Category: General

I continued working with the print mentioned in the last blog and created two new books.

The first is simply called ‘Refolded Cloth’, its made from Indian Cotton rag paper, a real favourite, it is 15cm tall with a line of red silk running stitch through the centre of the pages.

The second book is called ‘Adaptations’ and is made from Japanese Hosho paper for the pages and Indian Cotton rag paper for the folded covers with a circle of tissue surrounded by running stitches.

Neither of these books have formal hard covers, this is a new departure for me and there are several ways that I could develop these ideas further.

I then began considering, again, Fragments, they are forever with me and seem to open up so many ideas and opportunities.

This book called ’26 Fragments’ sprung from a pile of folded, small Indian paper pieces, that were in my drawer. I embossed an oblong recess in each, to receive a printed fragment and on the facing side I placed a tissue paper fragment with text. They were folded to face each other, as that is the way that the book falls open. There are 26 folded pieces bound together with Coptic stitch. The book is 6.5cm high, 6cm wide and 4.5cm deep.

I then returned my thoughts to the Collaboration with Fiona Dempster, see here, and I made us a catalogue each. Each book is 10.5cm x 30cm, the pages are produced on the computer. It is a Japanese bound book with papers from us both on the cover. Amazingly Fiona’s copy only took 8 days to travel across the world.

What next? I don’t know but I’m ready for the next challenge 

I’m pleased to say that I did make my postcards, it felt like a small positive creative move. I’m still engaged by the standard paper shapes that we have around us and in the small differences that each culture has. Something to develop further.

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Over the years I have chanced across words that have lead me down a path into a new body of work.

Recently I have pursued the quote, “Vulnerable to Alteration” from the book ‘400 Years of Fashion’ from the V&A Museum, and here I am again following a similar train of thought.

For instance,

“Evidence of a thrifty use of a costly material” from ‘Cloth that Changed the World’

“The Alteration is a part of its history”  Kate Strachen

“None of the full sized dresses dating from 1750 to 1770, is in its original condition”, ‘400 Years of Fashion ‘V&A Museum.

Whilst these quotes appear similar to the original one that I honed in on, I find that I am of an age when ‘Adapt and Alter’ are crucial in order to lead a productive and creative life. Adapting to different circumstances does seem to come first and then there is the need to find a way to navigate forwards.

So I have ideas to pursue, ‘costly material’ could be translated into the printing plate, which has taken time to design and make, the ‘part of its history’ could relate to changes in design or to being cut up. The analogies could go on!

So within my creative project, I am looking for alterations in book designs and structures and how they change the books perspective, size and shape do matter!

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I worked out this apparently simple book format, there wasn’t a back or a front, both sides had equal status, I adapted a printing plate to fit and printed onto grey and silver tissue paper, the pages are Hosho paper

Then I decided to alter the sizes and the type of paper, this book is made from Indian Cotton rag paper, Again I repurposed a printing plate.

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And there is still one more to be made in a different size. But its far too cold to work in the studio! and I shall reveal that one next time!

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