tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674009948049082413.post7987565192570662157..comments2024-01-04T03:14:58.373-08:00Comments on JOANNE RICH | Papermaker and artist: How to Make Paper from HollyhocksJoanne Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09870830535715717836noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674009948049082413.post-5515274052852664192010-02-04T09:32:02.375-08:002010-02-04T09:32:02.375-08:00Thanks for the reply, I'm glad I get to leave ...Thanks for the reply, I'm glad I get to leave the holly hocks till they self seed. I grow lots of plants in me flower garden for herbal reasons so I think I'll try and experiment with others and will let you know how I get on.<br /><br />So the caustic soda is to help break down fibres and to kill insect eggs, that makes perfect sense and to preserve your beautiful sculptures is a definate good reason for using.<br /><br />I'll have to see how easy it is for me to get it over here.Kellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04007237364629419063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674009948049082413.post-80285450810817151452010-02-04T07:14:42.343-08:002010-02-04T07:14:42.343-08:00Hello,
Glad you stumbled upon my blog!
I'm s...Hello,<br /><br />Glad you stumbled upon my blog!<br /><br />I'm still learning, experiment with different plants each day.<br /><br />But for the hollyhocks, I harvest after they've seed, so that I'll have hollyhocks for next year. <br /><br />Caustic soda will raise the water's PH to about 10, thus helps to break down the plant material, and to kill insects/eggs that might be living in there. <br /><br />I read in books that if you don't use caustic soda, the paper will rot over time, and insects (if there are any eggs) will hatch!<br /><br />Since I'm using my papers for my sculptures, I NEED to use caustic soda.<br /><br />If I left anything out, let me know.<br /><br />JoanneJoanne Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870830535715717836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5674009948049082413.post-84213631939759667152010-02-04T01:00:58.168-08:002010-02-04T01:00:58.168-08:00Hello I stumbled across your blog last night and i...Hello I stumbled across your blog last night and it is full of lots of useful info so I had to follow you.<br /><br />I used to make handmade papers a long time ago from old recycled material but had to stop due to extenuating circumstances but I miss doing so and hope to start again soon. Any plant material I used was pressed into the paper and not used to make the fires so to speak.<br /><br />Two quick questions, when is the best time to pick the hollyhock for paper making, after before or during flowering stage?<br /><br />And I never used caustic soda before to make my papers, I gather this speeds up the breaking down process of plant materials, is it absolutely necessary and what would happen if I eliminate this ingredient from the process?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for replying.Kellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04007237364629419063noreply@blogger.com