A Short Hiatus

I have temporarily retreated into my analytical self. Having figured out how to make paper, I'm all about the research right now.

In addition to lurking around my Yahoo Handmade Paper (HMP) community, I'm reading:

• Helen Hieberts's, "The Papermaker's Companion"
• Mary & Heidi Reimer's, "300 Papermaking Recipes"
• Mary & Heidi Reimer's, "Encyclopedia of Papermaking and Bookbinding"
• Google and IceRocket results for Papermaking, Moulds & Deckles, and any other keywords I can think of

I found a 1975 Wilton candy mold of six rosettes that should make great paper castings.

Researching papier-mache, for making bowls covered with HMP.

Researching shaped deckles for making envelopes, shapes, small gift boxes in conjunction with the Sizzix die-cut/embossing machine.

However, I can't really complete any projects that include the above methods without raw materials, so tomorrow, I make paper. I've been gathering raw materials the whole while, so I have plenty of "food" for the blender.

Two new sheets and a happy mistake

LOL. The Universe has a sense of humor today.

I made two sheets from a single cigarette box, to get a thinner paper. I added the wax strips from two NetFlix envelopes for sizing. Put that mini-post in the press as usual.

Then I went to make a yellow sheet. My idea was to make a thick, fibrous sheet from which to make candle flames for a birthday card. I used an entire sheet of yellow office paper, blendered and poured the sheet, and then moved it directly from the mould to a couch sheet, without pressing any water out. I put it on the patio table to dry in the sun, figuring the water would evaporate and leave me with a very fluffy sheet.


Very pleased with myself, I came into the office to make this entry. Two minutes later, I heard rain. (LOL again) I jumped over to the kitchen window, and sure enough, big heavy droplets were attacking my nice yellow paper. I ran out to retrieve it. It looks like swiss cheese now. And I was worried that a bird would poop on it.

I believe everything happens for a reason. I think I can hear God chuckling.

Three new sheets, with inclusion

I got a box of stuff from the UPS man today:
• More couch sheets (I'm beginning to think I can't have too many.)
• Three casting moulds: Evergreen trees; a fall leaf; and four small leaves.
• A booklet on paper castingg
• Some mint green iridescent flakes (shiny!)
New Sheets
I made three sheets: green cigarette box, red NetFlix paper, and recycled form letter paper.
I put a pinch of the iridescent flakes in each one.
The first sheet, I blended the pulp, then put a healthy pinch of flakes in and whirled for a second.
The second and third, I added a smaller pinch (less is more!) with the pulp. Of course, i got smaller flakes. They're in the press now; we'll see in a couple of days.
Research
I'm going to read about casting tonight, so I can try out the moulds. I really want to move on to casting bowls, but baby steps are best.
Also, I spent some time last night researching Native American symbols. Pictographs/Ideographs seem perfect for begiining to paint with pulp.
Other Ideas
• I found an empty "Thank You" card box that's perfect for handmade paper. I'm going to use it as a model to make a template. That way I can deliver my handmade notecards and envelopes in a handmade box to match. Because it's all about the pretty.
• I also found an old note tray, from the days when I dreamed about writing long, poetic love letters. It's a lucite tray that holds half sheets and envelopes, with a lucite press to keep the paper flat. I'm storing my handmade paper there now. Some of the linen note paper is in my recycle stack now, and the rest is ready for use in the laser and inkjet printers.

Grass sheets out of press

Well, the sheets with the grass inclusions came out of the press today. They're pretty ugly.

• Flecks are better than strands. The shorter the grass got, the better it looked.
• Less is more. The first sheet, with a good pinch of grass, just looks horrid.

Remember how the fresher grass seemed to lay on top of the paper? Well, it pressed in pretty well.

So the lesson is, cut 1/8" to 1/4" pieces for inclusion.

Next step: Try pressing the grass before including it.

Newer sheets

Since the cigarettte-box sheets turned out so well, i decided to stick with them and play with inclusions. I have ornamental grass growing in a tin, and had trimmed it earlier in the week, so I left that to dry. It incorporated into the pulp well, but it was wimpy and discolored. I tried snipping some fresh grass, about 1/2-inch long, and that was actually worse. Everything is still drying (I made the paper Saturday, Aug. 6.

The photos I took of the first sheets aren't ready to go yet. I have to color-correct them in PhotoShop first. And I'm out of energy for the weekend.

Major Lesson Learned

One can't have too many couch sheets.

I wanted to experiment more this past weekend, but I don't have any dry couch sheets. If discovered that it takes about 30-60 seconds to get water into cellulose, but it takes days to get it out.

As much as I want an 8-1/2 x 11 pour mold to make matching envelopes, I think I need more couch sheets first.

I'll take photos of the first 8 sheets and post them tomorrow (I hope).

The cigarette box sheets came out beautifully, so I prepped more of them to pour. I'd like to make small memory books for some friends.

Over the weekend, while I was tapping my toes waiting for the sheets to dry, I designed three holiday cards. This new project has my blood flowing again!