a glimpse...

I've spent the past few days working on Supria's book, On Paper Wings, about Helen Keller - funny how the ideas that I have in mind before I receive the books change once they arrive. Some of the elements remain, knowing a quote that I wanted to include which I had gathered months ago, an old photograph, of course integrating wings somehow, and feathers, and flower petals - things of nature. The way Miss Keller was taught, through touch and the natural world, and though I know she couldn't see, I'm certain her inner world was filled with colour. This is my final book, and though the parting of it, along with the parting of this group project, will make me sad, I do look forward to seeing my own once again after such a long trip and so many magic hands have touched and altered it. Once all of the books are back in the lovely hands of their owners, I will post all the photos of the pages I created. Though parting is such sweet sorrow, the journey has been an expanding one, for my heart, for my mind, and for my creative soul. For this I am grateful to Supria...and thank you all for embracing me on these travels.

the sound of silence...

I've been working on Roxanne's 'Earth Tones' - what a lovely surprise this book has been. I have gathered items throughout these six months as I've been working on the different books, and the inspiration for each one seems to come more quickly. My focus this time is not only on colour but on the sounds, both tones, of the earth. Silence is something I try to get more of in my life...to silence the man-made - traffic, television, radio...and to begin to listen to the sounds of nature. Leaves rustling in the breeze, birds speaking with one another, water moving against rock. The book itself is a treasure, and the addition of each artist's work makes it more so. Over the years my own work has been quite focused and though I've ventured out of my box in the past three years, mixing media, trying new subject matter, I think I've become more satisfied with the original work because of these great leaps of faith. I feel more grounded, more connected to this earth, and realize that my contribution adds value not only to others, but to myself. And that I can contribute to this silence with a visual story that touches another soul.

Snowflakes and Tulips...

Initially I was a little stuck on Jill's book, "Designs in Nature", but once I began laying paint on the pages I became hooked with the thought and images of nature, especially of snow. I found a feather lying on the snow on my walk one morning and knew it had to be included. I feel blessed to live in a place where I have the privilege of experiencing all seasons and to see how snow sparkles like sugar on a cold, sunny winter's day. To see how plants change colour and shed their summer glory, for winter's hibernation and a new rebirth in spring. Jill's colours reminded me of summer, and Seth's of clouds and changing seasons, which led automatically to my focus on winter and changing light. Thank you Jill for such a wonderful treasure.

Friend

Friend

As I grow older

I see a need

for me to love myself

and

to love a reflection of myself,

the reflection that I see

in the eyes of a friend.

In Search of Helen Keller

Helen Keller, June 27, 1880 to June 1, 1968.  Photo of Helen Keller in 1905.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt within the heart." ~Helen Keller.

For months now I have been in search for that intuitive feeling of 'knowing"!  Knowing what is the right theme for my altered book project...  And it has finally come to me with a certainty that I am so enjoying... My book is going to celebrate the life of Helen Keller, but most importantly all that she stood for..Her values and philosophy; her story is one of perseverance, positivism, resilience, inner beauty, compassion, love and so much more...which I look forward to discovering  as I delve into her life.  By doing so I will be reminded of these important lessons in life and hope to live in these moments with grace and gratitude.

Helen Keller was a an American author, activist and lecturer.  She a person living without sight and hearing, who defied the odds and led a full life.  A great role model for all of us.  She campaigned for women's suffrage worker's rights and other progressive causes, such as pacifism, she was a birth control supporter and a radical socialist.  

So now the search is on for the right book...I am excited as I believe the inspiration for this comes from deep within and I am merely the vessel to bring it to life..And then five other beautifully creative souls will add to this beginning and create a wonderfully inspiring book.

I will post some of photos of the cover shortly, when I find the right book.

The Beginnings

As our round robin altered book project begins for the new year, 2009 - I thought I would set up this blog for us to use as a way to communicate...As well as this being a way to share our images, musings/thoughts on the process, get feedback, be inspired...but most simply to connect in community with each other in this journey.

As each of us prepare to alter our books in the coming months, here is the following roll out for us... to know who to pass on our creation: 

Seth to Veronica

Veronica to Supria

Supria to Roxanne

Roxanne to Rita

Rita to Jill and

Jill to Seth

We are intending to begin this process now or in January, after the holiday festivities have quietened...and we can sit still to listen to the serenity of the wintertime..with ourselves, and our creative muse, with our inspiration at our fingertips....Our first send off will be around the week of January 26th.

I hope we can all share here what we think might be helpful, or to ask for assistance and share....

Some initial questions for you to think about:

You each have been invited to be authors to this blog..which means you can write your own posts etc. Let me know your thoughts on this?

Also, do you want this to be our member only blog..where we can only view the blog?

Or do you want this to be searchable, or viewable to the general public? Of course this will change how we write and I will also have to change some of the settings depending on your responses.

Looking forward to your thoughts.