The Sketchbook Project

 I received a small, but special, envelope in the mail today.

Inside were four little things. . .

 A 5"x7" plain sketchbook, a booklet of rules and instructions, a bright orange sketchbook sleeping bag and . . .

 a pencil made from reclaimed denim.

I don't recall where I first heard about The Sketchbook Project - probably from someone in The Sketchbook Challenge - but I was drawn in from the get-go. (oh that was a bad, unintended pun!)

The idea behind The Sketchbook Project is to bring together thousands of creative people around the world to form a traveling library of artists' books.  Once my book is full I send it to The Brooklyn Art Library where it will travel across the USA and then find a permanent house in the Library.

I am all about trying new things and stretching myself and this seemed like it was right up my alley. I joined The Sketchbook Challenge from the very beginning but have been terrible about following through on every challenge.  I've only posted on the Flickr site a couple of times but my enthusiasm for the project hasn't died.  I thought a project like this where I was accountable (my journal has to be mailed to The Brooklyn Art Library by January 15, 2013) and had a deadline would be helpful and productive.  However I just realized there is always a deadline with The Sketchbook Challenge and I'm still a slacker.  Ah!  What have I done?

I've taken the first step - that is what I've done!

I bought the journal and committed myself!

And I've taken the second step as well:

I've let everyone who reads my blog know I was participating.

That is perhaps the scary part because now I am even more accountable.

So - faithful and not-so-faithful readers - what shall I create first in my new sketchbook?