Getting into a dark frame of mind....
I recently joined an 'altered text' group and I am finding that altered text is a very inspiring art form. The spread I created above is in advance of the 'dark' round robin that I am involved in with several of the girls over @ the 'altered art divas reliquary' group. This photo I took of the spread doesn't reveal the text too well so here are the words below:
wildfire at midnight
thunder - waiting
the ivy tree
moonspinners - magic
rough - wind of - the hollow hills
the last enchantment
wicked - walk in wolf woods
Boy, has this ever gotten into the mood for a good ol' dark round robin now! lol

THE PANDORA BOOK

THE PANDORA BOOK
These images show how I have altered a hardcover book. I removed a great majority of the pages, then with the 40+ pages remaining I covered back and front with varying wallpapers, mulberry papers and designer papers.

Friday night I sat down to create the cover for my 'Dark Angels' book. Above is what I came up with. To make a very dark and dramatic look to my cover I used paper that had barbed wire, then added a pic of a stone angel, and my hand print using a red Distress Ink.

I've been wanting to create a journal cover that is funky and full of colour, with lots to look at and touch. So today I sat down and played with a small 6 x 6 inch journal. I've been wanting to use a small book to do artwork and journal in. So this one was just the right size and shape to use for my idea. I've titled this art journal 'Perchance To Dream'. Woven into the spine is an armadillo. A flower, fish and dragonflies dangle from the fibers. On the cover are 3D flowers and ladybug, and an Inukshuck stone. I find Inukshuks fascinating works of art, and, they have a grand purpose behind them too! Life has thrown me some mean curves over the past 3 months, so hopefully this Inukshuk stone will give me good direction and guide me safely into the future....

The Inukshuk (pronounced IN-OOK-SHOOK) meaning "in the image of man", are magnificent lifelike figures of stone which were erected by the Inuit people and are unique to the Canadian Arctic. Standing along Canada's most northern shores, they endure as eternal symbols of leadership, encouraging the importance of friendship and reminding us of our dependence upon one another.
In the Baffin region of Canada's Arctic, the traditional meaning of an Inukshuk was to act as a compass or guide for a safe journey. The Inukshuk, like ancient trackers, helped guide people seeking their way through the wilderness. An Inukshuk on land with two arms and legs means there is a valley. At the end of this valley, you will be able to go in two directions. Today, this serves as a reminder that we always have a choice in the direction we choose to take in our lives.
Erected to make the way easier and safer for those who follow, an Inukshuk represents safety and nourishment, trust and reassurance. The Inukshuk guided people across the frozen tundra and gave them hope in barren places to handle hardships they encountered. These primitive, stone images showed the way ahead... pointing you in the direction you wanted to go. Had they been able to speak, I am certain they would have said... "Here is the road. It is safe. You can meet the demands that this path holds. You can reach your goals and attain your vision of where you want to be."