A NEW PAGE IN THE BOOK OF MARY

It is already the ninth day of 2012.  Mother Nature has spread her pristine white cloak over the land and brought winter to us.  Her shifts from mild to cold are her teasers that keep us hoping for warmer weather, sunshine, the first spring song of the songbird and green buds popping on the naked boughs of the trees.  The skaters are sharpening their skate blades in anticipation of the opening of the Rideau Canal (the longest skating rink in the world), so they can commute to work, have some fun with the family and enjoy a hot chocolate and beaver tail (a delicious pastry unique to Ottawa). 

I have been busy catching up on my reading - just finished The Golden Compass and making new creations.  Mother Tongue Books continue to carry my books.  I launched my first video, have my art hanging in a virutal gallery and my blog is now part of the Book Arts website at Syracuse University. 

NEW CREATIONS  

Following the Thread of a Thought:  Writer's Primer and Companion

There are three writer's primers in this sleeve.  Original drawings decorate the covers which are constructed of cotton rag Canal paper. 



The companion to the writer's primer is a floweret with a word or the beginning of a sentence on each petal.  This is the starting point for the free writing. 



The sleeve is constructed from book board, wooden letter press letters, spools of thread, dice  and wooden scrabble letters.

When the journals are full, the writer has the complete works in a decorative, protective sleeve.

ART

Holodeck Galleries (http://www.holodeckgalleries.com/) is a virtual art gallery that supports local artists.  My art is now hanging in the gallery. 

WATCHING

Black pigment and Indian Ink on 100 lb smooth Bristol paper

 FLORA DANCE

Black pigment ink on heavy watercolour paper

 RESPITE

Black pigment and Indian Ink on 100lb Smooth Bristol paper

TESTIMONIALS

"On behalf of the members of the Ottawa Book Collectors, I wish to thank you for your excellent presentation on Monday.  We are always most interested in the physical qualities of the book as they developed over time.  And you are the first of our many speakers to assist us in creating our own books.  When showing my friends my miniature creation, thery were most intrigued and were very impressed by pictures of your beautiful pieces."  Bernadette Walker, President

"Thank you for the lovely handcrafted journals, as gifts for speakers, tailored to our event.  Your creative touch has personalized an often difficult item to choose and I know it will be much valued." Tanmayo Krupanszky, Special Events Organizer, Canadian Organic Growers Association, Toronto, Ontario

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to Laura at Mother Tongue Books, 1067 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON http://www.mothertonguebooks.ca/ for carrying my books.

I met Allison, Jamie and Lois this past summer when volunteering with a filmmaker.  They have become friends.  Special thanks to Allison Flowers http://allisonflowers.bandcamp.com/  and Jamie Myland http://ca.linkedin.com/in/jamiemyland for creating the beautiful video for me.

Special thanks to Lois Siegel, http://siegelproductions.ca/, for posting my art and video on her website. 

Special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for his royalty free music "Opportunity Walk" http://incompetech.com/ which was used with the video.

Special thanks to Jacinta at Holodeck Galleries www.holodeckgalleries.com/collections for creating a beautiful page at the Gallery for my art. 

Special thanks to Peter D. Verheyden, Book Arts Web http://www.philobiblon.com/ at Syracuse University  for posting my blog.