Mattie Wills
Mattie has learned the fine art of paper quilling directly from Queen Elizabeth I herself. It was an exclusive apprenticeship. Very royal. Very historic.
Unfortunately, timelines (and basic facts) refuse to cooperate.
What is true is that Mattie learned paper quilling at the age of seven from her grandmother — armed with a pencil, a strip of construction paper, and big creative energy. Her very first masterpiece? A paper-quilled duck. From that humble (and slightly lopsided) beginning, a lifelong love of intricate detail and rolled paper magic was born.
Over the years, Mattie developed her own distinctive style — blending traditional techniques with a little whimsy, a little boldness, and just enough perfection in the imperfection.
As a teenager preparing for a Girl Scout trip, she discovered polymer clay while making S.W.A.P.s. What started as tiny clay bears quickly spiraled into charms, jewelry, and an ever-growing creative outlet. One craft led to another, which is usually how these things go when you don’t know how to sit still.
Matt Wills
Enter Matt — husband, co-conspirator, and officially titled Head of Unpaid Labor. While Mattie is rolling paper and sculpting clay, Matt is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse. He handles setup, teardown, booth displays, heavy lifting, administrative work, sales support, and occasionally reminds everyone to eat during art shows. If you’ve visited a show, you’ve likely met him — the calm, organized half of the operation making sure everything runs smoothly.
Paper quilling itself dates back to the 14th century, when it was used in monasteries to decorate religious texts and sacred objects. It later became a favorite pastime of high society (royalty included — so Mattie’s story isn’t entirely unreasonable).
The craft was especially popular during the Colonial era in America and continues today as a delicate, intricate art form.
Imperfectionz Art is a two-person creative team built on tradition, humor, patience, and a shared belief that handmade things should feel personal. Slightly imperfect. Entirely intentional. And maybe just a little bit royal.
