Peggy’s Story in her words
My interest in paper cutting began around 1988 when I found a design in a magazine. I cut it out framed it with tiny flowered piece of material as a background and a tiny lace around the inside the edge of the frame…then I hung it on my wall. My friends and visitors loved it. I did too.
After finding an address for “Papercuttings by Alison” I sent many orders for nearly ten years for designs. Seems every time I finished a cutting I was ready to do another. I started by using small scissors and now prefer to use an Excel knife with number eleven blades and an exacto self-healing cutting board. I am passionate about cutting. After giving the manager of the building several of my cuttings after I moved in here 2000…she hung them in the entry window of her office.
Residents enjoyed them and asked, “How do you do that?” They began to encourage me to teach what I know about cutting. No one had taught me how to cut. I could only share my own experience. Thus I made the decision to teach here at Camelot VI. My teaching lasted about 9 months or so until I had a change of heart and quit teaching in lieu of a new challenge that kept nagging me. I wanted to start drawing my own designs to cut and enter them into a book for beginners. It took a year to accomplish the task and I only had copies made for my children and my best friend to have. Maybe someday I will get it published. I called the book “Pegs Papercuttings”. It does not include any of the cuttings displayed here.
My passion is cutting silhouettes from photos and intricate designs. Within this last year I have drawn and cut thirty five cuttings with hearts … with crosses in the center. No two are alike. My plan is to use them in an intermediate to advanced cutting book.
I also have a cutting of a “tree with a small girl laying on her tummy in a tire swing with her hair hanging down” that was included in a Shoebox Exhibit through Guild of American Papercutters displayed in libraries on the east coast. Which was very exciting for me. I have been a member of the GAP for four years.
One time a high school friend of mine asked if I would bring some of my framed cuttings and put them on display for her Women’s Club at her church and asked if I would do a demonstration. I accepted her invitation and thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful experience with the ladies.
I am a 73 year old native Nebraskan who has had macular degeneration in my left eye for over a year. In January of this year I had a heart operation and a few days later had a mastectomy…! am now nearly 95 percent cancer free. Recently I was also diagnosed with osteoporosis…but it all doesn’t stop my inspiration to draw and cut. What a blessing!
I give God credit for all the designs that comes from inside me and I give my Mom credit for always telling me “Busy Hands Busy Minds.”
As I have no intention of giving up this beautiful art any time soon. God is good!
–Peggy Gleason, September 2006 (written for David Dorfmueller’s website)
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