I Heart "Fun Days" in the Department

Since I started working here in Preservation (aka the real job) I've tried to coordinate a special "Fun Day" every year around the winter holidays, just before our students go on winter break. It's a way to relax and unwind around finals time and a way to say "thank you" for all their hard work. It's something they look forward to and, since I act like I'm eighteen sometimes, it's something that I really get into planning.

For our first "fun day" we made paste paper, which is basically decorative paper that you can use in bookbinding, namely for covers. We had so much fun and created so many amazing papers! A good portion of the paper was kept here in the department to use in the making of memory books, which we make when someone retires. Last year we made explosion books to use as greeting cards and presents, which wasn't nearly as fun but took far less planning than the paste paper. For this year I just got the go ahead to order a bunch of supplies for the department so that we can do some paper marbling in December. My nerdly little heart is going pitter-patter and I'm so flippin' excited! Not only do I get to try my hand at paper marbling again, but I basically get to coordinate the whole thing and then teach everyone how to do it!

See, the department was established in the 1970's, and in it's hay-day they would marble paper on a semi-regular basis! But as department heads and conservators came and went the marbling supplies have just been sitting in the cupboard collecting dust. So while we have all the equipment we need to marble it's probably been 30 years or so since it's been done here. My coworker is living proof. He's been here like 26 years, here in this very department, and he's never marbled (so yeah, I'll be schooling him as well). I'm just so excited that I'm the one who is bringing it back, with the help of our department head, who has also attended marbling workshops! Ooo, I'm so excited! Come December, be prepared for one or several marbling posts!! I hope to take pictures of the event!