Tallgrass Spiritual Retreat Center:

Where Women Find their Way

1780 Thurman Creek Road

Matfield Green, Kansas 66862

620.753.3465

tallgrassretreats@wheatstate.com

Rev. Billie Blair, Director

Tallgrass Spiritual  Retreat Center

Where Women Find Their Way

Papermaking with Prairie Plants

September 7-8. 2012

Fri 7pm-Sat 4pm

Early Bird Fee: $100,

includes meals

              and lodging

After Septemebr 1 Fee: $120

Facilitator: Jeff Hansen

Description:

On Friday there will be time for relaxing, becoming familiar with the retreat center, and getting to know your co-papermakers.  Participants can take a walk to the creek, talk with new friends and your bring-along friends, walk the labyrinth, and simply be and breath!

The Class:

On Saturday, beginning at 10 am, we will search the roadside near the Retreat Center to look for plant fibers.  We will then learn the art of making paper from those fibers.  Everyone will learn about the different types of plant fibers, the process of extracting the fiber from the plant, and the process of forming sheets of paper from the resulting fiber.  The paper, made from the familiar plants milkweed and cattails, will be shared equally among the class members.  You will each take home a homemade paper press with your paper.

The class includes a discussion on the paper making process, pre-processing the plant parts, extracting the fiber from the plants, creating paper pulp from the fiber, and forming sheets of paper, pressing the sheets, and drying the paper.

Encourage a friend to join you to share this prairie experience!

About the facilitator

With over 40 years of living in and

exploring the Great Plains, Jeff Hansen

of Topeka, KS has gained much know-

ledge of its flora.  As a gardener,

botanist, and a naturalist, he has

immersed himself in the plants of the

Great Plains. He has learned the many

uses of our native flora - from more

aesthetic uses such as gardening and

landscaping to more utilitarian uses such

as foods, medicinals, cordage, and

papermaking.

Jeff began making paper ten years ago by using recycled junk mail. Next he expanded the practice to using plant fiber.  The first plant he used was iris leaves from his garden.  Years later he was re-introduced to making paper from plants by artist Betsy Roe.  He began experimenting with various plants.  The results of his experimentation are some incredible plant fiber papers.

                                 See Jeff's website at PrairiePaperMaker

Comment from a 2009 Papermaker:

I thoroughly enjoyed a peaceful time in the country.  A more beautiful setting for a class or rejuvenation is hard to imagine.  Jeff was a hoot and I think we all learned more because of his wonderful sense of humor and easy way of teaching.  No pressure - all fun.  Sharon, Wichita, KS 

Comments from 2010 Papermakers:

Our papermaking retreat was a lot more than making paper. We walked the beautiful prairies to discover the glorious plants of autumn during the day, and the awesome stars of night. We laughed and talked and prayed and ate delicious food. And Jeff helped us make the most awesome paper I've ever created!  Madeline, Winfield, KS

The papermaking was wonderful.  We took some of the things that God has given us in this world as a resource that we touched and manipulated into another beautiful piece of work.  I am using the paper made in some artwork that hopefully will bless someone else as I was blessed to be a part of making it.  Dee, Oxford, KS