........................

The pine needles made rather softish paper when added to the abaca - no way could I make a sheet with just pine needles - thought I'd add some gampi that I had in the fridge - a pinky flesh colour - looks really nice in the vat but dried to rather unexciting beige.

Overall - a bit of a disappointment!!

Pine needles...hmmmm

Christmas tree pine needles - after Christmas they seemed to love flinging themselves off their branches! - Now I'm trying to prepare the ones I saved and they refuse to let go easily!

But... Quite like the branches when they are removed - leaving small circular shapes.

Previous classes I've taught..

While I was looking for some images for a class proposal I came across these - really enjoyed teaching these 'assemblage with found objects and text' classes at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts- they were different from the usual papermaking or book making classes.

Looking back.

As I really should get serious about the papermaking side of my practice - (studio/supplies/shows/small income maybe) I thought I'd look back at some of the artists that have influenced my work and techniques.

This work is by an artists that came to Fresno to teach a workshop (early 90's) and ended up staying for quite a while - can't remember how long but it must have been at least a year!! Karen Stahlecker. She stayed in Kathy Wasika's guest house and became envolved with us Fresno/Clovis based papermakers and other artists in the area. It was during her workshop that I became interested in her pigmenting and process techniques that greatly influence my papermaking then and now!

This is the work that I helped erect for her gallery show at the college.

Whistable,

This was a really lovely place to have a book fair - I thoroughly enjoyed my day - talked to some friendly book artists/teachers/folks on holiday.

I sold lots of paper packs and had some interesting feed-back from Simon regarding the RIBA pop-up shop.

After the show I brought fish and chips to eat down on the beach - a purrrfect end to a great day.

Some of the other folks I met there................

Oh ..... while sitting at the show discovered a new trick on my camera - see above picts!!!

Handmade & Bound goes to the seaside!

http://www.handmadeandbound.com

Off to the seaside with Handmade and Bound

As all my books are at the RIBA Pop up Gallery - had to make some more editions of 'Situation' and 'Architectural Elements'. I will be sharing a table with Jane Craddock Watson - never been to Whitstable, Kent!
I'm putting together lots of my handmade papers to take. It will be good to see if they
attract any interest!

RIBA - Festival of London Architecture

Been meaning to work on some unfinished books that look at architectural elements of 30 St. Mary Axe - being asked to submit books to RIBA's Pop-up shop for the Festival of London Architecture was the push I needed. Spent most of last week working on them as well as making more of the 'Situation' and 'Elements of Architecture' books. It was good to be really busy making them, rewarding - cutting - folding - gluing - it's been a while!!!!!