Wedding - Crown of Flowers

"Wedding - Crown of Flowers" 15x20 cm, quilling technique and apliqué complimented by silk ribbon writing on Conqueror paper

What is Quilling?

Quilling, or paper filigree, is the art of rolling, shaping and bending narrow strips of paper into formed designs. The name QUILLING probably came about, because a feather quill was used as the tool, long ago. Quilling dates back as far as the fourteenth century, when Catholic nuns used the scrap edges, that came from producing monk's publications, to create beautiful religious decorations. They were often painted gold to resemble metal filigree work. Quilling became popular in the whole world in the eighteenth century, and can be seen in museums featuring colonial exhibits. Quilling involves time consuming, meticulous handcrafting that can never be exactly duplicated from piece to piece. Styles of quillwork vary from artist to artist, much like painting does.