Sarah & John
Compiled by Carla Ciminera

These two books were a real delight to work on.  They were commissioned by a dear friend, who had saved bits and pieces from her wedding - invitations, newspaper clippings, poems read out loud during the ceremony, messages from friends - and she wanted to preserve them so that one day her daughters will be able to look through them.  Because of varying formats I decided to make two different volumes, and then I found these gorgeous matching embroidered silks.  How could I resist?

The book in its sleeve just peeping out of its case, showing that both are covered in this exquisite Japanese paper with leaf inclusions

The book still in its sleeve but out of the case

The sleeve opened, exposing the front cover with its inset panel of embroidered silk

Another angle of the front cover and the inside of the sleeve, showing how the embroidery has become imprinted in the soft suede of the inside of the sleeve

A close-up of the silk panel on the cover

First look inside. The inside leaf and fly leaf are both of the same silk used on the cover

Another detail of the embroidery

One of the inside pages I decorated with delicate ink drawings

A view of the book from the back

This is the sister book. Exactly the same concept, but in a different colour

Lovely hot pink suede on the sleeve. The silk is exactly the same pattern, but in a different colour combination

Book and sleeve

Another view of the front cover of the second book

And this one also has inner leaves of silk

Close-up of the embroidery of this one

A poem that was read out during the ceremony, which I wrote out in calligraphy - so much nicer than a printed computer page.

The two books when they were just finished in the studio. Always a very satisfying moment

The books together in their cases

A closer look at the two books together

Photographs by Nikolaus van der Pas

(except last 3)

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