Paper and Pages of Books, Events and Inspiration

Well the tidy desk soon became a mess again.

Covered with papers, buttons, paints, glue,

with the window sill occupied too

more paints, paperwork etc

So next tidy up will be when I lose something.

So what have I been doing.... well the Embroiderers' Guild Branch Exhibition is now over.

Lots of lovely work, met up with those not seen in a while and new faces too.  Please come along to the Branch.

The Spring Open Exhibition where I had one piece in, has also ended - told there should be another around October time.

I've entered the Rochford Art Trail - waiting for my venue.  Someone asked me how many years it had been going, well.....this will be Number 9.  I've been in every one, inc the pre-Trail tester exhibition.

I've also sent off a Statement of Intent for an Embroiderers' Guild event, but so far nothing more than that is in hand - pile of paperwork on window sill, its in there somewhere.

And now yesterday info on another local event, which I will have to be quick on, if I want to enter as deadline is only 10 days away!.

Toddled off to see a couple of things.  Up to Norwich to look at Turn the Page Exhibition, which is nothing but book art.  Lovely. Click on the link to see images from the event on their Facebook page.
I've seen some of the Exhibitors several times, can recognise their style. I saw a first time Exhibitor who clicked with me, Paula MacGregor.  One of these spooky muzak things, as I'd been working on 'found poetry' or 'found stories' - been frustrated by my efforts though.  If you don't know, its where you take original text on a page and highlight words to make something else.  I've managed to turn Charles Dickens into a daring burglary and escape by plane.  But my means to reveal this aren't as I'd like.  Paula's work showed me I could have a different viewpoint of this.  It felt much more comfortable to see her interpretations.

Keeping with books, I went to see friend Juliet's work with the group she belongs to - Seven.  Wonderful collection of Art Journals.  They had some common elements to use and/or techniques, but each gave their own interpretation to the artwork, in gorgeously well expanded accordion books. bursting with colour.

I'm currently doing lots of book things, ideas aplenty, hope it doesn't look like I'm copying because some of my ideas have been in existence prior to seeing others work.

I had better post this, before I lose yet another week and nothing gets done here.

Thin Lines

A look at some makes...

I've made myself a book - errr why?  Don't I own a zillion sketchbooks already - but of course I do.  However I have a particular project in mind for this.  Yet again I've made a fat book - this time its not long, but has a deep spine. 5cm and thick paper 250 gsm.  I attached each individual page, so teeny stitches, but pleased with my straight lines.

I have been stitching - this is the reverse, and I love it.  Just wondering if its actually worth doing to get this effect, might have to find a means to see something both sides.

Reminds me of this set of design work.

And because you need to see a bit of colour... here's a detail of some paint play.

I am not a stamper (though can't resist buying alphabet stamps) but I particularly like the effect of these thin crackle lines.  Suits my kind of stamping, ie don't put it on a block, just ink it up and press on the bits you want.  Perfect.

Oh bit of a theme, spidery thin lines......

An opportunity came into my inbox last week, requested details and am giving it serious thought - but I suspect it might be something to wait for the next time round.

In the meantime only a few days left to see the Essex Open.

Oh yes, I've changed the name of my Facebook Page its now: Bev Folkard - Paper Stitches.
Truthfully because I discovered you can, and this now seems a better fit.  Its the same URL if you have it down as that.

Art of the Book - a Fair assessment!!

The box has been ticked.... my first ever artist book fair has taken place.

I enjoyed myself, lots of talking!  Met up with people not seen in a while - Hi again - met up with others I've only spoken with before from across the table, and saw some friends.  Lots of nice things said about my books, which was heartening.

This is my table display.

I decided to display a mix of types of books - so I have 3 very long books, 4 which involve stitching on plastic/acetate, and display in various ways with folds and extensions, 2 pieces of wall art and some of my postcards and I made brooches for sale.

Do look at the Facebook page here of Artbookart.  Scroll down and you can see an image from everyone who participated.  You don't need to belong to Facebook to see.
Such a huge variety in what represents the book arts, from the tiny only an inch or so handbound book, to those A3+ size.  Various materials, and formats, inspiration - can you tell its a wonderful mix of creativity, and I loved it all.  Had lots of lovely chats with fellow artists, there was an awful lot of 'wow' and other terms from me, so if you call that chatting!!!

The book in a matchbox was absolutely unbelievably in the inventiveness of people.  It was another of these "can you just" moments which come through so often after you sign up for an event.

Again, look at the Artbookart site for more images.

I was almost paralysed into not being able to do this project - purely because I ended up with so many ideas buzzing in my head, I could do this, and this, or that, there was a real danger of not doing anything.  So I decided to settle on book forms, and I chose the smallest matchbox size to work with - making my own matchboxes. So here are my pieces.

Closed matchbox - has book cover surround and gold leaf edges

Tiny book inside with same binding

Closed matchbox - beach hut shapes

A string of bunting of Japanese Stab Binding books

A folded book - not extended to full length here as it ends up about 2m long

Made from Rice paper - I liked the white box so added a clear sparkle finish to it

Again you need to go to the Artbookart site to see the viewer's winner.  Its Sally Chinea - with a divine little fire engine inside a book cover and narrative book.

Sally has had a busy week - as earlier on, she met with myself and other members of The Material Girls, and became our newest Member.  We are looking forward to sharing our skills together.

So, I asked him indoors, do you think I should do this Art Book Fair again then - and he said Yes, he had been reluctant in the first instance.  So looks like I need to keep my eyes open for the next one.

Do please look at the ArtbookArt Facebook page, and from there seek out the book artists - its such a pleasure to have this kind of display of art, almost on my doorstep.

#artchain Challenge

If you are not on Facebook, then you won't know that there are times when sharing something takes hold.  This time its a means to share and get your art known to others.  There are a few variations currently on Facebook, but this is what I was nominated for, #artchain

1 piece of artwork each day for 5 days

and nominate another person each day.

Here's the opportunity to share more detail:

Day 1

This sample dates back to around 1994 (or earlier)

so its not quite the beginning of my journey of stitching on paper.

Its my own handmade paper with fleece included.

Dyed with Dylon dye

Woven papers dyed and coloured with acrylic wax

Feathers and machine stitch.

This piece is included in the book "Beginner's Guide to Papermaking" by Heidi Reimer Epp and Mary Reimer.  I actually have two items in this book, but 3 images, one being used as the full page background image for the gallery chapter.

Day 2

Purple Prose
Two books in one.  Pages fan out in one section and revolve in the other
Various samples attached to thick 'plasma' plastic
Fan element fastened with rivet.
Revolving section rings through holes
Inspiration:  to combine book constructions and the colour purple!

Day 3

Heart Mosaic
Looking around I found many artists have a favourite motif/colour.
Deciding I needed something, I chose the heart motif.
I've made many pieces with hearts on, over the years, overall my best sellers.
This piece is purchased handmade paper, with machine and hand stitching. As well as shell and metal heart buttons, you will find hidden outline stitched hearts.

Day 4

Secrets from the Attic
Made for an exhibition this is a suitcase full of things I like.
Two different styles of books, map inspiration, large postcard format, envelopes and small postcard, pretty things such as flowers, bunting and a tassel.
Hand and machine stitch, bookbinding, melting and burning, many techniques, and of course, lots of paper!
I wrote out an entire story purely for myself, on who could have owned the contents and why.
Its an idea I'd like to do more of, and I have the suitcase of course......

Day 5

Tudor Rose
Inspired by my location.  The Boleyn family owned the local Hall.
Oh and look carefully the petals are hearts....
Not the first piece made using this technique
White stitch on white paper, with paint added.
The background has at least seven colours in the process.
Its a technique I enjoy (beach huts a recent result) and am pursuing further.
Future work also involves stitch and paint.

I hope you have enjoyed this little insight into my art pieces, thoughts and processes.  It all connects into the whole, even though it may not look like it.  Please comment, it helps to know you are not talking to yourself!  You can of course check out my work via my website - if you are on Facebook, please visit and Like my page.

Thank you for visiting.

Beverley

Let's make a book or 10....

Books - love books, promise not to buy more but I do.... but also love making them.  I don't do it as often as I'd like purely because display purposes not always shelf display.  However, I have a plan for wall mounted 'books' - but you will have to wait and see if that happens.  I particularly like construction, more than content, all of the following are made using different binding techniques.

So let's share my big books with you.

First there was this one:

18cm long

 

Then there was this one:

36cm long

 

And now I've made this one:

65cm long

this will be at Textiles in Focus

 

Oh dear, hadn't realised pattern developing here, doubling in size.  Might need a lay down now.





 



CHANGE TO VENUE

CHANGE TO PREVIOUSLY ADVISED ROOM

Saturday 10th August

Embroiderers' Guild meeting

usual meeting room: THE LOUNGE

 

We are using our usual room for the August meeting, as the Lift is out of action. Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.  If you are a visitor to us, the car park is at the front of the building, and The Lounge is on the ground floor at the back.   See an older posting here.

 



Textiles on the Hill - Coming Up

Yesterday I asked him indoors to look over something on the computer, which included line diagrams.  Those are good he says, how did you draw them.... errrr with a pencil?  Sometimes low tech and scanning is a whole lot easier and faster than high tech.
Tick, tock.... time is evaporating and its getting ever nearer to:

The post-it notes are welded to the puter, and the "oh forgot, I need that" seems to get ever larger.  Its usually the obvious you leave behind.  Oh yes, I've got to make cake for the weekend.  I don't do baking, this could be interesting, a lot of cheating is involved, I don't even own a cake tin any more!

I hope you will come along to see us - everyone has worked so very hard for this - to share textiles with the wider community.  Come along for the demonstrations - list on the right - and I'm first up, as soon we we open, so come upstairs and see me.