Canvas journals in the making

This is what happens when you add

a 3-day weekend:

extremely cold weather;

online Pandora radio tuned into Blues/Rock;

yards of canvas:

painted wallpaper:

discarded children's books:

and determination to make something different.

Mission accomplished!

I'm drawn to children's book illustrations,

and collect them from thrift shops and yard sales.

Today I chose a book called

FABLES

by Arnold Lobel,

(winner of the Caldecott Medal)

His images are endearing cheerful nonsense.

Crocodile in the garden.

"If you've never been thrilled

to the very edges of your soul

by a flower in spring bloom,

maybe your soul

has never been in bloom".

~Terri Guillemets

First, I glued/sewed an image,

and text to the painted wallpaper.

I then joined the painted wallpaper

to the canvas, with glue and black machine stitching.

I added a protective coat 

of satin polymer varnish.

This created a durable soft cover

with a leather-like feel to it.

 13" tall, by 7-1/2" wide

Baboon and his umbrella.

I love this one...

"Remember your umbrella when

you go out picking flowers....

Advice is like the weather,

some of it is good; some of it is bad."

I randomly chose text from the book

to create this whimsical message.

This journal measures 10" tall by 8-1/2" wide.

Each of these journals contain one signataure

of 6 pages; yield 26 pages to paint.

"Do you take sugare in your tea?" said the Crane.

"I hope you will invite me again" said the Pelican.

"Perhaps," said the Crane,

"but I am so very busy these days."

After the Pelican had gone,

the Crane shook his head and sighed.

When one is a social failure,

the reasons are as clear as day.

10" x 8-1/5"

The camel dances.

There can be no doubt that I am

a splendid dancer.

I will dance and dance for myself.

That is what she did.

It gave her many years of pleasure.

Satisfaction will come to those

who please themselves.

This journal was my first attempt.

I split the pages into three signatures,

and began to sew on my machine.

I had to rip out the stitches,

and found waxed thread and

the pamplet stitch with one signature

worked the best.

This is one of my first attempts

at using my Rubicoil binding machine.

I used painted cardstock,

and artwork by Hundertwasser.

I found this little book of Hundertwasser's

paintings and accomplishments, in disrepair

at a thrift shop for less than a $1.00.

I hope to incorporate many of his paintings

into my work, as they are rich with color

and inspiration.

Another coil-bound journal

with a sewn, padded cover in a pretty batik print.

Various found papers, cardstock, and painted pages.

This burst of creativity means

I had some serious cleaning to do.

I reach a point where I can't think in chaos, so

everything has been picked up, and put away.

Tomorrow is my bonus day off!

{grinning ear to ear!}

I can't decide if I'll be painting

more wallpaper or sewing dolls!

Thanks for hanging around!