Birds and Graffiti - and they have something in common

...at least in this post they do.

As I write this installment of the Altered Book round robin switcharinkydoodoo for the merry merry month of May I realized, "EeGads! I forgot to write a post for the April altered book switch". So I'll write about them both here just to catch up anyone out there who may be remotely interested in my altered book round robin project to begin with...as I'm laughing out loud in amusement just saying it. The original post about my book "Dancers" can be found here.

In April I returned Jane Meixner's book; her theme is Graffiti. While I'm aware some see Graffiti as an art form, only on rare occasion do I accept this as appropriate - since it is usually added to structures without permission of the owner; it is defacing property. In this instance, however, I have explicit permission of the owner to deface her property. Terrific! Now whatever shall I deface it with? This would require some thinking. This was different for me (not the thinking part), so I had to ponder it awhile. It went kind of like this, "Hmmm...IF I were going to place some graffiti on a building what would I want it to convey?" I think I would like it to be colorful and bright, I would add something pretty to the dull gray architecture you usually find where graffiti has been placed, to invoke a happy thought by the viewer. Here is my addition to Jane's Graffiti Book....Wall Flowers.

This brings me up to the May switcharinkydoodoo.... I'm not losing you yet I hope. LOL. In May I returned Ingrid Dijkers' book; her theme is Birds. This fit in perfectly with something I've been working on personally. I know, your thinking, "What you say? You are working on birds these days???" Well not exactly. But I have been working on growing wings. I started growing them a few years back. I think they are growing quite nicely now, getting full and large with soft feathers on them. I am getting quite attached to my wings. I've been considering "jumping off that bridge" for several years now, but I really needed these wings to grow a bit first to avoid a big....SPPLATT! ....so to get back to the book. For that reason, I LOVED working in this book. The colors, the journaling, finding just the right wings for my bird. I love these wings. Heck, you can barely see the scars now. They feel like they've been there all along.

How does that famous quote go, "Sometimes, if you aren't sure about something, you just have to jump off the bridge and grow your wings on the way down.”

Oh Waiter...I think I'll have the Fresh Eyes today!

"The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new lands but in seeing with fresh eyes." ~ Marcel Proust


I’d like to start by saying I’m not an eloquent or sophisticated writer; I’m barely capable of transferring my thoughts into words. However, my feelings are strong about certain things; one is art, another is children. Through art I try to express what I’m unable to express with words. To summarize that, my love of art brought me a lot of joy and contentment as a child and I have always tried to spread that love of art around to the children I come in contact with in my life. See what I mean?

Now about those fresh eyes… a couple months back I was hired for a 10-yr-old’s birthday party. Great! I love children, I love making things; I love teaching children to make things. It’s perfect for me.

Pondering this while working on an art journal, I was thinking about how much fun I was having…and the “light bulb” clicked on in my head - this is what I should teach at the party! I mean, who doesn’t like to play with colorful, messy, interesting art supplies? Well all I can say is…. I DO, I DO!.

Now party day is here. Woo-Hoo! While donning smocks, I explained what an Art Journal is and familiarized the children with the materials they would be using. So they would not become overwhelmed with materials and the various stages, stations were set up at different tables. We began by gluing our pages. I demonstrated how to glue the journal pages to provide a sturdy substrate to accept the paint and embellishments. Then we cut images from magazines for collage. Next we painted the pages, followed by various embellishment of beads, feathers, stickers, text, numbers, ephemera or quotes in their journals. We decorated the covers and added ribbon for closures. Lastly, the pages were dried with a hair dryer.


Intervening as little as possible, I explained the stages and demonstrated materials and techniques as they progressed. Encouraging and respecting each child’s way of working or expressing their own design ideas. Unless I’m asked for assistance, I refrain from imposing my own ideas. It’s simply “staying out of the way” and allowing them the freedom to express visually! Most of the journals were completed or at a good stopping stage after the 2 hour time frame. An important component I wanted to create was a comfortable, confident and non-competitive environment. For this reason, I consciously chose not to bring examples of art journals that were made by adults, nor books about art journals made by adults. I wanted the children’s experience to be experimental, open and fun; not worrying nor thinking, “is this how it is supposed to look?”.
I also hoped to encourage new and future art journals. Throughout our time together, I reiterated they would be able to add to, or continue building upon, their journals later. I believe the children left the party with a feeling of competence, accomplishment and art-filled fun.


I have been told some of the children have already plunged right into making their “next” art journal….and that’s exactly what I wished for them.

Thank you to the Birthday Girl, Melanie Stewart, along with her guests Fin Seely, Keelin Greene, Lauren Ridley, Erica Maser, Zoe Jackson and Will Brighton for allowing me the use of your eyes on this day.

If you are in need of Fresh Eyes, do something with a child….and let them lead the way…it feels great!