Lessons of Life:
This week I have been working mainly on altering two composition books for a challenge offered online from Cloth, Paper Scissors magazine. I have had a terrific time with this challenge - getting to use much loved layering techniques. I also love to embellish. I tried to get a balanced effect with feathers, buttons, torn fabric, and charms. I am showing just a couple of photos with steps.



Here's the final version.




I also started a blue book. It is not finished. I will share that as soon as I am able. I'll explain a bit more with that book about the steps involved.
Angels be with you.

Altered books: I took a wee bit of time last night to do some painting in the books and some extra pages which had been torn out in the process of preparing the books. I was in a hurry (surprise, surprise) and had the paint too dark with not enough glaze. There was far too much of it also - reason for doing quite a number of extra pages. I wasn't happy with how brown the pages became but knowing it's an altered book I decided to just use some sandpaper today - fun. The information says do what you like. Why not! I doubt that I'll actually take a flame to any of the pages which is actually suggested amongst many possibilities, but sanding was a great plan.
I'm also working on my doodle ATCs for Chrysti's swap. I need to get them done soon so I can get them in the mail to her. I'll show them soon.
A bit more about the process of altered books, especially for Janet who commented on the recent post: Recommendation is to tear out pages to get more workable number.One site recommended taking out every other page. You then glue about 4-10 pages together. I had done some quite a while ago and did not do anything after gluing. One place suggested using paper clips to hold together. Grr - there are marks where the clips were. Oh - maybe I can burn there. No - I think I'll just glue something over top. I just used inexpensive Elmer's glue-all and even mixed water with it.
My biggest obstacle, as usual, is not enough time. Sigh. Next three days are very busy with meetings and appointment with the eye-specialist (because of the 46 years I've lived with diabetes I always get apprehensive - so far, so good). So you'll have to wait even longer to get comments from me. I WILL visit as soon as I can. I promise.

Angels...

Altering books - a few of my favourite things: books and glue, paints and brushes, brads and fibres, pictures and words, patterns and textures, past and present - these are a few of my favourite things.

Angels be with you.

Doing some research on altered books and came across this fabulous one about angels. Ummm - I feel them close by. Angels be with you.