I picked this book up at the library and well that was a mistake - a good mistake. Because it made me want to go out and purchase the book right away I picked this book up at the library and well that was a mistake - a good mistake. Because it made me want to go out and purchase the book right away so I would have time to fall into it the way I wanted...from the moment of reading the first pages I knew it was a book I need to have available in my studio/home always. It is a book for exploring and that takes time...longer then just having a couple weeks of it checked out at the library. But I am so glad I picked it up there so I knew without a doubt this is a good book and will be deeply personal but playful and fun. I can't wait to buy it and jump into ready to explore myself in a different way. Thank you Liz Lamoreux for creating such a lovely book. ...more
I am a mixed media artist who was nervous about making an art journal. Because I felt it had to chronicle EVERYTHING. This book I feel is for the begiI am a mixed media artist who was nervous about making an art journal. Because I felt it had to chronicle EVERYTHING. This book I feel is for the beginner in creating art journals but I also feel long time artists can get something from this book. Because not only did it help me jump into creating an art journal it also helped me give myself a pep talk on my art - on the block I had up. I haven't done any of the projects in - but again for first time art creators the projects would be good jumping off points. The words written in the book are what resonated with me the most. Each time I pick it up and flip through it I find little nuggets of information that just have me nodding my head. And I am glad to have it in my studio....more
This book is purely a book to inspire. It is there to give you ideas but not teach you techniques. The book is called Alphebetica because each of artiThis book is purely a book to inspire. It is there to give you ideas but not teach you techniques. The book is called Alphebetica because each of artists that participated had a letter and then used something into their project that showed that letter that could help inspire us -- such a P for Pattern and then shows a project using pattern. One project is S for stitching and it a fabric art book. It has some truly beautiful projects in it. And it is a good source of inspiration. ...more
When I first saw the book out, I will admittedly say I didn't pick it up because of the word pray in it. I am a spiritual person and I pray but I assuWhen I first saw the book out, I will admittedly say I didn't pick it up because of the word pray in it. I am a spiritual person and I pray but I assumed that because it had the word pray in the title it might be overly conservative Christian in a way that doesn't appeal to me. I don't mind some things I read about Christianity but there are others that really irritate/annoy me (which can be said about many things - politics, movies, book and so on.) Then a friend read the book and did an really good review on it that made me want to read it but I still had that lingering feeling from the word pray. But that was really unfair of me. Alhtough instead of buying it, I waited 5 months before my name was on top of the list at the library. And then of course after just being a few chapters in I was wishing I would have my own copy because I wanted to much to underline and mark passages in the book.
In reading some reviews, I wasn't surprised by many people saying that Gilbert is self-absorbed or whining like she is the only one in the world that has went through pain. But what I am not sure I understand is what you expect when you pick up someone memoirs. It is about that person and their journey. From the beginning of the book, she says this is about her. It is self-absorbed but for me it was in a way that I still could relate on a personal level. And it wasn't overly self-absorbed - she shared history of the areas she was in, she shared stories of friends and family so if was completely self absorbed we wouldn't have saw those things in the book. And again her self-absorbed passages I could relate too.
The other thing complained about was she was rich - got to travel for a year on her advance and then gets the guy in the end still. That it all seemed so easy for her. I think she does a good job of being very grateful for the gifts life has given her. The gifts that come her way. I am not a rich person and only traveled a little but her journey is still one I could appreciate. I am not sure I understand being upset by her good fortune.
As I mentioned above that she wrote about the history of each area too. That was another complaint as many felt it was boring. I liked it but I like history. I am horrible at remembering timelines and dates but I enjoy reading it and learning about it even if I can't retain it in an accurate timeline with correct dates.
This year has been a journey of re-evaluation of my life. And so many of Gilbert's thoughts were like she was inside my head. I enjoyed her style of writing - the honesty, the humor, the stories all touched me. I enjoyed it so much I started to reread it before I returning it to the library. And now I have my own copy and it already has quite a few little flags sticking out of it. I know it is a book I will pick up often. I know I will see knew things in it each time. And I am glad I have it on my bookshelf.
Note: As of September 2008 - I have read this 4 times. As of December 2008 - I have read this 5 times. As of Jan. 2010 - I have read this 6 time...more
A dear friend recommended this book and I am so grateful to her as I love this book and the series! I must admit though in reading the book cover synoA dear friend recommended this book and I am so grateful to her as I love this book and the series! I must admit though in reading the book cover synopsis threw me off. I didn't think I would be much interested in a romance novel based on time travel. I enjoy historical romance novels but this one from the description I thought was going to seem too implausible for me to get into it. But I was highly mistaken. This was a page tuner. I hope to own the whole series at some point because they are books I know I would read over and over again.
Unlike some books I have read lately the character development is beyond any I have read. Dianna Gabaldon has a true gift for creating human emotion on the page.
Make sure you have the next book on hand because you will want to dive into it after finishing outlander!...more
This book was the most difficult of the series to read -- for the most part. I got lost in some of the details. I love Gabaldon's details but some of This book was the most difficult of the series to read -- for the most part. I got lost in some of the details. I love Gabaldon's details but some of the history was confusing for me to follow. I felt like I was really forcing my way through and then all of sudden things would make sense and there would be the action/situation that just really then make sense. But it still was amazing journey to read. Jamie and Claire's love story just makes me always want to see what happens next to them. I also really enjoyed that this book is a story Claire is sharing with her daughter. ...more
"Indulge your artistic intuition as you plan and create vivid and revealing visual diaries and sketchbooks." That is from the back of the book and I t"Indulge your artistic intuition as you plan and create vivid and revealing visual diaries and sketchbooks." That is from the back of the book and I think it really is a good summary for the book.
I did like this book but I liked it more for the images then the actual written words. This book gives some tips and techniques but in a much different way then Collage Discovery. Collage Discovery gave step by step clear instructions on good techniques. Artist' Journals & Sketchbooks gives more a general overview of techniques but not real indepth step by step instructions. Such as Collage Discovery gives you several different ways to do transfers and actual how to step for each. Artists Journal & Sketchbook tells you that there are 9 ways to do transfers and give you 1 actual step by step how to of transfers. So for me it wasn't really a how to book but a book that says there are lots of different techniques a person could use in their journals or sketchbook. It is a book of this is about your exploration to uncover your creativity making your artist journal or sketchbook something new and fresh.
I do need to say the images in this book are inspiring all on the own. Each image really gave me tons of ideas that just keep spinning to new ones. So just for the images alone this book was worth picking up.
I have read this book 4 times and the last being Jan. 25, 2009...more
Just like the first Collage Discovery Workshop book this one was just as amazing. It has great ideas, good techniques, good instructions, good photogrJust like the first Collage Discovery Workshop book this one was just as amazing. It has great ideas, good techniques, good instructions, good photographs and is just in general offer clear, helpful, practical advice for collage artists. It is a book I go to again and again.
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