Sketchbook 2013

Yes, I’m participating in the ArtHouse Co-op sketchbook project again. But the change from themes to categories took me by surprise and so my category is ‘undecided’. I’ve had the book for a little while but had no inspiration until Wednesday when, sitting in the dentist waiting room, an idea struck. One of my decisions was to make this book very tactile, using different textures, and also colourful – a huge contrast to my monochromatic one of last year.

To start the process, yesterday I set to work and completely rebound the book, using washi paper to replace the existing rather thin and plain pages.

A glimpse of the new pages in my sketchbook – not just colours but textures to play with.

I also completely re-covered the book and added a title using aida and embroidery thread:

The front cover…

…and back and front covers.

As you see, my theme is “Threads”. I’ve also made a start on the inside covers:

Inside front cover…

…and inside the back cover, with pocket and butterfly

Not sure what the little pocket will be used for but it seemed a good idea to add one. As to what category my sketchbook will prove to be, that remains ‘undecided’. Although I’ve narrowed my choice down to one of three. For now, I’m delighted to have made a start. And am looking forward to working in my book and developing my theme…

Yes, I am still here!!!

Just that for various reasons my creative activities have slowed recently. Plus I just haven’t felt up to blogging. Anyway, here is the latest exchange on the visual dialogue in my altered book.

Jill's response...

...and her next spread.

My response...

...and the next spread.

Due to the binding becoming strained by the growing thickness of the book, I had to remove a couple of pages and make some repairs before returning the book to Jill. So there are fewer pages to play in. Which is a shame as I’ve really been enjoying our dialogue. The good news is that there is still plenty of room in Jill’s book for us to play for quite a while yet. In fact I have just about finished my next spread in her book. But more on that another day!

Continuing the dialogue…

 

…in Jill’s book.

Jill painted the background and a face...

...and I added a body, plus hair and a hat...

...and continued it over the page.

Intrigued as to where Jill will go next!!! I’m really enjoying our ‘chats’, always fun to open the books when they arrive and see how the ‘conversation’ has developed

Jill’s book…

Jill's additions to my 'play' in her book...

... that I added to...

...and continued onto the next pages.

I deliberately left the thread unattached so that Jill can decide where it goes, if anywhere.

Yay!!!

S and T zentangled ATCs

My Sketchbook 2012 for the Art House Co-op has now been digitized!!! See here.

Also, a couple of Alphabet Zentangled ATCs for the SwapBot series. I’ve so been enjoying doing these.

I’ve also worked in and sent back my Visual Dialogue book, see below for pics. I have Jill‘s book here, too, but need to take a photo so will publish that later in the week. Am so enjoying our renewed ‘play’ in the Visual Dialogue books, it’s such fun when the books arrive in the post to open up the parcel and see what Jill has done

 

My additions to Jill's changes...

... and additions to her spread...

... plus the start of a new spread.

More visual dialoguing

And we’re getting back into the swing of this nicely!!! So good to be ‘talking’ to each other again via our books

Here’s what Jill did in her book:

Jill's spread

And my reply:

My reply.

And Jill’s response to the pages in my book:

Jill's additions to my spread...

...and continued over the page.

 

beginnings…

… of a cloth…. my first such project. Stitching by hand.

The brainstorming and notes leading up to the cloth.

the base... roughly 23" by 16"

Piecing and pinning...

mostly tacked, some stitched, 'stone' pinned...

Stone removed and painted...

The Weekend

Autumn Colours fabric ATCs

Over the weekend, days 24 and 25 of the get-your-art-on challenge, I worked on these fabric ATCs for a swap on the Mixed Media ATC group. I had some wonderful fabric arrive with a mug rug via swapbot, and as soon as it tumbled out of the envelope I knew exactly how some of it would be used. So the little appliqués are from that and sewn on by hand. The rest of the stitching was done by machine, apart from sewing on the buttons, of course.

I also made two more spreads in my Arty Journal. I’ve been enjoying these – not only the making of them, but the writing on them later. These have yet to be used, but it’s good to have them ready for when I need to journal. And feels good, too, that so far I’ve been able to rise to the challenge. Only 5 more days to go!!!

More pages in my Arty Journal.

Day 13 of the art challenge

Autumn

The Heart Journal challenge for this week was to use one word as a focus. With the blustery winds of the last 2 or 3 days and the changing leaves, I chose Autumn as my word. I added pen drawings to the background that I did yesterday, some cinnamon paint and foam letters, also painted with the Viva cinnamon precious metal. The words were added using a silver pen.

the mini tray as it is now

I’ve also made a little progress with my printer’s tray, adding a couple more elements and glueing down the second frame. The tray itself came with 3 frames but I’ve decided that 2 are enough for this trial play at 3D, plus I have an idea for the third frame. So this is as deep as it gets! Still playing with the other elements, plus I need to paint the sides and back before adding any more.

Day 11 – a thinking day

In this all items apart from the frames are fixed...

Being tired, and a weekend, and watching the final of the Shanghai Masters snooker means I haven’t done as much today as over the past few days. But my little altered tray has developed a bit and I’ve definitely fulfilled the minimum 30 minutes of the get-your-art-on challenge. Even if it doesn’t look as if I’ve achieved much.

Playing with elements... I've discarded the large raven from yesterday, still to decide on what to include and where.

What I have done is more painting, this time with Viva precious metal cinnamon paint (I adore the colour) and some glueing of elements to the base and lower frame. Much of the time I’ve been arranging, re-arranging and generally thinking on what to add (or not). For now, I’ll leave any more glueing and painting until I’ve made more decisions.

Although I’m used to building up collage and working in layers, this 3D tray, with the laser cut frames that stack on top to give the deep niches, is challenging my normal approaches. Which is good. Makes me think, explore and experiment. Great fun.