Aya's book - at last

The good news is Aya's book is on it's way to Andrea.

The bad news is how shamefully long it took me to do. I just really hit a creative roadblock with it, due to the fact that I'd self-imposed this theme of dreams and didn't want to break the theme, but then again didn't feel up to the task of illustrating my dreams.

Several weeks ago I decided that since I couldn't proceed with the drawings and all I really felt like doing was make chainmaille anyway, I'd make a chainmaille pouch for the book. Aya always sends such wonderful gifts with the books, that I wanted to make something cool to send back.

Fail!

First of all, I had no money whatsoever, so I couldn't buy rings in colors that I thought would suit Aya. I had to work with what I had which is why this is a patchwork of colors.

Then I had this idea of how to close it, but it didn't quite work out. I held onto the book for a couple of weeks trying to figure something out. Finally I decided to get some jewelry hooks and they could hook it closed. Of course, a few days ago I discovered magnetic clasps that would have been perfect, but would take a few weeks to get (even when I have money!) so I decided to send it anyway, imperfections and all.

I guess this is my first test and Aya is the (un)lucky recipient.

It IS fun to play with the pouch, though. It's very sexy to roll it around in your hands and stuff. A shoulder strap could be added, or you could just stick your hand in it while you read the Internet and enjoy the feel of it. Which is mostly what I did.

I was perfectly happy with the first page I added to the book (on the right below), which maybe is why it was so hard for me to continue.

Ugh. I hate this drawing. It's from a dream I had where someone gave me a new outfit of clothes and when I put it on, I thought I looked so amazing, and I went outside to show people, and it was raining jewels which I collected in a bucket. I mean, pretty much exactly as drawn except I don't like my drawing.

Unable to proceed with drawing, I just did a page of words: 

Now feeling that I'd had this book far, FAR beyond all reasonable and unreasonable amounts of time, I was stumped for a collaboration page. And I didn't really do four pages as I should have anyway. So I did a sort of half-and-half thing. I started drawing as if I was going to fill the page, and then I stopped. Andrea can continue it or just do her own thing on the opposite page.

Sorry for the terrible delay. I'm going to try to approach the next book with a clear head and find something extra nice to send to Aya.