This book was created to commemorate the Split Rock Arts Program 2003, where I won a scholarship to attend a workshop given by the fabulous Shereen LaPlantz.

I made three of these books: one for myself, one as a gift to Shereen, and one as a thank-you to the staff at the Split Rock Arts Program and the donor who made the scholarship I won possible.

The book was created using only materials that I brought with me, or that were provided at the workshop - red, white, and black cardstock, small coin envelopes, and gold metallic embroidery floss. It's hand-lettered in black ink because I didn't have access to a computer. The drawings are hand-inked, and decorative touches have been added with a metallic gold paint pen.

That's me peeking over the top of the book, looking very happy to have been a part of the workshop :-)

Each coin envelope page holds a drawing that signifies an aspect of the Split Rock Arts Program. I stitched around the edges of the inserts with gold metallic thread to add some dimension and variety to each page.

The metallic gold design that flows throughout the book was inspired by the beautiful terrazzo floor in the library at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, where the workshop was held.

This book was used by the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota in their Split Rock Arts Program 2004 catalog, and also, along with an interview, featured in their Fall 2003 newsletter.

I've since done a little more research into syllabic poetic forms, and while the words in this book may not be a true diamonte, that form inspired them.