Elissa R. Campbell | Blue Roof Designs

Worktable Wednesday

February 1, 2012 (5 days ago) - by Elissa

Working on student kits for this Friday’s Mixed Media Cards Marathon workshop at Studio Place Arts.

And still sick.

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• Tagged as "Studio Place Arts", card making, mixed media, Vermont, workshop

Book Arts Improv: Grand prize winner

January 30, 2012 (1 week ago) - by Elissa

Welcome to the grand prize drawing of the Book Arts Improv!

Just in case you’ve forgotten what the prize is, it’s a set of books that includes one each of the four books created during the Improv:

• DOs and DON’Ts for Not Being a Dumbass
  
• Shaun the Sheep
  
• Little Known Facts About Crap
• Bras for Bros
  

The Whole Shebang

 I’m just going to get right to it. The nonexistent envelope, please:

Congrats to Stephanie B!

And so concludes my four weeks of craziness…except that now I get to work on completing the four editions. That might take longer than four weeks!

I’ll be contacting all the Improv winners so that I can make arrangements to get your book(s) to you. For those of you who didn’t win, you’re in luck! This year the Improv editions are larger than three, which means that I’ll have books available for purchase. I’ll keep you posted on when that happens – they’ll be listed in my Etsy shop.

If you’d like to see the books up close and personal, I’ll have them on display during this spring’s Open Studio Weekend. You can also give me a call if you’d like to stop by the studio at another time – just give me time to clean (you should see it now – ugh).

This year’s Improv was exhausting, but fulfilling. Note to self – do not get a new puppy during the winter months. And do not get sick.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Improv – it wouldn’t have been possible without your suggestions. How else could I create books with such classic themes as poop and man boobs?

See you next year!

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• Tagged as book arts, Book Arts Improv, Bookbinding, giveaway, improvisation

Book Arts Improv Book #4: Bras for Bros

January 30, 2012 (1 week ago) - by Elissa

I am thrilled to announce that I’ve finally completed the last book in this year’s Book Arts Improv!

Being sick really sucked. All I wanted to do was get into the studio and my body kept saying, “Poof – body aches!” I’m still sick, if you can believe it. My throat is killing me and I’m pretty sure that I’m now addicted to cough drops. Poo.

Anyway, thanks to Chris, I was able to get a break from Wiggum duty and I cranked out a book that I’m quite proud of.

Here are the themes I was working with this week:

• The best holiday that doesn’t exist: don’t go to work day
• A fashion trend that should go mainstream: bras that feel good
• An inedible object that looks tasty: printer’s ink

And moving from butts to boobs, I proudly introduce Bras for Bros:

The concept for this book came to me while walking Wiggum, which seems to be my juicy brain time. Once I knew the theme, all the visual components quickly fell into place. I didn’t really have second thoughts about anything.

For whatever reason, I became convinced that if a man were to wear a bra, then it would have to be made of leather – that would make it manlier. Now I’m not so sure…

The bookboard covers were covered with reptile embossed paper – I have this paper in several colors and I love it! The text block was printed in Book Antiqua on Crane’s 24 lb. writing paper and was sewn over goat leather straps (bra straps, actually) with silk thread.

Here’s the complete text of the book:

I wish I didn’t have to go to work.
I swear I’m going to go berserk.

I work in a print shop, full of ink tubes…
…and co-workers who mock my sad man boobs.

I’m not overweight by any means.
But I’ve been cursed with rather unfortunate genes.

As much as I’d rather not have these…
…I’m not going to stop eating all that cheese.

So I’m forced to shop for manly support…
…because my t-shirt always falls short.

All I want is a bra that feels good.
And doesn’t make me sacrifice my manhood.

So until that day, with great regret…
…I’m forced to shop at Victor’s Secret.

The insides of the covers were lined with black Speckletone paper. This book will be printed in a limited edition of 10 copies.

I’ll be posting the grand prize winner shortly. That lucky duck will win a set of books that includes each of the four books created during the Improv.

Good luck to everyone!

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• Tagged as book arts, Book Arts Improv, Bookbinding, bra, improvisation, man boobs