The Journey Back: Good Morning In The Studio

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Good Morning In The Studio

Good Morning friends. Today I am opening the door to my studio. So grab a cup of something warm and come inside . . .

It is always cozy inside. This is my special place. The door is always closed and rarely do I have visitors.

The dogs are sweet. They wait patiently while I am creating.

This week I am working on an Altered Book that will become a Journal.

Are you wondering

What is an Altered Book?

Here's the definition I googled

What Is An Altered Book? Simply put, an altered book is an art object that has been created from an existing, printed book. The book is altered through whatever means and media the artist chooses. This generally means using the book's pages as a canvas on which to apply paint, collage or rubber stamping.

Creator's usually take a book and tear out some pages and then create an art piece.

If your interested there are all kinds of examples on Pinterest and You Tube.

I think my project will be a place where I either write scripture, or use to write letters to God. Or as a Daily Journal.

I haven't decided it. Yet. My project was inspired by one of my FB groups called Junkin' For Jesus.

Each day the group provides a video with a prompt.

I began a few days late because I struggle with the entire concept of tearing up books. Most folks use thrift store finds. Or buy at Dollar Tree. But I still struggle.

I also struggle with Bible Journaling that covers over the word.

I really wanted to do this challenge and when I started watching the daily videos I was more and more interested.

On day 1 the artist planned to do hers out of a Magazine. Call me weird but that concept got me. I can cut up a magazine all day long.

But the thought of tearing up a book. I just can't do it.

And the other day when I was taking books off shelf's to move things around.

I found this book . . .

It is actually a homeschool Spanish book. The size was perfect because if I decide to journal I will have lots of room because I write big.

To prepare your book you start by tearing pages. The reason you tear pages is because when you add glued elements the book gets bigger/thicker.

Starting on page 1 we were instructed to count 4 pages and then tear out page 5 & 6.

Then continue this process all the way to the back cover.

Also on day 1 we were prompted to decorate the cover. I chose to skip decorating because I haven't decided how I will use my project.

On to Day 2

We were prompted to use junk mail. I also used some tea and coffee dyed paper to fill in blank spots.

On the upper right I used a piece of a Daily To Do List. I dyed. It had lines so it will give me a place to write. I also added a blank piece of dyed paper as a spot to journal or write.

I left the seed packet complete and opened at the top so I could put something inside.

Day 3

This was a fun day. The prompt was to use packaging.

Bits and pieces from anuthing. In the right is a tag from a clothing line I manufactured years ago. I also used a piece of packing from France. I am thinking it held soaps maybe.

Here is a close up. . .

And a closer shot I glued it to be a tuck spot. I have the Day 3 sign tucked in so you can see the tuck spot.

I really loved this spread. . .

I glued the fork at the top onto both pages so they would be connected.

The fork and spoon I cut from a Trader Joe's bag. The green paper underneath and sticking out from the coffee dyed paper is from my water bill. I also used it on the previous page. The purple paper is actually from a toilet paper roll. I thought it was funny. I saved it knowing I could find a use.

On Day 4 we were prompted to use a magazine. I started the spreed using text. I went through several magazines and also used a couple of old Dictionary pages to make a foundation.

I chose text with different fonts. I rubbed a nail file over the paper to take off some of the gloss and then applied Brown eye shadow to give it an aged look. I will go back later a choose magazine photo's that compliment my theme.

On day five the prompt was to use Ledger paper. I have only a few pieces of Vintage Ledger so I hoard it. But I found in my stash some ephemera. The Bicycle is on Ledger Paper. The graph paper to the right I had cut with scalloped scissors I let it hang over the edge just barely to add interest to the edge of the page.