I was looking through my copies of Letter Arts Review for inspiration when I came across an article by Jerry Kelly on Lloyd Reynolds.  The entire article is very interesting but I was particularly attracted by Lloyd Reynold’s idea for Weathergrams.
 The idea originally came from the Japanese tradition of attaching prayer slips to trees. Lloyd thought it would be nice to write a short verse (similar to a haiku) in calligraphy about some sudden insight.  This exposure to the elements would weather the verse (hence, Weathergrams) making it complete.
Llyod's  Weathergrams were made with kraft paper with a piece of twine attached.  I wrote my sayings with waterproof black ink, for obvious reasons, on a strip cut from a brown paper bag with a piece of twine attached.  Mine were about 24 cms by 6.5 cms and turned over 4 cms at the top.  They have two of my favourite quotes along with with my handmade cat lino cut print at the bottom having a sleep.  I gave the completed Weathergrams to my lovely friend Carol who has been such a delightful friend and a good influence this year.

This is my first real attempt at putting together a number of layers of calligraphy, mixed media and art in one piece of work.  It has been an interesting exercise. It requires a more adventurous spirit than I have had up to now.  I am tentatively pleased with the outcome.

This book by Erin Zamrzla has 28 projects that can be made from ordinary and re purposed materials.  The book I choose to make is a simple accordion book which doubles as a bookmark and a place to jot notes as you read.  It is absolutely perfect for books with numerous characters like Tolstoy's War and Peace.  It is also very handy if you belong to a book club making reporting to the group very easy.
I have used eco-prints as a decorative feature.

The author is Mari Ono, the subtitle is 24 Unique Oriental Projects, and was published in 2011.  The project that caught my eye was the Tsunokobako Box.  This is a traditional origami design for holding sweets or trinkets.  It is described as being so simple a small child could make it.  Maybe it is because I am not a small child that I found initially it was very difficult.
I made mine out of eco printed paper and then put into it some of the stones I had made when experimenting with lettering on stones. 

No. 1  Eucalyptus Leaves
Dos Rapporté binding
Leather binding, eco printed cartridge paper. Eco printed end papers.
210 mm x 155 mm x 30 mm

No. 2  Leaf Prints
Drum leaf binding
Hand printed handmade paper
195 mm x 145 mm x 10 mm

No matter how busy it is in the day with visits to nursing homes and organising the pack up of a lifetime of memories, there is still nighttime!  I have managed to produce another 4 pages of Masters of War by Bob Dylan.  Still enjoying it very much although I may have run out of ideas.  Just have to see.

I am very excited about my new project.  I have finished two drafts of the first four verses of Masters of War by Bob Dylan and I have ideas on presentation of the next four verses.  I hope that the ideas keep coming.  It has been good fun so far. 

Just when I thought that I had come to the end with the Eco Prints!  
I spent the last couple of days inside working on the Jacob's Ladder Box or Karakuri Bako or Trick Box.   I first read up on it in 'All Things Paper:  20 Unique Projects from Leading Paper Crafters, Artists, and Designers' by Ann Martin.  Cecelia Louie contributed her take on the Trick Box in Ann's book.  Cecelia calls it the 'Mysterious Stationery Box'.   Cecelia's directions are very good.  This box is fascinating and such fun too.

Well, it might not be very visible from these photos but when I put the papers on to make the box into a Jacob's Ladder box, I stuck them on the wrong way so that although the trick box works the papers are covering up the wrong compartments. 
So, then only thing to do was modify the box into a ordinary box with three compartments - with lovely eco printed covers and linings.
One thing about this exercise is that it is a good reminder that not everything goes smoothly or perfectly but that the results can be lovely nevertheless.
I am looking forward to attempting this box again.

I had thought that I had exhausted all the uses for my gum leaf eco prints but apparently that is not the case.  This is the first time that I have made tiny books so although it was a challenge it was also great fun to have succeeded.
The books measure 3.5 x 4 cm  (or 1.25 x 1.5 inches) approximately. 
The covers and the end papers are made from my eco monoprints.  The book block is one page (not much of a block) with a greeting on it.
If I finish them all there will be 60 tiny books. 

Had a lovely day (again) with Vicki and Bev.  Vicki generously shared her knowledge, showing us both how to bind a book using the Drum Leaf Binding method.  These books turn out similar to the ABC cardboard books that we all have known as children.  They open pretty flat which makes them great for artists books and have no stitching.

As usual grain is very important to ensure that the book ends up nice and straight.  We folded and pressed the pages (in my case I was using heavy water colour paper that I had eco printed - that would be a surprise!)
Pressing the pages was a very important part of this binding especially as my pages were not totally flat.  We then pasted the spine leaving it to dry. 

Putting a piece of scrap paper to cover the front and middle pages we applied about a 25 cm stripe of glue at the spine edge, then another stripe of glue to the fore edge.  The glued pages are then smoothed with a bone folder, put under weights at each gluing as well as at the end of the process.  Leaving the book block under weights we turned our attention to the cover.
The cover for mine was a bit problematic as the heavy weight paper I had chosen seemed a bit small for the book.  Luckily with a bit of stretching we managed to wrap it around the book block and glue it into place.  Unlike a child's book I left the deckle pages of my water colour paper as I rather liked that look of it.
Next time (to consolidate my learning) I intend to photograph the entire process.
It was great fun and I learned heaps again!  Thanks Vicki.