Wednesday 17 September 2014

Silk Paper Making

In amongst the chaos of decorating this week I have managed to create some silk paper - I love making it and I'm thinking of using it in the work I'm doing on gardens.  Although there are two different ways to make it, the simplest and cleanest way is to use coccoon strippings (silk that hasn't had the gum removed).  This is laid out thinly, sprayed with water and ironed.   There are good instructions for both types of silk paper making here for anyone interested.
  
In the samples below I've ironed crochet edgings onto the silk to create the embossed effect, added silk yarns and used silk rods to get different effects. 
  


I am linking up with What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday - why not pop over and see what's on other people's desks this week. 

22 comments:

  1. WOW Diana...your silk paper is wonderful, super how you got the texture, I'll be back to see how you use it. Thanks for visiting my desk, Happy WOYWW Cheers RobynO#27

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is really interesting, Diana. You have produced some lovely textured samples. What a good idea to use crochet for texture.
    Jane x
    www.texturetrail/blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gosh how fascinating,. It took me a full thirty seconds to understand about ironing the crochet edgings..I think I need more coffee! It's gorgeous stuff....so presumably, you buy the cocoons as you would any other product?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they come as a bag of fluffy stuff but with a slight feeling of stickiness where the gum is still in the fibres.

      Delete
  4. Very clever and creative. Thanks for sharing today. Hope you have a great day and a lovely crafting week to come. Hazel, WOYWW #47 x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, wow, Diana!! I love silk paper even though I've never tried making it. I have the directions for the messy way but your way sounds much better! I love the results you got and I can't wait to see what you do with them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those are absolutely gorgeous...love the textures you've achieved!
    I'm not posting today as I'm away at my dad's, but wanted to see what you were up to!!
    Hugs, LLJ xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. That paper looks almost good enough to eat! Love it,
    Happy WOYWW !
    Tertia #38

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am always blown away with your creativity, Diana. These silk papers are simply gorgeous, and I love the idea of embossing them like that! As Tertia says, they really are good enough to eat lol!

    Thanks for your visit, and hope you like the finished masterboard. It should be toned down quite a bit by the time I've finished. I've got some exciting new stash on the way which I am keen to try, and may incorporate some of that. We are enjoying our few days of freedom immensely, but as usual when on holiday (even holidays at home!) I have to restrain my hubby a bit or he fills every hour of every day with activity and I simply can't keep up! So much for relaxing lol! I told him all these local attractions will still be here, and we can save some of them up for the next time Mum goes away. The weather has been kind to us - as you say, not too hot to do anything, but it's been generally overcast, and not much sun.

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi #37

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, this is so fascinating! Absolutely wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
    Cheers
    Gabriele 16

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh so lovely - you are so clever! Happy WOYWW Anne x#32

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow! I've never seen silk paper being made before. It's fascinating - love the texture obtained by embossing with lace. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week. Elizabeth x #62

    ReplyDelete
  12. What stunning effects you're getting on the silk paper - can't wait to see what you make with them. Love, Chris # 29

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've never heard of silk paper before - it looks wonderful - I'm intrigued! I'm glad I visited your blog! Zsuzsa #64

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful, Diana. The effects you have achieved are lovely. Making silk paper is just so much fun, isn't it. The sheen on the silk bricks is just wonderful. Love the stuff!!! Great idea to iron the edging to make the patterns. Did you do that AFTER the paper was completely dry?
    Thanks for visiting. You asked about the cards... The "garland" - Majestix Oriental blossom stamp set has a small branch stamp in it. I simply inked it up, then stamped four times with each inking, moving around the card with each impression. Then re-inked, and went back to link it up with the previous first stamped impression of the four. Gradually worked my way around the edge of the card base in a garland shape. The "berries" are blobs of stickles in several colours. Does that all make sense to you?? That was the "In the stillness" card. For the "a Christmas blessing" card, I stamped the image (Verses "A Christmas blessing") down the right side of the card base, touched up the words peace, hope and love with a gold pen, then stamped the Inkylicious "Twiggy branch" three times running up the left of the card. The "baubles" are stickles or Liquid pearls. Hope that all helps..
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #2

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow! That is stunning! And the embossing with the crochet is very effective. Clever you!
    Thank you for letting me look over your shoulder.
    Lisca#45

    ReplyDelete
  16. wow!! This looks wonderful, thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is really neat. I must take a look at this- thanks for the link! I am sure mine will not look as good as yours but it looks like fun!
    Thanks for sharing! Have a good week. Hugs, Kathy Jo #41

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am so glad you enjoyed seeing the whole Flickr album of photos I took at the Kaffe Fassett exhibition, Diana - yes, I did photograph a lot, but not quite everything, I don't think! There was just so much.

    Ha ha! I am glad there is someone else out there who has unfinished projects sitting in boxes for years, waiting to be completed!! I've got a Hebrew alphabet sampler that I started about 20 years ago - I've only got to finish the border and it's done, but I went right off the boil! I'm a terror for UFOs (UnFinished Objects) and constantly hear my mother's voice in my ear from childhood days, "Don't start anything else until you've finished this!" I'm afraid what she said never worked! I seem to get more butterfly brained with the passing years and I think the problem is getting worse!

    Do finish your moth - I'd love to see it!!

    Shoshi

    ReplyDelete
  19. Seriously wow! You do have very interesting and always beautiful projects on your desk.

    Looking forward to seeing how you use them in the gardening project.

    Karen x

    ReplyDelete
  20. That is so cool. I've never made or handled silk paper before, I might have to see if I can find what I need to make some myself!

    ReplyDelete