Japanese Style Books (2)

On the left, are the stencils (positive and negative) based on caladium leaves that I used with Chinese paper to make pages for a pouch-style Japanese book.

Here are some of the resulting stencilled pages, using Paintstix. They are drying off and will be ready tomorrow. Because the stencils get very grubby, I have been using each stencil twice, then putting it aside for 24 hours before using it again. I now have enough double pages to bind nd this afternoon ferreted in my collection of fabric (bought) and samples (woven by me) for something suitable for the cover. 

 I found a piece of silk which was warp and weft ikat dyed with indigo. The ikat is not at all well done but the fabric is nice and so I decided to use it.  It has been ironed and had fusible lining ironed on. Tomorrow I will press all the pages and then bind them together before adding the cover. This book is intended as an example for a class in how to make Japanese style books. It will be done 'properly' but the paper is not terribly useful and so the class will make a book with Western paper. 

I have completely the warping up and checking on the Megado. Four crossed threads and one on the wrong shafts. Not too bad out of 1600 threads. The crossed threads have been corrected but I need to get in amongst the shafts to tie on a new heddle.

Not yet tidied up or finally tied on but the colours are obvious. It is 15.5 inches wide to give some idea of the scale.

I have also been re-reading Hannah Hinchman which I find very cheering and two books by Bailey Curtis, each containing details of six textile artists. I was surprised to realise that I was just flicking over the two artists who worked in monochrome. I have never thought of myself as a colour person and yet - - . The other thing I have done is buy myself a three month subscription to Design Matter' TV where you can watch (on your computer - this is web-based) video tutorials. I have only watched one so far - on using bleach. It is very well done and I could easily have a go myself after watching it.