Dion Channer Weekend

Nine members of Qld Papermakers recently enjoyed a weekend away north of Gympie.  We spent 2 days experimenting with papermaking at the studio of paper artist Dion Channer.  Dion is originally from the UK but lived in Italy before coming to Australia, bringing with him all his wonderful papermaking equipment including a Hollander beater and vacuum table, as well as a large amount of unprocessed mulberry fibre. His equipment and fibre took up a 20 ft. container, a very costly exercise but his setup with all this equipment enables him to full immerse himself in his art practice.  

Dion's vacuum table allows the creation of very large sheets of paper, measuring approx 2m x 1m.  Everyone got to make one of these large sheets which gave us lots of practice!  We also kept ourselves busy with other activities such as cooking, beating, and couching sheets of paper from Dion's fibre supply of mulberry bark fibre and cotton linters.  We also used own fibre including banana and a weed from Helga's property.

Thank you to Dion and his partner Sue for their generousity and hospitality as nine keen papermakers invaded their property.

Photos from the weekend have been posted onto the website http://www.papermakersqld.org.au/.

From front to back, left to right:
Dion, Helga, Joolie, Joanne,
Zeta, Glenda, Di, Jill, Sandra & Jan.