Things circular

When last in Scotland I purchased four double, dos-a-dos accordion books that I thought maybe I could use for an exchange of sorts. When I received them I realised they were way too big to post back and forth, and would take a very long time to fill, so instead I decided to gift three to my friends and keep one for myself.

When we got together recently we decided we would all simply try to fill the book, and we would check back and see how we went in a year's time.

Far less pressure than a monthly exchange!

But because there are four parts to the book and because I am me, I have been pondering what to do, where to start, how to start, what to focus on and the like. None of that pick up a tool and make a mark and we're off!

Interestingly I came around to the notion of circles. I think I was wandering through Pinterest randomly and a series of circles caught my eye. And then I saw them everywhere. And then I thought I might spend time with circles for a bit.

So I collected images of circles that appealed.

 

 I collected thoughts or quotes about circles, and explored their symbology and what circles mean. I also just sat and thought of things circular.

I settled on circles and the sense that they can portray wholeness, completion or perfection (less on the perfection side) and also that they can be thought of as timeless, and endless with no beginning and no end...

Other options included - circles of protection, circles of friends, running around in circles, circling back  and so on. I must admit it was an interesting concept to dive into - so many ways of thinking about circles!

Once I knew the thinking around circles I was trying to explore, I tried to sort the images a bit. Whilst I love multiples and a grid, these weren't really speaking to me of the wholeness or perpetuity of a circle. Hold them over for another time.

These were differing designs...

 

And these were different techniques...

I ended up selecting ones I thought may play a part in the evolution of this part of the book, and cut them down and stuck them in my journal with a few notes to self alongside.

I will take both the books with me to Scotland and see if I make some progress there... 

Arrival...

 We have landed safely at the cottage and are settling into our rhythms and routines. Spring is being tempestuous and still hasn't settled into a reliable sense of warmth or steadiness, but we are enjoying the moments in all weathers.

Here is a compilation of our first week - some of the things we love and enjoy.

As we drove North.

The cottage.

The daffodils - one (or more) of every sort that is flowering at the moment.

The first of the lambs are arriving...

Hanging with our friends...

A drive along past Ben Hope.

And as ever, the light, the light! 

Morning walk sun showers...

'tis good to be back...

The second book of silences (2)

Once again, the light is hard to get right here at home and the book looks duller here than it does in real life. In real life there is a softness, not a heaviness.

 And we begin again from the middle - where the silent pages rest quietly.

This spread gives such contrasting silences, with much to ponder.

More silent pages, slowing us down, making us feel and listen to the silence.

And yet more silences.

And yes, much gratitude once again.

I like how the soft Japanese paper almost muffles the book at the ending.

And further evidence of the lighting issues - here is one packaged looked light and bright and beautiful!

So, the books of silences are complete. I have enjoyed having a self-initiated, not-for-profit, community collaborative project to pursue for the past year or more.  It has been a gentle thing to be doing; it has tested my brain and made me practice a lot of things which now feel less daunting each time I do them. I will take a break from this sort of project for a bit now, and turn my mind back to making some jewellery; and a couple of ideas and works I have had burbling away in the back of my brain. 

The second book of silences (1)

 So... the second book of silences is complete!

I have also managed to wrap, pack and post those that need posting. Once again, posting to the US proves challenging as we negotiate tariffs, non tariffs and all the rest, so I have sent them off with my very best wishes and hopes!

I wanted to show the books in full, so have created two blog posts; this one and the next one so that all of the pages can be viewed without creating a single, huge post of almost 30 images!

This is a book of silences and a second book of silences, side by side. I had thought at the last minute that I might add a second line of pen 'stitching' to the bottom (or the top) to differentiate them, but when I tried to do it it looked really awful, so I quickly retreated from that thought. Instead, they look the same on the outside, but differ on the inside.

Siblings.

I tossed up between a book of silences ii; and a second book of silences and went for the latter. So many decisions.

And straight away, the book offers you silence.

And little bit more silence, then a perfect silence.

I can feel myself in so many of these silences. Either acknowledging a shared silence; or seeking one I am yet to experience.

And we reach the middle of the book, we pause, with silence.

The rest of the book can be seen in the next post. It is nice to take time and read the silences slowly as well.

The silences

 I had such a lovely time making these books and spending time with the thoughts and words of my friends.

One of the most delightful things was the constant loveliness of the edges and the light and the pages and the covers...

Here is list of all the silences within, and a few images of some of them within  the book. In terms of design decision-making, I simply went with the silences in the order in which I received them. It seemed impossible to make a selection or decision based on anything else.

the silence of being awake at night beside a sleeping love

in our marriage a silence meant something needed to be addressed

quietly sitting in companionable silence with my lover and friend

as children we were told that if the radio fell silent, then someone had pressed the red button

the silence between the notes is also music

the hollowed-out silence of grief

a political silence (from most of australia)

in moments of silence i can hear myself gently exclaiming that i'm proud of you

when the silence of the inner world meets that of a cold moonlit night, i am at peace

moments when silence is all that i have to give

silence can sit quietly amidst noise

silence is a warm comfort blanket between the very best of friends

the silence o your own eyes in the mirror

the companionable silence when reading alongside each other

the silence of insults in the face of righteousness

i find my silence in stillness and inner quiet

One of the things I found most powerful and most moving about this project, was that each of the silences I received was one I would not have thought of, known or imagined.  It seemed to me our silences are unique and as a result quite personal and intimate.

I have collected and collated enough silences for there to be a second book, and the covers and pages are all cut, ready for when I can get around to setting type and printing.