Rock-n-Roll Bridal Line Released!

I am so excited to release the first product in Papertopias new Rock-n-Roll bridal line. Bride-to-be thank you notes! These are the sort of notes that I would like to have as a bride-to-be, punk, pretty, and personal with hot-pink lipstick, lashes and a puff. I love thank you notes.
These 5x5 notes are printed on a weighty, 140 lb hot-pressed paper, with hand-painted gold details, matching gold envelopes, and a wax seal. Heaven.














To order a set please go to my etsy shop.
Cheers!
XOXO
-R

New Animation Colaboration! Geraldine Trimarco Collaboration

Papertopias and Antonia Levy have been secretly creating a beautiful project together, the Geraldine Trimarco Collective. GTC is a combination of Antonia's photography, production, editing skills and my paper art, dolls and set design all put into stop frame animation. Antonia's photographs set up the landscape for my paper creations to unfold their stories in. We work together directing the narrative and animations.

We are overjoyed and delighted to introduce you to the first short by GTC, I hope you enjoy it!




For more information about GTC, please follow us on Twitter and visit our Youtube channel to watch the high resolution video.

Cheers!!
XXX
R

New York Wedding Listing!

Brooklyn Betrothed, the wedding group I am co-founder and visual artist for, has a bio published in the 2012 Winder issue of New York Wedding! The story is on page 175, in dramatic blood red. Congratulations to the fantastic BB group and to all our friends published in the magazine as well!




Cheers!
xxx
Ruth

New Project! Brooklyn Postcards

Papertopias has a new project out! Greetings from Brooklyn, Paper Doll Postcards. The first paper doll postcard is now ready for your viewing and purchasing pleasures. This enchanting yet deceased Mermaid amputee is just in time for Halloween, I hope you enjoy!




Directions: Sign front, then write mailing address on back. Cut out face of desired unlucky one and paste it on the head of enchanted Merlady. Add Stamp. Send. Your unfriend, or very lucky friend, will then cut out the Mermistress and place in coffin for a very fantastical finish.

For more information, or to purchase, check out Papertopias online shop at Etsy.
xxx
R

Steampunk Table Numbers

As promised, here are some views of the Steampunk table numbers for the fall wedding I have been working on in varying degrees of completion. I am so excited to see them next to Rebecca Shepherd’s divine floral arrangements in October! The finished numbers will be cut out in delicate scroll contours and be held by 14 inch tall, hand painted, copper stands.
Also great news, Papertopias created a tumbler account, The Whimsical World, for photo updates on all things art that spill out of me, paper musings, and the like, as well as a Twitter account.
Enjoy!









XXX
R

Farmer Ekria Saves the Day!

Papertopias is unleashing the first wardrobe adventure of Farmer Erika (Dekalb Market’s finest Farmer). A ferocious struggle against all weather odds (a.k.a. Hurricane Irene) to save the fluffy chicks from being tossed into the duckweed forever! Luckily, Farmer Erika is wearing a fashionable weather-resistant garment to aid her, and you, as you both collect the fluffy, slightly drippy, chicks and escort them to their chickmobile!


Farmer Erika

Cheers,
XXX
R

New Doll of the Week!!! Farmer Erika

Good Afternoon!

This new paper doll is a very special addition to the Doll of the Week category. She is inspired by the fiery presence of Erika Brenner, the farmer of the new out door Brooklyn market, Dekalb Market. You might over look her at first, is it hard to be seen when you are the size of a eggplant, but oh, do not be fooled! Erika is never to be underestimated. She has her trusty steed, (Duck) magical powers, (!!!) a very lovely edible wand (to be revealed), unending adventures with her team mate.. did I forget to mention, she is the first part of a black witch/white witch team. Oh yes. But which witch is she?

So much more to come.

I am feeling a comic strip in the making.....if Erika will share some more of her spectacular adventures that is!!

Glowchicks

I hope you enjoy coloring and cutting Farmer Erika out. Please send any projects you have done about Farmer Erika over to Ruth[@]papertopias[dot]com, and they will get posted up on the blog.

Cheers!

XXX

R

Essions’s Last Garment!

Hurray!! CyborGlow is the last sensuous Cyberstalking garment of the Johan Ess inspired paper doll Ession. Papertopias would be delighted to post any and all garments you print, cut, and color for this Faerie-Cat-Cyber-Punk-Lord, along with any created configurations you have made manifest!

CyborGlow
Esseion
FE Layout

Since the Fifth Estate layout was in a different dimension, here are the two anarchist outfits from the spread sized accordingly.


Anarchista
AnarcoPunk


Cheers and happy Labor Day!
XXX
R

What is on My Drafting Board Today?

Today I have been working on table numbers for the October Steampunk wedding.

Each one is individually illustrated, here is a #4!

Cheers
XXX
R

Steampunk Themed Wedding

Here are some preliminary schemes for the Steampunk meets Art Deco wedding I am doing with Rebecca Shepherd, an exquisite florist and co-founder of a wedding group I am a member of, Brooklyn Betrothed.
I am creating a custom hand for the escort cards, each adorned with hand-painted Chinese lanterns (the bride’s favorite blossom), as well as hand-painted individual table numbers. The illustrations will include a combination of different copper and bronze metallics. The fall color scheme will be delightful for this steamy October wedding.




I have also been working out a mixture of metallic pigments and inks to get a textured ink medium.Here are some swatch samples.


Take care and feel free to email me with any questions.
XXX
-Ruth

Ession: An Anarchist Paper Doll Layout

Sorry for the delayed blogs, I am working on an outrageously glamourous steampunk wedding with Rebecca Shepherd, so bronze, gold, and copper paper gear work assortments for the tables and escort cards are going to be showing up on the blog soon! Perhaps a few chinese lanterns as well....As of last week, I was recently honored by being asked to make a paper doll for the longest running radical Anti-authoritarian mag in the U.S., Fifth Estate. In the past I contributed art work for the magazine's issues on Ursula K. Le Guin, and was delighted to hear from them again (perhaps a future post....). The Johan Ess deviant paper doll creation, Ession, was perfect for this issue on Anarchist Fiction, as well as being fresh on the ink table sans clothing. I hope you enjoy this sneak peak, the magazine will be out shortly. I will keep you posted!

For the curious,

The T-shirt supports Marie Mason. It was designed by Just Seeds artist Erik Ruin.

The hoodie supports St. Pauli, an antifascist German Soccer team.

The book is by Peter Kropotkin, and is titled "Mutual Aid".

Tank top is Black Flag.

The rest......;)

Ession

Cheers!!

XXX

-R

New Doll of the Week! Esseion

New Doll of the Week! A paper doll inspired by Johan Ess, a most magikal creature I met while traversing the galaxies, we drank intraclusteral tea, ate star dust, and sang until the sun expoloded. It was pure divinity!

Here is a bit the wiley Johan has illuminated for us about his passions, and sonic creations. Enjoy!

"As a demonic sound creatress, clearly with frisky fairy-like tendencies, I enjoy transgressing the notion of normality while raising energies in whichever new ways I find possible. The curious are encouraged to check out my blog and mixes at http://www.johan-ess.com/ while my new album is coming out next month and can be previewed at

http://johan-ess.bandcamp.com/."

I hope you enjoy your travels with this amazing paper doll.

Cheers!

XXX

R

Darma's Last Garment! ShallopsCircle

Today reveals the last devilishly stunning garment in the wardrobe of the paper doll inspired by Miss Antonia Levey! I hope you have enjoyed printing, painting, cutting, and creating with her deviant gowns! Enjoy.

Darma

Seraphire

Spring

Cheers!
XXX
R

Darma’s New Garment: Spring

Hello and happy Wednesday! Sorry the doll of the week’s dress has been delayed, Papertopias was bustling around getting ready for a very exciting launch party for Brooklyn Betrothed!!! Details of this amazing group I am delighted to be apart of, pics, and a formal introduction will soon follow!

Darma’s new festive garment, Spring, was illustrated on a light water color paper with SUMI ink. Enjoy printing, painting and cutting it out!



Darma
Seraphire

ShallopsCircle

Cheers!
XXX
R

Darma’s first Garment: Seraphire

Here is Darma’s first wardrobe piece: Seraphire. This piece was created using SUMI ink on a very light watercolor paper. I hope you enjoy printing, coloring and cutting it out!

Darma
Spring
ShallopsCircle

Cheers!
XXX
R

What I am working on now!

Getting Darma set up on the light box for the first inked paper doll garment of her collection.



Cheers,
XXX
-R

Doll of the Week: Darma

This week’s doll is inspired by a strong, active, and loving entity, Antonia Levy. Ms. Levy kindly answered some questions about herself and her work around sexual liberation and women's rights.

Ms. Levy is a PhD candidate and adjunct lecturer at the City University of New York. Her research interests include political sociology, gender and sexuality, social movements and activism, as well as visual sociology; her thesis focuses on a comparison of the polyamory movement in the US and Germany.

Her work as social justice activist centers around issues related to women’s liberation and sexual rights, labor, as well as community media. Antonia has researched and published on the global sex workers' rights movement in which she helped organized a conference and then published a book including materials from the conference.

Currently, she is a member of the PapertigerTV collective and a part-time organizer for her union, the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY. She has been co-chair of several academic/activist conferences and workshops, including Sex Work Matters: Beyond Divides and the Second Annual Feminist Pedagogy Conference. In Ms. Levy’s free time she indulges in her two passions: chocolate and photography.

Here are some glimpses of her magical photography.
For more information on Sex Work Matters, you can find it here on Amazon.

Enjoy printing and painting this freedom warrior’s doll!


Seraphire
Spring

ShallopsCircle

Cheers,
XXX
R

Karmaya’s last Dress: Serpentine

Here is the final piece of Wicked Geisha's performance artist Maya Fitzdare’s (Kishijoten Kaminari Benzaiten) inspired paper doll, Karmaya. This dress is titled Serpentine, and was created using SUMI ink on gold textured card stock. I hope you have enjoyed the set, please email me with any additional pieces you have created for Karmaya, or any painted sets you have completed!





Cheers!
XXX
R

Karmaya
Temple of Light
CrustaceanKingdom

What is on my drafting board today: Save the Date wedding invitations!

Today I am finishing up the final touches on the Save the Date wedding invitation, soon to be revealed on my online shop!



XXX
R

Karmaya's second mystical garment: CrustaceanKingdom

Hello and Happy Monday! I hope your July weekend was lovely. To start the Papertopias week off here is the sequel to Karmaya's wickedly, enchanting wardrobe: CrustaceanKingdom! This dress was created with SUMI ink, on gold textured card stock. Enjoy!



Karmaya
Temple of Light
Serpentine
XXX
R

Karmaya’s glowing gown: Temple of Light

Here is Karmaya’s first gown, the Temple of Light, its was created using SUMI ink on textured gold card stock. Enjoy!






XXX
R

Karmaya

CrustaceanKingdom
Serpentine

Doll of the Week! Karmaya

This doll is inspired by an amazing performer and spiritual guide of Ritual Theater, Maya Fitzdare (Kishijoten Kaminari Benzaiten). I learned of Maya‘s enchanting presence through a friend (Johanna) who introduced me to their group, Wicked Geisha. They are a theatrical group who evolve in love, beauty, balance, regeneration, and many more divine and human consciousnesses. So inspiring to behold!
I hope you enjoy printing, painting and creating divine costumes for Karmaya!
This paper doll was created using SUMI ink on a textured silver card stock.



Happy Wednesday!
XXX
R

Temple of Light

CrustaceanKingdom
Serpentine

What is on my drafting table today: Labels!

Today I am creating custom labels for the backs of the Abigail De Belasco cards. These labels will help explain the paper doll set idea by revealing what is inside the card, they will be apart of the exterior packaging. The end result will show the cover of the card (what ever outfit is on the front) and the doll insert inside each frame with some text on the lower half of the label.





Cheers!
XXX
R

Doll of the Week! Sagathia, Mercurian Mischief

Sagathia is busy still, sending mischief and mayhem throughout time space, enjoy her winged transformations as she darts to and fro. This completes the Papertopias set for Amber Ray, I look forward to seeing what you do with it, and how you add to the continuations of her flights and adventures!


Cheers and happy weekend!
XXX
R

Sagathia
OctoEnlightenment
Feathergoddess

Doll of the Week! Sagathia, the Feathergoddess

The Feathergoddess! Another truly fantastical performance piece for Sagathia, print, color, cut, and enjoy!


Happy Saturday,
XXX
-R


Sagathia
OctoEnlightenment
Mercurian Mischief

What is on my drafting board today!

I am currently working on a promotional card set for wedding invitations. Here is a sneak peak at the save the date. More to come soon!




XXX
-R

Doll of the Week: OctoEnlightenment, Sagathias first garment

Happy Fourth to you! I am celebrating in Brooklyn by drawing up some sensational sea creature garments for Sagathia, the paper doll of the week inspired by Amber Ray’s divine diva personalities, and drinking home made Indian lemonade and whiskey!
Cheers!



XXX
R

Sagathia
Feathergoddess
Mercurian Mischief

Doll of the Week! Sagathia

Sagathia is a shadowy spirit dancer, arising from the inspiring roles the fantastic burlesque performer, Amber Ray, develops for her acts. Enjoy painting, cutting, and creating with this new set!



Cheers!
XXX
R

OctoEnlightenment
Feathergoddess
Mercurian Mischief

Doll of the Week: Meranda's Last Dress

Here is the final installation of Meranda the Sea Spirit's wardrobe, at least the ones by Papertopias! This frisky ensemble, along with the entire world of Meranda and her underwater enchantments, was inspired by the lovely and talented Miss Tess!
Thank you for engaging!



Meranda
Cosmos Dress
The Cyclops's Siren

Tomorrow will unveil the next paper doll for the Doll of the Week category, any guesses as to what it might be...?



Cheers!
XXX
R

Studio Glimmer

Every day my studio reconstructs itself as new projects appear and transcend the layers of inspiration and sketches, shifting the landscape of the atmosphere. Here is a glimpse of its passage today.



xxx
R

Doll of the Week: Meranda's Second Apparel Apparition

Happy Monday to you all!

This weeks starts with the unveiling of Meranda's second garment,
The Cyclops's Siren. I hope you enjoy painting and cutting out its bewitching scales!





Cheers!
xxx
Ruth

Meranda
Cosmos Dress
UniDream

Doll of the Week: Meranda's first apparel apparition

The Cosmos Dress! This is the first ensemble for the doll of the week category. As the weeks go by the layout of the postings will change, but for now its under its own blog post.
This is the Cosmos Dress for Meranda, the doll from Thursday, June 23.
Print, color, cut, and enjoy!



xxx
Ruth

Meranda
The Cyclops's Siren
UniDream

New Catagory: Doll of the Week

I am starting a new category for this paper world! Each week I am going to post a doll and throughout the week will post outfits for it. This doll is inspired by the talented Miss Tess and done in black ink on some very velvety and delicious cold press water color paper, I had a few scraps let over from the Frisky Faerie show and am drawn to scraping the inky tip across its bumpy texture. It was all I could think about when I woke up this morning!! Please print out and color if you wish, and create your own voluminous water world fantasies for her to wear! Enjoy!



xxx
Ruth

Cosmos Dress
The Cyclops's Siren
UniDream

Wedding Crashers Event at the Bell House

This event was first time I had been to the Bell House in the Gowanus area of Park Slope. Rebecca Shepherd, of Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design, invited me to soft open Papertopias Wedding Line at her table for the Wedding Crashers event being held there. The space is great! I designed and hand painted table numbers and escort cards to compliment Rebecca’s flora illuminations, which are elegant, enchanting, and made from the pixie lights of my dream world! They also had feathers creatively disbursed in the bouquets.
This is the first time Papertopias products have moved away from strictly paper doll goods to envelope a larger illustration form and I was honored and delighted to challenge my art to work with Rebecca and be apart of such a great event.
Papertopias is now designing wedding paper goods, hurray!
Kristina Hill of Kristina Hill Photography took some beautiful photographs of the event, the first few are of Rebecca Shepherd’s table. Enjoy!








Tammy Golson’s Table


Anni Bruno of NYC Faces



Nine Cakes


Tammy Golson Events and Nicole from Brooklyn Based helped organize this magical day which was filled with a thoughtful selection of wedding vendors, a few among them where Anni Bruno of NYC Faces who was giving away the most amazing chocolate mint chap-stick and free make overs, Betsy Thorleifson from the notoriously delicious and stylish Nine Cakes, and the catering group, Naturally Delicious who treated the crowds to some very tasty samples.

Happy wedding crashing!
-Ruth

Brooklyn Collective and the Frisky Faeries

So much has happened these last few months! To start it off, Papertopias joined Brooklyn Collective, a Caroll Gardens co-op, in March. Brooklyn Collective is a spacious boutique with a thoughtful selection of art, wearables, and other delightful trinkets. When Papertopias moved into the space they invited me to put up framed originals of the doll sets, along with other products from my lines. This was a significant step for me, having never framed my original art pieces before. It turned out to be very rewarding and I am excited to see where the dolls and dresses go with this concept in the future. The Frisky Faeries set is also framed along with the original poster.

At the moment I am working out the packaging for the Frisky Faeries booklet, which includes a surprise ending, and will let you know once it's ready for cutting up and playing with.

In addition to the framed artwork, letter-sized prints are also available in the Abigail line.
For questions or purchase inquiries, email me, Ruth (at) papertopias (dot) com or you can stop by their delicious store on 212 Columbia Street to see the works in person.

Also in March, Papertopias's life-sized paper doll show "Frisky Faeries" was performed for the second time. The show was at the Brooklyn Collective boutique and was performed on a custom-built, double-sided stage I built myself to show the private dressing up of the doll as well as her more public persona.

The show was phenomenal and I am overjoyed to have worked with so many charming and passionate people. A special thanks to the Frisky Ones, Joanne Kim Nunez (thank you for the blog post), Tamara Kneese, Nicole Caput0 (who was also in charge of PR), Antonia Levy, Ellen Trimarco, and James Trimarco.

A round of thanks to the proprietresses of Brooklyn Collective, Rachel Goldberg and Tessa Phillips for hosting the space, DJ T3db0t for the live musical performance, Lindsey Case for providing the sensational cupcakes and being such an amazing doll and to Mark Feigenbaum the photographer for doing another stunning job!

I was also honored to have Gabi Porter from Metromix write a fantastic article about the show!

Thank you for reading, more updates soon to follow!

-R