As part of the Craft Academy, I had the chance to travel to Sweden for three days of workshops in the town of Tidaholm, where we were warmly welcomed at Helliden Castle. For my part, I had enrolled in the paper-making workshops.
On the first day, we explored the place and discovered the tools set up in a small house on the island of Helliden entirely dedicated to paper. We began by preparing our pulp in large tubs filled with cotton fibers, newspapers brought from our own countries, and tissue paper. Starting with small frames, we learned the first basic gestures of paper-making. After a few hours of practice, we moved on to more experimental attempts, exploring the many possibilities this craft can offer.
The next day, we uncovered the results of our first sheets, pressed the day before and dried mechanically overnight. From there, the experiments grew richer: we added flowers, colors, photographs, as well as jeans fibers, ribbons, and pigments.
The third day was dedicated to a collective triptych, where we brought together our discoveries and creative impulses. For me, this moment opened up the immense creative potential of paper-making. I met passionate participants who, each in their own way, offered different perspectives to the workshop. We worked in constant collaboration, supported by an instructor whose expertise and enthusiasm were invaluable.
Thanks to this experience, my passion for paper has only grown stronger. I returned to Paris full of new ideas and desires to take this exploration further, with the feeling that this workshop had truly given me the tools to do so.
Louise Machon
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