If anyone is in any doubt how talented, how big-hearted Little Augury is, here is proof. The lovely Gaye Tapp and I are pleased to call ourselves blog sisters since we started out within a couple of months of each other and enjoy a friendship that is only separated by the small matter of the Atlantic Ocean. On my first blog birthday she sent me a selection of her hand-made cards which everyone should see.
'Modesty is the citadel of beauty'. This is the legend inside the image at the top but what you can't see here is that it is printed on an insert of tracing paper. The devil or rather, the angel, is in the detail - always inventive and witty like the relief 'Map of Matrimony' below (bearing the words Bon Voyage inside). The slippage, which occurred during scanning, shows how certain parts of the map have been reproduced, cut out and stuck on with the tiny pieces of bended card. This girl's got nifty fingers and endless patience.
Below is a surreal work of art in card form. It says 'On the road to the asylum' (this might come in useful one day) and the inside bears an envelope, stuck down, full of facsimile fragments and a real feather or two. This is Little Augury curating the museum and art gallery of her own mind. We know how fertile is her imagination, how well-read she is, from visiting her blog.
And she sent me two little treasures like this; an oversized matchbook in appearance it opens to reveal a small sheaf of brown paper on which to send a series of billets doux or little drawings to the one or ones I love.
Exquisite n'est ce pas. And finally the card in which she wrote was designed for a baby shower for one of her friends. What could be more charming for that occasion?
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Beautiful work, Gaye. The "On The Road to The Asylum" card reminds me there's a good article about Robert Walser in this month's Harpers. He wrote in pencil a form of Gothic shorthand 1mm tall, enabling him to put several stories on a single postcard. For a long time his literary executor assumed it was a feature of Walser's long mental decline, and the handwriting a harbinger of his impending diagnosis of schizophrenia.He locked them away.
ReplyDeleteA couple of handwriting experts have since deciphered his stories.
Walser wasn't obviously crazy, except to his family and his intimates. Even when he was in the asylum, he was asked why he didn't write.
He told them "I'm not here to write. I'm here to be mad."
Here's a sample: Microscripts is a pretty apt descriptor:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/35468147706@N01/87882339/
rurritable, I'm amused and touched by that story. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRosie, gee I am blushing. thank you for this- not nearly as interesting as you make it out to be. the Asylum card is a tribute to my mother's father-that is him on the left "Dutch"George Cushwa, seeking his fortune on the railroads. He penned the caption-there are mementos of what he may have kept up with while traveling-paper scraps and a picture of his girl-my GranMa Bess, along with another pic of her and a friend. All very sentimental-but so am I, mostly grateful for you pen and brush and friendship!Gaye
ReplyDeleteand as always DC has an intriguing story to tell-must investigate that. pgt
ReplyDeletela - I am glad you're glad! And delighted to know the background story to the asylum. I know where you get your sense of humour/wit from now. The contents of the envelope have a much greater resonance for me now.
ReplyDeleteLA sent me a copy of "On the road" and I, too, wanted to know more of the story. I agree with you that LA is a generous soul. Creativity runs deep in her gene pool. So glad she takes us for a swim in it. Hope THE BLOCK has ended and your creative juices are flowing again. That creative constipation is really painful! Cheers across the pond.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to have been sent one of little augury's cards and your post reminds to post on it....this week.
ReplyDeletepve
Oh good heavens, how did it take us so long to find you? Were you, by any chance part of triplets separated at birth? Wonderful, wonderful blog. Your posts are so luscious I can hardly take it all in.
ReplyDeleteJennings and Gates - thank you, thank you for comments and just in time perhaps as my blog is fading fast. I need the encouragement to rescue it!
ReplyDeleteLove your work too.