First off, please forgive me for neglecting my blog for so long. Like many people, once I let things slide, inertia kicks in and it’s hard for me to regain inspiration and momentum. I think about posting, even taking photos, but then something else takes priority and the spark I once had evaporates.

Enough! I say.

Earlier this month I attended a collage class given by my friends Gael Clauson and Patti Warren. Gael is a watercolor journal keeper, a hand letterer, book artist, and a gel plate aficionado. Patti is a renowned watercolor artist, book artist  and journal keeper. Together they teach a series highly regarded classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth. Both Gael and Patti showed many examples of their work to a roomful of eager artists. We were instructed to bring a poem or quote that, when divided, would fit five or six pages of the sewn pamphlet. Gael and Patti generously provided the pamphlets and all the collage fodder. We were told to silence our inner critics and pick out an appealing selection of collage pieces and just go for it!

Let me preface this by saying that collage is not my chosen art form nor am I comfortable working outside my usual medium. That said, I was immediately drawn to a specific gel printed piece but after selecting other patterned papers I ended up discarding my original sheet and going with five patterns and a solid black. I took a deep breath and as I started I could feel myself easing into it — I was getting in the flow.

Less than two hours later my book was done.

I am pieces of all the places I have been, and the people I have loved. I’ve been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight, and the smell of coffee.

— Brooke Hampton

My hope is to post weekly — no promises, but I have to start somewhere. Thanks for coming with me as I dip my toes back into the pool.