Thursday, September 16, 2010

It's all about the signatures

I recently showed some pages I was working on for a TEAL color swap. I have not worked on my teal swap since I posted the photo. Instead, I completed the pages in this post when I was in the working-out-the-kinks stage of trying to complete, photograph, and write up Monday's tutorial.

Not sure how many others have this problem I've had since Sunday, but Blogger won't let me upload photos the first time. Add to that a scanner that somehow came unplugged when I wasn't looking, and you have a blog post that took longer than uploading images from my old WIN98 computer.

These pages are part of the tutorial I posted on Monday. Each signature has a total of 48 pages and there are two signatures in the book. You do the math. That makes it a whopping 96 pages, although it didn't feel that "fat" to me.

Since I was trying to get the tutorial together, I forgot to photograph the pages until they were already sewn into the book. I will share the first half of the first signature (or set of pages) today. This will take you through page 23. The rest (pages 24 through 48) will come next week after I have them scanned.

This is a book about paper dolls and fashion. Since I forgot to photograph the pages before they were sewn into the book, it made it harder and more time consuming to scan. However, you can click on any photo to enlarge. The first page incorporates a magazine image.

Page two: Magazine image, rubber stamp, lacey border from new punch. Page three: magazine image, security envelope, punch.

Pages 4 and 5: backgrounds made using alcohol and staz-on. Scrapbook paper and stickers.

Page 6: Playing card under frame. Page 7: Various bits of old ephemera and scrapbook paper.

Page 8: Scrapbook paper, note paper, punch. Page 9: Scrapbook paper on a page from a circa 80s scientific study.

Page 10: Magazine image, book page, scrapbook paper. Page 11: Scrapbook papers and paper doily.

Page 12: Scrapbook paper, sticker from end of thread spool. Page 13: Sticker, paint chip, plastic in top came off a new spool of thread.

Page 14: Stickers, change of address form. Page 15: Vellum logarithm charts I used during my engineering days before computer programs did everything in an instant.

Page 16: Back of vellum log10 chart. Page 17: Security envelope over a book image.

Page18: Old ledger paper, book page. Page 19: Blank alcohol ink background page except for post-it marker.

Page 20: Magazine images and punch. Page 21: magazine image and piece of map.

Page 22: Map and grip paper. Page 23: Ledger paper, magazine image, security envelopes.

Each one of these "pages" I create, makes four journal pages in the book. It takes me about an hour to make one four spread page. I thought I would get faster over time, but that doesn't seem to be the case. One wonderful thing about all this is I'm using some of my mountain of stash.

Today's blog has little to do with art, some to do with photography, and lots to do with cycling. I stepped outside the altered art community and found Combing My Hair, a quirky blog title for a serious blog about cycling. The blog author, Gareth, lives in the UK and shows some nice scenes in and around his home. I know it's a different kind of blog, but I wanted something outside the box today. Hope your day is filled with fun, laughs, and outside the box thinking.

29 thoughtful remarks:

Clare with paint in her hair said...

really cool, love it!!

Karen said...

Oh these pages are wonderful Elizabeth....you have such an artful eye my lovely!

mmm....Blogger has been a pain the the preverbial lately hasn't it! XXX

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth! Your book is a true wonder! You've inspired me to take a sewing class this winter!!!

Thank you my wonderful friend!

Cynthia Schelzig said...

What fabulous pages!!!!! Beautiful!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Fabulous pages Elizabeth, I especially love black and white with pink (or red); works so well :-)
The prob I'm having with Blogger today is when trying to post comments I get error message - 'Service not available' but when I click refresh button the comment is always posted.
Anne xx

Healing Woman said...

The cycling blog you posted has some pretty amazing bikes and gear for them. I love the first one pictured, although I haven't cycled for quite a few years. If I lived on flat ground I might try it again.

Your pages had to have taken a loooong time to complete. I am wondering what future generations would think if they found your journals hidden away somewhere. Perhaps in a museum. They would have to be amazed by all the labor you put forth in teaching others.

Thanks so much for this Elizabeth...

Halle said...

Another great set of journal pages!!

elle said...

hmm, speaking of Blogger... Let's try again. Lots of inspiration here, Elizabeth. So do you do the art work, stack the pages and then sew them down the middle? Then how do you attach a couple of them into the book cover? Inquiring minds and all that! ;)

Diane said...

Wonderful, as always, Elizabeth--it must be so much fun to look at all of your stash and pick out what you're going to use (I know--sometimes you get lost in that alone--just looking through everything)
And you gotta love blogger--I know that she's female!

NEEDLEWINGS said...

I love looking through all of the pages! Also love your rusted pages. cool!

Unknown said...

These are gorgeous- I REALLY want to learn how to make one.......:)

Caterina Giglio said...

great pages of course I love the sewing! and each page is a great abstract on its own! xx's

BadPenny said...

Wow ! A lot of work has gone into these. Great !

donnalouiserodgers said...

I Love your book, and am wanting to come back and look at each page in detail - and one day - maybe we will swop a (small) book? after my sketch book project and ATC commitments are fulfilled(about summer 2011) - there is No Way a person can explain the time effort and skill in making a book like this,

I 'd like to write a story for you....and whilst I can't commit time just yet - We can play with ideas?

Dx

Anonymous said...

Hi Elizabeth, its always a treat to come by and see what you have been doing. As always such a beautiful book, love pages. I spent ages looking at them
Hugs June xxxx

Rebeca Trevino said...

Terrific! thanks

Rita A. said...

What an absolutely beautiful journal. I lOVE the pages.

~*~Patty S said...

Great fun seeing your cool pages Elizabeth! I am not surprised that each can take an hour or more ... it is always amazing how much time goes into creating!
As a commenter on blogger blogs I have had a time this past week on and off with some bbbs.
Happy Thursday!
oxo

Lori Saul said...

Very cool pages made up of all kinds of interesting materials Elizabeth. They certainly look like they take a lot longer to design and assemble.. Love these art pages!

Dandelion and Daisy said...

I've been using Windows Live Writer to post my blog for about six months. Works every time, you can adjust photo size and layout. You might want to check it out. Great journal, thanks for sharing.

Terri Kahrs said...

So sorry to hear that you've had technical problems with this post, but I'm glad you stuck it out - the results were well worth the hassle!!! Beautiful work, Elizabeth!!!! Hugs, Terri xoxoxo

Dianne said...

Outstanding & gorgeous pages! and the rusted photos are wonderful too...I can see that you will be making glorious artwork from them!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hi Elizabeth, I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the tag. Unfortunately I didn't get where I was going this evening, I was going to the craft group which meets once a month. But the motorway was absolutely chockablock and when I got to the next junction it wasn't getting any better so I came off; I just didn't want to spend ages getting there. I'll avoid the motorway next time, though it's not usually quite so bad. The last couple of times I've been I've picked someone else up and then we don't go on the motorway.
Anne xx

MadeByKarla said...

Love it! you inspire me to get into more altered art ;)

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Elizabeth--I love your pages...I've never made a journal, can you believe it? I'm glad you saw the dresses--it was so fun! I couldn't wait to show them to my "dress-up" buddies!!
Have a great day!
Hugs
xox

jacqueline said...

Dearest Elizabeth, these pages are so beautiful and very inspiring! I love love the colors in each page! Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to yoU!

Gaby Bee said...

You have been busy! I always love coming here and drooling over your art. Your pages are gorgeous as usual, Elizabeth! I love the sewing!

Have a wonderful upcoming weekend!
Gaby xo

Unknown said...

I love them!!!!!

SewPaperPaint said...

What an awesome peek into your journals! I just want to scribble all over the pages with thoughts! Love every detail.
xx,
Autumn Clark