Karen's Whimsy

The first thing that grabbed my attention was Karen's section on Altered Books. I had never come across this art form before but apparently there are a lot of people making them.

Basically, you take an old book that is in good condition but is past reading and give it new life as an object of art. Some of them have pages that have been repainted or decoupaged. Others have niches carved out of them and surprises strategically hidden inside. Since there aren't any rules, they are based upon the whim of the artist at the time they are created. Think doodling meets scrapbooking and you can get a vague idea of what they are like. On the second thought, that is an overly simplistic explanation because many of these books are quite complex and can take years to finish.

At first I wondered if they used every page but later found that they often glue pages together to form a stiffer base to decorate. Remember, there aren't any rules so you can cut parts out or add trims, decoupage it or even leave part exposed to say whatever you want it to. What a good medium to set your imagination free!

It occurred to me that this site started to look like one big commercial for Karen's Whimsy and that is not why I created it. Karen has tapped into an art form that is diverse, creative, economical and available. Most of us can't take up pottery, glass blowing or sculpting. We just can't make that kind of commitment.

Old books are everywhere and can be had for next to nothing. This is the kind of project that you can bend to your creative impulses, using whatever mediums grab your fancy. Yes, they take time but because they are on going, they fit into those odd moments where you just want to 'mess with something'. What a creative release for those of us who are artists at heart.

A reliquary is defined as a repository or receptacle for a relic or relics.

Most of us don't have an over abundance of relics hanging about so in this case, Karen says, "These Reliquaries have a story to tell-- a moment in time, a treasured memory, a small artifact enshrined." They have the look of something that would hold a treasured memory like the faded rose you pressed into the family Bible.

As a form of altered books, they reside on a level all their own.

Imagine the next evolution of altered books. Karen's wall hangings demand attention as they shiver in the wayward breeze. You have to take a step closer to explore them because each has a depth that is hidden to the casual passer-by. As you examine them, you realize that only someone with a deep love for books would spend the required time to create these works of art. Every one is unique with different techniques, colors and textures.