How to: Gather (Thin) Collections

Ah do you have a favourite set of art supplies? Would you like to spend some quality time with them? Ahead of the online Gathering Retreats (still a couple of places left on 28th Sept – 1st October) here’s a taster project: How to gather (thin) collections.

You’ll need:

• Some rectangular ephemera
• A collection of thin things to document – i’m using the pens and tools on my desk
• Some paper for the wrap cover – i’ve used packing paper
• A dip pen (any kind of calligraphy pen with a nib)
• Ink – not waterproof – i’ve used walnut
• A small brush
• Water
• A glue stick
• Waste paper
• A needle
• Thick thread for the closure

Step by step:

Lay your chosen paper in front of you, like this.

Fold in half width-ways.

Then fold one edge in to the middle crease.

So that it looks like this.

Repeat with the other side, so you now have a concertina with four ‘pages’.

Then fold the long edge in half.

Repeat on the other side (and ‘SMILE’!)

A bird’s eye view of the current folded situation.

Now we’re going to reverse-fold that central crease.

So you can see the edge folds are now on the inside, as above.

Lay the sheet down again, and fold the upper part up to meet the top line. This is a faffy way of saying ‘Continue dividing into eight.’

Nearly there. (Keep smiling.) Flip over and fold in half.

Hurray. A sheet of paper divided into eight!

Gather your collection of thin things. Arrange them in a satisfactory order.

Start to very simply capture an idea of each thin thing.

One on each page.

Don’t worry about being exact if that’s not your style.

If you’d like a bit of added texture, brush a layer of water over the ink and let it do its magic.

If you’d like to add text, literal or poetic, now’s the time.

Cut your cover paper to be a fraction more than the height of your book, and around three times the width.

Get ready to glue!

Lay a sheet of waste paper in between the back page and the rest of the book. Cover with a thin layer of glue, right up to the edges.

Once it’s nicely smoothed down and dry, you could add a title on the first page.

Then wrap the rest of the cover paper around the book. I don’t think we need to measure or score at this stage.

Ta da! The book has a cover.

Add a length of thread secured by a single knot on the inside of the cover.

And wind the thread around and around to secure.

Multiples are marvellous.

I like how the water, ink and scrumpled cover paper gives an organic effect.

Happy collecting and documenting!

Please share your creations with @paperhazell or e-mail us with pictures.

If you’ve enjoyed this project, imagine how much you’d get from a whole Gathering Retreat – there are a couple of spots left on the online class running 28th September – 1st October. Join us?!