I have to send Fragile Gains 1/3 off to the US tomorrow, so I really wanted to finish Fragile Gains 2/3 so that I could make sure it was as close to perfectly the same as 1/3 as possible for the edition.
That might sound a bit weird, but I had never set out to make an edition of this book, and so things evolved as they went along. I documented and recorded some of them, but not all of them. I never thought I'd have to make another one, so it didn't really matter to me that I knew exactly what I had done or how I had done it; I was happy to have made it.
The manner in which my work often evolves as well can be tricky - my notes might say I was going to try this, and I end up doing that and that and that, and then don't write it down.
For example, as as I went to photograph the two books this morning I realised that in 1/3 I had burned the front and back of the header on each page where the names of the book and chapter were; so there is nothing legible at the top of each page. If I hadn't kept 1/3 to check and compare with as I went along; I may well have forgotten to burnt out those extra letters in 2/3.
But the burning of the page has turned out to be the easiest part. Trying to recall exactly how I managed to do the binding was the hardest part. I spent an hour yesterday stitching then unstitching, then stitching again, and unstitching until I could replicate every step of the way. Etching the two aluminium covers is also a slow and painstaking task - and fraught with worry. I spent nearly an hour trying to soak and scrub the shells I had used to write the title off the aluminium.
Yet, despite all those concerns, here is an image I never imagined I would see - Fragile Gains x 2!
When open you can see the pages were the same to begin with and have a similar look to each other now they are finished.
And then I just got a bit carried away loving the transparency of the pages together…
Recognising the small variations that occur in anything hand-made, I am really happy that I have managed to edition this book effectively - one more to go and that will be it…
As a final PS - here is what I mean by etching the covers can be fraught; after preparing them and waiting ages for them to dry I etch them in copper sulphate. They never look pretty as you are doing it and at about this point I nearly panic…
That might sound a bit weird, but I had never set out to make an edition of this book, and so things evolved as they went along. I documented and recorded some of them, but not all of them. I never thought I'd have to make another one, so it didn't really matter to me that I knew exactly what I had done or how I had done it; I was happy to have made it.
The manner in which my work often evolves as well can be tricky - my notes might say I was going to try this, and I end up doing that and that and that, and then don't write it down.
For example, as as I went to photograph the two books this morning I realised that in 1/3 I had burned the front and back of the header on each page where the names of the book and chapter were; so there is nothing legible at the top of each page. If I hadn't kept 1/3 to check and compare with as I went along; I may well have forgotten to burnt out those extra letters in 2/3.
But the burning of the page has turned out to be the easiest part. Trying to recall exactly how I managed to do the binding was the hardest part. I spent an hour yesterday stitching then unstitching, then stitching again, and unstitching until I could replicate every step of the way. Etching the two aluminium covers is also a slow and painstaking task - and fraught with worry. I spent nearly an hour trying to soak and scrub the shells I had used to write the title off the aluminium.
Yet, despite all those concerns, here is an image I never imagined I would see - Fragile Gains x 2!
When open you can see the pages were the same to begin with and have a similar look to each other now they are finished.
And then I just got a bit carried away loving the transparency of the pages together…
Recognising the small variations that occur in anything hand-made, I am really happy that I have managed to edition this book effectively - one more to go and that will be it…
As a final PS - here is what I mean by etching the covers can be fraught; after preparing them and waiting ages for them to dry I etch them in copper sulphate. They never look pretty as you are doing it and at about this point I nearly panic…
REALLY COOL!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue - glad you enjoyed!
DeleteI absolutely love this work Fiona. The transparency of the pages is stunningly beautiful
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina - their transparency definitely makes it feel fragile - and I love the sheer beauty of those pages.
DeleteThis is so incredible!
ReplyDeleteThanks Connie Rose - a labour of love for sure, glad you can enjoy it!
DeleteLove seeing the laceyness of the books together - such a wonderful book and to do an edition is quite cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks Valerianna - I am quite chuffed at having managed to make an edition (of 2 so far, it will be 3). They look lovely together when you start looking thru the pages into the air…so light and lacy.
DeleteLove those shots looking through the lace effect to more lacey pages. It's great it 's going to be a small edition.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda - that is is such a lovely view isn't it? Like traditional lace-work in a way maybe? I am pleased I have been able to edition it; but am glad I decided to stop at 3!
DeleteVery, very beautiful, Fiona, and as others have said, the transparency of the pages is unbelievably gorgeous. A masterpiece, x 3!
ReplyDeleteVery very kind Carol - thanks so much. I really do love the laciness of these pages and get quite besotted by them. And honestly, it feels amazing to have two of them sitting there! Only one now, as the first headed to the US on Monday.
DeleteSomething about these pages reminds me of honeycomb and beeswax. Congratulations on making a second version. I love how you describe how things evolved away from the notes you had written. Happens to me all the time!!
ReplyDeleteThe pages evoke a range of things and senses don't they Annie? There is warmth there for sure like beeswax and honeycomb. I'm glad you can appreciate my process - I just head off and do a completely unanticipated thing and then because it sorted the problem, don't bother to write it down. You should see the notes on this one now!
DeleteReplicating a work of art is fraught with problems. You have enormous patience Fiona.
ReplyDeleteJo you nailed it - replication is definitely fraught with problems! I did sit myself down and talk to myself patiently as I went thru - knowing that I could solve the queries in my head because I had already done so once; so go gently and quietly not crankily; but I am very glad to only have one more to do!
DeleteThey are both stunning.I wish I had a fraction of your patience and attention to detail. Good luck with number 3!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lesley, I did need to dip into the patience-well for this one, but it feels good to have re-created it! Onwards and upwards for number 3...
Delete