From Plant to Paper, Paper to Book: Papermaking from Invasive Species - The Soapbox and The Schuylkill Center team up to offer an unusual workshop using invasive plant species to make paper June 22, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and The Soapbox: Community Print Shop & Zine Library are pleased to host Philadelphia hand papermaker Nicole Donnelly to offer a special two-day hands-on workshop in papermaking and bookmaking using local fibers. The workshop takes place July 15-16, and offers participants the opportunity to learn about local plants, how to process fibers for papermaking, and transforming handmade paper into sustainably made blank books.

A small group will have this special opportunity to learn the process of making paper by hand in a casual atmosphere, starting by harvesting the plants. On Friday, participants take a walking tour of the Schuylkill Center grounds to identify and collect invasive plants for papermaking. They will then learn how the fibers are prepared and have some fun beating them into paper pulp. Saturday will be spent forming sheets of handmade paper from the harvested plants, and then use premade sheets of plant paper to sew into handbound books. This opportunity to slow down and use traditional methods combined with contemporary creativity and local resources is open to participants at any level.

Nicole Donnelly is a visual artist and independent teacher in Philadelphia, PA. In 2013, she founded paperTHINKtank, a papermaking studio in Port Richmond, and she is the current President of IAPMA (International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists). She is a member of the Friends of Dard Hunter, a board member of The Soapbox, and has been published in Hand Papermaking magazine (Winter 2013). She studied papermaking with Timothy Barrett at the University of Iowa, fell in love with the process, and hasn�t looked back. Her artwork is focused on the environmentally sustainable possibilities and beauty of handmade paper.

The workshop takes place on Friday, July 15, 5pm-8pm, and Saturday, July 16, 11am-4pm. Registration and more details can be found on The Schuylkill Center�s website at www.schuylkillcenter.org under �Events.�

About The Soapbox
The Soapbox was founded by Charlene Kwon and Mary Tasillo in 2011 to preserve the craft of the handmade book while supporting the community in telling its stories in a compelling way - sharing, preserving, and archiving stories that remain outside the mainstream media and publishing worlds. Learn more at www.phillysoapbox.org.

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