Friday 12 April 2013

I'm still here.

This is what has been occupying me for the past two weeks or more.   I really needed to get it finished and am being very naughty posting it here before I put it on my other blog for my tutor to see it.    It is part of my online coursework and is an altered book having started it's life as a herbal year book.
In case you don't already know an altered book can be made from any hardback book with pages stitched in signatures.   Half the pages need to be carefully removed and the rest are glued together in pairs to give them added strength.   Extensions can be added to some, others can have shaped cut edges or holes cut into them.   There are any number of possibilities and very few rules.
The original pages have their text brushed over with gesso to provide a plain surface for drawings, etc.   I have been brave and drawn directly onto all the pages shown here.   There are birds on some of the other pages which I did draw on separate paper before cutting them out and sticking them into the book.
My brief was to tell a story and as I couldn't think of one I wanted to use, I decided to tell the story of the transition of my garden throughout the year.
As you can see, some of the pages have a stitched edging.   I found it easier if I made the holes first by prodding the edge of each page with a large needle.
Below is the front cover made by sanding down the shiny surface of the original cover, painting it with gesso and embedding small strips of frayed muslin and pressed hydrangea flowers.   I tried to use small skeleton leaves too - they wouldn't lie flat but when I lifted them off they had left a nice leaf shaped print for me.  I had intended to add colour to the cover but it has a nice natural rustic look and I don't want to muck it up.  It looks grey here but in reality is a warm beige/brown.
There are quite a few more pages which I haven't photographed yet but if you would like to see them all they will hopefully be on my other blog on Sunday.   There is a link for it at the top of this page.   

Tomorrow will be a busy day as our eldest daughter is remarrying.  We all had visions of trying to hide thermal vests under our outfits but that won't be a problem now it is so much milder.  Plastic macs?  We'll wait and see.  It seems mayhem will ensue until we are all safely at the church as everyone is coming here to change into their finery.  What a good thing we have three loos!   


13 comments:

The Bug said...

What a lovely book! I'm always amazed at how creative you are (not amazed that you ARE creative, but amazed at the results of your creativity - ha!).

Enjoy the wedding - hope the weather cooperates!

Maggie Grey said...

Love that book. Hope you all have a great day tomorrow.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Heather - this is absolutely beautiful - you are so clever. I do wish I could see it for real.

I hope all goes well for the wedding tomorrow - it is a good day for a wedding as it is a year tomorrow since my god-daughter got married and they are so very happy. So I do wish the couple all the happiness in the world. If their marriage is as happy as that of David and me then they should be well satisfied.

I received your cheque this morning - thank you. The book will be on its way after the weekend - it is so kind of you to buy it.

I shall be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping that the sun shines.

Jane said...

Your book looks wonderful. Good luck for tomorrow.

Maggi said...

Lovely book Heather. I hope everything goes well tomorrow

Rowan said...

How clever of you to make the altered book, having no artistic talent myself I'm always in awe of people who can do things like this. Hope your daughter's wedding goes well.

Ro Bruhn said...

What a gorgeous book Heather. Altering books is one of my favourite pastimes. Have a lovely wedding.

Robin Mac said...

That book is just so gorgeous, and I love the cover just as it is.
I hope the sun is shining for you today and the wedding is a very happy affair. Cheers

sharon young said...

No wonder you've been busy, your book is really lovely, I love the flowerpot page and the front cover is perfect.

Julie said...

I hope you've had a fabulous day today Heather and I love this book, it's beautiful. Thanks for reminding me about impressing into gesso, I will bear this in mind beachcombing tomorrow.

Charlton Stitcher said...

Lovely, Heather. I haven't visited your blog for a while having been away and busy. I now remember what I've been missing!

ferinn said...

How beautiful,and what a lovely personal record of your garden.i hope you had a lovely day .

Linda Vincent said...

Wow...you have been busy Heather! I've just been looking at your other blog (which I didn't realise you had until just now!)Your work looks great, I shall go back for another look after this.
Love this altered book...and the cover is beautiful. xx