Joseph Books

I last blogged about the Joseph Books I make on 27 August 2018.

I’m still making them and every page is filled with memories for Joseph my Grandson. One day he will be able to read about me and all his family who love him dearly. He lives in Cape Town but we are still denied contact.

I write in them, draw in them, glue photos in them and hope that one day he will treasure this insight to the other half of who he is. He was 11 last month.

Today I chose ladybird paper as I love the outdoors and I see many of them while gardening. The other cover is shells. New Zealand has many shells and I love the beach.

Happy reading Joseph.

Memories and Making

In 2012 my Grandson was smuggled out of New Zealand to Cape Town, South Africa. This left a huge gap in all our lives. 

To cope with the loss and to pass on family memories that I may never have the opportunity to share with him, I made him a book. 

I treasure these books. Not because I made them but because one day it will be a link to my Grandson. 

Each day I wonder what he is doing and where he is and if he receives the things I send.

My one book has grown into 8 books now. This will be his New Zealand family history. One day he will know he had a great family who were denied access to his precious world. 

One page is special as my late husband, his Grandfather wrote in the one of the books.  

This year Joseph was 8. We all love him and miss him

I call these Joseph Book’s. 

They measure 140mm x 75mm

Inside are drawings, photos, presents I've sent and cards I’ve made, copies of postcards about New Zealand, family photos and events, memories of times spent in the first 2 years of his life and jottings of what Bizzel, cat is up too.  

Mini is Mighty

The rules stated that the mini book could be no bigger than 2 inches. Now that's small. 

A topic was given and those people who had entered communicated. A deadline was set and then posted to the recipient.

I always felt remorse when my first book was sent away. After that I made two so I could keep one. I'm glad I did as I have so many treasured mini books that I have been sent and have made. 

It's amazing what you can achieve when there is a deadline

Outside the Box

My interpretation of 'Outside the Box.'  What a privilege it was to work with all these artists. The stitching on the completed book is a coptic binding with the fabric covering containing tiny boxes .

The page was illustrated  by Julz Henderson.