Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

The junk-less forced confinement of the snowcropolis wasn't all cooking.  I did work on a couple of projects, one I can't show until it is delivered to the recipients plus another page in the new altered quote book.
As always, I tend to use things I have accumulated in my junking and this time was no different.  I painted petals on some vintage crepe paper and rough-cut them so the color showed a little around the edges.  When I glued them to face circle I just scrunched the bases a bit so they would have some ruffle to them.  Nothing new, I'm sure, but I like how it gives some dimension.
It sounds like Mother Nature is flexing her muscles on the Southeast next.  If you are in that path you are in my thoughts and I will be happy to share my Toll House cookie recipe.  Stay warm!

Why We Junk and a Few New Buttons

 I made a couple of new altered book pages that I haven't posted yet so here we go.  I love the quote on the right.  It is by Mary Randolph Carter.  If you aren't familiar with her, she authored "American Junk", "Garden Junk", "Kitchen Junk" and a few others.  She validated the love of junk for me.  Her books are pure eye candy!

I also got a new lot of buttons this week.  Nothing to shout about but these are the favorites that will be added to my accumulation.
Going out to breakfast with #1 son and family to celebrate the DIL's birthday tomorrow morning.  I love going out for breakfast!  Rain in the forecast for the afternoon so junking may be in order... 8+)
Happy weekend to you!

Quote Collection Pages

I cannot believe it is Thursday already.  I made a couple of new pages in my altered book of quotes this week.  The left side is how I'm feeling and the right side is what I need to remember!  I am not sure if either are really finished but they are for the moment.
Our weather forecast is for the low 70s this weekend so cannot wait to spend some quality time plucking weeds.  We are working on a big remodel of one side yard.  The demo has already begun on removing ugly old rose buses and the fence-moving crew is scheduled for next week.  I just went out and took an almost before picture.  I will wait to show it until I can take some after shots so you won't be so appalled at how it currently looks.  This project has been a long time coming!

New Quotes

Right before the flu caught me I had pulled together a pile of this and that for some new pages in the altered quote book project.  I am continuing my effort to take my inspiration from my stash of old Somerset magazines.  These pages were inspired by the work of Judy Bidwell featured in the Summer 2010 issue of SEW Somerset. 
"Ride the horse in the direction it is going." by Werner Erhard is one of my favorite quotes and it is especially meaningful to me on a couple of levels lately.  One of those is the source for the red fringe on the left-hand page.  I had a satin "mother" pillow in my Etsy shop for over a year and I could not GIVE that thing away.  I rode the horse in the direction it was going and cut it up to use in artwork. The first cut is the hardest!  The rose in the lower left was also cut from that pillow.
"Happy trails to you" by Roy Rogers.  Not much I can add to those well wishes.

Play Time In The Altered Book

 

I took a time out last night to rejuvenate with some playtime in the altered quote book.  The page on the left is from my intention to make some pages inspired by the artwork in my collection of Somerset magazines.  This was inspired by the artwork of Kathryn Zbrzezy that was advertised in the Somerset Studio Jan/Feb 2013 and art by Anahata Katkin in the July/Aug 2010 Somerset Studio.  It doesn't look anything like the artwork that inspired it but that's the idea, right?

 

The one on the right popped into my head several weeks ago when I was flipping through some vintage magazines.  Sometimes pictures just sort of speak to me.  That is how I make my altered Altoids tins.  I flip through old photos at the antique mall and every now and then one of them shouts out to me and lets me know what it wants to be.  Goofy, huh!

 

Be sure to watch for my next post going up tomorrow night.  I am joining the Grow Your Blog party and there will be a Valentine-themed give-away open to anyone, anywhere.

Recent Altered Book Pages

When I really need to relax I turn to my altered book project.  I read a lot about the value of play and how creative types should take time to play.  I never thought I had time to do that, or even knew what doing that looked like.  One day I realized that IS what I am doing when I work in my altered book, not unlike the day I realized I DO journal.  My altered book is my journaled collection of quotes.  What we do might not look like what somebody else is doing but it is the same in the end.  The creative things we do for no other reason than our personal pleasure.  Ha!  Some women take bubble baths.  I make stuff.

New Altered Book Pages

Harry Truman was known for saying "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" but Benjamin Franklin said it first: "If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun". You can interpret this as a suggestion to stay on the porch if you're not prepared to run with the big dogs but I prefer to think of it as advice to know yourself. Irving Berlin said "Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it". I have shared before that I work in this book randomly and don't necessarily think about how the quotes relate to each other, although I did put those two Janis Joplin pages facing. Mostly I think about trying to use complementary colors. These two were random but now that they are finished {for now!}, it is kind of interesting how the quotes relate to each other. I got a nice note from Beth Livesay today confirming my little fabric journal will FINALLY be included in the spring copy of SEW Somerset. The photos I used were taken exactly one year ago. I found myself staring at the pictures thinking, really, that's what I did?? - LOL! When it comes home it will be all new again! It has been a daunting week in the office and the weatherman is promising a nice day on Saturday so I'm looking forward to some outdoor time. Sunday we will be back to rain so wish me some junking luck! Enjoy your weekend.

The Never Finished Altered Book Project

When I discovered altered art four or five years ago, altered books were the thing that captured my attention. I have always loved books. Reading them. Touching them. Smelling them. I could go on about why that is but maybe I'll save that for another post.
For now I will say that I set out to make my own altered book. Probably a little ambitious for someone new to it. Making art is harder than it looks you know - LOL! I collect quotes and figured an altered book would be a good place for my collection and I would certainly have no lack of material. Several years later it still is not finished but I do add to it on a pretty regular basis. I guess you could call it an art journal of sorts since I try all different kinds of techniques and there is no rhyme or reason to how it is arranged.
I thought it might be fun to show some pages here on my blog from time to time and share my quotes in the process.

This is the cover. I decorated that part first which I have since learned is the wrong way to go about it. Kind of like eating dessert first! I chose the book because I liked the purple cover, the title and the "feel" of the pages. And the fact that it was in the dollar book bin didn't hurt!

It is decorated with tissue paper, a metal "thing" of unknown purpose and various beads, charms and tassels and fringe.

I remove pages as I add to the paint and collage but, as you can see, it has become quite swollen with altering. It doesn't splay quite so much when it is laying down and there is still plenty of room to add more of my favorite words. In no particular order.