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.

On Paper Wings - Helen Keller Altered Book makes its first stop

Here are a couple of shots of the book I have been working on altering... the theme is on Helen Keller's life...She truly was a remarkable woman who defied the pessimists who said she couldn't pursue a life of academia or any of the other joys of life that most of us take for granted as privileged seeing and hearing individuals..She is an authentic role model for me, reminding me that if I set my mind, heart and soul on my dreams and any aspiration I can imagine...I can do anything ...In fact we can do anything.......I am in awe of her passion to learn to read, write and speak...and her pursuit of college and her activism & advocacy for all other individuals who could not hear or speak..She was a fine strong woman.  

I decided to call the altered book I am doing "On Paper Wings" as she over her lifetime wrote many letters to her many fans, friends and family ..and it was the letters that she both wrote and received that kept her motivated to keep her dream alive and make them into reality... and this determinism to accomplish all she did was kept on fire by the many admiring letters she received..perhaps because she knew she was making a difference in people's lives in whatever small or grand way.

The written word in all forms is a powerful element to our lives, such as the books of inspiration we read...or even the blogging world where we reach out to our virtual friends and those comments that come back help keep each one of our motivations alive to keep doing what we love the most..following my heart and passion is fueled by the ability to share and blog...so thank you to all of you for reading and sharing your thoughts and comments..it is a wonderful thing - the community of blogging.

The book is now on route to the lovely Roxanne of River Garden Studio, who is working with the theme: Earth Tones.  And I am now going to delve into the fabulous book I received from Veronica on the theme of Friendship...past, present and to come....