My name is Ali Logeais.  I live in south Minneapolis, with my husband Mike, two teenage daughters, Sara and Abby, and a dog and cat.  My start in paper cutting was truly a gift from Gram'ma.

For years Gram'ma sent out beautiful hand-cut cards for Christmas and birthdays.  Several years ago I asked if she would teach me how to make them.  So we spent an afternoon together telling stories, laughing, and learning the "right" way to do Scherenschnitte.  As I was preparing to leave, Gram'ma turned to her box of supplies - a glass to cut on, an x-acto knife, a whole bunch of blades, some paper and several patterns - very ceremoniously picked it up, handing it to me saying "Please continue.  I can't see well enough to do it anymore."  It was one of the most incredible gifts I have ever received!  I still do some of the beautiful cuttings from traditional Scherenschnitte patterns, but I primarily do paper cuttings of patterns I create myself.  For most of my cuttings I start with a photograph that I scan into the computer.  Then I work with it until I come up with my own pattern.  From there I print it onto whatever paper I have chosen and I cut it.  I would venture to guess that when the Pennsylvania Dutch started cutting paper to make the walls in their new homes in this foreign country less barren, they never would have imagined this form of Scherenschnitte.  As I complete each and every cutting, I thank Gram'ma again for the incredible gift she gave me that afternoon.

Ali Logeais