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Monday 30 April 2012

Altered Book - lesson 6

For lesson 6 from Elizabeths ~Altered Book Course~ we were asked to look at more design principles.  As I am working in a timeline in my Mums book  have done a collage about her training as a chef/cook after she left school in 1952 aged 16.  She went to work with 2 sisters at a little restaurant locally called The Blue Door.  Amazingly, after 60yrs the building looks the same, even with a blue door, though not a restaurant any longer.  Anyway here is my simple collage...


I spray painted the book page to 'dim' down the wording and then covered it with some tissue paper that I got wrapped round something.  Its great and I am so pleased that I saved it as it has the word 'ingredients' printed all over it!!!  The retro cook & the blue plates are from The Graphics Fairy.  The rest I found on Google, a thank you to whoever put the images out there!  As for the principles of the design I hope I have it right...

Rythm or pattern - the words in the background, the plates & the veggies.
Movement - haha, I had a peapod falling off the table!
Repetition - has to be the veggies, words & plates again.
Contrast & Dominance - the woman really stands out in the black & is the focal point.

I expect you may be wondering why I whittered on about a blue door.  Well, I sneakily made up the opposite page , not a collage & probably not meeting the remit but I needed to add it :-D  Don't look Elizabeth - no proportion rules here, sorry my lovely!


The door opens to reveal a piture of my Mum when she was 16, a lucky find :-D .  Please bear in mind that my Mum won't be having this book or probably see it.  She just wouldn't understand what I am doing or why hahaha!  Also, I shall be writing her story in it which is why there are blank areas.


Thank you for taking a look.  If you are interested there is no time limit on this fabulous free course and do go & see what the others have done, HUGS xxx

17 comments:

Annie said...

How lovely Karen. You are certainly making a book to treasure :-)
Hugs,
A x

Kath said...

A lovely page, Karen. I hope your Mum will at least see this when you have finished. She will be so touched I am sure.

SandeeNC said...

oh wow, LOVE your pages, and my dear, the pea pod falling off the table made me smile! you are wrong though, the left page has design elements too, the door is a dominant feature, the plate show repetition and the door when it opens is movement, see you did them without even thinking! lol great job!! waving hi from the beautiful hills of North Carolina :)

Kaz said...

This is amazing Karen, I really love what you've done, especially opening the door to see the photo of your mum xxx

Von said...

You have done a lovely job in my eyes Karen :)
x♥x

cheryl said...

oh sweetie,this is brilliant Hun just loving,the pages you have created here Hun,love that photo,hugs Cherylxxxx

Julia Dunnit said...

It's going great Karen, love your collage page. Don't forget, Elizabeth will be the first to say that there are no rules.

Dawn said...

Its beautiful my lovely, well done you. Fab photo of mum too and love the door. Love you x x x x

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Karen, each page is more lovely than the next! You've certainly demonstrated the lesson very well. I'm getting some tips on how to spruce up my backgrounds, too!

elle said...

The background colour is wonderful anf the silhouette striking. The peapod movement made me laugh but it definitely is movement. Your own memories will make this very special. I also see contrast- a blue door on the orange background. Yummy!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Actually Karen, I love the entire spread. See, breaking the rules is ALWAYS permitted, especially in collage and mixed media. Beside, you just created an interactive pop-up, so you are ahead of the game. At least I THINK we are doing something like that.

I was quite pleased with the images you chose for these pages. Those blue plates are great, too.

BJ said...

Well I think you have captured the essence of your Mum's cooking really well. The blue plates and door tie it all together and I can see perspective to the door with the line you have drawn to ground both elements. The fact the door opens is extra special, can't wait for Elizabeth to get to that bit in the course - LOL - not sure I can wait. BJ

paulaexuk said...

Great spread, always loved blue plates hanging on a wall. Your mum looks like Alice in Wonderland to me a great proportion example.

Unknown said...

Love this so much I thing the Blue door is essential! I love the story behind it (no pun intended haha) and I think the other page is very beautifully done. I agree about the tissue paper here, it's a great keeper. Dxx

Helen said...

I am weeks behind but love these pages. your opening door is fabulous.

Sherry said...

Brilliant pages Karen, I really love them - you've got it all covered and so cleverly done too.

Susan said...

I think your page is just lovely. Really love how you brought all the elements together.