Hanji Happenings

I'm delighted to share with you the Press Release on Oct. 23rd, 2012 of a new English book on Hanji , by Aimee Lee. I wrote about Aimee Lee in my blog post,  Paper making... a short film .. ., on Oct. 6th and I was thrilled to hear from her this week about her newly released book which is now available. I hope that all of you who are interested in Hanji will support Aimee by buying her book. I've ordered mine already !! It's so important that more is known around the world about this wonderful product and how and why it can be used in so many different ways. Top Scholar and Artist Writes First American Book on Korean Papermaking (October 23, 2012, Ann Arbor, Mich.)  The Legacy Press has released the debut book by artist Aimee Lee about Korean papermaking called Hanji Unfurled: One Journey into Korean Papermaking (ISBN 9780979797446, hard cover, 208 pp, 10 x 7 inches, full color, 300+ illustrations, $35.00) .   In the first English-langua...

I'm not sure where this came from and apologies if it's copyrighted but I think this says it all ......

Hanji Craft Class,  Fri 19th Oct 2012 Itaewon, Seoul DESCRIPTION:  Participants will make two multipurpose round-shaped boxes (10cmX12cm and 10cmX9cm)  using Korean traditional paper which is called hanji. Hanji is paper that is made from all natural ingredients and has been used in Korea for centuries. In the past it was used to make books and to cover windows and doors to keep out the wind. The paper is so durable that layered Hanji was even used as armor that could stop arrows. These boxes can be used to keep your accessories or small stuff on your dressing table or for keeping tea bags or candles in your kitchen. Also they make great gifts for friends or family back home as well. REGISTRATION:   in person at the Itaewon Global Village Center. DIRECTIONS:  Come out of exit #2 of Itaewon Station (Line#6, Stop 630), walk straight 200m, and look for the Hannam Building which has a 7-Eleven convenience store on the first floor. Th...

                              There are both disadvantages and advantages of not living in Korea and wanting to make Hanji articles.  You have some spare time and you feel like making something as a gift for a family member or friend or maybe you'd just like to be creative and make something for yourself. The disadvantage of not being in Korea is that you can't just walk down the street and buy a pre cut kit, go home and make it up. You could spend some time on the internet and buy one through one of the online suppliers and wait a few weeks to get it delivered but, the spontaneity of the creation has gone by then and the time to do it may just not be there. So, what will you do? The advantage of not being in Korea is that you learn to make patterns and cut out your own designs.  Over the years I've made...

Don't forget to keep checking out my new WEBSITE. I'm constantly updating and adding articles and today I've added a short film on traditional, Hanji paper making in South Korea which was taken last November during one of my trips to the Andong Paper Factory to buy more supplies. It shows the making of the paper from the combining of the bark of the Paper Mulberry Tree (Dak in Korean) and the mucilage of the Hibiscus , to the drying of the sheets and putting it on the shelves ready for market. Placing wet sheets of paper in a stack My visit was on a weekend and I was amazed at the number of Japanese who were there buying the Korean paper which I am told is stronger and more versatile than the their papers due to the method of cross matching the fibres.  The shop was packed with locals as well as the Japanese businessmen wanting to buy paper from the factory as it's relatively cheap and they have a huge array of colours. Removing impurities from the ...

The beginner's Hanji classes are now up and running and the enthusiastic students are progressing really well.  They're just about to finish their first project, the utensil holder, with each choosing different coloured papers to complement their small pot.  This week it'll be time to do the small cutout to place on the pot then I'm looking forward to seeing the finished articles.  The 'forgiving fairy' is definitely with them all !!!

Well I've almost completed my 'Photographic collection' of boxes, they're all ready to be varnished. I've combined my love of photography with my love of Hanji and come up with something that I think is pretty unique.  For this first collection I've made all the boxes the same size but  they could be made in any size and that would open up all sorts of possibilities for doing Hanji in the future. You could make memory boxes for people you love and present them as a gift, you could make gifts to give away at weddings with the couples picture on them or you could just use your favourite travel photographs placed on a box to remind you of a special trip. I've done one set in sepia, because personally I love the effect of the muted tones as it gives a timeless, classic look and the second set is done in colour with the photos complemented with matching coloured papers. All of the photographs were taken during my stay in Korea. The photos were p...