Polite Kutsey Kraftsey Korney Korner

Now, I'm sure the brilliant "negative space paper sculpturist", Peter Callesen could simply will his cut out designs to remove themselves from their letter-sized paper prisons using only his sheer mind power. Himself and I, however, are forced to discover a method for cutting such small intricate curves in paper that we mere mortals could utilize.

We stopped into Soolip Paperie on Melrose in West Hollywood on Sunday for a hit of inspiration and by chance came across a paper cutting tool from Japan we'd never heard or seen of before that may be the answer. It's a hand tool whose ceramic blade swivels 360º as its button is depressed. (I understand there are meds for that these days.)

There's a brief Japanese video/commercial/demo which I'm certain the chyron for it says; "Polite Kutsey Kraftsey Korney Korner" with that pink swish. (One can see how the item works about midway.) Look past this insult, people, into the gaping maw of godsend. Harac International makes this ingenious mouse-shaped paper cutter with which "You can cut a paper along curving line. Paper cutter blade will spin toward the sliding direction like a chair caster." They say the cost is about $15.95 US.

I've been Googling for another US distributor in Los Angeles as Soolip was SOLD OUT for the moment. The clip above says it's available from Hamonoichiba but I could only find it on their Japanese page and couldn't see if they'd ship to the US for 1 or 2 units. (I wouldn't mind a pair of those crazy soft squishey self-customizing hand hugging scissors listed there either! Woo.) I've emailed them an inquiry.

If it proves to be the life changing item it appears, I'll produce my own raving webcast to that effect. In the meantime, we're going to get our grubby mitts on one somehow and report back here on the actual experience of using it.