Making Your Own Paper- An Introduction To Paper-Making In South Africa by Marianne Saddington

One of the measures of a good how-to book, in my mind, is when it covers a topic in which I have little interest or experience, and it gets me excited enough to think about trying the project! This elegant little book is beautifully illustrated with drawings and photographs, and the easy-to-understand instructions make this a good introduction to papermaking. I think I can actually do this!

Hand paper-making has enjoyed a major revival over the past 30 years, using new and innovative approaches to an ancient craft. Handmade paper has a unique texture and an individual quality that makes it not only a surface to write, paint or print on, but an object of beauty in its own right. In addition the versatility of paper in its wet form has led artists to experiment with paper-making as an art medium, creating two- and three-dimensional images of textural richness and diversity, some on a vast scale.

Making Your Own Paper is a comprehensive introduction to creative paper-making, paper crafts and paper art. Clear instructions are given on how to make interesting and unusual papers with inexpensive equipment, and take the reader through a series of simple projects which will increase his or her expertise and confidence. Chapters cover topics such as preparing a writing surface, colouring and texturing, making paper from plants, and paper craft techniques. A final chapter takes paper-making a step further into the creative possibilities of paper art.