One Ring To Rule Them All...

I BET YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BOOKS LIKE THIS BEFORE!!

Tim welcomes a friend of his to the Grand Illusions studio - Gerard Darby - who has an amazing collection of unusual books, books that have been 'altered' in one way or another, and who has brought along some wonderful examples.

A book that now has a window in the cover, since you cannot open it anymore, and inside the pages have been cut away, revealing a whole collection of characters. With a bit of imagination, you may be able to work out a story that will connect them all. A lovely way to bring your characters to life!

A book about wild birds that has an internal viewing window, and a collection of feathers on display.

' The Art of Angling' book contains - a three dimensional cut out section that looks like a reservoir. And sitting on the side is a tiny figure, hoping to catch a fish.

A Slovenian artist has created two internal worlds inside a book - the pages have been cut, and she has also drawn on the pages. There seems to be a little figure in a red cloak in one of the scenes - could it be Little Red Riding Hood?

A book about wolves contains some paper cut outs of wolves. Very delicate work!

Then a very large book - The Lord Of The Rings! A artist who creates jewellery has made a ring, with hobbit writing on the inside, and has made a hole in the pages of the book where the ring can be stored! Can it be the One Ring To Rule Them All? Tim tries it on and... vanishes! So maybe it is!!

Gerard commissioned the design inside next book. It is an old atlas of the UK, and on the double page that shows London, an artist has used a fine pen to draw lots of black lines which show - Charles Dickens!

The next book has a spooky forest inside, and nestling between the trees - a haunted house. A small adjustment at the back of the book, and... the lights have come on in the haunted house - someone must be at home! Quick - run away!!

The next book in Gerard's collection of 'altered books' is actually the very first one he acquired, it contains two 'fore-edge' paintings. Strangely enough he was inspired by seeing a similar book on a web site called... 'Grand Illusions', many years ago.

Finally, a book called 'Phoenix Rising'. Inside is the phoenix, rising from the fire - lots of the pages seem to have been singed! This is the one book that can't be closed.