With a stunning combination of visual art and typography, Yulia Brodskaya fashions ribbons of paper into images so fine it seems almost impossible that they’re not digitally produced.

While growing up in Russia, Yulia was always interested in diverse creative practices ranging from Textile Painting, Origami and Collage to more traditional Fine Art practices in her homeland Russia.  After moving to England and receiving  an MA in Graphic Communication (2006, University of Hertfordshire) she continues to experiment and explore ways of bringing together all the things she likes most: typography, paper, and highly detailed hand-made craft objects.  Her work can be seen in many publications and campaigns including  more recently for Starbuck’s VIA coffee.

Check out Yulia’s website to see additional works of amazing art.

If you are looking for a holiday project then Lisa Tilse has  (re)posted some great Christmas tutorials including this paper wreath on her blog – the red thread.  This wreath has the same pattern in two different colors but complimentary  patterns or with several shades of the same color palette would look great as well.

You gotta fight..for your right to Paaaaarty!  So put the party hats on! Here is a new twist on origami..check out more at:  http://fickleflickers.fc2web.com/noguchi/menu3.htm

We recently spoke with Angela Valente  who has been working on  expansive collage project  which she calls  ” Give Me a Treehouse.”  This thoughtful piece  includes poetry written by Angela’s  mother reflecting on caring for her beloved grandmother (her mother) who is 90.    It includes many papers she had and some she found at Paper Mojo.  We think it is a fabulous tribute and project!

Since the “Fright Lights” lantern project appeared in the October 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living we have had an enormous demand for the the orange and yellow vellum.   Another project that Megan worked on last year were some Halloween cards using the same orange vellum.  Using a template,  she cut out a silhouette of tree and bat on some Stardream text weight paper and then backed it with the a piece of orange vellum.  It’s a very easy project and it looks bootiful !

Leaf on Amate Bark

One of our most interesting customers is fine art photographer William Chambers of Greenwich,  Connecticut.  Mr. Chambers’  has always had a fascination with images but his true passion  for photography began 45 years ago when a friend suggested he try it and he has not stopped since then.  He learned from the the best even studying  and working with with famed Vogue fashion photographer  John Rawlings.

Several years ago when he became disabled and could no longer work in the darkroom,  Mr. Chambers began experimenting with digital photography and different printing techniques.  In his experimentation he found that if he primed  papers such as marbles,  amate barks, loktas etc.  and then printed his still life photographs on them  it added  an interesting  texture and depth.  His portfolio of work can be viewed at his website.  William Chambers Photography.  Despite some setbacks in life, Mr. Chamber has never stopped taking pictures and  according to him  he most likely never will – “Being a fine art photographer is my way of life, not just my work and profession.”

You may have seen the elegant  Florentine Marbled paper (traditional patterns or stone-look)  in our store.  Now find out more about the person behind these artisan papers.  She is the talented  second generation Florentine marble artist,  Laura Berretti.

Laura’s techniques are grounded in a tradition dating back hundreds of years.  She begins by treating the pages in a bath made up of gelatin extracted from marine alga, a process that enhances the composition of the color that floats on the surface without dissolving, until they take on the original forms designed by special combs.  Each sheet  is an original and unique work of art.

Marbled papers,  produced as in the 16th century,  were created by  Laura for the fly leaves for what was billed as the most expensive book in the world,” Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano,” published by the  fine art publishing house,  Marilena Ferrari-FMR.  A copy is currently shown  at the New York Public Library. Another FMR  masterwork,  ”Deus Caritas Est”   used Laura’s marbled sheet for the guard leaves of  this historical book which a copy was donated to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.  We will have more information on Laura Berretti and her other work on our website soon but in the meantime you can learn more about her and her papers at the Marbled Arts website or check out the video below to see her in action.  Ciao for now!

{Warehouse and Shipping Manager }

Meet one the busiest workers here at  Paper Mojo, Aimee.   Aimee  is a puppy mill rescue poodle  who came to work for us when Megan adopted her about a year ago.  Since then she has risen through the ranks and is  now responsible for managing the warehouse and quality control of all orders sent out.   So next time you receive your order know that it has Aimee’s paw of approval!

When you wish you could do something well and just can’t you just have to admire those who do and can…or something like that.  Anyway, what I am trying to say is Maggie Campbell of Campbell Raw Press,  one of our very talented customers,  just released her  new catalog of work and we love it! Maggie’s hand bound books are true keepsakes.  She  began binding books in 1994, taking a series of workshops and classes from Joan Soppe, of Nom de Plume Studio.  Her journals, albums, guest books and drop spine boxes are created from archival materials, incorporating printmaking & bookbinding papers, as well as any number of decorative papers

Also check out her new line of  letterpress cards which are based on 19th century natural history illustrations …they are all great!

You can see the work of Campbell Raw Press in person at several stores including Kate’s Paperie in the New York City area and Plum Elements in  Charleston SC.

We always love to see how our customers use the papers that they purchase.  Recently  Pi-Ping Savage ordered some very special rice paper and I had to know what she was doing.  When Ms. Savage was  12 years old and living in China,  she  would admire the cut-outs on the windows during Chinese New Year.  When she  could not get any the beautiful patterns  she enjoyed  she started creating her own .   Thirty  years after getting married and moving to the United States she is still creating.  She begins by drawing  pictures on white paper and then layers it on top of  Japanese  rice paper.  Using an X-Acto knife she then cuts out the intricate pattern out and mounts them.    Thanks for sharing your work with us!