studio scraps….waste not, want not

can you believe this…this is want your pretty handmade paper card or invitation once looked like?

There are many very talented paper makers out there that I source fine cotton papers from for my works in the letterpress studio. Its is a purely joyous day when my paper parcels arrive-they are just such special little works of art; they really put a smile on my face and they are treated like little golden nuggets on my work bench!

Now that said - the destiny of my precious little papers….

The letterpress printing process in terms of make ready preparations is quiet laborious, print registrations are done by hand with a simple pica stick and gauge pins-(more on those items in a later discussion) and the good ‘ol human eye. It often takes several attempts pressing paper to get the perfect registration (how the paper lines up on the print plates for accurate printing.)

my dilemma: those beautiful paper pieces making their way to the scrap pile after running through Martha the letterpress only to be misprinted….how offensive right!

my solution: every so often-when my pile of mis-printed golden paper nuggets starts to pile up, along with my paper trimmings-its paper making day! My paper scraps first get shredded, with the help of my highly motivated 3year old and a tiny pair of scissors, soaked in water, pulped - then embellishments added; and into the water. Hand pulled with my homemade mold and deckle, couched, and into the paper press, lastly loaded onto my paper dying racks to dry and cure.

Ta-Da….fresh stacks of handmade paper, and zero waste here at Skelley West

Hope you get to enjoy the pleasure of writing on a handmade scrap paper one day!

-kate