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Printing, Bookbinding & Paper making/Questions Answered by Expert Gail Stiffe

SubjectDate Asked
how to make these type of papers?3/31/2011
  Q: I'm new to paper making and I'm really interested on a particular design of paper making but I don't ...
  A: This paper is very special, it is made from very the long fibres of Kozo. I believe the patterns are ...
Science Fair Papermaking2/15/2011
  Q: I am in 6th grade doing a science fair about paper. I live in Utah, United States. I have a few ...
  A: How do I make sure that my paper pulp is smooth? You can get smooth pulp by using a blender to make ...
Organic paper?7/15/2010
  Q: As a handpaper-making expert, could you provide me with information on how feasible it would be to ...
  A: I must admit I am a little grossed out by the prospect but I guess the best way would be trial and ...
source of paper pulp12/8/2009
  Q: I am a total newbie to paper making. Here is what I'd like to do. I want to make my own watercolor ...
  A: There are a few paper suppliers in the US, just google Twinrocker, Magnolia and Carriage House Paper ...
Wooden Book Covers12/7/2009
  Q: I am going to self publish a couple of books I have written and I want to make wooden book covers. ...
  A: Probably the easiest way to use wooden covers for your books is to do a Coptic binding. If you ...
Papermaking11/7/2009
  Q: I am currently a wedding consultant but would like to design handmade paper and paper for printing ...
  A: I am in Australia so can't help much with the classes but there are a lot of Colleges in the US that ...
banana fibre3/27/2009
  Q: Gail, Can you tell me as much as you can about the use of banana fibre in papermaking. I am in the ...
  A: sorry for the delay in answering your question, I have been at a papermaking conference for the last ...
paper and ink and "acid-free"4/13/2008
  Q: I'm a writer and take notes over long periods of time that I later develop into poems or novels, and ...
  A: I suspect the paper might be the culprit, though My knowledge of inks is negligable so can't answer ...
Cotton papermaking1/29/2008
  Q: I'm doing a science fair project on paper, and I want to find a way to make paper out of cotton ...
  A: you can't make paper from cotton balls without first cooking them up with caustic soda, rinsing and ...
waterproof paper, etc.9/26/2007
  Q: good morning. does a paper, a foil, or another material, which is waterproof, exist, on which you ...
  A: If you are making your own paper you can add a synthetic size to make the paper waterproof and this ...
greeting cards8/3/2007
  Q: My mom recently died and I would like to bound her mothers day cards together to make a book. Is ...
  A: you could treat each card as a section and do a coptic binding or binding over cords/tape using fine ...
scrap cotton swabs ( Q tips)7/4/2007
  Q: We have purchased 200 Mt of scrap cotton swabs for pulping.We are facing problem in pulping ...
  A: I haven't used cotton like this but I suspect you might need to cook the cotton in alkali before you ...
handmade paper6/30/2007
  Q: I just want to ask if how am I going to make a handmade paper without using another paper. My ...
  A: are you able to use grass? You can make paper from most grasses and many strappy leaves as well as ...
papermaking3/20/2007
  Q: I am interested in using local fibers to make paper as a community project to encourage the proper ...
  A: Yes most handmade paper will fold without breaking. The only time it will crack is when the fibres ...
papermaking3/19/2007
  Q: I am interested in using local fibers to make paper as a community project to encourage the proper ...
  A: You really need some sort of alkali to break down the grasses and other plants. The mildest you can ...
paper formation1/27/2007
  Q: i am having a problem with paper formation. i have been working with hemp fiber, and i am noticing ...
  A: there are a few things it could be. Are you using formation aid? If that is not properly mixed it ...
How to Create Aged Paper?1/25/2007
  Q: How can you make aged paper? Or preferably purchase aged/vintage paper? Preferably the kind that's ...
  A: there are a couple of things you can do to any paper that you normally letterpress on. One thing ...
paper making .........11/2/2006
  Q: I was wondering a few ideas in the paper making adventure....first, can you put the molds right into ...
  A: The mold is the part with the wire and the deckle is the open frame. You can just place the deckle ...
book cover12/19/2005
  Q: I am in a creative writing class, and the whole class will have an anthology (one work per student) ...
  A: you write what is called a collophon. It tells the reader information like what paper the book is ...
suggestions on binding a medieval codex7/19/2005
  Q: I have some interesting questions! The bookbinders at this site ...
  A: I'm based in Australia so can't really help with your questions. I had a look at the webpage you ...
paper making5/16/2005
  Q: My boyfriend and I are in a long distance relationship and I wanted to make a CD and send it to him. ...
  A: I don't have time here to go into all the details of papermaking. It is very easy to learn and there ...
Repairing and re-gluing pages in an old book3/14/2005
  Q: I have an old book which has several loose pages in it, There are also several pages totally ...
  A: I'm not an expert on book repair, I mostly make books from scratch. However I have used various ...
printing from the computer4/18/2004
  Q: How do I set the printer window to type something in booklet form. i.e. two pages side by side to be ...
  A: I guess it depends what program you are using but in MS word you set it on landscape then in format ...
How to make a book.....11/26/2002
  Q: I have a gift idea for this christmas for my girlfriend. I have a journal that I have been making ...
  A: my suggestion would be to use your local yellow pages under bookbinders &/or desktop publishers and ...
teaching children papermaking1/16/2002
  Q: I am teaching a papermaking workshop at a Children's Art Museum. I would like to make it more ...
  A: the first thing I'd suggest is to get paper other than newspaper. You could use clean office waste ...
Mounting papers11/13/2000
  Q: I have quite a few charming chinese watercolor cutouts. I want to mount and frame them. They are ...
  A: you definitely should use acid free paper for your mounting, ask at an art supply house. You can ...
Paper Casting11/8/2000
  Q: I would like to learn how to do paper casting. I can find several sources on the paper part of it, ...
  A: Making casts Make up Plaster of Paris according to directions, making sure to add the plaster to ...
making paper9/19/2000
  Q: I have a six year old son and we have planned a project to make paper. The one recipe I can find ...
  A: I think you'd be better off recycling paper rather than attempting plant paper first up. There are ...
Learning bookmaking9/11/2000
  Q: Gail, I am a printmaker by trade. Mostly, I make fine art prints in Screenprinting, woodcut, and ...
  A: Ryan, there are plenty of good books out there about basic bookbinding, one which I have is 'Making ...
Paper Making6/12/2000
  Q: I generally paint in watercolour and would like to make my own paper for painting on. I would like ...
  A: To get started you need some basic equipment. You need something to make your pulp with. I would ...
Paper Making (Interview for 5th Grade Science Project)3/7/2000
  Q: 1) Cellulose Fibers from plants make paper strong. How do you get the cellulose fibers out of ...
  A: 1) The cellulose is removed by using chemicals. When making paper from plants I use caustic soda to ...

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Gail Stiffe

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Expertise

I have been making handmadepaper for over 15 years and teaching adults and children for the last 10 years. I can answer most questions about papermaking and many about bookbinding. The books I make from handmade paper and are usually simple bindings with paper covers.

Experience

President of Papermakers of Victoria Vice President of The Victorian Bookbinders Guild Two Solo exhibitions and many group shows Website at http://www.bluep.com/~stiffe

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