It’s that time of year when I do my “Rags to Riches: History and Contemporary Perspectives on Papermaking” presentation for the Smith College Book Studies concentration students. In years past I have had the rare privilege of teaching surrounded by incredible examples from the the Rare Book collections. Alas, this year it will be Zoom. But, I want the students to have some direct experience with handmade paper – the feel, the texture and the look of the real thing. So, I made each student a folded booklet of curated “Various and Sundry Swatches.” Each booklet is unique, most of the folders are my recycled monotype prints. The swatches are a mix of my own handmade paper (linen/cotton, plant fibers such as leeks and cornhusks) and Eastern style washi (e.g., Shiramine, etc), purchased from my favorite paper source, Paper Connection, in Providence, Rhode Island. Making these little booklets turned out to be the perfect pandemic project. It gave me the opportunity to experiment with paper folding and design as I move into making more artists books.