Busy Week

It has been a busy week in the studio this past week. I have been turning out the work fast- nothing like a deadline to speed me up.
In between finishing works of art I have had the work photographed, visited the framer (to part with my life savings in order to have amazing frames put around the work - it certainly makes a difference), picked up the hardcopy invites and now it is back to the studio to complete the final series - Tuscany, and I am done..... I think.

Here's a few details of works- don't want to give away all the images before the show!

Berber Doorways - detail

Outside the Riad - detail

Paris Carousel- detail

Paris, the last of the European books. Book 12

So, at last I have done the Paris book. It is a carousel book as we saw many carousels ( merry go round) in Paris. This book is made from the brochures of the L"Orangerie and La Louvre and a Paris map; of course.
It includes  page for Giverny and Versailles as we had a day in each of these places.
I loved Paris, and of course I couldnt include or capture everything in this little book. Even though I did this at home I used only the materials I took with me with one exception - a gold marker that I have used to frame the Versailles page - it really needed gold .. so over the top!

Book 11 Germany - at last!

Finally, I have completed the German book. It is a house book- very simple construction and I have drawn a different type of house on each side, the houses in germany were lovely and we had such a lovely time in these houses it was fitting to make a house book.

Since arriving home I have barely had time to sit down, busily returning to the manic pace of life, catching up with friends and family,back to work.... Ugh!! let me go back onto holidays.
Well I still have 2 books to go after this, I am so glad I did the others along the way as I would never had been able to get them done now. It was really worth the time I spent to capture the moment.

Book 4 Barcelona

Barcelona is the home of Gaudi and his amazing architecture.
 His work is an inspiration to me as I love the way the natural world influences his designs creating very organic shapes and patterns. I also love his use of colour in everything from houses to park designs.
 Mosaics feature in almost all of his work and this allows colour and pattern to be a major aspect of the built environment.
What a thrill it has been to see his work in person, it is even better than in the photos I have poured over for years.
Of course I feel that anything I make pales into insignificance after that but still I will soldier on.
Book 4 tries to capture the busy narrow streets of Barcelona mixed with the formality of some of the street plantings.
I made much of it while travelling to Valencia on the train, I had gesso-ed the map of Barcelona before leaving and cut and drew on the train ( i did leave a little mess under my seat of small cut up bits of paper)

 art on the train

                                                       Finished little pamphlet stitch book

Book 2 - Switzerland

So I have managed to create the second in my mini travelling book series.
This one is made from  a a brochure's map pages to create an X- book with pockets to hold the tickets, the cover is several tickets stitched together then stitched to the X book,

Slow art start, but still a start!

Wow, I have been so busy being a tourist that I have not been a very good blogger lately.
I have however, begun the projects I set out to do, even if I am going too slowly for my liking. I have taken heaps of photos that will form my inspiration and art.
The first book is on the way to completion although I intend to draw on the gesso painted sections and perhaps cut out detail. This may take place soon... or not. Travelling time just seems to be different to any other time.
So here is book 1 -"London Ticket book" a work in progress

Next a few photos of things that caught my eye.

Art materials packed

We leave tomorrow for the epic adventure. I've packed my bag, cleaned the house written lists, and sorted out the art materials I am taking.

 I have graphite pencils, fineliner pens, glue stick, gesso, black ink, small printing roller, paper, small visual diaries, etching ink in a tube,watercolour crayons, and a watercolour paintbox, scissors and a  small cutting knife. That should do, if necessary I can pick up anything else I need along the way. 

It all fits neatly into a small vinyl toilet bag and a zip lock bag for the paper products. 

Next blog entry will be from ...... London!! 

Countdown to take off

Only 6 more sleeps until take off for the Great Adventure!!
I have been preparing my travel project and I have decided that one of the things I will be doing is creating a simple book per city, using found papers, brochures, tickets, maps etc along the way. I will probably post them home so I can have a record of where it came from and a stamp.
I have made a few model books as I hope it will then imprint in my memory how to make them and also inspire me to make them!!

 Here are a few of my models and notes

Last week for christmas gifts

Well, this is the last week to organise your christmas gifts. Still need a gift or 2? Cards not done yet? I have it all!! Gifts AND cards!! Check out my madeit site or send me a message. Here are some more things I have in my stash of gifts, all easily posted.

Matchbox Zine

Last week I finished a challenge for The Australian Book Arts Journal. It was a zine ( mini magazine type book) to fit into a large matchbox. Mine came with the letter L to be included... so the matchbox became luggage, with a little concertina zine depicting 3 cars tripping around Europe- my dreaming again!! The L also referred to letters and letterboxes, lifts ( as in a lift in a car) and landscape.