Chunky Collaged Book with Handmade Book Club

I created this fun little book during a one-day virtual retreat with my Handbook Book Club, led by Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs. It was super fun. From start to finish, this chunky little book was created in about six non-stop hours. It's 4 3/4" by 3 1/4" and about 2" thick!

There are 18 total signatures, each an individual folio that was made by cutting down large sheets of mixed media paper that I collaged before trimming to size. It's sewn with an Ethopian coptic binding. It's just plain fun to look at and to hold. I haven't decided if I'm going to add anything further to it, or just leave it as is. Thanks to Ali for a super fun day of creating.

Week 8 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Trying to get back in the grind of popping in here more regularly and catching up on sharing my 100 Day Project, called#100daysofuseitkelly.  Here's Week 8, days 50-56. I'll be featuring one or two of these projects in a little more detail later in the week. My favorite of the week?  My owl, of course!  I love this little guy and have used him multiple times. He's from a pack of napkins!  You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

Week 7 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Here's Week 7 for my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project, days 43-49. I'll be featuring two of these projects in a little more detail later in the week. I finished creating my first official "junk journal" and I participated in a virtual retreat with Ali Manning and our Handmade Book Club. Such a fun day cranking out the sweet little book I created for Day 46! You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

 

A Walk in the Garden Art Journal Spread - Day 39

Here's a closer look at Day 39 from my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project. This spread started out as a hot mess. It just wasn't working for me. But that's the beauty in art journaling. Don't like it? Cover it up! In this case, I spread some white gesso around to cover up some of what I did but left some little bits peeking through and started over. I'm pretty happy with the final result, and then that quote jumped out at me from my stash, which is exactly what I needed to hear (read? see? ... you know what I mean!) Couple close ups below.

We've been working through these challenging times the best we can, taking it one day at a time. Being able to play in my studio more has definitely been a benefit of working from home. Though I find that my "working hours" are all over the place. I seem to be the most productive work wise at home in the mornings and late in the evenings. I'll usually take a break and head into my studio in the afternoon if I don't have any Zoom calls scheduled. Interestingly enough, I learned this week that I had the virus and was asymptomatic. A colleague I work closely with when I do go into the office tested posted and became ill, so I went in for the rapid antibody test since I had not had any symptoms and had not seen my colleague in two weeks. Sure enough, I had just a trace of the virus still active in my system and was chock full of the antibodies. I got my girls tested yesterday as well to ensure they were okay, and they were completely negative - no virus, no antibodies. Hoping the same for my husband; he's not experienced any symptoms yet either.  I'm so thankful I didn't experience any negative consequences of the virus, and I hope you are staying safe and healthy!

Week 6 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Here's Week 6 for my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project, which was days 36-42!  A little bit of jewelry design, a couple books and some art journaling... You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

Week 5 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Week 5 for my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project!  This week, I've started rotating between my jewelry bench and my book work table and art journaling spot. I've often heard that the more you work at your creative practice, the more your ideas start to flow, and I'm definitely feeling that flow! You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

Week 4 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Week 4 for my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project!  This week I completed three books.  The colorful French link stitch book was part of our Handmade Book Club. And I love my Bit O Honey book. I polished off that box and inspiration struck! I also completed some more fun tags, a couple journal pages and a pair of earrings which I've since sent to a friend making masks for a trade.  Hope you are doing well with all that is going on in our world this week.  You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

Week 3 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Week 3 of my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project started a hodgepodge. This week I completed some art journal spreads, some tags, and a fun little book. I also shared some bracelets my daughter made to help me "use it up, Kelly!"  You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

Week 2 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Week 2 of my #100daysofuseitupkelly 100 Day Project consisted primarily of a little series of 10 journals I made for my Chi Omega student exec board members.  Once I had them all done, I sent them all off in little happy mail packages to my students. I also had one fun little octopus necklace in this week. She sold the minute I posted her, and I received a request for another! You can see all my 100 Day Project posts for this year on my Instagram account here, and you can learn more about the 100 Day Project here!

Week 1 - #100daysofuseitupkelly

Hello there! I'm taking on the 100 Day Project again this year! I found that last year, it really did motivate me to create just about every day, even if it was something super simple. This year my hashtag is #100daysofuseitupkelly. If you can read between the lines there, so to speak, yes, I'm using things up! I decided I have so much crap - ah, I mean so many wonderful art supplies - that instead of coming up with something specific, I'll just make something every day out of something that is currently in my studio. This will be anything from an art journaling page, to a small book or journal, to a piece of jewelry ... whatever! I hope you'll follow along! I'll post in weekly batches here, and you can also follow along on my Instagram here (@kellynwarren if you are on IG). Yes, many of the things you'll see will be available for purchase, but I'll likely not list anything on my website until the project is done, so shoot me a note or comment if you see something you'd like to appear in your mailbox! You can learn more about the 100 Day Project and artists behind it here.