travel the world

ciao...

well as you can see, I have been busy in my studio,

working on new pieces for 

The Artisan's Bench

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!