It’s About Time!

ALN challenge: It's About Time

Deadlines come and deadlines go.  I am always glad when they are extended.  Our Artist Leadership Network challenge for July, picked by me, dealt with our feelings about time.  Never enough, rushed,finding time, making time, time out, all out of time: the list goes on.  I chose to do a two page “spread” in a very old book whose pages are oxidized and starting to crumble.  I picked various words from the text and made “found” poetry. Crayon, Pigma pen, Sharpie and gesso were used and then the collage elements were added.  I am pleased with how my first altered book spread turned out!

Artist Books

"Red Stripe" Beer Brewing Log, 4 7/16" X 10 3/16"

I have started making books and I love, love, LOVE the process.  Both my son-in -law and a friend are beer brewers.  I think that the graphics on a lot of 6-paks are really wonderful.  This is a perfect way to repurpose these throw-away items.  I just hope that they are useful as I don’t know if the brewers make notes on their brewing processes, successes and occasional failures.  I used ledger paper found in an old hard-cover ledger that I bought at a thrift store for a couple of bucks. The edges are bound with Duct Tape and the stab stitch binding is made with waxed hemp.   Below is a view of the partially-opened book.

Here’s another book that is very much tongue-in -cheek.  I like to have fun!  This one is a craft journal using Kraft paper for the pages.  This is my first attempt at sewing signatures and using first and last pages glued to the covers.  I need some more practice with that as the signatures are a little loose.  Blue Duct Tape finishes off the edges.  Vintage buttons and cording I made from thread form the closure.  Real macaroni are glued to the front.  Have you made any repurposed books such as these?  I would love to see them!

Craft Journal, Closed

Craft Journal, Open

Artist Book-making Workshop

Last Friday night I met with 3 friends and our dream group facilitator to lead an artist book-making workshop. One of our member’s graciously offered her lovely home in the Oakland hills for our meeting. It was quite a shlep up the stairs with the bags of materials that I brought.  Luckily the person I rode with helped me.We  had a potluck dinner that was great and then did a reading and a mini silent meditation (Not my strong suit, but what the heck).  We also looked at the Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazines I brought for inspiration as well as my own book upon which the workshop was based.  Then the fun began.  I had prepared the folded pages of the paper (in this case, printing paper strips salvaged from the fabulous recycle bin my studio’s building) with washes of acrylic and Lumiere paints attaching a piece of decorative paper to the covers with matte medium. There were plenty of papers, paint, my handmade fabric beads and decorative threads, paints, pencils, stamps, and stencils for them to let their  creativity have full reign.  I did a couple of demos and was there to help if anyone needed it.  Before I knew it, it was 10:00 p.m. and clean up time.  I took a number of pictures some of which are below.  The rest I will upload to flickr at some point.  Everyone had a good time and completed their books, including binding them.  I would like to do this again, perhaps with the two other friends who couldn’t come to this workshop.

One other thing!  I made a small book at Kodak.com to commemorate the experience.  With the help of a special code through Target, it cost all of $1.99!  I learned a little something about making a book and what not to do next time.

The Artists With Their Books

Elizabeth's Front Cover

Zoe's Front Cover

Cathy's Back Cover

Suzanne's Front Cover