A Cunning Plan...

Remember this?

I have been fortunate enough to have the work selected for a major exhibition in the summer but there is a catch. I have to hire a telephone kiosk in which to display the work. I have done some extensive research over the past couple of weeks and despite some early promising figures it would seem that to hire a reproduction K6 telephone kiosk (the originals are far too heavy) and to have it installed in the gallery will cost me in excess of £500 for the week. And that's before I factor in hanging fees and at least two trips into London. But it is too good an opportunity to miss and so I have to come up with a plan to raise the cash.

At 2 am this morning I was wide awake and my mind was whirring as I hatched a plan. This month Jeska of Lobster and Swan has been creating original artwork from altered matchboxes - one for each day of February - and the proceeds are going towards her husbands fund raising efforts for the London Marathon.

They are really beautiful and I urge you to take a look... and buy one to support this good cause! But this also got me thinking about a similar plan.

I have decided that I am going to make an edition of 50 miniature books, each one different, inside an altered matchbox. They will be tiny little works of art and no matter how fiddly or complex they might be I will offer each one for sale for just £10 (plus etsy fees and postage). If I manage to sell them all that will enable me to put my work in the exhibition. It's a tall order but I'm certainly going to give it a go... not every day but possibly 3 or 4 a week.

The first one is a little Valentine book slightly less than 3cm x 5 cm, hand stitched with a beaded spine and a machine embroidered cover.

Inside on the back page there is a tiny secret fold out section that reveals the words "I Love You"

If you are in the UK this could be with you in time for Valentine's Day... although it would make a special gift for the one you love at any time of the year.

The matchbox is covered with decorative paper and tissue, silk ribbon, a mother of pearl button and a machine embroidered tassel... all hand made by me. Each book will come with a small certificate with the number of the book and the date it was made.

I hope you will be able to support me and buy an original and unique piece of art for yourself whilst also helping fund a major project. The book is in my Etsy shop now. And if you have any ideas for a book you would like made especially for you... drop me an email. Thank you!

Update: The first book has now sold (Thank you!) but the next one will be in the shop very soon. Watch this space