as most of you know, i have been working on a phenominal collaboration with debrina, lisa j, kim and lisa s called “pulp redux” — it’s an altered book collaboration.  due to illness and moving and family in town, kim’s book arrived to me a bit later than the others had received theirs, but i have been working away and finally have the first two pages to share.  first though, a slight deterrence.  when kim’s book arrived i was so utterly surprised to find four tissue-wrapped gifts inside the box, each a different colour.  we were each supposed to pick one.  after much hemming and hawing and running my fingers over each of the packets, i picked the blue one.  inside, was this most magnificent fabric collage from that sweet lady which contains the quote from her book as well as one of the images:

fabric collage, astralia, kim, merlin's musings

copyright kim palmer of merlin's musings

now, if you have not looked already, please go see THIS POST and THIS POST and THIS POST to view kim’s book as i received it.  so magnificent!  (read in reverse order if you want to see it properly sequential)

and to my contribution(s) to her book, fragments, vestiges and remains.
part one of two.

although i am not entirely done with the first two pages of kim’s book, i felt i should post an update nonetheless. when i finish the remaining page(s) i will post a few more updates of these.

in short, this two-page spread is about the portland underground, or shanghai tunnels, which were inhabited by white slavers and other nasty people around 160 years ago. they would kidnap men and women and sell them into slavery, prostitution, etc.  on page one, you have della’s story — a young lady who was unsuspectingly snatched, and her sister’s efforts to find her.  on page two, a wee bit of history and a trap-door such as the ones the “shanghaiers” dropped people down after nabbing them.

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

the little glass door is not currently attached, nor is the diary behind it, but they will be tonight.  i am first coating a layer of the copper tape with wax, and then carving into it like i do in my wee apothecary bottles.

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

that stupid white string on the right is NOT supposed to be there.

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

della’s sister stitched a small red heart onto the page as a tribute to her love for her.

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

page two displays the darkness of the portland underground.  a pocket atop the page holds photos from 160ish years ago.

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

bottom was fashioned to look like one of the trap doors — or at least function like one.  underneath is a history of the portland underground, or shanghai tunnels — which i haven’t written yet.

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

here are some of the photos:

altered book, pulp redux, kim, merlin's musings, fragments, vestiges and remains

you can actually read about it and see several more photos here on the pulp redux blog.  after doing a long post over there i’m feeling a tad on the lazy side with retelling of stories and reposting of images.