Autumnal production ....

Autumn is all about production: books, dyes and most importantly; sloe gin and blackberry vodka. (... and unfortunately rather sore wrists, a condition that seems to impact other bookmakers at this time of year, see: paperiaarre.blogspot),

So here are a few of the books I made from September to October:

73 recycled leather books. Some have gone to Hawksbys, a delicious gallery located on the cobbled highstreet of Haworth, a short stroll from the home of the Bronte sisters. A batch have gone to Shire Hall Gallery in Staffordshire, Another batch is on its way to the gorgeous Gallery in Masham and I have saved a few for events later this month.

(there were smaller ones too ... but I can't locate the picture)

Vintage fabric books for the Craft Centre and Design Gallery, Leeds:

A new batch of ""My little linen books" for my very dear friend Jane Greenoff ... 

More envelope books  ( 21 to be precise) .... 

Several dress pattern books and lots of chortling over vintage suspenders ... 

... and a moment or two of luxurious time to play, to sadden Indigo with Walnut dye and to smock  

A few 'Recycled leather' books, dyed with indigo and walnut .... 

... and just enough time to make a teeny tiny "match box book" ... 

Onwards into November, the month of exhibitions, events and topping up my Folksy shop. 

Matchbox Book ....

The opportunity to make another piece of  "Matchbox art",  to raise funds for the Yorkshire childrens' cancer charity  Candle Lighters  .... I couldn't resist!  

Exhibitors at this Novembers Crafted by Hand have been asked to make pieces of art that will fit in a matchbox. Visitors to the event will be able to vote for their favourite/s and buy them too, proceeds will go to the wonderful Candlelighters and the winner receives a prize from craft-and-design-magazine.

...  so, using scraps of Indigo dyed fabric and paper,  I made a 'Matchbox book' or is it a 'Book in a matchbox'?

... and a few photos of my process

Here is one I made for the same charity a couple of years ago: Avocado in a Matchbox

Slow Stitch ...

The most beautiful book arrived in the post today! I am beyond excited to have my "Darned Books" featured in it, thank you Claire Wellesley- Smith (Clarabella) !!! ... right, time to calm down and savour this thing of beauty ...

The book is available : here
I'm still trying to work out how to link previous blog posts, in the meantime you are welcome to click on the links below

Darned books ....

More "Darned" books ...

Smocking ...

We all have times in our lives that are so chaotic and out of control that the only solace can be found in slow methodical work, to calm the mind and place order where there is none.
There are few activities slower or more methodical than smocking. 

More Indigo books (with a splash of Onion) ....

The Solace project ....

My response/ contribution to the "Solace" project being created by India Flint ( An invitation from India Flint, please do click on the link for details of the project) ....

Process:
Vintage linen bed sheet.  Lettering: painted with acrylics, sewn with linen thread and burnt in order to recreate the image of Iron Gall ink corrosion (Iron Gall ink quickly replaced with acrylic paint, due to the tummy turning moment when it dawned on me the impact that the iron might have on an Indigo vat)

Darned with vintage white cotton:

My prayer/ wish "To repair the damage that we have done whilst: acknowledging, accepting and honoring/ remembering the scars".

Some of the completed pennants can be found here: Sweetpeapath
Edit: The pennants in situ ..

More messing about with Indigo ...

A delightful afternoon spent messing about in my back yard with: leather worker Ruth Pullan and a vat of Indigo .... a few more days/ weeks to create Indigo books. 

Envelope books ....

A new batch of Envelope Books: recycled papers made into hand-made envelopes, hand dyed linen threads, recycled fabrics made into book cloth and quite a bit of playing with a bunch of books sewn onto tapes.