Friday, September 7, 2012

travel the world









ciao...
well as you can see, I have been busy in my studio,
working on new pieces for 
and 
making a little travel journal
for my upcoming 
Caribbean journey... 








so while I was at it, I thought that I would show you how I made it..
since I knew you would have questions...
it is very simple..
I am too dyslexic for coptic stitches or anything very complicated...
sometimes simple is best
especially when one is in a hurry...








so I began with a tiny book measuring 4 x 6
and gutted it..









then I made my signatures
or pages for new book makers...
from khadi papers, sketch, watercolor papers and handmade papers...






I ripped a piece of cotton muslin that just fit the inside of the book






and stitched my signatures into the cloth
I used pencil marks to show me where to stitch





then I used PVA to glue the cloth down to the inside of the book






to cover the book, I chose Tyvek and upcycled an old Fed Ex
envelope






this is what the book looked like once the cover was on
and at this point I used paisley papers on the inside covers...







then I used walnut ink to stain the Tyvek cover
and eventually I decided to mix acrylic paint with the walnut ink...
using raw umber and yellow ochre together..
I wanted it to look like old leather...
and in the end I sanded the edges... and sealed it with workable fixatif..
the shell on the front was an old piece of metal I found in a box of buttons..
and I rusted it using a mixture of Miracle Grow Plant food
and water...





I added vellum to the front and back...





and had fun embellishing..




in fact I had to stop myself or I would have painted and stained all the pages...
I need to save it for the trip... I know I will have lots to write about...






above...
I made several Italian Collages to use for the journal
on the front cover and on pages...






I added a glassine envelope to fill with the flotsam and jetsam of 
the journey..






So off we go, and I will take lots of photos
to show you upon return...
and of course I will have a journal stuffed with my adventures to show you...
I have my art bag filled with glue sticks, water color pencils, water  brushes, papers, pens and pencils...  

I hope you
enjoy the changing season...
it will be fall here when I return, or "leaf season" as I think of it  here in the forest...

grazie! dear readers, for stopping by..
I will be taking a short break while we are off at sea...

C4N!