I recently made this long narrow book (5" by 13") meant to resemble a Tibetan Prayer Book. I made a couple of mistakes, such as cutting the cover too large. The paper is purchased handmade Lokta paper. It is made from the root of the Stellera chamaejasme plant.
Lokta paper was made in Tibet for centuries. The practice declined but has been revitalized by Paper Road/Tibet. It is now made in Lhasa and Nepal. I hope to fill the book with uplifting quotations and monoprints or collograph prints.
I am still trying to knit. I bought a new color yarn and hope to make a scarf. I have already goofed and mistakenly added on two extra stitches. I will only use the knitting stitch as when I knit/purl I am bound to make mistakes.Many of my paper wall hangings are falling down. The string which I glue onto the back has been slipping out, sometimes after several months of hanging. I tried a new method and a different glue and will have to wait and see. I think it might have been the YES paste which doesnt seem to be drying thoroughly. It is discouraging. I have used this method of hanging for years. Oh well.
27 comments:
Your Tibet papers are lovely, and I know the finished book will be a gem too. It already is.
You are knitting in the Garter Stitch! I love that bumpy feel.
Not to worry about your so called mistakes. To me mine give the piece character! If you want you can decrease (knit two stitches together) and get back to the original size; or not. Or do it and then do the increase somewhere later on and another decrease and it will look like it's on purpose. LOL Your own pattern!!! Have fun. It gets easier as you go. I taught myself and now I make more complicated things, but I still make mistakes and I rarely do over!
It' MY STYLE!!! ;-)
A great knit site for help is called: knittinghelp.com. they have videos that teach you how to do stitches, real people who answer your questions (quickly); and chat rooms etc. give it a look. It has been a life saver for me.
I'm surprised the YES glue is not holding.
Love this color green and it will make a beautiful winter scarf. I haven't knitted in years...like meditating...time just goes by and you have completed rows and rows.
thanks for posting about this paper...I've always thought it was beautiful and wonder how it would hold up to paint? I think I will give it a go....
as you say..wabi sabi...tis the best way...xx
I couldn never knit skillfully. I hope you have better luck than I did. I love the color of our yarn.
I also love that book. The papers are gorgeous. I don't think the covers look too big.
Cheers...have a great weekend.
Suki ~ I love your on-going creativity, never giving up, always trying something new, using your imagination with the Tibetan book idea! It *looks* like an old handmade book. That intrigues me! I hope you will share pictures as you fill the pages. I now have this image of you sitting crossed-legged on the floor slowly flipping through each finished page,like an "ancient" Tibetan sage. :) (I have a big imagination too :)
Your new book is wonderful....I no longer am astounded at the way your creative mind seizes an idea and runs with it.... you are amazing - in every artistic genre there is....
I am impressed at your knitting skills! Knitting is something I have no talent for - although I do love knitted scarves and hats....to wear! It's great that you now have Lori, Mim and Lynn to turn to for advice.... I love the colour you chose...it will look wonderful on you!
Love to you and Bibs,
♥ Robin ♥
Your book is amazing Suki! I love that it is elongated and the paper is beautiful.
Good on you for taking up knitting! I agree with Lynn that the little bumps and blips make a piece look interesting! :)
I LOVE your new book. Love the size and the handmade paper. What fun you will have filling it up.
I love those papers!
And I see nothng wrong with the cover being bigger.I think that just adds to the 'rough, raw and primitive' appeal to it.
I don't know anything about Yes glue,,but I do know that I have glued some really unseemly things with Mod-Podge, without ever having problems.Super strong bonding.
I never could get the knitting thing myself,,,I had no patience for it, but adore knitted things.This is a killer color!
What a lovely post. Just love the Lotka paper - had to look up that plant! I hope you'll show some of the pages when you create them! Super project!
Love the book and the color green you are using for your scarf. I wish I had time to learn to knit!
Sorry about the glue, but we live and learn. Have a wonderful weekend Suki. xoxo
aw suki, times like this.... :^(
sometimes i am so sure of something or how something works and then the universe decides to rearrange my confidence. don't let it trip you up for too long. you are an amazingly talented woman, in so many mediums. everything you do is so carefully and lovingly honored by the care you take.
i wonder what it means that the wall hangings decided to fall. i think it's about more than glue :^)
i am thinking of you up north. i hear you may have company soon. that sounds sweet.
love
kj
I like the fact the the pages are small .... That way the cover is more visible as a frame for each page. Does that make sense?
Knitting will be a cozy pastime as the days turn chilly :)
For your hanging problems .... Maybe hot glue would work?
Love the book
Love that green, it's yummy.
things that fall down can always be put up again...aha that's my mantra for this week!
Your book, even with nothing in it, seems to me a precious piece of art. Only you will describe the cover as being too big. It's wonderful that you've used such special paper for the pages, sure to hold beautiful or inspiring words and symbols. A lovely project.
Knitting to me, is definitely not an excact science! I always end up with the wrong amount of stitches and have to fake it back into some semblance of order. Scarves are very forgiving of random stitch counts.
Very pretty book, Suki. That paper is so interesting. I don't think the large cover looks bad. Just creates more mystery.
I can't knit a stitch, so I think your scarf is coming along wonderfully.
Sometimes things do feel slow. Now would be a great time to get out and walk. I find that this time of year is very inspiring artistically.
I love this paper. Thank you for the link...I'll be searching through the site. I know when you've finished filling it with your own quotes it will be fabulous and creative, as all of your work is.
I can't knit, although I've given it a good try. My work always comes out lumpy and bumpy...by comparison, your knitting is perfect, heh! xx
I love how you are always exploring, reaching out to new media. I especially love the shape of this book you have created. What's going to go on the inside?
And that would be my favourite colour for your scarf! I never really learned to knit so admire anyone that can create a square! I love some of the cowls people are wearing these days, so cozy and chic looking.
I love that wonderful shade of green! Sorry you haven't received Patina yet. If you don't get a copy in the mail this week from FLP, please let me know and I'll mail you one...
Yarn was my first creative passion and I still love to look and feel it.
That's a gorgeous green!
And don't worry about a wee mistake or two, just correct yourself (you can always knit two stitches together at the end of a row to get back to the right number again)as you go along.
Arohanui,
Lesley
knitting can be soothing and yet frustrating. I find that I snooze off sometimes but keep knitting and then have to go back to fix missed stitches, and odd things. It's all a learning experience
Suki, the book is lovely. I know you could trim the cover, but I like it wabi-sabi ;)
I never did get the hang of knitting but I've only tried a few times in my teen years. I do love seeing what you other gals are doing though. It all lokks good to me!
Hmmm, the glue thing. I only use YES in my collages. I'm not sure what the best glue would be for your hangings. They are beautiful as I remember!
looking forward to seeing you next week :)
xo
Lo♥
Hello Suki, I love this book. It makes me want to do something with it right now:) Something funny: I just stumbled upon an artist while I was looking for more information about Betye Saar, by pure chance I found Nancy Natale's Blog and in one of her recent blogposts there was a comment of sukipoet, how lovely:):) The world is so tiny, really. I really hope that you are fine and that you happy and that things are going great for you! Here in Paris it looks as if we will have a sunny weekend! Hugs for you, love, Andrea
Well I missed this post somehow. It is a lovely book. How is the knitting coming along? I tried it but it drove me nuts. Guess I will use my hands for painting & drawing only anything else more tedious makes me to nervous. Lets see your progress.
Oh, I love the colour of your new scarf!!!
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