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So, if you are looking into investing in a whole new hobby and you got the money and the means to do so, I would definitely recommend this book to start your projects! Fun projects, easy to follow, and tons of cuteness! My first task was to work out what I was going to use for the Slippery Slope Slide that would run down the middle of the whole tree. I looked at tubes, pipes, guttering, and researched a whole manner of different objects. The problem that I would have is that none of them were flexible enough, or they were too narrow for a small doll to slide down. I finally settled on an extending tube that is made for hamsters or rats. This was bendy enough and wide enough for a doll. So with that worked out I started to assemble the house. Note: It is not a good idea to let children use wallpaper paste in case they put their fingers in their mouths. Papier Mache (French for “chewed paper”) is believed to have got its name from French workers in London papier mache shops who did just that! Whether this is actually true or not we shall probably never know. The manufacturers didn’t seem to mind this idea being put about - possibly because it gave them the chance to hide their true methods and recipes, some of which little is known about even today.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, and here are my thoughts. It is advisable to prepare everything before starting. Firstly, tear the newspaper into strips about an inch wide by 4 inches long. This is only approximate. Tear the paper with the grain. Because I can’t see a finished sculpture so clearly in my mind as she does, I would not be as successful using her complete method. However, there are many things in her book that I’ll be including in my own work, especially the larger pieces that I’ve been thinking about lately. One thing I’ve noticed is that every book on paper mache has something in it that can be incorporated in my own work to make the process easier or stronger. (For instance, I used some of Dan Reeder’s methods to build my bobcat and lion cubs, but they don’t look anything like his monsters.)
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They can even be cookie pouches made of mache and you can tie them off with ribbons. Just dip, fold and let them dry in place. Just a thought. Papier Mache lived on in America more as a craft form rather than a manufacturing material. Women started to make useful and decorative household objects. In the 1960’s a bit more papier mache interest was injected by a New York artist called Gemma, who while working with her husband in Mexico managed to stir up a lot of interest amongst Mexican artists who were inspired by her work and later even taught by her. This is despite Mexico’s long history of using papier mache for festivals and traditions, which are still going on today. Once the papier mache had completely dried and hardened, the tree became a good solid object. I then started preparing the rooms. I painted each room a different colour and used Decomache for the wallpaper. I used brown crepe paper to cover over the slide in each room. I thought this gave a great effect and still looked as though a tree was running through.
Perhaps a better title for the book would have used the word “engineering,” rather than “design.” She includes unique techniques for making large, lightweight sculptures that are strong enough to hang from the ceiling or to ship to a distant gallery. Trust me–you won’t find these techniques described anywhere else. However, you’ll need to design your own sculptures. The projects and finished objects are simple, folksy, and primitive (in a good way). The techniques taught in the book could of course be utilized to create finished objects of whatever style the crafter wishes. With the outside covered, I started thinking about the windows and doors. Firstly I had to make sure that the large opening outside doors still fitted. This was a little bit of a nightmare, and I had to add some ModRoc to them to make them larger. I had originally intended them to fit perfectly in the space, but then realised that it would make them very difficult to open. Please note that on the photo the doors are only balancing on the tree.If you want to sculpt large pieces, and especially if you want them to be light enough to hang from the ceiling, her methods will be invaluable. You can utilize her method of creating a strong, hollow inner form, even if you don’t think you can create the skin the way she does, (and I’m pretty sure I can’t). One possibility that I’ll be experimenting with is to create the inner form as she recommends and then cover the hollow inner form with crumpled paper and masking tape to fill out the muscles and features. This feels more intuitive to me. The crumpled paper can then be covered with either paper strips and her glue formula, or my paper mache clay. This method should create pieces even lighter than Dan Reeder’s hanging monsters, (and way lighter than my baby elephant, who weighs in at over 40 pounds), and there’s nothing to prevent someone from mixing the two methods to create an entirely new technique. First of all, I was immediately attracted by the whimsical characters on the cover. If you like the cover, too, then you will LOVE the contents. When I see a stone, I see a stone. There’s no figure inside it for me. That’s why I don’t carve stone–I build up figures out of clay or crumpled paper and masking tape, so the sculpture gradually appears. I don’t need to worry about removing or adding too much, because I work with more forgiving materials. The books were always a childhood favourite of mine, so I was delighted when my nieces said they were reading the books at Christmas. I finished the whole thing off by adding some fake moss up the side of the tree and a little brass handle to either side of the door. Finally, a small wooden 'S' outside. Oh, and I forgot...some little leaf butterflies around the door. I am quite pleased how this turned out and I think this is definitely my favourite door.
Although strictly speaking the correct definition of papier mache is paper fibres and binding agent, there have been some wild and wonderful ingredients used in the past: The projects are easy to follow with simple step by step instructions including pictures along each step. There are also tips and hints and suggestions. I also love that at some points the oven times were both in Celsius and Fahrenheit. Thanks, because I live in the rest of the world and we use Celsius. Haha. 😛
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The result of her method is a very strong, highly detailed sculpture that is almost completely hollow, yet amazingly strong because of the geometric shapes inside the sculpture, the type of glue she uses instead of flour and water paste, and her method of building up shapes with the paper mache. By 1860 papier mache production had reached its peak. England was still producing a lot of wares, while still importing vast amounts from China. The market became saturated leading to a decline in popularity. Competition from new materials helped the papier mache industry die a death. The final British manufacturer, McCallum and Hodson, closed in 1920. Make up a bowl according to the manufacturer�s instructions. Use a little less water than recommended if preferred. Keep in an airtight container. It will keep for several days in a fridge or a cool place. Wallpaper paste has the advantage of containing a fungicide to prevent mould.
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