A Work in Progress

Yet More Reading Notes

Next week, February 29th, The Slaves will be discussing Margaret Laurence's The Stone Angel.  There's still time to get the book and join in if you're interested!  I wasn't aware until recently that the book has been made into a film.  It is due to be released in Canada on May 9, though there is no release date yet for it here in the US.  The screenplay was written by Kari Skogland, who also directed the film.  Kari has very kindly agreed to join in the discussion once things get going.  I thought this would add an interesting dimension to the conversation to have someone so intimately involved in the novel take part in the discussion.  Hagar Shipley is certainly a formidable character.  I'm really enjoying the book and looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts on it.  Click here to read more about the film.

It's been too cold to walk to the bookstore (this morning it was -6 when I walked to the bus stop, and a mere -25 with the wind), and I've been itching to browse new books.  I was surprised when I received a couple of boxes from Amazon in the mail last week, however.  Today's my birthday (though I won't be celebrating with my family until the weekend), and a friend sent me a few wishes from my Amazon wishlist.  No one ever sends me anything from my wishlist, so I was confused at first (did I forget I ordered something?).  Needless to say I was very happy, and didn't wait until today to open the boxes.  She makes jewelry and mosaics and is a fellow crafter, so she always sends me the  most amazing gifts. 

I've been eying a few collage books ever since I checked them out from the library.  She sent Jill Hagland's Rubber Stamping Artist Trading Cards, and Bernie Berlin's Artist Trading Card's Workshop, both of which are excellent books.  They offer step by step and fully illustrated tutorials in various techniques. I've seen both and am happy to now have them for my own.  She also sent 1,000 Artist Trading Cards by Patricia Bolton.  The book is more examples of ATCs and less about how to make them, but there is some instructional information as well.  This book also shows lots of mixed-media designs particularly those using fabric.  These have been sitting by my bed, and I'm enjoying just looking at them.  They should be great for inspiration when I'm working.  They make me want to pull out my papers and pens and paints now and start creating!

One other reading note.  I'm again reading on the sly (whenever this happens you should know the culprit is a library book).  I've read very good things about Rosalind Belben's Our Horses in Egypt.  Things that tempted me enough to request the book via ILL (it's only out in the UK).  I've started reading, but I've yet to orient myself in the story.  Right from the start she plops you down in the middle of a situation, conversation really, and it's taking a little time to get my bearings.  I think I've figured out most of the characters and their relationships to each other, but not quite.  Hopefully once I get accustomed to her style I will enjoy the book, must keep persevering though.  UK bloggers are getting me into trouble--I keep finding books not yet out here in the US, and it's a dilemma whether to order them or borrow them.  Heaven forbid I wait until they're published over here. 

Should I, or Shouldn't I?

A couple of days ago I received an email from Art-e-Zine about an upcoming paper arts swap.  I used to spend quite a lot of time doing a variety of paper arts, but mostly making Artist Trading Cards (ATCs).  You can see some of my things in the photo albums on my side bar towards the bottom.  I have even had a few of my cards published in books and shown on websites.  The hobby got a bit obsessive, however, and I found myself having to make schedules of swaps that I was participating in.  Not only was I making art for swaps, but I was even organizing them (which can be a headache all its own!).  And you have no idea how much money you can spend on a hobby like this (there are so many cool things out there to buy you can use for collages these days).  Things got a little crazy, so I put away my glue and paints (and all the other paraphernalia making these might entail), and for about year and a half I have not done anything creative like this. 

This is an ATC that I made for a swap (it is posted in the ArtChix gallery) to give you an idea of what they look like.  ATCs are the size of a standard playing card, and that was what I always used as my "canvas".  They are fun to make, but as I've said, somewhat addictive.  The thing is, this swap sounds so tempting, I'm wondering if I can join in, but without the fear of me going over the edge once again.  Just when I have finally gotten my book buying habit under some kind of control, have not been buying hardly any needlework supplies, it would not be a good thing to start ordering collage materials again!

The swap is "An Artful Christmas Swap" and the idea is to have a group of twelve--each person makes a small artsy gift (twelve of the same).  The person organizing everything will receive all the artwork in the mail and redistribute the artwork and mail it all back out.  Each player will end up with 12 "gifts"--one to open on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  The idea has been done before.  There is an Artful Christmas blog set up for this new swap.  I even have an idea of what I would make if I joined.  I would have two full months to work on my artwork, and really I only need one good idea (only I would duplicate it twelve times).  I am going to make myself think it over for a few days.  If I am still as excited about doing it over the weekend I might just have to sign up.  Even if I don't join a swap like this, I wouldn't mind working on a creative art journal--something just for myself.  You can see what my other hobbies are besides reading, what are yours?