New Collage Book-Completed!

Collage book, 7" x 7" with a sampling of the completed collages 5" x 5"  (14 in all)

I like books. No doubt about that. But until I started making these collage books, I never really gave much thought to the structure of a book; how it was physically made or organized. And I certainly never considered how the book making process might affect my final feelings about reading or looking at pictures or about holding the book in my hands. Books, to me, have always been about ideas or stories or something that the author wanted me to know. They are about discovery and passing the time. Apart from how large the printing was or if there were pictures, I just sort of took things for granted; that the book had been made and it was now mine. Most importantly though, the book was not something I had made or written and so it wasn't personal to me. Making these books has given me quite the opportunity to make something personal and to learn a bit about myself in the process. 

During the making of this collage book, I did pick up a few ideas. I now know that the book is so much more than what I thought. For example, I didn't really consider, until I was finished, that the making of these collage books might tell a kind of story. The finished collages are narratives just like my regular full size collages. When I look at the collages, I consider having made the papers, what I was thinking, and how it felt to put all of the pieces together finally after a month of work. The book really tells the story of how those things felt to me. It also tells a story about my design ideas; a very strong story at that. Mark making, like writing or scribbling or making images with a pen, has never been a comfortable and confident thing for me. But with making this book, I sort of threw that idea out the window. Any kind of mark making became allowable. The collages also became a way for me to try out new color combinations and ideas. It became a way to tell a story about a kind of comfort level with doing things. And of course the book tells a big story about what I learned about the book making process.

A note about the stitching and structure of the book: 
Because I used watercolor paper for the pages, I couldn't really fold them neatly without difficulty. (They certainly would not have laid flat or have a good solid fold.) I decided to use a single page binding style to overcome the folding situation. I selected six holes for the pages which meant six needles threaded with yarn (a kind of unconventional thread choice which affected the look of the book). Each hole or "station" is individually sewn. I didn't properly tighten the covers enough so they are a little loose. Not perilously so but loose nonetheless. The thread had some give to it which adds to that issue. And lastly, I decided to use eyelets to give the holes on the covers some integrity. Using the eyelets was a very steep learning curve! Each book I have done so far has been a learning experience. Like, maybe I learn one or two things each time. But like anything that is undertaken, doing that thing over and over again should get a little better. (I hope.)

What I always hope is that anyone viewing the collages or books can decide for themselves what they like. I am sure they will too. Everyone can put their own story into what they see. And isn't that what a person does with a book anyway? We read (or look at pictures) and then filter those ideas or images through our minds and come to our own conclusions, hopefully. 

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