Paper quilling tool is passed, allowing ancient craft to continue

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Sister Marda Tsai

Sister Marda Tsai has long practiced the ancient craft of quilling, an art form also known as paper rolling, filigree or paper scrolling, which dates back to as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. Back then, cloistered nuns and monks decorated reliquaries and pictures with quilled shapes, sometimes crafted of precious materials or the guild of bibles. In fact, upon close inspection, fine examples of quilling are apparent in many of the relics in the St. Rose reliquary.

These days, paper quilling is enjoying somewhat of a revival, even within the FSPA, thanks to Sister Marda. Her quilling work has frequently graced cards and pictures sold in the St. Rose Gift Shop, which were popular items. But Sister Marda knew in order for the tradition of quilling within the FSPA to live on, she would have to take on a student.

"I was coming out of the chapel one morning, and Sister Marda tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'I want to see you.'" Sister Carlene Unser explains, reliving the day which happened prior to Christmas of last year. While Sister Carlene has long practiced many art forms including icon writing and weaving, she had never tried quilling, and she had no preconceived notions about what Sister Marda wanted to discuss. Still, as requested, she visited Sister Marda at 1 p.m. that same day.

Sister Carlene Unser recently learned the craft of quilling from Sister Marda Tsai.

Sister Carlene describes the experience, "Sister Marda said, 'Somebody has to learn this, because the art has to go on.'" Lessons began immediately. The focus during her early learning was on Christmas cards, all of which Sister Marda wanted to be the same. She gave Sister Carlene a challenging assignment, to make well over a hundred paper quills within a few days. The next teaching session focused on pinching techniques for forming the paper into flower petals and leaves. Of course, along the way there were lessons to be learned. The symbolism of some of the paper coils was lost on Sister Carlene, who accidentally placed bells upside down on the first Christmas cards she created. But she quickly gained proficiency.

A few lessons later, Sister Carlene brought work samples to show her teacher. Sister Marda remarked, "They are beautiful. They are very good."

"And I said, 'Marda, I have a very good teacher.'" Sister Carlene remembers. "And she was radiant. She loved the compliment. The gleam in her eye was worth a million."

History of Quilling

From the 13th and 14th centuries to the 18th century, the paper quilling craft thrived, with many women in the upper and middle classes becoming expert quillers. It presented an affordable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to elaborate metal art it resembled in metal filigree, for which artists would shape fine silver and gold wires. Many household items historically have been decorated with quillwork, including furniture, fire screens, tea caddies, wall sconces and pictures. In the 18th century, however, the art form began to fade.

Historically, a porcupine quill or a feather was used to roll strips of paper, though today there is a specific tool available which makes the process easier. The paper coils are then pinched into shape, and glued to a piece of paper, fabric or wood, to form a picture or accent design.

At that moment, Sister Marda reached for her supplies, a box full of quilling papers and tools, and placed it in Sister Carlene's hands. She also told a woman who had ordered cards from Sister Marda in the past that Sister Carlene would be doing the quilling from that point forward. "I couldn't believe it," says Sister Carlene. "I was just a novice in the trade."

Of course quilling styles, like any art form, vary from artist to artist, so natur-ally Sister Carlene was fearful of how her particular style would be received."I'm not a production artist," she explains, "and I can't do the same thing twice. Every one is going to be different." Now surrounded by examples of her work and a box full of cards with paper quilling designs, there is no doubt her work has become popular. Now her cards are sold in the Gift Shop, along with pictures she's created of flowers and butterflies, all of delicate, quilled paper.

Sister Marda has stepped away from the art form, though she says she may make some cards for friends around Christmastime. For now, the quilling tool has been passed to Sister Carlene, and the responsibility of taking over the craft of quilling and ensuring that it continues is something she takes seriously. "Marda is such a wonderful friend, and I've known her for a long, long time. I've always enjoyed and appreciated her art. So I thought, 'I have to do this for Marda,'" she explains. In just a short time, Sister Carlene has moved from a novice in the trade to a likely instructor. "Now I realize I have to find someone, because Marda wants this art to live on. So I can keep my word, keep it going, and find someone else who can do it."

The process of quilling, left to right, first, thin strips of paper are rolled into a coil. Next the coils are pinched into the desired shapes. Lastly, coils and leaves are glued to paper to complete the work.

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