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Moments, Hours, Days, Autumn, a Book of Hours

Happy Solstice to one and all…at last the days no longer get shorter! To celebrate and as a Christmas gift (whether you celebrate it or not, it’s a gift of the season) to one and all, I thought I’d share a video I recently uploaded and just shared with those on my Newsletter List. (To sign up for the newsletter, go to my home page and fill in the blanks—about once a month I’ll pop in with this ‘n that.)

Those who follow me on Facebook (here) will recognize this pond and view which is down the driveway and onto Ludwig Road, between two neighbors’ houses.

Recently, I’ve been taking some journaling and watercolor classes. Then, the Mid Coast (Maine) Book Arts group had an exhibit at the Camden Public Library. I was inspired by a book of hours on display, so BFF Kathy D. and I decided to make our own small accordion books. Below the still photo you’ll see my a video tour of the book, which I have titled “moments hours days autumn” to chronicle my life this past Autumn.

Beginning at 3:11 a.m. through to my evening ritual of sitting in my chair near my hubby’s chair, with the dog and a pile of books. You can see still shots of each page in my new Mixed Media gallery.

The left page is a quote, some by me, most by someone else. The right page is a watercolor, 5 x 5 inches. I figured I would mess things up, so it was better to do each separately, then glue them to the accordion “base” pages. On the back, I painted a single LONG (80 inches!) view that runs from winter to spring, summer and fall, back to winter, with the sky running from night, through morning, noon and afternoon, back to night. I used a dip pen and acrylic ink to write Strider’s Poem, by J.R.R. Tolkien, which has been a favorite since high school and whose meaning goes far beyond the Lord of the Rings saga.

I used Daniel Smith Watercolors, Stonehenge Aqua 140 lb. watercolor paper, Yes! paste glue, and both acrylic and fountain pen inks and a dip pen for all the lettering. The cover is made from my own hand-dyed fabric fused to mat-board from Kathy with Mistyfuse.

Here’s to hoping you all have friends (which can include family!) and joy around you throughout your lives, not just this season. I hope you enjoy my first ever made-by-me book. I think I will do more! Let me know what you think, and what you’d like to see in my new Newsletter. (And to sound like a broken record, sorry, sign up here.) MERRY MISTLETOE!

6 Responses to “Moments, Hours, Days, Autumn, a Book of Hours”

  1. Paula Says:

    Wonderful book, Sarah, especially for a first book! A happy and creative 2019 to you!

  2. Laura Says:

    A wonderful keepsake treasure.

  3. Franki Lori Kohler Says:

    Lovely! Thanks for sharing your book.

  4. Kelly Says:

    Thank you for sgHaring your book with the universe and us, too. I especially like your 5:17 Pond. Maybe it’ll become a quilt. Accordion books are so much fun. I taught my students how to make them for their writing back in another lifetime. I will have to revisit Tolkien as well.

  5. Kelly Says:

    Please forgive my clumsy typing on this IPad. That should be sharing, of course.

  6. Sarah Ann Smith Says:

    Thanks Kelly….I’m pretty happy with it. And yes, some of this imagery will definitely work its way into cloth!