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

It's in the bag, journey in a suitcase

Artisan books, my most favourite bookshop, has an artist book exhibition each year and today I completed my entry - hopefully it will be accepted..ugh.  The show isn't until September, it is always wonderful.
I'm so excited as usually I am spending late night completing it at the last minute, but it has been a very cold, wet and blustery day here in melbourne so it was easy to stay inside and knuckle down.

I have made a little suitcase book before, it is made using a large matchbox!  I decided that I could make a little friend for the first suitcase.Then came the difficult decision, what on earth do I put in it?? This year there was no theme for the artist book show.
Finally decision made,  it would be a little journey from the Swiss Alps to Venice by train, all in pictures of course!
So here it is.

and here is one of the little stitched birds flying (on a spring) over the mountains, and the wood engraved trees!

this little boat is a pop out on tabs. 

Bookmaking class

What a great day we had on Saturday.

Three participants created a beautiful book each from various papers. I even made one so I could demonstrate and handily, became a gift for a 21st I was going to that evening!

21st present...

 

Student at work

 from this......

to this

 Three beautiful books

Books on display

Some of my little travel books are having an outing, along with some of my other books about travel. They are residing in the window shelves of a lovely little bookshop in Kensington called Wayward Books. 
This gorgeous shop is a treasure trove of new and secondhand books, lovingly cared for by Judy.
If you happen to be over there, take a peak through the window!

Wayward Books

Belair st, Kensington

Victoria 

Book 10 Croatia

Due to being busy travelling I have taken my time getting around to finishing the Croatian book, got it half done then visited friends in Germany and then I was too busy chatting!

Back of book ( or cover) 

So the Croatia book is not really a book, more like a pamphlet. It has floating islands and pop up spits of land- Dubrovnik and Split. All on the back of a pamphlet page, that has been collaged with blues of the sea from other pamphlet and magazine pages, with a wash of watercolour pastels.

So as I leave Europe tomorrow to begin the journey home ( via Dubai) I won't get time to finish the remaining books until I get home- I have started the Germany book. So hopefully in a week or so I will be able to upload them.

What an adventure- 3 months travelling, what a lot of creative ideas I have collected. So much to do when I get home, can't wait to get on with it!

Book 9 Rome

Roma, such a big place, so much to take in. Rome needed a book of it's own as I found the size and amount of history almost overwhelming- fascinating none the less.
 Thus, for a 5 day visit Rome gets a biggish book all of its own.
This book has a number of signatures - of varying sizes and is stitched- a sort of Coptic but not quite Coptic stitch. I have used a number of pages from a brochure, several tickets and a map or 2 for this book. Gesso again was useful for covering up the stuff I didn't want and creating a surface for drawing and painting on.

I would love to hear from anyone who is following my trip via the books I have been making. Please comment and let me know what you think. 

While we are talking about books...

I absolutely love this 'youtube' video so thought I'd share it with you.