2009 GARDEN PAPER STUDIOS

Participants first wandered the garden selecting colorful leaves and blossoms to use in making their paper. After each person made several sheets, they learned how to make a bowl using their own handmade paper. We also sculpted simple shapes from oil clay and poured plaster molds to use in paper pulp casting.

This group liked making paper so much they opted to forego other projects in order to keep on with their experimentation. The possibilities are endless when the garden is at this stage of high summer growth.

This sheet is made with marigolds and lemon balm leaves.

Here's a handsome blend of purples and greens.

Carolyn snips the small leaves of fino verde basil for her paper.

Besides adding great color, it smells heavenly!

Brenda mixed in confetti made from shredded seed catalogs to kick up the color a few notches.

Anne carefully positioned small thunbergia blossoms into her paper after it was poured.

Carolyn trims the edge of her paper bowl featuring multi-colored zinnia petals.

Damp handmade paper is applied to the bowl mold and patted into shape.

Susan created a custom sheet using birch twigs and ginko leaves.

On the second day of the GARDEN PAPER WORKSHOP the paper bowls were ready to be removed from their molds. It is always exciting to see what surprises you'll find on the inside. These bowls are beauties!

This bowl was made with pape containing red, coral and orange zinnia petals.

...and this one with celery leaves and white zinnia petals.

This one reminds me of a cabbage!

Brenda's confetti/petal bowl...

...and Anne's thunbergia blossom bowl.

Three vases made from different papers.

This is the plaster mold cast from Brenda's sculpture of a bee. She will use this mold to cast paper pulp shapes similar to the flower on the right. They can be used to make ornaments or even a decorative garland.

Taking a little time to jot down some notes. it would be hard to remember everything we've done in the Garden Paper Studio!