"Circle Book" has come home

I was invited to join a Round Robin based out of Hawaii a couple of years ago. The exchange began July 2010 and ended in July 2012.

We were to pick a theme for our book and 21 other participants would contribute to it.  In exchange I would contribute to all their books.  All my contributions can be seen here.

My theme was simply "Circles".  Some people had rather complex themes and very detailed instructions.  I found some of them very difficult to work with, some quite a challenge and others a delight.

As I don't feel comfortable showing everyone's work on my blog (as much as I would love to) without permission, I invite you you to go to the Honolulu Altered Book Group's blog and look at all the participants work.  There is a lot, so plan to spend quite some time there.

The above pictures show what I sent out 2 years ago.  Below is the book I received in return last week, just bursting with the most amazing work imaginable.  The cute little purple binding rings I sent the book bound in were quickly replaced with much larger ones and I think I'll be looking for the three gargantuan rings I have carefully stored .... somewhere. 

Round Robin - Completed!

My remaining Round Robin commitments are now completed and are in the mail! This was a project that involved 22 participants. This meant my contributing 21 tip-in spreads for the others involved and prepping a book for the pages I will receive. Photos of that book are shown below.

I choose to use binding rings to hold my book together. Blank pages made of box board were provided for everyone to work on. I figured this would be easier than using an actual book that the contributions would be "tipped-in" to.

The size of this book is 7" X 7". My theme is simply "Circles".

I'm not exactly sure when this Round Robin will be finalized. I will be sure to post photos of the finished book when I receive it, as it is in Hawaii right now.

All my my contributions can be seen here on my website. This is the blog for the group "Honolulu Altered Books Group" project, based out of Hawaii.

Round Robin ATCs

Soon I will be sending off the remainder of my contributions to the Hawaiian Round Robin I have been a part of. I decided to make up packets of Artist Trading Cards to include with the spreads I will be mailing. These are of my favorite pages I made for this project and can be seen below.

A line drawn neatly under it

The theme for this spread was "Lines and Angles", any interpretation. I used some of my collection of locomotion photography on this one. It's hard to see much detail on this rather dark spread, but I also used soft bronze sequins and sewing around the edges. This is the last spread to finalize my commitment to the Hawaiian Round Robin I am involved with.

Monsters

This contribution to a Round Robin was "Found Objects". We were to explain how they were lost, found, who they were lost by, etc. I rather drifted on this one. The images started out as dinosaurs, but quickly developed into monsters. I suppose these could be extinct monsters from long ago as I have never seen any roaming around.

Cat and Mouse

The theme for this spread is "Cat and Mouse". I am pretty sure I am caught up on my Round Robin commitments to this point. However, there are only 2 spreads left to complete this obligation to it's entirety, so I think I will go ahead and get those out of the way. Throughout this I have learned that my life is far too unpredictable for me to commit to these long term collaborations. Even though I have truly enjoyed doing all these spreads, I don't think I will ever get involved in another collaborative of this sort again. I harbor far too much guilt when I am unable to deliver on time and it's so unfair to the other participants.

Roswell

Another tip-in for the Robin Robin collaboration I am involved with. The theme for this one is "Having a great time, Wish you were here". I assume it's meant to be a travel journal of sorts. The size of this spread is 20" wide (including both pages) and 12" tall. I just can't get enough of this alien image which is adapted from some graffiti done along the expressway a few miles away from here. You can see the original here.

Though we travel...

Another contribution to the Hawaiian Round Robin, the theme being "Visions of London, Paris, Rome and Asia". As a spread these 2 tip-in pages measure 10" X 14" together.

Unfortunately, the sequins that are sewn on don't show up very well. I decided to scan it rather than photograph it as I have no more natural light for today. It really does have a nice sparkle to it. I'm still loving this style/technique and just can't get enough of the sequins.

"Ideas are Like Rabbits"

Yet another contribution to the Hawaiian Round Robin I belong to. Bunny photo is courtesy of Tristan Robin Blakeman. The theme of the book that this spread is going into is "To Imagine is Everything".

"Paths and Parallel Universes"

Another contribution to the Hawaiian Round Robin. The theme for this spread is "Paths and Parallel Universes". I chose imagery of the labyrinth used as an aid for learning about the spiritual path, the journey to the center of oneself. More of my work from this Round Robin can be seen here.

"Moon Fairies"

Again, another contribution to the Round Robin I am involved with. The theme for this one is "Moonscapes: A Celebration of Lunar Astronomy, Magic, Legend and lore". It was requested that one side of the spread explain the technique that was used.

"Wings"

I am working on getting caught up on the Round Robin I belong to. The theme for this one was anything with wings. I have really been enjoying this new style I have been working with, so it may seem a bit repetitive. Putting circles (or parts of them) around the edges and then sewing on top of them is producing some very pleasing effects. I'm thinking I will continue to do this for awhile until I tire of it.

Al-pha-bet-i-ca

I have been involved in a round robin with the Honolulu Book Arts group for quite awhile. I am terribly behind, but do what I can, when I can. The assigned theme for this one was Al-pha-bet-i-ca (a la Lynne Perrella). I am not so sure I captured her style, but I did have a lot of fun doing it. This is done on top of old dictionary pages (with words that begin with the letter "S") that I was provided. I mounted them to box-board and then did an image transfer of Henrietta Marie, Queen of England, 1638, by Sir Anthony Van Dyck.

Playing "Catch-up"

I am involved in a monthly Round Robin based out of Hawaii. I worked ahead as I knew I would be getting busy, problem is I was not as far ahead as I thought. Now I am busy playing "catch-up". It is so unlike me to be late on these things, but it happened.

The theme of this particular page was "Three Wishes and the Magic Lamp". I have a plastic lamp trinket I wanted to dangle from the page, but was having issues with it being made of plastic. So, I'll just send it along with this page and perhaps it could be used as a bauble on the spine of the book or something.

I haven't done this type of embellishment in quite awhile and thought I would include a few detail shots.

As this page will be attached to a pre-existing page in a book, the back doesn't really matter, yet I wanted to share it, as I think it's rather interesting to see how the ribbon, buttons and beads were sewn on.

Zentangle Mandala

This is yet another contribution the the Hawaiian collaborative I am involved with. The theme was "Mandala". I am trying to get a bit ahead of schedule with this collaborative, as the next few months will be very hectic. Lots of plans for making new Journals, planning new Workshops and to convert one of the spare bedrooms into an office for just my "stuff", no longer having to share with Studio Space and the family computer room! Including the wired beading this Mandala is just under 8 1/2" in diameter.

Hawaiian Collaborative

This is "Celebrate Life", my contribution and assigned theme for the month for the Hawaiian Collaborative I am involved with. For some reason I have been struggling with preassigned subjects to work with lately, they just aren't coming out as well as I would like. I have to admit though, I am happy with they way the stencils worked out. I have been looking for an appropriate use for these wonderful, to die for, "Dancing Girls" stencil made by "Coffee Break Designs". (You can buy the stencils here). Don't you just LOVE them?!

Hawaiian Collaborative

I am involved with a group based out of Hawaii that is working on a Round Robin that will last for about 2 years. This is my contribution to the Nick Bantock influenced theme for the month. I rather like this exchange as we are working with tip-ins verses sending the whole book. On the bottom of this page is a stone (with a hole through it) and a small bell hanging from a chain. The page is 5.5" X 6.5".

"Circus" Collaborative

The local ATC group that I belong to has decided to do a "Circus" collaborative in a ring binder format. The is my binder so far, but I'm not sure that I am happy with it. I'll have it sit out in view for a few days to decide. I might end up covering over it or starting a new one all together. It's hard to say at this point, but this is where it stands right now. There are 10 of us participating and we'll exchange pages for the next few months until we have a really full book. This is a very diverse group so this should make for a really wonderful book in the end.

Graffiti style book

The ATC group I meet with once a month is in the final stages of a Round Robin. This books theme is Graffiti. This is my first attempt at anything in a somewhat Graffiti style, but I have to admit I had fun with it. The lettering is just done with markers verses spray paint, but I did a bit of spraying around the sides to give the feeling it was spray painted.

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While at JournalFest I played around a lot with spraying and stencils and really enjoyed it .... might have to explore that further. Still no word on my lost camera, so I am using my daughters for now. Next week I'll be shopping for a new one if it doesn't turn up. This really doesn't please me. Yet ANOTHER high tech gizmo I'll have to spend far too much time trying to figure out how to use.

"Color" journal page

I have to admit this is not one of my favorite journal pages. It is done in a composition book for a round robin I am participating in. The theme of this particular book is "Color my World". I did this spread at the Renaissance Festival with very limited supplies. So, with what little I had to work with, I am somewhat pleased with what I came up with ... this was quite a challenge. I find it very difficult to do this kind of work away from all my supplies. As I rarely plan out my work and it is done in a very spontaneous manner, it's very difficult to anticipate what I will need.