Making Paper

Making paper is the closest thing I can do that feels like alchemy. There is immense joy in collecting paper towel and toilet paper rolls, tossing them into a blender after a soak, and coaxing them into sheets by hand. It is messy and slow and imperfect.

What I’ve tried so far

The first few attempts came out lumpy and thick, more like felt than paper. I have since learned that the secret is mostly in the water — too much and the sheet falls apart, too little and it clumps. I am still calibrating the pour and the press and am attempting to use sheets of felt to help the drying process.

Why bother?

The end goal of beautiful imperfect paper pages pairs with the bookbinding I am learning and the dried flowers I am pressing: a book that is mine end to end, from pulp to cover, with flowers pressed into the pages. If nothing else, this is a fun way to recycle cardstock.