Book–Pussy Willow Song

The book cover is made of three pieces of embroidered hardware cloth. The code of the cover is the word willow. Three Salix cuttings were bound together and then bound to the book cover.
Pussy Willow Book 01A

Pussy Willow Book 01B

Pussy Willow Book 01C

Pussy Willow Book 02

Pussy Willow Book 03

Pussy Willow Book 04

Each page is a piece of textured paper with a slightly wider sheet of green paper.
Pussy Willow Book 05

I used a modified Masonic cipher for the code. I made the texture by rolling each sheet diagonally (corner 1) around a piece of dowel. Removed the rolled paper from the dowel. Folded it in half, then pressed the folds together. Rolled the paper diagonally (corner three), folded each direction. The result is a grid of diamonds.

Pussy Willow Book 06

Pussy Willow Book 07

Note Envelope
Pussy Willow Book 08

Pussy Willow Book 09


Pussy Willow Song Wallpiece

My Salix has catkins. When I was looking at them, I remembered a song I learned in school when I was a child. I suspect the song would be banned in most schools today.

I do have a tendency to perseverate. To attempt to rid myself of the Pussy Willow song I made the wallpiece and I am working on a book with the song in code.

Pussy Willow Song WP1

I have an old version of Flash that I use for layout. I like that I can make code symbols that can easily be replaced. I printed the layout and used it for piercing and reference.

Pussy Willow Song WP2A

Used a modified Morse Code–short lines for dots, long lines for dashes. Had the ide of connecting the lines for each letter, and for each word.

Pussy Willow Song WP2B

Pussy Willow Song WP3A

Bound Salix cuttings to the background to break up the text a bit.
Pussy Willow Song WP3B

Bound the catkins to the background with the hope of preventing them from falling off.
Pussy Willow Song WP4

The only space left in my office that was long enough for the piece.
Pussy Willow Song WP8

Note envelope attached to the back of the piece.
Pussy Willow Song WP9

The notes regarding scale are a bit messy. Originally I had another piece of paper glued to the notes. I thought about writing out the lyrics, but decided not. When I removed the paper there was a bit of glue residue left. It prevented the lead from making clear marks.
Pussy Willow Song WP9

It is a bother. I suspect I will erase the lot, remove the bit with glue and rewrite the notes.

Materials–Used packing envelope, paper, fiber, pussy willow cuttings.

Scale–30.5″ x 12″ x .5″ without hanger. The addition of the hanger adds approximately 7″.


Oxalis

Oxalis is considered an invasive plant by the California Invasive Plant Council.

A portion of our garden is covered with the plants. Not planned, just happened.

Oxalis

I cut a few to dry and use in a piece. The flowers are lovely with a sweet, subtle fragrance.

I had a few buds left. Popped them in a small vase of water. Three days later they opened and are still opening during the day and closing at night.

Oxalis

The plants also have interesting foliage.

Oxalis

If the flowers are dried in my microwave flower press they become a golden color. When dried in my flower press between layers of blotter paper and cardboard they retain most of their yellow color.

The leaf is nearly dry; the flower completely dry.

Drying Oxalis