Make Something Monday: Texture Sketchbook

Freshman year at Clemson I was assigned a semester long assignment to keep a "texture sketchbook." The assignment was pretty vague except for filling up an average of 5 pages a week and filling it was "texture" whether found or created. At first I was overwhelmed by the openness and magnitude of the assignment but then I fell in love with the process. I now try to keep either a separate texture sketchbook or incorporate the technique into my own textbook.
So this Monday I want to go through texture sketch booking: what? how to? rules? etc. You do not need technique or skill for this project so please do not turn back from the fear of "not being able to draw!"

A texture sketchbook can contain anything:
1. found objects like leaves, labels, "trash", magazines, collage
2. Drawing and painting. It is a sketchbook after all.
3. Glue! You will need a lot of glue whether it is Elmers, hot glue or Mod Podge (that will depend on what you are attaching).
4. Sewing- I love to incorporate stitches and fibers because it gives a little something special for your fingers when you are flipping through the pages
5. fabric, buttons, ribbons, etc.
As you can see it really can contain anything. My first texture sketchbook had an antique cabinet door hinge in the middle!

How do I go about making a texture sketchbook?
1. Pick a base. You can choose a regular sketchbook, gridded paper, or watercolor paper pad. Keep in mind the size and dimensions. Portability is important. Right now I am using an old life advice book because I thought the binding was nice and sturdy and I enjoy covering up all of the advice as a little bit of rebellion each day.
2. Gather materials and start thinking about them visually rather than what they used to be. You will start to notice correlations and contextual connections. Incorporating these relations will make your book flow.
3. Just get to work. Take out your scissors and go to town! You can not make a mistake so you have nothing to be afraid of!
I like to think of each page in two ways: as a singular composition that stands on its own, and as a part of a book, so how does it relate to its neighbors.
4. Have fun!  Whether your book turns out gorgeous or a bit strange, your brain will be whirling with creativity and problem solving seeping into every other part of your life.