CHINESE PAPER CUTTING By Diane Feng

CHINESE PAPER CUTTING
By Diane Feng
Search Press - November 2002
ISBN 0864177615 PB
Nonfiction / How-To / Paper Cutting

Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde, MyShelf.com
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There are a lot of new paper crafts on the market today, and most of these involve buying some pieces of equipment, which can be expensive. Why not get back to basics and try the traditional Chinese craft of paper cutting? All you need is paper, a knife and something to cut on and access to a photocopier or printer. Speaking from personal experience, this must be one of the cheapest and yet most satisfying paper crafts around.

I liked the way this book doesn't waste a lot of time describing what to do. This is very much a hands-on primer. A few more basic patterns for absolute beginners would have been a plus, as most of the patterns are fairly intricate. There are some beautiful patterns in the traditional Chinese style, depicting birds, insects and scenery and then there are just as many depicting Australian subjects including fauna such as koalas and kangaroos, the Sydney Opera House etc. The subjects for cutting don't have to be Chinese and the lively style would be fun to apply to familiar subjects whereever country you live. To anybody outside Australia (which was where this book was first published) however, the preponderance of Aussie subjects might seem a bit specialized, and a few holiday patterns would have been useful. It would be hard though to slate this aspect of what is a wonderfully practical book that cuts straight to the actual craft (pardon the pun) and will surely inspire people.