How is hand paper being made

Notebooks Made from Handmade Paper

In our stationery shop, we believe that paper is not just a tool for writing things down. It is a beautiful material with a soul, capable of many textures, scents, and forms. Notebooks made from handmade paper are a return to honest craftsmanship.

Handmade paper is a symbol of patience, authenticity, and quality. In an age of mass production, it brings the touch of human hands. In a time of excess, it brings meaning.

The History of Handmade Paper – From Antiquity to European Paper Mills

The history of paper goes back more than two thousand years. Its creation is credited to the Chinese official Cai Lun, who around 105 AD refined the technique of producing paper from plant fibers, old textiles, and fishing nets. From China, paper production gradually spread across Asia to the Arab world, and from there to Europe. One of the first European countries where paper began to be produced was Spain. Later, important centers emerged in Italy—especially in the city of Fabriano, which in the 13th century became a symbol of high-quality handmade paper.

In the Czech lands, papermaking also has a long tradition. The oldest paper mills were established as early as the 14th century, and handmade production was common practice for centuries. Every sheet was an original. Each had its own texture, its irregularities, its character.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, paper production became faster and mechanized. Paper became cheaper and more accessible, but at the same time it lost its uniqueness.

Handmade paper did not disappear—it moved into the background as an artistic and craft medium. And it is precisely there that it has preserved its quality and authenticity.

How Handmade Paper Is Made Today

The production of handmade paper is a process that requires time, sensitivity, and experience. Unlike industrial production, where manufacturing runs on automated lines of many machines, every step in handmade paper production is done by human hands.

1. Selection and Preparation of Raw Materials

The foundation consists of natural fibers—traditionally cotton, linen, or hemp. The material is first broken down into fibers and mixed with water, creating a paper pulp.

This pulp can be combined with various additional materials. For example, we have produced our handmade notebooks with an admixture of our wrapping papers Písmo and Mazlíčci. The resulting paper therefore contained small pieces of cut wrapping paper.

If you have textiles, newspapers, or flowers at home, you can add those to the mixture as well.

2. Forming the Sheet

The paper pulp is scooped onto a screen set in a wooden frame. With a gentle motion, the fibers are evenly spread out. The excess water drains away, leaving a thin layer of fibers on the screen — the future sheet of paper.

3. Pressing and Drying
The formed sheet is carefully transferred onto an absorbent surface, pressed, and then left to dry. This process can take several days. Each sheet is unique — sometimes with slightly frayed edges, other times with a delicate imprint of the screen’s texture.

4. Final Adjustments
Once dry, the paper can be further refined — by smoothing, trimming, or other finishing techniques.

How We Make Our Notebooks at Be Nice

At Be Nice, we aim to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern design. Our handmade paper notebooks are created with a strong emphasis on sustainability and aesthetics. We collaborate with a small Czech handmade paper mill that preserves traditional methods. We minimize waste, use recycled materials, and avoid chemical bleaching agents.

The design of our notebooks highlights the natural texture of the paper. We do not conceal it — on the contrary, we emphasize it.

Why Handmade Paper Is More Eco-Friendly

Industrial paper production is energy-intensive and often involves chemical processing. Handmade production is more environmentally friendly:

• lower energy consumption

• minimal use of chemicals

• the possibility of using recycled textiles

• local production without unnecessary transportation

Moreover, handmade paper supports small artisans and keeps traditional skills alive.

What Can Be Made from Handmade Paper

Handmade paper is not intended only for notebooks. Its uses are surprisingly wide:

• diaries and planners

• artistic sketchbooks

• wedding invitations

• postcards and greeting cards

• envelopes

• wrapping paper

• business cards

• original art prints

Thanks to its strength and texture, it is ideal for calligraphy, drawing, and watercolor. Artists value it for its absorbency and character. Designers appreciate its authenticity.

However, it always depends on the type of handmade paper you create. If you want to make covers for a planner, it must have a much higher weight. If you want to make envelopes, on the other hand, it needs to be very thin.