How to exhibit a book on a display board

In my last post I shared how I had been invited to have a solo exhibition of my work at a college. It was a lovely opportunity and it also posed a challenge, because my passion is making handmade books. How do I display these on a flat upright board?!  

After giving it some thought I decided to take photos of some book pages, so that there were examples of the different construction and designs.  But I felt it was important to actually have my work on display so that visitors could see the layers and detail, so I decided to make 2 concertina books specially for the exhibition.  

I chose this construction because it is simple and quick to make. Time was a factor, but even more important, it could be open and attached across the board for easy viewing. I love taking photos and one of my favourite ways of sharing these is to put them into a book. So I chose two sets, and spent several days covered in paint and glue. I was really pleased with the result, as I could create a slight dimension with the folded pages when attaching them to the display board, rather than having the books flat.  

The other pieces of art that I displayed are pages from my art journal, and a collection of tree experiments, using tissue, ink and wax. The exhibition will show for the month of March and in a few weeks I will be meeting the students to tell them more about my art. I have offered to show them how to make a mini book so I'm looking forward to this, and now I have re-fired my love of the concertina book I can't wait to make some more. They may be simple and easy to make, but they are so versatile and fun to do.  Come back soon to see the second book that is on display.  And if you'd like to see the first one it can be seen here . 

I have just noticed the row of art journal pages are not placed very well. Trying to support the large board while stapling wasn't easy especially when you can't stand back to see what you are doing! It  didn't help that we were trying to put the exhibition up in between tutorials. Hopefully the students will know that I am practising imperfection!  

These two photos show how the concertina books could be displayed to show the open pages.

Thank you for visiting and I'll be back to show the second book on Sunday. 

5 in 5 - January 2016 - STARTING AS I MEAN TO GO ON, COVERED IN PAINT!

Welcome to '5 in 5' where on the 5th of

each month I post 5 photos that I have

taken in 5 minutes. 

Hello and welcome to the first '5 in 5' post in 2016!  My year has trickled in rather than thundering. A cold left me muzzy headed and without energy but I'm pleased to say I am feeling a bit more connected today and that goes for technology too.  A new computer arrived yesterday and my son kindly came over after work to set it up. I've not tried it yet but 2016 is starting to look on the up!

Yesterday, I grabbed my camera and went out into the garden. It looked lovely with rain drops on leaves and flowers, and I set the timer and shot away.  But afterwards I decided not to use these for my '5 in 5' as the photos are similar to a recent post, where I visited a local garden and saw daffodils in December.  So instead, I decided to take some more photos this morning. Which is why I am later posting this than planned.

Have you heard of Wanderlust?  It is a new online course that started on 1st Jan. I'm glad I signed up as it promises to be really exciting and I have decided that my focus for my year will be to start and finish!  There are 2 main prompts/lessons each month and I finally mustered enough energy yesterday to complete my first project - an art journal page using a word that sums up how I feel this day. So, let me show you, but first my messy table... 

Before starting on my page I always put a large sheet of paper undrneath. This not only protects the  workspace but also gives me another piece to work on. Just look at this wonderful relief!

As well as paint I used grunge paste to create a texture. I like using things I have around the house for stencils.




And here is my completed page.  I want to do more art journalling this year, so I am off to a good start. I was pleased with how the different layers show through, especially the music paper I used underneath. I don't know why the photo shows pink tinted but lighting is difficult this time of year.

As you can see, I was feeling slow. That's okay. It's winter here and that's the time to feel dormant. It's also a reminder for me to slow down and not take on so much this year. To do less, so that I can do more. This will be my mantra and it feels like a good start.



                           *****************

If this inspires you to pick up your camera and share some of your photos I would be truely excited!  All it takes is five minutes, and to follow the challenge this is what you do:

 

  1.  Choose a location.

2.  Have your camera ready.

3.  Set a timer for 5 minutes (I use my mobile phone).

4.  Take as many photos you can until the time is up.

5.  Choose 5 photos to download and share by using the link tool below. 

   Please note: 

You have until the 25th of the month to add your photos to the link

and you can take  your photos any time. They do not have to be taken or posted on 5th!

If you'd like more details please go here.

Thank you to Helena, Joy, Melanie, Maggie, Eileen and Juliet for posting in December and joining in. Doing something together makes it all the more fun and I'd love for you to join in too. Just link your post below and I'll be straight over to see your photos! 

Thanks for visiting!  

Blog Hop - FOCUS

Welcome to the Blog Hop!  With focus as a theme it could only mean one thing to me - my camera!  It goes everywhere with me and on my recent trip to the Shetland Islands I took over 4,000 photos, but don't worry I'm not planning to show these today! 

Instead, I chose just one and I decided to use it as an art journal page.  Out of necessity this was a quick page but I did manage to try a new technique.  I went to the Shetlands to attend a book making course and one of the ladies had printed photos onto tracing paper.  I loved the effect this gave to her page so I tried it out here using the image of a camera.  The opaque paper allows the background text to show through, I love being able to see different layers and this is a technique I will use often hereon.   I have lots of journals: for experimenting and playing in, art, for writing morning pages, and others which have a theme.  This one is all about 'journey' and I have written more about my journaling here.  

 

But I digress!  While visiting the Shetlands I flew out to the Fair Isles and stayed in the Bird Observatory.  This was a wonderful adventure and I will write about it more another time. I'm already planning a return visit!   It was here that we hoped to see puffins; however we

was told that they were just starting to arrive and it seems they come and go until they start to nest.  So imagine my joy when my first cliff top walk revealed lots of these little birds!

They are deceptively small and are quite brave birds, allowing us to get quite close.  They were beginning to seek out burrows and it is quite clear to see where they nest as the ground is like craters!  Puffins are not camera shy either so I was able to take lots of photos, in fact some seemed to even pose!

 



I like to have fun with my camera and as a way of creating focus I have a monthly neme called '5 in 5'.  The idea is to set a timer for 5 minutes (I use my mobile phone) and to take as many photos as you can in that time.  Then choose your favourite five and post them, linking back to my page so that others can come and see.  And just to keep things easy I post on the 5th of each month but you are welcome to post yours up to the 25th, so there is still time this month if you would like to join in!  Please pop over to see more here if you have time.  

As well as photography, one of my greatest passions is making books and as I have so many photos to choose from I have decided to use PhotoBox on this occasion.  It's my first time of sharing my photos this way but it won't stop me making other books about my trip!  I love constructing and choosing papers for each page and if you would like to find out more about the books I make and workshops that I run I have a Facebook Page.  

I am offering a giveaway.   To be in for a chance, just leave a comment on my Facebook page and I will chose a name from random on Sunday the 24th of May at 10pm BST.  Like my page and you will be entered twice!  

So!  Thanks for popping by and I hope the puffins made you smile as much I did.

Next in the Blog Hop is Louise so do pop over and say hi!   And if you have come straight here you might want to start at the beginning as Jennifer is planning a weekend of fun events and is giving away a WRK Insta Album Kit. 

 

 

This is the prize up for offer.  Enter to win by commenting on all the blogs in the Focus Your Craft & Soul Hop! The giveaway closes on Sunday the 24th of May at 10pm BST, and is open internationally.  Here is the complete list, have fun!

 

Jennifer: http://jennifergracecreates.com/

Sheena: http://sheenasscrapsandscribbles.blogspot.co.uk/

Sandie: http://itchifingers.blogspot.co.uk/

Louise: http://scrapbook-me.blogspot.co.uk/

Leslie: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.co.uk/

K: http://kscraftycorner.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo: http://curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.co.uk/

Jacky: http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.co.uk/

Furrypig: http://chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.co.uk/

Daphne: https://dapfniedesign.wordpress.com/

Clare: http://crafty-clare.blogspot.co.uk/

Claire: http://www.creativemakings.co.uk/

Annie: http://www.artyfartyannie.com/

 

FINDING MY MOJO!

Lately it has been difficult to find time to create. I always know when this is lacking in my life, I feel off balance, not quite complete.  And so it was with huge relief and excitement that I packed my bags and set off for a weekend retreat.  I met these ladies for the first time earlier this year and had one of the best weekends ever!  I have never been made so welcome or laughed so much. 

This time I also took my friend Pauline. Now, this is no grand affair. We sleep in a village hall on lilos, and create/crop in the other half.  Like grown-ups on a Brownie camp! And do you know what? I was so comfortable and relaxed in the company that I shared that on Saturday I did not get dressed!  No - I had a pj day! I never do this at home unless I am unwell but I have had a lot of pressure lately and having a r-e-a-l-l-y chilled day was just what I needed. 
Sometimes it is good to listen to the body and do what feels right,  this felt really liberating and rebellious and it fed my inner child!   

Some of you will know that I am working through The Artists Way book written by Julia Cameron.  Well one of the things I most enjoy and embrace is 'morning pages'.  Much like journaling this is time for me to empty my mind and create space for other ideas and thoughts.  Hopefully useful ones. And this weekend my writing blew me away by what it unearthed.  Earlier this year I started a new Art Journal following an online course 'Passport to Art' run by Bernice.  Well, I started the journal on the last retreat but I could not connect with some of the prompt quotes.  I made several attempts to fill more pages when I got home but I was not excited or inspired. But I wanted to work on this so I took my journal and during my 'morning pages' I had a realisation.  I needed to make the journal more personal. 

AND I WAS AWAY!! 

I made up my own quotes or journal related themes and completed lots of pages. I wondered why I hadn't done this before but I guess when we are overloaded the obvious can be overlooked.  I am grateful to Bernice for the inspiration because I LOVE metaphors and things to do with travel and journey. I LOVE art journaling and getting messy with ink and paint. I LOVE being experimental and doing things just for sheer fun.  And now I LOVE my Atlas-journal!  Here are a couple of my early pages.  I will make a video one day and show more. Other pages are shown on the link above.

Now this page irritates me.  The spacing is wrong and I want to redo it. But I am learning to live with imperfection and I challenge myself to let go and walk away. To acept that sometimes it is 'good enough'. So it is almost fitting that this page came together in this way. My cabin is too full for me to use right now. Another reason my creativity is stifled. There is no room for play!  I find it hard to throw things that might have another use, you see. I love upcycling, making things from old. And it was interesting that the words on this page just flowed, there was no practice run or pre-contemplation. With the recent loss of a dear friend and other things going on, this page is very much where I am right now. I did have a good day in the cabin and I can find the floor and table top again. There is still much to be done but this weekend I am off on another retreat. I am super excited! I'll share more about this another time, and what I made this first weekend because day 2 of my 'morning pages' was also liberating and productive.

So glad that my mojo is back!

. 

WOYWW - PASSPORT TO ART

I have not been home much these past weekends as I have been on two consecutive retreats.  It is time to catch up on projects and to try out new things, and in between my bags were left packed ready for my next escape. And because my weekdays leave little time outside of work for other things I look forward to this time away and being with friends. 

One thing I do not enjoy is unpacking so on Wednesday, after my return, my workspace looked like this:
 

Something I started this month is an art journal using an old atlas. It is part of an online course called Passport to Art that runs daily through July so it is giving me techniques to try and a focus.  I have been planning to spend more time art journaling so this is a good push towards doing that. I love things to do with 
journeys and quotes, so it was time to get messy and play! Here are some of my pages so far:

 

 

 

Each day a new technique, quote and prompt is posted as part of the course.  As always I am having trouble keeping up and I find my best way is to just dive in and spend a number of hours at a time. But opportunities like that are hard to come by unless I am on a retreat. No more are planned until November, but then I have two booked. Retreats are like buses it seems. You wait a while then two come together. And who's complaining? Certainly not me!


Over at Julia's there are lots of other projects and workspaces being shared.  You never know what you might find, so why not pop over and say hello.  Thank you for visiting and have a good week.

A DAY WITH DYAN REAVELEY

My friend Pauline and I had planned to go to Harrogate this year to visit Art from the Heart.  You see, we were keen to book a couple of classes with Dyan Reaveley, but do you know what? 

Dyan came to us instead!  Well, to the south that is.... to
Faversham in Kent. She was running four classes this weekend but we
decided all four might be too much to absorb all at once, so we
booked two and plan to go to Harrogate another time for more. 

I love art journaling and you can see one of the first pages I ever
made here. I still remember how powerful it was to produce this page and I had it in mind to buy a 'proper' art journal and materials so I can be more serious in my intent. And finally, yesterday I did just that! 

Pauline and I were so excited to be meeting Dyan, and we soon got down to making a mess.  Now you know how it is when you have a brand new book of beautiful blank pages...  you want to stroke them and perhaps put it aside for something 'special'.  Well, Dyan was having none of that!  She ran a tight ship and when she said open a page, pick up a Dylusion spray and use it on the page, well we did!  We were told not to spend time choosing a colour - just take the first one you reach out for.  And we did!  Then we had to repeat this on another blank page.  Third time we were primed and about to spray... when Dyan said  'spray the persons page sitting next to you'! 

Then we had to tear two pages from our book, and a strip out of another page...  all this done quickly and without opportunity to think about what we were doing.  Which is probably just as well!  It felt very liberating to act so fast and unconsciously... which for me is what art journaling is about: the freedom to express yourself, with the focus on process rather than a plan or outcome. 

After this we set about making some background pages. Dyan is an excellent teacher, and not only that, she is one of the most modest and generous artists I have met.  She invited photographs and said her sole intent is to encourage others to try art journaling.  That her work is just 'paper and paint'... and if 'copying' her work gave others the confidence to give it a go, then that was fine.  She said we could share her work, did not need to give her credit... and her whole attitude was so relaxed and giving. I am sure this allowed us to be less precious with our own work and to experiment and be playful.   

The classes ran from 9am to 6.30pm and we learned different techniques including how to spray, stamp, mask, use hand writing, college, and create different effects. Now my confidence is boosted there will be no looking back!!   Here is my new book looking pristine:

 

 And soon after, with pages torn out and covered in ink:

 

A page in progress:

 

 

And one completed:

 

I didn't think I would achieve so much in one day and a part from enjoying everything I learned it was pure pleasure to meet Dyan.  She was so inspirational and says that art feeds her soul.... I know mine was truly satisfied yesterday. 

 





GOOD GRIEF

Can grief be good?  I know it is a processing and experiencing of feelings.  And I guess you can do that in a positive way by going through the stages by embracing it, and recognising it for what it is.  Or you can deny yourself this because it is too painful, uncomfortable, or because for whatever reason, you just can't.

This week someone I know died before her life had really begun.  I worked with her for nearly 3 years and although I lived in the knowledge that her life could end and tried to prepare myself for this, nothing can take away the shock.  And I am trying to work with this in a positive way.  Work is not the place to be while I process what has happened, and and it is important that I recognise my own needs otherwise my work with other people may be affected.  And so I am at home, doing what I know helps.  Being creative, because this is what touches me most.  Not scrapbooking or album making.  But art journalling and writing.  Get in touch with my thought processes and feelings, and allowing them to be expressed in a healthy way.  And I also know that isolating myself is not helpful, so I have had contact with friends and other people who can help me with this.  And sometimes, more often than not infact, it is mutual support.  A sharing of memories, ideas of how to put things into perspective and to move forward.  I am going to the funeral and I will also be involved in a celebration of her life with other people who knew and worked with her.  Ceremonies and rituals are important.  Our ancestors knew this much better than we do.

In 10 things on 10th I said I would start an art journal.  And this seemed the perfect time to do so.  I don't know why I didn't do this years ago actually.  I love expressing myself through art, or working with others to do this.  A journal is the perfect place to keep pages together.  Up until now I have always worked bigger, A1 or A2, but there is no reason why I can't keep doing this too when the mood or need takes.  And now I recognise that the beauty of an art journal is that you can take it with you.  Use it in the moment or when opportunity strikes.

So here are the first pages.  Some speak for themselves, others are work in progress.

I have also started to make some backgrounds.  This one is a favourite photo of mine that I altered using  impressionist style at befunky.   If you have not checked out this site already it is worth a look.  I like to alter my photos sometimes for creative work, and think I will be doing this more regularly with an art journal to fill.

And this one was hand printed using the base of a bunch of celery.  They look like flowers, I love the effect:

 

And finally, for those who have visited from Julia's, here is a picture of my desktop.  Not my usual style, but now you know why.

You will also know why I have not visited so many blogs or left comments this week.  I will be back in action soon. 

For the moment I just need time to be quiet and to gather my thoughts. 

Oyay! Oyay!

If I were a town crier I'd be ringing my bell loud and clear!  Because you see, my blog will be one year old on Monday 20th June.

And I am organising a  

BLOG HOP 

to celebrate.  

This is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey.  I have some amazing participants lined up, a surprise or two, and am I excited ?  Yes I am!  I hope you will make a note of the date and join us for some fun!
Thank you to Robert Needham, Town Crier for Colchester, Essex for permission to use this photo. 

I'm also celebrating progress in other areas too.  In my last post I named 10 things I wanted to achieve in the coming weeks.  I have ticked off Project 365 and these photos are now sorted and downloaded onto my Flickr site.  Yay!!

Thank you to anyone who left a comment on my post.  I was truely grateful and encouraged and have visited each of you to thank you personally.  But the Google Gremlins were about... grrrrr!  After writing a comment I would be signed out..... I would sign back in and repreat the process only to be met with the same problem.  I can't tell you how much time was wasted and it got so bad that I actually gave up.  And I don't give up easily!  But I did get to see what other people listed as their 10 things and loved the ideas and the sharing.  And I also found out something pretty special, but more about that next time.... 

Another of my intentions was to start a art journal.  I love using all kinds of media so this seemed a good place to experiment and work on pieces that are small enough to complete.  There's no point in starting yet another project that remains unfinished!  And so I bought this book.  There are no techniques or instructions, just 1000 images of completed work.  But a great souce of inspiration which will naturally flow into my other creative areas.


By the way,  has anyone else had Google sign in problems or is it just me? 
Enjoy your week, what ever you are doing.