Journeys - An Exhibit by the Altered Book Group

As promised, here are photos from the Journeys exhibit of altered books which opened last Thursday. The photos are not the best, but I hope you can get an idea of the wide range of art created primarily from books. There are eight artists represented here.

It was a "hands on" exhibit and people were encouraged to handle and read the books.

I love the way the folded book sculptures look on the bottom shelf of the display case.

This shelf held my tea cup books on either side of a book object holding tea bags made from book pages. The back of the case is mirrored which allowed the books to be seen from all angles. It also made taking a decent photo quite difficult!

I think this case is gorgeous and the perfect height for displaying books.

There were several sets of hanging shelves which displayed a few of the smaller books, including my set of miniature books made from used tea bags, silk, book pages and text.

Here is a closer view of the tea bag books and the shots below give a better idea of their size.

I'm sorry I didn't get photos of the gallery when it was full of people delighting in the art of altered books. We had a really nice turn out for the opening, and people seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the artwork displayed. Many people had never seen altered books before and it was fun to see and hear their reactions.

I feel a huge sense of relief to have the show opening now behind me...and at the same time...can hardly wait to choose a theme for next year and start working on more altered books!

Buried in Books

Maybe it's the change in weather or the change of seasons, but lately I find myself buried in books. I love that I can go online and request books that are delivered right to my local library for pick up. This is just part of my current stash and it includes books about seaside cottages, collage, journaling, gardening, artists books, textiles, quilting, home decor, and flea markets--just to name a few. I'm a true non-fiction junkie. Sometimes I read them cover to cover, and sometimes I just look at the photos. I often renew the books I have over and over and over while picking up new ones several times a week.

This one by Austin Kleon is a real gem. You can check it out here. It's a quick read filled with a lot of inspiration and practical advice about getting busy and making stuff. Plus, it's filled with a lot of hand lettering and you just have to love that!

Since this post is about books, I thought I'd share a photo of Pilgrim which was on display at a library (of all places) during the month of October. Two glass cases were filled with altered books as part of the Octavofest celebration in my fair city. I managed to attend several events, as well as celebrate the book and paper arts in my own way--with my nose buried in a huge stack of books. Happy reading!