Situational Haiku Series - 04

Situational Haiku - 04

Everyone has at one time of another found some money on the ground.  I did when I was in the Shetland Islands almost a year ago.  Maybe one should check around cash machines more often.  When I was twelve, a friend and I flew from Maryland to Los Angles during an airplane strike.  Only American Airlines was flying coast to coast.   We were headed to Seattle but had a 36 hour lay over in LA..  For entertainment we circled the airport checking phone returns in pay phones.  We actually brought in quite a haul.  Now that I look back on it, what were our parents thinking about letting two twelve year olds travel across the country like that!?

Situational Haiku Series - 04

Situational Haiku Series - 03

Situational Haiku Series - 03

I had to have a medical procedure this past week and on Friday I got one of the biopsy results back.  No Cancer!  Thank goodness.  I have had to remain mostly in bed where I am doing my digital work on the collages in this series.  On one of my excursions downstairs I lost nine of the eleven Haiku poems that I did for this series.  So I am redoing the poems as I go.  I have looked high and low but they are no where to be found.  I wonder if I accidentally recycled them?

Situational Haiku Series - 02

Situational Haiku Series 02

The situational Haiku idea came to me because of the desire to do some sort of narrative.  I thought I had coined something new which I have for me.  After I wrote some poems I did some research on Haiku and found out that Haiku is situational and revelational.    I was just using the 5 7-5 syllable format without knowing that the first two lines introduce the situation and the third line provides a revelation.  There are many other aspects about Haiku such as nature is frequently a theme.  My purpose was narrative.  Here is the one I did for this one.....

Situational Haiku Series - 02

Situational Haiku Series - 01

Situational Haiku Series 01

I made an accordion style book that has eleven pages in it.  As I usually work I wanted to add something to each page but I did not know exactly where I was going.  In front of my work station was the smallest gelli plate.  The AHA moment was that I would add color to each page through the mono-printing process using the gelli plate.  Instead of laying the paper on top of what I was printing I flipped the gelli plate over and printed down on the pages of the accordion book.  You will notice a slight hint of a second color other than the blue.  It is cadmium red and it was left on my gelli plate from a previous use.  So far so good.

I have been culling some of my papers, you know the ones that you just have to keep and never use.  Out they went but in one box I found some great images from a vintage book.  My next thought was to use either one element or maybe even two or three elements for the collages.  I just love how this woman looks walking toward something.  Now you might think that is the end of the story.  No!

I have been writing a bit of Haiku lately and thought I could write a Haiku about this woman.  I wanted to give a bit of narrative via the poem to the collage.  Then I got to thinking I should put the Haiku right on the finished collage.  How to do that?  Another AHA moment.  I wanted to use vintage type.  I found a vintage typewriter font online.  So here goes..... Oh, yeah!  I photographed each of the eleven collages without the Haiku first because perhaps you might want to write your own Haiku.  More on my Haiku experience tomorrow.  Mine is below....

Japanese Stab Bound Book

Japanese Stab Bound Book

I love this paper which I found in a bookstore quite some time ago.  This binding looks simple but takes a bit of time to complete.  I had to add linen thread during the binding process because my piece was too short to complete the book.

Japanese Stab Bound Books

Japanese stab bound books

My art friend, Lynne, gave me the embroidered pieces that you see on the covers of these Japanese stab bound books.  The stitching is done on thin holed paper very similar to the cross stitch patterns. You might be able to see the holes if you enlarge the images. Thanks Lynne, I love your designs.

Left over papers

Two-fer Wednesday.....Tuesday got away from me.....

I just used leftover papers for all parts of this pamphlet stitched book.  There always is a way to use up what is lying around.

Homemade Paper Books.....

It is perhaps not easily seen that these two squares are books but they are.  The one on the left is a Retchoso book and the one on the right is a Japanese stab bound book in an envelope.  What is also not obvious is the technique used to create the papers. I used deli wrap for the paper which was painted with a background color.  In this case the background color was cadmium red.  I then sandwiched dabs of paint between two sheets of glass (plexi can be used) forming dendrites when the glass is separated.  The next step was to mono-print onto the background papers which is orange and turquoise here.

Portfolio Book

Portfolio Book (closed)

Portfolio Book (open)

Easy peasy book to make.  Just a little measuring and scoring of the cover paper.  A cut here and there for the flaps. Fold some paper, make some stitching holes on the spine.  Sew with linen thread using the pamphlet stitch and you are almost there.  One more thing is needed, the wrap around closure.

Long Stitch Book with Woven Spine Plus More

Long Stitch Book with Tacket Binding and  Woven Spine

The spine is the star of this book.  I first did a long stitch binding.  Next I wove the four signature linen threads together.  That took a bit of time as one had to be careful to not pull in the threads to the center of the spine.  It would have made the weaving look weird.  I then did tacket binding on the top and bottom eight threads.  When I looked at the completed spine and I thought there needed to be some additional forest green on the top and bottom. So I did some additional tacket binding in the middle ones.

Tunnel Book with Retchoso Binding

The structure for the tunnel book is done and now I have to figure out what will go inside.  Since the cover is very Asian I most likely will stick to a theme that goes with the it.  The binding was somewhat challenging because I was using black bookbinding thread on black paper.  Retchoso binding only works with heavier stock paper or multi-page signatures.  I learned that by using some paper that tore during the binding process.  I fixed it with some PVA.  Reinforcing lighter weight paper on the fold is another way of solving the issue of tearing.

Retchoso continued

Three books bound using Retchoso Binding

The bottom two books used marbleized papers that I made and the top book used commercially made papers that I found in a bookstore.  Today I will finish my last book and will reach my goal of 365.  I might even do the leap year book today and reach 366.  I certainly have the time since I am self-quarantining.  I hope you are all remaining safe and listening to medical personal on the best practices during this pandemic.  Keep on creating!

Retchoso

Retchoso cover

Retchoso spine

I discovered this binding technique while surfing Pinterest.  It took me four days of looking and reading about the technique to figure out how to do it.  It is a Japanese binding technique and really is easy once one figures is all out.  The reason that it took me so long was that the diagram was not clear to me.  Once I found a write up on how to bind using this method and combined that with the diagram I got it.  The instructions ask for five signatures which are either single pages with a fold or a single sheet folded in half.

The cover was really fun to make.  I used molding paste through a stencil on book board.  I collaged the covers using papers that I made using specific colors.  I had seen a matador costume that I really liked and used the colors in the costume.

I have now tried more than five signatures and it works just the same.  To pronounce the name Retchoso the o’s are long vowels.

Little Brown Envelopes with Ties

Little Brown Envelopes with Ties

The little brown envelopes with a book inside are great fun to make.  I used grocery bags for the envelopes.  My challenge was the bottom or lower circle tab.  My grommet punch would not reach for appropriate placement punching if the envelope was already glued.  Simple fix.  Punch before gluing.  I love the fact that I could use recycled materials for the envelopes.

Speaking of using recycled materials for creating several months ago I decided that I would use what I already have for all my art projects.  I think I have pretty much enough for the remainder of my life.  The only thing that might run out was watercolor paper.  Guess what?  I started to run out.  Then I thought I wonder if there is more paper in the flat files in the garage??  Guess what again?  There was a huge box of white watercolor paper.  I do not have to go out or order out.  Yeah!

Japanese Stab Bound Books

Japanese Stab Bound Books

The good news of the day for me is that I have only three more books to go to my original goal of making 365 books in one year.  Since I started on May 1 I actually was not sure that I would make the goal.  You know how life gets in the way and good intentions are waylaid.  Well it is going to happen.
Above you see three Japanese Stab bound books.  I love making them.  An art friend, Beau, who lives in Kansas City, sent me some monkeys in a snail mail package.  This is one of the images on the cover of the front book.  Thanks Beau!

The Newport Paper and Book Arts Festival is postponed until September 17-20, 2020.

Found Postcard 07

Found Postcard 07

Here we are, the last of the Found Postcards.  Maybe there are more to be found.  I will just have to wait until then.  This particular one was complete except for the yellow writing and the clock.  Well, there are a few flurries that I did to further complete the piece but those were quick and easy.

Found Postcard 06

Found Postcard 06

I am sure there is trouble brewing.  Is this the case of someone like girlfriend number 1 stopping by when girlfriend number 2 is in attendance?  I have been in this situation once when I was much, much younger!  Not fun, I might add!  I don’t think I want to stay around for the fireworks! :-)

Found Postcard 05

Found Postcard 05

I had created seven posts ahead of publication on this blog.  The first four posted just fine.  When I went to this post to write something there was no image.  I looked at post 06 and 07 and there were no images.  Yikes!  This was something new.  I redid the posts and everything seems to be fine now.  What gives?  I guess some computers have a mind of their own.  At least the fix worked.  I will never know what really happened.

Found Postcard 04

Two-fer Saturday....I do not know where yesterday went.  I got so absorbed in making books.  I have seven to go to my goal of 365 plus 1.  It is a leap year you know! :-)

Found Postcard 05

All of this postcard was complete except for the billiard nine ball.  It originally was 5 x 7 but I cropped it to 4 x 6.  It works better being more contained.

Found Postcard 03

Found Postcard 03

I like having something that I have started resurface.  Sometimes when I see something that I made I do not recognize it.  In this one all I added recently was the postage stamp with the postmark.

As most people are, I am self-quarantining.  My only adventure out was to the doctor and to the grocery store this week.  The waiting room at the doctor's office was rearranged so that furniture was at least a four feet away from any other furniture.  On the door to the office was a sign to make sure you wash your hands for 20 seconds in soap and water before entering.  Even the door to the doctor's office waiting room was propped open.  I like that they were taking care.  One had to even speak through a slit in the glass window to the receptionist.  Good for them!

Found Postcard 02

Found Postcard 02

If you have taken Seth Apter’s workshop Fifty-Two Pickup you will know these background techniques.  I ran across his directions recently.  I had written them down and stuck them in a plastic box.  It pays to go through things every once in awhile.  I am going to do some more postcards now that I have so much time at home due to the coronavirus. 

Found Postcard 01

Found Postcard 01 

I was messing about in some art supplies that I house in my garage when I came across a bunch of unfinished postcards.  All of them only needed a bit of work.  Why they got “lost” is anyone’s guess?

March 2020 ATCs 04 and 05

Two-fer Tuesday.....say that really quickly

over and over...:-)

The last two samples of the series of sixteen.  I must say, I loved using the hot box to make the encaustic backgrounds.  I am saving up to buy a hot box of my own.  They cost around $350.

04

05

March 2020 ATCs 01, 02, 03

01 

02

03

My backgrounds for the ATCs were encaustic papers I made in early January.  I had a bit of trouble adhering collage materials to the encaustic papers though.  After a coat of clear gesso things were better but not 100%.  I heard from one recipient that papers had come unglued.  If one out of sixteen is the only problem then that is not too bad I guess.

Fold Back Series No. 8

Fold Back Series No. 8

No. 8 is the last of the Fold Back Series.  Undoubtedly there will be more of this type in the upcoming months.  I am working on collages that incorporate fiber paste.  If you have never used fiber paste it is a great medium for texture.  It can be colored and scraped through stencils for design elements as well.  Stay tuned on what might transpire.

Fold Back Series No. 7

Fold Back Series No. 7

Yesterday I had to venture out to downtown Seattle for a doctor’s appointment.  It was amazing to see so few people out and about.  It was almost as if the sidewalks had been rolled up for the night yet it was daytime.  People are staying home in droves.  This past Wednesday I went to Costco to get some  paper towels and a few other things.  The shelves were pretty sparse.  It is the same thing at my local grocery store.  Very different times right now.

Fold Back Series No. 6

Fold Back Series No. 6

There is something satisfying when I work on a collage.  Auditioning and refining until a composition comes together.  I have been in the process of culling through my ephemera.  Yesterday I found eight postcards that I had started but never completed.  They are done now.  Finding them was like finding treasure, a kind of deep sea diving adventure!

Fold Back Series No. 5

Fold Back Series No.5

I tried a new idea, to me anyway, on how to transfer images.  I used an R and F oil paint stick on a gelli plate.  One has to use high quality magazine images for the transfer.  Vogue type.  I am still working on the process.  Can you see the cadmium green pale image in the background?  That is it.

Fold Back Series No. 4

Fold Back Series No. 4

This is one where you may want to make your own narrative.  I do like the vertical collage ephemera.  It is like striations.

Fold Back Series No. 3

Fold Back Series No. 3

I love Haiku and have not written any for awhile.  On this one I decided to add a Haiku.  I took a page out of a book and set myself on a task to find a poem on that page.  Silent suspicions resulted.

Fold Back Series No. 2

Fold Back Series No. 2

This collage, although completed last week, is so appropriate for my feelings right now.  I think America lost out on an opportunity yesterday.  My candidate for President, Pete Buttigieg. bowed out of the race to be President.  For me he was the best chance to bring back the qualities needed for someone to hold the highest office in the land.  He is honest, smart, compassionate, empathetic, a great orator, an all around good person.  I know we will see more of this man in the future.  As it says above “come back tomorrow” Pete.

Fold Back Series No. 1

Cover (front)

Cover (back)

Fold Back  No. 1

I am calling this new series Fold Back because somewhere in each collage I have folded paper. I worked rather quickly on the collages in this series and used what was in front of me on my work station.  In this one I had several vintage postal envelopes and teabags at my disposal.  I discovered the front cover in my garage, a piece I had started on book board several years ago.  I thought it would make a great book cover.  I had to make the back cover to match.  One probably would not know that the covers were made years apart. The book is bound using the slip knot binding process.