Thursday 21 March 2013

Shifu

I decided to see if I could remember how to  make Shifu.  Shifu is the product of this process.
There are 8 steps in my process.
1. Write on the paper; I used black walnut dye andblack ink.


2. Write some more on paper with a finer brush and purple ink.






3.  Fold the paper in half and cut in fine strips.




4.  Open paper prior to trearing into one long strip.




5.  Tear into one long strip; if possible.  Tie breaks together.




6.Spin paper and roll into a ball.




7.  Weave on hand made loom.




8.  Finished product.




I have even made stripes.  What will I do with them?  I am thinking of making a book.



4 comments:

Mary said...

Hi Glennis, fascinating process. I am gobsmacked that anyone could even think of making it into one long strip. It just boggles my mind!!
Do you use a needle for the weaving, how forgiving is the paper as a warp? Love the pieces, they almost look like tweed.
Next question, which should have been first I suppose - what sort of paper are you writing on - is that the shifu? Where do you get it? (Not that I am rushing out to do it.)

Glennis said...

The paper I am using is a Nepalese paper called Lokta. Shifu is the woven paper which because I have written on the paper is quite strong, the plain paper not so. The paper is available in Melb. at Neil Wallace in Greeves St.

Misha said...

yes, amazing.
curious - tieing breaks - a normal knot which you then trim?
and the spinning - done with the paper as is, dry?
I suppose these processes are all done very s-l-o-w-l-y and c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y?

oh yes - have a fab trip!

misha

Glennis said...

Nice to hear from you Misha. I was taught to make Shifu dry because of the time issue. However traditionally it is dampened and rolled on a stone to separate the fibres. That I have yet to learn. One day.