Original Art in Bookmarker Form

Orginal Cyanotype Prints in a Bookmarker Format

One of the cyanotype formats I’ve been experimenting with are bookmarkers. The idea came to me when I found myself without a bookmarker and decided to make one!

I used the same masking strategy as I’ve been using for the postcards only the size of the watercolor paper is 2 x 6 inches. I experimented with it being a solid cyanotype and one with a quarter inch boarder; thus far I’ve been gravitating toward the boarder format. I tape off the edges and coat the center portion of the paper with the cyanotype chemicals. Like the postcards, I am using flowers from my garden as my subjects only one stem verses many. I then use a whole punch to add a hole and attach the tassel. Thanks to my years of Mala making, I’ve gotten proficient at making tassels, creating a smaller version for the bookmarkers.

To protect the paper, I purchase plastic holders that I can slide the prints in after they’ve dried. The protector also has a hole at the top so now I’m waffling between attaching the tassel directly to the print or leaving it whole and attaching it to the plastic protector. Andy thinks I should attach the tassel to the cyanotype. However, one advantage of fastening it to the plastic is the print remains unblemished and if at some point the owner of the bookmarker wanted to turn it into a framed work of art they could! This means I should sign and perhaps title the work. These details are still to be determined at the present time as I’m not sure where to sign and add the title.

While making bookmarkers might sound trivial, I’m thinking they will make for both an inexpensive gift and or make for good give aways to guests and friends, especially during the holidays!