WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Intricate Cuttings

St. Johnsbury, Vermont - May 29, 2009

There are no sheep outside Carolyn Guest's home. But inside, she uses sheep shears: large hand-powered blades for removing a sheep's wool. Instead, Guest handles them to cut paper. She chuckles, "They've been my challenge tool."

Guest learned the Polish folk art of wycinanki when she was living overseas as part of a 4-H exchange in the 1970s. In Poland, the artist explains, "They cut paper for entertainment. Not just entertainment, but for decorating their homes."

Guest got hooked on the craft and kept it up when she returned to her native Northeast Kingdom. She cuts intricate scenes. Many of these are actually single pieces of paper still intact, just with areas removed to reveal the image.

The paper cutter admits the traditional Polish shears aren't the most accurate tools but she's so well-practiced she can use them for even feather-fine details. "I have muscle memory with sheep shears," Guest says. "I know exactly where that blade's going to start and stop."

Trees, snowflakes, and farm animals are shapes of rural New England life inspired by drives through and views of the Kingdom. Guest says, "It was just the best place for studying trees and wild animals."

The Kingdom is also the place that continues feeding her creativity, as Carolyn Guest makes complicated designs look so simple: Each one of them "Made in Vermont."

Carolyn Guest's work will be on display at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury from Monday, June 1st through the end of the month. Click here to visit Guest's website.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News - Made in Vermont