Altered Book/Hawaii

My resolution for this year is to, CREATE MORE ALTERED BOOK JOURNALS!!!

And here's the first one of the year, up and running, with the stash of coffee dyed papers screaming at me to be included. 

HAWAII by James Michener

A couple years ago, I went on an adventurous trip to meet some family members for the first time, to none other than Waikiki Beach...Honolulu bound, all by my big bad girl self.  It was crazy!!!

Now this book from the used book sale at the local library, was already falling apart.  So its guts just pulled out very easily.  

However, because the spine was so flimsy, I reinforced it with a piece of cardboard, glued in.  

 

Now, along with my incredible stash of coffee dyed papers, here is a peek at some of the things I collected during my stay...right on Waikiki Beach.  My brother made sure that I got plenty of postcards, matchbooks from the Chart House, where you can sit and sip your Mai Tai and watch fireworks on Friday nights...and some cool coasters from all the bars that he dragged my butt to.  Hawaii beers are quite good, btw.  Especially ALOHA BEER! Who knew?  

 

Longboard Beer is another good one, and of course I had to snag one of those coasters, too.  I gathered magazines, maps, saved receipts from all the shops and restaurants, and with the incredible photos that I took, this is going to be one great trip down memory lane for me...and also for my brother, an island native, who will be the recipient of this Scrapbook/Journal of our 2-weeks running all over the island.  Good times for sure!

A work in progress...

I even saved the receipt for the awesome Hula Pie plate that I stuffed into my suitcase.  Everything else, I had to ship home.  4 boxes worth!!!  And I will even use part of one of the USPS boxes that I used, because the flat rate boxes in Hawaii have a very nice message...

 

So far...so good...

With lots of pockets for the postcards and other goodies, this is going to be an interactive journal, that will also include my island cousins...more on that in my finished journal post! 

 

 So, ALOHA from Hawaii...and frigid New York State!  

Happy New Year of Everything...

It's a brand new year, and I for one am fully engaged! The whirlwind of Christmas is a beautiful memory as we embrace a new day, a new month, a new year...

And this is my New Year 2017 studio share with you.  Hope you enjoy!

After some much needed shape-shifting before Christmas, this is my new studio space with incredible sunlight and a fabulous view of our woods in winter.  It is here, that the altered books and journals come to life. 

One finished journal tied up with a stick of palo santo wood, sitting next to a lovely cedar slice.  Two other covers lying in wait to be filled with some of this fabulous coffee stained paper.  One cover is a gorgeous upholstery sample and the other is a salvaged piece from an old purse.

These papers have been kept in a wooden box layered with sticks of palo santo wood and cedar slices, and with the smell of coffee lingering, it is such a fine combination to entice any journal experience.

Yes, it's a passion for paper...

Thank you for stopping by.  Here's wishing you all the very best for this New Year of 2017!  May it be full of great love and peace and JOY in abundance.  And as I burn the incense crows of Blessed Be, Prosperity and Friendship from my friend Nina of Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage, I am mindful of this beautiful moment in time that is a new day, of a new month of a brand new year!

I am blessed and I am grateful...always!

Aloha!