Just to get safety out of the way first.
The project took 52 hours.
Preparation was the first 9 chapters, taking lots of photos and the following notes. I decided to stop taking photos at the end of May as I thought I would end up with too much choice. Spring bursting forth is such an exciting time of year I could have carried on with photos well into July. Trouble is, by the time I put the book together autumn was about, a time of year I like possibly even more, so it was hard to think spring and spring colours!
I decided to draw and paint one side of my book different views with each one showing spring a bit more advanced. Looking at my photos I had lots of gates and stiles so they were my focus. To add a bit more interest I added a poem by William Barnes, a local poet. I had planned to use Thomas Hardy, a real favourite of mine and also local, but could find nothing suitable.
I chose to add signature books which related to the pages where I placed them.
Moss covered gravestones, winter still lingers.
Close up collages of spring flowers as the burst into bloom.
Just a couple of the creatures seen every day around the village.
For the second side I wanted to change the colours and decided to use spring flower colours, again showing springs progress by adding colours with each double page. I mostly used painted papers with a bit of influence from Klimt and Hundertwasser - after a great weekend in Vienna. I painted the hills first to get an idea of where colours should go.
Three of the pages had flaps. One had a wall, one hedging and one shadows. I added details seen around the village.
Then on to the covers. One side had footpath signs, with the colours changed, the other a map of the area.
The finished book.
To finish, a garland of ivy leaves wrapped round and secured with a button.
Now to get out my long neglected sewing machine!
