Book Arts Improv: Grand prize winner

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
  

 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!

Book Arts Improv Book #4: Bras for Bros

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!

Book Arts Improv: Week #4 Themes

Many thanks to everyone who entered this week’s Book Arts Improv!

This week’s winning entry is…

…number 5!

Congrats to Velma!

This week’s themes are as follows:

• 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

I’d like to take this opportunity to respond to some of the entries:

• I’d celebrate that: it’s to damn cold to go out
• I’d wear that: down-filled panties
• I’d totally eat that: clouds, glass marbles, baby feet, and sea anemones

The Book Arts Improv grand prize winner will be drawn on Monday, January 30th – the prize is a set of books that includes one of each of the four books created during the Improv.

Everyone who has posted suggestions for the past four weeks will be entered into the drawing. If you have participated in the Improv for more than one week, each week’s post will count as one entry – if you’ve been following me for four weeks, then your odds are better.

Come back to see this week’s completed book on Saturday and find out who wins the grand prize on Monday!

Book Arts Improv: Call #4

Here we are in the last week of the Book Arts Improv – it has been a roller coaster! My studio is a total disaster. Enough of a disaster that I won’t take a picture of it. Ugh.

I hereby enter a state of denial.

[Denial]

Ah…much better.

Here are the suggestions for this week:

1. The best holiday that doesn’t exist
2. A fashion trend that should go mainstream
3. An inedible object that looks tasty

To participate in the Improv, just comment on this post with a response for each of the three categories listed above. I’d like to keep this suitable for all audiences, so please, nothing offensive.

I will accept suggestions until 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. On that day, one entry will be selected at random and not only will that person’s suggestions be used for that week’s book, but the winner will also receive a copy of the book.

This week is also your last chance to get an entry in for the big prize – a set of books that includes each of the four books created during the Improv.

Everyone who has posted suggestions for each week will be entered into a drawing (one entry per person, per week). If you have participated in the Improv for more than one week, each week’s post will count as one entry – if you’ve been following me for four weeks, then your odds are better.

One more thing – if the grand prize winner has already won one of the books earlier in the month, then I’ll send the remaining three books in the set. Another drawing will then be held for the remaining book. Hopefully that all makes sense.

Good luck to everyone!

Book Arts Improv Book #3: Little Known Facts About Crap

Working on this week’s book was definitely the most fun for me. I got to shop for poop-colored paper (you’ll understand why in a moment).

Here are the themes I was working with this week:

• A sign that you’re a grownup: Cholesterol tests
  
• Something that should never be a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade: The Christmas Poo from South Park
  
• A scary place: Any shopping mall on Dec. 24

In considering the three themes, I realized how they could all be tied together with crap – it really was only a matter of time before I created a crappy book.

The crap theme is even more appropriate considering that every other conversation I have with Wiggum is “Do you have to poop? Let’s go out. It’s time to poop.”

Here’s the finished product – a book entitled Little Known Facts About Crap:

The covers are made of butt-shaped bookboard and were covered with Chinese silk bookcloth. The inset was printed in Book Antiqua on a transparency sheet.

The basic structure is a flag book – the spine is made of card stock folded like a paper fan and rows of flags are attached to opposing sides of the folds.

 

The flags were cut from Canson Mi-Teintes paper in lovely shades of poo. I printed the text of the book on transparency sheets and adhered the pieces to the flags.

The original plan was to do a text transfer on toilet paper, which would then be attached to the flags. Unfortunately, that didn’t work well. Then I tried to do a transfer with Unryu. Didn’t work. Then I considered printing the text on vellum, but I couldn’t find it in my disaster of a studio.

The thought of using transparencies was totally by accident – I had them out so I could use them for a class I’m teaching next week. Had I actually cleaned up after myself earlier in the week, I wouldn’t have had the idea. As if I needed another reason to not clean my studio…

Here’s the complete text of the book (from left to right, top to bottom):

If you crap your pants, Mr. Hankey will appear and congratulate you.

Holy crap can be repaired with duct tape.

Cutting the crap is easier with sharp scissors.

Crapola is a delicious Italian specialty.

When you’re full of crap, there’s no room for pizza.

Your television will crap out on you whenever you’re watching a season finale.

If you don’t pass your cholesterol test, the nurse will kick the crap out of you.

The game craps is played with actual pieces of crap.

CRAP is an acronym for can’t retain all products.

One day, I’ll get my crap together.

More people buy crap for gifts at malls on the day before Christmas than on any other day of the year.

The contents of this book – total crap.

The insides of the covers were lined with Canson Mi-Teintes.

Just like my first Improv book, DOs and DONTs for Not Being a Dumbass, I incorporated a pocket in the back of the book to hold the colophon. I liked the transparencies so much, I also used them for the colophon. This book will be printed in a limited edition of 7 copies.

I’ll be posting the new (and last) Improv themes tomorrow, so be sure to come back if you’d like to enter the weekly drawing.

I’m looking forward to week four!

Worktable Wednesday

This week’s themes have bubbled around in my brain a lot. It was harder to make connections between them that made sense.

But I did it.

Nothing tangible has been made because I still need to go shopping, but here are some hints about where I’m going:

• Crap (one of my favorite themes)
• Flag book
• Shaped covers
• Pink bookcloth

 See you on Saturday!

Book Arts Improv: Week #3 Themes

Many thanks to everyone who entered this week’s Book Arts Improv!

Now that I’m all finished with my book from last week, I can focus on this week’s winning entry…

…number 7!

Congrats to Leslie!

This week’s themes are as follows:

• A sign that you’re a grownup: Cholesterol tests
  
• Something that should never be a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade: The Christmas Poo from South Park
  
• A scary place: Any shopping mall on Dec. 24

The last call for suggestions will be posted on Sunday, January 22nd and they will be completely different from those posted this week.

Come back to see this week’s completed book on Saturday!

Book Arts Improv Book #2: Shaun the Sheep

Bwah – computers! Just sayin’.

So I finally finally finished the second book for this year’s Book Arts Improv. I’m disappointed that I missed my deadline. Of course, it’s a self-imposed deadline, so I’m going to cut myself a break.

Here are the themes I was working with this week:

• The eighth deadly sin: Politics
  
• An unfortunate name for a children’s movie: Shaun the Sheep
• Something your parents told you, but you wish they hadn’t: There is no Santa Claus

Here’s the finished product – a book entitled Shaun the Sheep:

The covers are made of Sherpa craft fur and lined with natural-colored Unryu. The feet are accented with bits of black felt.

I printed the text pages using Book Antiqua on Mohawk Superfine 28 lb. writing paper in white eggshell. The book was bound using the longstitch binding with unwaxed, natural linen thread. I hate to admit it, but this was the first time I had ever done the longstitch binding. It was pretty easy, but I don’t recommend using Sherpa craft fur – it’s too bendy.

Here’s the complete text of the book:

Shaun the sheep did not like Sheldon the sheep.

He thought that Sheldon was shifty, shallow, and a total shithead. Obviously he was in politics.

Shaun really wanted Sheldon to shut up. He wanted it so badly it made him shiver.

Shaun and Sheldon were friends when they were kids and Shaun resented Sheldon ever since the day he told them there was no Santa Claus.

Shameless.

And Sheldon continued with his shenanigans.

Shaun would give him shelter when his shabby shed needed repairs.

Sheldon left his home in shambles and left Shaun shaken.

Shaun felt like he was always in Sheldon’s shadow.

Sheldon was shrewd with the ladies.

He would schmooze as needed to get a sheep in between the sheets.

Sadly, Shaun was shy. He loved Sheila the sheep.

He couldn’t shore up his courage to talk to her. In Shaun’s eyes, Sheila was shiny.

One day, Sheldon set his sights on Sheila. He eyed her like a shark.

Shaun was shocked. He shuddered and shrieked.

Then a plan took shape. It was time for a shakedown.

He took the shortcut to Sheldon’s house. He shimmied through the front door. He called to Sheldon, who was in the shower.

Sheldon appeared – he was freshly shaven. He was shorter than Shaun had remembered.

“I’m not sharing Sheila with you!â€� Shaun shouted.

Sheldon was sorry and it showed. It wasn’t a sham.

Shaun smiled.

And shot Sheldon six times.

He wrapped him up in a sheet, shoveled an 8 foot hole in the ground, and shoved him in.

And Shaun lived happily ever after.

This book will be printed in a limited edition of 10 copies.

Here’s hoping that the third week will go more smoothly!

Book Arts Improv: Call #3

Welcome to week 3 of the Book Arts Improv!

Ugh. Last week.

I guess it was going to happen sooner or later.

In the spirit of a clean slate, here are the new suggestions:

1. A sign that you’re a grownup.
2. Something that should never be a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
3. A scary place.

To participate in the Improv, just comment on this post with a response for each of the three categories listed above. I’d like to keep this suitable for all audiences, so please, nothing offensive.

I will accept suggestions until 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. On that day, one entry will be selected at random and not only will that person’s suggestions be used for that week’s book, but the winner will also receive a copy of the book.

Good luck!

Worktable Wednesday

This week’s Book Arts Improv book hasn’t quite settled into my brain yet. I have changed my mind many times on both content and structure.

I have made one choice and here it is:

And that’s about all I can show you. I wish I were further along, but all I can say in my defense is Wiggum!

Note: I am very aware that this excuse will only be acceptable for so long and I’m going to milk it for all it’s worth!