About ten years ago, when I was experimenting with different techniques and materials, I started making paper. I found the activity stimulating at a number of levels. I loved the different textures that resulted. The uncertainty of not quite knowing what was going to come out of the mix was seductive. And, of course, the enviromentally-friendly recycling angle attracted.
It is perhaps the uniqueness of each piece of paper that is the most exciting aspect for me. Each new piece is a surprise. No two come out the same. The look, and more importantly the feel of the end product is always slightly different and will vary depending on the type of paper you use as source material and what vegetable matter you add -you can make paper from leftovers of leeks, onions, ground coffe, rhubard, tea, banana skins or whatever organic material happens to be available in the kitchen on that particular day.
Noting my interest in paper-making, a few years ago a friend in Nigeria gave me a book, "The Gourmet Paper-Maker" (by Ellaraine Lockine). In that book, I found the perfect articulation of what I felt about paper-making....
"Handmade paper is so much more than just paper. It is craft,art, therapy, meditation, gift, and tactile and visual pleasure."
http://www.vickyhernandezgarcia.com
