Artful Readers Club - March Read

My March read for the Artful Readers Club over at Art-and-Sole is Small World by David Lodge.

I originally bought this book from a charity stand at our local health centre.  I chose it for the quality of the paper and, because it was a long book, I thought it was ideal for altering!  What I did not appreciate at the time was  by reading it, I was going to be introduced to the world of the professional literary academic conference goer and all their 'sad' little lives.

Small World is a satirical look at the pomposity and egocentric world of  professional jet-setting literary  academics who spend most of their working lives either delivering their high brow literary criticisms to their peers or being part of the vast audience of conference goers.  Their world is indeed small in more ways than one.  Attending conferences all over the world, usually meeting up with the same crowd of people at every venue, professional jealousy and marital infidelity are high on the agenda.  Small World was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 1984 and serialized for TV by Granada.

I enjoyed reading about Professors Morris Zapp and  Phillip Swallow but my favourite character was
Persse McGarrigle MA. University College, Limerick.  I painted him in watercolours.

He saw a white, round, freckled face, snub nose, pale blue eyes, and a mop of red curly hair. "I wouldn't say you were handsome, exactly," he murmured, "But I've seen uglier mugs."

Thanks for stopping by and I do hope you will pop over to Art-and-Sole and see all the other book reviews and wonderful artwork.

Finished At Last!

Last year I had the pleasure of taking part in the lovely Darcy's Postcard Challenge .  It was a big  commitment  for me as it required me doing something regularly EVERY week (something I usually try to avoid!).  After 52 postcards and 52 double page book spreads and making up a story, I completed the challenge.  Phew!

Two same sized hardback books bought at charity shops were used to make the weekly double page spreads.  When completed, the books were glued together with Ranger Glossy Accents.  Despite removing about a third of each book to allow for inserts etc.  I have still ended up with a huge volume. With hindsight, I should have removed about a half of each book for it to close without gaping.  I have, however, found a snap together  belt that keeps it shut quite nicely.

The two glued together books were covered in some stiff handmade paper.  This was a long and difficult job and required lots of glue and bulldog clips and couldn't be rushed. I then covered the inside of the covers with more thick paper to tidy up the edges.

The title plaque was cut from chipboard using a Tim Holtz die and the letters from his Inside Out border die. The plaque was painted in antique gold acrylic paint and the letters cut in two colours.  I used Crackle Accents on the letters and around the edge of the plaque to add interest. Some of the colour from the card used for the letters has bled into the Crackle Accents but I think it adds to the interest.

This is one of the introduction pages, made in Craft Artist.  I was delighted to recently discover the All Aboard! range of washi tape from Papermania.  These have been used with gay abandon all around the edges of some of the scruffier pages to tidy them up. I love washi tape!
The globe in a frame on the cover of the book is also by Papermania from their Chronology range and was a free stamp with their Creative magazine.

I have learned a lot from taking part in this  Postcard Challenge.  I can now use Craft Artist2 in a reasonably competent way and have had a dabble at altering books.  Best of all, I have actually COMPLETED SOMETHING!!!

Thank you for visiting.  Your comments are most appreciated.