Paper Making 101 (a.k.a. The Perfect Play Day!)

Play Day begins with creative friends, (from left) Annie, Susan & Suzette.

"It is a happy talent to know how to play." --
Ralph Waldo Emerson

What do you get when one is fortunate enough to have wildly creative artists as friends and an opportunity to play outside?

Yes!  A PLAY DAY!

For ours we decided to accept Susan's invitation to learn to make paper!

Fortunately, not only has Susan been making paper for years but she has both the tools and equipment and even lots of space outside her barn.  (Yes, the  Centennial barn we recently celebrated with a party and art exhibit!)

Annie and Suzette help Susan set up.

 Meeting at 10 a.m. we helped set up a table with an old blender and containers of paper Susan had saved and shredded.  To provide a base to start with she showed us a couple of bowls filled with shredded paper and water that she had soaked overnight. 

She reminded us that this "mush" mixture needed to be dried or refrigerated if it wasn't used promptly as it would mold if left outside.

Paper and water "mush" after soaking all night.

 

We learned that there are lots of types of paper one can make at home with all sorts of different additives, like cattails or "linters," that can be purchased online.  For ours, we were just using recycled paper without additives.

Susan mixes pulp with water in an old blender.

Susan has an assortment of old blenders so she can mix different kinds of paper pulp together and keep them separate from each other. 

As she says, "Next, you mix the pulp and the water so it looks like the Kleenex you forgot to take out of the washer." 

Uh, okay.

Or, "Until it sounds right."

What?

Either way, once the pulp mush and water are blended together it is poured into a large tub.  Pour in lots of water and more paper pulp until there seems to be an adequate amount of pulp and "it feels right."

(It's good that we were there for a hands-on learning experience as there is a definite "feel" when the pulp mixture and water ratio is right.)

Susan pours more mixed pulp into a tub.
 

Susan adds several buckets of water to a large tub before adding the mixed pulp.


 

Meanwhile, Suzettte blends more paper pulp.

Susan holds a square frame that is fitted with a screen top and a "deckle."

 

As the large tub fills with water and paper pulp, Susan shows us how the "deckle" (looks like an empty frame) fits over the screened surface to give a
"deckle-edge" to the paper--the beautiful rough edge I love in handmade paper.

The "deckle" fits over the screen.

Now it's time to gather our courage to dip a screen.  Susan shows us how to fit the screen and deckle together, dip, swirl it just a bit, pull it out to let it drain.

On Susan's first dip she realized she had too much pulp (which would make a very thick sheet!) and so returned the screen to the water to clean it for a second try.

Susan's first dip resulted in too much pulp.

We set up a second table with another large tub to create an additional  dipping area using some of the pulp mixture from the first tub.  That enabled us to add more water to the first tub to create the perfect ratio of water and paper pulp.

The next try--a perfect dip!
 

Susan wraps the screen in a damp baby blanket to transfer to a table.

Once Susan has a good dip she removes the deckle and wraps the screen in a damp baby blanket or rag to transfer to a waiting table. 

She flips it all together to the table and begins to sponge away the excess water.

She then sponges excess water from the back side of the screen.



Paper dries in the warm summer sunshine.

Once the sheet is no longer soggy the screen is carefully lifted and ta-da!  The first piece of handmade paper dries in the Colorado wind and sunshine!

Susan mentions that a sizing can be brushed on once it's reasonably dry but since we're using commercial paper that already contains sizing, we likely won't need to add more.

Annie adds creative touches to the pulp and water mix.

Remember that I mentioned that these friends are uber creative and fearless artists?

Barely had the first sheet been left to dry when we all began to conjure up clever ideas to manipulate handmade paper we had yet to make!!

So many ideas were flying that we couldn't decide what do try first!




Glitter, dried flowers, old Easter grass--all beg to be tested.

Throughout the afternoon we mixed pulp, laughed, dipped screens, laughed some more and finally took a break for a late lunch.

Creative energy abounds as more paper is left to dry.

Little stones hold down the handmade paper while it sun-dries.

But, as all spectacular days have a penchant to do, this one finally came to a close as well.

With promises to do this again and (hopefully) soon, we each departed with folders of personally made handmade paper!

A Perfect Play Day with warm sunshine, delightful friends, unceasing laughter and a new appreciation for the art of making paper.


(After reviewing the tutorial blogging videos today I realize I may have had settings that would not allow for comments.  I THINK I have adjusted those settings properly.  If you have wanted to comment on former posts (or this one) please try again.  I would love to hear from you.)