It took me longer to prepare my book, than I'd expected. I didn't end up actually making an entry as my character, until April 14th. I've consistently made entries daily since then, though, so feel I've somewhat redeemed myself on that account. I've also added random bits here and there, which is something I apparently can't help but do, even in character. It's my book so I see no reason not to continue, though I am curbing it more than in my normal art journals.
This year's theme is 'No Explanations,' so I won't bore anyone with a detailed background about my character or what she's talking about in her entries. Heck, I may not know yet anyway...she's evolving. She doesn't even have a name yet.
Slight background story...for the sake of not having to do a ton of research, my character lives at the Jane Hotel in New York, where I stayed for an extended weekend last December. (They do have full-time residents there, although I can't seem to find the cost of rent online.) Much of what my character refers to is based on things I experienced while in NY, though, let me tell ya, I'm taking a LOT of liberties. Sometimes I'm just flat out making sh*t up.
So here we go!
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| I chose to alter a discarded library book. The title is Start Where You Are, which seemed appropriate. Notice the awesome scarf? Bought it from a Central Park street vendor...thought it would make the perfect background! |
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| I started the journal by cutting out some pages, painting some white, and adding notebook paper to some. I added an envelope to the inside front cover, for a write-up of the project when I've finished. The man's face sketched at the bottom right corner is the logo from the International Fake Journal blog. (The artist gets full credit...I just glued it into my book.) |
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| My character was inspired to leave home (wherever that was, who knows) after reading this article. |
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| She has very limited resources, so primarily uses stuff cut from magazines and other bits of ephemera. Which is totally like me, but, she doesn't cut things out very neatly and uses tape sometimes instead of gluing every last bit of surface down. |
==> Here is the later added photo....
The journal entry on the first page is as follows:
(4-15-2014) Now what. Journal all of my hopes & dreams? I think I should just document what's going on. Maybe then the other stuff will just happen. Maybe not. Feeling cynical. And tired. So far: Left everything & everyone. Needed a new start. Moved into the Jane Hotel on April Fool's Day as a resident, not a guest. The bellhop & I joked about the date. But maybe it was a sign. Too many signs...
Found this book on a curb, which seemed like another sign. Decided to use it as a journal then realized I have few (none) supplies so will have to be extra resourceful. I can do this.
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| (4-16-2014) This layout has an inclusion, which means that she inserted the large postcard between two pages that have been cut down, forming a hinge. Then, did some poetry thing (there's a name for this technique but I can't remember what it is) and covered the remainder of the page with a security envelope. |
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| This is the other side of the layout with the large postcard inclusion. It shows pics of the bathroom and a room at the Jane (snagged from their site), along with some journaling (below). 1-My spacious (7x10) new room/home. I need a chair & tv tray so I don't have to live in the bed. 2-Communal bathroom sinks (toilets to the right). 3-Showers in the communal bathroom. Very Clean! |
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| (4-17-2014) Mostly journaling over glued-on notebook paper, plus some magazine pics. Interesting workday today. The horrid mom who bought a paint set for her equally horrid daughter came in, on a rant, because the white paint was gone. Of course it was, because I took, but Maggie didn't know that and told the woman she couldn't issue refund because it had been too many days and there was no receipt to prove it was purchased there. I knew, of course, but kept my mouth shut while I continued to refill the pocket kleenex display. I remembered the day they came in and the little brat threw a fit about the paint set so I made sure she got that one. Served her right for behaving so badly. Today she just stood there, holding her nanny's hand, watching her mom come unglued. Learning. That's a sad state of affairs~ According to Maggie, the best bagels in the neighborhood are from Katzman's Deli on Bethune Street. Boots for next winter. They look warm. |
Just as a reminder, the writing is done quickly, kind of free-form, and with no editing. Please pardon the run-on sentences etc!
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| (4-18-2014) When I painted some of the pages (white craft paint), some of them stuck together when I thought they were dry. I used the bits of torn-off paper to add to the background of other pages. This layout has journaling, magazine bits, doodling, and the wrapper from a sugar cube from Cafe Gitane (located in the Jane). I know I shouldn't spend the money on it, but at least for now I'm allowing myself the luxury of one coffee & an almond croissant every morning at Cafe Gitane. (I'll save 1/2 the croissant for later so it's not as bad.) Had today off, so explored the area a little bit more. Found out also that even thought the Jane has free bikes to use, I can't take one to work. i can for trips to the grocery, but am still responsible if it's stolen, Kind of a hassle so we'll see. Had a delicious hand-held pie (chicken & mushroom) from a British grocery/deli a few blocks away. Not super expensive so that will be a good place to keep in mind. Another hassle is no fridge in my room but I think I can handle that. On payday I'll get a hotpot for water & instant soup etc. Maggie said that anything I buy there is at a discount. Working at a drugstore has the advantage of having a wide variety of items available, like food/toiletries/meds. |
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| (4-19-2014) This layout has another inclusion, which is a grocery list of sorts on an index card. Part of the concept of this project is for people to step outside of their normal creative habits. For me, this meant to be much less picky about how the magazine bits were cut/torn and also not always writing right on the lines. I also made myself write on top of images, which felt really wrong to me. Busy morning! Ruby (from down the hall) invited me to go with her to the big church sale. Thank God she has a shopping basket cart thing...I'm not used to walking that far yet & bought too many things. Found a great folding chair, now I just need a tv tray, for my room. She also insisted that I should grab as many sweaters as I could, from the free table. Said that I'd thank her this winter. It seemed silly, given my lack of storage, but did get three decent ones,. Also bought a coffee mug that would fit inside of a hotpot, for heating soup. Ruby has been a wealth of info about "small" living. I think she feels sorry for me...that I'm an ignorant girl with no clue. (Yeah..."girl". Ruby is nearly 80 so at 30 I'm still a girl to her.) She also warned me about the guy in the corner room, down our hall. He hasn't said anything to me but she said he swears a lot,. I think she's just distrustful of old white men. |
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| The other side of the layout with the index card inclusion. Ruby & I had hotdogs for lunch from her friend Joe the Hot Dog Man. (Seriously, could I make this up?) After we unloaded at the Jane, I got cleaned up and went to work. Started making a list of no-fridge meal ideas, on break. It will be nice once the Farmer's Market is open on the waterfront but winter could be sketchy for veg/fruit. Oh well, cross that bridge when I get to it. |
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| (4-20-2014) More magazine bits and journaling on top of a painted background. (Easter) I miss Ernie more than anything, but he left before I did so there's not even that to return to. And I don't know why I packed that stupid frame. One of the shell pieces broke off during transit. Oh well. Anyway, didn't work today so used the time to hand-wash my laundry, per Ruby's instructions. Thank goodness she told me to snatch up that big plastic bowl at the church sale, otherwise I'd be washing in a sink that strangers brush their teeth at. Ew. So, washed a few things then hung them on hangers on the brass rail in my room. It's an oven in here so they should dry easily. Spent the rest of the day reading magazines outside. Really nice little park across the street at the waterfront (Hudson River). I hope I always work the days that the magazine guy comes to swap out the issues. He gave me a handful (my choice!) for free. He said that he just tells his boss how many he collected then takes them to a couple of donation places. Overall, a pretty good day, and I'm thankful for the weather and the people I've met thus far. |
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Thanks!
