My 2011 Sketchbook Project Journal

I am participating in the 2011 Sketchbook project*. I have to have my completed journal posted by January 21, 2012 and although I have had it for quite some time now, I have only done a little in it.

This project is a bit out of my norm, instead of working on spreads as they come to me, I had to pick a topic and complete the entire book. This is causing me to work in completely different way. I work on spreads here and there, not always completing one before working on the next. I also have been jumping around in the book, which some journalers do often but is a first for me.

My chosen topic is "Encyclopedia of..." which was fun to do since I had just finished reading The Philosopher's Kiss which is a novel about the life and loves of one of the creators of the encyclopedia back in eighteenth century France. I decided this journal would be a sort of encyclopedia of my thoughts, my life, my world, with the occasional creative twist tossed in...

Here is what I have so far, no spread is complete yet so keep that in mind!

Here is the journal they sent, along with the information I needed I keep it together for safe keeping:

Here is my cover - rather plain... I hope to make it a bit more attractive:

Page one - I was playing with my new camera here and wanted to try some close ups with the background blurred out:

Here is the full spread... my favourite thing lately, with the old antique images of ladies and making them interactive (I will show you the inside on my next update post):

Here is an envelope I wanted to add to the journal - not sure what else I am going to do here yet:

I plan on putting a vintage tag with some twine on it in here, with a little message, maybe a quote or phrase:

Here I used a security envelope, with a crest die cut from anther security envelope to create a sub-page:

The envelope is empty now... and on the other side I found a fun ad with a photobooth in it and used it to document how Kari and I always hunt them down to have our photos taken when we are together:

Here is a page about friendship... with various photos punched in my favourite swirly frame shape (oh and friends, hope you are okay with the page since it will be going on tour across the country!)

and one on family-ship with a photo of my parents on their wedding day along with text about the rest of my family:

Had to use a cute striped bag, used it to make a fold out page on this spread...

(Here it is open:)

... and the other bit of the stripped bag on this spread. I found this fun fortune teller card recently, it is an old cigarette card from the 1800's and I thought it would be fun to add even though it has no bearing on my thoughts, life or world:

I am going to add some words of wisdom inside the fold out:

And here is the back cover (there are a few empty spreads before it), I added a photo of me, and used some of my favourite elements on the back inside cover:

So, I will keep you posted and let you see it again when I have made more progress!

*If you are interested in participating in the 2012 Sketchbook project - you can sign up through the end of the month so hurry over and see details by clicking HERE.

Comments

[Donna]

Wow !!! You certainly have done quite a bit .. it is lovely indeed ! I have not started on mine at all .. eep. My theme is Treehouses .. and I am going in a slightly different direction than actual "treehouses" . I love treehouses but am worried that I should have chosen a much easier theme ..lol.. wish me luck!
Love your book!

[lenna]

It is so great to see that you are doing this project, Hope. I am excited to learn that you are! I participated last year and really enjoyed the process. For this year I registered and have done nothing yet . . . but will soon. I chose the same theme as you! I have another friend in the UK who has also chosen the "encyclopedia of" theme, so it will be interesting to continue viewing progress in both of your sketchbooks. My last year's one is digitized here: http://www.arthousecoop.com/library/4612
My theme was "This is not a sketchbook".
yours, lenna

[kelly]

Hope, I love this. Love it. I may actually be able to see one of your notebooks and hold it in my hands when it comes Toronto. What a project. What a girl! Hope you are well and happy and enjoying all the adventures and what nots you have been posting about.

[Sandy]

I love what you did with your journal. I joined too and have yet to decide what to do with mine. I need to get on the ball, not much time left.

[Tiffani]

Your work is always fun to see.
I love that quote about long-distance friendships and wanted to write it down and share it with someone if that's OK, but wanted to appropriately credit it. Is Diana Carte the correct name/spelling? Thanks!

[Mary Bailey]

I love when you show us your journals Hope. It is so much fun to study all the details, and I always get ideas for something new to try.