Artist Statement: "I used real leaves on asparagus handmade paper. I also hand sewed fiber around handmade paper in the middle of the composition. Then I had to color copy all due the way the leaves will disappear with age. Used a Brause pen with black Higgins Ink. I love Nature and especially leaves. Once Upon a Time - these leaves were green! I do have some other things in the works. Three pieces for a doctor friend, and a Neuland Flag Book that I never finished from a class." --Cookie Sorge

Artist Statement: "This quotation reminded me that there is something for us to learn in the realms of fairy tales about resilience and continuing on despite hardship. I used yellow and red Bister inks and a spray bottle to create my border, after taping off the center with painter’s tape. Then I used a 1mm Brause nib and red Bister ink for the text. Using the Bister inks in this way was new to me. I dropped the crystals on the paper and sprayed them with water. It was trial and error in not using too many colors or oversaturating my paper, if that happened it could get muddy. Coming up, I am working on a couple calligraphic pieces that pay tribute to the pandemic in a lighthearted way. I plan to utilize the Bister inks again, but this time with Neuland script." --Heather Rohnert

Artist Statement: 1 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 2 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 3 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 4 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 5 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 6 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 7 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 8 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 9 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 10 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement: 11 of 11 "Grandmother Book Summary: My grandmother, Alberta H. Christensen, wrote poetry. In one of my favorite poems, "This is my Valley" she reflects back to her childhood roots and to the poignant recollections that made her childhood days so memorable. The book has a simple Japanese binding with a marbled paper cover. I used gouache and a brown fine micron pen for the bookhand lettering and illustrations and Arches text wove for the pages." --Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 1 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 2 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 3 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 4 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 5 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 6 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 7 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 8 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 9 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 10 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson

Artist Statement 11 of 11 "Travel Log Book Summary: 'Once upon a time' my son, David, volunteered to teach in Portugal and Cabo Verde. In this 'travel log', I included stamps from the letters he sent home, added funny quotes/stories from these letters, and detailed some of the towns he lived in. I had a great time doing this and gave it to him as a memoir of his 2 year church mission experience. The inspiration for this little book came from Carol Pallesen's class on "Madcap Map Books." Carol had us use a large sheet of Arches 300 lb. rough watercolor paper. With a sharpie marker we sketched a simple map of a favorite place and then added watercolors. The paper was torn into rectangular pieces which then created multiple interesting layouts. The blank back side of the pieces were glued together to form the book. After I assembled the book I added drawings with a fine micron pen, stamps, and whimsical drawings to represent his stories.--Suzann Swenson