In The Studio — Tony Joseph Carlone

Unloading the drystack, what a great color.

Loading up the drystack!

Detail of a freshly couched sheet of cotton rag blend.

First four sheets couched.

Pulling sheets with the latest batch of cotton rag blend.

All ready to start pulling sheets with this latest batch of cotton rag blend!

Starting prep on a new batch of cotton rag blend!

Fabric scraps from a friend, being put to use with this new batch of cotton rag blend.

Latest batch of cotton rag blend is out of the drystack!

If only the finished paper stayed this color.

Pulling sheets!

Newest batch of pulp is ready to go!

Processing cotton rag.

Starting on the next batch of cotton rag blend!

Latest batch is outta the drystack!

Loading up the drystack!

Loving the look of this new batch of paper!

An unique and one of a kind blend of cattail, cattail seed fluff, daylily, common reed seed heads, hemp (raw hemp from twin rocker, hemp half-stuff from carriage house and hemp half-stuff sheets I received from @pondsidepaper), flax (half-stuff rolls from @pondsidepaper), kapok, kenaf, milkweed bast, milkweed seed floss, abaca, iris, sisal, yucca, cordyline, pineapple, corn, gampi, hosta, bush lily, ginkgo leaves, cotton rag, alpha cellulose, elemental chlorine free cellulose and recycled cotton paper scraps.

Starting on the next batch of pulp! Blend of daylily, cattail, cattail seed fluff, common reed seed heads, hemp and flax so far.

Starting prep on the next batch of paper! Cattail seed fluff and raw hemp.

Starting prep on the next batch of paper! Cattail, daylily and common reed seed heads.

After every couple of batches I make sure to brush and wash the pelons.

Emptying out the drystack.

The sheets of 8.5x11 are out of drystack.

Starting on the 18x24s!

Loading up the drystack.

Starting on new batch of pulp!

An unique and one of a kind blend of kapok, milkweed bast, milkweed floss, kenaf, corn, abaca, flax, iris, sisal, yucca, cordyline, pineapple, daylily, common reed seed heads, gingko leaves, gampi, hosta, cattail, bush lily, cotton rag, alpha cellulose, elemental chlorine free cellulose and recycled cotton paper scraps.

Starting on a new batch of pulp!

Finally done cooking/rinsing the fibers for my next batch of paper! I threw in milkweed bast fibers (greenish fibers) and milkweed seed fluff/floss (golden fibers) with the last of the kapok.

Packing up a recent order and I just love seeing all of my handmade papers next to each other.

Rinsing the first two batches of Kapok. Must have been the quickest the fibers were thoroughly cleaned, I guess they have very little noncellulose material in them.

Onto the next batch of paper! Finally trying out kapok.

Starting on the 18x24s of iris blend!

Loading up the drystack with the first couple posts of iris blend paper.

Starting on the newest batch of paper!

Ready to start on this new batch of paper! An unique blend of iris, cotton, abaca, and flax.

Iris fibers ready to be made into pulp.

Starting on the next batch of pulp! Making an iris blend...I never wanna see dried iris leaves ever again even though my property is covered in patches of them.

Upgraded my shop press with a stainless steel tray to collect the water.

A week later, the eighth and final batch of iris is on the burner!

Starting prep on the next batch of paper...soaking iris leaves I got from @morganpaper many years ago.

Latest batch of handmade paper is out of the drystack.

Shuffling out dry sheets from the drystack.

Pulling 18x24" sheets.

Corn blend sheets pressed.

Corn blend pressed and going into the drystack.

Starting the newest batch of paper!

Newest batch of pulp is ready to go! An unique and one of a kind blend of corn, abaca, flax, cotton and alpha cellulose.

Starting work on the next batch of paper - a blend using the corn fibers.

Love seeing all of my handmade papers together.

Newest batch of cotton rag blend is outta the drystack, graded, sorted and calendared.

Dug out three giant storage containers outta the garage full of dried corn husks...so my next couple batches of pulp will be a corn blend!

Starting on the new batch of cotton rag blend paper! Interested in what color this speckled paper will dry, oh the joys of papermaking.

New batch of cotton rag pulp is all ready to go! Definitely interested in what color it'll dry.

Starting on the next batch of cotton rag blend!

Starting the next batch of paper! An unique blend of sisal, yucca, dracaena, cordyline, pineapple, corn, abaca, kozo, elemental chlorine free cellulose, alpha cellulose and recycled paper scraps.

Unloading the drystack! Loving the color and visible fibers.

Started working on the next batch of pulp! So far I've used up old sheets from my golden honey blend (sisal, yucca, dracaena, cordyline, pineapple, corn, abaca, Kozo, elemental chlorine free cellulose and recycled studio paper scraps). I plan to continue making pulp from a variety of sources from my massive fiber storage and blend them all together.

Thank you to Zack and Amanda for reaching out and carrying my handmade paper at their wonderful and beautiful store!

Starting the next batch of paper! A pigmented Thai Kozo blend.

Pulp is ready for the next batch of paper! Pigmented Thai Kozo blend.

Yay the modified drystack is all complete! I can now dry 244 sheets of 8x10.5" or 61 18x24 sheets of paper.

Taking a break from cotton rag blend paper and decided to move onto some Thai Kozo next...since I have 80+ lbs of it! Slowly but surely making a small dent into the 300+lbs of plant fibers, natural fabrics and such I have collected through the years.

Latest batch is all out of the drystack!

Unloading the drystack!

I swear this pulp is actually Burgundy in person.

New batch of cotton rag blend pulp is all ready to go! If only the color would pick up accurately because it's more burgundy in person.

Soaking cotton fabric scraps for the next batch of pulp.

I can see the bottom!!! 220+ sheets of paper made so far, and my body aches so much.

Working on the new batch of cotton rag blend paper!

The newest batch of cotton rag blend pulp is ready to go! This 32 gallon utility can is nearly full from five beater loads of strained pulp. I ended up using a mix of Cadmium Dark Red + Anthraquinone Violet pigments on the pulp (mainly to use them up).

Onto a new batch of cotton rag + cotton liner pulp!

Time to prep for the next batch of cotton rag pulp. Trying to make a dent in my large collection of recycled fabric scraps but it seems like it never gets any smaller.

Latest batch of handmade paper (186 sheets of cotton rag blend) is all dried, sorted, graded and ready to be photographed and uploaded to my online store!

Done with the latest batch of paper! Loading up the drystack and cleaning up the studio. I haven't done a final count yet but I'm guessing around 200 sheets made.

Looking good!

Pulp is all prepped and ready to go for tomorrow! A mix of recycled cotton rag + repurposed blotters.

First beater load is done....several more to go!

Starting a new batch of pulp! Cotton rag + blotters to start with.

Working on another batch of paper using pulp made from a blend of kozo, cattail, flax, sisal, yucca, cordyline, dracaena, daylily, natural fabric scraps, gingko leaves, abaca, common reed, cotton, pineapple, corn, hosta, bush lily, iris, common reed seed heads and recycled pH neutral paper. Trying to use up some of the fibers I have in the studio already before I grab some new ones from the roughly 200lbs+ I have stored in the garage.

Another week another batch of pulp...unique blend of kozo, cattail, flax, sisal, yucca, cordyline, dracaena, daylily, natural fabric scraps, gingko leaves, abaca, common reed, cotton, pineapple, corn, hosta, bush lily, iris, common reed seed heads and recycled pH neutral paper.

I've missed this so much...back in the studio making paper.

Feels great to finally be able to work back in the studio. Using up the pigmented kozo, abaca, cattail, common reed, flax, indigo pigment, and cotton blend I've had in the freezer.

Back in the studio making paper and there is nothing better.

Back to working on the last batch of pulp (pigmented kozo, abaca, cattail, common reed, flax, indigo pigment, cotton) I had started about a month ago. I ended up straining and freezing the pulp while Mom was down visiting and we were continuing work on the house.

Feels good to be in the studio making paper with this latest batch (pigmented kozo, abaca, cattail, common reed, flax, indigo pigment, and cotton). Don't mind the white foam, it's from some freshly mixed methylcellulose that hasn't finished settling.

Finally getting back to work in the studio with a new blend of repurposed handmade paper scraps. Fibers include pigmented kozo, Abaca, cattail, common Reed, flax, indigo pigment, and cotton.

Couldn't pass up a great sale (20% off)! I upgraded my homemade studio press to this 20 ton hydraulic shop press.

Started working on the new batch! A blend of sisal, pineapple, yucca, dracaena, cordyline, corn, kozo, abaca and recycled pigmented pH neutral paper scraps.

Started beating a new blend (sisal, pineapple, yucca, cordyline, dracaena, abaca and kozo) of fibers!

Built myself a light box using scrap pieces of wood, Plexiglas and a led light strip I had purchased several years ago.

Started beating another batch of pulp (recycled fabric scraps)!

It's just like riding a bike!

First batch of pulp of the New Year in the new house!!!

Making paper with an unique blend of pineapple, yucca, Kozo, abaca, cordyline and dracaena.

Cooking up my next batch of fibers...pineapple and yucca!

Working on a new batch of pulp. This is my fourth beater load full of yucca and pineapple fibers, I'll be mixing the pulp with some abaca and kozo.

Feels great to be making paper once again! It's my first time since August 2020 doing so.

Cut down fabric scraps I was sent from local mask makers that I'll turn into handmade paper in the future.

Last sheet of paper! I made way too much pulp so ill be adding the extra sheets of paper to my online store once they are dry. 8 hour beaten bleached abaca with bleached kozo blend.

Working on a new custom order of 2' x 4' sheets of handmade paper! Using a blend of 8 hour beaten bleached abaca and bleached kozo.

Detail shot of a freshly couched sheet of the 2' x 4' Abaca + Kozo + Bleached Cattail blend paper!

Working on a custom order of 2' x 4' sheets of paper using a blend of Abaca + Kozo + Bleached Cattail.

A better photo showing off the unique and beautiful color of this latest batch of pulp (corn, unbleached abaca, cotton, indigo dyed abaca).

Sunday evening making paper!

Batch of paper using corn, unbleached abaca, cotton and added some indigo dyed abaca! (The pulp doesn't look as green in person, it is actually a smokey blue).

Beater full of pulp made from recycled fabric scraps (white cotton, denim, and purple cotton). I'll be mixing this with a blend of plant fibers (hosta, daylily, and bush lily) and unbleached abaca tomorrow.

Beating purple colored natural fabric pieces into paper pulp.

Tore old sheets of handmade paper (nearly two dozen different plant fibers and natural dyes) I made back in 2015 from my thesis.

Stack of corn, abaca and cotton paper!

In the studio making seed bombs with pulp made from recycled paper scraps I've been collecting and regional wildflower seed mixes.

Detail page from my artist book “Layers of Life”

Made this bottle jack press for when I teach papermaking workshops at venues that don't always have all the equipment and supplies required but it's easy to travel with, relatively lightweight, heavy duty and can fit sheets of paper up to 12"x16".

Twenty new hand marbled coptic bound blank journals.

Look at that transparency!!!

Making sheets of paper using the kozo + abaca + cattail + non-native phragmite blend.

Finally getting back to making paper in the studio! A beater full of a kozo + abaca + cattail + non-native phragmite blend all ready to go.

108 swatches of a one of a kind special blend of handmade paper (cotton, abaca, kozo, gampi, iris, hosta, flax, daylily, dracaena, cordyline, yucca, butterfly bush, rose of sharon, reed feather grass, porcupine grass, ribbon grass, cattail, cattail fluff and recycled pigmented and naturally dyed paper with botanical inclusions) cut down to size (2x3") for the Swatch Swap 2019!

108 swatches of my handmade Non-native Phragmite and house blend (recycled cotton, abaca, flax and kozo) paper cut down to size (2x3") for the Swatch Swap 2019!

18” x 24" sheets of handmade paper I've been making over the last couple of weeks. My house pulp blend consists of old prints, bookbinding offcuts and scraps of a variety of fibers (cotton, abaca, kozo, gampi, plant fibers and more).

1) Pigmented house pulp blend
2) House pulp blend with botanical inclusions
3) Non-native phragmite and house pulp blend
4) Iris and house pulp blend
5) Cattail and house pulp blend

Using up some old prints, cutoff's, and scraps of various fibers that I've been saving to make a new batch of pulp! I've been collecting and storing paper and fabric scraps for two years now

Got to try out my wax seal stamp!

Over fifty pieces of shibori-dyed fabric drying.

Bundles upon bundles ready to be shibori dyed.

110 lbs. of Thai Kozo ready to be used this year.

One of my finished sheets for the Printmakers Open Forum Sanctuary Print Exchange Colophon.

Working on the paper for the Printmakers Open Forum Sanctuary Print Exchange Colophon.

My first harvest of Blue Flax.

Love the advantages to using a deckle box when making paper, each sheet is unqiue and beautiful!

Making paper using bleached iris fibers, pigmented kozo, and the house blend.

Handmade 18” x 24” Deckle Boxes.

Closeup of an eco-print.

Eco-print on fabric. (Detail)

Eco-printed scarf.

Paper sculptures using handmade plant paper.

Handmade kozo paper dip-dyed in indigo.

Sheets of pigmented blue "garbage" pulp made from cotton, abaca, gampi, kozo, and flax.

Making paper from pigmented blue "garbage" pulp made from cotton, abaca, gampi, kozo, and flax.

Critter Beater in my home studio with a batch of pulp beating.

Beautiful Iris and Abaca paper.

Paper from Iris and Abaca.

Making a batch of paper using iris and naturally dyed abaca.

Checking the iris fibers in my Critter Beater.

Teaching my cousin how to marble paper.

Making a batch of paper using “garbage” pulp.

Prepping signatures for bookbinding.

How else would you dry a 4’ x 6’ sheet of handmade paper when the weather isn’t cooperating?

Variety of handmade Gampi paper.

Handmade Gampi paper with botanical inclusions.

Three kinds of paper made from Milkweed.

Making Milkweed paper at The Morgan Conservatory.

Using the Valley Beater at The Morgan.

Hand beating Milkweed bast fibers.

Back before I converted a bedroom in the house into my studio space I had to make paper outside.

Eco-print Sample | 2017

Shibori Sample | 2017