Suits me perfectly!

 Whenever I turn up to my bookmaking workshops I am usually laden with lots of samples etc in a big crate. I've always hankered after a suitcase instead and then my lovely husband bought me one in a second hand shop. It wasn't great, but hey, it was a suitcase and so cheap that the fact that I might hack the innards out of it  made it perfect for me. In truth, the interior was falling to bits so it needed collaging with something to keep it in one piece!. I know the idea of collaging a suitcase is not original. I know using maps for it is not original and I know adding ships to it is not original either.... but I care not a jot because it is now varnished and ready for duty next term and I love it.

Waste not, want not

 In amongst lots of other things occupying my mind at the moment  I suddenly remembered that I had a lot of cyanotype solution left over from the workshop last month. It does not keep well for too long once mixed up so I just grabbed some old bits of sheeting already cut up and messed about for about an hour this morning. It was definitely not as strong as it should be but as I was just using it up for the sake of it I did not care and I quite like the results. Not bad for the first things that come to hand like the plastic dish drainer and the mesh I strain things through. It's all a bit slapdash and carefree but I'm now  looking forward to trying some toning experiments on them next week with a touch of bleach, soda ash and tannin. There's loads of solution left still so I might try using it almost like a blue dye with some resists on other types of fabric. Playdays with happy accidents. My sort of joy!

NB: As the first few comments mentioned the quote I realised I should attribute it. It's from 'Prodigal Summer' by Barbara Kingsolver,  handwritten on acetate for a demo in the recent workshop and luckily to hand yesterday. I do love the words. Must use them in something else.