Lisa J's contribution to Kim's book Fragments, Vestiges & Remains

I've finally finished my piece in Kim's lovely book. So far all of the participants have created a piece based on a historical event in their homeland. For my part, I've used the extraordinary photographs of Dorothea Lange to assemble a piece about the midwest migrant farmers in the1930s...a time of hope and despair when the worst drought of modern American history struck the Great Plains. I've also used some quotes from "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck as his novel is based upon these people and their stories.

This is the spread as it appears in Kim's book. On the left I've created a collage out of an 1800s quilt remnant and used vintage and found hardware for a timeworn appearance.

I've made a small book with Dreams to Dust stamped on the cover and a quote within. The book is constructed of recycled materials.

This is the top of the second page where I've constructed and album that fits within the book. You can see by the paper clips where Kim gave us each a block of pages to use. I tore the edeges of my pages and stained them so they would layer up as with age and create depth. Speaking of depth.. sorry Kim but your book is now hugely thick from my addition as it is impossible for me to create anything even remotely flat!

The album.....suffering and resilence.

 Photographs of mothers with their children as there is no stronger sense of determination

found than that of a mother fighting for her children and family.

Flip the pages and the next spread on the left and then the right.

close up of the last page...

The photograph on this page is raised up on a block as is the photograph of the steer skull.

When the book is closed they fit into each other like puzzle pieces.

For additional details click here.

Debrina's contribution to Lisa S' book: Labyrinth

The House of Indigo was all that she knew...

Her childhood began and ended here...but one knock on the door...

or a peek through one of its numerous windows....

...would reveal a labyrinth of rooms and hallways, antechambers and vestibules...

To find out more about the House of Indigo,

CLICK HERE

a drop of pulp: alicia's initial contributions to deb's book, through the eye glass

i'm being a bit intentionally obscure on my post because i want debs to be at least a little surprised when i'm finally finished. but, i haven't posted in awhile either so feel i should post something.

so, without further ado, here are some photos i posted on my blog yesterday, as well as a few more showing what i did last night.

this piece is not complete, obviously, but it's a vintage lace covered glass-like dish of sorts with a lid. next post you can see it's purpose, but the glassy front felt eye-glass-esque and befitting for the title of the book.

this is a handle of sorts that serves a purpose that will soon be revealed.

just a bit of detail -- some crystal beads.

detail of another part of a page (told ya i'm being obscure!):

more pretty little beads. these are from the 1940s and are ever so pretty and somewhat shiny.

replicas of late 1800s train tickets, proving that the lovely couple (see deb's previous posts if you don't know what i'm talking about) got out and about in the world.

part of a collection of mementos and trinkets collected along the way. this button is from one of her dresses. i got two of them from my mum years ago and they were actually from the late 1800s, right when the story takes place. i couldn't resist splitting the pair so deb could have one in her book.

another peek at some of the treasures...

if you can tell me what this is, i'll give you a buck (close up detail of something special).

part of a pocket. i am not in love with this yet so i will either add to it or recreate it. i keep vacillating about this piece.

i made this out of candle wax, an old chinese coin, copper paint and a baby wipe. it's part of a collection of goodies to go into the above pocket.

a glimpse of a portion of the front of what the above wax seal is on.

i'm not sure where yet, but i MUST use this eye-glass looking lens. it has a five on it which represents the five of us who are working on each others books. such a lovely old lens!


that was my previous obscure post from my blog. last night, i got lots more done... and will show things a little more "finished".

this is the camio shown above that fits into the round glass-like "box" shown above. okay, it's a petri dish. shhhh. i've aged vintage lace, ribbon and fabrics. around the edge, you will see little metal "bits". these are pins -- like the kinds used for sewing. i had to cut them in half with wire cutters as they were initially too long but i wanted some extra detail around the edges. i think i'll add more.

no project is complete (for me) without a wee bit o' crackle! you can see it WAY better in the enlarged version of this photo.

sometimes i get my heart set on something without thinking. i aged these old hinges for days in vinegar only to find (once they were perfect) that they were way too big. whoops! i'll use them in another project of course, and have already come up with an alternative idea for this.

this is a special little bottom part on the main page:

...it's the top of a compartment, hinged with leather from a vintage dress (it wasn't mine!) and old metal bits. i made this box out of foam core and lots of other things and part of the lid warped. it will be fixed and flat by the time i'm done, thus less "gappy".

the flap door opens up to reveal a pretty little black velvet lined compartment, but i'm not going to tell you what will be living in the compartment yet.

with any luck, i should have this completed within the next week or so and will have LOTS more photos and perhaps a video too -- debs is such an inspiration and had the most fantastic idea. it will help to reveal how things unfold, move, etc., i think.

Debrina's Finished Contribution to Roots Beneath the Layers

Debrina's latest update....Roots Beneath the Layers....

Heavenly....

Reality...

Before the chains of the well lead to ....

Hell

(note - since this photo, a skull has been added to the lower blue panel)

Lifting the shroud....

The tree....finished...pages turn to reveal the pages shown above...

Layers and...

layers...

Ok, lots of lovely photos, but I better fill you in now on my thought processes to date.  Last time I posted about this book, I talked a little about the Anglo Saxon belief in Yggdrasil - the World Tree.  This mythological construct comprised of three parts: Asgard - the Upperworld (Heaven), Misgard or Middle Earth (our subconscious existence) and Hel (Underworld) see my last posting for more detail on this.

When Rome invaded Britain, it also brought with it Christianity.  Christianity by-passed the Anglo Saxons for some time, however.  Then, during the early Dark Ages, it slowly began to break down the resistance of the upper echelons of society and many conversions took place. Incredibly, and maybe somewhat surprisingly, the Saxon belief system was not lost during the conversions; instead, it was assimilated and in a sense preserved.  In my pages (the first three you see) - I have tried to illustrate this assimilation and evolution.

These last photos, below, show how I have begun to look at these Anglo Saxon constructs in more detail...

So, the shroud photo to the left of the tree will develop more to reflect this....

Love Debs

Kim's final contribution to Lisa S. 'labyrinth' book

Or how to avoid importing a biohazard!

Further research into New Zealand's importation of living or once living items has caused me to reconsider my pages for Lisa's book.
On reflection I realised that in order for the book to continue on it's merry way without risk of rejection by customs I needed to rehash my piece in Lisa's book 'Labyrinth'. Determined to keep with my theme of exploration of natural labyrinths in nature, I opted for a little makeover and have finally finished it all!

Welcome to the labyrinth of the Tree.

A year in the life of a tree.

Spring and the unfurling of new leaves and the contrasting colour of new brown bark.




Of course the cabinet remains, but more of that later!



On to autumns golden decay and the inner structure of the leaf revealed.




Summers green dress...



the page spread.

Underneath...



the living tree


and a pocket to place items gathered from nature.




The bones of the tree revealed by winters cold breath.

and the page opened out.




But, then there's the cabinet door...

Where fossils have been created to display the wonderful natural labyrinths found in nature.




And you can still touch!


The full page spread as it appears in the book.

If you would like to read more about all the juicy creative details, jump on over to my blog.
I'd love to see you there.