This is the first page of Louise's Book. The picture is Louise as a baby being held by her older brother Horace. I really love this old professional picture. The story on this page is in her own hand writing and is the first page in the notebook she gave me of her life story. The story talks of were she was born and some of her earliest memories. She tell of her father working as a mortician and opening a funeral parlor in her grandfather's furniture store in Bolivar, Missouri. She said, "An undertaker had to build his own caskets in those days plus the fact that these Missouri Ozark people had never had an undertaker before and Dad had to take a law man with him or they would not let him have the bodies." Her father decided that maybe building power plants would be easier work so Louise's dad became an electrical engineer of his time building power plants in several cities. Because of his work the family moved lots while Louise was growing up. She has some interesting memories recorded in this notebook. I an excited to see what this book becomes.

I have started an altered book for two reasons. One, the idea of an altered book intrigued me!! To take a book that could be considered garbage and make it into a piece of art really sounded fun. And, of course, I needed to include my family. So I began a book on my Grandmother Louise. This one will be about her childhood. I asked to write about her life so she did. From that writing I am creating a book about her childhood and one (or possibly two) about her adult life.
I choose a child's book with a wire binding for this book. I covered the front and back with fabric and paint. It was almost scary to cut up the front of the book cover...to actually put a hole in it. But I have become quite confident now in cutting up books!! And I am really loving the results!!

PHOENIX FUN!!!

I just got back from Phoenix after a great time playing with art. I attended several classes held at Mystic Paper in Mesa. This doll was done at one of those classes. The teacher was Becky Bunn. There were only a few students in her class and we had a great time. Her class was call "Steampunk Altered Tin Doll". She is made with parts of a small ceramic doll and a tin can treated to look rusted. This is a new form of collage for me. I love the results!