Handmade Books

I have found a new obsession...bookmaking. I have joined a couple online bookmaking groups. The first group is wonderful http://milliande.ning.com/group/thehinges.  It is being run by the inspiring Dawna and knowledgeable Ruth. I count my self so lucky to have these two women and the other women at this site to encourage and teach me along this path. This month we are making the Accordian Fold book. It is a very simple book.

The second site I found was through Syd at the Milliande's site. She was creating books at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArtistsOfTheRoundTable/.  I decided I would join. I told you I was becoming obsessed. I found the site very confusing, but with the help of  a dedicated woman named Rabbit and help from Jacqui, I think it will just take time to learn how to maneuver around the site.

At A.R.T. we are working through Alisa Golden's book "Making Homemade Books". Rabbit makes a file for each lesson. They were on Lesson 7 when I joined. I decided I would pick and choose which lessons I would do til I caught up.

Lesson 7 Brush Book... I took a piece of newspaper, gessoed it on both sides. Let it dry. Soaked it. Painted it with watercolors.  Dried it with a heat gun. Stamped it. Wrapped it in construction paper. Inked the construction paper. I can't believe the texture! It feels like a soft canvas cloth.

Lesson 3 Long Pants Book or Accordian Book... Done for both groups. The cover was a designer paper that I painted with multiple coats of metallic paint. Singular signatures were sewn into the book. The pages were mixed media paper painted with the same metallic water colors. The pages contain worldwide stamps that I have saved from the cards and packages of the wonderful art swaps I have joined. The tiny 2" x 2 1/2" book is wrapped in floss with a handmade clay key.

Lesson 3 X Book with Pockets... Cover was made with designer paper. The inside pages were parchment papers. The pockets were stamped with inspirational words and the pockets filled with paper treasures. This book is very small about 2 1/2''.

Art Pins

I've never been very interested in making jewelry til now. At http://milliande.ning.com/ I have met the most fantastic artistic women. We decided to do a pin or brooch swap. The beautiful ideas that came about were awesome. How could you not be swayed to try your own imagination into whatever you wanted to make. There were so many ideas... fabric, thread, clay, metal, fabric, wood. I was up for the challenge. But, what.... So many ideas, so many new things to try, I thought and thought.

Tim had a pocket full of round washers in different sizes. I love the idea of using things I have on hand and I really liked the shape. I investigated washers on http://pinterest.com/. Oh,yeah, this was what I was going to do. Not so easy because I had too many ideas swimming in my head. I eventually reined the ideas in and finished thm.

First, I inked and alcoholed them. I added beads to some and old earring parts.  Most I added a thick varnish coat. I really liked the way they came out.

15/15/15 Journal

Anne's journal, "Light Through The Crack",  arrived in December. I understand the meaning of the saying, but, how would I express it in her journal? I spent a long time contemplating about this. Ideas, just did not come. I'm a very literal thinker. I never was good at deep thinking.

I decided to go with dark colors for the background. An idea came to mind. Half way done and I had to walk away. It wasn't working. I would pass this little journal and think, "How do I express this?". I found this quote by Joseph Carpenter, " The black moment is the moment when the real message of the transformation is going to come. At the darkest moment comes the light."

After several more attempts this is what I came up with. Thanks, Anne, for giving me something to shake my brain into thinking different. The light eventually  found a crack.

15 Artists 15 Journals 15 months plus1

Next journal I received was Marie's journal, "Nature".  I decided to do a snow scene because it is winter in Pennsylvania. It is Christmas time and New Year's. I love the quiet beauty when it snows.

I included a quote from John Muir. Muir was a conservationist whom  convinced President Teddy Roosevelt to protect Yosemite (including Yosemite Valley), Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier as National Parks. The quote, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike".

15 Artists 15 Journals 15 months plus1

I received my first journal in November. It was Sadie's journal. Her theme was "Haiku". I love the simplicity of Haiku. Asian art and design are beautiful. Several months ago my husband gave me a very small, well worn treasure of a book on Haiku.  He said he thought I would be able to use it in my art. The book had belonged to my sister's husband, who had died tragically 2 years ago in a surfing accident. He was a wonderful, smart and funny man.
So, to start my art journal journey with Sadie's journal on Haiku, was joyous. Here is my interpretation.

15 Artists 15 Journals 15 months plus1

I have joined a wonderful group of 16 women artists in an international journal swap. We make a journal, pick a theme, compose our pages, then, send it off to the remaining artists. Each artist constructs a page and passes it on til all have contributed and it returns to the original artist.

 

After much thought, I decided the theme for my journal would be "Bygone Eras". I have always been attracted to things that are old. I'm fascinated with the way other generations have lived their lives; the way they dress; their hair styles, furnishings, and family pictures. 

  This will be a fun and creative journey. It is a wondrous present to receive and give artwork. The opportunity to have other artists' interpretation is a gift I will truly hold dear.

 

 My cover is made of leather. I purchased a black leather skirt at a thrift shop. I ran it through the washer several times to get the worn look. Then, used several inks to get it to the color I was looking for.

Cover:

 My introduction page:

 Welcome page and artist sign in booklet:

My journal page:

Alphabe-Thursday Letter, I for "Island Life"

It all started about 12 years ago. My mother decided to give all her children $10,000. Oh, yeah! So, what better to do then take off on a vacation of a lifetime, Hawaii, that was the decision. It was fantastic. It was beautiful. We had such a great time.
After that wonderful vacation, my nephew and his wife moved there. My sister and her husband bought a condo there. So, I had to make a decision. You see I was forced. My arm was twisted and I really did not have a choice. Kidding! Tim and I knew it was a good thing. We bought a condo next door to my sister. Now,  several times a year we can escape and live the "Island Life".