Made a code combining Morse and Clock. Short lines are used for dots and long lines for dashes. The code is–
Friendship is a sheltering tree. It is a Samuel Taylor Coleridge quote.
Plant materials are from my gardens. California Live Oaks have sharp and prickly leaves. The needles are from, I think it is the White Pine. They are also a bit prickly.
Materials–Plant material, paper, safety pins, fiber, PVA.
Scale–21.5” x 18.5” x .5”
Bound with a knitted I-cord and a large pine scale.
Bound Book from Above
Cover is a recycled packing envelope.
Code is Hope for Growth
Each page with bound pine seeds has a piece of tissue for a bit of protection.
The majority of the stitchwork is done in red fiber.
Code is Hope
Code is Hope in tree code based on Morse code.
Hope in Masonic cipher
Hope Line code based on Morse code.
For Growth in Tree code.
Matchbook packet for notes on work.
Pine Cone from One of the Trees in My Garden
Materials–Paper, fiber, pine bits.
Scale–Bound 5.5″ x 4.75″ x 1.25″
Quote Used–The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe. For the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because its handle was wood it was one of them.
When I realized the pages would become a thick book,
I debated about whether it should be a book or a wallpiece. This would have been the layout if I had decided to make a wallpiece.
The first sentence is constructed with green paper; the second sentence with kraft paper.
Because the project was always intended to be a book, I decided to emphasize the thickness by adding twigs for the binding. A twig was bound to each page (two pages back to back).
The binding references a stack of logs.
Originally, this was to be the last page. The code is a period, the end. It is appropriately juxtaposed with the acorn, the hopefulness of a new beginning.
Knitted Binding for the Acorn
Words throughout the book are separated by oak twigs.
The Forest
Left Page–Was; Right Page–Shrinking
Left Page–But; Right Page–The Trees
Left Page–Kept; Right Page–Voting
Left Page–For The Axe; Right Page–.
Left Page–For The Axe; Right Page–Was Clever
Open and Flat on Tabletop
Left Page–And; Right Page–Convinced
Left Page–The Trees; Right Page–That
Left Page–Because; Right Page–Its Handle
Left Page–Was Wood; Right Page–It Was One
Left Page–Of Them; Right Page–Note Envelope
Notes–Quote
Materials-paper, tree wrap, roofing felt, oak twigs, oak leaves, an acorn, fiber, and PVA.
Scale
8.5″ X 6.5″ X 8.5″ when bound
8.5″ x 6″ x 6.75″
I recently ran across a quote that definitely seems relavent today.
The quote is–The forest was shrinking but the trees kept voting for the axe. For the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because its handle was wood it was one of them.
I first thought about making a wallpiece using code with oak leaves and twigs. Just the code portion would have been 45″ x 16″, the addition of a border and frame would have made it more of a commitment of materials and time. Instead, I decided to use a book format.
The layout for the code in book format resulted in 21 pages. Each page is a folded sheet of drawing paper with a core support of a paper-covered piece of cardstock. Felt that the addition of twigs needed some extra support.
The first sentence I used tree wrap for the code with a green paper covered piece of cardstock. The second sentence I used roofing felt for the code and brown packing paper covered cardstock.
We have Coastal Live Oaks in our garden, but I dislike their leaves. They not only prick your skin, they embed and attach to it. I chose to use oak leaves that I purchased from Natures Pressed, an Etsy shop. I used the leaves in several projects; still have a good number left.
Currently the pages are roughly 7″ x 5″ and vary in thickness depending on whether there are twigs attached.
I unfolded the pages and applied CMC. The pages were left to dry overnight.
The Forest
Was
Shrinking
But
The Trees
Kept
Voting
For The Axe
.
For The Axe
Was Clever
And
Convinced
The Trees
That
Because
Its Handle
Was Wood
It Was One
Of Them
.
Today I used double sided tape, a mix of CMC and PVA to attached the paper covered cardstock inside the pages. The damp of the glue was not a good choice. The last nine pages I switched to using UHU glue. I wrapped each page in wax paper, placed in stacks of three, and placed inside a padded packing envelope. Then weighted with a heavy book.
I am leaning toward an accordion binding with each fold have three pages.
Pages Weighted
A Tree of Many Leaves of a Brachychiton
In 2018, I planted Brachychiton seeds from pods I found in the Home Depot parking lot.
Currently I have one of the potted trees in the foyer. Today I noticed the tree has numerous leaf shapes.
2022 May 15
Combed the back side of the coco blanket liner for easier removal of the book. Also applied PVA to the interior to secure the blanket in place. It was staying in with friction, but PVA will prevent the blanket from pulling out when removing the book.
Added to the fiber to cover a paper bowl (paper left over from another piece). After the bowl dries, I plan to do some stitchwork and code.
2022 May 16
Application of wax to seal the cardboard, soften the feel of the material, and to add some age. Once set, I will give the wax a buff.
The wax is soft, easy to apply, and does not have a harsh odor. It mixes nicely with a variety of materials.
Wax applied to the book covers.
2022 May 17
The application of wax gives the cover a softer feel.
Dimensions
Box–15cm x 10.5cm x 9.5cm
Book Closed–4cm x 11.5cm x 7cm
Book Open–129.5cm
Materials–tree wrap, glassine envelopes, oak leaves, linen thread, coco fiber, found wooden box, wax, PVA, prints, recycled paper and cardboard.
In mid December I checked out the green waste bin looking for potential art materials. Saw a sweet little oak cutting. I snagged it.
Looked like a wee stump with a few twigs. Thought that it might be fun to use in a piece. Popped it in some water hoping it would prevent it from drying out before I had an opportunity to look at it closer. It has been growing new leaves, no roots. Pretty sure this is not a tree that can be propagated in water.
Last week I moved it upstairs. I thought it would get better light during the day.
I totally forgot to water the little oak one day. It requires loads of water.
Unfortunately, it’s started to lose leaves and some of the twig-like branches died.
I pruned the dried dead bits.
I think the green section may survive. How, not sure.
This leaf gave me pause.
Nature offers amazingly beautiful gifts!
Melanerpes formicivorus (Acorn Woodpecker)
Visited our 40′ plus oak trees yesterday morning. I heard it before I could sort of see it. Really too far away to get a photo. Even though the photo isn’t great, it records when the woodpecker visited the garden.
Beautiful find when I exited the hospital. I had just completed a pulmonary function test. Feeling a bit high from the albuterol, so I decided to wander around in the parking lot a bit.
The shape is nice.
The bark is an amazing beautiful green.
The flowers are cheerful.
When I did a google image search, I hit on Cercidium-Parkinsonia. The images do appear similar. May or may not be the correct identification.
Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly
This is on my list of nurseries to visit.
Las Pilitas Nursery (Native Plants)
