Traveling Altered book swap

themes? or do we pick our own????

This is exactly what I've been waiting for!!!! I just re-read True Colors for the hundredth time! Count me in!

What is "altering" the book?

is that a silly question?

Hi Kara, www.alteredbookartists.com is a good place to start. The best thing about altering books is that there are no rules! You can use a hardcover book from the thrift store..a child's board book..whatever! This is going to be so much FUN!

Just found another place to look for inspiration.. www.littlebit.com/ab/alteredmain.htm Westie, Does the book just go through the list until it's full...then it gets returned to its originator? I already have a theme picked out...Sorry such a blabbermouth-Just excited!

I have been wanting to do an altered book for eons, but I get overwhelmed by the task of completing one whole book. Being able to do just my own cover, and then just one page in other's books is perfect. Great idea! I have an idea for my book already and will get going with that this weekend so it is ready to go when I have my partner's name.

I like this. We should only have one book at a time to work on and eventually get a book back that a bunch of people have worked on. I just found a little board book in my stash and will start doing strange things to the cover today.

this is a great idea. i have never done one before, so how do you account for all the add in's? like if the book was originally 25 pages, and now people paste photos and scraps of paper, wouldnt it look like a big fan? like it had 50 pages? and wouldnt close? does this make sense? shoudl i remove some pages before hand so everything fits in?

Yes, an altered book can get to start looking like a fan. This is not always bad, since you can display it on an open shelf or tabletop, free-standing like that, which will make it inviting to pick up and look through.

But if you don't want it to get too bulky, you can let people know, either by specifying that you don't want attached things, or by asking people to remove pages as needed to allow for the thickness of their work. They should do this by cutting, not tearing them out, and the cut-out pages should have about an inch left along the binding so the binding doesn't come apart.

It's a good idea to put instructions inside the front cover of the book letting people know what your theme is and what you do/don't want them to do, keeping it short, of course. You can remove this when you get it back, if you like, or let it be part of the overall book. If you are looking at the book a long time later, it might be more enjoyable to be reminded of what you set out to do.

I think there should be a "guideline" (if not an actual "rule") that people send off the books they've received within two weeks of getting them. Not everyone will do this, of course, but it will help to have a deadline in mind.

Also (sorry I am so wordy here), let's all be sure to put our e-mail addresses as well as mailing addresses inside the front or back cover and ask people to e-mail the book owner when they receive their book and when they send it again, including who they have sent it to, so we can all keep track of where our books are.

Westie, Did you mean for the sign-up date to be so far away? All of Sharon's ideas above sound great.

I'm taking all your Ideas and editing some of the rules so keep checking back.

Sharon, I ment to say that you should keep the book no longer than two weeks last night I must have forgotten!!!

FarStarr, All the books may not get to all the people that are signed up. So depending on how many pages are in your book it may not get filled. But if it does then the person who fills the last page has to send it back to you.

Also I put the date back because their are so many swaps going on right now, I wanted everyone to get a look at our swap and have a chance to sign up.

keep the comments coming!! ~westie

All edited for today. let me know how that sounds!! ~westie

actually, the sign up date should be sooner than 2/28 because that's a long time for us eager beavers

the ideas sound terrific!

lin

"And with the way that the bot gives out partners not every one will get your book so if 82 people sign up we all won't have to do 82 pages"

I'm not sure I understand this bit. I've had to draw myself a diagram to figure out how this scheme would work generally, and I think I understand, except for the above quoted bit. As far as I can see, the only way we wouldn't do the same number of pages as the number of people signed up would be if some people's books had a smaller number of pages than the number of people signed up. Or do I need a Venn diagram to work this out (grin).

Also - would each person choose a theme for their book which everyone else would give their interpretation of, or is just whatever you want to do. Also also, does a "page" mean a 2 sides of one page, or 2 pages which face each other? Probably a silly question, but just want to make sure.

One more question - are these going to be actual books to alter, ie real printed books, or blank books?

I agree with Zmrzlina - this is a great way to get started on the whole altered book thing. Like FarStarr I too have "True Colours" and regularly get it out to drool over; it would be marvellous to do a colour-themed book. Peety, I'll be looking out for the "strange" things you have done to your book covers.

Isis

I read somewhere that books with a sewn in binder are better to alter than glued binders. And, the books do not need to be new.

I was going to do mine with a theme, but then I thought it might make it too hard for participants to come up with ideas if I've limited things with a theme. I don't want the book to be held up by delays due to coming up with material or ideas to fit a theme.

I am using a regular hardcover book...probably get one at a used bookstore. And after saying that, it should also be noted that altered books can get rather heavy and bulky. Postage is going to be an issue so perhaps a reminder in the paragraph about the swap being international would be a good idea.

Hi, doing altered books is great fun and I love doing them and I am doing one now through swap-bot.

Keep in mind the size and weight of the book as the one that arrived in New Zealand last week cost the sender US$12.95 to post. It weighs 580gms or about 1lb4oz.

paperholic, i think that the swap partners are generated randomly, which means that the book could end up at it's original owner before it hits up all hypothetical 82 people.

(right?? haha)

It could....but you can just pass it on to your partner if your book isn't full....so they get it twice. I would love to see what happens after a book leaves me.

When or how will the first round begin? Will Swap-bot assign partners on a certain date?

Zmrzlina, you mentioned that you thought that not specifying a theme would make it easier for participants to think of what to do in your book, but for me I think the opposite is true. It helps to have something to focus on. You could just keep it broad, like "animals" or "nature" or something like that, which allows wide latitude for participants to interpet it as they like. Also, with ATC swaps as well as books, I find that part of the fun is seeing how different people interpret a theme. And it does give the different spreads some relationship to each other.

That's just my opinion, but I thought I'd share it in case it might be helpful! sharon

Hmmm..I've been thinking about the swap-bot assigning partners piece. I think we should make sure that if you end up in a three person loop that your book can get to some new people. I guess we'll have to wait and see how the order goes, and it will only be an issue if you end up in a small loop. As for theme, my opinion is to have one. I think it gives people a starting point. I'm so excited about this one! I found a spiral bound child's board book that is going to work perferctly!

Thanks Southernxpacific - now I understand. I agree with Sharon - I think it helps to have a theme, both to help the participants get started, and so that the book at the end has coherence.

Hi! I would love to participate, I have a new account so i have no rating. Any how I do have experience in collaborative projects and i have been journaling a long time. You can check my work at http://ritualesgallery.blogspot.com/ http://mayax.blogspot.com If that qualifies me I 'll be happy to participate.Thanks!

Hey everyone!! I changed the date since everyone is so excited!! So check on that. Also, I guess we should all go with a theme. Most of the time, I think people go with the theme of the book that they are altering.

As for the loop thing I guess we will just keep checking back here. If you get caught in a loop, post here and I will give out one new address (by e-mail) to you. then you book will go on to someone else. How does that sound?

~westie

Sounds like the solution...I'm so glad you moved the date! Can't wait....I guess I better get started on my prep work..

this sounds so very exciting! i have just begun to do altered book, and to see other peoples techniques would be geat. one question though...can we alter both the frond back covers, or is the back the partners responsibility? i am definitely joining this swap! susi

Something to think about, for those who really want to put a lot into altering their book cover--sometimes the book owner waits to alter the cover until they get the book back, since a lot can happen as it gets shipped around. Or you just might do enough to set the tone, but leave off any embellishments, charms, etc., that might fall off. I recently sent back a sweet little book to its owner and later, when I was cleaning off my art table, found a charm that had fallen off the book. Luckily, I remembered seeing it on the book so I knew who to send it to, but I might have been completely mystified as to where it came from.

So, a word of warning, I guess.

I have been pondering a theme for my book and I wonder if it would be helpful if those who have chosen a theme post that info here, it might give ideas to the others, as well as get our creative juices flowing--thinking about, "if I get that book, what would I do in it?"; even though we don't know which books we'll get, it still gets the thought process going, do you think?

Also, I am thinking that I might do the first spread or two myself, not only because when we start a book isn't it in part because we'd like to work in them too!? But also to help communicate to those who receive my book what sort of thing I have in mind -- NOT "Do it this way" (that would be boring, we want our books to have variety or we wouldn't sign up for a swap like this!) but "here's what I was thinking about when I chose this theme."

What do others think about that?

I agree with Sharon. I definitely plan on sending a letter along with my book. Not necessarily "instructions", but maybe what I had in my head when I chose the theme and why. Of course I want everyone to play and have fun and interpret my book however they wish. I was planning on doing at least the front and inside cover myself. I'm sure some people will want to more or less of their book. I will also leave it up to the swapee whether they want to do a 2-pg spread or just one side. It will depend on what the Muse has to offer...By the way, my theme will be fish and other sea creatures,ocean,beach....etc etc. That should leave plenty of room for playing!

Westie might i offer some advice? I've hosted several round robins in the altered book group I'm in.When shipping your book (USA)please use a delivery confirmation slip.When sending international please ask for and use a large customs form.Believe it or not they can track the book if you use a large customs form and its your proof that you mailed.When sending your book. cover it in bubble wrap and then put it in a large zip lock bag.Put your name and address on the zip lock bag using water proof marker.That way if it gets lost from its original packaging it will still have your info.Also if it gets left in the rain by a mail carrier (this has happened to me several times)it wont damage the book.

Also a neat thing to do would ask everyone to include a tag with a small description of what they did would be neat.Hope this helps and i didn't sound bossy.

That sounds like good advice about mailing books. I have printed out a copy to save. Thanks! s

Westie, I was just thinking about how Swap-bot is great for the initial random matching of partners, but for something that is ongoing, it might make more sense to switch over to a Yahoo group once the sign-up date has passed. If you set it up as a members-only group and sent the invitation to all of us who are participating, it would be a closed loop, we could freely share our addresses because no outsider could access the information, and we could use the database to keep track of our books. I think it would probably be less work for you than trying to manage this group on an ongoing basis through Swap-bot, it isn't really set up for that.

Anyway, it's just an idea, I'd thought I'd put it out there to see what you think. If you are not familiar with Yahoo groups, I'm sure there are several of us here who are.

sharon

I'm not sure if this has already been answered, but how long should the book be? Does it matter?

I was also thinking that maybe there should be a size limit. I'm currently in a different altered book round robin and I have to send my books to New Zealand (which is normally fine)but I just received a book the size of a full size scrap book! The cost to ship that book is horrendous, I don't think it's fair to force people to pay that type of a price. I had no choice I had to ship it for $27.

What I'm doing--I've bought a small cardboard page children's book to use as the base. It's about 20 pages maximum. I do intend to send my book with delivery confirmation and will also have an inside page with 'directions'. I'm leaving my theme as favorite colors. People can do whatever they want in their favorite colors. Otherwise... this is so much fun!

I'm thinking that the art is worth more than the shipping. If I get stuck shipping a big one, that's just the cost of playing this game. I love this whole process of sharing art and that is what is most important to me. I can't wait to start with the fun!

I'm in favor of a suggested size limit. I'm looking at a book that's about 6 inches (15 centimeters) by 8.5 inches (22 centimeters) and less than an inch (2 cm) thick to begin with. I'd sure like to see others try to stick to something not much bigger than that, just as a courtesey to other participants. Ease of mailing is one of the reasons I selected this particular book.

I am also in favour of a size limit. Shipping prices are horrendous. The last altered book round robin I was in was only with 8 people and cost me $160 total in shipping by the end of it (to the US only). With this many people and world wide, it would be way too expensive. I would be looking at around $250-$350 in shipping over the course of this swap.

In the US, you should be able to fit anything in one of the "one rate" priority boxes for $8.10. Westie, If there is going to be a size limit, can it be posted soon so I can get a book that meets the criteria?

Okay size limit sounds good. Not too much bigger than a normal hardcover novel... Does that sound okay? The one rate box idea is good too. You can pick a child's cardboard book with ten pages or you can pick a hardcover novel with 300 pages. It's totally up to you. But the less pages you have means less time in the swap. Your book will just get filled sooner.

~westie

loooove this idea! i've just joined an altered poetry book swap and am working on two of my own. i luuurve scrap art!

(not sure if the postage wont kill me tho:(

I am new to swap Bot but not to swapping. I have many pen pals all over the world and we swap and do round robins and I also have 3 groups on Yahoo and MSN where I host swaps and exchanges, so I hope that qualifies me for this swap. It sounds like so much fun. I have a question about it, how does the book go around? I mean if Swap Bot assigns you a partner and everyone is starting a book won't it just stop? I am new to this type of swap. With a round robin you know how the item is going around, here is a little different. I will sign up and hope I am excepted.

I share crochetoholic debb's concern about how we will keep track of our books after the initial send to our assigned swap partners. I know the plan is to send whatever book I receive from my sender on to my partner, but because Swap-bot protects people's address info from everyone but their partner and the Swap host, after my partner sends my book on, I could loose track of it completely.

That's why I suggest we morph into a Yahoo group after sign-ups are cut off, or after the send date. Or, if not Yahoo, some other site that is designed for keeping track of ongoing swaps.

when you talk about how to get it passed around... is there a reason that we cant just create our own list of names (by you) and just mail the books to the person after your name on the lists? then everyones books would get passed to every one else, right? if we all posted when we sent or recieved and who to then wouldnt that be ok... like... "hey i got sarahs book today.... or finished sarahs pages today sent to liz...."

i'd join if i wasn't so darn confused.. ..

I'm already in a altered book round robin hosted on swap-bot, there was a limit on the amount of people allowed to join but then all we are doing is sending each book to the same partner as we originally sent our own book to. For example I sent my book to "julie" and received a book from "Karen". After I finished doing a page in karen's book I sent it on to julie. karen would get another book she do a page and send it on to me. I would do a page and send it on to julie, etc. All the books have a "title page" that includes the original owner's information and the person to fill in the last page would send it home to it's original owner. (if it didn't have enough pages to make it through all of the swap participants). I had assumed this swap was going to be similar to that one.

i agree mandy, that is the assumption i got out of this swap as well. and to make it easier, i am going to attach my name and address to the front of my book with a request that when it is filled up, to be sent back to my address, then everyone will know it ismy book and where it needs to go in the end.

good idea?

Definitely! I agree with both of you. It seems like it should work. You will always be receiving from person A and mailing to person B...no problem. From what I can gather, that's how they did it in "True Colors". By the way, I was concerned about the weight of my book choice once people starting talking about shipping, but it weighs less than a "300 page hardcover". So, I get to use the book I had originally selected. Yeah!!! Now I have to get started...

That bucket-brigade style of sending it on works fine for me, I'd just like to suggest that we all put our e-mail addresses in our books, too, and that when each of us receives a book, we e-mail the book owner to let her know we have it, and when we send it off, we e-mail her again to let her know where it's being sent to.

I have been skimming the posts about the size of the book, and it has me a bit worried. I have alreadychosen my book, and have prepped the cover so I can start decorating it, but now I am seeing that some people may object to it's size. It has 444 pgs, is 1 1/2" thick and measures 9 1/2"x61/2". I have not weighed it yet, but I can do it. I chose this book for the front and end papers which are gorgeous, and made me think of my theme, and I'd really like to keep it, and not have to change books. Is this going to be a problem? I am intending to allow for pages to be taken out as needed so that may help with the weight, and I can specify that no heavy super bulky objects be used on the pages. Please tell me that I can keep this book. I'll be very disappointed if not. Like someone said earlier, the art would be worth it to me, even though I am struggling with finances as many of us are...but this is going to end up being a treasure. Also, the costs won't be coming all out of our pockets at once, so that makes it a bit easier. Am I making any sense? susi

I suppose that I could cut out the front and end papers in my book and glue them in another that I have that is a bit smaller. So if you all say it has to be smaller, I'll accept it. There are some poems in the original book also that I thought might inspire what to put on the pages, if I were to change the book, could I take them out and add them loose with my instructions? I mean, my theme is pretty broad, i just have some definite ideas for things I might like to see. Let me know what you all think, please... susi, again

My solution would be to take out 144 pages...hee hee

Susi, I don't think the dimensions that you give as to the cover (9.5 by 6.5 inches) sound problematic, so I agree with FarStarr, just take out a bunch of pages to reduce the bulk and weight and take it from there.

I would just suggest you be strategic about how you remove pages. Tearing them can mess up the binding and soon your book is falling apart, so be sure to cut them with a half inch or so left in place to hold it all together.

My book is about the same size and I just took out a lot of the pages to help keep the weight down.

ok, I think that idea will work... just give me an idea of how to do it strategically... i get the cutting of the pages, but does anyone have any suggestions about evry how many pages i should take one or two or three, if you know what I mean...mandy, how did you do it? Forgive all the questions, but I am so relieved that I can still use my book that i want it to be done well, on my end anyway... as for altering the cover... I am going to just do the very basics, color it, maybe collage it and add the title, but not put any 3d until it's finished. I already asked this, are we doing the back cover now as well? i'll look back and see if someone answered or not. now a recommendation... last night i found a great book for people new to altering books... the's called altered art for the first time by Madeline arendt. i found it at joanns of all places! you can probably find it on amazon as well. it has very clear instructions on altering books especially and also other things, i recommend it highly to anyone new at this! susi

ok, about themes...since my book has the most wonderful front and end papers of maps of an imaginary land, and they look old, my theme will be journeys...there are also some excellent poetry in the book that I would like to see if it inspires anyone's muse as to what they will do to do on their page(s). Maybe what I'll do is when i take out pages from the book, I can fake out the poems, copy them and send them along with my "letter". I do like the idea of having a front and end page that has the name and location of the people who helped alter the book, or have them attach a tag to their page with fiber that has their name and location on it. I love the look of fibers, and also of disproportionate pages in altered books, at least those i have seen in pictures in books! just my own ideas... susi

I picked up a book just yesterday that's full of ideas and very good instructions on techniques for altered books, it's called Altered Books Workshop, by Bev Brazelton (North Light Books, 2004); since it's a 2004 book you might be able to find it remaindered (as I did) or used.

Anyway, while I've been so sure that you shouldn't tear out pages, she says to tear them. So, what do I know? It's safe to assume she has more experience with this than I! LOL

Still, while I would remove a bunch of pages in a 400-page book, I would also instruct people to remove pages as needed to accomodate whatever they add to the book so it'll still close. So maybe you send it out and it's still more than 300 pages, but people keep removing pages as they work on it. That way, if someone wants to create a niche by gluing several pages together and then cutting out the centers (guidelines in the book are very good on this), that's an option, and doing that will still lighten the book since whatever they put in the niche is probably going to be a lot lighter than all the paper they take out.

As for the poems you like, you could leave them in but put a Post-it note on them telling people not to cover them up, and if they remove that page, tuck it in the back of the book to save it. Or just ask them don't remove that page.

So I wanted to let others know about this book, I think it has very good instructions on the techniques, and lot of yummy images and inspiration, too.

sorry but i am going to have to drop out of this swap. this is soley based on the fact that i cant afford to ship books with 300 pages in them. that is so heavy and i also found out that i am going out of the country for a month in may so that wouldnt be fair to people participating.

i would totally join up again if the books had a weight restriction, because shipping is definately a killer. i hope everything goes well.

Hmmmm... I wonder if swap bot will let me send this message now... i typed a whole list of books that are about altering books and collage, then swap bot went down. GRRRRRRR!

So I am going to try again....These are books that I have already to help me with altering books. many have the same basics, materials etc, but the content and ideas are different, and I think wonderful. Most you can get on amazon.com, that's where I got some, I also bought one at Borders, and three at JoAnn's of all places!

Here is a list of the titles and authors:

Altered Books 101 by Beth Cate & Cindy Pestka

Altered Art for the first time by Madeline Arendt

New Directions in Altered Books by Gabe Cyr

Altered Board Book Basics & Beyond by Jan Bode Smiley

Altered Art Techniques for Creating Altered Books, Boxes, Cards and more by Terry Taylor

These next are for collage, and are great books also:

Collage Lost and Found (I need to find my book to give you the authors name)

Collage Unleashed by Tracy Bautista

Collage with Color by Jane davies

al.pha.bet.i.ca by Lynne Perrella

The Altered Book Workshop is next on my list to buy!!!

Hope this list helps people who want some guidance, and also great reading!

Susi

Now for a different topic...I have not really seen what we are going to do about sending our books out. Are we still going to send them to our assigned partners? What about the morphing to Yahoo idea... did that ever get answered? I personally think it's a good idea. I'm just not sure how this is going to work. But in any case I am going to do whatever the decision is. Another thing, I think it's been sked and answered but I'm going to ask again. How will we protect ourselves and our books from becoming lost in the mail? I don't want to have a lot of people put a lot of work in my book, then have it go missing. I have already had just a few swap bot swaps get lost, then I get a bad rating and I look bad. But this is different, it's a much bigger deal. Will we do delivery confirmation? And for overseas? I think I saw someone said that you just ned to put on a BIG customs form...is that true. Sorry for all the questions, but I am really excited about this book project and I want it to be a success for us all. susi

Sharon, I liked your ideas for what to do with the poetry that is in my book. But at least one is on the front and back of the page. That one I might take it out, copy it and send the copy along, so that it does not get lost. They poetry is so beautiful, that even my 16 byear old was impressed. I think a lot of it will inspire the Muse of the person who has the book. I know that some can just be kept in the book and the page be altered around it. I am just not sure what to do with them... they have given me a better idea for a theme...which will be "Life is a Journey", beginning at birth, then childhood, then adolescence then adulthood, then old age, and finally death. Maybe there can be scenes of travelling interspersed, to have continuity with the theme of "journey" Is this too complex of a theme? When I think of it, and my brain just takes off and runs away with it. Then again, it's my idea, LOL. I guess I better quit now while the quitting is good because I am rambling now, and I am not sure how much sense I am making. It's late, I think I'll go read a while, and go to bed... sweet dreams all... susi

Oh yeah Susi...you're hooked! I also have all those books and more! I'm so excited! I did some prep...I'm covered with gesso at work this morning. Have a great day everyone!

I am so excited about this, my book is all ready to go (unless I change my mind or find a better one.) I am going to be posting my blog address inside my book so that the participants can leave me a message on that (and a scan if they're so inclined and have time) I also put a letter of introduction in the back of the book in one of those library card holders and hope that everyone will remember to sign the book with the date and their location. I am fairly giddy with anticipation!! Dianne

I love the idea of a library card! I'll need to find out where to get one... i think at my local stamp store! Farstarr, I am definately hooked, on ATCs too, just got too more books today in the mail! I have torn out some pages already, not sure how many...but I discovered that my book is broken at the seam in the back in several places, good places to glue pages together and make niches... oh and I tore my pages out by using a metal ruler and using that as a guide... i still need to collage the cover, and all that... I am looking for letters now, but if i don't find any i'll just wait til i get it back... nite nite all!

Susi, I think your theme, "Life is a Journey" is a good one because it can be interpreted broadly, so it invites a wide range of creative responses.

The library pockets are available at a local store here devoted to education of children, like toys and stuff for home-schooling. If you can find a store like that in your area they may have them as well as other fun stuff to alter. Dianne

Hi everyone, sorry to do this but I am dropping from all of my swaps. In the past month I have had very bad partners who do not send or pay any attention at all to what is involved with the swap. Good Luck to all of you.

The store that I got the library pocket from is "education station" I just remembered. Dianne

Although I think this is a great swap and, unlike Lotus Collector, I have not had any bad experiences with Swap-bot, I have come to realize that this being an ongoing commitment, not a one-time swap, I am not really prepared to stick with it as long as it may go on. And there's no way to keep track of my book after it goes from my partner to the next person.

So, that's a bit long-winded, but I am going to bow out and thought it would be courteous to say so and why. I do hope it goes well for you all and that you have fun with it!

Yo Boy! I've read all the posts, now I'm really confused! I have prepped my book and will mail it out tomorrow 2-2-06. Westie, will our books then go to all 21 participants? How will we track where it is? Will this group morph into a yahoo group for tracking? I was sorry to read that Sharon has dropped out, I'm in here art group here in MN : (

Jeanne in frigid, but still friendly, Fridley Minnesota Minneapolis)

Just wanted to leave a message here, that I will be tracking my book at my blog, www.artbydianne.blogspot.com. The info is in my book as well. Good luck everyone, i'll be sending out my book over the weekend i hope to Carissa aka southernXpacific Dianne

Julie, My book is own it's way....it gets to see canada before I do....

Julie, My book is own it's way....it gets to see canada before I do....

I have many books on collaging, but no altered-books books. I looked through some at borders but I figure I can buy them cheaper used through amazon. Which is your favorite book on altered books? Thanks.

LOL, after all my questions etc.. here I am with a book that needs to have the front and back cover altered or at least decorated! I have some ideas of paper, although I keep finding more! I do know that I will collage tke edges with aged map pieces... I also decided to do the library pocket thing, but with a twist... i went to a scrapbooking store, and they had a die cut of a pocket and a card. of course the card is unline, but no biggie, I am putting two inside the back cover, one on the back inside cover, and on ont the last page. i may glue some pages together to strengthen them a bit to put the pocket on.

I also am going to do a dedication page to my mother who passed away back in 1987. I am putting in an old picture of her in her youth, and may even put a copy of the poem that my aunt wrote about her when she passed (she was very young, only 46 years old)... so the beginning of my book will basically be done, and the back few pages as well. they might not be done perfectly, as I am still fairly new at this, but they will be dome to the best of my ability, just like everyone elses.

I am so excited about this book! i know that it is going to take a while to get done, unless they glue pages together to make a niche...... i do hope that it gets finished, I think it would be neat to have it completed by several artists, not just a few, then i will have to finish it.

ok, now another question... about tearing pages out... I think I misunderstood about the part about leaving a half inch or so.. I left that much of a margin on the pages I tore out (using a metale edged ruler) I did not realize that it meant leaving a SPACE of a half inch or so! But I am going to leave the pages I took out already like that, it will give ways for people to add tags or tip ins, I think anyway. if i am wrong, please comment soon, before I get it ready to send off to Mandy in Canada! Anyway, since I am just beginning to do the covers and that page about my Mom, it may be a couple days for me to get it sent out. So if anyone has any more suggestions, they'd be greatly appreciated!

PS: does anyone know if the flat rate boxes can go to Canada? susi

Hi Susi, I'm not sure if the one-rate will work to Canada, but at this point (with the books fairly empty), shipping shouldn't even come to the one-rate price. My book is almost ready to go. The title I ended up with is "What Lies Beneath". My thoughts were along the lines of "McElligot's Pool" by Dr. Suess. I was going to school for Marine Biology until I found out it was so competative...and I'm not. So, I'm thinking deep sea vents, giant Humboldt squid, leafy sea dragons and other fantastic creatures we haven't discovered yet, but if your muse wants to take the title and run with it in a "what evil lurks in the hearts of men" kind of way...feel free. I'm so excited to see everyone's art!!!

Last night I stayed up until 2 am working on my book covers, and they turned out quite nice with nice texture. I just want to put a varnish on them to top it off. this morning I worked on my Mom's pages, her picture on one side, and the poem on the other. I think it looks very nice. Maybe not usual for an alterd book, but it's original! I ended up gluing some pages together where they were cracking, I hope that's ok. i did not want the book to fall apart! I am going to allow people to take out as many pages as they think necessary for their project. It's up to their Muse... I also took the poems out, they were some that were falling out, so I am going to add them to an envelope and again let who ever has the book let their Muse decide whether to use them or not, if they are inspired to do so. So anyway, with just a few more touches, the book will be ready to go out on Monday, si Dios quiere (God willing) susi

Wanted to mention that my book was mailed on Saturday to Suzan Clough--I'm looking forward to getting my first book

I just uploaded my pictures to the gallery and the book will be in the mail to Poggy123 in the morning.

I've tried to contact Westie, to no avail, so hopefully whomever is sending to me catches this before they send!

I'm moving over seas to China for a semester, and after that, will not have a permanent address in the states for a while. That is going to make this swap, in its length, pretty impossible. So, if whomever is supposed to send to me can PM me, I'll give you the address of who I'm sending to, and it will pull me right out of the loop.

I tried to drop but the swap got pushed up (it wasn't supposed to end until the 28th from what I remember) so i am VERY sorry for the inconvenience. I hope you all get great books in the end and am very sad I cannot participate.

I'm a little frightened too. I've tried to contact westie as well and have had no response. AS WELL as my partner. My partner is a partner I just had for a january swap and I never got a rating from her from that previous swap and I have sent an email to her email address as well as a message through swap-bot and she hasn't responded. I'm worried that I keep sending all the books I get, onto her and they will just sit there.

don't scare me... i am counting on this project to be a success, especially since i dedicated it to my mom, and made 2 beautiful pages just for her

i have not been accepted yet in the yahoo group, what goes with that?

i just want to get a cool book back thats all

susi

Susi and robayre, Do go on to yahoo and join the group. I'm pretty sure Westie sent out invitations to everyone. If not, email her and ask. My book is already on it's way to its second artist. I still don't know who is supposed to be sending to me though....hmmmm. This will work and it is easier to follow on yahoo.

To Mandy Hammond: I now have my book all packaged and ready to send.. i have been putting off all my sending of all my mail, but I really must do it tomorrow, my out to go box is at it\'s limit, so i am definitely going to mail TOMORROW 2.20.07. I am going to post this on yahoo as well, I hope that you respond! One thing you ought to know... i forgot to add my letter to the artists to the box, so I had to slit the wrapping, and I slipped the letter, (enclosed in a ziploc bag)inside the wrapping, out side of the box. just that you know it was me who opened the pkg, no one else~ I know that you will put it in the box when you send it off! I am going to start keeping track on my blog also, if i can figure out how to do it! just so I know where my book is. I forgot to add that to add that to my letter so, if you could, I\'d appreciate it. I\'ll send you the info as soon as i have it. Thanks! susi

Hi All, I have been unable to contact westie (and her swap ratings seem to be "1"s lately). I just checked JennaPerry's profile and she will not be participating in the swap. I hope we can stop books from being sent to her. I also don't know who she sends to. I asked Kayleigh because we need to skip her. Also, I don't know if it was ever settled with You're Adopted so that she is skipped. At this point I still haven't received a book to work in and I really don't want mine to be lost. Any thoughts? I'll post this on yahoo too. Mandy

No worries...Westie and I will get this act together...

If you are in this swap and haven't been invited to join the yahoo group, please send me a swap bot message with your email address. I'll send an invite. We have 16 people on yahoo, so just missing a couple.

I just joined the yahoo groups.I think its a great idea to keep in touch. My book is going out Monday so I hope everyone likes it!!I've got a bunch of stamps and art supplies so i'm ready to start decorating pages! Whoo hoo!

I recieved Petty's book today and will work in it this week......I just noticed petty that you live in Roswell, Ga. ..so does my daughter.....

oh darn!!! I misspelled Peety's name....sorry....sigh....

I have recieved Jeanne' book today and plan to kick it out this week-end...."A Woman of Passion"...ummmm.....so many passions...may need another book..lol....

I received Mary's & Brenda's books today. I plan to work on them this weekend.

Just as I hit the Say It button, I realized I was in the wrong swap. Sorry for any confusion. I am in 2 altered book swaps.

I received Christen's, Marie's & Susi's books today. So hang on Jeanne, I think 3 books will be coming your way by next week.

I'd love to hear if my book ever resurfaces. I put a lot into that book and am pretty heartbroken that it was lost.

ME TOO...

I will be returning the childhood games book, favorite colors book and the neverland book tomorrow, or as soon as I get them repackaged and addressed. I will look for the addresses inside the book. I also would be very happy to have my book returned, if at all possible. I really hoped this would work....it was a lesson for all of us. susi

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