Bookish Mary

  Summer is upon us and the solstice is just a few days away.  May rains have turned June's blooms and trees full of life and colour.  As it goes, inspiration also struck when I saw a different binding being demonstrated on Instagram:  I tried it out.  After posting the video on my Facebook page, I was informed this binding is called, the Flatstyle Australian reverse piano hinge binding.   The binding is comprised of two covers held together with an accordion fold and signatures.  The signatures are affixed to each mountain fold and secured with a tab inserted into the fold.  This creates a thickness at the spine and a thinness at the fore edge, which makes this perfect for photographs.   I covered the boards with chiyogami and made the accordion out of Tyvek.  I learned that Tyvek is not the best material to use for the accordion fold because it is too soft and the book has too much movement in it.  This is the first book...

  Trees are vital to the planet and all who inhabit it.   Humans cannot live in a world without trees.  For them it means a certain death.  On the other hand, trees can survive and flourish without humans. Even in death, a tree provides life through the making of functional objects: homes, fences, bowls and so much more. Rotting, dead trees provide an environment conducive to new life and homes for the forest inhabitants, in the air and on the ground.  The objects made from the wood can be refurbished and modified throughout centuries of use.  Inspired by the novel, "The Overstory", by Richard Powers, I created this collage.  I have photographs of the life of trees through the seasons: new growth, full foliage, slumber and old age.  At the center is a weathered wooden fence still serving its purpose.  Next to it, a human skeleton; consequences of life without trees.  Initially, I left the background unpainted. The more I looked at i...

  Colours and shapes, what would we do without these things in our world.  For me, they are a great source of inspiration for my creativity.  We are surrounded by them everywhere we go; there for our eyes to see, if we choose to do so.   I was thinking about relational and abstract stained glass windows, which consist of colours and shapes.  I decided to create some windows on small pieces of paper, with water colours.  Somewhere along the way I started to channel Mondrian-like shapes and colours.  The final pieces make me smile with heartfelt joy.   What a fabulous way to spend a grey spring day.  There is always colour even in the grey, if we look for it.   Mary 

  Spring has arrived.  The sun is shining, the grass is greening, the buds are budding, the birds are singing and the tulips are blooming.   New books come with the splurge. RENE MAGRITTE, Surrealist Artist  I like Rene Magritte's surrealist art.  I find it makes me ask questions and think about what I am seeing.  I decided to create a book with some of his paintings.  This is an accordion pop-up book.  In designing this one, I decided to draw the images in circles and have them extend past the fore-edge when the book was closed.  The quotes, by Rene Magritte, are hand written.  He speaks about his work and the underpinning influences. Front of protective cover: water colours and chiyogami paper over book board  Open protective cover   The Human Condition: water colours and ink   The Idea and The Unexpected Answer  Secret Life IV and The Face of Genius Back of protective cover  I decorated the back of each a...