failure and success

I managed to make 4 of the 5 inks I set out to do. The hawthorn was a failure. After filling the pig bladders (which were kind of like a piece of chicken, not so bad) I made small parchment and leather bags to put them in,

and tied tightly with suture. This was left hanging outside my window for 10 days to dry out. It smelt. It got contaminated with maggots. So I froze it, then cut it open the next day. Emptied out the frozen maggots. There was really nothing left with which I could try to make the ink. So although there was no end product, the process was totally fascinating.

Of the other 4,

the oak gall, or Gallo-tannic, was the most successful. A small sample of each ink was on display, in petite bottles from my dad's old dental kit box. Along side was a small book of process photographs and a sample of text written onto calf vellum that detailed the materials, processes and contributors.

Exhibition over. Distinction achieved. What now?

Continue the process -

no buying.

i am thinking of making lipstick next. or cigarettes. or soap. or shoes.

bladders

I have made contact with an abattoir willing to get me a couple of pigs bladders for the hawthorn recipe. Ugh - not looking forward to having to go there to collect. But am kind of intrigued to see what they will be like. I have also ordered my vellum from William Cowley (lovely people), which I will write the five recipes on. NOT cheap - but then why should it be. It is an animal skin. It is a precious object. They are also sending me something to make little pouches out of to put the ink bladder bags into.

2 weeks to go.

Recycled paper - how hard can it be?

I just had to buy my first new paper in over 2 years so I can print my MA report. Managed to feel ok with Xerox recycled pure+ - 100% post consumer, no bleach, paper wrapped.

Ivory Black

I have made my first two inks for the Slow Writing project:

Ivory black and vine black.

Thanks to the donations of vine tips

and the ivory tusk

The ivory is a beautiful deep brown. The vine much bluer black.

The muller given to me by Rob has made such a difference - beautiful glossy liquid with lovely patterns on the base as it is created.

I will start in the hawthorn and oak gall soon.

The MA show web site is up and running, if not yet complete:

www.smuma.org

Oak Apples

Thanks to the lovely Helen - A Farmer's Daughter - for the Oak Galls. I will keep you posted!

Beginning the ink

Today I am off to carbonise... I have vine tips collected from Wild Fig farm, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I have a fleece from Danae's mum's farm in Llangynidr, and a sheeps skull from Llyn y Fan mountain. No luck with the ivory yet, tho I plan to try some charity shops on the way down to Fireworks.

Faraday was a bookbinder

I just found out that Faraday was a bookbinder first. I just love co-incidence.