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Making paper and adding Turmeric

  Today I tried adding Turmeric to the pulp before couching (transferring the wet sheets from the mould).  I loved the idea of producing a yellow colour that is natural. The paper has a lovely shade of yellow and the fibres held together well. Holding the paper up to the light I was able to see how transparent it looked. The fibres had bonded well together and I was so excited to see the end product once the paper had fully dried. Paper on frame held up to the light I used the method of putting the mould and deckle into the tub of water and gently lifting it out of the water.  Lots of the water drained away back into the tub of water.  After lifting the deckle out of the water I carefully remove the frame.  This gives the deckle edge that I think is a wonderful look to handmade paper. I lay the pieces out on the window ledges, still on their cloths and waited 24 hours for them to dry out.  Once they had dried, I ironed them with a cool iron t...
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Adding wildflowers to the pulp mixture

I collected lots of buttercups from meadows around where I live.  The buttercups are blooming at this time of year.  The best time to collect them is in the afternoon when they do not have any moisture on them.  Also when it is a sunny day and has not been raining. Buttercups added to the paper The buttercups had been pressed between two baking sheets to allow the moisture to all be removed naturally.  Then I placed some heavy books onto them, wildflower books of course.  The process of pressing and drying them took around three weeks.  I found this to be the best way of preserving the colour.  After I finished the process and dried the paper, I found that the buttercups were not secure on the paper.  So next I added PVA glue (mod podge) to each flower and allowed that to dry.  The glue sets the flower and preserves the colour.  I think the effect is very pretty and more practical than the flowers falling off the finished paper.  I ...
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Blowing in the wind

  After I finished making the paper I decided to put it onto the washing line to dry.  This is something I have not tried before. Success I decided, the sheets were drying fast.  However I left them for half and hour and when I returned, the breeze had grown stronger.  I then had to retrieve half of them from around the garden. Luckily they were fine and are now back inside drying the normal way. Adding the dried rose petals to the pulp. Checking for any holes before couching (my new word).
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Collecting rose petals

                                          Rose buds I have an old rose bush growing in my garden.  Every year without fail it blooms producing the most wonderful roses.  The scent reminds me of candy crush.  This time of year it produces about 20 roses.        Collecting the roses  I cut the roses and place them into a jar with water.  They last a few days before I am going to dry them. Drying the rose petals This can take a few weeks, I lay them out in a tub in the sunshine. Next I bring them indoors and place them between two pieces of paper, cardboard and a heavy book on top.    When the rose petals have fully dried and all the moisture removed.  I will put them into my latest paper making project.  A lovely reminder of summer.     
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Adding flowers

  I collected lots of wild flowers, including Buttercups.  These are so pretty at this time of year. 💓 Once I have strained the water away from the deckle as much as possible. I add the flowers that have been dried.  I dry them by spreading them out onto thin paper and add a heavy book.  The process takes around 2 weeks.  I find these much more effective in the paper pulp.   When adding the flowers, I gently press them into the pulp so that they will not fall out once the paper has dried. 😄 I then allow the new paper with flowers to dry in the usual method.  This takes around a further 24 hours.
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Using recycled newspapers

Today is cold and dull even though its May!  ☔ I collected old newspapers from everyone, word has got round about making my paper. On a whim I added some blue food colouring dye to the mixture 💧 The colour looked lovely, swirling around the bowl.  Whoops I didn't wear gloves and two hours later my hands are still BLUE 🙏 The sheets are now drying, I was not impressed with how they looked, the recycled material looks dull and the colour has turned grey tone. 😕 Lets see what tomorrow brings when the paper has dried 👀
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Green Reveal

 Twenty four hours is a long time to wait to see the results.  I am running out of room to dry all the pages and decided to try stacking the sheets inside old paper.   Paper sheets stacked onto each other The bottom sheets didn't really dry and so I placed them around my desk and window ledges. Having a sneaky peek to see if they have dried All good so far even though the sheets are not properly dried I was happy the new method of using pencil shavings has worked.  The effect on some of the sheets was amazing.  Especially with the little bits of colour that came out of the pencil sharpener.  I used watercolour pencils so that the colours would not run into my paper. Watercolour pencil shavings The sheets produced this time had a lovely hint of green.  The paper was so much thinner than last time as I had reused some of the old paper and added it to the new pulp.  I did this by getting out all the water using a strainer.  I then mashed th...
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