The Guard's Purse is part of the Travel Stories series (2007-2016) which consists of 8 artist books cased as various styles of handbags, 8 squared quilts and 8 wearable aprons all made with paper, ink and thread. The series was inspired by a box of exquisite photographs taken by my paternal grandmother during her world travels on cargo ships during the 1960s and 70s. I didn't have a copy of her passport from these voyages, but I thought it would be appropriate to create one to go with the Guard's apron and quilt. I used left over hand printed lithographs I created from her slides of sentries and embroidered entrance and exit VISAs for places I had discovered she had been. I just loved the idea of having an embroidered passport for identification, even though I admit, my grandmother was a far more accomplished needle worker than me.