally, Christians believed Halloween (or All Hallows Eve) was the night when the veil between the material world and the afterlife thinned... In order to prevent being recognised by a weary soul, they would wear masks or costumes to disguise themselves.

Between carving a pumpkin into a jack-o'-lantern and watching Hocus Pocus, this year I'm going to give some of the following crafts a go:

 Split pumpkin - Owl pumpkins

Whilst my pumpkin carving skills aren't quite on par with this silhouette lantern, it's made me determined to up my game...

For those who prefer not to gut a pumpkin, there are lots of internet tutorials for no-cut designs, like these monochrome sharpie owls! Perfect for kids too young to be wielding a kitchen knife...

 

 

Skull bunting - Origami bat

Bunting! Skulls! What's not to love?! Really easy to make and effective to look at. Cut from metallic card to add a ghostly feel...

While my origami skills haven't got further than a couple of penguins and a swan, I'm looking forward to giving this bat a go. It might take me a few attempts...

 

Paper web - Paper spiders

I don't like spiders but I love these paper cut 3D webs! Make a few and watch the shadows dance on the walls. Decorate with neon spiders.

Decorate with an eerie spider garland, cut from a simple strip of folded paper. For an extra long garland, carefully glue multiple strips together. 

 Spider cookies - Ghost cupcakes

Why not bake a batch of spooky cookies or ghostly cupcakes? Your trick-or-treaters will pick treat every time!

There are also lots of recipes for using up the insides of your pumpkin, including pumpkin bread, pumpkin and choc chip cookies, and even pumpkin flavour cocktails!

What are your plans for Halloween?

Until next week...

-Karen 

*All images from Pinterest