Lulu's experiments - French stationery know-how

I’m a few kilometers from the center of Ambert, in the middle of nowhere. In fact, this is the last remaining paper mill in this paper-making region. Fifty kilometers or so separate me from Thiers, and I arrive with a complete change of scene. To immerse myself in the world of papermaking, I take a tour of the mill. I can’t hide the fact that it didn’t do me any harm, as I was far from imagining the whole world that is linked to this trade. This vintage mill continues to produce paper, and I’m particularly amazed to see that the equipment used is original, allowing for completely artisanal production. Piece by piece, I discover a little more about the history of the paper mill. Did you know that wasps were the first paper makers?

Wasps, the first paper makers

Speechless and wide-eyed, I approach a wasp’s nest hanging in one of the rooms and see that it’s made of paper. Like the wasps, my time has come to produce some.

I meet Emmanuel, grandson of Marius Péraudeau, who bought the mill in the 20th century. It was he who was to guide me as a future paper-maker’s apprentice.

The workshop I enter is the same as that of a real papermaker, only smaller. ” Make yourself comfortable “, Emmanuel tells me.

In my little open-toed shoes, I look more like a tourist than anything else. No problem, I know how to adapt. School memories come flooding back when Emmanuel asks me if I’ve listened carefully to the tour. I can feel that the previous apprentices were children.

At the bottom of a vat, with a redable (a wooden instrument for mixing), I fetch the ground fabrics (*). The trick is toharmonize the mixture between the fabric and the water. These fabrics are often old sheets or rags that they collect from Emmaüs, for example.

Dough forms in the bowl

I pick up an A4 picture frame and plunge it into the vat. My arms get mixed up in the thick, whitish water, and a grimace of disgust forms on my face. As I pull out the frame, the shape naturally drains the water. It’s impressive to see that the material is thick enough that it doesn’t fall back to the bottom of the tank.

Once we’ve got our shape, we unmold it like a cake. For the last step, I have to press hard to ensure that the paper is well wrung out. Emmanuel doesn’t hesitate to tease me when I press, and I doubt the kids have more strength than me. At least, I hope not. With his outspokenness and eccentricity, I have no choice but to laugh through the experience.

” It’s Lulu’s paper ,” reacts Emmanuel. And so, here I am, an apprentice papermaker. I still had to wait four days for my paper to dry.