The New Alexandrian Library Book Collection - Adding Rebecca Guyver (UK) - The longer this goes on the more I'm nostalgic for the moment right now. (Plus others)

[cheryl penn]

And adding Rebecca Guyver - a book that Rebecca says was an experiment - I have to say a successful one! A constructed container which acts as home for words and images.

 I think that most of us who know Rebecca know she lives on a farm - I'm certain I have a Romantic view of farming - but for certain I know there is such a thing as farm-envy.

O Henry may be partly to blame...

Just now when the whitening blossoms flare
On the apple trees and the growing grass
Creeps forth, and a balm is in the air;
With my lighted pipe and well-filled glass
Of the old farm I am dreaming,
And softly smiling, seeming
To see the bright sun beaming
Upon the old home farm.

Included was a sheet of memory writing about the photographs - here's a snippet:

How did I come to this pink house and knowing

the secret of egging hens, hedge tapestries and

black handed- walnut trees?

Rebecca - you have not helped my farm-envy AT ALL!! Many thanks for the continued correspondence XX

I have been receiving small books at quite a pace, and travelling means I have not been able to show you much lately at all! But anyway – here’s a sneak preview of what you COULD see if you ever visited the library. It would NOT be a wasted journey - I don’t know about lending though – I don’t think I could let these gems leave my sight.   I visited a book owner once – I was not allowed to touch – no, I was not three at the time… 

From  Christopher Skinner (England) Lestaret.  

The tiniest , well made palm-book I have ever seen.  Palm-book meaning a very small book which fits perfectly into the palm of ones hand.  5-hole pamphlet stich binding, burnt pages that are tenderly bandaged and waxed.  When Isabel threw off her cloak and knelt beside him, at  the intensity of her touch he was set aflame and his ashes were scattered to the four winds.   Time leaves no traces in this place.

See www.lestaret.com - AMAZING stuff!

From Lesley Magwood Fraser (South Africa)

Muriel and her three sisters.  

This book was drowned in seasonal rains – in fact two were from these four  - spring is a dangerous time for books…

Anyway – are Muriel and her sisters a myth or a legend?  Are they part of the Bhubezi tribe? 

They were descendants from  The Great Alexander and Olive Margery of Dubllin.  They found themselves in the Southern part of Africa in the sacred place called Bulawayo.  Of course these four women were held in awe – what Irish beauty isn’t?

From Carina Granlund (Finland) – 4 Portraits.

An interesting thing a portrait. 

A  visual representation  of a person that goes beyond the superficial.  I think Carina has managed that in this tiny book – idiosyncratic and without artifice, these four portraits – I think arbitrarily chosen from an old publication are made current  because of an artists quirky  insightful reading. 

From Janine Weiss (Switzerland) – The Secret Garden

Janine send an intensively layered little book, the fragrance of which is overpowering – like a secret garden.   

There was a cry in the corridor,  the little girls footsteps pounding on the wood, rushing to her secret garden.  I shall live for ever and ever and ever, even though YOU cannot buy time.  It will not let you for only I know The Hidden.  You may not enter my secret garden. 

Great hey!

Now that the Mail Art exhibition is on I have of course already booked the next - mad I know...

It is going to be a book exhibition.  I am looking to create an encyclopedia of many volumes of A6 hard covered books.  Topics of A - Z consisting of one word - for example Agoraphobia/Books/Clutter - whatever - single title books.  I will OF COURSE return a book - as I owe for these above - THANK YOU! 

[De Villo Sloan]

Three thumbs up on Rebecca Guyver's book. Always nice to see when an experiment succeeds.

[xx Jones]

love Rebecca's little house

[Marie Wintzer]

Great experiment, Rebecca, so original. And the colours are yummiiie. 

[Carina]

Cheryl, thanks for blogging!!

[Suus in Mokum]

Oooh woooow. All those different styles. Lovely.

[Lesley Magwood Fraser]

Great collection Cheryl! You deserve them....

[cheryl penn]

Hey De Villo :-) - thanks for looking - I have more books but no time  :-( X

[De Villo Sloan]

Wow, glad to see The New Alexandrian Library is still making acquisitions. Beautiful & fascinating work. I wish we could sign out books. Thanks for sharing.