“Personal Geographies” Blog Hop Book Giveaway
“You don’t have to be a world traveler or a professional cartographer to embark on a grand journey of self-discovery through map making. Personal Geographies gives you the tools and techniques you’ll need to create artful maps of your self, your experiences and your personal journey. Chart the innermost workings of your mind, document your artistic path and create an unfolding maze of your future dreams and goals.”
So say Jill Berry, the engaging author of Personal Geographies, Explorations in Mixed-Media Map Making. In this full color, 144 page book published by North Light Books, Jill takes you on a journey of making artful and expressive maps of your self, of your experiences, and of your plans, projections, and possibilities. It’s an intriguing approach to exploration of not only the world around you but the world within you.
Some of the 21 projects included in the book.
There are 21 map-related projects throughout the book that feature a variety of mixed media techniques. There are flip book maps and post card journals, maps that explore different memoirs of life events, such as vacations or holiday memories, and maps that chart your perfect place. A nice touch are the maps and their stories from 17 contributors.
I was particularly drawn to the hand map. The project focuses on a “collage of your hand using imagery that symbolizes people or places that have contributed to what you do with your hands.” I immediately thought about the people in my life who have encouraged me to use my hands in artistic ways like my dear aunt who did exquisite and complex crochet patterns using the finest thread and multiple needles and my father who was a musician and enjoyed sketching. What would I collage together to create such a map? What might you?
What would you include on your hand map?
If you’d like a chance to win a copy of Jill’s book, leave a comment telling me what you would include on your hand map. On Saturday, December 10, 2011, I will pick a winner from the comments and the book publisher will send a copy of Jill’s book directly to you!
If you want to increase your chances of winning a copy of the book, check out these blogs, also offering a copy of the book:
Friday, Nov 25 Aimee Myers Dolich
Mon Nov 28 Carla Sonheim
Tues Nov 29 Diana Trout
Thurs Dec 1 Gwen Diehn
Friday Dec 2 Jane LaFazio
Monday Dec 5 Judy Wise
Tues Dec 6 Lisa Engelbrecht
Weds Dec 7 Lyric Kinard
Thurs Dec 8 Orly Avineri
Friday Dec 9 Tracie Lyn Huskamp
If you don’t want to wait until the 10th, you can go to this post on Jill’s site, scroll towards the bottom, and learn how you can get 35% off of the retail price from now until December 9th. You can also buy a signed copy directly from Jill at the same site.
November 30th, 2011 at 4:26 am
The hand map was one of my favorite maps from the book, too.
In my hand map, I would include that I am an Aunt…it’s such an important role in my life.
November 30th, 2011 at 7:43 am
My hand map could include all of the crafting I’ve done throughout my adult life. Or, maybe a telling of my children or grandchildren and what they mean to me. Or, of the many friends who have touched my life. This book is definitely on my wish list for Christmas!
November 30th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Tha book sounds so intriguing! I’d include all the roles I play, my interests and my inner desire to be a quilting diva.;) thanks for the giveaway!
November 30th, 2011 at 8:44 am
We just had a swap that had to include a map. Jill’s book looks very interesting
November 30th, 2011 at 9:09 am
my grandpa would be included, he passed almost 20 yrs ago, but was a big influence in my art. He was always encouraging me to try something new and never criticized me
November 30th, 2011 at 10:15 am
What an amazing project! Who doesn’t love maps? For me a hand map might include the things my hands themselves do for me–kneading bread dough, painting and printing, martial arts practice, holding the hands of others through good times and bad times and end times . . . this could really turn into something.
The book looks fabulous–congrats on getting to be a part of it!
November 30th, 2011 at 10:16 am
I often trace my hand in my journal and then doodle on it. I love the idea of mapping something – maybe family recipes that need to be handed on to my daughters. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Jill’s book.
November 30th, 2011 at 10:26 am
My Mom got me on my crafting journey by teaching me how to crochet, so there would be yarn wrapped around one finger.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:25 am
I would include little photographs of places I have lived.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:42 am
I would include caressing and holding my sweet grandson, my hands’ new favorite thing to do.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Well, I would for sure include Zoltan and Judi both of whom came to my life via watercolor. Both became much more to me than the art of watercolor–they taught me so much about the arts of life.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:48 am
As soon as I saw this book, I had to make a map… Love it! My hand map would take a journey from childhood to now. From little hands to youthful hands and now the deeply veined & wise hands of a grandmother. “☆¨(✿◠‿◠)❀♫❤ ☼ ☯~Hobby
November 30th, 2011 at 11:49 am
I think the first think I would do is map what I like to have on hand to eat healthily, particularly fresh fruits. Pears, apples, clementines, cherries, lots of berries, bananas, lemons, limes, peaches, and and plums. Oh, wow, I like this! Then I could collage both hands, on facing pages in an art journal, with vegetables on the second hand. Artichokes, eggplant, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, rainbow chard, and corn on the cob are my favorites. Think of the colors and shapes! Jane LaFazio knows how pitiful I am at drawing and painting (and, evidently, name dropping) and I would love to practice with this and surprise her! Well, maybe I’d just start with one hand and a “pear” diamond ring. Oops, rambling now! :)
November 30th, 2011 at 11:50 am
A portrait of my mother, who encouraged my art and taught me how to garden and cook, and a self-portrait, because I insisted on going my own way, and a few favorite magical places that inspired me.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:52 am
Jill, Love this and would love to win for my Birthday (9th) My map would include, art, my kids and ORANGE!!! Would love to have photos of my dad too…miss him.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Good question- I would have to think about all the people who have influenced me over the years, there have been many! The ones who taught me to draw, sew, garden…It would take awhile to really think that through. What a fun project!
November 30th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
The more I read about this book, the more I want to win one–it’s a little gem.
It would certainly take more though to be true to all the influence for my hand map, but on the spur of the moment I know I’d have to include something to symbolize my paternal grandmother, my mother, nature, certain media (music and movies),the work of others (through books and online), and I’m sure a host of other influences.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
I would map my art journey.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
I would include my creative journey with fiber arts. And of course my wonderful family who is the reason I find so much joy in life.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
My paternal grandfather worked for the MN State Highway Dept. in the 1950′s when we lived with my grandparents. He posted a huge map of MN on the wall and made up a game of “Can you find it?” that the two of us often played together. That’s one of my favorite memories of Pop! He also introduced me to photography, bird-watching, and gardening – all things that still absorb my interest and time. Late in life, he learned to oil paint – thus the artistic side came through one last way during his long, creative life. All his descendants share some artistic talent or other.
For me, this book combines my creativity, my memories, my life stories/lessons, and more. I will buy a copy – if I don’t win one!
Thanks for posting, Gloria!
November 30th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I love the idea of the hand map, as well as making it a record of those who have influenced my creative journey. I was just thinking last night of the example my mother was to me with her creative endeavors as I was growing up–crocheting, cross stitching, sewing clothing, cooking, and even forays into rug hooking and candlewicking! I could make an entire map of her influence, or I could also consider how others, like my children, have influenced my artistic growth. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
November 30th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Mine would include my life of art, kids, quilts, and life lines and paths and where they have gone.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
What would I include on my hand map??
I’d love to create an interactive-like ipod that gives me my daily activities and kids’ activities literally at my fingertips!!! And if it had calling features, even better. :)
November 30th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
I would map my eclectic interests from quilting to video games to MMA!
November 30th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
I would like to make a black and white zentangle like map of my hand and all of the things that it touched throughout the day.
November 30th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
My hand map would focus on my great aunt Kate who had a knitting shop and my mom, who always had some handwork in her lap.
November 30th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Mine would reflect all of the hobbies, tasks and automatic things that my hands do for me on a daily basis…like type well!
November 30th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
I would include the place I’ve traveled. Great book!
November 30th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
After reading a few of the other blogs, I realize I was to have answered a specific question: either what is a map? or what would I map? Since I’d really like to win the book, I’ll have to answer one of them…
A map, for me, is a tool for selecting the direction in which I wish to go – and the best pathway to get there. At this point in my life (age 65-70), much of my life’s map has already been traveled. Yet circumstances often dictated where I was going and what was being done/not done. Now that I’ve retired, I’m in a totally different position of being able to map the rest of my life according to my personal wishes – or “bucket list.” Therefore, if I were to make a map, it would include many symbols for things on my bucket list: places I would like to visit, books I’d like to read, birds I want to see & hear, songs I’ll be singing, flowers I’ll be enjoying, people I love. I’d include a lot of photos – some of my grandfather’s photos as well as my own. I’d use a huge world map decoupaged to a large canvas as my base, and simply add what represents the things and people I love.
November 30th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
On my hand map I would have to have pictures of my Mom and Dad who enjoyed good art and handed down the love of art. I would also enclude a photo of my high school art teacher, who was an artist in her own right. She gave use a good broad art education, a fine foundation for work I would be doing in my future. I would map out places I have been and things I’ve seen that made me grow as an artist.
November 30th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
My daughter lives in the Netherlands with her young son. I would have a map of the country for the background with photos of different tulips on my fingers and thumb and my Dutch grandson’s photo on my palm. I was sent a photo of him as a baby being held up by his father, amongst a bed of tulips.
November 30th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
I think for a hand map, I would include all the classes and instructors I have really enjoyed. On of course one being Jill Berry and her map class I took and the 10 books in two days, Jill Powers classes, Michael DeMeng, – there’s so many – I better get started!
November 30th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Oooh, the hand map…my hands have always been my favorite cuz I use my hands for so many awesome things in life!! I would map my most important epiphany moments throughout my life, they and my hands have led to me where I am now :)
Thanks so much, the blog hop is so fun!!
November 30th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
In my Hand Map I would include the people that have “Lent Me A Hand” through my artistic journey…people whose work I admire and who have influenced who I am as an artist today. :D
December 1st, 2011 at 1:13 am
My hand map would be made up of stitches that outline the path sewing has taken me. From sewing doll clothes with my Gram to my own clothing to quilts and then the branching begins to journaling, watercolor, drawing, …… all because the stitches opened my eyes to the artistic part of me.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:19 am
I would put nail polish colors on mine.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
December 1st, 2011 at 1:42 am
The more you bloghop girls talk about Jill’s map book, the more I want it! Good job. My hand map would include all the things I do with my hands from art, to gardening, cooking and would also have to include everything my hands have lovingly taught my girls to do with their hands.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:50 am
I’d take a typical day of teaching 6th grade and working as a middle school teacher!
December 1st, 2011 at 10:06 am
i use hand symbolism in almost everything I make, so I think I would try to reverse-engineer what my hands usually stand for, and put in the symbols of what I use them for instead!
if that makes any sense. :)
December 1st, 2011 at 12:49 pm
My hand map would include my creative endeavors from crafts to art in my life.
December 1st, 2011 at 12:57 pm
I think this book will have to be mine, one way or another! Hands have never been used in one of my art pieces, so a hand map would be unexplored territory for me…Lewis & Clark for the hands! Hmmmm…my first thought would be grandson hands into a tree of ancestry.
December 1st, 2011 at 2:47 pm
My hand map would show my journey from being switched from left-handed to right as a little girl to now, at time when I am exploring and nurturing the authentic left-handedness that is still within, so many years later. :-)
December 1st, 2011 at 5:06 pm
My hand map would include references to my close family as we are all creative in one way or another and I really appreciate having grown up in such a creative environment. I’d also add significant friends who’ve helped me grow creatively.
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:31 am
My hand map would document my journey through different arts and crafts in my life – including more than 10 years when I abandoned any creativity with my hands. I don’t think I realized the void until I actually rediscovered the healing effects of art.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:53 am
I’d map what I planted in the garden last Spring…
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:09 am
I would include my dog training – it’s brought me so many good times & good friends both human and canine. Love this book s0 many good ideas.
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:06 pm
My map would be my artistic journey the past 7 years. From nothing to quite a bit.
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:51 pm
I think i would include all the places i lived when growing up. Thanks for the opportunity!
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:08 pm
My hand map would be my artistic journey
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Each finger would represent an important event or time in my life. Thanks for the giveaway!
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:29 pm
mmm – my hand map needs to be about my the good foods these two hands have provided to me and others for so many years; recipes, classes taught,tips, favorite kitchen tools…the list is starting to flow! How fun!
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:33 pm
I’d include a map of my book shelves.
December 2nd, 2011 at 11:22 pm
I love hands and use them in my journals and in art work with kids. For a hand map, I would map the threads of my life and how my hands have woven them into the person that I am, the palm representing my true Self. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
December 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 am
I do love the idea of a hand map and will do one! I would make one with places I have never been to but long to visit.Thank you for the opprortunity to win this book!
December 3rd, 2011 at 11:27 am
I would love to win this book but if I don’t, I’ll get it myself!! I am going on vacation in maine next September and I’d love to map that trip–it’s going to be very special–I’ll be reuniting with friends I used to vacation with every year until about 10 years ago. YEAH me!!!
December 3rd, 2011 at 11:56 am
(Your hand map is fabulous. What a great idea).
My hand map might include a fortune telling of what my future holds, my wishes, hopes and dreams.
December 3rd, 2011 at 12:53 pm
i did a hand map for a challenge once. I would love to try a new version using her wonderful book. My map would tell all the things my hands do and the things that slipped through the cracks.
December 5th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I’d include the houses I’ve lived in.
December 5th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
i would do a hand map of my mother’s life to give her as a present for mother’s’ day. she had a hard life and still managed to have happy memories.
December 5th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Especially during this month’s busy days, it would be fun to map my way through the holidays and enjoy them all over again.
December 6th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I would put a brain on/in it somewhere to show the deep connections that the brain and the hands have-how we put memory into our hands by the doing of things that we love so much.
December 7th, 2011 at 9:08 am
For the past 6 years I have been hiking the 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail. I would put the Trail Map on my hand to enjoy the memories of what I have seen and to remind me that hiking the Trail requires taking a step at a time, much like piecing a quilt, and I have many more steps to take.
December 7th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
This books sounds wonderful. It would be so inspiring to win it. I’d like to try to map one of my incredibly strange dreams!
December 7th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
My hand map would show all the ways I’ve used my hands to create something.
December 7th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
I would make my hand map all about gardening, digging in the earth with my hands. Planting with my hands. Pruning and deadheading to keep the flowers blossoming.
December 8th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I would have to include a spot in the middle of my palm for the special people in my life and how they’ve helped me through the crazy times.
December 8th, 2011 at 10:36 am
hand map; mothering, teaching, wringing (as in wringing my hands with worry!), making
December 8th, 2011 at 11:24 am
One part of my hand map would include binary code (ones and zeroes) to represent my former life as a computer programmer.
December 8th, 2011 at 11:53 am
I’d start with burlap, for the texture and to pull threads and create lines and roads and rivers. I’d weave into the threads all kinds of things — threads, notes, beads, anything and everything, tie things on, that show what has influenced me, who is important to me, places that have shaped me, and maybe how my hands have shaped others.
December 8th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
It might be helpful for me to make a hand map of who I DON’T have to be with a big red circle around it and a red slash across it. You know–all those expectations from yourself and others that you think you need to live up to, but get tired just thinking about!
December 8th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I have been drooling over this book and definitely want to add it to the hundreds of others causing my bookshelves to creak. I do admit to being somewhat of a book-a-holic, but they bring so much joy and inspiration into my life, how can I say no?
On my hand map I would have to include a yet-to-be-determined symbol for gratitude. Thinking of what to put on my hand map made me realise all the amazing tasks my hands do every day, including typing this note. Thanks for that!
December 9th, 2011 at 8:09 am
[...] 28 Carla Sonheim Tues Nov 29 Diana Trout Weds Nov 30 Gloria Hansen Thurs Dec 1 Gwen Diehn Friday Dec 2 Jane LaFazio Monday Dec [...]
December 9th, 2011 at 11:13 am
i would include all my friends and family and the many roads travelled and hats worn over hte years.
December 10th, 2011 at 12:42 am
In my hand map, I would want to include all of the little scars and maybe a sidebar with the story about how/why I have the scar.
December 10th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
I’m loving this little blogroll adventure, so I think I would need to map it!