About
THE PAPER HOUSE
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I love making things out of any kind of paper.
The process is meditative and creative. The results are often whimsical.
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CUSTOM STATIONARY/CARDS
I can make stationary and/or cards to suit your needs. Fancy, funky and everything in between.
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PAPER DRESSES
I fold paper that magically turns into the shape of sweet dresses that can be hung in a row on pretend clotheslines, mounted on burlap or canvas, individually framed or turned into stationery and cards.
PAPER HOUSES
My paper houses come in many sizes and are made from vintage maps, fine Italian paper, pages from books, dictionaries, sheet music, old love letters and beautiful scrapbook paper. Actually, I can make a house out of just about any kind of paper.
DANCING PAPER DOLLS
The dancing paper dolls grew out of my delight with two dancing tiger puppets brought to me from India by a friend. My designs are made of colorful paper and can also be custom made (with a photo face) to the delight of the recipient. Available in several sizes - including life size!
BIRDS ON A WIRE
The birds on a wire are actually hand cut bird shapes that come in a package with plenty of twine for you to hang the birds in your kitchen window, over a baby's bed or anywhere in your home.
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BIRD HOUSES
Wooden bird houses covered in beautiful paper...for inside only.
PARTY SUPPLIES
Banners, Bunting and Crowns, oh my!
Made to order.
These are simple and fun and make any gathering a celebration.
CARDS
My cards are the result of beautiful paper and careful cutting and folding.
I make them with all kind of paper including recycled books and maps, music, poster, scrapbook and wrapping paper.
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HEARTS and WINGS
Created out of hand-cut paper feathers, the hearts and wings are framed in shadow boxes and can be made from all kinds and colors of paper in several sizes. (10" X 10", 11" X 14" or 17" X 21")
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LARGE MAP DRESSES
These sweet folded paper dresses are made from vintage maps of international cities, (Paris? Rome?) a favorite country or state and framed in simple shadow boxes. (17" X 21")
All my work can be customized to suit your needs!
MY STORY
I was born and raised in Billings, Montana, by two parents who weren’t the least bit artistic (except my mother who loved to dance.) I went off to college and discovered that I also loved to dance.
I have a BFA in Dance/Theater from the University of Montana and an MFA in Dance from California Institute of the Arts. I was a recipient of an Artist Fellowship in dance from the Montana Arts Council and was awarded Distinguished Alumni in Dance from Cal Arts.
For seven years I was the artistic director of my own modern dance company, Bess Snyder and Company. The company and I performed, taught and choreographed around the country.
After graduate school, I created a performance space in Santa Monica, CA, called THE HOUSE. We offered daily modern dance technique classes as well as performances in dance, theater, music and performance art. This is where the name - The Paper House - comes from. (Plus I love to make different kinds of houses. Can you tell?)
In 1983, my husband, infant son and I left Los Angeles and moved back to Montana to be closer to family. Within a few years, we added a daughter to our family.
When we first arrived back in the Big Sky Country, I continued to teach, choreograph and perform often inviting friends from Los Angeles to come to Montana to perform with me. I was also a teaching artist in creative movement for children in studios and schools across the state for the Montana Arts Council and in the Billings area with the Writer's Voice Project. I taught at The Yoga Center, Rocky Mountain College, Kite Song School and CDS The Edge.
For over 20 years - every five years or so - I have gathered friends old and new to walk with me in extreme slow motion on top of the Billings Rims. The "Slow Walk" started out as a performance but has evolved over the years into a physically and mentally challenging meditative experience focused on the body in space and time. Oh yeah, and then there's the weather!
While raising our two children, I produced and directed two weekly public access television programs entitled “How to Raise Your Kids” (damn it!) and a live, call-in show “The Doctor is In” featuring MDs and PHDs. I learned how to operate a television camera and how to be a better parent.
For 14 years I worked passionately as the Education Director of the Alberta Bair Theater for the Performing Arts (ABT) in Billings, Montana, developing award-winning school and community outreach programs in partnership with the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. This was my most challenging and satisfying work - bringing the performing arsts to thousands of students and helping teachers use the arts to teach across the curriculum. After leaving the ABT, I continued to work for several years as an arts consultant and teaching artist for teachers and schools.
In January of 2013, I co-produced the Billings Fringe Festival in conjunction with Venture Theatre. The festival featured over 100 performing artists in four venues on Montana Avenue over the course of two weekends.
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Currently I am trying to find time to work with paper while spending most of my time helping out with our two - going on three - beautiful grandchildren.
I am deeply grateful for all the support of my friends
who encouraged me to pursue my paper projects.