Two (Simple) Books

Here are two recent books both in process.  Above is a simple Cinch binding sketchbook using  the "paint pick up" papers used in Jane Davies classes, using scrap cardboard for the covers.  Front has a recent sketch attached;  book is 9 x 12 x 1/2". 

 

 

 

 The second book is a color idea sketchbook, and is double recycled!  The paper was originally computer output paper, headed for the recycling bin.  I grabbed it and first used it as scratch paper for working (MANY) problems at Khan Academy.  Then these pages went into a Cinch bound notebook to hold collage for color ideas.  I thought of this as a way to declutter my stacks of magazines, keeping only favorite images and attempting to make interesting color combinations.  Still in progress, but really enjoying this:

 

 

 

 

Seeing these pictures, I realize I chose very similar colors for these pictures.  They aren't all like this but these are obviously favorite combinations.
Dimensions of this book are 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1/2".

Suggested Reading

So, here are two things I am sort of late to the party on:  One, electronic books.  I have been totally resisting, but was finally convinced of their sometimes usefulness one Sunday night --cold, dark, 12" of snow outside.  I wasn't going out even if the library was open--which it wasn't--but wanted a new murder mystery to read.  SO lovely to fire up the library software and browse under my nice quilt.

But the other reason for e books (sometimes, only sometimes) is the quality of the pictures.  I discovered an e book full of fabulous pictures--and then also discovered that I was REALLY late to this party. (The second thing.)    Humans of New York  Published over a year ago, and based on a very successful blog of the same name (HONY Blog), it is simply stunning.  The blog is about stories of all kinds of people in all kinds of places throughout New York, while the book is more about the photos.  And the photos are really magical electronically--total eye candy.   Humans in all their diverse, messy, surprising and inspiring glory--and some really fab clothes!  Dip into it when you are losing faith in humankind.  Its definitely on my "to buy" list.



“I invented a country called Manizao. It’s between India and China. The president is a girl named Mahava and she lives in a little red house that looks like The White House but it’s little and it’s red. And there are lots of beaches. My friend lives on one of the beaches. He’s a bird but he’s also a builder. He lives in a house that he built that is half beach house and half real house. I don’t know how he did it, but I think he glued them together. And kinda everywhere you look there is a restaurant. The most popular restaurant is called Savory Hello. Everyone in Manizao loves Savory Hello because they only serve savory things.”   From Humans of New York blog, April 1, 2015 entry.

And not quite so late to the party, I am a big Pope Francis fan.  Here is what he has to say on leadership, as interpreted through the Harvard Business Review:  The 15 Diseases of Leadership

Scrap Bag #8

As part of my spring decluttering, I am rotating what is on display in my house.  This is as good a time as any to show this square collage quilt, done in 2011.  Here is the full view:

And here is a detail

The piece is in two parts:  the inner collage quilt is 12" square, made from scraps, finished with a facing.  It includes free machine quilting.  It hangs in front of a larger piece that is 22 3/4" x 25" which includes both hand and machine quilting. 

This was part of a series made from scraps that involved lots of different experiments in hand sewing and how to hang these small pieces.  I think that this is the most successful one on both counts, and am enjoying having it up.  Maybe this will inspire me to resume some of these ideas.  (I sort of stopped doing fiber things as I've gotten deeper and deeper into paint/collage in my work with Jane Davies.)

First Signs of Spring

After a long hard winter--although nothing compared to upstate NY and New England!--we are having some lovely warm sunny days.  Yesterday I saw my first flower:

But mostly now its the beautiful beautiful light:

So nice to be home to enjoy it!

And in what I promise is NOT an April Fool's joke--but I have no pictures to prove it--a giant wild turkey walked past my window!  In the city!  Clearly enjoying the spring day!

Hope you are seeing some signs of spring wherever you are!