Girlfriends' Traveling Sketchbook....

I've told you about the traveling sketchbook project I'm involved in -- 10 artists, 10 sketchbooks. Not quite sure what I was getting myself into - when Katie mentioned the project, knowing many of the artists involved, I jumped at the chance of participating.

Last week I received three of the books in the mail. I kept them on my desk for a week whilest I sketched out ideas for each of the special books.

Here is what I came up with...

For Lynn's Book, I painted a base canvas with metallic Lumiere paint. I made a fiber embellished piece using organza, silk, yarns, threads, netting and stitched it on top of the canvas. As a final layer I made a square using metallic embossed canvas to which I stitched a fabric inchie and metal flower. I like how it came out and it fits with Lynn's style, I think.

For Soul Brush's Book I painted a base cotton canvas with Neocolor II crayons, then threadpainted flowers on top and free motion quilted it. I hope she likes it.

Finally, for Bab's Book - remember that Altier paint workshop I went to a few weekends ago? Well I painted a small piece of loose canvas using their paints with the intention of taking it home and stitching layers of organza on top. After I stitched the layers, I used my

heat gun to melt away some of the organza. I then put in some really pretty cranberry red thread and continued stitching and defining the flowers. Lastly, I stitched some beads into the centers of the flowers.

All three pieces have "finished" backs that are painted either with watercolors or watered down acrylic paints. Each piece has the process written on the back and is signed and dated. What a great time I had making these for my "Girlfriends." I do hope they like them.

Head's up Lynette - here they come. Three books in - three books OUT!

Anxiously awaiting the next arrivals!

Girlfriends Traveling Sketchbook.....

My friend Katie came up with a fun idea of getting a group of ten artists together and making a traveling sketchbook. The way it works: after deciding size and binding style we want to use, each artist is to make their own cover and first page of their own book and mail it on to the next person on a list who will then add a page that they've created for the book and mail it on until it eventually passes through the hands of every artist, whereby the book is returned to it's owner with ten glorious pages attached.

At that time, we can add a cover and bind it up, or add more pages. I joined in this project because I liked the idea of venturing out of my comfort zone of thread and fiber and into all the cool supplies on Sabrina's side of the studio - gel mediums, molding paste, tissue paper, rubber stamps, paints, ephemera, etc., etc. I've just finished my first page and am mailing it on to Lynette who will then add a page to my book and mail it on to Karen - and so on, and so on. How cool!

For my substrate, I used a piece of un-stretched artist canvas. To that I applied gel medium and covered the surface of the canvas with torn pieces of vintage sheet music and poetry. I then laid a wash of several colors of Lumiere (metallic paint) over the top, to which I added about 4 staggered layers of organza and a few frayed slivers of lame. After that I stitched a free motion grid all over the top and applied heat from a heat gun to partially melt away the organza. To finish it up I added a sun and moon that I painted on silk dupioni, and printed the words to one of my favorite proverbs (by Buddha) which I stitched down on the surface with gold metallic thread. I love how this came out. I'm going with a theme for my book and it is going to be "Words of Wisdom."

While I was working on my page I also made a few atcs that I owe out. I used some of the neocolor free motioned base I made a few weeks ago and I also used some extra word/music collaged canvas that I had leftover from making my sketchbook page.

I've decided that whenever I try a new technique or want to experiment with a new medium, I am going to make a few atcs. It's nice having them around to trade with other artists, and it seems they are quite popular lately as everyone is asking for them.

I took a break from Sabrina's tote bag so I could get this and a few other things finished. This weekend - it's back to the sewing room to finish that beast up. She better use it!