Back to School - altered board book

Getting together with other artists to create on a regular basis one to one is very inspiring. I am fortunate to belong to two local groups of mixed media an altered art groups. Some months we challenge each other with certain projects. Other times we are involved in round robins. In the next few week I would like to share a couple of those projects with you.

The first is an altered child's board book. The challenge was to use four pocket type templates at least five times in an altered book. We were given the templates and given two months to complete out book and bring it back to share. Many of the girls - myself included - have a technique altered book that we just constantly add to or try new things in. For this challenge I decided just to do a separate book with pockets as the structure theme.

I chose a board book, I have a whole basket of them I am trying to wheedle down to a manageable size. I also, had cleaned out and sorted most of my 12 by 12 inch papers and decided to use some of the older paper I had been hoarding. After looking at my paper the school theme was where it was going.

The next thing was to pick out some images and start. I had been going through the cabinet card collection and sorting them, too. I found a lot of teachers and young women who could have been teachers. Those would be my starting point. This book would be a little reminder for a retiring teacher - her colleagues and a postcard or letter from a student or parent. So this is what I came up with.

Comment of Freebies #9

This week I decided to do the photographs a little differently. I wrote a little bio under each one. When I see these wonderful old photographs I wonder who they were, what their lives were like, what they did, etc.... Sometimes I make up little stories about them. Sometimes on the back of the photo will be a name or relationship to the recipient of the photo on it. This can lead you to all sort of places.

I decided to post these pictures of teachers and a student because next week the kids will begin to trickle back to school. Whether college or elementary school - teachers - will have a great influence over their lives. It is a job that is very fulfilling, yet not always compensated for the value it brings to our lives. So in honor of those who are not always honored, I post these photos.

The second and third photos were sisters and they were teachers. The two women in Freebie #8 with the big puffy sleeves were teachers also - though not sisters. I know this because I bought one of their associates or pupils photo albums. These photos are from 1826 to 1858, except for the last photo in Freebie # 9. This is from 1910 to ? I hope you enjoy them.

Freebies#9 Back to School

Ready for the big day - the first day of school. All clean and neat, yet a little scared. Notice her shoes. I think the shoes were hand me downs. I can't imagine her feet are this big. I also love the lace in the window behind her. Hanging so white and neat. Also, the street is clean, so I am thinking she is a servant's child who lives in the employers' home and probably does small chores before and after school.
A young woman of distinction. Books are her life. She is well read and loves poetry. Somewhat of a romantic yet is practical all in the same breathe. Well dressed, but would rather be teaching the written word more than anything else. She secretly writes poetry and keeps a journal of her dreams of far away places.
The younger sister of the young women above her. I love the glasses. Not quite as well dressed as her sister. Clothes do not matter as much to her as other things. She is passionate about Science and Math. She believes in things that she can prove - facts. She has a great insect collection.
This young woman wears two hats as the music teacher and art teacher. Young, beautiful out to save the world with beauty. Comes from a prominent family but, wants her life to be more than what her parents want for her - marriage.
At the end of a day, one of the most important gifts you can give your child - a story. Read to your babies it is something they will take with them for life.