Saturday, January 21, 2017

Sort, sort, sort


I decided to participate in a new project thought up by the incredible

Seth Apter who invited us to join him in his year long collaborative project he calls ARTifacts.  You can see his first post announcing it here and his second post sharing his first ARTifacts here.  Since Seth first announced it, I knew I wanted to join the collaborative.  I even knew the book I wanted to create, so Thursday

I decided to sort some of the sewn pages I had created in hopes I would have enough that would speak to me.  I know this looks like a real mess at the moment.

I sorted and sorted and sorted.  I made sure that no two page colors were the same (i.e. next to each other).

That alone took forever.   I created signatures of 48 pages each.  I always put two signatures in a book.  That means there are 96 pages in each book I create.

I kept out pages for a Paris scrappy journal, a seasons scrappy journal, and an art doll scrappy journal, but I don't have enough pages for any of these yet.

However, of all the pages I sorted,

none of them spoke to me.

The good news is, I have enough pages to make SIX scrappy journals from what I have sorted

and I have hundreds more to go through as I sort the rest of these.

Because I stand to work, I needed a day to recoup.  So yesterday (Friday)

I sorted more.  I now had sorted enough to create five more scrappy journals.

Before I gave up, I sorted these, and have enough to make four more scrappy journals.

That makes 15 scrappy journals in all that are ready to be sewn to fabric covers.

These are all that I have left to go through.

These are all I've sorted, and that includes the art doll, seasons, and Paris pages that are in cardboard priority mail containers.  The sorted and assembled ones are in tyvek containers.

I could tell I was in trouble when all that spoke to me were these eight.  I need a total of 24 to make 96 pages.  Yes, I'm a math major, so here's how I got the number.  Each page is folded in half, then decorated on both sides.  Each signature contains 12 of these four sided pages which consist of 48 single sided spreads to write, doodle, or make some type of memories on.

It looks like it will be awhile before I can share my first month's ARTifact with Seth, but at least I'm working on it.  Possibly you have wanted to keep a calendar or journal that speaks to you.  If so, head to Seth's and join in the fun.

Of course, the scrappy journal pages will go

in my sun dyed Rocking Horse journal.  This is the outside

and this is the inside.  Now I just need to create 72 more pages that speak to me.

Thank you for visiting today.  And please don't forget to check out Seth's ARTifacts. 

24 thoughtful remarks:

Helen said...

I saw that you'd commented on Seth's first post about this and look at you go with your scrappy journals! Have loads of fun!

Valerie-Jael said...

This sounds like fun for you, but also a lot of work, so please give yourself a break here and then! I am looking forward to seeing what you create. Have BIG fun. Enjoy your weekend, hugs, Valerie

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Well this sounds interesting, you are so clever in all that you do...

have a good weekend. x

chrissie said...

My mind is going around in circles just thinking about all that you will have to do make these wonders. It must have been a labour of love to make all of those pages to start with and then to sort them and create something is just amazing. Good Luck with it all Elizabeth

Have a great weekend

Chrissie xx

froebelsternchen said...

What an huge project - oh wow! Have fun and enjoy!
Great!
Happy weekend!
oxo Susi

Gibby Frogett said...

Wow - what a major project Elizabeth - beautiful and clever... I was exhausted thinking about what you have done and need a cuppa and cake now I think :)
Gill x

Sami said...

Huge project Elizabeth! A lot of sorting to do, but I think that organizing makes us feel good too. Good luck and I'm looking forward to what's going to come out.

Meggymay said...

Oh my, this is going to be a BIG year for you, but I think you will so enjoy it, its sounds fun.
I am in awe of all the materials you have gathered together and ready to use in your various journals.
The rocking horse cover is fantastic. I look forward to seeing all your makes in the coming year.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

You have a TON of gorgeous pages Elizabeth. Wow. I am impressed. I barely have any unfinished pages that aren't just white. I can't wait to see your finished book because I bet being Seth inspired it is going to be cool! Hope you have a good Saturday. I think we are going to walk the beach since its suppose to be a nice winter day. Hugs-Erika

Anonymous said...

Sorting and arranging them in order is a very huge work. You have handled it in wonderful way:)

CJ Kennedy said...

WOW! Looking forward to watching what you will create

Sandra Cox said...

So many journals, so little time. You're going to have some great ones going. Love the rocking horse!
A math major! I stand in awe. Numbers generally hover just out of my grasp:)
YOU have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
Hugs

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow Elizabeth! This looks to be a lot of pages, although I can see that some won't require much adding to them to record your photos of the year! Looking forward to see this! Hugs, Chrisx

Linda Kunsman said...

well, have you ever been a VERY BUSY bee!!! And I completely understand because when something strikes your art passion with a vengeance then you just GO, and keep going:) Love your fabric cover and your sewn and pieced pages. You're going to have lots of fun with this challenge!

Jo Murray said...

Love your sewn pages...and you have so many! A great job of sorting. Am looking forward to your various results.

Krisha said...

What a wonderful stash to pull pages from. I checked out Seth's site,and became a follower, but I don't think my plate will hold one more thing at the moment, so I won't join....but will keep tabs on everything.
Thanks for all the info.

Halle said...

What a big project! Not only all the sorting you did but another year long project!! Wow...it does sound really cool and fun though. hmmm...might have to consider this myself.

Cindy McMath said...

Elizabeth, first let me say 'wow', I can't believe how many pages you have, and that so few of them spoke to you. Can't wait to see what you come up with for your ARTifacts. Interesting project - I started keeping track of all my adventures in London (and Europe) in a big journal but I haven't done much in it at all. I could work on that this year and maybe this would give me some inspiration. Hmmmm... we'll see. But, the real reason I dropped by today is to let you know that I received your wonderful tip-in pages yesterday - thank you so much! I really appreciate you re-creating last year's page for me. I love the tree with the garland - of course any printed pages are a hit. Great use of the phone book, since no one actually uses it to look up phone numbers any more do they? And this year's is lovely too - I love the variety of torn papers you've used to make the tree and of course you know I'm a sucker for birds. Thank you so much my friend, I really do appreciate thise! And thanks for your note too. Am I really getting a gift in additions to these? That is certainly not necessary but of course I would love anything you make!

Nancy said...

I'm so impressed with your many pages and your efforts to go through and sort them! It must be fun to "re-visit" them and group them for journals. Job well done!

Darla said...

I followed along and looked at all that sorting. I'm exhausted. I think I'll go take a nap, LOL! You are an amazing woman.

Cappuccinoandartjournal.blogspot.com said...

Oh!!! Those sewn pages look AMAZING!!!! I am impressed and I would like them. (lol) What a terrific project. Can't wait to see more. Now I've got to go look at Seth's blog.

Jeanie said...

You're doing what I should be -- sorting out. Meanwhile, I'm trying to catch up on the blog I visit -- it seems like everyone posted A LOT while I was gone!

I'm so impressed with your output and dedication. And now... the slacker must do something!

Seth said...

Wow. I have no words for this. And to think the project has just started. I cannot wait to see where you take this Elizabeth!

sheila 77 said...

Oh gosh Elizabeth, I will have to have a lie-down after reading and seeing all this. There is such a quantity of fascinating looking art here. Take it easy, Elizabeth, let Bleubeard choose a few pages, and if Squiggles feels like it (I think Bleubeard is the chief helper?) then let him have a go too.