beneath the dogwood

pink, green and the clearest blue

new leaves like small wings

Friday - Binding the Books

It was cool and breezy today.

The dogwood is turning from blossom to leaf.

After running some errands and a visit to the laundromat

I spent most of the afternoon working on my little books.

It's officially called April.

My binding skills are rusty so I apologize in advance

to anyone who may receive a copy!

Tiny imperfections...

Two copies started, four more to do.

The book block will be glued in last.

I hope to have them done by the end of the weekend.

Happy Friday!

Saturday - Little Tunnel Book

 

An afternoon spent assembling the pages of my little tunnel book.

I'm terribly out of practice but after a few tentative attempts 

it all felt familiar again.

When doing a small edition I like to work in sequential steps; 

first cutting all the pieces, then folding them all, before gluing them in place.

A couple of hours later all six are now waiting to be bound.

Whew!

Friday - Dogwood Nature Prints

This morning I took advantage of the bright sun on my windowsill

and used Nature Print paper with Dogwood flowers.

I had to pop the screen out to get enough sun (keeping a close eye on Sophie)

and arranged the flowers on a board with a piece of glass on top.

After exposure the prints are put into a water bath for about a minute

and then set to dry on a board covered with newsprint.

When the flowers are first removed their image is blue but the water bath

reverses the color.

Some books I made years ago with the papers.  

The old prints are a much deeper blue, I think my stock of paper is old.  

Doesn't matter...the  faded color is just as lovely.

I plan to use some for bookmaking and some will be sewn along their

top edges to create a curtain like effect as shown in the first two photos.

How pretty they will look hanging in a breezy window.

Happy Friday the Thirteenth!