#17 The Stupendous Scibblers Moley Group (FULL) - First mail date July 1, 2012

[kristinized]

First Mail Date: July 1, 2012
Due Home: March 2013
Withdraw By: Not allowed after May 15
THIS GROUP IS FULL

Welcome group! This will be an 8-player, open medium swap. Everyone will be using a Japanese Album Pocket Moleskine (the kind that unfolds into one long page). They can be purchased here (http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Japanese-Album-Pocket/dp/8883701046/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246038170&sr=8-2) and here (http://www.moleskineus.com/japanesebook.html). They're typically 30 pages long, so each player will complete a 3 page spread in every book.

Group Members Agree to:

Be willing and able to participate for the length of the group and keep to the timeline. There are no withdraws allowed once the circle starts.
Be willing and able to complete three (3) 3x5 journal pages in the themes chosen by your fellow participants
Have the resources necessary to ship eight (8) journals internationally using First Class mail with mandatory tracking. Books should be wrapped in a plastic zip bag and sent in a padded/bubble envelope or flat rate box for protection.
Communicate each time you mail and receive a book, communication is a must so the group knows were all books are at all times.
Do your best work for all journals
Be respectful of all books and art, taking appropriate precautions to keep pages tidy and protected (including “fixing” media to prevent smudging, not spilling paste or paint onto other pages, allowing adequate drying time, and using wax paper between pages)
Provide real name, address, email and phone number to host for travel plan and in case there are any problems. Everyone is investing time and effort into these books and we want them all to return home safely and on time.


All members are:

Active AFA trading members (defined as: positive iTrader across 2 swaps in the last 3 months)
Have 3+ months in good standing (no neutrals or negative iTraders)
With iTrader ratings of 25+


Book Owner Responsibilities
Choose and explain your theme. Decide on the theme, color scheme, media allowed, and any special requests (i.e. no tip in pages or no vertical entries). This is your book so you lay down the rules! You may choose to have an open theme book if you please. Use the first 3-4 pages of the book to describe your theme, list the travel plan, and establish your theme. You may also decorate the cover if you wish.

Members and themes
1orange - Black'n White and Blue Abstract/Zentangles (http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1233343&postcount=49)
camcas - Through a microscope (http://atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1231298&postcount=23)
Els - Personal Geography (http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1229980&postcount=9)
jazzie - Messengers & Messages (http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1233484&postcount=51)
Jewels - Flights of Fancy (http://atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1231404&postcount=26)
Lovefroud - YOUR version of Edward Gorey (http://atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1230311&postcount=17)
zandradee - Sanctuary (http://atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1233572&postcount=55)
ScrapPea - Curiosities (http://atcsforall.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1244096&postcount=96)

[kristinized]

BOOK ROTATION:
Every artist will have a turn in every book

1. JAZZIE > COMPLETE!

2. SCRAPPEA > COMPLETE!

3. ELS > COMPLETE!

4. 1ORANGE> COMPLETE!

5. JEWELS > COMPLETE!

6. LOVEFROUD > COMPLETE!

7. ZANDRADEE > COMPLETE!

8. CAMCAS > COMPLETE!

Round 1 July: COMPLETE
Round 2 August: COMPLETE
Round 3 September: COMPLETE
Round 4 October: COMPLETE
Round 5 November: COMPLETE
BREAK - DECEMBER
Round 6 January: COMPLETE
Round 7 February: COMPLETE
Round 8 March: COMPLETE

[Jewels]

Cool. I'll send in my info.

[theweavershand]

we will be moving in the next week or so but not sure where yet. as soon as i have our new address ill let you know.

[Lovefroud]

HELLO Ladies! I am jotting down words as I think of them for names. I like adjectives such as:
stupendous
alluring
Add to the list so we can have a name that kicks ass!

[1orange]

I love 'stupendous', pretty cool!

[Jewels]

Stupendous is a good word.

[jazzie]

I like stupendous too because it's so close to stupid and this is going to be stupid-fun!

[Els]

My theme is Personal Geography. This is about YOUR geography, which can be anything from a single aspect of your life to the entire event up to now. Maybe it's your house or your neighborhood, or your day or month, maybe it's the joy and sorrow you've felt along the way. Make it happy, make it sad, make it colourful or black and white, but make it YOURS. Mixed media's fine, I don't mind tip-ins (sometimes they are the ONLY way to make a spread work out, and I use them regularly), you can add flip up/down pages, windows, doors, sleeves, whatever blows your dress up. If I shift my thinking about any of this or come up with more helpful information, I'll edit this post so you'll have all the salient data in one place.

[Lovefroud]

hahaha! Agreed Jazzie!
more:
Dynamic Doodlers or Drawers
Stupendous Scribblers?
Got moley?
Super sketchers
Cool Creators

[Lovefroud]

Els would a 7 year stretch in my twenties as a record store employee work?

[Lovefroud]

okay by "tip ins" do you mean making the piece on another sheet then fitting it in the book?

[Jewels]

Those are great, Lovefroud! I especially like Dynamic Doodlers. Makes us sound like SuperHeroes. LOL

[camcas]

G'day!to all my co-conspirators!
Can't wait to get started...a little bit of fiery art to speed me through our looming winter!
Not just sure of theme yet..thinking thinking thinking
Kristin...do you have all my details form the last moley?...there are no changes.

[camcas]

...andI am happy with any kind of arting your little hearts desire......

[kristinized]

Cool. I'll send in my info.
Got it, thank you!


we will be moving in the next week or so but not sure where yet. as soon as i have our new address ill let you know.
Sounds good Amy, and good luck with the move!


My theme is Personal Geography. This is about YOUR geography, which can be anything from a single aspect of your life to the entire event up to now. Maybe it's your house or your neighborhood, or your day or month, maybe it's the joy and sorrow you've felt along the way. Make it happy, make it sad, make it colourful or black and white, but make it YOURS. Mixed media's fine, I don't mind tip-ins (sometimes they are the ONLY way to make a spread work out, and I use them regularly), you can add flip up/down pages, windows, doors, sleeves, whatever blows your dress up. If I shift my thinking about any of this or come up with more helpful information, I'll edit this post so you'll have all the salient data in one place.
Very interesting, I can't wait to see the pages that come from this!


okay by "tip ins" do you mean making the piece on another sheet then fitting it in the book?
Yup! Sometimes people paint/whatever on watercolor or other paper and then glue it on top of their assigned pages.


G'day!to all my co-conspirators!
Can't wait to get started...a little bit of fiery art to speed me through our looming winter!
Not just sure of theme yet..thinking thinking thinking
Kristin...do you have all my details form the last moley?...there are no changes.
I believe I do, but let me double check.

[Lovefroud]

I have my notebook and my theme! YOUR version of Edward Gorey!
I have been collecting for over 25 years so I have many books and other things of his. A moley is just the logical next step.
References:http://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/ (http://http://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/) and http://www.goreyography.com/ (http://http://www.goreyography.com/)
many more on the interwebs!
Black,white, sepia, gray tones all his signature colors BUT if color is your thing - PLEASE USE IT! No restrictions - just go for it!!! Ask questions, i ain't going anywhere!

[1orange]

Very challenging for me to do Edward Gorey, but I look forward to this challenge!

[zandradee]

I am so excited for this. I've been wanting to moley for quite a while.

I am mulling over possible themes but will post soon.

I just want to be very clear, since this is my first moley swap. First we buy our books and do the first 3-4 pages with theme and mailing order and possibly cover. Kristenzed gives us the mailing order and we ship off as directed. In each journal we do a page in the requested theme and mail off to the next in time. Repeat until the circle is complete.

Is that right? Have I understood properly?

[Lovefroud]

YOUR VERSION 1orange, once you get started you'll be llike, meh, I got this!:)

[Jewels]

Sounds right Zandrazee. Although, I think Kristinized said 3 pages in each book.

[camcas]

Hey Kristin...are you swapping too?so we are nine?

[camcas]

...and I think my theme will be...THROUGH THE MICROSCOPE...a large view of small things,the detail you don't always see,the secret life of microbes and what they get up to when we are not watching them,what bacteria eat for breakfast......
Any medium,style ,colour that takes your fancy.
And...if all would like...I would be happy to make little moley pouches for each moley again when they come to me.....?

[1orange]

I love your idea camcas, very creative. I would love it if you made my moley a little pouch, that would be great.

[Jewels]

What a neat idea, Camcas. Lots of room for our imaginations.
A Moley pouch would bemuch appreciated and generous. Thank you.

[Jewels]

I think my Theme will be... FLIGHTS OF FANCY... Images of Things with Wings. Birds, butterflies, angels, fairies or animal fairies, dragons etc. Real or imaginary or even Zetti combinations. Wherever you'd like to take it. Done in an illustrated journal type style with lots of layers and textures. Mixed media and collage. Writing and journaling would be great. Flip ups and pockets, etc welcome.

[Lovefroud]

camcus love the pouch idea and your theme!
jewels - love wings of all kinds, pockets too yippee

[1orange]

Jewels, love your idea, I know exactly what I will be making and I can't wait to get started on yours.

[camcas]

Great themes so far!This is gonna be FUN!

[kristinized]

I am so excited for this. I've been wanting to moley for quite a while.

I am mulling over possible themes but will post soon.

I just want to be very clear, since this is my first moley swap. First we buy our books and do the first 3-4 pages with theme and mailing order and possibly cover. Kristenzed gives us the mailing order and we ship off as directed. In each journal we do a page in the requested theme and mail off to the next in time. Repeat until the circle is complete.

Is that right? Have I understood properly?

Yes, that's right although you'll do a 3 page spread in the requested theme for everyone's books.


Hey Kristin...are you swapping too?so we are nine?

I am just playing host this time, so I won't have a book.

[kristinized]

I have mailing info from camcase, zandradee, Lovefroud, and Jewels - if everyone else can PM me their details please? I will need your real name, mailing address, phone, and email. The phone and email are just for me per moley book rules, and the name and address is so everyone can mail books to you! :)

I've been updating the main post with everyone's themes, and linking to your comment explaining and going into detail. Hopefully that will make it easy for everyone to quickly jump to the post in case you need a reminder.

How are we doing with the group name? Any favorites?

[jazzie]

oh my stars kristin - you're doing all this work and you're not getting a book out of it?
is this that "minnesota nice" i keep hearing about??? :~]

[Jewels]

Are you sure you don't want to join in the fun. According to my page count with 3 pages each there's room for 9 artists. If we're only 8, should we be doing 4 pages?

[jazzie]

just spitballing here...

3.0 x 8 = 24 doesn't this mean the moley owner ends up doing nine pages in their own book?
3.5 x 8 = 28 gets us the closest to 30 and the owner does 2 additional pages at the end???
4.0 x 8 = 32 the moley only has 30 folds, but if the guests do 4 each, you'd be at 28, the owner would have two pages (+ the inside cover right?)

moley vets what works best?

[Jewels]

I count 33 pages (includes the inside cover and the back and front of the title page plus 30 folds) In the last Moley swap I was in there were 8 artists (including the Host) The Moley owner did 5 pages at the beginning and the rest did 4 each.

9 Artists would take a bit of adjustment but I'm sure we could manage. We could even tack on a couple pages to the end of the fold or something.

[Lovefroud]

I have no problem with any of it just make sure the outcome gets posted.:)

[Lovefroud]

Kristin, come on girl you gotta get a book out of all this!!! it's absurd not too, we moliers will have to come up with some sort of compensation for you. :)

[jazzie]

I count 33 pages (includes the inside cover and the back and front of the title page plus 30 folds) In the last Moley swap I was in there were 8 artists (including the Host) The Moley owner did 5 pages at the beginning and the rest did 4 each.



YIKES! 33 - wouldn't that be 12 pages done by the owner if the guests are each doing only 3 pages? That's my least favorite choice - that's more than 1/3 of the book done by me. I want more of everyone else's artwork.

I have no problem doing more than 3 and kind of like the idea of me starting it with a few and also ending with a few of my pages to show it's gone full circle.

[camcas]

Kristin....GET A BOOK. GET A BOOK. GET A BOOK!!!!!!
You MUST GET A BOOK........puhleeeeeeeese!
I have a spare Jap moley I could send ya!

[Jewels]

LOL Well, if we can talk Kristin into playing, that'd would get it down to 9 pages for the owner. We could do 5 at the beginning and 4 at the end. That might be do-able.

[kristinized]

Having a smaller group does influence the pages done per person, or left blank to fill in yourself or through 1:1 trades. If the group wanted to divide the pages equally, 30 divided by 8 players is 3.75 pages. Everyone could do a 4 page spread, or a couple could opt for just 3 since there's not quite enough pages for everyone to do 4. Or everyone could still do 3, but the book owner would have more freedom to decorate and establish the theme at the beginning of the book, and then a couple pages to wrap it up at the end.

I do have some sad news, theweavershand will not be joining us for this round. There is one person who pm'd me saying she was interested in joining, though I wasn't sure if you all wanted to keep the group small or what. It sounds like finding a replacement is preferable?

[Els]

I've already done four pages at the front, but if another player joins, the last person in the rotation could always add a page that flips up or down. Someone did that very thing in my last moley, adding both up and down pages that folded out and allowed him more vertical "real estate" - with the theme - Elemental Dragons - using the vertical space meant a duel of dragons which is TOO COOL.

[Els]

The way the front pages have worked in all my moleys is thusly, and please correct me if any of this is NOT a part of your vision, Kristin:
The Inside front cover and the next page are for owner info, the book's route plan, and any introductory/instructional info on the book's theme.
The next three pages are the owner's spread on their own theme.

Thinking that I had fewer players, I did four pages for a spread, which is why I suggested the fold out plan in my previous note here.

[kristinized]

The way the front pages have worked in all my moleys is thusly, and please correct me if any of this is NOT a part of your vision, Kristin:
The Inside front cover and the next page are for owner info, the book's route plan, and any introductory/instructional info on the book's theme.
The next three pages are the owner's spread on their own theme.

Thinking that I had fewer players, I did four pages for a spread, which is why I suggested the fold out plan in my previous note here.

That sounds right Els, the first 2 pages of the book (the ones that aren't the fold out pages) are usually for the player list and theme description. But of course the layout is ultimately up to the owner's whimsy.

[jazzie]

anybody bidding on this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moleskine-Small-Japanese-Photo-Album-Sketchbook-Zigzag-/380436574880?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5893c972a0
I don't want to raise the price if it's one of us.

[Jewels]

Oh what a cutie! but no I've already got a blank Moley I'll be using.

[Lovefroud]

I have mine already too. So since this is my first moley, I will be using the above few notes to start my moley and if this changes please not it. Thank you Els and Kristin for your experience in this.
no weavershand = :sad: but I am sure we will have cherish-able books anyway!

[kristinized]

Keep in mind everyone that there is a withdraw date of 05/15 - you might not want to finalize your player list in your book until that date has past in case anyone drops out.

I'm also going to invite ScrapPea to replace theweavershand's spot since she was interesting in joining.

[1orange]

Black'n White and Blue Abstract/Zentangles.

That is going to be my theme, pretty simple really but I like it.

[Jewels]

Whoa, I can picture a 6 foot long zentangle. That's going to be an amazing book when it's done.

[jazzie]

THEME: I've decided on MESSENGERS & MESSAGES as my theme. The inspiration for my theme comes from the 2000 film version of Hamlet where the Messenger character was replaced by a fax machine! I love creative interpretation of the ordinary. So people can be messengers, anything can be messenger...

Think posties, pigeons, angels, newsies, telegraph, typewriters, pony express, gossips, billboards, tv, taggers, etc.
~anything that delivers a message and the messages they might be conveying... [warnings, advice, bold, funny, poignant, hidden messages, quotes, etc. - lots of possibilities]



MEDIUM: any

STYLE: any

DOs: OVERLAPPING - I need it!!! It doesn't have to be a lot - I want a little bit of you spilling over to the next panel so there is some flow, some connection to each other - I really don't like abrupt endings, because they're so, well, brusque! There are great examples on the May 2nd & April 3rd posts here http://moleskinex81.blogspot.com/

tip-ins, doors, windows, pockets, etc. that's all ok;

DON'Ts: no verticals please - I don't mind if a portion is less than horizontal, but I really don't want to have to turn the wholey moley on its end to see your spread, so horizontal flows will make my toes curl, after my socks have been knocked off :~]

Still stumped? Think storks, singing telegrams, Burma Shave signs, bottles, town criers, license plates, fortune cookies, tea leaves, skywriters, I have more ideas if none of these conjure up anything.

will add/edit here if anything else comes to mind

[1orange]

Those moley's are amazing!!

[kristinized]

Got your themes down 1orange and jazzie, sounds like fun!

[zandradee]

Got my lovely new blank moley from Amazon.co.uk today! Excited! :jiggy:

[zandradee]

oh, I think I've got my theme: Sanctuary.

And any way you chose to interpret or portray it is good for me. Quasimodo, Logan's Run, or a tired woman having a bath... anything you feel fits.

MEDIUM: any

STYLE: any

DOs: tip-ins, doors, windows, pockets, etc. that's all ok;

DON'Ts: no verticals please (as per jazzie's note)

[Lovefroud]

Love the moley themes guys!
Jazzie that messager theme is timed perfectly! I just acquired a vintage typewriter from a flea market and it has been kept in beautiful working order, ribbon and all! It has a lovely metal suitcase with barely a scratch on it too!
1orange I had an immediate vision when I read the word "Sanctuary", meaningful word.
I am going to make some notes today and start inching toward my moley in a serious manner. :)

[kristinized]

oh, I think I've got my theme: Sanctuary.

And any way you chose to interpret or portray it is good for me. Quasimodo, Logan's Run, or a tired woman having a bath... anything you feel fits.

MEDIUM: any

STYLE: any

DOs: tip-ins, doors, windows, pockets, etc. that's all ok;

DON'Ts: no verticals please (as per jazzie's note)

Got it zrandradee!

I'll be working on the rotation list this weekend and posting it soon!

[Els]

Everyone's themes are wonderful and evocative. I look forward to working on this set of books.

[camcas]

Kristin...are you in????.
Please say YES!

[Lovefroud]

are we going to have to BEG?? I mean really????
PLEASE, PLEASE come play moley with us.

[ScrapPea]

Hi everyone. Just quickly letting everyone know I'm here and excited to art along with all of you. I know I'm a tad late to the party, so I'll read all previous posts and post my theme real real soon.

[Jewels]

No rush. The send off date is a ways away.

[Lovefroud]

Hi there ScrapePea! Nice to have you along!

[kristinized]

Hi everyone. Just quickly letting everyone know I'm here and excited to art along with all of you. I know I'm a tad late to the party, so I'll read all previous posts and post my theme real real soon.

Welcome ScrapPea! You have time to decide, but post whenever you finalize a theme. Glad you could join us!




Kristin...are you in????.
Please say YES!
Aww thank you, but I am just going to play host this time! :)

[ScrapPea]

Hi I am down to two moley themes. It's late here now, so I'll be back tomorrow with my theme.

[kristinized]

Take your time ScrapPea!

Any final thoughts on the group name? Stupendous Scibblers? Or something else?

[1orange]

That is a good name, I'm happy with that.

[Jewels]

I like it too.

[Lovefroud]

stupendous dahling!

[Lovefroud]

I have a initial sketch done of my entry pages just keep second geussing myself! I hate that!!:laugh:

[Jewels]

I've been putting it off. Maybe this coming week. Do we have the mailing order yet?

[ScrapPea]

Hi everyone. I had this great theme, even drafted the description in my head and then another great idea popped in. I am way overthinking this, so my first idea will be it.

I love stupendous! Stupendous sketchers? Stylers? Scrivenery? (I looked that one up; means handwriting.) Squigglers? Stupendous madness? Stupendous tremendous?

However, I am thoroughly bummed. Opened my moley last week, fresh out of the plastic, and the right front cover corner is shredded. The black coating has been rubbed off. I was planning to decorate my cover anyway, but now I have to. I'm not sure if I wanted to collage or paint it, so my default would be something like mod podge or glossy accents. Any suggestions of how to handle this?

[Lovefroud]

sorry to hear of your moley problems but you could paint it and just go with an urban look then seal it well maybe, depends on how bad I geuss.

[Jewels]

I collaged papers on my last Moley cover using Matt Medium. That seemed to work. Maybe you could cover the damage that way.

[zandradee]

If you look in your back pocket (that is, the back pocket of the moley), there should be a little booklet. There should also be a little pink sticker with a number. Inside the booklet, on the first page in a grey box, is Moleskin's guarantee and directions on how to sort their mistakes.

So if you want to take the time (which I think there is), you could get it swapped for a new one. These things aren't cheap for a reason. It's their duty to sort it.

On the other hand, urban is cool, too.

[kristinized]

Did I miss what your theme was?

If you don't want to return it, what about de-stressing the whole cover and then painting?


Hi everyone. I had this great theme, even drafted the description in my head and then another great idea popped in. I am way overthinking this, so my first idea will be it.

I love stupendous! Stupendous sketchers? Stylers? Scrivenery? (I looked that one up; means handwriting.) Squigglers? Stupendous madness? Stupendous tremendous?

However, I am thoroughly bummed. Opened my moley last week, fresh out of the plastic, and the right front cover corner is shredded. The black coating has been rubbed off. I was planning to decorate my cover anyway, but now I have to. I'm not sure if I wanted to collage or paint it, so my default would be something like mod podge or glossy accents. Any suggestions of how to handle this?

[kristinized]

I added the tentative player rotation to the second post, I say tentative because I want to go over it one more time to make sure it's balanced.

[1orange]

It looks balanced to me, very well done, I think it would take me ages to figure out a travel plan, mind you I would cheat and copy some-one else's.

[Jewels]

Okay. I'm confused already. Is that the flight path of each person's Moley or is it who we send a Moley to each month?

[Jewels]

Oh, did we ever decide how many pages we're supposed to do at the beginning of our own Moley? I was thinking of starting mine and realized I didn't know.

[kristinized]

I'll add instructions to the post, but that is the flight plan of each book. Once it goes through the rotation it ends up back home of the maker.

And I see our title has been changed! :jiggy:

[kristinized]

Oh, did we ever decide how many pages we're supposed to do at the beginning of our own Moley? I was thinking of starting mine and realized I didn't know.

Do what you feel like. If you do 3 pages you will have a couple of blank pages at the end of the book to do a wrap up spread.

[jazzie]

I added the tentative player rotation to the second post, I say tentative because I want to go over it one more time to make sure it's balanced.


I'll add instructions to the post, but that is the flight plan of each book. Once it goes through the rotation it ends up back home of the maker.



My wallet sees a problem - if I'm reading the lists correctly, it has me making six international mailings. I thought that the rotations would have us mailing to each person once.

I think this link is set up so that no one has the burden of mailing to the same person more than once http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17159

[Lovefroud]

I am not seeing any problems with the flight plans but this is my first.
yeah for Stupendous scribblers!

[1orange]

Oh I see the problem now, Is that the flight plan that the books are going or what?
If I send my book to ScrapPea, then she's sending it back to me, that is how I am reading it.
Some one correct me if I wrong. Or is the list telling us who will have it next, very confused?

[1orange]

Ok now I'm reading it a different way, so when I get ScrapPea's book I then pass it onto Els. Is that right?

[kristinized]

My wallet sees a problem - if I'm reading the lists correctly, it has me making five international mailings. I thought that the rotations would have us mailing to each person once.

I think this link is set up so that no one has the burden of mailing to the same person more than once http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17159

That doesn't work for 8 players, but I will work on the rotation.


Ok now I'm reading it a different way, so when I get ScrapPea's book I then pass it onto Els. Is that right?

That's correct!

[jazzie]

I know it's hard - I've been working on it for hours on excel. I almost have it. Too bad there's not an app for figuring it out - maybe there is? It would be like a round robin tournament where every team plays against every other team in the tourney.

[1orange]

Thanks, yep I got it now, I do appreciate your long hard hours of work!

[Jewels]

This link is for a rotation order someone worked out for 10 people. Have you checked this out. I don't know if it helps.
http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17159

[Els]

Ummm..1orange and I do not appear to be shown on the routing plan. And Jewels appears to be there twice.

[jazzie]

Does anyone have a math geek in their lives? There has to be a way to do this. I'm not endowed w/ the math gene, but I do like solving puzzling problems.
I tried doing this like a crossword puzzle using numbers 1-8 and got every moley to every destination once (across), without two moleys ending up in one location at the same time (down), but have spotted a few repetitons in mailing order, so it needs some tweeking.
[The repeat orders are the squared #'s - the final trip is circled on my notepad, but left off of my "drawing board"]

1- 1orange
2- camcas
3- Els
4- jazzie
5- Jewels
6- Lovefroud
7- zandradee
8- ScrapPea

[Jewels]

So to figure out where to mail next, you look across the line of the Moley's owner, find your own name, the next one over should be who you mail to? Is that right?

[jazzie]

yep - I know it's kind of hard to see because I used chalk inks
same set up as Kristen's - the 1st down list is each moley's owner and each row across [l --> r] is the monthly mailing order ending back w/ the moley owner

[Els]

I am completely overwhelmed right now, and just don't have the additional bandwidth to figure all this out. If someone could simply tell me the order of the people I need to send the books to, starting with mine, it would be very much appreciated. I'm moving, I'm running a workshop, I'm hosting people from out of town and out of the country, finding a job, and and and...just shoot me.

[ScrapPea]

THEME: CURIOSITIES

I've been playing around with Tim Holtz (http://timholtz.com/) products lately, and the title of his book, A Compendium of Curiosities, just stuck in my mind. I want to create my own Moley of Curiosities. There's a lot in life I am curious about; what about you? Are you curious about a new art technique?--Experiment here. Do you have aspects or questions of Life that make you pause and wonder?--Tell me about it. What do you think when you hear the word "curious?" Have a favorite quote? Something that makes you pause and think "hmmmm...?" Tongue in cheek (humorous "curiosity killed the cat"). Inspirational. A particular city or part of the world. Food. Why you like what you like (or not). Musings. How something is made. These are things I think of; I have no doubt your ideas will be more varied and creative. I'm curious to see what you come up with!

MEDIUM: any--paint, collage, just open up and play!

STYLE:
any--but let's keep it upbeat. The inspiration for this theme is Tim Holtz, so styles of his art, products (http://www.timholtz.com/gallery.html) and techniques are welcome but not required.

DOs:
Vertical layouts are fine if that's what conveys your message, but I'd prefer horizontal.
Overlapping pages is optional.
This is my first moley, so I am ambivalent regarding tip-in pages. Feel free to do it.
Windows, pockets, fold-outs, interactive and hidden elements = Yes!
Journaling on the page = I love it!

DON'Ts:
Nothing overly religious, politcal, dark or gory. No clowns. You can certainly be odd, mysterious, intriguing, brooding, even moody, just keep it to the happier side of the spectrum.

EDIT on 7/29: I would ADORE a 4-page spread, and will do the same for you, but do NOT feel obligated to do so...even if I've done a 4-page for you. No stress here!

[ScrapPea]

Wow, Jazzie, you are someone with too much time on your hands. :) Can the second post be updated to reflect the mailing order with names?

BTW, is Kristin getting a moley out of this, too???

And Kristin, would you please change the 1st post to my correct screenname "ScrapPea"?? The "r" was inadvertently left out.

[jazzie]

No, I have the same amount of time as everyone else does, I've just set other things aside to try to help figure this out.

The easy way would be to have everyone on the same rotation - mailing to the same person every time but I know from reading through the other moley threads, the two main reasons you don't want that kind of rotation is
1) when there are international mailings at least one person would be stuck with a larger financial burden, and
2) if you're the person stuck after a person that is always late in mailing, you're given less time to create your pages

[Jewels]

Unfortunately our two International members are going to be stuck with a larger bill no matter what the order is.

[kristinized]

Got your address change Els, and I've got a new rotation but will post that later tonight. Please do not overwhelm yourself by trying to figure one out. Thank you, but it's not necessary. Like Jewels said, international members are going to be mailing outside their country every single time (:(). And with 3 players outside the US, everyone in the group will be sending internationally.

[kristinized]

Here's the book rotation, I tried to keep it equal but there are a few quirks. All US players are mailing internationally equally, except for Els. On the last round feel free to send camcas' book to me Els, and I'll send it home. Jazzie, you have all 3 international mailings one right after another in the beginning, but then are US for the rest of the swap - let me know if that will be a problem. 1orange, camcas, and zandradee - sorry but you are internationally every month, though I tried to pair up camcas and 1orange as much as possible hoping that postage between Australia and New Zealand was cheaper & faster.

BOOK ROTATION:
Every artist will have a turn in every book

1. JAZZIE sends her book to CAMCAS sends to LOVEFROUD sends to ELS sends to ZANDRADEE sends to SCRAPPEA sends to 1ORANGE sends to JEWELS sends home to JAZZIE

2. SCRAPPEA sends her book to JAZZIE sends to ZANDRADEE sends to 1ORANGE sends to CAMCAS sends to ELS sends to JEWELS sends to LOVEFROUD sends home to SCRAPPEA

3. ELS sends her book to SCRAPPEA sends to CAMCAS sends to JEWELS sends to JAZZIE sends to 1ORANGE sends to LOVEFROUD sends to ZANDRADEE sends home to ELS

4. 1ORANGE sends her book to ELS send on to JAZZIE sends to LOVEFROUD sends to SCRAPPEA sends to JEWELS sends to ZANDRADEE sends to CAMCAS sends home to 1ORANGE

5. JEWELS sends her book to 1ORANGE sends to SCRAPPEA sends to ZANDRADEE sends to ELS sends to LOVEFROUD sends to CAMCAS sends to JAZZIE sends home to JEWELS

6. LOVEFROUD sends her book to JEWELS sends to ELS sends to CAMCAS sends to 1ORANGE sends to ZANDRADEE sends to JAZZIE sends to SCRAPPEA sends home to LOVEFROUD

7. ZANDRADEE sends her book to LOVEFROUD sends to 1ORANGE sends to JAZZIE sends to JEWELS sends to CAMCAS sends to SCRAPPEA sends to ELS sends to ZANDRADEE

8. CAMCAS sends her book to ZANDRADEE sends to JEWELS sends to SCRAPPEA sends to LOVEFROUD sends to JAZZIE sends to ELS sends to 1ORANGE sends home to CAMCAS

July: (will update every month so you know who to send to)

Jazzie will send her book to Camcas & receive from ScrapPea
ScrapPea will send her book to Jazzie & receive from Els
Els will send her book to ScrapPea & receive from 1Orange
1Orange will send her book to Els & receive from Jewels
Jewels will send her book to 1Orange & receive from LoveFroud
LoveFroud will send her book to Jewels & receive from Zandradee
Zandradee will send her book to LoveFroud & receive from Camcas
Camcas will send her book to Zandradee & receive from Jazzie


Also, is anyone else not getting email notifications? I'm not getting any for this swap and I should get notified every time there's a post. Weird.

[1orange]

I don't mind mailing internationally every time it comes with being part of this website, I knew exactly what I was signing up for. So don't need to worry about me way over here.
Thanks for working on this so hard.

[kristinized]

now that time I got a notification! lol! Thanks Alicia, it will be nice once we get all this admin stuff out of the way and the swapping starts. This stuff is important, but boring.


Anyone going to the art meet up in Portland next month? I had hoped too, but my mom's house needed a new roof instead.

[camcas]

I agree with 1orange...happy to have a fab moley and postage is just part of that!

[Jewels]

Lurk away.

[kristinized]

Of course you're welcome SilverSeam!

I've been looking online for fun stuff to share, and found this site: Moleskine Artist Marketplace (http://artistmarketplace.moleskine.com/en). Artists decorate journal covers and sell them, you can buy or sell. It sounds cool!

[kristinized]

Look at this fabulous moleskine cover!
http://scrap-love.blogspot.com/2011/01/cover-for-moleskine-art-journal.html

If this is your first molekine journey, a lot of players decorate their covers in various ways (paint, de-stress, collage, etc). I think it's not as important as the art done INSIDE the book, but is a fun way to make your book YOU.

[1orange]

The market place site is pretty cool, I think I might have to join up!

[jazzie]

Has anyone tried or heard of using ink & embossing powder on a moley cover? I want to but not sure if the heat gun will hurt the cover???

[Els]

Jazzie, I recently created a cover that required multiple, lengthy applications of the heat gun, so I can't imagine you'll have any trouble. Go for it! Here's a pic of the one I did...four heavily heated layers for a Beautiful Decay theme.

[Jewels]

Beautiful cover Els! What all did you use?

[jazzie]

Thanks Els - do tell us what you did.

I'm going for a black on black thing - kind of hidden message to go with my moley theme.

[Lovefroud]

ooo Els that is AH-mazing!!!

[kristinized]

Love it Els!

I tried googling the subject, but didn't have much luck finding others who have embossed their covers with heat guns - obviously it works!

You can also test out your ideas on the back cover, if it doesn't work it should be fairly easy to cover up.

[Els]

I sat here, trying to remember the brands of all the products I used, as well as the order in which they were used and my process for getting some of the colour, but with the exception of Kroma Crackle (http://www.kromacrackle.com/about/Create-unique--organic-textures-with-Kroma-Crackle) - which I use in an enTIREly different way than as shown on their website, I am drawing a blank on what the patination products are called. I know I laid a base coat of black gesso, then applied the rusting stuff, and then the verdigris stuff, and then the kroma crackle (maybe...I think there was another step in there somewhere), but I can't summon the product names right now. All my art supplies, except for what's going with me to Portland this week, are packed and in storage, awaiting the move to another town - ALSO this week and next. I am living in moving hell at the moment.

Jazzie - there are some KILLER dark-but-wickedly-sparkly embossing powders on the market. I have a couple that catch light and reflect it stunningly well, without actually showing much colour. I love playing with all that stuff....kinda like glitter but without the mess!

[camcas]

I think those moley covers are really tough.....and they look great painted and distressed like yours ELS

[Lovefroud]

on the subject I found some links using 2 colors and glue to create a crackled look that seemed very simple. I may play with it a bit to get some ideas for my cover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gGJzfG1vxg
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gGJzfG1vxg)

[camcas]

Hmmmmmmm Els....soooo ....dark and glittery ,eh?.....its giving me some ideas for your moley pouch ....Hmmmmmmmmm.......................

[kristinized]

Two weeks to go until the first mail date -- WHO IS EXCITED!!!


I'll send out a PM tomorrow with the address list. WE'RE GETTING CLOSER!

[1orange]

ME...ME...ME....I'm Excited, can't wait.

[zandradee]

Hooooray! me neither!

quick question - July 1st is the mail date -- is that the date we mail out or the date we aim to have things arrive? for us far-flung types, it'll make a difference, won't it?

[Jewels]

Me too!
Just wondered, in the last Moley swap I was in, we put a card or something else that's small and personal in the back pocket of each book as we did them. At the end we all had something from each artist. Any thoughts?

[Lovefroud]

like that idea jewels! I am thinking I can mail out around the 28th is that okay madame host?

[kristinized]

Hooooray! me neither!

quick question - July 1st is the mail date -- is that the date we mail out or the date we aim to have things arrive? for us far-flung types, it'll make a difference, won't it?


like that idea jewels! I am thinking I can mail out around the 28th is that okay madame host?

That is the date to mail, but if your partner is ok with it you can certainly mail early (especially if you're mailing internationally.) I'd like to avoid mailing books way early and causing some people to have more than 1 book to work on at a time, but a couple days ahead of the schedule shouldn't hurt.


Me too!
Just wondered, in the last Moley swap I was in, we put a card or something else that's small and personal in the back pocket of each book as we did them. At the end we all had something from each artist. Any thoughts?

It's not mandatory, but go for it if you'd like! :)

[kristinized]

Oh, and the list of addresses just went out so check your private messages. Check yours for any errors, and let me know if anything needs to be changed or updated.

[Lovefroud]

my addy is correct! thanks Kristinized!

[1orange]

My addy is all good too.

[Jewels]

Mine's good.

[jazzie]

Bueno

[zandradee]

perfecto-mundo.

love idea of little prizes in the pocket!

[zandradee]

ooo! idea only - no promises - but I just had so much fun making Gallifrean jewellery over at the Timey Wimey craft swap -- well... just please let me know if you have pierced ears and/or what your wrist measurement is or whether you just hate jewellery or what...? :cool:

[Jewels]

Oooo... Really? I love dangly earrings.

[Els]

Okay, this was probably already answered, but I just need one more bit of clarification. I was just going through my book, marking down the routing, and find I have six pages left after doing four of my own and then allowing for each player to do three. Is that correct, or have I missed something?

IMPORTANT: Please do NOT mail to me before the 1st, as the post office doesn't have me switched over to the new address that will be used (503 Hillcrest Drive) until the 30th of June!

[kristinized]

Okay, this was probably already answered, but I just need one more bit of clarification. I was just going through my book, marking down the routing, and find I have six pages left after doing four of my own and then allowing for each player to do three. Is that correct, or have I missed something?

If you've accounted for everyone that must be right. You could allow people to do more than 3 pages if they feel inspired, or save those extra pages to do another spread to wrap up the book when you get it back.

[camcas]

My addy is fine!

[jazzie]

Okay, this was probably already answered, but I just need one more bit of clarification. I was just going through my book, marking down the routing, and find I have six pages left after doing four of my own and then allowing for each player to do three. Is that correct, or have I missed something?


Els ~ we started discussing it around post #33 but didn't really resolve doing more than 3 in each rotation. I was/am still less than thrilled with doing so many pages in my own moley when I have the opportunity to have more of everyone elses art in there.

I will gladly do an additional page in anyone's moley if you want to do an extra in mine. Email me if you want to set that up before the mailings begin and I'll "pencil you in"... [I haven't committed anything to my moley yet - just rough sketches on tracing paper to see if I like the placement of things so I have room in mine for more yours if anybody's willing???]

[ScrapPea]

Yep, my address is good!

I agree with Jazzie: I'm all for other artists to create in my moley. Or sign it. Or write a note. When my moley returns home, it will be complete and I will be done with it. I'd love to not have any empty pages.

Jazzie, put me down for an extra page for you. Uh...and remind me of that. :)

[ScrapPea]

PS--Camcas, if I didn't comment already, I would be thrilled to receive a Moley pouch from you!!!

[zandradee]

me too, re: pouch. :)

[Lovefroud]

oo wow let me catch up.
- love med. length dangles on my ears
- love the pouch idea, can't make any promises to send but if it strikes me, I will.
- I have no preference of pages, can I "wing it in the sense that if my spread in your book looks like it could spread to another page we can discuss it then??
getting excited down here as it is hot as holey hell these days and I will be staying in the ac and moley-ing it up!!:cool:

[kristinized]

Camcas makes beautiful pouches! I'm the lucky owner of one from the last moley exchange we were both in.

[Jewels]

I wouldn't mind doing 4 or having that many done for me as well. Guess we just talk to the Moley's owner as they come up, eh?

[Lovefroud]

getting close to mailing time ya'll! I am ready!!

[zandradee]

well, I mailed mine off today! Lovefroud, batten down the hatches! :cute:

[Jewels]

Here are some picts of mine. I'll be running it over to the PO sometime today to get it mailed to 1Orange. Drat! They closed at noon today. It'll have to go out on Monday.

[jazzie]

Are we the Scibblers or Scribblers?

[camcas]

Hi all
No pics from me I,m afraid
I hav been sick for 2 weeks
Spent a night in hospital having lots of tests and there is officially nothing wrong with me. Had a ct scan and I do have a brain which is reassuring!
Long story short I did the cover of my moley which has peeled partly off and will need to be
redone.have not finished my first 3 pages cos I kept thinking I would feel better which I haven't. Sooo am thinking that I will mail my peeling unfinished disaster to thenext person tomorrow anyway...and if it's not too scary this condition ie you aren't worried that I will send you all peeling unfinished disasters then it will keep the rotation intact and hopefully (!!!) I willbe back inform
Sorry everyone. I hope I haven't let you all down.. I see some of the fabulous stuff posted here already and feel a bit hopeless. Sorry

[kristinized]

well, I mailed mine off today! Lovefroud, batten down the hatches! :cute:
thanks for the update!


Here are some picts of mine. I'll be running it over to the PO sometime today to get it mailed to 1Orange. Drat! They closed at noon today. It'll have to go out on Monday.
your cover turned out beautifully!


Are we the Scibblers or Scribblers?
Appears to be Scibblers.


Hi all
No pics from me I,m afraid
I hav been sick for 2 weeks
Spent a night in hospital having lots of tests and there is officially nothing wrong with me. Had a ct scan and I do have a brain which is reassuring!
Long story short I did the cover of my moley which has peeled partly off and will need to be
redone.have not finished my first 3 pages cos I kept thinking I would feel better which I haven't. Sooo am thinking that I will mail my peeling unfinished disaster to thenext person tomorrow anyway...and if it's not too scary this condition ie you aren't worried that I will send you all peeling unfinished disasters then it will keep the rotation intact and hopefully (!!!) I willbe back inform
Sorry everyone. I hope I haven't let you all down.. I see some of the fabulous stuff posted here already and feel a bit hopeless. Sorry
aww, I'm sorry that you haven't been feeling well. Hopefully you are back to normal soon.

[Jewels]

So sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well Camcas. We'll cope with the 'Peeling Cover Moley'. Never fear.

[ScrapPea]

Oooooh, I'm getting excited!! Mine will be mailed tomorrow (Monday).

@Jewels - awesome book! Love those layouts and cover.

@camcas - no worries about the cover here. Take care of yourself.

[Jewels]

LoveFroud's Moley arrived today safe and sound.

And I mailed 1Orange my package. They said at least week for delivery so let's hope that's true.

[1orange]

That's really quick I hope that's true too.

[camcas]

Small update
First day out of bed today
Doc thinks I may have a mozzie fever. Ross river or similar may be sick 4 weeks!!!!
Have not been up to going to post office...hubby leaves too early and gets back too late
My moley will likely be mailed later in week
So sorry to mess you all bout ... will try to pay extra and send express
I am so sorry...I feel really upset about this and don't want to mess you all about. I will keep you all informed. If I am running late I will send tip ins in the pouches I make to each person to keep the rotation on time. Is that ok with all and with you Kristin.
Feel so crappy not sure if that's a good solution?
So sorry

[camcas]

Good news
Went to doc again ,new meds
Feeling better
Made a pouch for my uuuuugly peeling cover which I now plan to cover with impasto gel and Fabric when it returns
Can mail tomorrow now if I still feel like this

[camcas]

Ps re pouches.....
I usually make to fit the theme as I see it or take inspiration and colours from the owners pages
Am also happy to make to order if you have certain colours etc you like
I use felt and make a simple drawstring pouch embellished with free motion stitching and some kind of beads or dangly bits
Will post a pic of mine if I feel up to it or you will see when you get mine. I make a pouch as it leaves me so by the end everyone s moley has a nice warm protected home!

[zandradee]

So you have a bug from a bug - and your theme is "through the microscope"?

Coincidence??

(feel better every day!)

[zandradee]

Here's the cover and prelim stuff in mine:

[zandradee]

and the spread itself isn't uploading now but I'll try later....

[zandradee]

here:

[camcas]

ooooooo....mermaid in a bottle ...me likey....fabby colours!!!!!!

[camcas]

here is mine sans the horrendous peeling cover !!!!

[camcas]

i started with a 4 page spread and am just as happy for anyone to use any colours,any media and any type of art that makes them happy ...no stress
just a quick FYI...my last moley had a page stick together and I have a 1/2 page torn and missing, so please put silicon bake paper between sheets before you mail if you are heavy with gel like me!!

[camcas]

oh and jewels ... I love your fairy spread!!!!

[camcas]

ELS...just so you know,soon after i joined i was feeling overawed by the talent here and you sent me a very kind message with a quote by Norman Rockwell which I have kept since 2009 and look at when i feel inadequate....:wubclub:

[camcas]

no guesses whose new meds cause wakefulness...........

[Jewels]

Lovely spreads there Camcas. I don't think you have anything to worry about with regards to your Art. It's wonderful! Hope you feel better soon.

Zandradee, very cool bottled Mermaid.

[jazzie]

cam ~ glad to hear you're feeling a little better!
Should I still mail mine to you? I'm running a few days behind which gives you a few more days for resting. Everything is taking much longer than I thought it would to execute, but I won't be dealing with covers or end pages for everyone else, so future mailings will be on time.

Thanks for bringing up protection, it's the one thing I keep reading about in other moley threads - put something like wax paper, vellum, or tracing paper between your work so it doesn't stick to itself when folded!

[kristinized]

Good news
Went to doc again ,new meds
Feeling better
Made a pouch for my uuuuugly peeling cover which I now plan to cover with impasto gel and Fabric when it returns
Can mail tomorrow now if I still feel like this

here is mine sans the horrendous peeling cover !!!!
Glad you're feeling a little bit better. You could always mail your book, and then make any changes to the cover/pages when you get it home too.


Here's the cover and prelim stuff in mine:

here:
looks great!

[kristinized]

Thanks for bringing up protection, it's the one thing I keep reading about in other moley threads - put something like wax paper, vellum, or tracing paper between your work so it doesn't stick to itself when folded!

Yup :yes: very important. Everyone please keep these instructions in mind when filling pages and mailing books:



Use appropriate media - some books specify the media to use (hand drawn, mixed media, etc) & others are artist's choice
Keep it tidy - take precautions not to drawn, paint, or spill glue on pages outside your allotted space. It can be difficult for the person who comes after you to work over that or cover it up.
Allow plenty of time for your pages to dry - don't rush this. You may want to avoid modge podge or other sticky substances because it would be sad to have your work ruined because pages stuck together and got ripped. Remember, these books are traveling around the world and different climates.
Page protection - use wax paper between pages if you used anything that might get sticky. I don't know how tracing paper would work, but have seen that tissue paper doesn't (it will just stick to the page it's protecting.)
Book protection - it's a good idea to put the books in a plastic zip bag in case the package gets wet en route. Wrap it in tissue paper or something before putting it in the bubble envie or box.


Anything else?

[Els]

My book went postal yesterday...on its way to Scrapea!

[Els]

What a lovely thing to say, Camcas! Your art has long been some of my favourite here, and I was so happy to see you were playing in this rotation! I'll bet that quote was about how Norman Rockwell always wished he could break through and paint more freely. It helps me to know that someone as revered and precise as Mr. Rockwell felt he couldn't freely express his artistic soul, too. I suspect very few artists feel they truly manage to release that which moves us. I get SO bored with my own work, and then I look at someone else's and think "why can't I do that style?" Most of the time I just shrug and keep on keepin' on. Not much choice, really. I have this theory (oh, I have theories about almost everything...this brain just refuses to stop spinning) about why we see one artist's work as better than another's. If I know I can create a piece that I see, I tend to discount it, but if I know the technique or style is not within my repertoire, I somehow see it as better. Just a theory, but it fits my experience. I won't buy food at a restaurant that I can make easily at home, either. :-)

[camcas]

I know exactly what you mean about the restaurant food,I am the same,
And ditto,I was really pleased to see you in this swap too!
Jazzie,
I am ready whenever,so no probs with later mailing.you take your time and do not stress. Good things are worth waiting for.
In this swap the prize is the fabby book we get at the end,not how we get there!

[camcas]

And....if you enjoy making the spread,the enjoyment shows in the finished product....and that is part of your gift to the recipient,don't you think?

[camcas]

Postal to you today zandradee

[jazzie]

camcas ~ I'll probably be able to mail tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure you were up to it.

Are we not doing Priority Mail & Confirmation #s? I haven't seen any mention of it here and thought we were supposed to be doing that.

Elsworth ~ no pics?

[Jewels]

I just did confirmation.

[Lovefroud]

Everyone's work is so beautiful I am just so proud to be part of this. I am on vacation in Florida and mailed out just before leaving.
*****My cover did not get done in time, so if anyone wants to add to it I will finish it when it is returned! Slap something on there, go ahead and slap something on there, go'head!

[camcas]

Ready and waiting for moleys!!!!!!!
We don't have a confirmation thing here in oz buthavehad lost mail before and was able to locatefromthis end using my receipt so have kept that
difference in cost here is $12 airmail and$35 priority which does not nec guarantee earlier arrival.i could not afford 35 for every us mailing so use regular airmail and can arrive anywhere form7-20 days

[camcas]

HAPPY 4th JULY ALL MY USA FRIENDS !!!!!!!!!!!

[camcas]

Trust me lovefroud ,you do NOT want me to do your cover.........check outminewhenyou get it!!!!!!!!!!!

[Els]

Just wanted to mention a small correction to my address. It should read Hillcrest Drive rather than Street. I thought it was Street, and only just discovered it was Drive. There shouldn't be a problem with the first package arriving, as I believe there's only one Hillcrest of any kind in town. Just wanted you to know for the next round.

[ScrapPea]

What great great pages!!! I had planned to spend yesterday, July 4, uploading and posting all pics of every swap and ATC to trade... But you know how plans go. :) Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

Anyway, I received Els' fabulous book today!! Oh, I just live the collage and imagery and colors. What is that shiny metallic blue-purple pen you used to outline the road? Much like your theory, I look at your book and think "why didn't I do that?". I curled up on my Lovesac (think: gourmet beanbag) and have looked thru it twice. It's so...artsy!

I didn't post sooner, Jazzie, but here's my confirmation number to you:
0311 1660 0000 3758 4395
I saw in post#1 to send it mandatory tracking. Here in US, that's the same as "Delivery Confirmation". I don't know options internationally yet, but I finally found nice postal folk who will kindly and patiently explain options to me.

[ScrapPea]

@Els--How funny! I live on Burgundy Dr, my mailwoman delivers our mail no problem, but every GPS shows it as Burgundy St.

[ScrapPea]

So I just showed Els' moley to my husband. He said "oooooooh" when he saw your back cover. I asked him what he liked best and he said "the variety." and then he insisted i taje a pic before i send it aloft Yep, everyone's book gets shown to my other half and I report his reaction. He jokes that when I show him ATCs or whatever that he's a part of it all...almost too much a part of it all. :)

[1orange]

Els, your making me panic now, I put street. Crossing my fingers now!!

[Els]

Yea! It arrived! I've only just begun to play a bit successfully with scraps of paper and other stuff...I admire those who can do it well, but until recently, had little success of my own. Oh poor me..I can only draw and paint. Gee, now THERE's a bad excuse for a pity party!

The blue stuff is Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Artists Drawing Ink (http://www.dickblick.com/products/daler-rowney-fw-acrylic-pearlescent-liquid-acrylic-artists-inks/), in the pearlescent colour "Dutch Blue." I won a $20 gift certificate to a Portland Art Supply at the AFA Gathering, taking 2nd place for my name tag, and this ink was one of the things I bought! I also won "The Kitchen Sink" award, given to "the person bringing the most stuff." I don't think anyone else even came CLOSE, sad to say. Still...it was very cool to win! I received a god-AWful piece of greenware (can you say "booby-prize"), and a FABULOUS shrine made by our very own AmyFairie! I just found a spot on my studio wall for it, and once the room gets a little more sorted out, I'll be taking and posting pics of the new space.

I show all the art to my sweetie, too. His reactions crack me up, whether positive or negative.

[kristinized]

Tracking (aka delivery confirmation) is only required for US domestic mailings. I've hear there's a new online custom form (or maybe just in the works) that includes tracking for regular airmail, but it might just be for larger packages. Since it's otherwise so expensive, tracking isn't required for sending outside US or for international to US. We just have to keep our fingers crossed, and package the books securely and with proper postage.

I just sent out a PM with the change to Els' address, jazzie your PM box is full right now so you didn't get one.

[jazzie]

Thanks - I'll change it to Drive on my list.

[zandradee]

cannot wait to get that gorgeous book, camcas!

I sent mine registered mail (air mail, obviously)... cost £9.01 (= US$13.97)

squeal, piggy, squeal - as my husband would say - but still a great bargain, even after all the math, for a wonderful book of personalised art!

[1orange]

Flights of Fancy has arrived today, and yes that was very quick! And Jewels your textured cover is really cool, plus your art work inside is amazing. I will have to think carefully about what to put in it to make it look just as good as your work.

[1orange]

Jewels I just noticed the numbers inside the pages, do you want me to start from number 1, or should I start from were you left off?

[Jewels]

Already? Wow. That was fast.

I think the numbers are probably wrong as I put them in before the talk about how many pages to do. You could just erase them. I guess we're supposed to do 3-4 pages... your choice. I'm sure they'll turn out great.

[1orange]

Ok cool, can't wait to get started now.

[ScrapPea]

@Els--Well, congrats! I love the look of that pen and may have to check it out more. Perhaps I'll have to collage in your deco book...?!? Since I struggle with painting and drawing.... :)

Is there a pic of your nametag anywhere on this site or a blog? I'd love top see it.

[Lovefroud]

Trust me lovefroud ,you do NOT want me to do your cover.........check outminewhenyou get it!!!!!!!!!!!

haha! I experimented on another cover and it turned out kinda sucky so I lost my inspiration and moved on fully intending on getting back to it, then my life went all wonky on me and it just never got done. I get so nervous slipping out of my comfortable pen, pencil, watercolor world that I just "over think" and eventually wimp out or really screw it up!
Chipping in on the cover is fully optional, no worries:)

[jazzie]

camcas~ my moley is on its way to Australia. No guarantees on when it will be delivered - my clerk says the time varies between 1-2 weeks. I Googled your whereabouts and since you're not in the boonies and close to the capitol, I'm hoping it'll be a week. I bonded with my moley so much I was equally sad to see it go because I may never see it again, and happy to get rid of it because it has consumed my every waking moment for the last two weeks.

I was planning to stamp my Bonjour, Peace, and Namaste message stamps on the front in black embossing powder but I did not do my cover yet because I was unsure about it staying put during its journey and after embossing two things on the inside with my blow dryer because I can't find my heat gun, I was really afraid of what would happen to it. The blow dryer took so long to work its magic, things seemed to warp a little. I know I got embossing powder all over the place, so everybody might want to give the pages you're working on a good brush off before you do your thing. Putting a reminder to do it when it returns - hopeully my heat gun will have turned up by then!

[jazzie]

and my first few pages of watercolor & colored pencil

[Jewels]

Great start Jazzie! I especially like the black and white pages.

[Lovefroud]

oh my gosh Jazzie it's precious!

[kristinized]

ok, this is what I have for updates so far (will also update post #2)


Jazzie will send her book to Camcas (mailed 07/07) & receive from ScrapPea (received 07/09)
ScrapPea will send her book to Jazzie (sent 07/05) & receive from Els (ScrapPea received 07/05)
Els will send her book to ScrapPea (mailed 07/03) & receive from 1Orange
1Orange will send her book to Els (sent) & receive from Jewels (received 07/06)
Jewels will send her book to 1Orange (mailed 07/02) & receive from LoveFroud (received 07/02)
LoveFroud will send her book to Jewels (mailed 07/03) & receive from Zandradee (received 07/09)
Zandradee will send her book to LoveFroud (mailed 6/30) & receive from Camcas (received 07/10)
Camcas will send her book to Zandradee (mailed 07/03) & receive from Jazzie

[jazzie]

thanks! & ScrapPea's moley has arrived

[jazzie]

HAPPY 4th JULY ALL MY USA FRIENDS !!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the cheers! We were probably all busy celebrating or hungover to notice your good wishes?

We barbque'd and shot off a few before watching the big show from the Rose Bowl. Amazing how a grill turns guys into cavemen and Piccolo Pete's turn them into schoolboys! It was a fun day here :~]

[Jewels]

Yes, Thanks for the good wishes.
My brother, sister and I worked on our parent's front porch in the blazing heat most of the day and then we all had Hot Dogs, swam in the pool and watched the Fireworks from the front yard. So Good to get together.

[1orange]

Yes I have sent already, sorry I should have posted it. But yes it's definitely on it's way to it's destination.

[Lovefroud]

RECEIVED from Zandradee! yay! Can't wait to get started! Love how the mermaid really looks like she is in the bottle (tequila, I think)! cool textures too!

[zandradee]

Jazzie - I embossed with heat gun on front cover, and while it didn't warp, it did sort of pucker up in a worrisome way.

But! The excitingest news! Camcas, your journal arrived today, safely and soundly! Hooray, hooray. Now I shall ruminate upon all things microscopic and come up with an idea worthy of it!

[kristinized]

thanks for the updates! so far so good!

I added the next mailing schedule to the 2nd post, next mailing date is August 1st (give or take). We're not tied to that schedule though if you need a little more time to complete your pages, international travel time can take a couple weeks so we can lose art time there.

[kristinized]

camcas~ my moley is on its way to Australia. No guarantees on when it will be delivered - my clerk says the time varies between 1-2 weeks. I Googled your whereabouts and since you're not in the boonies and close to the capitol, I'm hoping it'll be a week. I bonded with my moley so much I was equally sad to see it go because I may never see it again, and happy to get rid of it because it has consumed my every waking moment for the last two weeks.

I was planning to stamp my Bonjour, Peace, and Namaste message stamps on the front in black embossing powder but I did not do my cover yet because I was unsure about it staying put during its journey and after embossing two things on the inside with my blow dryer because I can't find my heat gun, I was really afraid of what would happen to it. The blow dryer took so long to work its magic, things seemed to warp a little. I know I got embossing powder all over the place, so everybody might want to give the pages you're working on a good brush off before you do your thing. Putting a reminder to do it when it returns - hopeully my heat gun will have turned up by then!


and my first few pages of watercolor & colored pencil

Beautiful pages Jazzie, I love that Margaret Mead quote.

[camcas]

Great zandradee!that was quick!

[camcas]

Jazzie your beautiful moley is here complete with yummy little present and thoughtful stash of wax interleaves ....wish I'd thought of that.
I think the lovely soft colours are really beautiful and I especially love the tree/hair with little birds.just in time to start over the weekend. my how I love moleys!

[jazzie]

Well HipHipHooray to all the posties that made it happen in less than a week on reular postage!!!

Glad you like it - I loved it until I wrote the messages and think I will cover it up when it returns. It looked so good when I penciled it out on tracing paper because everything was monchromatic. To me it sticks out like a sore thumb. I hemmed and hawed about even putting it on when I finished the drawing, wondering if the picture alone would convey the message. So I'll either leave it turquoise and no message or think of some other way to spell it out if it needs it.

And what did I find yesterday in the oddest place? My heat gun of course!

[jazzie]

Jazzie - I embossed with heat gun on front cover, and while it didn't warp, it did sort of pucker up in a worrisome way.


zandradee ~the Moley cover for this round? I'll check it out and decide.

[Els]

Just an update, but no cause for alarm...1Orange's book hasn't arrived yet. Will post when it does.

[Lovefroud]

oh no. I get alarmed for you Els.

[ScrapPea]

Here are pictures of my book. Close-ups in my gallery.

@Jewels - When I was thinking curiosities, a cat on top of a bookcase came instantly to mind. The kitty on Page 1 was inspired by an ATC you traded with me, a b/w cat batting a butterfly.

[Jewels]

Very Cool! I'm flattered that you remembered one of my drawings.

[1orange]

I'm going to go into panic mode soon, if my book doesn't get to it's destination asap!!

[camcas]

Don't fret....I have known it to take 3-4 weeks for stuff to get from OZ to USA

[Els]

1orange's moley has arrived! Cool stuff you did in there, Alicia!

[1orange]

I'm so glad you got it, that's a relief.

[kristinized]

Here are pictures of my book. Close-ups in my gallery.

@Jewels - When I was thinking curiosities, a cat on top of a bookcase came instantly to mind. The kitty on Page 1 was inspired by an ATC you traded with me, a b/w cat batting a butterfly.

Beautiful layout! I love all those little pockets!

[kristinized]

Everyone still having fun? :D

Our next mailing is coming up next week already! The schedule is up in the second post, but don't feel like you have to rush yourself to finish (especially if you only recently received a moley!)

[Jewels]

Oooo... That reminds me. I need another mailing envelope. I'll have to make a trip.

[camcas]

Hi there!
Jazzie ,yours is done but I am having scanner issues.Will try and post aspic when I get back.
I am also off to work interstate for 10 days so will get my hubby to post to lovefroud on the first...hope that's OK

[Els]

I believe I'm finished, so 1Orange's book will go out on the 1st. I'll do my best to get it scanned and posted soon, too.

[Lovefroud]

Finishing up Zandree's moley and it will mail out on the first!

[Els]

Here's Alicia's Blue+White+Black Zentangle/Abstract spread. Gave me fits getting the pages prepped (including a small spot on the next spread that caused apoplexy in me...hopefully you can work with it, Jazzie), but once that was done, the rest went along well enough. Fun to do this one, though tough to decide which of the zillions of directions I could take the theme!

[1orange]

Awesome I can't wait to see it in person.

[ScrapPea]

Ummmmm...as I'm wrapping up Els's moley, I realize I did 4 pages. I looked thru this thread and couldn't see any response/request from Els about how many pages she wanted (3 or 4). I've updated my post to say that I'd love a 4-page but no expectations. Els, is that okay with you? (Well, it's gonna have to be at this point. :) )

I expect to mail Aug 1 or 2; not sure which day I'll make it to the PO.

@Els - I agree! The layout is FABulous!

[zandradee]

Here is what I saw through Camcas' microscope. Mailing off later today...

[Lovefroud]

ooo every bodies such looks so good!

[ScrapPea]

awesome zandradee!

[Els]

Oof! I did the same thing in 1Orange's book, ScrapPea. All of the previous moleys I've done have been 4 page spreads, and I guess I was on autopilot. So sorry. I promise to be careful to ONLY do 3 pages in every book from now on.

Zandra, I love what you did! You've inspired me

[Lovefroud]

just for the record I would LOVE 4 pages but 3 is just fine too!

here is my contribution to Zandradee's book. Mailed today to 1orange - customs form # LC219334275US

[Jewels]

I wish I would have known that Lovefroud, I only did 3. Here it is.

[jazzie]

Holy Moley!!!

[1orange]

That's amazing Jewels!

[zandradee]

love it, lovefroud!
:cute:

[zandradee]

jewels - Gorey in his glory!

[Jewels]

Umm... I wanted to ask Lovefroud about a picture I found while looking up Edward Gorey. It seemed almost perfect for her cover. But I didn't want to slap it on without her permission. Hmm.... or maybe I'll just include a copy of it with her Moley and she can add it if she wants at the end. Any thoughts? Here's the picture:

[Els]

Love your treatment, Jewels. LOVE it.

[kristinized]

Whoa! I'd say the moleys are off to a terrific start!

I wish I would have known that Lovefroud, I only did 3. Here it is.


just for the record I would LOVE 4 pages but 3 is just fine too!

here is my contribution to Zandradee's book. Mailed today to 1orange - customs form # LC219334275US


Here is what I saw through Camcas' microscope. Mailing off later today...


Here's Alicia's Blue+White+Black Zentangle/Abstract spread. Gave me fits getting the pages prepped (including a small spot on the next spread that caused apoplexy in me...hopefully you can work with it, Jazzie), but once that was done, the rest went along well enough. Fun to do this one, though tough to decide which of the zillions of directions I could take the theme!

[Lovefroud]

I've seen this and your right it is pretty darn good! Slap in on there sister or whatever you choose! I can do something with it if you don't want to mess with it!
Thanks love, I totally appreciate it!:)
and the spread is goreylicious!

Umm... I wanted to ask Lovefroud about a picture I found while looking up Edward Gorey. It seemed almost perfect for her cover. But I didn't want to slap it on without her permission. Hmm.... or maybe I'll just include a copy of it with her Moley and she can add it if she wants at the end. Any thoughts? Here's the picture:

[ScrapPea]

@Lovefroud - Wonderful! That is such a fun layout.

@Jewels - great interpretation of the theme. Now I have to think harder....

[jazzie]

I'm not sure if I'll get to the PO on Sat or Mon, but here's ScrapPea's Moley ready to send off to zandradee soon.

[Jewels]

Wow! That's really amazing Jazzie! What a great quote too.

[Lovefroud]

nice Jazzie!

[jazzie]

thanks :~]

ScrapPea's Moley is off to England

Els - tell us about the prepping you mentioned. I had some difficulties with ScrapPea's spread in areas that seemed to resist the watercolors I was using in spots. This didn't happen when I did my own spread, but I was using a different set of paints. So I was wondering if that was from spots that had gotten some of the medium ScrapPea used on them, or if that's just the way the finish is when it leaves the moley factory or if it was the different set of watercolors I used??? I haven't done any prepping on my spreads other than penciling out my ideas.

I also had troubles going in with colored pencils after I'd painted to add details and blending - it didn't happen - it just sat on top of the painted area and instead of blending in, it completely came off of the painted area. When I did my own spread, the color seemed to go into the paper rather than sit on top of it and then wherever I used colored pencil to to add dimension or details, that seemed to go into the paper as well.

[ScrapPea]

Awe-SOME jazzie!!! The layout is gorgeous as is! Love it!

However, I am curious now, too. I just painted directly on the paper of Els book. The paper never got quite flat, despite putting it under heavy books...but that could have been me using too much water. I didn't prep my pages in any way, and I would have thought I kept any sealing/adhesive medium on "my side" of the pages.

@Camcas - Els moley is off to you. The tracking# RR3080-76895-US.

[Els]

I wrote a VERY long note about materials and techniques, and on and on...and when I hit Post Quick Reply, it dumped me out of the system and all was lost. I'm too frustrated to repeat all that right now. Maybe later.

Short suggestion - if you want to use watercolour, do it on separate paper and afix that to the moley when finished.