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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Emerging from shadow

I have called this book "Emerging from shadow" as that tells the story of the past few months and the sense of movement I tried to create as you move through the book.


I kept wondering what story I could tell with dark pages. It took me a while to realise I wanted to move from darkness to light and that that would be my storyline. On our first day together I got stuck into the idea and worked a line of dark grey running stitch across the bottom of each page.  I then selected seven embroidery threads that moved from dark to light colours and wove them into the stitching - gradually lightening up until the last page is threaded with a light gold colour.


And then I got stuck!

Then next light bulb moment was to select some Latin words for darkness and some for light.  I am not fond of using text and language I don't understand or know; but I feel that Latin lies at the heart of our english language and is a close relative and that feels OK.  I had 12 pages to play with and two covers. I chose 10 dark words and 4 light words. That was the right balance for the last wee while.

I was playing around with some letters I had left over from a project in 2003 (I know I'm not alone in hanging onto things just in case...) and was lucky enough to be able to spell the two cover words - Tenebrae (darkness) and Ignis (light).  I chose to gild the back cover word with gold leaf; but leaving little bits of dark still.



That became a theme to play out - to make sure that even in the dark parts there was some light; and even when there was light, there was still some darkness. Life is like that.

I wrote the words in metallic inks - again the early dark words are darker, the first two light words are lighter, and the final light word 'lux' is gold.




I kept trying to work out how to introduce Susan's other papers and just couldn't. I wanted to. I felt I needed to. I felt I should. But in the end I just had to listen to the book. Susan's papers were golden and lighter; but I needed to add more dark. Which was unexpected but nonetheless felt right.  I chose to add black paper to the dark pages, gradually reducing the amount of black as I moved through the book.

I added some embossed marks and some silver and gold leaf, marking each page with a cross and journey lines; two marks which I have used in quite  a few books previously.  They are personal marks about my journey, my life, my home...



Finally I chose to stitch it in a very simple pamphlet stitch; but using two strands of each of the embroidery thread I had woven into the running stitch. Once again I had planned to do something different (black and gold) and at the last minute it told me to do otherwise, so I did and I'm pleased I listened!









16 comments:

  1. Chills on my arms.
    Reminding myself to breathe.
    Tears streaming down my face.
    Touched to my soul.

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    1. J - I am so moved by your words, I have none of my own. Thank you for feeling this book this way. Thank you.

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  2. It's beautiful. So rich. Well worth the struggle (though that's easy for me to say!)

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    1. Thanks Jac - it is rich and warm in the end I think - not so dark after all perhaps.

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  3. Beautiful. Thank you for "walking" us through each step of your process.

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    1. Hi Helen, I'm glad you like it. It feels good to tell the story of the book - even tho it will tell its own story as well

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  4. Yes, Fiona...this is such a rich beauty! I love the Latin and the beautiful calligraphy and so appreciate hearing the process and the struggle. Wonderful lesson in listening!!

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    1. HI Patti - so true about the listening. So often when one tries to impose one's will on a piece filling the process with 'should' it is struggle. When you let go and just listen - ahh the relief is palpable. It's a fine balance for me - to keep pushing thru as if to meet a challenge and to not slip back into the comfortable - as opposed to the banging my head against a wall and ignoring the quiet calls that say - this is me. But what great way to live!

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  5. I love the landscape format of this dark beauty Fiona and it looks so tactile that I want to pick it up and rifle through it for myself. The text is so right and this gorgeous book certainly has metamorphosed from the darkness into the light.

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  6. Thanks Lesley - it does actually feel lovely and invites picking-up I think! It has found its way from dark to light and is warm and rich now. Thank you for liking it...

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  7. Wow, such a beautiful deep piece. I think the thought process was a piece of art in itself. Loving crosses myself - I love the small embossed one in the end and the textural difference between the threads and the dark paper. LOVelY

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    1. Thank you Suzie - the thought processes ca be like mystery novels themselves can't they? So many twists and turns...I'm glad you enjoyed the marks and the texture. Go well

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  8. About a month ago I made my first book too... though I used a blank journal book.. I filled my with collage papers and text dealing with memory.. and I also moved the text and words from a dark place to a light place.. so I connected with your book right away. I am planning to post my book some day too. your book is lovely.

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    1. Hi Donna - I look forward to seeing you brook! Transitions and memories can offer so much in terms of creative explorations can't they - a well of opportunities.

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  9. Simply beautiful Fiona. Like the others - it has been lovely to be taken through the process and understand your heart thought as well as the emotional response in your book. I am lucky to have been able to hold this book and there is more there that the camera does not capture. The richness and depths of the papers look like they were orchestrated for your words, and your journey. I love the simplicity of your place and journey marks but best of all, I love the way this book feels and handles, and the way you made the cover which just made it -PERFECT. And, because I am not the 'words' person - I actually love that you wrote in Latin and not english because that gives me more to ponder as we move from darkness into light. Like a mystery ........

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    1. Susan - thank you so much for all that you offered and contributed to this book. It is a truly shared experience and reflection. My camera work is sadly lacking and the light changes everything - but it is rich and warm and deeply lush all together. Yes, the Latin works for the hint of language rather than the direct - yet remains accessible and not 'appropriated' which I am not comfortable with. Go well.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.