I was asked if I would teach an altered book class for a group of women coming to Shake Rag Alley for a custom retreat, a girls getaway weekend. I was dubious. I hadn't done anything with altered books in years, plus they wanted only a three hour class...a pretty short time to complete an altered book. After some thought I concluded it might be possible to create a niche and get two pages and the cover completed in three hours if I prepped the books before class.
So I needed a sample. This is what I came up with. Not in three hours mind you, but admittedly I got a little carried away. In fact I had a great time doing this book. I decided to give it a heart theme, maybe in part because I had hearts on my brain after a January of obsessing on Valentine card making. But actually, I just like the heart imagery.
I found that I really like using the book format as a substrate for art. I get a little tired of thinking that art always has to hang on the wall. There's something really appealing about an art object that you not only are allowed to handle, but actually HAVE to handle and hold and manipulate in order to see all of it.
So now I'm completely obsessed with altered books. I'm working on one about drawing and have lots of other ideas, more than I will probably ever get done. I'll post more when they are finished.