Synopses & Reviews
Special occasions are made more special when you send something personal: a card you have made. Handmade cards convey not only written sentiments, but the consideration of the sender.
A little over ten years ago, designer Yoshiko Kitagawa became dissatisfied with the blandness and trite sentimentality of store-bought cards. She began making her own cards, and was both delighted and surprised at the positive reception her hand-folded cards received. Since then she has refined many of her original designs has created a series of 48 cards to cover every possible use births, thanks, anniversaries, Christmas, invitations, announcements, or just plain hello.
Elegant or delicate, whimsical or informal, there are cards here to suit every taste and purpose. Enclose a pressed flower or a leaf between pristine sheets of tracing paper. Unwrap a baby card that resembles a receiving blanket. Make a message that pops up.
Most cards are surprisingly easy to make. A few folds of paper, a strategic slit with a craft knife and there you have it. To facilitate selection, cards are grouped by suggested use, and all are illustrated in color. Each is clearly explained by step-by-step diagrams and captions. Try your own preferred papers to make the cards even more individual.
The Japanese are known for their superlative handmade papers and for message-sending traditions that go back at least a thousand years. Medieval aristocrats sent messages to friends and lovers on paper carefully chosen for color and texture, often tied to a flowering or leafy sprig. You can adapt this tradition by writing your messages on cards made of fine textured Japanese paers or a variety of decorative Western papers. Follow the directions, then try your own variations, and enjoy the results 7#151; a message of hand and heart.