We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Trupti More. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Trupti below.

Trupti , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

After completing my Master’s in India, I got married and moved to the USA. After obtaining another Master’s, I became a stay-at-home mom to take care of my first child. I wanted to keep myself engaged with a hobby, so I turned towards the arts. I tried jewelry making, crochet, string art, painting, and origami before stumbling upon a beautiful photo of jewelry made out of paper strips in 2012. I knew it wasn’t regular jewelry, so I contacted the creator and inquired about her jewelry. She informed me about paper quilling, the art of using rolled-up paper strips that are shaped and glued together to create beautiful designs.

I’d never heard about this form of art, so I did a lot of research on it. I couldn’t find anyone or any tutorials that could teach me, but I luckily came across some books at the public library. I didn’t have any supplies, so I improvised by making a slit in a toothpick to use as my quilling tool. I recycled the old worksheets my son brought home from school by cutting them into strips. In this way, I gathered my supplies and taught myself paper quilling by engaging with these books. It’s been more than 8 years since I discovered this art, and I’m still learning something new everyday. In quilling, you can develop new techniques, making it a never-ending learning process. If there were video tutorials or instructors available, I would’ve been even further along in my quilling journey. Creating an easier learning process for paper quilling is a major reason why I conduct workshops and post tutorials and courses on platforms such as Youtube, Udemy, and Skillshare.

Trupti , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and brought up in India, and I initially wasn’t interested in art. I just did some drawing and painting in school. In India, I got a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, but I felt dissatisfied with it, so I pursued a Master’s in Computer Management. After completing my Master’s I got married and moved to the USA. I got another Master’s in Information Systems this time before having my first child and shifting my priority to become a stay-at-home mom. I explored different forms of art to maintain a hobby until I stumbled upon paper quilling in 2012. Since then, I’ve been a self-taught paper-quilling artist and I created a blog to showcase my work online. This passion was transformed into a business in 2016 by launching online and in-person workshops to share my beloved craft and knowledge with others. These workshops have been conducted at local REC Centers, craft shops, birthday parties, senior centers, and art centers. I’ve even had the opportunity to conduct online workshops for Pinterest employees on two occasions. Recently, I started an afterschool quilling club for the first time at a middle school, aiming to teach my craft to the younger generation so they can carry paper quilling forward. Since 2016 I have taught quilling to more than 3000 kids and adults and I am eager to grow this number exponentially.

Over the years, I’ve sold a wide range of products crafted through the art of paper quilling such as bookmarks, magnets, cards, ornaments, jewelry, frames, 3D figures, candle holders, and photo holders. They’ve been crafted by paper strips that are rolled, looped, curled, and manipulated in various ways. While the process sounds simple, quilling demands a lot of patience and an eye for color, as there is no limitation to the designs that can be made. In my earlier years, I’ve experimented with a variety of items, but I’ve shifted towards ornaments and framed designs of animals, nature, logos, scenes and other creative ideas over the past few years. I also take customized orders, and thanks to their requests for personalized creations, my collection has expanded significantly over the years.

To become more involved in the art community, I’ve joined three organizations. I’ve been a member of the North American Quilling Guild (NAQG) since 2021. Additionally, I’ve served as a jury member of the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild (NVHG) since 2016 and the Vienna Art Society since 2023. These organizations are dedicated to supporting, promoting, and educating the public about the tradition and value of handmade art and craft. I’ve been able to promote and sell my artwork through craft shows facilitated by these organizations. The associations have allowed me to learn about other styles of art and form a strong network of fellow artists.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is watching myself create anything with simple paper strips. Sometimes my customers give me wonderful ideas that I’ve never thought of, and those ideas turn into unique and beautiful creations. No other form of art has made me feel as joyful and creative as quilling. Even though quilling is an ancient art, many people are still not aware of it. To spread awareness, I participate in various craft shows to showcase my work at various events. When people first see my work from a distance, they often mistake it for a painting. As they stop by, I explain to them it’s paper quilling and they’re amazed. I love to see the amusement and excitement they express as they’re will to learn more about it. Nothing feels better than the process of creating art and watching others react to it. Since it’s a beautiful and inexpensive art that doesn’t take up much space, I love to teach it. Watching my students come up with and convert those different ideas into quilling work warms my heart.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I love paper quilling art, and I love to teach it. I want to make this art globally recognized. That’s why I promote my work on social media and host workshops. Posting my work on social media allows people from around the world to see my art and become inspired by it. Holding 2-3 workshops every week gives my community numerous opportunities to learn about quilling. Since there weren’t many resources and inspiration when I started to learn quilling, I feel that it’s my mission to spread the word about paper quilling and to teach my craft to others to spread it around the globe.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.truptiscraft.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/truptis_craft
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/TruptisCraft
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trupti-s-craft-framed-paper-quilling-art
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruptisCraft
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/truptiscraft