Over the years I have done quite a few altered books.
I found it really hard to get started with them.
I tried, I really did, to see them as being recycled from an unloved object to a loved one.
I tried not to feel guilty as I "defaced" a book.
All these things add up for someone with a unconditional love of books. I love them in any state you see.
New and smelling of print ink. Old and smelling musty. With pictures in them. With just words in them. Fiction, non-fiction, scientific.
Pages intact. Pages dropping out. Leather bound or paper back. Just any book really.
Being married to a book collector is wonderful to me. My family despair of us and our books.So I thought that somewhere along the line I would understand why so many people want to alter books. And I think they look fantastic.
Don't get me wrong, I love what you all do with them. I love to see the finished artwork.
But I get palpitations each time I take a paintbrush to one myself.
Roger has encouraged me and brought books home for me that he thinks are just right to be recycled. But I fall in love with that silly book and
just can't hurt it.
So facing the truth I find that I just cannot alter books. I came to this conclusion just after I signed up for an altered mini board book swap. The pictures here are probably my last attempt at an altered book.
I was happy with the finished results even though it turned out darker than I expected and not my usual colours at all.
It did remind me that I do like to use rubber stamps and that I really do love to make embellishments like the one on the front made from a piece of mica tile.You never know I may give it another go in the future but for now the only books I will be "altering" are sketch books and note books.
13 comments:
Alis this is really wonderful!
I'm in the process of doing a board book, waiting for Ian to drill some holes so I can lace it together and change the number of pages ( if that works) hope to fill with stitch, mind you I had to buy books from charity shop, could never do this to one I would read.
I think your book works..really well..maybe you should try again when the right one begs to be recycled.
I appreciate the fact that you have been able to try a new fiber adventure and realize it's not for you and move on. Good for you!
I love books too, Alis! I understand your dilemma. I find it very hard to sell old books, even if I know I'll never read them again. Your altered book is beautiful though and to tell you the truth I know quite a few books that would improve radically by having you work on them.
I know just what you mean, my rule is if they are damaged it doesn't feel as much of a deface. Love the colours you hve used particularly.I am currently working in a 99p address book with the pages glued together. Love carol T
I just love your Altered Book Alis - funny enough the first one I 'altered' was a child's board book I bought in Oxfam for 10p. (in fact I bought several at the time!) Are you swapping this one as part of the group you joined! Val
I love it Alis!! Very pretty and fun to look at and I'm sure it is wonderful to hold and turn the pages. I'm not sure I could do it.
Your board book turned out great!
I emphathize with anyone with a book habit, and it sounds like you've got it bad! Your little altered book is wonderful, though.
Why not put some signatures together and make your own from scratch?
I'm sorry that it pained you so much to work in this book, but the end results are so wonderful. You chose some lovely quotes to put in the book.
I feel the same way about books. I have a personal library of about 1,600 books all organized on one wall. Your altered book is lovely. You should display it on one of your bookshelves.
OOOH! I wsih i was the recipiant- this is just fabulous. I forget how good board books look when altered.
claire xx
For all your reluctance, which I totally understand, this has turned out beautifully - it is a gorgeous body of work :).
Jill xx
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