All Boxed UP

All Boxed Up

For those who occasionally imbibe, or for your friends who drink while they write, “All Boxed Up” is a selection of blank journals created from either recycled beer or wine boxes.  Each journal is hand stitched to the back cover with a Japanese-stab-binding and a Tyvek hinge spine. Join us this evening from 6-8pm for a glass of wine while perusing the “Tossed and Found” show at Main Street Art Gallery in Edwardsville, IL. I had a chance to see the show this morning while Kathryn was still moving things into place; and I must say that the objects in the show, created by eighteen different artists, are is not only beautiful, thought provoking and well crafted, many are a LOL hoot to look at!

It's in the Bag

It's in the Bag

Along with the two conceptual books "Off with Their Heads" and "The Old Brown Cow and Other Moosings," two sets of consumer based journals were also created for the "Tosssed and Found" show at Main Street Art Gallery in Edwardsville, IL opening 6-8pm on April 2, 2010.

The photos above are examples of the first set, “Its in the Bag,” blank journals that were bound with covers made from un-recyclable, stitched and padded, plastic bags reclaimed from our big black trash can before it was set out for collection early one Friday morning. The manure bag was rescued while sorting through our potting shed while looking for a leaf rake. Even the bindings are recycled. The black book spines, for example, were taken from the tear-off tops and bottoms of cat litter bags; while the red chain-stitch threads that originally stitched the bags shut are now sewn into the journal spines with a Japanese-stab-binding. My husband has learned not to ask why. Once I began pulling bags and boxes from our trash can and saving them in a stack in my studio, my husband kindly started leaving empty bags and boxes in the kitchen on the dog kennel for me. Little presents waiting until I arrived home.