roots beneath the layers: a peek at alicia's contribution to lisa j's book

i am finally nearing the end of the first half of my last book, "roots beneath the layers", in the pulp redux collaboration. this is lisa jurist's book and i have LOVED working on it. thankfully i'm not done yet, but felt i should post a few photos to satisfy our wonderful viewers' expectations (we've been WAY too quiet in pulp-land)!


because i was the last person to work on lisa's book and will not have to send it overseas, i took the liberty of including lots of natural bits that i collected from around my yard and neighborhood, and some farther corners of the state of oregon and washington. all bits and pieces have been hand-picked and hand-dried by me, with the exception of a few of the twigs. AND, i hand-stitched every little bit of this -- not a single machine stitch included.



think of my contribution of alice in wonderland collides with nature, a sprinkling of steampunk, a potential hint of taxidermy and many, many secrets. looking at the sides of the pages reminds me of walking through a forest as a young girl.



"alice", the girl in this image, is on a secret door. i've been working on this for a very long time and just last night my husband realized the large compartment under her image was there. i thought that was pretty funny that he didn't notice it until now. other secret nooks and crannies hide in the pages too. i hope lisa can find them all.



to see more photos and some of the secrets, check out my blog: http://alteredbits.wordpress.com

x

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.

So Ya Wanna Touch!- Kims contribution to Lisa's book Part 2

Last time I left you we were in the labyrinth with the Minotaur!

If I left you feeling a little anxious last time about what would be following that post, well then relax. This time we're going for a wee walk with mother nature.






It isn't everyday you get told you can touch, now is it?


This section of my contribution to Lisa's book relates to man's constant use of nature as inspiration in art.

How we view it, reproduce it and the inspiration it provides us.


i have woven in a little copper wire...



Some found poetry...




a little celtic knotwork...




made to look like old plaster...




Some items from my garden...





and...

a wee doorway to...






open if you dare...





and inside...




the labyrinths of nature...



caught and captured in a resin heart.

and yes...




you really can touch!

If you would like to know more about the story behind these pages pop on over to my blog for the inside scoop!