Blue Book

This theme for our March Altered Book Swap at Paper Crown was "blue."

I had Jackie's book to work in and my first thought was that she is so 'true blue.'

This spread emerged.

And I do not throw bible verses around.

Thats my mother and Aunt Ernie circa 1928.

Nan and I provided dinner. I made a salad.

She made these lemon cheesecakes.

She had to beat admirers off with a glue stick.

This week has been the two anniversary of mother's death. I've been doing so much better overall. Keeping busy, hugging Lucille, but I have felt exhausted and cranky. Grieving is lonely and takes lots of energy. So this is brief and lacks personality which reflects who I am right now.

Medeah's page made me clutch my pearls by the way...

Handmade U Frosh

 

It happens almost everytime. I think I am done blogging, then I get inspired
and can't wait to share. I am feel very much like creating after my weekend
at Rachel McGough's Handmade U event in Omaha.

Shelley Overholt of Tuttle, Oklahoma and I flew to Omaha. Really enjoyed that Shelley.
Of course everyone does.
Handmade U features two full day classes, a format I had not experienced
and really enjoyed.
Dawn Sokol led a Tape Bound Journal class.

We made a journal with tape and paint and general frolic.

She then provided exercises in doodling with TIME TO DOODLE. How about that??

Camille McClelland (right) led a two project leather tooling class.

She is the leather whisperer...

 I made the cuff below which bears my word for the year....

 

and the flower cluster which will become a pendant.
Look. Table space...

and snacks...

I just want to play all day. I am full of ideas and am worthless at other parts of my life now. More worthless than usual is accurate to say...

 

I am thinking to resurrect my idea of having classes at my husband's salvage shop
Oklahoma Barn Market.
Shelley has been asking about a doll class for a few years.
I am thinking about it...

 

Much fun at Handmade U. Thank you Rachel.
Here is Michelle and Mollie.

I got to sit next to Alisa Noble and just wear her smooth out. Double double...

However I did have to deal with this shit... 

Other than people's talent to deal with, I enjoyed it and cannot wait to play!

(and I do not throw exclamation points around)

Paper Crown Altered Book Swap

I have committed to a year long project put forth by Jackie Peters and Cindy White via Paper Crown in Oklahoma City. 20 of us will swap books and design a page each month according to a theme.

Here is my book. Also Lucilles foot was so dirty right then.

A cover page.

My first swapped book belonged to my friend, Nan. The theme was "heart."

Immediately I drew an anatomical heart. With wings. Thinking about our siblings, Janice, Nan's sister, and Kerry, my brother, that both have severe retardation.

I was thinking how they don't really have freedom but someday their hearts will fly free.

Then it occurred to me, was whispered in my ear, that it is Nan and me that experience a feeling of clipped wings. Its the sadness of seeing your beloved with a life long affliction that limits them. Its seeing your parents look at that sweet child and know all the dreams that will not be. Sadness snares us.

And so this phrase came to me and I stamped it on the page.

 

We are more free than we know.

 

What a emotional experience this turned out to be.

Now I am working in Jackie's book...