I 'saw' the cover of this book in my mind's eye as I was walking up on the flat roof of our house one evening: 5-paise coins in a harlequin pattern. My late, thrifty mother-in-law left a bag of coins behind. The smallest denominations have all been demonetised now, as inflation has taken their value away. But I like their varied shapes.
Making a little book like this -- 4.5" x 6.5" -- doesn't take much time, but I like to think lazily about how it should be, and how to go about it; to anticipate.
I cut the covers from an old book, and folded the pages. I used various inkjet papers in white and neutral colours. There are six sections/signatures. I painted, collaged and numbered the first page of each one. The third signature has an Urdu number 3, just to give the person turning the pages a little surprise, and a photograph I took of Badshahi masjid in Lahore. The Urdu text is a recipe for egg-and-tomato pulau, because I didn't want to tear a page out of a book of poetry.
I measured and punched holes, put eyelets in the covers, washed the coins and glued them on. Then I kept everything ready in a small basket -- covers, paper, curved needle, waxed linen thread.
Sewing the book took about 15 minutes. And now... what? It waits.
Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteA NY follower on twitter.
Best entry.
ReplyDeleteThe details, the absolute absorption in the making of the book from inception to completion, almost a palpable connect with all the objects involved ...
Truly awesome
and peace giving.
PS i have some 3 np coins somewhere
:)
What a wonderful inspiration, Nancy--I love the coins, too.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Now what? Fill it with drawings or poetry!
ReplyDeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteVery original.
I like it.
Charu
Lovely, reminds us why we love paper books over digital.
ReplyDeleteNow i see it... will try one too. each a unique page with a story of its own
ReplyDeletevery beautiful idea thank you for sharing Nancy love and peace in 2015
ReplyDeleteangelee