Just back from Fresno California

Wow - had a great time in Fresno. A return to my paper making roots. It was at Fresno City College that I first became amazed by the possibilities of hand papermaking as a process and art form!!!

Now here I was, giving a lecture, 20 years later, about my arts journey that started in Kathy Wosika's class......

So ...... I talked about my papermaking/teaching in Minnesota (I left Fresno in 1999) and what led to my decision to apply to Camberwell College of the Arts, London's to study for my MA in Visual Arts/Book Arts.

Then I showed them my work done during the MA program - followed by what I'm working on at present.

The following day I taught a workshop - 'Cut, Fold, Sew & Glue'

Using several different techniques they produced some amazing work.

Leeds Artists' Book Fair

Even though I felt terrible and totally lost my voice - i had a good time and tried to talk to lots of folks......some even gave me throat lozenges!!

Sold lots of paper and cards but more importantly I sold one of my Axe Books and several

of the new Papermaking with Rowan leaf experiment manuals!!

I had to let go my only copy of this 30 St Mary Axe version so now I'm making a couple more

for the show in Bristol!!

Meanwhile.........

So many projects on the go..... the Rowan leaves continue to inspire me....... here's the 1st of the little papermaking experiment books. I plan to make several of these using many different plants.

Then thought 'hmmmmm' maybe a card to go with.......

Oh, and this was done earlier .......

Numbers.............

Continuing with the recycled papers............

As I am collaborating with Myles Calvert (screen printer) on a project to use found advertising - I thought I would experiment with different fibers, cotton, esparto, gampi, and kozo; using different types of sizing. I am recycling my dad's old logarithm book that I found when he passed away - I think he would be quite amused to know how I'm using it - he used to sit with me for hours helping me with my maths homework!!

Colchester

Western papermaking for Book artists
Colchester Institute - MA Art, Design and the Book
12th and 19th January, 2011

What a great workshop! The first week was an introduction to papermaking followed by a second session that looked at ways to develop the students ideas using the medium and various techniques. Very interesting conversations and experimentation.....found text, threads, pigmented pulp, wasps!!

I have asked the students to send me photos of their work using the papers they made in this class --- watch out for updates!

Maple Leaves

above image - sheet held up to the light

Then blended them up and added them to the pinkish pulp...... results interesting .... the leaf bits look shimmery and when held up to the light the leaf bits are transparent!! I can see that some more experimentation will be needed ..... this could be developed further...

I have a couple of bags of maple leaves sitting in my studio - so over Christmas I thought I'd do something with them ..... cooked them up and then forgot about them! Returned to the studio this week and found then looking and smelling a bit nasty!!! So added some bleach and left them for a couple of days and was amozed when the leaves had turned pure white!! They were very delecate so I tried to place them on a dark pulp ........