April 2022 - Bumper Double Post Part 2

 Our April meeting took place on Saturday 29^th, again on Zoom.  It was particularly lovely surprise to have Karenna join us for this – we’ve really missed her! – and to catch up with everybody’s news - book-related and otherwise! 

Our theme for this meeting was ‘Hope’ which seemed particularly appropriate, given the events that have happened since our January meeting, and once again it was fascinating to see how the theme had inspired different makers in very different ways 

Pat Duncan’s book followed a plant from hopeful seed planting to full bloom and included a surprise pop-up and a little packet of seeds to ‘grow your own’ version!

Margaret Beech took a favourite quotation ‘Hope is an obligation’ and used it to create a folded out structure, decorated with paper she designed using the ‘My Word Art’ app.  The repetition of the words makes the whole piece feel like a real affirmation of hope.

Janet Ashmore used a fan structure and the very dry humour of Flanders and Swann to ‘celebrate’ the British weather  - and one not-so-dry element in particular -  in ‘The Joys of our Year’.  (Janet even sang it to us herself!   If you missed it, clicking this link will take you to the original version Flanders and Swann - A song of the weather - YouTube )

Mari Harrison used lettering and collage in a side-bound book to think about different types of hope and when it might be needed most.

Ruth Rowland took inspiration from the words of her favourite poem ‘Ithaca’  by Constantine Cavafy. She used her own hand marbled paper, made during one of our ‘messy days’ and handmade paper to create a side bound, hand lettered book. 

Jo Duncan was inspired by a construction by Diane Bond, Mexican ‘nichos’ and personal shrines and included found objects and words by Emily Dickinson and Mother Julian of Norwich.

Janet Barnett found hope in the philosophy of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and used a 3D concertina box construction with origami inspired by Japanese thread books to create scenes from E.H. Shepard’s famous illustrations and some of Pooh’s wisest words.

We are delighted that after two and half years of 'remoteness' we are finally planning a face to face meet up in early August and members can either swap books in person on the day, or can opt to join in with the postal swap instead. 

Although we decided that we think what we do is really just 'nonsense with paper', it is a huge source of happiness to all of us and so our theme will be ‘Happy, Happiness or Things that make you Happy.' Here's to raising a cuppa to that in person!