As we were all told to gather our things and to stay at home due to the outbreak of coronavirus, I was quick to gather all necessary materials (albeit the basics) I would need to continue developing my experimentation and project at home, I saw this as an opportunity to get a bit more experimenting with materials I have to hand and the access I have to around me in the countryside. I want to start use natural materials found on walks and in my garden and in the cupboards to make paper and covers for bookbinding from using the basic paper making set up I have.
Being experimental with what I have to hand
For the paper making I have bought myself a frame to make the paper and a plastic box to make the paper pulp and blend the paper using a handheld soup blender (…we will see how this works out!). after that i will need to press the paper so i want to make a press similar to the ones I use at uni using plywood and nuts and bolts, this is essential for paper making as it squeezes and flattens the paper, I will then need to source clothes for layering the paper.
With the bookbinding I talked with Tom from the print room to discuss what materials i would need to continue to bind books. he gave me some book binding thread, some mesh to reinforce the spine and some card to cut down to size to make the pages. I bought myself a awl and a flat edge ruler with a rounded edge to use as a book binders bone.
I am hoping I can continue to make in a similar way to at uni but with a few tweaks to the techniques and materials.
Lara Hoad Artist Designer: Maker 