paper-making experiments....

Prior to all my 'beginnings' posts - I had begun some first tentative experiments in paper making...... I have in mind a mini project for my MFA/PhD studio research, and wanted to test out the practicalities of making paper from old books....

so this is what I did....

I started with an old funk and wagnall 2 volume dictionary - which I ripped up into pulp-able sized bits.... (my goodness but it takes a loooooong time to munch up a relatively small book....)
and soaked these in a bucket overnight.

then I pulped the soaked bits with a paint-mixer drill attachment.....
(the paint whizzy thing was surprisingly effective in creating a yummy grey sludge)

then it was time to try my hand at making some paper.... here I am plunging my very rough mold and deckle (made from couple of el cheapo canvas frames, with the mold covered in fly screen....) in to the suspended pulp as I attempt to create my first sheets... (you'll notice my studio assistant Boots is refraining from looking... he feels my pitiful efforts are just too embarrassing to acknowledge...)

couching, like forming the sheet is taking time for me to get to grips with.....

but with more practice I became more adept at releasing the sheet from the mold....
but I've got a lifetime of practice to go before I dare call myself a papermaker!!!!!

some of the successful sheets drying on the line

and finally - the first finished stack of papers.....

I was pleased with my first foray into papermaking...... (Sass and EJ likewise had a ball..... creating a couple of sheets of paper for themselves.... and thanks to my Sass for taking the pics of me in action.....) Now that I've got some hands-on experience with the wet stuff, and a clearer understanding of materials and techniques (including the knowledge that home-brand wipes work much better as couching felts than the more expensive 'chux' brand) I'll be able to move on to the next stage in my mini project.....




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