Beyond Altered Books

I belong to a lovely group of ladies who call ourselves Beyond Altered Books Group - this name grew from Altered Book Group because some of us have branched out and work on other projects when we meet.
We first did various workshops with Ro Bruhn (aren't we lucky) and then some of us indicated a desire to continue meeting. There is always plenty of fun, art and new ideas and inspirtation around every Third Thursday. I always look forward to these evenings.

One project we've all been working on is a An Altered Book (which is an outdated school text book) where we take a turn to do a page for someone else each month. We all have a book and I can't wait to get mine back finished. I haven't looked at any of my pages yet as I want it to be a surprise when I get it! WE began this about a year ago. This is my latest page for someone who directed me to an inspiring course called Soul Journalling  by Sarah Whitmire. Sarah has many Journalling ideas and free courses too, some of which pushed me along in my experimention.

STACKS OF JOURNALS

Browsing through some of my favourite blogs on the weekend I came across Seth Apter's posting for a  Stackaholics Anonymous challenge of a couple of weeks ago. There are to date - 102 posts showing people's studio stacks of whatever you can imagine - and more! There is a huge amount of inspiration included - and I'm only half way through the list of links! I know I am very late, (my life has been a bit difficult recently) but hope he will forgive me if I post some photos of my Journal Stacks here.


My Junk Journals with collaged paper napkin covers - I give them as gifts to friends, to my Paper Swap buddies - and use some myself, of course.




 My Travel Journals - beginning in 1985, with our first trip to Europe - and continuing with Journals from trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, France, England, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Belgium, Lichtenstein, New Zealand, Switzerland, Pacific Islands ... and hopefully many more travels to come.



The wobbly view above, the neater view below, of hand made and hand painted pages, altered books and notebooks.



I am very proud of my hand made journals and seeing them stacked together made me realise what a lot of enjoyment I've had from painting, stamping, sewing, collaging, decorating , drawing - and even - writing in them. And what a delight they'll be in the twilight years as Memory Treasure Troves!

 Below is a delicious stack of boxes and envellopes of inspiration I've received from friends I've met by being involved in Lawendula's Paper Swaps.Such a delightful experience to open one or two and use the papers enclosed.



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A stack of cards I am in the process of making.

Wonderful Winter

I really love Winter - with it's excuse to stay inside and do lovely warming things, like playing with beautiful grandaughters, making cards, knitting, crocheting, watching films, meeting friends for lunches... an enjoyable life that's for sure, made even more so by the fact that I don't have to go back to school tomorrow! Yippee! Last term I had a few days working in a secondary college library - what a breeze - and I got paid! The great thing about doing casual work is that I can say yes or no, depending on what else is happening in my week.
I have a friend who is selling my cards for me - here's a photo of the 30 or so I finished recently. I am thinking of putting some on etsy, just as an experiment. Wish me well!

From The Card Factory!

Today I have just completed 4 hours of reinstalling programs on my "new" computer. The old motherboard died and now I am $$$ poorer and having to "find" programs, favourites, photos ... wish I had my personal IT tech (like I had at school - oh well - I am learning a lot!) Today Blogger even looks and performs differently, and so far, better!

As I've said before I've been involved in Lawendula's Paper Swaps - and met some lovely ladies and received some sensational packages. Her paper swap idea is just terrific - thank you Franca Maria.

http://lawendula.blogspot.com/

Shiela, one of my swap partners, had never sent anything to Australia and my lovely parcel was her first posting to Australia. The swap we were in was for a paperback book that we'd enjoyed. She sent me -Miss Pettigrew lives for a day by Winifred Watson and I'm saving it to savour when I have a weekend away soon. It was a great swap - thank you Shiela!

Beautifully wrapped inside the parcel...and a lovely hand made tag.

My new book, the tag - and a specially made -for - me collaged canvas that is now on my wall.

Her blog is called Tea and Toast - Living Gratefully, Joyfully and Creatively - a wonderful name for a blog. She has "Thoughtful Friday" postings and is currently showing Arty Index Cards that she is doing for a challenge. Some beautiful photography too. http://www.sheilasteaandtoast.blogspot.com/.
She recently sent me a very generous second parcel - full of so many wonderful things to use. Seeing a parcel in the letterbox is like having a birthday again.

"On holidays"

View of my garden in winter from the front door.



View in winter from the back door.

Pot of succulents on the back deck.

It's June already and winter has come to Melbourne. Crisp, dewy mornings and sometimes sunny days to follow, a few rainy times too - well it is winter! I am loving being at home wandering around the garden and just looking at it and picking and cooking home grown produce - a creative activity.

Pumpkins, Silverbeet, Parsley, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Rubarb, Rosemary, Chillies - in my winter garden.

I have done some casual work "freelance" as a teacher and have 5 more days coming up. One day as a University supervisor, and 4 days as a Library Assistant in a secondary school. Both much more 'grown up" than my previous primary school career! I am looking forward to it all - the challenge, the newness of each experience - and a chance to 'dress up' and put on the make-up!
Plenty of cosy indoor things to do too - knitting, painting, book making, card making too. Temperatures ranging from 4 - 19 degrees! I no longer have to go to work 3 days a week anymore as I resigned from my last school when the contract was up - long distances to drive, sometimes 1 1/2 hours each way because of traffic etc. So, I have been "exploring my options" as one friend suggested and I find I quite like the feeling of being on holidays!

Cards I've made...

Beanies I've knitted...
I have also been doing quite a bit of work in my travel journals (getting them up-to-date - ha!) and have been enjoying making small "Junk Journals" using collected papers from my travels, some hand painted papers, some vintage papers and plain papers too. I've given them as small gifts to the lovely friends I've met this year via Lawendula's Paper Swaps. Maybe I'll post instructions soon.

BLOG HOPPING

This morning is too wet for gardening, so I have been "Blog Hopping" - just following from one link to another. Great inspiration abounds! I have joined as a follower on some and entered a giveaway here -ooglebloops.
This is another talented lady creating Art, selling it too, on her etsy site and giving inspiration to the rest of us.
Here are some photos in a garden and outside a Bed and Breakfast cottage I stayed in recently, near Warragul, in the Victorian countryside.

Altered Books - Using and Making.

Over the last couple of years I have left my jobs at 4 different schools, begun to plan for "Retirement" and discovered the world of Altered Books. I love re-using things - and started a "School Life" Altered Book in an old Diary. I am still going to work on the cover but thought a page would be worth putting in here.



Covers of Diaries

 

I worked as a Teacher Librarian for 30 years, taught for 35 years and started school 57 years ago! Here's a photo of me at 5, on one of my pages. Working on this book helped me celebrate my achievements and 'let go' of my marvellous career. My Art as Therapy I guess!

I also love making books - using the simple technique of sewing through the middle. I use my own painted papers, magazine pages, blank paper, hand made paper - and decorate large sheets of card by painting, stamping and collaging printed serviette layers. I then choose an interesting section and cut to create a cover for the collected pages.

Paper Swapping Around the World



Some time last year, a friend alerted me to a Paper Swap at Lawendula. I was very tempted and joined and met some lovely fellow Paper Lovers from around the world.

Another project that Lawendula initiated was the Collage Box No 1. The idea was that she would put papers into a box and then it would be posted to the next person on the list - to take 12 pieces out, add 12 pieces - and make a collage from the pieces taken out. This is what I did...



The box arrived 



Packed full to the brim

So much to choose from...



Let's see what there is...





Love that red paper...



But I chose these pieces...





Added these pieces...





Packed it all up again and posted it to New Zealand and the next participant.





And then my pieces sat on my bench hidden away over Christmas, New Year, Summer ...while I tidied my room and bences a bit - and then had space to "do" my collage. Added some stamps, and orange dots of paint - and now am completing the project by posting.



Completed - looks better the right way around though!

(can't get it to be the right way around no matter how many times I try - now I know what people mean when the talk about blogger!)

Lawendula is hosting more Paper Swaps this year and there are two more Collage Boxes going around the world.

Thank you Lawendula for  great inspiring projects which has enabled me to meet some lovely Paper Artists from around the world.