Each sheet of handmade paper represents hours of careful labor.   First, plant fibers are mixed with water and beaten to a pulp in a large vat.  Then the pulp is lifted from the water by a fine mesh screen. A wooden frame called a deckle is used to shape the edges of the paper.  The water drains away leaving behind a sheet of fiber which is pressed and dried to form paper.  Many of the sheets are textured with inclusions of plant fibers, bark, leaves, and petals.

In her collages Joanne combines a variety of these handmade papers with found objects such as beads, fiber, and metal, as well as such natural materials as twigs, stones, and feathers.  Joanne's emphasis is on creating richly textured, dimensional collages that bridge time and cultures to express her own unique artistic vision.