I really had fun making these 5 minute pages (when I added the stitching, I admit, it took me longer than 5 minutes!)  So, I wanted to bind them into an artist book.  The pages measured 10" x 5" so I folded all the pages in half to make a 5" x 5" book.

I glued the pages together with PVA glue, making sure the folded edges were even at the spine and then I glued some black tape over the spine to make sure it was secure.  I love the way this book turned out.

Have you ever wanted to gift a piece of your art to a child, brother, sister, cousin, niece or nephew but were uncertain how it would be received?

A tricky situation for sure.

Ads my husband and I collect art during our long marriage, it was hard for both of us to fall in love with the same piece and agree on hanging it in our home.  So I've always been hesitant to select a piece of my art for someone in my family.  What if they hated it?  How could they make excuses about why it's not hung in a prominent place in their home?  

So over the past 10 years, I have found the solution.  I let my family know that if they want a piece of my art, they just need to ask.  Of course, this puts them in a difficult position as well.  Can they ask for a piece that sells for thousands of dollars?  Should they just offer to buy it?

When family and friends come to my studio or see something I posted online, I can tell if they like it by their reaction.  So I just offer them a gift of the piece.

This happened recently when my nephew visited from Boston.  He loved two of my mixed media paintings and I offered them to him to take back to decorate his apartment.  He framed them and hung them above his bed.  But obviously, they were too small to fill the space.  His Mom tipped me off that he wanted two more so I emailed him and told him I was sending two more pieces that would compliment the ones he already have.

He was thrilled and said when he saw them every night, it reminded him of family.  Perfect!  By now, all my siblings and nieces and nephews have a piece of my art hanging in their homes and apartments.  It makes me happy.
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I am having a good time with this project.  Combining paint, collage, mark making, and stitching has really freed me up to become more lose with my work.

Honestly, I do spend more than 5 minutes on each spread.  Sometimes, because I need things to dry.  Other times, I don't like the results and need to add or subtract things.  And sometimes, I just throw it into the garbage when I think it can't be rescued.

But it's just paper.  No guilt.  And I go on to the next creative expression.  It's why I love working with paper and paint.  When I was working in fabric and stitch, there was so much investment in the outcome (money and time).  Not to say I won't get back into working in fiber art.  Just taking a break right now.  I believe I will learn from working in paper and paint and move back to taking these ideas and skills into fiber art once again.  

I think we can all become better artists by exploring different ways to create in different media.
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I have to admit.  I'm having a lot of fun making these art spreads.

I'm now adding stitch to my pages.  Hard to see the difference on a computer but some of my black marks on this spread are from Posca paints, a Stabilo pencil and some from #8 black pearl cotton stitches.  

I think I want to create an artist book using every one of my many colors of acrylic paints.  I love lime green and turquoise.  These are two of my favorite colors and combinations.  Sewing on paper can be challenging. But I love the effect.

​Getting close to making a final artist book from the pages I've created.  I will share next week!