Not Just For Fish And Chips

I think it’s pretty clear that I have a passion for paper.  It took me a long time to realise it is the paper I really love and not  just the drawing or the writing or the art that it was used for.  I’m one of those people who walks into a good stationers or an art store and  feels truly overwhelmed by the range of lovely papers on display.  Asking me to choose just one or two items will result in tears – you have been warned!

So what is it about paper?  The best answer I can offer is that paper has amazing potential.  Some people are daunted by a blank page, intimidated by an empty book but not me.  I love single sheets but I’m even more addicted to notebooks of every kind and my shelves have lots – some partly used, some totally pristine.  And many that are full of notes, drawings, clippings from magazines or things I’ve found.  Sometimes I buy the book because I like the cover or the way it feels in my hand or the texture of the paper.  And this can be the same for a pre-printed book … which is why I suspect I will never fall in love with the Kindle or it’s kind.  And  my passion extends to all the uses that paper can be put to…paper ephemera, artwork, historical documents, greetings cards, Christmas decorations, paper decorations for the home…the list is endless.

I play with paper – fold it, cut it, paint it, draw on it, decorate it, write on it, stick things to it, wrap things in it … I’m sure there are many more ways I use paper these days but I take it all for granted.  I know I recycle as much as possible either by throwing it into the pink plastic sacks that my council collects each week or by making something else out of it for my own use.  This weekend I used recycled paper and some left over felt and an old button to create yet another pocket notebook:

It will sit on  my shelf being admired until I decide what project it is perfect for or someone else takes a fancy to it … it doesn’t matter, I enjoyed making it and I love picking it up and leafing through the pages now and again!

I also used some lovely butterfly paper and black card left over from a bigger project to create a concertina  album for a special set of photographs.  This little album flip flaps from one end to the other and then back again as photographs can be stuck on to both sides of the page.

 

What I do with paper is very, very basic and I make no claim to artistic skill.  But if you would like to be amazed by what real paper-sculptors can do drop by this website.  I particularly like the colourful work of Helen Musselwhite and Jolis Poans, whose  amazing paper dress sculpture from the pages of a telephone book is featured.

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