#4 Holey Moley! - Japanese moleskine exchange (full)

[Loralou]

Holey Moley! - Japanese moleskine exchange


Welcome to our new home! Here is the basic info....as people ask questions and they are answered, I will add the info to the first post.

1. Every artist starts with a Japanese folded moleskine (name, address, username, as well as travel-plan written in book). The owner of the moleskine decides whether the contributions of the other artists to her moleskine should follow a certain theme or not. If you have another moleskine already, that's fine!

2. Each artist will draw, make a collage, paint, or use whatever media on 3 and a half pages per moleskine. After finishing an entry the moleskine will be send to the next person. Each artist gets as much time as they need to finish their contribution to each moley within reason.....I suggest 1 month is a good guideline to try and work to. If you are having a busy month and need more time, that's cool, just keep the group well informed. The first entry will be made by the owner of the moleskine. Artists are encouraged to interact with the other images in the book. Please be respectful.

3. When the book is full, i.e. when one side of the unfolded book is filled, the book will be sent back to its original owner.

4. Please communicate regularly in this thread. Let us know that you received or sent a book.

5. Most important: let’s enjoy this adventure and have fun!

Can everyone send me their address please and I will make a central file with rotations and addresses on them.
Please people let me know your themes!
If people would like to decorate their cover and do their first pages and upload them to the thread that would be nice so we can see some eye candy.
I plan for us to mail off our journals for the first rotation at the beginning of August. That gives us plenty of time to buy/order our moleskines and do our coveres and first pages.

One last thing...there is a pouch at the back of the moleskine that we could put little things in if we wanted...suggestions have been made for an ATC in your own theme or an ATC that represents your art or style.
It has also been suggestion to include a photo of ourselves on the back of this ATC, up to you!

Players:
knesi07 - birds! fun, funky, colorful, black and white, realistic whatever the artist would like to do....have fun, be creative, no stress.....
ElectaBlue - Emily Dickinson
Pippin - Flowers/Floral Wonders
Batraplume - Exotic and/or tropical mood" (make me dream!!)
KatieV - happy/funky/colorful houses
Loralou - Nature in Vivid Colour
Marla412 - White
lilbad - Sheep, anything Ireland, quirky houses, lavender!

Green= sent
Blue = received

Travel Plan - purple = sent on to the next person
Loralou => knesi07 => Pippin => Marla412 => KatieV => Batraplume => ElectaBlue => Lilbad

knesi07 => Marla412 => Batraplume => ElectaBlue => Lilbad => KatieV => Loralou => Pippin FINISHED!

ElectaBlue => Loralou => Lilbad => KatieV => knesi07 => Marla412 => Pippin => Batraplume

KatieV => Batraplume => Marla412 => Lilbad => ElectaBlue => Pippin => knesi07 => Loralou

Marla412 => ElectaBlue => KatieV => Pippin => Loralou => Lilbad => Batraplume => knesi07

Lilbad => Pippin => knesi07 => Loralou => Batraplume => ElectaBlue => Marla412 => KatieV FINISHED!

Pippin => Lilbad => Loralou => Batraplume => Marla412 => knesi07 => KatieV => ElectaBlue FINISHED!

Batraplume => KatieV => ElectaBlue => knesi07 => Pippin => Loralou => Lilbad => Marla41 FINISHED!

[KatieV]

Thanks for starting the new thread, Loralou!

I am still thinking on what theme I want. I can't give you an address right now, because we will move in August, but still don't know where we're going.

Having 8 players sounds good to me! I need to do the math on the pages for my watercolor moley. I don't think doing a half page would work so well in there, unless people want to cut a page in half or something.

[Loralou]

You just let us know what you would like, 2 pages or what and I will add the details.

[ElectaBlue]

I am not sure of my theme yet, either. I think that is the hardest part, really. I think having 8 players sounds great!

[knesi07]

i agree...8 players is great...the more the merrier! :jiggy:

[lilbad]

Hey, didn't want to throw a wrench into the system. I can wait until another time if u are full. Just let me know. I have a flat moleskin watercolor, but can get an accordian one. But, please, don't let another person(me) screw up your system!!!

[Loralou]

Everyone seems cool with it lilly! Plus it is cool to have 3.5 pages per artist so that they can merge into each other, it will add something to the book/experience.
Let me know your theme when you are ready :D

[ElectaBlue]

I am thinking of having mine the poems of Emily Dickinson, it could be just one line from one of her poems or a whole poem or whatever. Does that sound doable to people? I could include some of them with the book as examples. Or does this sound too hard?

[Loralou]

I think it sounds delightful!

[ElectaBlue]

Great! She has so many great poems with good imagery to work from.

I like the other themes so far, too, the birds and nature in vivid color. They are both so much the kind of thing I love to do!

[knesi07]

I think emily dickinson poems sound fun! gives me a chance to read some poetry.

[lilbad]

Welllllllll, anyone surprised that I choose: Sheep, anything Ireland, quirky houses, lavender! What do u think about the flat moleskin book?

[Batraplume]

Welcome Lilbad! It's nice to be 8!

I'm still thinking of a theme... I have a few ideas but can't make up my mind yet, let me think a little bit more... it's so new to me!

ElectaBlue >> I don't know Emily Dickinson but I'll google and check. Just hope I will understand the content of her poems! :unsure:

[Pippin]

Yay a new home!! I did an Emily Dickinson poem for a recitation when I was at school many moons ago!!

Not sure of my theme but I will come up with something that can transition well! I think I will use the accordian book

[ElectaBlue]

Since no one seems to have any objection, Emily Dickinson it is! I especially like her nature poems, which I think would be easy. You see the "hope is the thing with feathers..." quote everywhere.

Sheep! I love that theme.

[Batraplume]

Ok... I've googled and now know a bit more about Emily Dickinson. The few poems I read were inspiring, hope inspiration won't go!

Great themes Lilbad, Loralou and Knesi!

[KatieV]

Choosing a them is hard! I can't decide if I wanna do something cute like hedgehogs or do something around poems like ElectaBlue.

[Loralou]

You don't have to have a theme, it can be artist choice if you so desire :)

[Loralou]

Thought people might like a peep at the cover I made yesterday
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/199/1_moley_cover_small.JPG
I intended this to be really colourful (and vivid :p) but it ended up being quite muted. The silver paint is metallic and so it sparkles in the light making it more vivid.

[knesi07]

loralou i actually love the muted color. it looks like leather embossing in the photo. i'm thinking about my cover. i never got the cover done for the other moley i'm in, so for this one i'd like to have it done before i send it out.

[ElectaBlue]

That looks great, Loralou! I am sure it looks even better in person with the metallic silver.

I love hedgehogs, but I am not sure what kind of page I could do with them? I've never tried to draw one before.

[Batraplume]

I love hedgehogs too! Funny and unusual theme if you choose this one!

[KatieV]

That's a great cover!

Yesterday I gessoed the inside covers of my moley and put a color wash on them. Now it smells good, lol :laugh:

For the back pocket, does it seem like a good size to put ATCs in? ;) Maybe it would be neat for people to do a card in their own theme to put in the other peoples' books, like a reminder of all the journals in the circle.

[Loralou]

Thats a brill idea! Are people up for that? And if not in your own theme, perhaps an ATC that is just typical of your style or subject matter?

[knesi07]

i love the ATC idea!

[ElectaBlue]

Sounds good to me!

[Batraplume]

Perfect!

[Loralou]

What an agreeable bunch we are :D lol

[Batraplume]

Ok... I can't get this idea out of my head so my theme is........."Exotic and/or tropical mood" (make me dream!!). This can be places, animals, nature, people, etc...
If you need more details, feel free to ask!

[KatieV]

Cool!

I just realized that my pages are bigger than yours, so doing a two page spread in my book is probably about the same as doing 3.5 in yours. That'll fill up about half my book, so feel free to do another spread in mine if you're feeling super inspired. Or to cut out a page or two if the book is getting too bulky.

[KatieV]

What do u think about the flat moleskin book?

I'm using one of those - the watercolor book that has pages about 5x8. If you do it too I won't be the only oddball ;) No one here carries the folding books, and I'm afraid if I order one it won't come before I leave for Russia.

[lilbad]

What a beautiful cover!! No one answered my question about flat sketch pad book vs. accordian....?

[Batraplume]

Do you know this Japanese Moleskine Flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/moly_x/)?

[Loralou]

You can use a flat one if you want to, but the majority of us are using accordion style. If you are going to go out and buy one especially, try and get the accordion one.
But no biggie.

[ElectaBlue]

I ordered mine from Amazon and since I am a prime member I usually get whatever I order the next day! I think it was around 9.50 and that seemed pretty comparable (because with the prime membership the shipping is free... and no tax, either).

Batra, I had looked at that group before and that is one reason I have been drooling and wanting to join one of these swaps.

[knesi07]

electra-
how do you become a "prime" member over at amazon?

[ElectaBlue]

You just have to pay for it. I think it is 80.00 a year, but it is worth it, if you order very much.

[knesi07]

ok, thanks.

[curbsidetreasure]

gorgeous cover loralou :)
i'll be peeking in now & then to see all the wonderful art!

[Batraplume]

Pippin, Marla and Katie, did you choose your themes or are you all at Artforall??
Just curious, no hurry!

[KatieV]

I'm at art for all, still thinking on my theme.

[Loralou]

I worked out a travel plan for us this evening, no word of a lie it has taken me 2 hours! This is because I wanted us to never work in a book following the same artist twice. Turns out this is a pretty darn hard thing to try and orchestrate! This is the best I can come up with! Please check your own line and just check you have everyone on your plan. My eyes and brain have become dead to it now and mistakes may still lie within it.
*goes for a lie down*
Travel Plan
Loralou => knesi07 => Pippin => Marla412 => KatieV => Batraplume => ElectaBlue => Lilbad
knesi07 => Marla412 => Batraplume => ElectaBlue => Lilbad => KatieV => Loralou => Pippin
ElectaBlue => Loralou => Lilbad => KatieV => knesi07 => Marla412 => Pippin => Batraplume
KatieV => Batraplume => Marla412 => Lilbad => ElectaBlue => Pippin => knesi07 => Loralou
Marla412 => ElectaBlue => KatieV => Pippin => Loralou => Lilbad => Batraplume => knesi07
Lilbad => Pippin => knesi07 => Loralou => Batraplume => ElectaBlue => Marla412 => KatieV
Pippin => Lilbad => Loralou => Batraplume => Marla412 => knesi07 => KatieV => ElectaBlue
Batraplume => KatieV => ElectaBlue => knesi07 => Pippin => Loralou => Lilbad => Marla41

[Pippin]

Wow Loralou, that shows dedication! I can imagine it took ages to work out!

No Im not at AFA!! Just not quite picked my theme yet!!

[Batraplume]

Great job Loralou, thank you so much!

[Loralou]

I did my intro pages this evening :) Can you tell I am excited to do this project?
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/199/large/1_moley_into_pages_small.jpg

[Batraplume]

Wow it's gorgeous! And the frog! i want one in my book!!
BTW, Loralou if I were you I would blur your address! one never knows :unsure:

[ElectaBlue]

I am still at Art for All, too, and got to see Lilbad and Katie! I can't wait to get started on my book and send it off.

[Marla412]

My "theme" is the color white. I know you're all hating me, but this can be done and looks awesome. Different shades of white are OK (cream, ecru, etc.), but no color. As for content, that's up to the artist's discretion. Loralou I'm sending you a PM with me addy details.

[Batraplume]

What a challenge, Marla! I'll have to think about it... I have plenty of time for I'm only the 7th on your list :eek:

[knesi07]

i love a challenge marla, and i have my idea already! i thought this would be really hard for me, since my work is generally very bold, bright and colorful, but as i started thinking about it and looking around my studio at "white" it came to me....now to see where i am on the list...otherwise i'll have to do a quick mock up in my art journal so i don't forget!

[knesi07]

looks like i have to art journal it...i'm last! ha!

[Batraplume]

Is that what you do when you're the last of the list - or at a spot close to the end - a mock up on another sketchbook to keep your ideas from flying away?
That's what I wanted to do when I saw that I was the last on ElectaBlue's list.
Suggestions are welcome!

[knesi07]

well, that's what i do...put everything in my art journal, otherwise it flies out of my head not to be seen again until who knows when...

[lilbad]

I have decided to order an accordian one---what dimentions?

[Pippin]

I think they only come in one size ! 3by 5 I think!! Ordering mine too as our art shop doesn't have them!

[Batraplume]

I borrowed this link to the 1st group : http://www.moleskineus.com/japanesebook.html
This is the one I have, hope it's the right one!

[Loralou]

That's the right one! I did my first pages this evening :)
Hmmm that picture does not do it justice if I do say so myself. You will all get to see it when it comes to visit anyway lol

[lilbad]

The one I saw advertised was a 5" x 8 1/4" and called a japanese album.....is that the one everyone is using?

[Loralou]

Yes that is right lilbad!

[lilbad]

I ordered two from Amazon today at $10 each. Pippin, u must have the wrong size.

[Batraplume]

The link I gave shows a 3,5 x 5,5 Moleyskine! Loralou, you said it was the right size and now Lilbad is talking about a 5" x 8 1/4" and you say this is the right one... so??? I'm confused! Which one please? I have the smaller one! :huh:

[knesi07]

the correct one is called a japanese album-60 zigzag folded pages-3 1/2"x5 1/2"-heavy acid-free paper-expandable inner pocket by moleskin.

[lilbad]

oops!!

[Loralou]

Huh I was told that there was only one Japanese folding moleskine? Now I am confused. Anyways you can have any size or kind of moleskine that you want!
Trouble with sizes in inches, we work in metric in the UK, cm....etc.... I get confused over imperial sizes.

[Loralou]

lilbad do you have a link for the one you bought?

[knesi07]

loralou, i was told that too, only one size, so i wonder what one lilbad ordered. hmmm....

[Loralou]

Well I have searched all over Amazon and I cannot find one in the size lilbad was talking about!
The ONLY one I can find is the pocket sized one. lol

[ElectaBlue]

This is the one I ordered: http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Japanese-Album-Pocket/dp/8883701046/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245708186&sr=8-2 Amazon says it is: "5.4 x 3.7 inches."

[knesi07]

i just did the same, cuz i was thinking the bigger size might be fun to try! haha..came up with the same results as you!

[Batraplume]

I've just did the same research on Amazon.com! same results too. Lilbad, tell us where you found it!
I'm off to bed, 00:11 here, good night everyone!

[knesi07]

gnite batra!

[lilbad]

sheesh, I probably got it wrong. Anyway, I did order the Japanese accordian one and probably figured it was the same size as the other one I have. Sorry for the confusion. Just needed to see if u all are on your toes!

[knesi07]

don't worry lilbad...it was just a test, only a test...right? you really know how to liven up a party!

[lilbad]

I have heard that before---so sorry for the mix-up!! Looking forward to getting my book so I can start. This is going to be a blast.

[Pippin]

Well dontcha know I was in the art store today and now they carry Japanese Moleys!! Bought two $15 each which is OK really as these are Canadian dollars!! LOL

[Batraplume]

Hi there!
Still on the track of Lilbad's Moley! Maybe it's what you ordered?? http://www.moleskineus.com/largememo.html

[Loralou]

Well that one would be hard to draw on! lol

[Batraplume]

Yes that's what I thought too!! but it's the only one called "accordion" with the dimensions that Lilbad gave! The mix-up may be here. Anyway, Lilbab you can use it to store scraps of paper or anything!

[Batraplume]

Loralou, I forgot to congrat you on your first pages! You are fast! How did you make this? Drawings, stamps, paint?

[Loralou]

Paint, oily rub ons, stamps, I am not usually a mixed media person but this came out mixed media, which is strange for me!

[Pippin]

Hi there!
Still on the track of Lilbad's Moley! Maybe it's what you ordered?? http://www.moleskineus.com/largememo.html

oh I hope not, That would be a challenge to art up!!!!

[Pippin]

What are "oily rub ons" loralou? They sound intriguing!!

[Pippin]

Ok I have almost decided, after pondering Owls, flowers, time the sea and Cats I am going for Floral Wonders ( I think) LOL!!!;) Does that work for everyone? If you all have a hankering to do Owls or Cats though do let me know!!!

[Loralou]

Here they are! They are so cool I use them all the time.
I was hoping someone might choose cats as their theme ;P

[Pippin]

Here they are! They are so cool I use them all the time.
I was hoping someone might choose cats as their theme ;P

Well I could always do Cats!!! I do have five fur balls so it would be rather fitting. I could supply pics of furballs past and present for inspiration??? I am quite open to changing to Puss Cats!

[Batraplume]

Actually cats as a theme was on my list - I'm a cat lover - but as the mood over here is rather gloomy right now (because of my job + my father's health +... my cat's health too) I thought I would be glad to see my Moley filled up with some exotic scenes to take my mind off things.
And I thought of birds too but Knesi was faster than me !! ;)

[Loralou]

Let me know Pippin what you want to go for. I do love painting cats though *hint hint* haha!

[knesi07]

i'm not sure what you mean by floral wonders....owls, cats, even time could be very interesting, they are all fine.... i find trying to pick the theme to be the hardest part!

[KatieV]

I like time and flowers the best out of you list, Pippin, but anything would be great! I still cannot decide!! I'm going to check one more store in town to see if they have the japanese folding type books.

[ElectaBlue]

I like flowers the best, but since you like owls I might slip one of those in, too.

[Batraplume]

I have a question! Are we allowed to add a bit of thickness to our pages or not? Mixed-media is sometimes thick, I mean thicker than an drawing, so?

[Loralou]

Yeah within reason! These aren't chunky books lol

[Pippin]

Ok I am sticking with Flowers/Floral Wonders for my theme!! Hopefully will decorate the book this weekend!

[lilbad]

My new journal came from Amazon and u all were right about the size. Now what?

[Loralou]

I sent you a PM lilly

[lilbad]

Yes, and thank u. I am a bit confused about the "1/2 page"?

[Loralou]

Well you do a half page so that the next persons art merges into the next persons and so on....
and also it makes the fractions work with the number we have in the group!

[lilbad]

So it's half way up and down, not side to side. i get it. Told u I was a newbie!

[Loralou]

Um no side to side honey, let me see if I can find an example.

[Loralou]

Here ya go, see how each person's art kinda merges with the next?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l7IiyVml2qY/Sjk4l0-YYQI/AAAAAAAAAK4/vNszKFkf55s/s400/fire_2.jpg

[KatieV]

That looks like up and down half to me! However you call it, I think I know what you mean! :D

I am playing with cutting some watercolor paper -- I may end up with the same size book as you guys if I can figure out how to put it together!

[knesi07]

katie-
want me to measure my moley all stretched out, so you'll know how long to cut and piece the watercolor paper? are you planning on folding it accordian style?

[KatieV]

I cut some strips from my biggest size watercolor paper - I think if I can glue them right it'll work as an accordian book. I scored it on my paper cutter. I made my pages 5.5 inches tall and 3.5 wide -- hope that's right! :D

[lilbad]

Would anyone mind if my pages were done on watercolor paper and glued in place? Be honest!!!

[ElectaBlue]

Lil, I don't care. You can do it however.

[KatieV]

Yeah, I think so too! My pages are made out of watercolor paper, so you could paint on them if you want.

I think my homemade moley is gonna work. It's kind of chubby since the paper is thicker than in a real moley. Kind of a ghetto moley, hehehe :laugh:

[ElectaBlue]

Ghetto moley sounds fun! Does that mean I can do graffiti in it and make some cute little critters with foul mouths? Is that your theme?

I think I better go to bed.:unsure:

[KatieV]

I think you could work in graffiti and critters into my moley. I finally decided on a theme! I'll do happy/funky/colorful houses. It'll be cool to have a whole neighborhood in a book!!

I'll pack my ghetto moley with me on my trip. If it can make it to Russia and back I think it'll be fine in the mail.

[Batraplume]

Hey girls! You've been very talkative while Loralou and I were sleeping!!

Great theme Katie! I think I will cope with this one although I don't know yet what I will do. I'm the first in your list, I'll have to think about it quickly!

Lilbab, unless you expect me to work with watercolors :confused: I don't mind if you use watercolor paper. I'll have to buy some to give a try because I don't know at all how this paper behaves with paints and inks!

[Batraplume]

I found another example of a merging page. This is a page that I borrowed (again!) to Arteeztmom from the 1st Moley group (post #63):

http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18796&d=1231087685

See how her drawing encroaches [not sure of that word!] on the beginning of the 4th page in order to let the next person start her drawing?

[KatieV]

That's a nice example!

My book finished drying and I think it'll be fine. It's even got a pocket in the back. Gonna try and figure out how to attach some elastic :D

[lilbad]

Great example. Being a newbie, I need all the help I can get! Thanks so much.

[knesi07]

lilbad-
i don't mind you gluing in h2o paper in my moley at all! your paintings are soooooo beautiful, i can't wait to have one! :jiggy:

[Loralou]

hello everyone! I'll add your theme Katie! Enjoy Russia :)

[Batraplume]

Oops I missed your question Lilbad, sorry! I don't mind at all you gluing whatever you want in my Moley!! Katie is right, your watercolors are so great! So go for it!

[lilbad]

Ok, then---watercolor it is unless someone specifically requests not!

[Batraplume]

Hi there! Where are you all??

Who has already started their intro pages apart from Loralou? I'm still thinking about it, I don't have a clear idea of what I will come up with yet and I won't be able to start it before next week anyway.

Has someone experienced gluing something on the cover? I'm wondering which kind of glue I can use. Is this leather on it??


BTW, please forgive my bad English! I'll be glad if you correct me, that's how I can progress!! Hope it's just not too annoying for you to read me...:skeptical:

[knesi07]

batraplume-
i had a moley art journal and i put a photo on the front. i used matte gel medium as the glue, and matte gel medium on top as a sealer. so far, so good. it has held up well.

your english is just fine!

[lilbad]

I wish my French was as good as your English!! Wow!

[Batraplume]

It's a good thing for you that I'm only writing here... not speaking!! :confused:

[Loralou]

Haha I could have a rudimentary convo in French, I got an 'A' in my GCSE! lol

[knesi07]

i took french in high school, but sadly, have forgotten most of what i learned. my daughter is taking it now and she is so much more proficient than i ever was!

[lilbad]

Two years and 6 wks of French. All I can do is sing the French National Anthem in Francais.

[Loralou]

lilbad I see you signed up for another moley...so did I! I hope we like 'em

[Batraplume]

I have always heard that French wasn't easy to learn as a foreign language and I agree! English is far much easier so we are very lucky!
Yet do you believe me if I tell you that I started learning English when I was 11 at school, then at highschool and then I studied it (MA) at university during 5 more years (until I was 24)! I shouldn't have stop because I lost lots of vocabulary. I've been 3 times to the UK but unfortunately not long enough to speak fluently!

[Loralou]

we should meet up in the chatroom and try to have a convo in french!

[Batraplume]

Good idea Loralou! and in English too ;)
Next time because I'm off to bed right now! Good night!

[Batraplume]

BTW Knesi, I have some glossy gel medium but I've never been able to use it as a glue or to do some transfers with it. I probably do something wrong but I don't know what!

[knesi07]

it should work by just brushing it on and sticking it. i have to confess, i've never used glossy, only matte, but i can't imagine it would work any differently.

[Pippin]

Wow I have missed a whole stream of conversations!! Watercolour paper is fine by me Lilbad!!

If we are doing mixed media is it OK if I add lace n stuff as the muse takes me??? Wont be anything overly heavy though. AS we oar off today for Canada Day I am going to gesso my cover and do the outer and inner covers!!

[Batraplume]

Pippin, it's ok with me, no problem! I thought of lace too for one of the books here (not hard to guess which one...) I can't wait to see what everyone will come up with...
I still haven't decide what I will do on my intro and following pages (not talking about the cover!) I have several ideas but I'm not good at decisions... and it may be hard to create exactly what I have in mind! Stuck on my on theme, do you believe it... great!! :wacko:

[OliviaRose]

is this exchange full?? may i join?? it sounds soo fun

[Loralou]

Hi Olivia! We have been full for a while sorry :( there are other groups popping up all the time so watch out for them and pounce quickly as they fill up within hours. Good luck!

[Pippin]

Finally got to slap the gesso on the cover and then had to keep Rowan (puss cat supervisor of the art room)away from it!! Tomorrow I get to dig out the lumiere! Yahoo!!

[Batraplume]

Suggestion!!
What if... we all print a photo of our face on the back of the ATCs that will be enclosed in the pouch?? I would love to put a face on a name when my book get back to me!
What do you think?

[lilbad]

Sounds like a good idea, Bat!

[Pippin]

OMG that means I have to find a photo of me that I like, You all might get a crop of one of my wedding photos from 13 years ago!!!!

[lilbad]

my feeling exactly. however, my mug is slathered all over the afa pics!

[Batraplume]

Same with me, I always hate me when I see my face on pictures but come on!! we don't care, do we?? And where are the other girls??

Lilbad, you make me laugh when you call me "Bat"!!

[knesi07]

i'm here. i don't mind putting a pic of myself on the back of my atc. i like putting faces to names too! :jimlad:

[Loralou]

I like that idea, shall I add it to the first page? I might need to read through so I don't forget any of these details when I do the first book!

[Batraplume]

Yeah it would be great to add it to the first post if everyone is ok with this idea (still haven't heard of ElectaBlue and KatieV?) because I might forget something (remember I'm often absent-minded!).

I've worked on my 3,5 pages today! I'm rather glad of what I came up with although it took me a while to make up my mind and choose between the different options I had thought of. I still have the intro and cover to do. And actually I find the size of the book too small!! Most of the pictures I had found were too big so I had to scan some of them and print them on a smaller scale. I'll know it next time... :huh: but now I feel like starting a whole bigger book in which I would display all the stuff I've gathered... :twitcy:

[Loralou]

Let's see then!

[Loralou]

KatieV is in russia BTW

[Batraplume]

Hi girls! It's been very quiet here lately. Are you all still working on your first pages?

Ok... I need your advice please! Some of you have been intriguing when I chose my theme and I'm wondering if I translated it correctly.

"Exotic and tropical mood": should I say "Exotic and tropical atmosphere" or "feeling"?? In French we say "ambiance exotique et tropicale".

I want to make my intro pages and cover today and I'd like to get it right! What do you think? Thanks!! :)

[Loralou]

You can say ambiance if you like, it also means, mood/atmosphere and probably better describes what you are after than those words anyway. What I mean to say is, it exists in English as well lol

[lilbad]

When will we get everyone's addys?

[Pippin]

I am fighting with my pesky acrylics. They seem to have got very thick. I have medium is that the best to add to them as opposed to a smidgen of water??

[Batraplume]

Here are my travel plan and first 3 pages! They are crowded but I couldn't help including all these stuff!

Actually I changed the title in "Tropical Paradise" which means the same for me as my initial title ('Exotic and tropical mood') but is shorter, so don't feel limited.

I used gesso + distress inks + acrylic paint on the background, magazine collages + paper napkin + text + scraps of paper.

http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/1691/large/1_Batraplume_s_Moley_-_Travel_plan_-_19_07_09_low.jpg

http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/1691/1_Batraplume_s_Moley_-_1st_pages_-_19_07_09_low.jpg

[Pippin]

Awesome pages! I have my images already for your book as we went to St Lucia last year!!

[lilbad]

Bat, this is lovely. Makes me anxious to get started!

[Loralou]

When will we get everyone's addys?
When everyone send them to me :p

[Batraplume]

Thank you!

Lilbad, I was anxious to get started too but I made a kind of "rehearsal" in another Moley (an "experimental" one!) and it helped a lot. I think I'll do this for each of your books, it gives me more confidence and it helps me to prevent mistakes (with paint or glue for example!)

Pippin, I can't wait to see what you will do!!

[lilbad]

Pip, u can add water or gesso to acrylic for medium.

[Marla412]

Sorry I haven't posted, I'm busy studying for a board exam I have to take this coming Saturday. I've been trying to keep up with the posts and now have a moment to catch up. I LOVE the idea of including an ATC in the pocket of the books as we work on them representing our own them and with our pic on the back. I think I know what I'll do already, just have to make them, but there's time for that!!

I'm working on my covers. I noticed some of you posted some pages you'd done. Are these the FIRST 3 1/2 pages of your own books? Do I need to do the the first 3 1/2 pages of my moley before I send it off? Plus the inside cover showing my theme and the travel plan for my moley??

OK back to work!! PS: All the pages posted so far are wonderful!!

[Batraplume]

Yes Marla, you have to fill your own book with your travel plan on the inside cover and 1st page and then fill the back of the first page + 2 accordian spreads and a half as shown on our photos! Some homework for you! ;)

Hope this makes sense... Loralou, correct me if it doesn't!

PS: Marla, good luck for your exam!

[Loralou]

What Batra said!

[KatieV]

Hi all! Just checking in after being gone for a while. I've got my pages started, will post when they're done.

[Loralou]

we look forward to it Katie!

[Batraplume]

Welcome back Katie! Can't wait to see your pages and a bit anxious as well as I am second on your travel plan!!

[lilbad]

Pippin, I am close to sending my journal to u, but want to be sure I have your correct addy. Still struggleing as to what to enclose as a gift for u all.

[Batraplume]

Didn't we talk about an ATC in the back pouch? or are you talking of another kind of gift, Lillbad?

[Loralou]

Yeha that's right, rather than putting gifts in for people to take out on the rotation we planned to put an ATC in our own theme into the pocket of each journal as we pass them around.
That sound ok to you lilbad?

[lilbad]

Yes, that's what I meant! Thanks for the addys, loralou!

[ElectaBlue]

I have to apologize for being out of touch! I just realized today that somehow I had become unsubscribed from this thread and just thought no one was posting and couldn't figure out why.:huh:

Anyway, I am back and have my Moleskine almost ready.:D

[Loralou]

lol welcome back :)

[Loralou]

Right now is the time to start thinking about sending off your journals to the first person on your travel plan. Try to have it sent out by the end of August at the latest :)

[lilbad]

Good. I had a little boo boo, but will have mine out long before then.

[knesi07]

mine is going out this week. my intro pages are done, and i'm working on the first entry

[Pippin]

Hoping to have mine out this week too! I will try and remember to scan it before I mail it!

[knesi07]

mine is already to go out, but i think i'll let it dry a little while longer. it will definately be out by wednesday! can't wait to get these going!

[Batraplume]

Hi girls,
I'll try to send my book to Katie before the end of August even if the cover is not done yet.
I'm at my parents right now (and on holidays too). They called me last Friday to tell me my cat (living with them) was very sick. We saw 2 vets since then. The last one today told us there was no hope for her to recover. She has an important renal failure and it's a question of days. We'll have to take a sad decision quickly so here is how is the mood over here right now - not tropical at all. I feel so guilty for not having her brought to the vet before and I'm devastated as my cat was everything to me during these 16 last years. :cry:
I'll come back here when things will be more quiet and I'll try to send my book as soon as possible when I have Katie's address.

[knesi07]

oh batra,
i know exactly how you feel. my cat went through this last june. hugs coming across the ocean to you and your darling cat.

[Loralou]

Just send when you cat, if you don't get a cover done, that doesn't mattter, you can do it when it come back to you :)

[knesi07]

one fun bird moley flying its way across the country to marla412. let me know when it arrives!

[knesi07]

here is a peek at my moley:

[lilbad]

marvelous work!!

[knesi07]

thanks lilbad!

[Loralou]

Haha very fun!

[Marla412]

Kathleen I'll let you know as soon as it arrives. Hopefully by the weekend. Lisa (ElectaBlue) I'm mailing my moley to you today. Should be there in a few days! Here are pics, didn't scan well....looks like blue, but it's really black toned down with gesso. Oh well..

[knesi07]

very cool marla. i can't wait to work on yours, although i do have quite a wait! (i'm last)

[ElectaBlue]

Kathleen I'll let you know as soon as it arrives. Hopefully by the weekend. Lisa (ElectaBlue) I'm mailing my moley to you today. Should be there in a few days! Here are pics, didn't scan well....looks like blue, but it's really black toned down with gesso. Oh well..

I can't wait to see it, but I have no idea what I will do with the white theme. I am hoping something will pop in my head when I see it.

[Marla412]

You'll come up with something great, I'm sure!! As you can see, I didn't stay strictly white even though I said no color. Creams, light browns, gray, and even black all can work if dulled down with white gesso. They can just barely shine through. Or maybe a cool black and white photo that has been gessoed over to peek through. There are many colors of "white" paint that differ by a degree or two in hue. I just don't want bright or any color overpowering the predominate feeling of white. Does that help or just make it worse?? LOL I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever anyone comes up with.

And I DID mail it out today.....

[lilbad]

Hmmmmmm, white watercolor is just plain paper.....lol!

[ElectaBlue]

I got Marla412s book yesterday and got started on it last night. I got a whitish background down, so now just have to figure out what to add to it.:unsure: I have no plan, so this should be interesting (I NEVER have a plan!).

[lilbad]

Loralou, u can mark my journal as on it's way to Pippin! I have enclosed 7 atcs, so each of u pick one, please!

[Marla412]

Kathy (knesi07) your lovely bird moley flew in on Friday. I've been working on it. Have to put a few finishing touches on it and I'll get it out to the next on the list. Tonight is my volunteer night at the women's shelter so I probably won't get to work on it again until tomorrow night. I'll keep ya posted.

[Loralou]

I still don't have mine posted yet, due to various reasons, but hopefully will send it out today.

[knesi07]

great marla! thanks for letting me know...have fun!

[ElectaBlue]

I plan on sending mine soon, too. It took me a while to get the ATCs made in my theme, but I finished them up at our DFW meeting on Saturday at Blueskysunburn's house.

[Loralou]

Ah you see, I am going to put them into peoples moleys, rather than have them take them out of mine....I thought that was what we decided at the beginning?

[lilbad]

Oh no. I sent all of mine in my moley to Pippen. Told her to take one and pass the rest on. Sorry. Hope that works for everyone, because it's a done deal!

[ElectaBlue]

So which one should I do? Enclose them all or add one at a time?

[lilbad]

I figure it's up to u.....I can't seem to follow directions.

[ElectaBlue]

I was confused, too, obviously. I would have mailed my book already except I didn't have the ATCs ready. I think I may just send them since they are already in there.

I also already did Marla's book and I am going to mail that on tomorrow, as well. My son is on a cruise in the Bahamas so I have lots of extra time on my hands right now.:rolleyes:

[Loralou]

It's fine to do whatever you want just make things clear....the problem is that I will be putting ATC's into the moley and then I will send it on, and the next person will take one out and they just need to make sure they don't take my ATC out and that they take one of yours. So just enclose clear instructions and it will be fine.

[ElectaBlue]

Did we ever get Katie V's address? I was going to send her Marla's book and I can't seem to find it.

[KatieV]

I am moving, so I haven't sent out an address yet. We'll probably have an address by next Wednesday. But I haven't mailed my journal yet or received Batra's yet.

[ElectaBlue]

So do you want me to just hold onto Marla's then? I am trying to get lots of things done when I have the time and am getting ahead of myself.:rolleyes:

[KatieV]

Well, at least hold on to it until I have a new address :) I don't mind having two moleys at once.

[ElectaBlue]

Ok, I will hold Marla's until you have a new address.

I mailed mine to Loralou and it is on its way!

[Loralou]

I mailed mine today too :)

[lilbad]

Are we to post our work, or save it for the journal owner to be surprised?

[Loralou]

Post away!

[lilbad]

I am still waiting for Pippin's moley and we leave the 28th and will be gone for a month. Hope it is on the way, so I can get it in the mail before leaving.

[Pippin]

Will be sendign ASAP Shirley, work has been nuts this last two weeks. Will mail fedex so you will get it the day after!

[lilbad]

Great. I just didn't want to get behind. Did mine make it to you yet?

[Pippin]

No not yet. Mail to Canada can be slow though!!

[Loralou]

Mine should be arriving any time soon as other stuff mailed on the same day has arrived.

[knesi07]

ok loralou..i'll be on the lookout!

[lilbad]

Gosh, I mailed it to you on Aug 7th, Pip.

[Marla412]

Finished my pages in Kathy's book (knesi07). Now I need to make my ATCs so I can put one in the pocket and send it on. I'll try to get it out by Sat. We'll see how it goes... Here's the scanned pages, the colors don't show very well. One of the scans is Kathy's last page running into my pages 1 and 2. The second scan is my pages 2, 3, and 4.

[lilbad]

Wow, looks great!

[knesi07]

oooh! I <3 those pages! thanks!

[knesi07]

loralou-
your moley arrived today. i'll get to work on it after my company leaves (this weekend). i have an idea of what i'm going to do...;)

[Loralou]

yay it's there!! Let inspiration trickle in ....

[Pippin]

Your package arrived Lilbad! Haven't opened it yet as forcing myself to finish of the "must do" list and I know I will get sidetracked if I so much as look at it!!

[Batraplume]

Katie, I'll mail my book to you on Monday (I'm still not at home for now).

[lilbad]

Glad it finally made it, Pip. I still haven't received yours. I was checking on some of the other threads, and they seem to be losing moleys right and left. I suggest we all put tracking #s on our envelopes. I sure wouldn't want anyones hard work to go to parts unknown. What do u all think?

[knesi07]

i think it's a good idea. tracking #'s are always a good thing

[KatieV]

Katie, I'll mail my book to you on Monday (I'm still not at home for now).

I'll mail today too! We can do a test of the postal system and see which book arrives first :)


Glad it finally made it, Pip. I still haven't received yours. I was checking on some of the other threads, and they seem to be losing moleys right and left. I suggest we all put tracking #s on our envelopes. I sure wouldn't want anyones hard work to go to parts unknown. What do u all think?

I think they only work within your own country -- I recently had a really awful time trying to track down a very important letter that was mailed to me registered mail with a tracking number -- it turned up eventually, but the tracking number never worked, and neither the US Post Office or the Russian one knows where the package is. We submitted an inquiry to try to find it before it eventually showed up, and they couldn't even figure out that it had been delivered! :unsure:

[Loralou]

I received electablues journal! I have picked out a poem and might get started tonight ;)

[lilbad]

Katie, sorry to hear that. I thought it would work for us in the US.

[ElectaBlue]

Loralou, I am so glad that it arrived. I was starting to get a little concerned.

[Loralou]

I have spent my evening doing the pages and I had such fun! The writing you can't see in white shows up better in real life....but I think I might make it black anyway.
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/199/large/1_electa_blues_pages_photographed_small.JPG

[lilbad]

Wow, how did u scan the entire thing??

[ElectaBlue]

I LOVE it Loralou! I can't see what it says on my little netbook, so I will have to check it on another computer to get the full effect.

[Loralou]

It's a photograph Lilbad :)

[lilbad]

I C. Pip, still no sign of your moley. If it doesn't come wed or thursday, I won't get it out for a month. Sorry.

[Batraplume]

Sorry Katie, I'm going through hard times here right now and I mailed my book to you only today. Keep me posted when you get it, thanks.

[KatieV]

No problem!! I'll keep an eye out for it.

I am a big doofus -- mailed out my moley without taking a picture of it, woops! I got a REAL moley -- the hubby ordered a couple for me on Amazon :D So the big fat ghetto moley stays with me. Probably a very good thing, I bet it would cost a lot more to mail.

[Batraplume]

Don't worry, I'll take a picture for you when I get it.

[lilbad]

goodbye everyone. will keep u posted on our travel thread. have fun and keep creating!

[Marla412]

knesi07's moley is on it's way to Batraplume today!

[Pippin]

goodbye everyone. will keep u posted on our travel thread. have fun and keep creating!

Have a wonderful time!!

[knesi07]

oh yay! my moley always wanted to go to France!

[knesi07]

i forgot to post....i rec'd loralou's moley! (one day last week, my bad)

[Loralou]

I am sure you did say you got it, because I knew you did...so you must have said lol

[Batraplume]

I received Katie's book today. It took one week. Thank you Katie.
Very fresh and colorful pages. I'll scan them tomorrow.

[Loralou]

Cool, so the only one not in purple is Batraplume => KatieV. Have you sent Batra and if so have you received Katie?

[Batraplume]

Yes I did, on Wednesday (see post #230)

[Batraplume]

Here are the first 3 1/2 pages made by Katie in her book.

Katie, if you want a bigger scan, pm me your email (not sure I have it), thanks.

[KatieV]

Oh, thanks for posting my pages!

I haven't received Batra's book yet, but I'm sure it will be here soon.

[KatieV]

It arrived today!! And it looks fantastic :) With the end of summer in sight, it's nice to be thinking about a tropical theme.

[Pippin]

I love your first pages Katie!!

[Batraplume]

I've just received Knesi's book from Marla, thank you! But... now I'm lost (yes, already). I have 2 books at hand (KatieV and Knesi) and they don't use the same number of pages for each of us.

Kathy (Knesi), if I count well, you use the first introduction double pages, OK. Then the back of the introduction pages + 3 1/2 accordion pages = 4 1/2 pages. Then Marla used 3 1/2 accordion pages. The great idea is that you wrote our names on the following pages so that we know how much place we must fill with our drawings. The last person of your book is Pippin and there are 4 1/2 left for her drawing. My question is : what did I do wrong in my own book? KatieV did the same as me. Maybe some of you (Loralou?) too. I only used the double intoduction pages + the 3 1/2 following accordion pages including the back of the double first pages. If you're right (and it seems you are), there will probably be a few pages left at the end of the last person's drawing. That's not a problem as I can fill them with some extra drawings or collages but I want to understand and I'm not good at maths! Can someone throw some light on this? (although I'm not sure my explanations are clear, sorry!)

BTW, wonderful beginning Kathy and Marla, very impressive!

[KatieV]

I tried to figure that out, Isabelle, and got too confused with the counting!! If mine comes back with empty pages at the end, I'll just do something on them. I hadn't thought of writing people's names on the pages, that is a smart idea. When I tried counting up the pages I kept losing track.

[knesi07]

i got confused too, that's why i tried to map out the names. it's ok. whatever people want to do. i just wanted to be sure the last person had enough room. if there are blanks at the end...so be it. they can either be cut off, or you can add your thoughts, what countries the moley traveled too...whatever.

[Loralou]

I used the first 2 pages and then the first 3 and a half for my own art....and when I counted forward, there was enough space for everyone, with a couple of pages left, as the fractions didn't work out perfectly. Otherwise it would end up being 3 5/8 or something ridiculous like that!

[Batraplume]

Ok, now I understand, thank you Loralou!
The few pages left will be a good opportunity to make a kind of conclusion when we get our books back or what Knesi says. I'll have to think about it but there's no hurry now