Monday, August 30, 2010

ten things i learned making paper airplanes

photo: jetheriot

1. There is a sensuousness to razoring paper.

2. Expensive Japanese glue is not superior to Elmer's.

3. Coating a paper airplane with Elmer's after it has been folded into shape gives the weight of the paper an added body and luster.

4. Even after the glue has dried into a translucent shellac, a wing or a stabilizer can be placed inside one's mouth and smoothed between pressed closed lips.

5. A tongue is the perfect moistener.

6. Pressing and holding a newly re-moistened wing or stabilizer between two blocks of wood until it has hardened makes it dry straight and flat.

7. A pushpin is the perfect thread-hole maker.

8. Four long threads tend to tangle.

9. When it is time to cut, cut. When it is time to fold, fold. When it is time to glue, glue. When it is time to hang, hang.

10. A paper airplane is a sculpture.