Continuing the rustic and rough motif of my new process, I made a set of 3 books using the same salmon-colored handmade paper from Kelly. They are so tough that I can't really tear them apart, albeit wetting it. There is the dilemma right there: I didn't want to cut the paper with a knife so that the edges are perfect, but yet I couldn't really tear it apart. But somehow I managed to pull off the wetted fiber bit by bit with a bone folder.


All 3 volumes are long-stitched books. The first 2 volumes have slitted spines but the volume 3 is simply pierced. I love that the slitted spines look so uneven resulted from tension on the textured paper. The first 2 volumes have soft covers, created by doubling up the handmade paper. Volume 1 has a thicker cover because it is reinforced by a piece of paper in between. Now these are some asymmetry right within the set!

For this year's Chrismas book, I decided to make a minature and "impractical" one. It doesn't have to be practical, does it? Something fun.
The form of stitching is a button-hole book. Folios are attached to the concertina spine, which is itself an accordion. The folios are hand-made paper, with botantical elements "Angel Wings" added for color and texture. Slits are made on the cover and the concertina spine so that they will be held in place and the book is opened. Merry X'mas!

Dieu Donné Papermill released issue 48 of their PULP News, a quarterly newsletter devoted to artists and the hand-papermaking technique.

The issue is available online at their Web site. This issue includes an in-depth look at the work of Noah Loesberg, their recent Artist Resident; descriptions of their new collaborations with Paul DuToit, Michele Oka Doner, and Lyle Starr; as well as an article on paper conservation by Laura Stirton Aust of ARTcare Inc.

Recently, Scotland-based Joanne B. Kaar contacted me and shared with me her Web site and work. She is based at the north coast of Caithness in the Highlands of Scotland which provides her with the ever-changing landscape that gives her constant inspiration for her work.

Joanne has traveled to Taiwan and learnt about Chinese papermaking, seal carving techniques and Chinese calligraphy. She runs workshops across the country and shares with her students her expertise and skills on papermaking and bookbinding. Joanne has also published Paper Making and Bookbinding: Costal Inspirations on papermaking and bookbinding.

I am truly delighted to share with you some of Joanne's works. Blending the breath-taking landscapes and scenery from the north coast of Caithness, her work are colorful, energetic and unique. You can visit her Web site, joannebkaar.com, for more pictures and details of her work.



If you are a bookartist or paperartist, and you would like us to feature your work, please let us know!

Located in SoHo of Manhattan, Dieu Donné Papermill is "an artist workspace dedicated to the creation and promotion of contemporary art using the hand papermaking process." It conducts classes and workshops on papermaking to adults and children. It also provides studio rentals to artists to create art in hand papermaking. Its gallery routinely showcases artists' works utilizing handmade paper. On its website, there is also a substantial list of links to related paper and paper art websites.

I finished the textblock and the stitching months ago, accented with yellow ribbons. I just couldn't decide what the cover will be so I put it aside. I finally gave it a jacket today; afterall, the weather is getting cold, and it's time to keep the textblock a little warm!

I had a hard time finding the end paper for the inside, since I wanted to use something yellow to go with the "modern" look of the cover paper, as well as the yellow ribbon on the text block; but I simply do not have any paper with yellow prints. Oh what the heck, I'll just use one of those beautiful Japanese Chiyogami Olivia gave me for my last birthday. When the book is opened, it's very dramatic.