Happiness

Happiness, 2017

This sculpture is made from milkweed fibers, yellow dogwood (from my brother-in-law's garden), and a branch I found in my garden.

Papermaking with Plants at Langstaff S.S.

As part of my Artist In Education 2015-2016 program with the Ontario Arts Council, students made paper from plants to use in their lanterns. Students made paper from milkweeds, cedar, and daffodil fibers.

Student stripping cedar fiber for papermaking

Papermaking station set-up

Sheet forming

Milkweed paper is brushed on to a flat surface to dry

Daffodil paper 

Growing Papermaking Fibers — Hollyhocks and Milkweeds

Early this spring, I started lots of seedlings in preparation for papermaking! I've experimented with a variety of plant fibers in the past; such as onion skins, blackberry bush, maple leaves, and grasses. But what I really love so far was hollyhocks and milkweeds.

A little hollyhock growing.

The roots of hollyhocks can also be use as formation aid in papermaking too!

Milkweeds grown from seeds.

It's going to be an awesome summer. I'm predicting A LOT of butterflies!