More pages from The Little Red Book (part 6)

Working in a little book definitely has its advantages! Paint seems to dry quicker and the page is filled up quite easily with images, collage papers and stamps. But what I do like most of working in this little book is the freedom of expressing myself.

Normally I work in an altered book with a theme and want to express all kind of related thoughts and ideas about the theme in that one book. Sometimes that takes a bit of thinking and planning. In this Little Red Book there is no story line, no common theme. One page does not have to match the other page. I do not work in one style throughout the book. I just take each page as it comes and do whatever fits my mood. Don't you just love this kind of freedom? Well, I do!

A Little Red Book (part 5)

Finally Spring has arrived - temperatures are rising and nature is waking up. The weeds in the garden take advantage of my waking up way too slowly from my winter sleep, and they start thriving already. The birds eagerly wait every morning for me to feed them. They have important things to do, gathering materials for their new nests.

The doves are courting, making moves with their heads, trying to please their partner. Swans and geese are flying over in pairs, falling in love the way only they can do. Buds from plants are growing and starting to change to the brightest green,  ready to burst open. In short: life is starting up again.

Everything moves so quickly. Time seems so precious in spring and is moving forward quickly. It's hard to keep up and I feel the need to hasten my pace or I will fall behind. Luckily I have this art journal to express my thoughts and feelings - a way of capturing time and catch phrases before they are erased by the hectics of this beautiful month.

An Invitation to Join a Mother's Day Mail Art Project

What do you get when you move an American artist to Europe? Not just Europe like 'chic Paris' or 'fashionable Milan', 'ancient Rome' or even 'wild and modern Amsterdam' but to just a small city in Germany? Well, with a bit of luck you might end up with a fun and expressive artist like TJ!

I met TJ in the ABEurope group and ever since she discovered blogging, she has been sharing all her fun, succesful (been published, been on a London show) and not so successful stories (like making hundreds of inchies which should have been square but weren't - inventing the new word ninchies - meaning non-inchies) with us. And I should not forget to mention her Pretzel obsession - that quirky German influence on her art.

Anyway, TJ has been asked to do a window display in a local store for Mother's Day. Since Mail Art is one of her specialities, she came up with the idea of stringing a collection of postcards from all over the world across the shop windows. Which means she needs loads of mail art and is inviting everyone to submit a handmade postcard themed 'Mother".

The only rule is that the cards need to be handmade (any size will do) and arrive through the post like any other regular postcard. Also leave some room at the top of the card, because holes will be punched to weave a ribbon through. You can send the card anonymously or with a special message. 

This is not a swap, where you will receive mail art in return, but pictures of the display will be posted on TJ's blog and you'll enjoy the gratification of participating in an international art project - and helping out an artist with way too many fun ideas as well!

This is the link to TJ's blog with all the information you will need, in this post you will also find the snail mail address to send your card to:


http://studiomailbox.typepad.com/tales_from_studio_mailbox/2010/02/call-for-mothers-day-mail-art.html

The deadline to receive cards is Friday April 9 (2010). Generally speaking, postcards from the US can take a week to 9 days to be delivered, so please keep that in mind!

Want to do something different? Want to have a chance at fame (well, at least in Germany)? Want to impress the Germans with your art? Want to join an international art project? Then just jump in and get going!

A Little Red Book (part 4)

More pages from the little Red Book, and these are not even the last ones! This little book is a joy to work in. I like the small pages and the idea that you do not need much time to finish a page.

Normally I like to work with a cohesive spread, but in this book I have let go most of the 'rules' (as if there were any, überhaupt) and elements I like to work with.

The only thing that is consistent throughout the book are the use of words.But even the words on the pages don't make up the complete story.

Some stories have no start and no ending - you just plunge into it and follow along. Or better still: make up your own story and fill in the blanks with your own imagination.