kami ito

Ever since I started studying shifu, I've wanted to cut a Japanese book into strips to make cord.  It's just something I had to get out of my system.  It was a pain.  Lots of trial and error.  First round, the paper was too wet and kept breaking.  Next time, it was too dry.  I finally found a happy medium, but it was still frustrating.  Tree paper gives me uneven cord, and breaks a lot.

Here's the book.  No, I don't know Japanese.  I hope this isn't anything lurid.  

 

 I don't think it is, because I loved how the cover has this subtle raised background.  See the birds?

Here's a sample of the pages.

a small ball made with 4 pages

 I'm glad that's done.  Time to move on!

more paper

I've been playing around with different decorating ideas.  I used fabric markers on this one.  I've tried 'regular' markers before, but they tend to bleed if you are getting your paper wet for spinning.

Here's a piece of washi-calligraphy paper that I used sumie ink on.  You have to use a lot of ink for it to show.

Today I found two kinds of Japanese weaving with gold leaf om paper. One is actually a yarn, the other is slit paper as the weft, and not spun.

http://www.takuminohako.com/products/detail.php?product_id=67
This website explains the process.

Saga nishiki is gold covered paper which is kept flat for the warp threads, and woven with silk weft. http://www.wormspit.com/saganishiki.htm

I put some copper leaf on Thai unryu:

It turned out pretty nicely.