Paper making and altered books.

Paper making! It's my latest obsession! It's amazing how addictive it is once you learn to make stuff that isn't the same thickness and texture of an egg carton! In the time that I have been computer -less I've been experimenting with different mixes of paper, varying degrees of processing and different methods of colouring and adding interest. I've had mixed results and I am definitely 'into' continuing along this road! It seems to be a natural road to follow given my interest in collage and being environmentally aware. Its almost surprising to me that I have been here already! lol.

The top photo shows my spread in an Altered book that made it's way to my house. The theme was birds...lucky me! I made the birds eggs from my own paper and the background paper was also one of my experimental pieces. The yellow comes from marigold dye (I knew I would get back to that someday!) and as the (3rd from the top) photo shows it looks a bit sickly when being made but the results are lovely. The white paper has flecks of marigold petals in it.

The leaves are some of my autumn gatherings which I pressed for collages and you can see them on the AB page too. Last but not least, my AB "the Four elements" as it looked just before I sent it off on its long journey around NZ. The pocket held tags made from feathers (air) twigs (fire) brown patterned card/bird imagery (earth) and lovely blues and white patterned card for the water. I'm sure your recognise my 'world famous' sparrow by now!

I have more on paper making to post here...and more on my disentegration bundle so please watch this space!

I did it...I gave in to the temptation!

I decided to do the final pages of this book (final as in the last signature not as in the end of the process.)

I really wanted to do this tree in the book somewhere and I also wanted to include a few quotes from Chief Seattle's letter. It seemed to be such a fitting end to me! The photo below is the page above prior to the leaves being added. I was unhappy with the 'unleafed' version but couldn't work out what to do so I decided to go for a walk at Yatton Park and take photos before I picked the kids up. Sometimes I don't know when to leave something alone but thankfully I listened to my intuition this time! I found some pretty leaves to use in the book and gathered up a few extra's to put into my flower press.

Materials used..old net curtain with flowers embroidered on it, fallen leaves, serviettes, old lace, paper and paint.

Love this earth as a newborn loves his mothers heartbeat...Chief Seattle

Earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Chief Seattle.

The Four (elements) AB project.

Glued and folded pages from my book (above) and the other half of the double page spread (below) not yet glued. The spread is made up of 8 pages (4 each side) glued together to make 2 pages. The center (which is sort of diamond shaped) will have the letter by Chief Seattle written onto it. More to come on that later, the words are more than beautiful!I've been making progress on my book although it is now at a stage where most of the construction side has come to an end. I think. I am tempted to take it a step further and physically divide the book up into 8 segments (there are 8 artists playing including myself) who will work in the book repeating the four elements as we go.I have the book home for another few weeks before it starts its 7 month journey around NZ so I may yet give into the temptation!

This is the other side of the niche page (with the seeds in it) and it acts as the 'lid' for it. A sort of treasure chest if you think like I do!

Off the topic from my book but still on the topic of altered books I really want to encourage you all to go and look at the "Reversing Vandalism' exhibition that is permanently online (although previously at the San Fransisco Library.) The exhibition came about after staff discovered that books on Gay lifestyles, Aids/HIV, transgenderism and woman's issues were being systematically vandalised and left behind. Over 600 books were eventually discovered and they were the outward symptom of what was obviously a hate crime. The vandal was dealt with by the law but that left 600+ books destined for the rubbish pile. Thankfully this wasn't allowed and the library united with artists and the results are stunning, moving and impressive. Ironically the book that the vandal was finally caught with was called "Becoming Visible." Check it out here and here.

The Four (elements) AB project.

My hand sewn book cover (murphy's law is I've just noticed that it's not resting evenly here! It is actually straight!) I don't like sewing believe it or not...it's a labour of love because I enjoy the effect it creates and I don't have a sewing machine! (Yet!) I am really happy with the cover over all.

The black and gold ribbon ties secure the inside cover flap to the outside and the rest of the fabric wraps around the book and is weighted down by the stick. I've done this to allow the book room to 'grow' as it goes around the other artists.

The image above shows off the brass plague that my husband removed from some 'past it' furniture. It says "Zealandia" and is quite unique. I've been saving it for a special project and I believe this is it! The stick was picked up from the footpath when I dropped the kids off at school. I guess not all the mothers swoop on pieces of dry mossy branches when dropping the kids off but mine are well used to it! I have a very special gift to post a photo of here sometime, a pair of very rusted and old scissors my youngest found and school and bought home for me! My kids know me so well:) Anyway, back to the stick! I didn't have to do anything to it except attach it to the book..it was already the perfect length .

The four elements- New AB project.

This is the original book...fittingly it features one of the four elements!
The ribbons I purchased for the book...probably the most I have ever gotten new for a project but not all things can be reliably sourced 2nd hand! That said I certainly didn't mind pouring over piles of nice new ribbons in lots of yummy colours and textures!
My op-shop scored fabric! I felt divinely provided for when I found this perfect fabric off cut! I spent last night hand sewing a cover for the book...watch this space!

I am a bit ahead of myself here:) This new altered book is for a Round Robin due to start at the end of April. I am starting now because I have so many ideas in my head and I know if I don't let some of them out I will become quite restless. I find even the words...the four elements...inspiring! I really want this book to focus on the actual elements...its' a NZ only book so we can include real wood and mossy bits custom wouldn't allow...and I really want to explore the emotional connections to the four elements- Earth, Air, Fire and Water. This book is definitely in it's baby stages still and even when it has left me it will be most of the year before it returns home again. The Van Gogh tin sent out many months ago is due home any day now so right now it's a bit like waiting for Christmas!


My sign in page... yes it has been a long time since I used that brown lace! This is the last piece of it so I was saving it, apparently brown lace is hard to source! The little niches were hand cut with a craft knife and roughly painted (too look slightly weathered) then sealed with PVA. The idea is that each artist will add a little token (piece of clay...glass bead etc) to the niche that represents the element they worked in. I added a Kowhai seed pod to my niche but the close-up photo I took to show it came out blurry!I will take it again and post it later.