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Friday, August 20, 2010

Silk Carrier Rods


Today finally I got into the studio. I just wanted to see how many different things I could do with some silk carrier rods I had from a previous batch that weren't as good as I have now. So, I just made straight silk paper today.

This pic is of the four layers peeled off just one rod.


Dip each layer into water and lay onto non stick paper- glad bake or teflon- whatever you have that is a non stick surface.


Overlap the layers, they are going to stick to each other, This pic shows the first vertical layer and then the laying down of the horizontal layer.


Then teasing the fibres apart, I lay bits down on areas that look thin, play with colour and diffuse the appearance of 'lines'.


Cover with another layer of glad bake or non stick surface....


Using the iron on dry and a cotton setting I iron back and forth until all of the water has evaporated away.


Remove the paper and you should have a firm piece of silk 'paper'.
The photos are not very good, I just can't get the depth of colour in this light.


This side is the 'right' side.


It's pretty stiff, the silk worm's sericin has not been processed out so it enables the silk to fuse together in the presence of water and heat from the iron.


I'm bending it here in my hand.


Not sure what I will do with it, probably stamp it, apply fabric, gold leaf, vintage paper.......
Tomorrow, I'll do something else with more rods.

8 comments:

  1. The fine and clear instruction!
    I shall necessarily try to make a silk paper too :)
    Thank you, Jacinta!

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  2. Jacinta, how interesting. Thank you for always sharing your experimental work. Whatever the colour, it appeals to me. I hope we see it when you've worked on it a little more. Hope you are not having too much cold weather. Lovely day here in Queensland.

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  3. Thanks ladies- cold and miserable here though. First time the dams have filled in years.

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  4. you could sprinkle some metallic flakes in as well

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  5. HAY!
    your blog is rather fancy!
    I enjoy the snap shots and lovely finds!
    x o x

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  6. Hi Jacinta, I have to tell you that yesterday i spent hours pouring through your blog and Dales and thoroughly enjoyed myself, I've had the winter blues for ages and now i'm feeling really inspired.
    I tried my hand at your Silk Paper making last night and loved it. My Daughter did to and i just wanted to thankyou so much.
    Cant wait for my order from you and to get back into the swing of things
    Thanks again, I think your just what i needed xoxoxo

    Cheers Karen

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  7. Hello Jacinta, sadly I was quite disappointed as the rods I tried to make into silk paper didn't bind well. I wonder where I could have gone wrong, after following your instructions carefully? It all looked so easy and I have made loads of silk paper according to Kath Russon's method, so I am a bit baffled.

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  8. Hello Jacinta, sadly I was quite disappointed as the rods I tried to make into silk paper didn't bind well. I wonder where I could have gone wrong, after following your instructions carefully? It all looked so easy and I have made loads of silk paper according to Kath Russon's method, so I am a bit baffled.

    ReplyDelete