4 posts tagged “altered books”

When I got some of these silk cocoons I was a bit concerned about WHAT to do with them at first. I managed to find a recipe for "ungluing" the silk by boiling them in water and dish soap. When dried I found it extremely difficult to handle as it sticks to everything, each strand is so fine. As it turned out I had some roaving and managed to layer the two together on my felting mat. It helped to add small bits and pieces of strings and yarn to the layers. This was my first attempt at felting and I kept telling myself it was a test piece and no one would ever see it!

The end result was plain wonderful! My excitement contained, I then decided that I could embelish it and use it - maybe - someday. Perhaps as a background where it's primitive ness may not be noticed. The idea of stamping the back of the piece with a rubberstamp came to me, I could use it as a pattern right? Right! It worked out great and I was quite pleased with the results. Continuing to admire my "test" piece as possibly no longer a test, I kept going. Taking tiny little threads and painstakingly weaving them through spots for added dimension. With that done, I wanted more, so I took little charmy things and sewed them in. Viola!

Now what? Everytime I placed this piece on something it either just wouldn't work or I couldn't part with it. I really became attached to my little slip of accidental art. It sat safley tucked away for two years until the day came to put this Nature Page in a book I was commissioned to make. I didn't know this woman, never met her, never heard of her and I was making a Beaded Tassel Book for her, about her! Then as the information and history came into my hands regarding her I found out what a truly remarkable woman she is. I read documents she wrote, snippets of her travels, the list of accomplishments throughout her career and personal life. The information contained enough background for me to know that she not only rose from being a backhills country girl to a Major Corporate Executive who never gave up her roots and ALWAYS stayed true to herself. With great pride, I let go of my little test piece. It is in Barbara's Beaded Tassel Book of memories now.

Jacquie

Recently I learned how to make music videos. My first one came out pretty good if I do say so myself. It is about a time just a couple of years ago that was extreme in every sense. I had a man, a pristine piece of land on our Mountain, no money, little work and lots to be thankful for. We were hungry, cold sometimes and at the crossroads of our relationship. On and off for three years prior I believed (some say foolishly) that this beautiful mountain place would save us. But it didn't and his constant connection with his mistress and alcohol made me take him back to the city and leave him there. I had to save myself, the land and what little bit I had to call home. Not to mention what was left of my heart and soul.

Last month he died. Fell off a bridge while walking home from a card game. The call at 5 am rocked my world. I was shocked and deeply sad. I'd had no contact with him to speak of and always worried that now that I'm back living in the city again myself (I lost the land) I'd run into him somewhere. Yes, I went to the Memorial Service. I was truly shocked at all of the emotion that flooded up from the little places in my heart I'd kept locked up and closed off. So I made the video. It was surprising to me how easy it all came together with what pictures I have left, the song was never a question. I learned so much about myself as an artist making that video. My eyes were truly opened up in a way that just completely blindsided me. For over 10 years now I have been working with Mixed Media. Altered Books, Beaded Tassell Books, Many different Aged Pieces and so forth. People like what I do, some things I sell some are gifts and some are both. It just never occured to me that my video would give me the same feeling of completion.

So, I came across this song yesterday "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. I purchased it from Amazon.Com and have an attachment, or connection, to the lyrics. But not in a romanic way, I think of my sisters. Of our many years together and apart. I am excited to start my next video about the living, the love of family, sisters and the growing process we've been through. Yes, I have my work cut out for me in the picture gathering department, but the video itself will be something I can work on and stay creative while waiting for the Mixed Media Artist in me reemerge.

Take a listen to the song by clicking the link above. Your comments appreciated. Anyone having a remote desire to see the first video please send me a shout here at Vox or YouTube search me, gypsy7923

Peace All -

So, here is some of it. I am very pleased with the finished piece and honestly, pretty proud of myself. Each time I finish something I feel like my work gets better and better.

The page layout in the top photo was to encompass the recipients roots and love of where she came from. Being born and raised in a small farming town of the Southern Tier of New York State she paved her own destiny to become not only a highly payed top executive, but she stayed true to her background and her self in the process.

During her time with Baush & Lomb she was involved with and traveled to many Olympic Games. Therefore, the Olympics page. Throughout the book I tried to add little hidden pockets to add interest and the element of surprise. What a find that little doll lady was! I've had that in my bag of "save for something" forever! Since I didn't want to have a layout of tags, tags and more tags on one page I came across her while searching for something else and the next thing I knew my little doll lady was proudly standing in the book with a banner and crown. Perfect, she was just perfect!

Now, the books cover. I have had those antique typewriter keys forever. I just love them! They're heavy, have substance to them. And so many times I've wanted to use them but have been admitedly stingy and not wanted to give them up! However, I wanted to keep the cover simple yet interesting as well. I did not want shiny or flashy because that is not what this remarkable woman is about. The paper I found is handmade, marbled paper in earthtones with the "mist" of gold over the surface. To me it represented this womans ability to work in her garden - get her hands in the earth - and to be able to enjoy, entertain and communitcate with very important dignitaries and Fortune 500 executives. So I let the paper "speak" and went to my cherished typewriter keys and kept it simple. Turns out, I find out later, that she started as a secretary! Hows that!!!

So, there are other pages, but I just wanted to get these up to start. There are other details about the book I'd be happy to share in future posts if anyone has any interest. But for now, here it is.