Forest/Axe Work in Progress

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.

Forest Axe Pages

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.


First Sentence

Forest Axe Page 1

The Forest

Forest Axe Page 2

Was

Forest Axe Page 3

Shrinking

Forest Axe Page 4

But

Forest Axe Page 5

The Trees

Forest Axe Page 6

Kept

Forest Axe Page 7

Voting

Forest Axe Page 8

For The Axe

Forest Axe Page 9

.


Second Sentence

Forest Axe Page 10

For The Axe

Forest Axe Page 11

Was Clever

Forest Axe Page 12

And

Forest Axe Page 13

Convinced

Forest Axe Page 14

The Trees

Forest Axe Page 15

That

Forest Axe Page 16

Because

Forest Axe Page 17

Its Handle

Forest Axe Page 18

Was Wood

Forest Axe Page 19

It Was One

Forest Axe Page 20

Of Them

Forest Axe Page 21

.

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
Pages Weighted

Forest Axe Brown Pages

Forest Axe Green Pages

Forest Axe Pages


Forest and the Axe Book

This was a test to determine if pages with only one of two punctures for binding will stay in place. Also wanted to test an accordion fold for the binding. I like that the accordion fold could offer a pause in the content. Definitely will use the technique in the future, maybe when binding the Axe book.

What is the Axe book? 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.

Why the title Lost Memories? When you open the book it becomes apparent that all of the pages are without code or text.
Lost Memories 1

The code is layered with Lost horizontally and Memories vertically.
Lost Memories 2

Left approximately 12″ at the start of each section with the idea that I would macrame the lot together.
Lost Memories 3

Possible pause in content.
Lost Memories 4

Pocket on the last page of the book contains the title and a list of materials.
Lost Memories 5

Materials–paper, rust paper, roofing felt, fiber.
Scale-4″ x 6″ x 1.0625″


Book–No Regrets

Cover Code–”No” on the left side, “Regrets” on the right side.

Stitched a small magnet into each corner for the wrap around closure.

Book Closed

Book Open

Code on Interior Pages–Don’t let the past take your future.
The quote is from the Joe Coomer book, Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God. It is one of my favorite books. He also wrote Pocketful of Names, and One Vacant Chair. All have an interesting female character who also happens to be an artist.

Book Open

A single letter is embroidered on each page.
The code for each letter and punctuation is embroidered in grey on cream packing paper with a rust patina and mounted on brown packing paper.

Code is the Letter F
Code for the letter f

Code is a Period
Code for the period

The spacers are embroidered in cream on brown packing paper with a rust patina and mounted on cream packing paper.

A Spacer

Green painters’ paper separates each word and lines the book.

Book From Above

The pocket near the last page contains a note about the work.

Pocket for Notes

The scale is roughly 3.25″ x 4″ x 3.25″.
Materials–Paper, fiber, tree wrap, metal, CMC, PVA, magnets.

The paper used had metal bits placed on and or pierced through the surface. A sodium solution was applied to encourage rust and salt crystals on the surface. A solution of CMC was applied to each page to protect the surfaces.

A few Details–
Detail 1

Detail 2

Detail 3

Detail 4

Detail 5


Acquire Habit Book

Quote used–To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all of the miseries of life.
Symbols for Code

Acquire Habit

Closed Book

Acquire Habit

Spine

Acquire Habit

Acquire Habit
Acquire Habit

Detail–Twine Between Layers of Tissue Paper, with CMC

Acquire Habit

The pages were folded and glued together with CMC.

Acquire Habit

The pages were bound with the raw edges to the inside and the fold on the outside.

Habit

Acquire Habit

Miseries

Acquire Habit

Pocket with Notes

Acquire Habit

Acquire Habit

Materials–Paper, paste paper, cotton thread, jute twine, CMC, Double-sided Tape.
Tape was used because wet glue ruins certain surfaces.

Scale 5.25″ x 4″ x 2″


Regret Book Completed

There are two thing that matter. The thing you did that cannot be undone. The thing you did not do, that you should have done.

Regret
Regret Book

There are two things
Regret Book

that matter
Regret Book

. The
Regret Book

thing you
Regret Book

did that
Regret Book

cannot
Regret Book

be undone .
Regret Book

The thing you
Regret Book

did not do,
Regret Book

that you should
Regret Book

have done .
Regret Book
Regret Book
Regret Book

Materials–Paper, bamboo and cotton fiber, rust, CMC, PVA.
Each page is 4.75″ x 3.75″; closed book is 5″ x 4″ x 1.5″

With Each Passing Day, Memories Fade Book

I am using the quote on a wallpiece in progress. Bought heavy cardstock for book covers. This little book was my first attempt. The cardstock is 110 lb. Really too thin for when I start making larger books. My plan is to use my favorite old studio shirts, rips and all, as book cloth.

With Each Passing Day Book
With Each Passing Day Book
With Each Passing Day Book
With Each Passing Day Book

Spacer
With Each Passing Day Book

Left page–With; Right page–Each
With Each Passing Day Book

Left page–Passing; Right page–Day
With Each Passing Day Book

Left page–Comma; Right page–Memories
With Each Passing Day Book

Left page–Fade; Right page–Period

With Each Passing Day Book

Left page–Spacer; Right page–Pocket for Note About Work

With Each Passing Day Book

With Each Passing Day Book
With Each Passing Day Book
With Each Passing Day Book
With Each Passing Day Book

Pretty sure the next code I use, will be based on dots and dashes of Morse Code. I would like to fill the pages with text.

This code is nice because it has one symbol for each letter. In Morse there are dots, dashes, and combinations of one to four for each letter. Numbers contain five, and punctuation six.

Update
Didn’t like that the inside strips were glued. Stitching is a better idea.

Text
Text

Materials–Paper, Rust, CMC, Archival Glue, Cotton Fiber
Scale–9.7cm x 13cm (19cm with tie closure) x 1.5 cm

Post on Rusted Paper Process


Work in Progress–Regret

Regret–There are two things that matter. The thing you did that cannot be undone. The thing you did not do, that you should have done.

Work in progress. The pages have been sealed with CMC and will be affixed to a never ending accordion book.

Regret
Regret
Regret
Regret
Regret
Regret
Regret

September 20, 2022
Assembled and Drying

Regret

The quote is from the film Return to Montauk.

Materials–Paper, bamboo and cotton fiber, rust, CMC, PVA.
Each page is 4.75″ x 3.75″.