CasaSugar

Etsy Finds: Extraordinary Papercut Artwork

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:00:47 PDT

I'm really interested in papercut artwork, and have played around with the artwork a bit myself, but after a while I've begun to feel like I've seen it all. There are a few papercut artists on Etsy who are really blowing me away, though, each doing something new and fresh with their X-acto and cardstock. Check out my favorites in this week's edition of Etsy Finds!

Artist of the Day: Peter Callesen

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:15:00 PDT

Danish artist Peter Callesen creates jaw-droppingly intricate papercut artwork from A4 paper and in large-scale installations. Each work is created from one sheet of paper, be it three-dimensional flowers falling from a bouquet's negative, a hummingbird flying from the page, or a child-size castle crafted from a billboard-sized paper. He uses A4 because he says it is "probably the most common and consumed media used for carrying information today," but we "rarely notice the actual materiality" of it. There is a tragic quality to most of his subjects, whether it's a flower dying, an angel locked in a birdcage, or even an apple reduced to its core. So the frail and delicate paper medium underlines that element of calamity.

See more of his work when you

Song of the Day: Papercuts, "John Brown"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 07:00:35 PST

San Francisco's Papercuts have been a hot ticket on the local music scene for a while now. But with its upcoming album, Can't Go Back, the band may really be headed for the big time. I particularly love the track "John Brown," which the Papercuts' label just posted online. Despite some cutting-edge components - Jason Quever's shaky falsetto and the fidgety violins - the song really sounds like something from another era. To listen,

Beyond Red: Decorating With Ruby Hues

Elka Karl — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:25:49 PST

When it comes to deep saturated color, ruby rules the red tones. This saturated color originally was used to represent the color that best expressed the ruby gemstone. Its gorgeous red color strikes me as passionate, regal, and perfect for adding to your home decor.

Ruby is actually an easier shade to decorate with than straight red, thanks to the brown and purple tones present in varying shades of the color. Essentially, this means you have a red shade that plays well with a variety of other colors. Try mixing a ruby-red chandelier with a duck's-egg shade of painted walls, or add a ruby-red sofa to an eclectic mix of multihued wood furniture and patterned upholstered chairs.

For a modern ruby chandelier that won't strain your pocketbook, try the Boom Lucite Chandelier ($105). Inspired by papercut art, the chandelier features two planes of voluptuous laser cut into lucite curls. For an even greater impact, try hanging a cluster of three.

The color mix in Flavor Paper's Shore Leave Wallpaper ($150) has a fun edge, which matches the imagery. Designed by Emily Minnie, the pattern features old-school tattoo images including stars, pinup girls, and anchors. I'd love to see this papering a powder room in a roller derby girl's home.

Perhaps my absolute favorite find is the Hans Wegner Oculus Chair ($5,500). Available in a variety of colors, this gorgeous chair features a wool upholstery and a stainless steel base. Originally designed in 1960, Carl Hansen & Son began reproducing the Oculus chair three years ago based on the prototype still owned by Wegner's family.

Did something else catch your eye? Click the image to shop your ruby-red favorite.

Cool Idea: Ring Box Place Card

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:00:00 PDT

From feathers to leaves to papercut numbers, there's so much opportunity for creativity when creating place cards for your wedding tables. It's these little details that truly make your reception a memorable event, so it's definitely a place to have fun!

I'm absolutely charmed with this idea of using ring boxes as place card holders from Nonpareil Magazine that was used in a To Catch a Thief-inspired wedding. Of course it ties in perfectly with the film's jewel robber theme, but it's also quite appropriate for weddings or engagement parties because the bride's two-carat Tiffany is always a focal point.

Depending on the size of your wedding, this design element could become a bit pricey though. So maybe it's best for an engagement dinner party or a bridal shower luncheon. What do you think? Do you like this idea?

Follow These NYTimes Twitter Accounts For Free Access to NYT Content

Kristen Hawley — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:15:24 PDT

Today, The New York Times announced its new digital subscription plans, starting at $15/month for unlimited web access to content; $20/month gives users access via the web and iPad app; $35/month allows readers to access unlimited content on unlimited devices. Casual Times readers can access up to 20 articles per month at no charge. New digital subscription policies go into effect March 28.

The Times Announces Digital Subscription Plan http://nyti.ms/hngBdIless than a minute ago via The New York TimesThe New York Times
nytimes

Additionally, links from certain search engines and links via Facebook and Twitter will not count toward a reader's monthly allowance. Users searching for content via Google will be limited to five articles per day. Luckily, the paper maintains a number of excellent Twitter feeds; for a look at who you should follow for free access to New York Times content, keep reading.

Texts and Tunes: Spring Into Reading

babysugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PDT

Since today is the first day of Spring, I thought I'd suggest some cheery, floral laden books for your tot's library.

To see a few of our family faves,

Text and Tunes: The Night Before Christmas

babysugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:30:15 PST

There's a chill in the air and the crackling of wood-burning fires, and the Salvation Army bells ring on street corners. Christmas is closing in on us – less than two weeks away! Spend some time with your lil ones revisiting a classic holiday story from your youth.

Clement C. Moore published his great work, The Night Before Christmas back in 1825. The poem, already full of wonderment and cheer, is extraordinarily complemented by the illustrations of Niroot Puttapipat in the special, magical paper-cut edition. Each page offers a window into the next - leading the little ones through the glorious pages. The pop-up finale of a cityscape with St. Nick and his troop of reindeer flying overhead is truly a site to behold for both kids and adults.

Your tots will hang on every last word that comes as you tell the tale of Saint Nicholas. And, you'll enjoy the trip down memory lane.