Paul Klee was born in 1879 in Switzerland to a German father and Swiss mother. His father was a music teacher and his mother an actress. They encouraged their son to become a musician, but as a teen he decidedRead More →
Scherenschnitte, is a German word that means “scissors cuts”. Although paper cutting had its origins in China, as the craft spread throughout the world, many countries developed their own unique style. Paper cutting found its way to Germany and SwitzerlandRead More →
Throughout the streets of Malaysia, you can find many vendors selling strung flower garlands. These are made with real flowers including jasmine, lotus, chrysanthemum and hibiscus. The flowers play an important role in Hinduism, and are meant to bring luckRead More →
Papel Picado Banner is a festive cut-out tissue paper banner that festoons Mexico during religious ceremonies, festivals and home parties. True papel picado is created by using very small chisels to elaborately cut designs into a large stack of tissueRead More →
Amate is a paper made out of fig or mulberry trees. The bark is boiled and pounded, then made into sheets of paper and allowed to sundry. Amate originate with the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, and the paper was believedRead More →
One can find batik in many areas of the world, and although there is not a definite origin for batik in Malaysia, it has been used there for centuries. Unlike designs of the surrounding area, Malaysian batik designs are mainlyRead More →
The paisley print is believed to have gotten its start in ancient Persia and was called boteh, meaning shrub or bush. The shape was found in fabrics, mosaics, and pottery, although it was predominately used in textiles. The design foundRead More →
One of the most recognizable images of Sweden is their wooden Dala Horse. These traditional horses got their name from town of Dalarna, in central Sweden. Since the time of the Vikings, the horse held a special spiritual significance. WoodenRead More →
The use of Persian tiles can be seen in most prominent buildings in Iran. There are two basic types of mosaics used. The first, and the oldest, are designs that are made from many small pieces of pottery cut toRead More →
Thousands of years ago, Africans began making jewelry. The oldest African jewelry was discovered in a cave on the southern tip of South Africa. Originally, natural materials, including wood, stone, and shells were used. The indigenous peoples of Africa areRead More →
