Matchbox book #4

It's November which brings me the annual opportunity to make another piece of  "Matchbox art",  to raise funds for the Yorkshire children's cancer charity  Candle Lighters  .... I couldn't resist!  

Exhibitors at this Novembers Crafted by Hand, 4th and 5th November, have been asked to make pieces of art that will fit in a matchbox, proceeds will go to the wonderful Candlelighters. I will be offering my book for sale via my Folksy shop at UK time 7pm on Monday 6th November (includes free P&P).

...  so, using: scraps of my Indigo dyed fabric, one of my tiny porcelain buttons, images and text copied from my Imperial Dictionary (published in 1883) ,  I made an 'Indigo Matchbox' book ...

 

English Seaside ....

 Indigo and walnut smocked books. More 'English Seaside' than 'Mediterranean Coast' ...

 

Inspired by recent trips to the Jurassic coastlines of England, famous for their fossils and Alum mining: Kimmeridge  and  North Yorkshire

 

... Kimmeridge in the South ...

 

... and Whitby in the North, hunting for black treasure (Whitby Jet)

3 step mordant, 3 dye pots and a bit of smocking ...

An invitation to take part in the (Surface) Pattern Exhibition  at Unit Twelve Gallery, 27th April- 26th August 2017 ...  the opportunity to make more Smocked books.

Inspiration:  to replicate the gold tooling on the spine of the book with a feminine art form. Reminiscent of the smocked dresses many of us wore as children, and for some, the memory of the women who made those dresses.   

Dyes: Indigo, Madder and Goldenrod 
Mordant: 3 step alum and tannin (it may take 3 days but 'oh my', the colours are so clear.)
Fabric: Recycled bed sheet and linen threads
Paper: 130 gsm recycled cartridge paper

 

 Madder and Goldenrod dyed cotton and linens

 ... overdyed with Indigo to hush the fierce yellow

 

 In situ and Unit Twelve ... 

Topping up in June ....

Darning revisited .....

New 'darned books' created for Grace Whowell (who owns and runs the gorgeous Beyond Measure), just in time for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival . 

 
 Years ago, with two small children and a need to make some money, I adopted the approach of only using materials that I already owned. One thing I had in abundance was a stash of previously loved woollies that had been lost to washing machine disasters. I no longer make these flower corsages, but I did hold on to the felted wool and scraps of my hand dyed linen threads - some of which have been used for the books.

18thC Madder dyed fabrics ...

I find January and February particularly difficult months due to the lack of light and warmth, although it impacts my productivity it does allow me the time to pause, think and explore.  I've just had coffee with my friend and fellow book artist Annwyn Dean, she kindly brought along samples of 18thC madder dyed fabrics (from her vast collection of historical textiles), and was happy for me to tap her extensive knowledge re: historical textiles and their production. So much to think about and research ...

 

Here are some of the prints and books she has produced inspired by these fabrics .... http://www.annwyndean.com/rollong-on-12th-january-2017/

Previous posts: http://katebowles.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/madder-red.html

http://katebowles.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/matchbox-book-3.html