Category: Printing

Book Making, General, Printing, Uncategorized

So Much Going On – 13th February 2023

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The winter weather has been dominating life here over the past few weeks. Thankfully we haven’t had terrible times but the snow, ice and rain have curtailed trips to the studio, where it was very, very cold and photography had to be fitted in when there was enough light.

Alongside the Collaboration with Fiona Dempster in Australia, see here

I have been following up ideas for books which I have first sketched out in my notebooks, see previous blog here.

I had first thought that I would make three books without covers to be encased in a box together, then when I had completed them I changed my mind and put covers on them. I had made then out of Indian Cotton Rag paper and they were chunky and robust, so I felt that they stood well on their own. 

They are called ‘Memories Held Within I, II, and III and the small printed fragments are from the plates that I made for the “Shape of Things” collaboration.

And here they are.

The second book has now been posted, there had been a delay because of problems with the International post from the UK. As I write the books are hopefully crossing each other in mid air!

So here are three teasers for Fiona.

Book Making, Embroidery, General, Printing, Uncategorized

Reveal Number One – 24th January 2023

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Fiona and I have now opened the first books in our collaboration, there have been plenty of smiles and appreciation of each others work and intense interest in our individual interpretations of the title. The diversity of the two books is a joy and demonstrates the wide spectrum within the definition of the term ‘Artists’ Books’

See also – www.paperponderings.blogspot.com www.fionadempster.com

My first book is called ‘Shape defines Purpose’

Although I had used a similar format before, this book has a different arrangement of folds, the idea sprang from laying out some of my textiles to photograph, the lace lies flat on the table with a series of folds which gives it life. In many ways this first book was a way of working my way into the project. See here

The needle lace dates from 1680’s, it is English and made from fine linen thread. I designed a plate, inspired by the lace, the same length as the lace, 50cm.

The paper is Somerset 250 gsm

Size 9.5cm high by 50cm

Cover is painted and mono printed paper with an appliquéd printed machine stitched Baroque motif made from a Braille paper print

End paper is Japanese paper, from Fiona, which I had painted and with the text of the title written through it.

Here is the book from Fiona which I am sure she will write about to explain fully the ideas and processes that she went through. I have explored the different arrangements of the cards, reading the text in different ways and popping the cards back into their linen bag.

An interesting beginning to working together across the miles.

Book Making, Printing, Uncategorized

Looking Forwards – 16th January 2023

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Whilst my book is winging its way to Australia and Fiona’s book is coming this way, my mind turned to other projects which had been roaming around in my head.

During consideration of ‘Shape’, I had worked out this configuration of small concertinas, by stitching them together I was able to form a long and complex book. By joining small concertinas together it was also possible to conquer the restrictive length of a print, in my case 75cm. This book measures almost 1.5metres.

I decided that I would make three books, all to be contained in a slip case.

I needed three plates, two I made and one I already had, these would be the backgrounds

Each plate needed to have the means to place small fragments into the design

And three plates for the small fragments.

Here all the components are laid out.

The first printing session involved printing 12 prints

The second session I printed about 100 small fragments of three different sizes, each shape from the same printing plate. For scale the largest fragment is 3cm square.

They are all now drying flat in the house where it is warmer. It will be a couple of weeks before I will be able to fold and stitch them together.