printed material

 We had a great workshop today making origami pockets and flag books with either various flags or one assembled image in them. I thought the single image book would be a straightforward way to start but I was proved wrong. Trying to work out the maths for folding and layout proved a bit of an initial struggle for everyone - well it was a Friday morning! - but we all got there in the end. At last I took some photos that can be shared. Hallelujah...  except I don't have one for the work that Sheila and Deborah produced. Sorry girls but anyone reading this can take my word for it that everyone excelled today. The top photo is of a mini origami pocket book that Lilian made from gift wrap and a seed catalogue. I love it when items are recycled into books!
 Halina made this wonderfully 'clean' butterfly book and we all agreed that it's simplicity worked. Covers are to follow for a lot of these books but today was all about cementing the process in their minds and practicing ideas. One of my workshop samples included some old postage stamps that I'd glued into some slide transparency frames I've had for a lifetime or two. I had hundreds so took some along and Halina selected some  plus some stamps I also took along  to make another example below.

 Here are Eileen's two samples, one tiny one of a single image and another small book using the slides. Eileen works very neatly and brought along some exquisite books to show us that she had made since the last workshop. I was incredibly envious of one with a monoprinted cover. Gave me ideas.....
 ....as did this book by Kathryn who utilised the slide frames with some alphabet gift wrap. She painstakingly cut out the small images and hidden in this flag book is both her own name and that of her husband. She added a lovely cover to it and I think it's going to be a gift for him. Lovely idea.
 Both Ann (above) and Cynthia (below) worked in miniature. Hopefully the bottle gives some scale and highlights these small but beautifully formed books. They are both precise, neat workers  and I love those flowers. Made me think that the flag book would be a great vehicle for packets of seeds, either bought from the shop or homegrown offerings packaged up as gifts for people.

 Finally, here are two examples from Margaret (above) and Maggie, who used a Paul Klee postcard image. Maggie had also made lots of samples of flag books to share and also brought along a home made nipping press, made yesterday by her husband and herself. I should have photographed it but she might be going into production so I must not spoil it but suffice to say you can do some very professional things with some carriage bolts and a couple of solid wood chopping boards from Tesco.

They have been a great group to work with and I know they kindly look in on these pages so thank you again to everyone for throwing yourself into these workshops and making some stunning books. Get your diaries out for the next ones. Dates to follow!

 I've been preparing lots of samples for my next bookmaking workshop on Friday. We're going to cover off flag books and all the variations that are open to experimentation. It provides me with the perfect post title as 'flagging' has been an apt description of my appetite for blogging in recent months.

I still love following the blogs of people I've always followed and I will always comment if I can think of something to say that doesn't make me sound too dull witted but, I took a look at my statistics recently and noticed that year on year, I have posted less and less. I don't know why that is because I'm still doing lots of things and finding many things I find fascinating but I think  I've lost sight of why I started a blog in the first place.  I don't think I'll do anything drastic like stop altogether but I am rethinking what I'll post about in future and how often. With my infrequent attempts I'm surprised anyone is still out in the ether following - but thank you if you are!

The year has started in 'busy, busy' mode with lots happening. After a lifetime of dreading going near water in a bathing suit, I am finally learning to swim properly and actually did a few glides under the surface on my own yesterday. I'm a long way from swimming the channel but it feels pretty good to conquer some of those long held demons. There's lots of decorating going on here too and even though I'd prefer to have a different sort of paintbrush in my hand it feels good to be making changes in the house as well. Despite the horrendous weather I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a better Spring and Summer ahead so there are lots of orders for seeds going in the post and lots of garden changes in the pipeline too. I feel very 'in control' of the direction of life and enormously energised by the New Year.


 The group of ladies that have been with me for all four of the book making workshops to date have all contributed to a group book idea. I have made this origami pocket book and they have each contributed a decorated tag to slot inside each pocket. The idea is that everyone who has produced a tag will get their name in the hat on Friday, and somebody will be lucky enough to take home a sample of everyone's work in a book format. They have been a fabulous bunch of people to work with and there are more workshops planned at this venue, plus ideas afoot for running some printing/mark making classes too which will translate into work for artist books. I'm hoping 2014 will be a very creative year for all concerned.


I'm still playing with ideas for Friday including double sided accordions with lots and lots of flags as well working out how to nestle one flag inside another when using circular or different page frames. It's such a wonderful structure that I feel certain the group will come up with some great ideas of their own which I hope to share in a later post. I've been playing with flag books that will make a single image when opened flat and repetitive images that, if changed slightly on each set of flags alter the perception of the image. It involves a bit of maths and only works with certain images, mainly those involving movement or action. Similarly, I've been playing with materials, currently making a book from pieces of chopped up inkjet transparencies encased in laminated plastic. The imagery isn't quite working on that one yet, but it makes a fabulous clacking sound when opened quickly. Somehow that seems to give me a lot of pleasure! Lots still to do and handout notes to write. Onwards and upwards.