Paper House Workshop

~ Paper House Workshop ~

It was a busy workshop weekend here at Hutch and on a blustery and wet Sunday we were cozy and creative making paper houses.

I'm always curious about what paper will be brought and this fun group of ladies had some good stuff.  Prints, colors, and textures were all over the table.  Exciting!

In no time at all little houses began popping up where the sheets of paper once were.  Ok, it took a little time to cut, fold, and assemble the houses, but it still is a bit magical nonetheless.

These ladies were so nice to work with and they were full of ideas.

We all had a great time, and I'm sure there will be many little paper houses appearing around their homes this holiday season.

Frames of Cardboard

~ Frames of Cardboard ~

My love of paper (cardboard) to be more specific is well documented but making frames has been one of my favorite things to make with this versatile material.  As you first enter Hutch you see several examples of how unique and creative these frames can be. A lot of people think they look like wood.  Pictured above is the "Picket Fence" frame which is the largest measuring 29 by 34 inches.

This is the "Bunny Pulling Carrot" frame and a reproduction of the original that was purchased not too long ago along with the original of the below pictured "Sewing Bunny" frame.  Both of the originals had applied white paint that gave them a sense of light.  I mostly hand cut using scissors and and x-acto knife but I'm trying to utilize a die-cut machine to make things more efficient.  Besides selling them in the shop we have monthly workshops here at Hutch. It's a super creative and fun time.

So get your glue guns ready and sign up for a workshop now!

The Bunny Room

~ The Bunny Room ~

A magical playland for little bunnies and kitties is what we created in the front room at Hutch.  It is the first thing you see as you enter our shop and I have to say that it lets you know what kind of experience lies ahead. A fun, childlike, and whimsical adventure.

Sometimes the bunnies are working on craft projects, sewing, cutting out paper carrots, and sometimes they are having cookies and carrot tea.  

The little bunny chairs are made of cardboard, but are sturdy enough to support bunny weight.

This cardboard dollhouse is something that I made a while ago and has been in different places in and out of the shop.  It along with a couple of vintage dollhouses add to the feeling of "play" in the room.  

Pictured below is the grand chandelier mobile which was the center and focal point of the room floating above the bunny table. 

Every time it rains, it rains, carrots from heaven.

Paper House Lights at Hutch

~ Paper House Lights at Hutch ~

1963 Good Housekeeping Cookbook House Light,  21"x 15"x 15",   $185.

The paper house light has been something that has always received a great deal of attention both here in the shop and on line. I remember when I first posted the image below on the internet. It was everywhere in no time. The exact light pictured below was featured on an episode of "Dear Genevieve" on HGTV a year ago and I sadly have not seen it yet.  They are for sale in the shop and I still plan on making it a DIY kit at some point but for now the workshops that teach others how to make the light are what's popular.  To see the current schedule of hutch workshops just click on "workshops" on our blog's main page.

~Sold~

Oh the shadows.....  If you have a dark space to hang the light, like a corner close to 2 walls, you take full advantage of it's shadow casting abilities and magic.

World Atlas House Light,  15"x 13"x 13",   $160.

This light is made out of a old World Atlas. You may be able to locate your place in the world on one of the houses.  The paper is a little thicker and not as translucent compared to the cookbook lights, but it has soft color pallet of blues, greens, and yellows.

Gail, one of my favorite workshoppers has taken this class twice and created two beautiful lights.  Both creations were very thoughtful.  The first repurposed maps that were specifically places that her daughter had been.  It was a graduation gift.  The second, a detail shown below.  Was machine stitched pages from "Pride and Prejudice" a favorite of her daughter.  Another gift.  It's obvious that she loves her daughters a great deal and  I'm sure they love their special gifts from mom.

So don't you want to check out the upcoming workshop schedule and sign up to make your own paper house light now?  Just go for it!

Cardboard Frame Making Workshop

~ Cardboard Frame Workshop ~

This frame was made by cutting almost all triangles.  The finished frame has a very art deco/arts and crafts look.

When I started this one I was thinking about spring and things sprouting and blooming.

This workshop combines the smart idea of repurposing used cardboard (which everyone has lying around) and the fun activity of making a one of a kind creation.  What's not to love?  You can bring a specific photo, print, or artwork, or make a standard frame opening o swap out images in the future.  That's all you need to bring.  Well, bring your creativity and imagination.  I supply all the materials.

This is a 2 hour class and the cost is $25.  The first class is this Friday and I'm getting excited.  Look for the unique frames in a future blog post. 

Old Book Shelf

~ Old Book Shelf ~

A future workshop perhaps? Would you sign up?

Boat Project Continued

~ Paper Boat ~

If you have been following the progress of the boat project at hutch, we last left off waiting for a sail for the little old wooden boat I repainted.  Well when the sail arrived, attached to the boat and placed in the room it was enormous.  Almost reaching the ceiling and blocking a great deal of light into the room it just wasn't going to work in the space.  A second plan of a wooden rocker crib shaped like a boat didn't work either.  What do I turn to in an emergency......CARDBOARD!  I began to pull out any big old boxes I could find, fired up the trusty glue gun and began to cut.

I have to say I never built a boat before.  As a child I was more of a car guy, but being from Rhode Island "The Ocean State" where there are more boats than cars, and helping my grandfather every 4 years refinish the boat that never left his yard gave me an advantage visualizing this task.  Here is the bottom with ribs attached.

 Next I began to cut strips and attaching them to the sides.  This is when the boat really started to take shape.

Adding small details at the bow and stern was a little bit of a nod to movie director Tim Burton who always has had a thing for the spiral.  Also the boat would be zigging and zagging without a sturdy rudder.

Slapping a fresh coat of paint on the cardboard brought the vessel to life.  Trimming in aqua and red and of course drenching it in a bath of coffee completed the basic boat.  What's left you ask?  I think I'll add some words to the aqua trim, float it over a paper sea, and make tattered sails to catch the hutch winds.

Project Update.

The Bunny Shed is being painted, and I'm hoping to have something fun happening inside.  An illuminated scene perhaps.  What do you think you might see if you peeked into a bunny shed?

Cardboard Creations

Well the floor has been piling up with cardboard scraps over the past couple of days.  I'm working on a couple different projects right now.  One is a shed that will be in a bunnies by the bay window display and the other is a large dollhouse that will be in our own sweet room here at the studio.  Both are pictured below during the construction phase.

The shed has a bunny weathervane on top which gave me the idea to make a front fence with hutch whirligigs for the dollhouse.

The construction of both is complete.  Today I primed the paper so that I can begin the surface painting. I will continue to chronicle this project with more pictures.  I will leave you with a view of the spacious interior and a full view of the dollhouse.

Cardboard is cool.


Chris "Cardboard Man"

DIY Paper Cut Project

"Oval Flower Window Frame"

At the studio we have a long side porch lined with windows.  I knew that these windows would be a great place for an eye catching visual element that could grab the attention of passers-by. I began making tiny birds in wire cages that I could hang in every window. To draw more attention to them I decided to frame them in a oval paper cut.  It was spring so flowers popped into my head immediately. 

Well they did attract customers in to the shop but The birds were hardly noticed.  Everyone wanted to know if the paper cut outs were for sale.  I am happy to announce that a pattern and instructions for the "Make It Yourself" paper cut project.

  

Now available for purchase- $8. and is listed in our "shop" section on our blog. Stop by or just give me a ring at 360-466-2303.

A tiny collection

Krys and I are currently putting together a small collection of tiny items that will be presented at the upcoming NY gift show.  The subject matter is animals, children, nature, and old book print. The materials we are using are paper, fabric, and wire.  The grouping will be displayed in a beautiful old suitcase.  Very "hutchy"!  The picture above is the latest version of the "Bunny Girl Cabin"
The grass and figure silhouettes are now printed onto the paper walls instead of hand cut out of paper *refer to last blog post..

I've made many of these "Sweet Little Tweets" at the studio, but this is the most recent version.  The base is now made from cardboard rather than old metal lids, and the birds are made of painted "oven bake" clay rather than glazed porcelain.
I'm always asking myself "Could someone make this at home?"  Sometimes changing the material or process can make a big difference.  One last tweak is changing the old sheet music ling the cage to the same old book print that you see on the walls of the paper cabin.

 This is a vase of flowers that is made by repurposing cardboard paper rolls.  The flower children are pencils with printed faces and colored paper petals and leaves.  I think that the pencils might be packaged and sold separately so you could pick which and how many flower children you want to put in your vase.
What do you think so far?  All of these items will soon be available for purchase in our "shop" section.

More Paper Houses.

Design Prototype!

I wanted to share the very latest in the development of the tiny paper cabins at hutch.  I wanted to combine a number of visual elements that we seem to continually gravitate towards.  Children and animals, old children's story books, nature, paper cutting, silhouettes, light, and our hutch colors are merged here into a tiny  magical package.

Design Prototype!

Pictured are 2 different versions.  The first has a boy and kitty silhouetted against the cabin and the second has a little girl and bunny.  Both are not yet available for purchase.  I was hoping to get a reaction and some comments on this current direction.  What do you think?