I was given a wonderful pack of assorted Dresden Trim, as well as an entire sheet of fish. I spent a pleasant few hours sorting through the scrap, snipping and arranging the bits and pieces. Things got interesting when I started combining parts of one with another. Above is the beginning of an illustration for 2018.

I cut the wings from a bird in flight (a swift? a swallow?) and this happened. I felt an instant sense of recognition, like I had met a new old friend.

I made the ladder longer, and glued the pieces together.

The back is reinforced with toothpicks and cardstock circles cut to the wheel dimensions, stacked and glued together, then glued to the outer rim.

Because I’m not a stamped gold foil kind of girl, I spray painted her matte black. Please say hello to my new avatar.

She shows up strikingly against many backgrounds.

I gifted her shoes made of black eyelets and tacky wax. She stands freely, observant, curious and full of questions.

However… sometimes it’s hard being 2.5D in a complex 3D world. You can lose touch with essential parts of yourself.

We believe it’s good to have your head in the clouds, and your feet on the ground.

And have your heart wide open… but sheltered by something good.

(These particular Dresden trim pieces came from Castle in the Air, but I have since found three other good online sources: Rose Mille; Dresden Paper Crafts; and Walter Kunze.)