Atlanta, GA
Hand Made Paper
Over the past fourteen years I have created works in a variety of media for both private and corporate collections. A fascination with things from the past led to my working in collage and papermaking. My one-of-a-kind cards, lampshades, sconces, scrapbooks, night lights, and candle covers are made with cellulose materials (a natural glucose found in plant fibers). Shredded office paper, dryer lint and plant materials such as kudzu, coconut hair and banana are some of the ingredients that I process to become pulp.
These mixtures are blended in a giant mixer (a washing machine motor and a boat prop) and formed into sheets (pressed sometimes under the wheels of my ‘63 International Scout Jeep!).
While the pulp is wet, I use it to create paper sheets that might include plant leaves, seeds, petals, lace, vintage photographs and other found treasures. Each richly textured piece tells a story, ranging from note cards and heirloom collages to large abstract images.
My love of gardening spawned the creation of plantable seed cards—note cards with seeds pressed into the recycled paper. The whole card can be planted, and the recycle paper composts into the soil.