Altered books........I just can't stop

I have been busy working on the studio. I can't decide what the workstations should be like so I am stumbling along slowly. I know I need to have at least three stations. I am going to use my desk for my jewelry bench because it is sturdier than any workbench and has those nice deep drawers to hold tools and metal and such. For my collage and altered books I will have a 4 foot table along one wall but I am not sure what to do for the painting station. I just might set up a square table with my table easel on it and use a rolling cart for supplies. I want to have at least 1/2 of the room for shelves but I don't know what half.
I thought by the time we started putting the wall boards up I would have a plan..think again.
Oh well......
Here are a few pages from the altered books I am working on now. I am trying to stay within a theme for September for each book but I may break out into a ramble at any moment.
The themes I am working on are facing my monsters past and present. That is the page with the "Get a move on" with the crow. I carved the crow stamps yesterday and I am really happy with the way they came out.
The other is the one with "We are the choices we make" and that is examining community and what we are and are not to each other.
The book with the designs and the veiled beauty is one that will just showcase women. It will show them in all their roles. I have decided to use just photos and decorative scroll work in that one and no words. It is kind of a departure for me because I usually start a project by picking out words that move me from my stash of cut up magazines and newspapers.
It is a great way to mine for treasure. I try to sort through the pile at first without any idea what direction I am going in.Then I will notice certain words and phrases from the stash will catch my eye and start me thinking in a new way about something.
This is one of the techniques I use to get my creative juices bubbling. stay tuned for more workshop info. I plan to have at least two a month.
Creating art in a vacuum is much harder and less satisfying. When people come together to create it is a win win situation. I always leave a workshop with far more ideas than I brought with me.