Category: Artists

Quilling artist Sarah Alves of Tairua makes fascinating creations out of strips of paper. It’s an ancient craft from the Middle Ages, when nuns would gather excess bits of paper from the monks’ writings and turn them into art. The term ‘quilling’ comes from the feather quill which they used to twirl paper strips around. The result is a kind of filigree. It’s hard to believe Sarah has no art training. In fact, she reckons she’s hopeless at painting (even a small board). But after discovering the art of quilling about eight years ago, she has been hooked on this unique art form and has many lovely works to show for it.