We all have what it takes to create a dream story for our life that comes true.
— Karina Puente
Here’s the story.
My name is Karina Puente, and I’m a visual artist specializing in lighting up our imagination. I make textiles and illustrations. My creative practice is influenced by traditional Mexican art forms such as Papel Picado and recipes that make our journey delicious. Papel Picado loosely translates to “perforated (cut) paper” and is the traditional Mexican folk art commonly seen as small, brightly colored tissue paper banners strewn above celebrations, weddings, and Dia de Los Muertos.
Photo by Joel Serrato featuring traditional Papel Picado displayed in Mexico.
Wouldn't it be fun to bring our best to the table and see who shows up? This is precisely what we did in a Fun Papel Picado Workshop. As the leaders of A Fun Papel Picado Workshop, Karina Puente, Café Duet Events, and Excel Blades—we want to share our art, food, and knives with you.
The dreaming process between a visual artist, cafe owner, and knife company was filled with creative freedom.
We envisioned the most satisfying experience and shared our offering with our community. We put trust in each other to bring our best to the table, and that’s exactly what we did.
A dish prepared by Cafe Duet Events. Hand-cut and dyed textiles in sea foam and deep blue by Karina Puente. Textiles are available for purchase.
I make Papel Picado designs big because it’s easy to see a belief when it’s big.
Through my art, I help brides, creative producers, event planners, and interior designers stay inspired. While creating my large-scale textiles from a material that resembles a lightweight fabric, I keep a belief in mind. I believe we all have what it takes to make a dream story for our life come true. What it takes for a dream to come true is a focus on bringing our brightest ideas forward.
Keeping our minds and spirits lifted while moving toward what we want is a bright idea.
My art isn’t made from paper. It’s a hand-dyed textile cut with knives. A metaphor that describes my art is a portal —or veil— representing a spiritual connection to what and who we love. When backlit by the sun, the carved patterns in my art let the light in.
A Fun Papel Picado Workshop was a light in the garden at Café Duet and an experience where I taught others how to make art. But first, a visual feast.
A delicious dinner prepared by Betsi of Café Duet Events for a Fun Papel Picado Workshop with Karina Puente.
Betsi and Dan own Café Duet as a dynamic married couple serving our community for over ten years. Café Duet is a heartbeat in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. In its garden courtyard, Café Duet Events presented a Fun Papel Picado Workshop to celebrate art and beauty in the cafe at night. On the first night of the workshop, a copy of the book, Like Water for Chocolate, is on the table. During A Fun Papel Picado Workshop, Betsi delivered fresh watermelon sprinkled with sumac, salt, and lime. She joined us and welcomed participants with refreshments. Betsi is a culinary artist who brought dish after dish, keeping our participants happy.
Fresh watermelon sprinkled with lime, salt, and sumac welcomes participants. A copy of the book Like Water for Chocolate written by Laura Esquivel is on the table. Garnished with edible flowers, the yucca blossom is called Flor De Izote.
Café Duet Event’s menu included empanadas, arugula salad with a salsa verde dressing, and shrimp tacos topped with grilled cherry tomatoes, avocado, and yucca blossoms.
Followed by a dessert of lemon basil ice cream, we had time to enjoy each other and the moment.
Betsi of Café Duet Events made basil lemon ice cream for A Fun Papel Picado Workshop with Karina Puente
Workshop participant, Marley, is a local interior designer. Photographed here holding her selected color while gazing at Karina’s art.
Betsi knew that A Fun Papel Picado workshop would be beautiful, filled with flowers, food, and art. One of Betsi’s favorite parts was how Excel Blade's’ Knives and Cutting Mats were set up on the table, which looked professional and kept our participants safe.
Art solves mysteries of how we’re connected.
— Anna Hammam of Excel Blades.
Excel Blades is a family-owned and operated manufacturing business based in Paterson, New Jersey. Excel Blades partnered with A Fun Papel Picado Workshop after a dynamic conversation I, Karina, had with Anna Hammam of Excel Blades about cross-cultural interpretations of art worldwide. We discovered a mutual love of carved patterns and the power of believing in ourselves over time.
Excel Blades provided knives and cutting mats for A Fun Papel Picado Workshop.
Leading by example, I made a piece of art and framed it to give A Fun Papel Picado Workshop participants a visualization of our outcome.
In this photo, I, Karina Puente, hold up a piece of my art for A Fun Papel Picado Workshop. Each piece of art is hand-dyed ahead of time. I guide participants in hand-cutting their unique works of art with knives.
I’ve always wanted to love my knife, and now I do.
— Karina Puente, visual artist, and Excel Blades Partner.
After reading Excel Blades's origin story >> HERE<< I knew we were a match. I had tears in my eyes because Excel Blades is a family business founded by Mike Hammam, a Lebanese immigrant, and began with humble beginnings. One man at a single desk determined to share his product with the world. Tears on my cheeks because this vision is relatable to any artist, entrepreneur, or creator that wants to put something into the world; into motion.
Betsi is the owner of Café Duet left and Karina Puente is the artist right leading A Fun Papel Picado Workshop. We stand together in the garden courtyard at Café Duet.
Participants were given light instructions and encouraged to explore. Best friends joined us and people brought their sisters.
Excel Blades provided A Fun Papel Picado Workshop with cutting mats and knives so I could guide participants in creating a custom piece of art for their homes. I hand-dyed material ahead of time, and participants selected their favorite hue. We got to work designing our patterns and cutting our pieces through the night.
A Fun Papel Picado Workshop participants are business owners, designers, assistant directors, fiber artists, realtors, hair stylists, massage therapists, and mothers.
A Fun Papel Picado workshop was a success! Here we measure success by how much we enjoyed ourselves and each other, delighted by the art and food, and keeping our bright ideas sharp every step.
Do you want to make art together? I offer Virtual Papel Picado Workshops you can access >>HERE<<.
That first dreaming session with Café Duet and the first call with Excel Blades enhanced a story I know will come true for our lives by simply loving our knives. A story that includes art, flowers, and food! Every culture has a dough-wrapped treasure that can be steamed, fried, baked, and made with love. And every culture has art.
With care,
Karina Puente
@karinapuentearts
