I made this paper using the makeshift Equipment I have to hand at home. I was a bit stupid and didn’t photograph any of this process. I first blended the cartridge paper, water and pva to form a pulp. I formed using a mould and deckle squashed it between my handmade press and hung the sheets to dry on the washing line.
I am pleased with how these turned out. the pressed flowers when laid into the sheet embedded into the paper when they were pressed. creating a very pretty paper with flowers means each sheet is unique and can be changed to suit a colour scheme.
Using gold leaf, an assortment of dried flowers, dried lichen and dried flower petals.
MOVING FORWARD
These will be used to make the end papers for my books. I want to come up with a way of making the papers less fragile so I could use them to create hard and soft covers for the books. This is to make the petals more permanent as they are so brittle that they would fall of the paper. I have been thinking of ways in which to do this. A. Company’s dip their paper into gelatin to make them more water proof. I could do this. B. I could laminate the flowers whilst making the paper by forming thin sheets and setting the petals between then ( although this would make the petals more muffled and the paper thicker causing less definition on the flowers). And C. Using wax or acrylic varnish to prime the surface making it more permanent and durable.
Lara Hoad Artist Designer: Maker 