Book type structures

Investigating book structures in preparation for my finished item I visited structures that had been completed over the years before embarking on new  samples specific to Module 4.  Hope this is acceptable! Ref 4.10.1 shows a shape I made for Module 1 


Sample 4.10.2 shows Button Book made in memory of my mother and father.  Using a tapestry made with my mother I made calico 'pages'.  Each page contained memories that my sister and I shared of them.  Linking the idea of 'pressing buttons' on different subjects i.e. music they liked, their hobbies and interests, places and journeys etc we shared together a collection of photos and memorabilia.

Over the years I have used origami books to record key memories of a year, business cards of inspiring artists, ideas from Christmas carols for making Christmas cards, diaries of a specific holiday- somehow a small piece of paper to fill a day is less intimidating than a large sheet of paper. Here are a some of the pieces:

Memories of 2010                Business card holder

                                  ' Outside In' exploration 2009,paper and fabric/board cover

Inspiration, 'In the bleak mid winter' lyrics, coloured threads, images

A month's diary at Woodbrooke

And now for some ideas not tried before:

Ref 4.10.1a and b above The stick, attached with rubber bands, was rubbed with bronze 'rub on' to match the acrylic painted and crunched magazine paper.  The inside Lokta papers chosen to give a feeling of nature.

Ref 4.10.2 a and b.  Using magazine paper that had been folded and glued to make a firm cover to black papers the book was held in place by cardboard letters and rubber bands.

Ref 4.10.3 a and b Magazine paper again folded and glued this book was stitched using a button hole stitch in a fan shape and thread to replicate the tree structures.  In side black paper was interleaved with tracing paper in varying sizes.

Ref 4.10.4.  Using an offcut of coloured newspapers from an earlier module this booklet used tissue paper to make the inside papers with a normal running stitch used on one seam and a knotted stitch used on the other seam to add interest.

Ref 4.10.5 a and b. A black and white theme inspired by this cartoon simplicity seemed the key with just a three hole joining stitch to alternative black and white pages.

Intrigued by the theme of this module I had decide to take a break to Burnbrae, Nr Kelso to sign up for a course with Mary Sleigh.  The book cover seen in sample 4.10.6 a and b and the final samples shown in 4.10.8 are the pieces made during a truly inspiring two days.  The book leaves shown in 4.10.6a and 4.10.7a, b and c were made on returning home and while they are not to be used in the book cover shown they were a trial run at how I would approach completing the project.

                                  Ref 4.10.6a cover and papers      Ref 4.10.6b inside book cover

Ref 4.10.7a, marking up to ensure holes were in correct position through all pages

Ref 4.10.7b and  4.10.7c ribbon looping with rayon perle - not the best thread to use as very slippy but colour was right and it was a very old thread that I had had for years!

And last but not least a book dedicated to the inspiration of Gudrun and Mary completed at Burnbrae.

Stitched Edges

Ref 4.9.1

Ref 4.9.2

Contemplating how the lettering and drawn thread theme could influence the edges of papers I made the following five samples. The idea of loops as well as the angular placement of letter blocks in Chapter 2, shown at the bottom of this blog, where with me for this exercise. Sample 4.9.1 uses machine stitch 6 on my Bernina Activa 140 which provides a multi outlined 'v' shape done here in Sulky variegated cotton thread.  To complete the edges of paper not at the fabric edge I hand sewena variegated perle thread in feather stitch. The background fabric was a thin muslin that was used as a sieve when draining of the water from last pieces of paper pulp and some of the pulp dried onto the fabric.
For sample 4.9.2 I pinned, studded and added tied loops to the edge, this would allow layers to be added but on the left hand side pinned some wide bias binding which was slit so that it could be used as a hinge. The bottom edge had hand stitched button hole detail which could also act as a joining edge if another edge was butted against it.

Ref 4.9.4

Ref 4.9.3

My next themes bound the edges of the paper to add strength.  Sample 4.9.3 on left shows felt borders using machine stitch 7 over the paper and with pulled threads used to decorate the edge with loops or random tied threads replicating the loops and straight lines in the word 'calligraphy'.  This broke up the 'hard' straight edge but border sample 4.9.4 keeps it line when bound in hand dyed muslin and a hand stitch to emphasis lines. More random pieces of the fabric were hand stitched on the paper.

Ref 4.9.5

Ref 4.9.5a

The samples, 4.9.5 and  5a show one piece of paper that was too large for the scanner but the run of a double line of a machine stitch, stitch 14 on my machine, and used on the edges, was also placed in the middle to show that the paper could be folded into a book shape.  The rounded edge of the paper on the bottom left of 4.9.5 would probably look better  as the top right corner of a finished cover, giving a glimpse into the content or index of the book. As in sample 4.9.2 the background fabric was a 'sieved' fabric.

Details from Module 4 Chapter 2

Stitchery into paper

 The task began with looking at what layers of pulp and paper or fabric went together for the stitchery project .  The decision making would chop and change as I progressed.  The changes have been charted to show original thoughts and see how they changed as time moved on.  
The first sample, 4.7.b3 from previous chapter, isn't too true to colour but have also included  two shots that happened when it was held up to the light - autumn is approaching so evening light  is bringing another dimension.  The background fabric is one of my rust dyes which was then over dyed with a procion dye before being selected for this sample. 

Front shadow                                                                 Ref      4.8.1 mounted                                                     Back shadow

Ref 4.8.1a

Ref 4.8.1a influence

The contrast would come after I had secured papers together with self coloured thread. Touches of stitches in blue were introduced where I played with the idea of rune letters before running a thicker thread through the spaces of drawn thread.  The ribbon was too bold so decided to 'ladder 'it to give a soft effect see bottom right of sample 4.8.1a.

Ref 4.8.2

Ref 4.8.2 The influence for this sample came from Chapter 2  4 .2.13 seen left. This sample had more paper pulp added to it from original idea in chapter 7 see Ref 4.8.2. an additional layer from the calico fabric that had been dyed with the paper pulp and used as a strainer when tipping water away thereby trapping pieces of pulp which were left to dry. I then decided to change background fabrics before sewing the final sample 4.9.2a  This was done to allow fraying and seeing through to background layer.  All layers were first secured with machine stitching I then took a rayon ribbon to make marks.

Ref 4.8.2a

Ref 4.8.3

4.8.3 influence

The letter in sample 4.8.3 was made from pulp. The background paper was attached to loose threads laid in a loose grid pattern. Random button hole stitch areas were stitched in previously pulled threads to attach paper and threads to a brusho dyed paper.  Areas of herringbone stitched in double twisted variegated Sulky threads were added.
The letter shape was a slightly less than 90 degree L shape which could conceivable considered as an angular root of the 'm' shape from my mail series in chapter.

Ref 4.8.4

Ref 4.8.4 detail

The sampling method of paper onto threads as shown in previous sample was used for 4.8.4 but decided to show the thread side this time.The spaces between and shapes of the paper made me recall the written block patterns from Chapter 2 and I wanted a stitch that reflected a loopy appearance.  This took me back to Module 2 and the ribbon stitch was the one I chose, number 20 on my machine.

Ref 4.8.4 influence

Ref 4.8.4 influence