Holiday Paper Crafts from Japan. Robertta A. Uhl
Through a diverse array of crafters from the Western world as well as Japan, Washi crafts on Okinawa and mainland Japan continue to provide a wonderful bridge of friendship and understanding between our cultures. The uniqueness of Washi paper is that it is handmade. The long plant fibers are intertwined during the papermaking process, producing sheets of tough and durable paper rich in warm colors and soft texture. The fibrous paper can be rolled, molded, and shaped to fit any surface, beautifying any object. There is no other paper like Washi. Japan produces many wonderful crafts using Washi paper that are seen throughout Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Students from elementary school through high school take classes in Washi crafts. Adults of all ages enjoy Washi classes also. Japan offers many elegant and beautiful Washi kit items that follow specific symmetrical and geometrical forms. It is not uncommon to see students working on Washi projects at craft stores in Tokyo and throughout Japan.
The uniqueness of my Washi experience continues to take me into the world of the abstract, helping me to develop new and exciting projects that bring Washi craft to higher levels of creativity without borders or boundaries. In this book I share some new creations and styles that hopefully will inspire others to expand and create beyond what has already been done. Washi crafts enable our cultures to sit side by side, sharing in rich and wonderful craft experiences. This is a wonderful way to communicate understanding between cultures while imparting beautiful facets of one’s own culture. Even after more than two decades of working with Washi, I remain in awe of the rich heritage of Japanese Washi as it has progressed quietly and unobtrusively through the centuries of Japanese experience. It has played a key role throughout the development of the country, touching many facets of Japanese life. Withstanding the test of time, Washi presently is made only in Japan by farmers who are contracted to produce set limits of unique product. Each year the factories order fixed amounts of Washi based on orders, demands, and projected needs. The factories sell to retailers all over Japan. The network of distribution is rooted in traditions that are just beginning to reach beyond Japan and Asia.
This second Washi book is a simple how-to guide offering easy-to-follow instructions for many holiday Washi crafts. With this starting point, you will be able to create your own exceptional and beautiful Washi works of art. Brighten up the holidays with your creations of Washi paper crafts from Japan.
—Robertta A. Uhl
Shopping
for Washi
All around the world, the changing seasons are marked with joyful celebration. Christmas commemorates one of the most important festivals of the year, even in Japan. Many Japanese department stores are decorated with Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and holiday music just like the stores in many other parts of the world. Even though Christians are a minority in Japan, the Japanese love festivals and Christmas coincides with many of the end-of-year events of gift giving around December and January each year.
Like all of us, the Japanese enjoy giving unique and creative gifts. The wonderful holiday gifts in this craft book will help the creative crafter to surprise friends and loved ones with handmade gifts in their favorite holiday colors.
Since Washi is the main material in all of the crafts in this book, choosing the design and pattern is particularly important. Study the craft that you would like to make and find the design and pattern that will show off the color and design of that Washi. If a pattern is too large it will disappear when making a small ornament, whereas if it is small and you can clearly see the details, it will show off the craft you are making. Likewise, if you are making a large craft, you will need to pick the appropriate paper to best highlight the larger scale of the project.
The choices are endless and often the search for the right paper is just the beginning of enjoying the creative process. You will find that there are very few traditional Christmas-themed Washi, but many of the wonderful designs and colors will work well for the holidays.
Sizes: The standard size of a full sheet of printed Washi is 26" x 39" (66 x 99 cm). Some companies make smaller sheets, so it is wise to measure the sheets before buying. Some stores sell their printed Washi rolled up in plastic packaging with the size marked on the plastic cover. In Japan, the larger craft stores display their Washi flat in drawers or loosely folded and placed on specially designed wooden shelves.
One-way patterns: Some printed Washi papers have definite one-way patterns. You will need to take this into account when doing certain projects. It is wise to buy a little extra printed Washi to ensure that the pattern is able to go in the same direction all around your project.
Economizing: When purchasing printed Washi, it is more economical to purchase full sheets than smaller pieces. If you want to have a variety of printed patterns at your disposal, try getting together with a group of friends to purchase a large number of full sheets of printed Washi that can then be divided up among the group, sharing the expense.
Borders: Full sheets of printed Washi have a solid, unprinted border around the outer edges. These edges should not be discarded but kept for covering the holes when making Washi-covered eggs.
Internet sites: Washi has become very popular in recent years and there are a large number of Washi sites on the internet that sell Washi paper of all kinds, as well as instruction kits and books. Some of the more popular sites are www.washiart.com, www.kura.com, www.shizu.com, www.aitoh.com, www.kimscrane.com, and www.ichiyoart.com. The forthcoming site www.washiways.com will carry my books Japanese Washi Paper Crafts and Holiday Paper Crafts from Japan, selected Washi paper packets for specific craft items, kits, and supplies.
Ball Angel Ornament
Angels—a universal symbol of peace, hope, love, protection, and goodness—will add warmth and joy to any event or holiday. This is one of my favorite crafts that I teach, and it’s easy to create a vast assortment of different angel ornaments. They can be made into hanging ornaments, added to a holiday wreath, placed on top of a holiday package, or used as a baby shower gift. Invent your own angels for any special time of the year.
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR ONE BALL ANGEL
• 41/2" x 31/2" (11.5 x 9 cm) rectangle of printed Washi for the wings
• 61/2" x 31/2" (16.5 x 9 cm) rectangle of printed Washi for the body
• 2" (5 cm) Styrofoam ball (Washi adheres better to extruded Styrofoam)
• 10mm painted wooden head bead with1/4" (6 mm) hole (or paint a face on a plain wooden bead)
• 4" (10 cm) gold or silver tinsel chenille stem for halo
• Tiny bow or rosebud
• 8" (20 cm) thick gold or silver thread or thin gold or silver cording for hanging
• Glue stick
• Small sharp scissors
• Paper clips
• Tracing paper and pencil
• Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
• 12" x1/4" (30.5 cm x 6 mm) wooden dowel