More Papermaking

Although papermaking requires a good deal of time, space, and supplies, I still like to do it. This time I wanted to experiment with adding more items to the paper. Making thinner paper and adding color were also goals. As in the last time I made paper, this pulp was made from the scraps of high quality mat board from Clyde Butcher's studio here in Venice. It makes fine paper and breaks down quickly when put in water.
The first step was plotting my course to determine in what order I would add things since once you put stuff in the pulp, you can't get it out for the next sheet! First would come several sheets of plain white, trying for a nice thin piece. Then I would start adding things: first glitter, then silk ribbon pieces, next flower petals and some yarn snippets. After I had a good glitter sheet and one with ribbon that I liked, I decided to go for some color. The simplest method seemed to be to just add colored paper so I mixed up a blender full of red construction paper. When I added it to the pulp tray, the result was a much darker pink than I expected. Nevertheless, I threw in some snips of burgundy fabric as well as some hairy yarn for an interesting result.
Although I was running out of pulp, it seemed sensible to make a couple more sheets of paper while the mess was all over the kitchen, laundry room and garage. One more blender full of white paper pulp lightened the pink color a little and provided enough for three more sheets. The last one fell apart as I couched it but it can be used for something! Twelve sheets of paper are now being pressed flat, almost ready for use.
So it's back to the minibooks now. I finished the Wisconsin Trip book and am working on a similar design using photos of Louise Pike paintings. The book cover is cotton fabric from Ventiane that I found on the ESTY website along with the paper you saw in the Seattle books.

A Minibook

During the past six months, we have made several trips to Wisconsin from Florida, where we live. Some of them were during the winter months when record-breaking snow and cold prevailed. All through the period, ideas and images were percolating in my head and I have begun to put them together in a book. First I created the book itself in an accordian-style format about two inches square with brocade covers. I used marbled paper that I purchased in Florence, Italy, for the end papers. Photos of the bleak winter landscape had accumulated in my digital camera; words to go with them were forming in my mind.
Before the most recent journey, I had pasted a selection of small photos into the book. Most of the haiku-like poems are ready to be lettered onto the pages opposite the photos. This little book doesn't seem to capture the experience, however, so I am contemplating another altered book. I like the altered book concept just because it allows for more wildness and creativity; at the same time, I love the precise little minibooks, too, for their neat and tidy control of both image and word. I think I am advancing toward my goal.
This week I received confirmation of my entry in a Penland School class called "A Survey of Decorative Paper Techniques." I expect to learn more about Asian papermaking, marbling, and other kinds of paper arts at the August 2008 session with Steve Pittelkow. After this one, the next class I take will be in binding.

Another Detour

Although I figure all bookmaking experience is related to my end goal, I am still finding projects that take me away from the direct path to creating my own book. In this case, I ordered some handmade paper through the ESTY website. It came from Ventiane, which I had to look up in our atlas. (It is in Laos.) These were great huge sheets of lovely tough paper with ferns and plants embedded. So of course I had to make something with them. I had the idea that I would like to make some little books for my daughter, son-in-law and grandson to take on their forthcoming trip to Seattle. I had seen a fascinating project at the University of Wisconsin when we were visiting our son Chris in January. Some handmade books were given to students about to embark on an international trip. They were asked to use the books to keep a log of the trip. The result was unexpected. These accounts were graphic, profane, creative and spontaneous. Stuff was stapled into them, glued, drawn, written, and folded. The books were pocket-size so they could be carried anywhere. This was my inspiration for the Seattle books. I found instructions in Peter Thomas' book for a binding that was folded rather than stitched. From those I made a practice book. Then I made two for some book baskets I was putting together for a fund-raiser for All Faiths Food Bank. Finally I made the ones for Kim, Chip and Trevor. You can see them in the photo. Inside I combined a variety of papers: my own handmade paper, some handmade Japanese paper, graph paper, and drawing paper. I stuck a pencil in the spine.
We have one more trip to Wisconsin and then I will concentrate more on improving my bookmaking skills. I have signed up for another Penland class. I don't yet know which one I will get into. I also tried to register for the Paper and Book Intensive, which this year is at Arrowmont in May. I am on the waiting list so I don't expect to attend.