NEW YEAR 2012

Happy New Year to you!

 Here in Australia, and particularly in my part, summer is in full swing! Beach walks, outdoor meals on our deck, tourists and holiday atmosphere everywhere.

We had a very relaxing Christmas Eve BBQ (prawns, special salads & marinated meats, berry coconut cake) and Christmas Day Dinner ( Turkey, special vegetables, plum pudding & brandy sauce).

As we  had such sadnesses during 2011, I deliberated for ages about whether to say grace, make a speech etc but in the end I lit 3 candles - a red centre one for our son-in-law, who died in July; one to "acknowledge" the sad and difficult times of the year and one to "celebrate" that we were together and are looking forward to good times.

I received 2 more cards from my Paper Swap friends - after Christmas - caught up in overseas mail & public holidays- they took more than 3 weeks to arrive. But I love them both - thank you Robert (card on left) and Nicole (right).
Nicole won second prize in a competition with her card, which is layered in red and green and features a tag from Cavellini and paper from anna griffin. Robert has collaged a monoprint and painted on watercolour paper - a lovery wintery feel.

I've been spending time finishing my Junk Journal (begun at the end of 2010) when I retired from regular teaching - which also means I've been getting rid - no - using - all those bits lying around on my bench, in drawers, in the cupboard ... you probably know what I mean!

I've used some old Christmas cards I'd kept because I loved them - to make 2 Christmas books, using paint, serviettes, wrapping paper, stamps, and the cards. I love the cover of the pink book!

 

Two pages from the Christmas books made with old cards.

 I've done 2 spreads for the Round Robin Altered Book for girls in the group and made 3 journals so far - one for our up coming cruise, one to just play in - and one I'll use to collage and write in - inspired by Nicole's blog. I want to make another larger one to work in for Effy Wild's course, Book of Days.
 

Altered book page for Joanne.


I'm looking forward to a creative, healthy and happy year - and wish you, dear reader, the same.

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.

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.

Travel Journals

I am leaving for a European Trip tomorrow - and am very excited to have the opportunity to travel with two of my sisters and one of their husbands. Isn't he lucky?

I always journal my travels, and love recording unique events, places, words, expressions, experiences ... and whatever else takes my interest. My first overseas trip was in 1985, and it's interesting reading back over my impressions from then. that journal was written only. The page to the left is from my 2008 journal.

And a written and collaged page from the same journal.

Now that I have discovered altered books and collage - my recent journals are a mixture of words and collage - from train tickets to interesting images from tourist brochures. I have altered the covers of the journals I'm taking with me - with scrapbook paper and printed serviette layers. This makes it an art experience for me and has channeled the excitement into something useful. There seems to be a bit of an unintentional theme - flight! Birds and butterflies. Also brings to mind "freedom" of travel, which I love!

Cover of my "Getting Ready" Journal .

Cover of a sewn notebook that I'll take.

Inside pages.

Covers of the travel journal.

Back and front cover of the travel journal - but sorry - I can't get the photo to be around the right way!!!