My dad always sent his business shirts to the cleaners. Each one came back neatly pressed and folded around a nice, flat piece of white cardboard, which he saved in a tidy stack. To me, those cardboards were gold. With blunt scissors, scotch tape and plenty of tenacity, I spent long, happy hours transforming them. My Barbie house became filled with furnishings like no other. My beloved model horses grazed contentedly, their corral flanked by miles (well, actually yards) of ranch-style fencing…and not one ever escaped.
The joys and challenges of those early projects never left me. Over the years, I’ve explored a multitude of materials. A BFA led to a career as a graphic designer. When my own daughters played with Barbie dolls, I made their furniture out of sturdier foam board, with hand-sewn cushions, of course.
My girls are grown now and I still love making things. My scissors are sharper, and my cutting skills have become quite precise. Paper flowers caught my attention several years back. Like the shirt cardboards of long ago, crepe paper is a raw material waiting to be transformed. Over several years, I diligently taught myself to coax realistic looking petal and leaf shapes from the malleable crepe, continually drawing from nature's endless supply of inspiration. I haven’t looked back.
Each flower is a hand-crafted work of art, requiring many hours. The completed blooms offer benefits over fresh flowers. They will last indefinitely with minimal care, never wilting, never dying. They are made of biodegradable materials. They are allergy free—your thoughtful gift won’t leave the recipient sneezing. And they never, ever need water, so they’re ideal for frequent travelers. Crepe paper flowers can bring joy to any home, office or event space, and make a lovely gift for almost any occasion.
My name is Mardi. I’m proud to offer my work to you here, through goimagine—a curated marketplace dedicated to artisans. Learn more about goimagine here by clicking Our Mission at the bottom of the main page. The best part? Every purchase of handmade goods benefits children’s charities. Learn more here: https://goimagine.com/charity-partners/
