Stitching

I’ve printed, laminated, cut and drilled enough images to create an edition of 5 for Personal Histories. Now I need to bind them.

I thought I’d worked it out earlier using coptic stitch across the spine but when I made the first one I decided I didn’t like seeing the linking thread that joined the two rows of stitching. I also didn’t like the way that you could see the loose ends of the threads when they were cut off

I have been experimenting and have come up with this solution. 

I’ve also been experimenting with different threads (different colours and transparent) and have decided to use waxed linen. I like the way the star pattern appears up the spine and I can use the thread to link to the wrap around cover I’m thinking of using.

Unfortunately I’ve not got enough of the thread to do the five books so this will have to go on hold briefly while I source more

Not much happening......

I haven’t disappeared its just that work has been manic (and is set to continue so for the next few weeks). Added to this I’ve just become a grandma.

The only picture making I’ve managed to do this month has been for teaching purpose, though I may follow these digital images through into print after using them in class.

 

Also I’ve managed to keep up with ALAW, starting to stitch a book structure for mounting the letters in.

Prints finished

Last night I printed 7 reasonably similar prints (and quite a few botched ones) for Lesley’s print exchange. They are now being pressed and dried before mailing out. I’ll post images when they arrive at their destinations

I’ve also been pondering the second alphabet for ALAW. This is the peace alphabet. 

I’m working on the idea of intervals of peace/silence interspersed between all the noise and chatter of daily life. I’ve an idea for the structure and how to represent the noise.

I’m not sure yet about the letters yet although I’m thinking white/translucent and quite delicate.

Time to catch up

Its half way through half term and I've had chance to put some sustained effort into my books.

I've almost finished two more sets of pages for 'Where the Dead Live'.  Joe's Cup is done, and I've only got one and a half of Alice Harrison to do.

This means just two more pages to go. For one of them I want to use the idea of seed pods and the blue commemorative plaques that we put up on buildings in the UK for interesting or famous people associated with them, but I haven't decided yet how to do this yet. Nor have I worked out how I'm going to put the pages together in the final structure.

Rapunzel is changing again. I originally thought it would be hand printed in black and white, responding to Beardsley and Arts and Crafts woodcuts/early book illustrations. When I decided to print digitally I tried to include the textures and colours of old paper and faded inks. These worked well on screen but either wouldn't output as I wanted (inkjet printer) or flaked when I folded the the print (laser printer). This week I started playing with the colours and altering the way the layers blend. It has resulted in a much more colourful image than I intended, and its more complicated than the original drawing, but I like it. However I still have to get the printer to give me at least ten uniform versions!)

More experiments

I've been thinking about the different ways that names are recorded. On the wall we have a sampler that has been passed down through my husbands family.
 I copied the style of some of the lettering onto linen and plastic mesh.
 

 I tried embossing into the handmade paper ovals. The mesh and the linen take well as blanks but the embroidery doesn't read well.

I also tried image transfer onto different papers. These have potential

Then it was time to pack. Holidays! Staying in France with friends. Good food, good company, some painting time and sun!