Fiber Frenzy Friday - Corn Husk Cover Progression

First of all, when cooking down corn husks you need to cut the material into approximately 1 inch pieces.

 Soda ash is needed to help break down the material you are cooking.  Soda ash is commonly known as baking soda.

Here are the corn husks as they are cooking down.  I let each back cook at the highest setting for 5 hours.

Once the corn husks are finished cooking they must be cleaned until the water run clear.

Once they are clean, soak a few handfuls into a 5 gallon bucket of water.

Next, it goes into the blender for about 15 seconds.  You want to do small amounts at a time so the fibers don't wrap around the blade and burn out the motor.

The mixture is now thinned out and ready to be poured into the mold and deckle to make the book covers.

I usually just pour the bucket of fiber straight into the mold and deckle and play with the fibers until they are even across.  I take a sponge and screen and hand press lightly some of the water out of the book covers.  

Once I have a number of covers made stacked onto white felt sheets they go into the press.  This press  exerts 2000 pounds of pressure.  

 After about 20 minutes in the press I then put the covers onto dry white sheets of watercolor paper.  Watercolor paper is very sturdy and thick.  A cover will get sandwiched between to sheets of the watercolor paper and then those are sandwiched between to pieces of cardboard.  I have a fan that blows through the corrugation of the cardboard and dries the sheets with slight pressure.  This way the sheets are less likely to dry wavy.  

 These are the covers dry.  I will still put a layer of varnish on what will be the exterior of the covers for increased durability and water-resistance.  I am excited to show the students these at our upcoming lecture on next Friday. 

I hope you found this informative.  : )

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper, 

Erin

Fiber Frenzy Friday - An Art Show Set Up

I believe this particular set up is from my first show of every year in Delaware, Ohio.

I remember this from the brick walk way and parking lot behind my tent.  The year before it rained profusely and a deluge of water came right out of that parking lot and straight through my tent.

The water must have been 3-4 inches deep.

It was deep enough to cover my shoes.

I was soaked the rest of the day.  And if I remember correctly I went barefoot the rest of the day.  Moist socks are no fun!

Fiber Frenzy Friday - Granville Elementary Book Project

This book, titled The Untold Adventures of Ace, was a few weeks in the making and it is a great feeling to know it is done and on time for Mrs. Newell's fifth grade class.  This book will be auctioned off at the Granville Elementary fund raiser and only one lucky person/parent may own this prized possession.  My fingers are crossed that it will make them a lot of money!  

Each child helped write a paragraph to the story as well as an illustration with watercolor.  They did an amazing job at this!

I have come to find that a book of this size is not easy to put together.

Here is a little peak at the inside of the book.

As I mentioned though, it feels good for my part of this job to be done.  Even after making paper for over ten years, to this day, I am still learning.  

Peace, Love(Happy Valentines Day), and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Fiber Frenzy Friday - Seed Bomb Tulle Favor

These are perfect for your next baby shower or wedding.  Check them out for sale at www.pulpa.etsy.com.

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Fiber Frenzy Friday - Present Project Path

Here are a few photographs from a current project I am working on in cahoots with Beta by Design and Granville Elementary Schools.  

The paper was pulled thickly and varnished on one side for increased durability as well as making the outside of the covers water-resistant.  

Sizing has been added to all the sheets and cover to water proof that paper itself as well.  

This ensures that if the paper were to get wet it will not turn right back into pulp!

These will be the front and back cover to a 10x10 illustrated book.  

The book will tell the story of the "Blue Ace" the school mascot.   The children are writing the story and compiling illustrations now.  I am excited to the book upon completion.  I will make sure to share it with you all in a later blog.

The embroidery thread you see here will be used to bind the book together.  : ) I wasn't sure exactly what shade I wanted so I grabbed a few.  

I decided upon the darkest one below.  What do you think?

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Fiber Frenzy Friday - Paper & Lace

I have been busy in the studio this week pulling sheets and beating pulps and I am going to share with you a beautiful, almost edible, creamy hued, vintage-esque sheet I created a couple of days ago.

   

I used a raw umber and yellow ochre pigmented pulp and and an old piece of lace.  I mixed the 2 colors of pulp on my mold and deckle to firstly form a thin sheet to put the lace onto.  I left it rather mushy and unpressed.  I then removed the mold (remember, the empty frame) from the deckle (the frame covered in screen/silkscreen) and laid the piece of cloth across the deckle and pulp so that it fell over the sides.  I then poured just the raw umber thinly over the top of that.

back of sheet detail

back of sheet detail

I love the way the paper thins and feathers allowing bits of lace to become more visible throughout.

sunlight shining through

1" lace edging

 

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Fiber Frenzy Friday - The Moon

 This piece is titled "The Moon".  It is a handmade paper disc on canvas with acrylic paint.  I love the multitude of blue hues in the sky.  I find that cool colors and especially blue and greens resonate with my soul.  There is a calmness and feeling of still.  We all know the magic that can come along when a full moon fills the night sky.  

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

Fiber Frenzy Friday - Handmade Paper Torso

Pulpa also makes 3 dimensional paper sculptures such as this white torso.  She is embellished with rose petals just to the left side of her belly. I love the way the rose petals bleed out into the white pulp. Do you?  

This particular torso was designed for a Canadian jewelry maker to display some of her longer necklaces.  I also have a paper torso for that some reason.  : ) She is encumbered by at least 8-10 necklaces, this poor beauty!!  

These are varnished for increased durability and the ability to later clean them when they become dusty.  

Also because they have been varnished it is possible to hang these in room that have higher than usual humidity, such as bathrooms or covered porches.  

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin

www.pulpapaperproducts.com

Fiber Frenzy Friday - Seed Paper Favors

Seashells

 Pulpa offers a line of seed paper favors that will match just about any theme can you dream up.  :)  With so many colors to offer Pulpa will do it's best to make sure your favor matches your event.  

Click this link for a 15% off coupon good until the end of year!!

www.coxpon.com/coupon/?coupon_id=148

Flowers

If the quantity on my website is not suitable for what you need please convo me and I will set up a custom listing for what you need.  

Customized Hearts

 If you are interested in purchasing any of these unique favors, please visit www.pulpa.etsy.com to get your order under way.  You say you don't see a design that suits you.  Tell me what you are looking for and I will do my best to make your vision come to fruition.  

Stars

Keep in mind Pulpa's favors are "tree free".  So not only are these favors totally unique, they are earth-friendly as well.  Go green, Go Pulpa for your next event!

Tulips with 3 layers of seed paper!

www.pulpa.etsy.com

www.pulpapaperproducts.com

P.S- click this link for a 15% off coupon good until the end of year!!

www.coxpon.com/coupon/?coupon_id=148

Peace, Love, and Handmade Paper,

Erin