My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Curling Kyogi Paper

Kyogi paper was historically used in Japan to wrap food – all natural, keeps the food from drying out, adds a subtle flavour and it can be composted to return to the crop-soil-cycle! It is pine (or cedar) wood that is shaved so thin it’s almost transparent. It can be weaved, wrapped, rolled, cut, stained, torn and easily glued.

Soak strips of Kyogi paper in warm water.

Soak strips of Kyogi paper in warm water.

The wet strips are easy to manipulate

The wet strips are easy to manipulate without the wood braking or ripping.

But to create perfect curls the Kyogi paper needs to be set.

Wrap the wood veneer around a tube.

Gently wrap the wood veneer (Kyogi paper) around a paper tube or thick dowel stick.

Use each new layer to keep the previous in place.

Use each new layer to keep the previous in place.

Secure the last strip with a tiny butterfly hair-clip.

Secure the last strip with a tiny butterfly hair-clip.

Set aside to dry.

When completely dry the curls will be set.

When completely dry the curls will be set into the Kyogi paper strips

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

10 March 2012 Kyogi paper wood veneer

I wanted to create extremely light weight wooden blocks for my design. The easiest way is to cover Styrofoam with a Kyogi paper veneer.

21 July 2011 Weaving a bird

I wove my bird from shaved wood but you can also use flax, coconut palm (more traditional) or paper or ribbon

Related Designs

5 September 2012 Just Right! Floral Art demonstration: Just Right!

My third design in my demonstration at the BC Floral Art Society meeting

22 June 2016 Perfection

Spiral grass to create a nest for the lady slipper orchids