Altered Book - WATER - gathering phase

An oversized book on Water is the base for a new altered book. On my picturetrail site, there is a book named FISH. It was stolen. I tell all about it there. I thought I'd like to have paper copies of the photos I had taken of the book and insert them into a new work. So, with new print cartridges in the old inkjet printer, I thought this would be a good time to print them out. I also have been collecting images of fishermen and fish, as well as some interesting fabrics and papers that will lend themselves to this piece. When I went online to order the Fred B. Mullett fish stamps I've been lusting after for years, I found that website is down, but by doing a little frustrated searching - I found the Stampdiva.com website and placed an order there. The stamps arrived within a couple days. They will be used liberally in this book and for years to come. Here are some of the things I have laid out. This is the gathering phase. I have not planned the format or layout yet. I'll show more as it progresses.

Aha moments! And a book I recommend.

This is the moment all artists long for - live for. An aha moment, when an idea kicks in and is too good to let it go. Sometimes we work along at something uninspired and it comes out lack-luster. Or we just get stuck and don't have any new fresh ideas. I had a week like that - but I was so busy I didn't really have time to dig into a project so I just puttered with things in my studio hoping the light bulb would come on. We all have a variety of ways to kick start our creative processes. Books have been written on just that subject. I usually wait a few days and look around me until something catches my fancy.

I bought a book called "the Black Dress" at the Dollar Tree a couple days ago. When I looked at it last night, I thought it would be a good candidate for altering. The weight of the paper is really good, the paper is glossy and it has some really good photos. Not all of them are fashion images - some are photos of paintings with ladies in black dresses. And there are already wonderful quotes from designers and others about wearing black - or the color black. I was almost put off of altering it because a lot of the research that I normally love to do - had already been done. If the intellectual process does not engage me in the work - I find it less satisfying - but the the aha moment occurred -and a new slant came to mind. I'm not going to spoil the surprise - I'm about to start working in it and will share it all soon. Stay tuned.

If you are near enough to a Dollar Tree store, I recommend you buy the book. It's well researched, well written and very interesting if you like fashion or art. The book jacket calls it "a lush visual celebration of this fashion classic". And indeed it is. At the back of the book are small photos of the dresses in the book with extended captions which provide details on each dress and it's place in fashion history. I can't believe it only cost one dollar. I think I'll buy another one - and maybe a few for gifts.

Hello friends, old and new.

Welcome to my new blog where altered books, fabric books, and other handmade books - along with the techniques and tools used to create them will be shared. You are welcome to follow along the progress of new books, and to use any of these methods and techniques.

I won't be boring you with the happenings of my family and friends here - they are well covered on my blog journal. It will take awhile before I get the altered book files copied from there, so please stay tuned - they are on their way.