A few days ago, a friend gave me a blank canvas journal. I asked what I should do with it. I got a lot of good suggestions and decided to take a leap. First, I cut the canvas pages apart to make 6 pages.
I wanted to do a theme book–something that focused on just one thing–so I made the book about Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale, AZ. I went to the park, took some photos and printed them out on a transparency, on Lutradur, and on cotton. I sewed the edges to keep the canvas from unraveling.
The cover is a map, and there are some ink drawings on the inside. You an see the rest on the video. This was fun!
–Quinn McDonald is the author of Raw Art Journaling: Making Meaning, Making Art to be released by North Light in July of 2011.
QuinnCreative 
Aha, so the truth comes out at last — you CAN sew!
Well, only if “sew” means “fitting a piece of fabric through a sewing machine,” and does not imply successful or attractive joining of material or a construction of an item that needs to fit.
Oh I dunno, sounds like this turned out to be both!
I love this journal. Love the photographs, love the different ways you transferred them to the canvas, love that you gave yourself a time deadline to stop that perfection thing (a good tip I will use), love that you sewed a piece on crooked and let it stay crooked! And love that you made a movie of it. Wow!
AND love that peacock feather photo and the baby ducks, too. What a fun place that must be–with or without a camera in hand!
I haven’t been to Saguaro Ranch Park in a few years, what a great book you put together! I like how you used different techniques with the photos and do I notice some sewing?!! Really nice book. I just might have to give canvas a try one of these days! Nice job on the videos also. Thanks so much for sharing what you’re doing!
Awww, thank you, Lynn. You are such a good cheerleader–and you have the best ideas. There is a lot of sewing on this book–after i cut the edges apart, I had to sew the edges to prevent unraveling. Then I sewed on most of the images–you can see the transparency is sewn on crooked–I didn’t even mind. OK, I did, but I’m getting over it!
Way cool sweetie!! That inspires me to make a book like this, the idea will need time to coalesce into something more full-bodied.
Hugs,
GwenGuin
You know, Gwen, I thought my idea should be fully thought out, too. That’s how I am. Then I decided to give myself a time deadline and work as quickly as possible. It’s a perfectionist exercise I do–go for the idea, not the perfection. In this case, I’m pleased that I kept working!
….do you ever think of doing workshops with kids? You have such wonderful ideas…and you really reach out to share and learn from others. Just thought how much fun it would have been when I was teaching to have you come out to the classroom and integrate the arts into the day:)
I absolutely, positively never have thought of doing a workshop with kids. Adults are easier for me. I love integrating arts into the day though–workshops teach me so much, I love them!
I enjoyed both your videos and the range of comments your readers supplied for the first one. There are no boundaries to creativity and it’s wonderful that folks like you offer such great online content. I’m looking forward to the publication of your journal book. I took a peek inside and like your twists and the originality it hints at. Nice job!
Thanks so much, porchsitter! I just came home from my first video lesson and I’ll be laughing at these poor efforts soon. But meanwhile, I love challenging myself!