Wreck This Journal

by Keri Smith | Arts & Photography |
ISBN: 9780399533464 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingApoloniaXwing of Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on 1/18/2010
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingApoloniaXwing from Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on Monday, January 18, 2010
Synopsis
For anyone who has ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking readers to muster up their best mistake--and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them). Acclaimed illustrator Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in 'destructive' acts--poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, and more--in order to experience the true creative process. Readers discover a new way of art and journal making--and new ways to escape the fear of the blank page--and fully engage in the creative process.

Journal Entry 2 by wingApoloniaXwing from Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on Monday, January 18, 2010
This book has "directions" on each page, some of them very strange (and they could indeed wreck the whole thing), some rather creative.
It would be nice if you could do a page or two or three, or just parts of pages, add something here and there (that's what I mostly did). Maybe put some pics in the journal entries.
Some directions are really messy, so I ask everyone not to be too cruel to the book and keep in mind that others should still feel okay to touch it. I am aware that this is against Keri Smith's rules (see here) - but what are rules for if not TO BE BROKEN? If I wanted this book to be completely destroyed I'd have done so myself - and not sent it on a bookring. So please wreck it just a little - and also beautify it (whatever definition of "beauty" you pick...).
If you tear out a page to do something with it, please stick it back in afterwards.
If you have better or additional ideas for the directions on a page, please add them. And don’t hide your artistic talents!

I really want to have this book back some day, so please please only sign up if you think you can reliably pass it on to the next participant. After each new entry it will gain in value – maybe not financially, but certainly in artistic and sentimental value. It would be such a shame if this ring was stalled.

Bookring – Europe only, sorry
- hakkalina, Hungary
- lizzyblack, Italy
- alassante, Italy
- silvia-pco, Portugal
- Lemon-Crisis, UK Lemon-Crisis
- katrinat, UK
- kasenka, Finland
- dutch-book, NL
- Oedde, Germany
and back to me


The usual:
- Someone will PM you for your address, PM them back and provide your address
- When you receive the book, please make a journal entry letting everyone know that you received it
- Please try to finish it within three weeks
- PM the next person to get their address
- Make another journal entry and let everyone know what you did, add a photo if possible
- Make release notes to let everyone know that it's in the mail
- Send the book to the next person on the list
If delayed make sure to let us know so that the ring will not stop.

Have fun - and thanks for participating!

Journal Entry 3 by wingApoloniaXwing at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 24, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (1/25/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to hakkalina.
Have fun!!!

Journal Entry 4 by hakkalina from Budapest, Pest Hungary on Friday, January 29, 2010
The provoking book arrived
*gulp*
It is really really very interesting.
I must admit it makes me think - about myself.
To dare or not to dare - this is the question
.. and what is the effect of my doings - in me ...
and it is only the beginning
to be continued


Update: 2010.03.01.
I do not make any photos... BUT I did these
- coloured the other '4' number in the BCID
- poked a hole with rotring
- scratched with my nail
- scribbled wildly my family name
- drawed/colored a 5 coin
- glued on a page, and glued my dinner's paper (Medve cheese), some stamps, and a sticker about Tiger
- wrote down 'Happiness'in several ways
- saved rotring lead, and paperclip
- torn a page .. it was my biggest ugly thing
- wrote an not English sentence

I really enjoyed these ones, since it is a challenge to do other way than I do every day:
- tried to join the dots with one line ((with closed eyes)
- tried to draw a princess while I was walking
- tried to write with my left hand, my mouth and in reversed

Thanks ApoloniaX to share this book with me! :))


Journal Entry 5 by hakkalina at Budapest, Pest Hungary on Friday, March 5, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/6/2010 UTC) at Budapest, Pest Hungary

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

It is travelling to Lizzyblack now!
Have a great time in coloring this book :)

Journal Entry 6 by lizzyblack from Kinsale, Co. Cork Ireland on Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The journal is here and it's wonderful :D

Journal Entry 7 by lizzyblack from Kinsale, Co. Cork Ireland on Friday, April 23, 2010
First of all, sorry for taking this so long! I did not forget it, but it took me a while to write/wreck some pages... anyway, it has been so funny! This book is a great idea :D Thanx so much ApoloniaX for letting me know about this ring, I am so proud I could wreck it a bit! Sorry again for being so lazy, it will leave as soon as possible!

Journal Entry 8 by lizzyblack at on Saturday, April 24, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (4/24/2010 UTC) at

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I libri vogliono essere liberi! Fai un giro sul sito:

Read and Release at BookCrossing.com...




Journal Entry 9 by alassante from Palermo, Sicilia Italy on Thursday, May 6, 2010
The journal is here with me, and I am already working on it...
It's fun! ^_^

Journal Entry 10 by alassante at Palermo, Sicilia Italy on Thursday, June 3, 2010
that was some creative, crazy fun! :)))
I agree some directions are a bit too destructive, especially if made by different people, so I went for the mild ones: I coloured a bit, drew some (an ugly bird, and a lemon tree -while walking in the garden ^_^), wrote in bizarre ways (with my left hand, with my mouth, backwards, in Elvish...), glued in a few little things, left a couple of stains and cracked the spine a bit (I think this was my wildest).
Oh, and as suggested I brought the book in the shower with me! (but I didn't turn the water on ;))

I would love to see pics of the journal after it ends its journey. It will be like a little work of art :)))

Thank you so much ApoloniaX, for letting me wreck a bit your book, and extra thanks for the suggestions you gave me regarding PM's! Thank to your help I am now ready to pass it on to the next participant.

Journal Entry 11 by alassante at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, June 18, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (6/18/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sorry, sorry, sorry for the huge delay!!
I have been away for two weeks and the post office closed earlier than usual the day before I left. I asked someone to send the parcel for me while I was away, but of course I found it still on my desk when I came back...
But there it is now, on its way to the next wrecker in Portugal :))

Journal Entry 12 by silvia-pco at Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Friday, June 25, 2010
Here it is! I already took a look at some of the pages, you guys have been doing a great work :D

I'll let my inspiration grow so I can wreck this in a beautiful way! I'll keep everyone posted :)

Thanks for sharing this ApoloniaX!

Journal Entry 13 by silvia-pco at Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Wednesday, August 4, 2010
First of all, sorry for keeping this for so long. I should have mailed this out a long time ago, but I haven't had much time.

I didn't take any pictures yet, but I decided to leave you with the list of things that I added to the journal and add the images latter, if I can.

So, this is what I did:

- left a hidden message;
- added a page number (∞)
- "stood" on the book;
- poked a hole with a pencil;
- coloured a light blue stripe;
- did a rubbing of two coins (20 and 10 euro cents, to form the number 2010);
- taped the corner of a page;
- drew a yellow sun;
- wrote "free" over and over;
- drew a house;
- glued a Tweety sticker;
- doodled on the back of the envelope (did the same kind of doodles I used to do on my school notebooks);
- glued a fruit sticker;
- taped a piece of an UHU glue package;
- dripped some gouache on a page and closed the book to make a print (I used a little bit too much and it ended up transferring to the previous page, but it is just a small dot. Nothing serious :D);
- glued my grocery list;
- wrote "peace" using Chinese characters;
- left a phrase by Fernando Pessoa;
- coloured outside of the lines (did a green circle and coloured outside the "S" in pink);
- drew a smiley face using spaghetti dipped in gouache;
- wrote with my left hand, with my mouth and backwards (these were hard!);
- pretended a page was a sign and wrote "set your books free";
- coloured a Ballycumber in red and black;
- documented time passing;
- did some internal monologue;
- doodled on the last page (and yes, I read the whole text ;D)
- and, of course, left my mark on the "where are you?" page and on the BCer's log.

Thanks a lot for sharing this, Apolonia, it was so much fun! I'll contact Lemon-Crisis and pass the book along.

Journal Entry 14 by silvia-pco at Murtosa, Aveiro Portugal on Saturday, August 21, 2010
The journal's on its way to Lemon-Crisis as of Wednesday. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 15 by rem_BGQ-488500 at Birchington, Kent United Kingdom on Friday, August 27, 2010
Arrived safely this morning =]
I was sitting in my dressing gown with a cuppa having a look at what all you other creative BCers have done! I'm going to have fun with this....
I love the little Mephistopheles quote in the front, very appropriate.

Right, time to get to it! I'll try to add pics when I'm finished, if I've figured out how to add them to JEs by then xD lol.

Journal Entry 16 by rem_BGQ-488500 at Birchington, Kent United Kingdom on Saturday, October 9, 2010
Great fun! I've added my mark to the following:
~ Added 4 stamps to the stamp pages
~ Screwed up the 'tear out and crumple' page (didn't tear it out, though)
~ Added a shopping list to the collection
~ I rubbed coffee granules on the coffee page
~ Added fruit stickers
~ Added some page numbers
~ Poked some holes
~ Drew some coloured lines
~ Did some colouring in
~ And several other things

Thanks for sharing this ApoloniaX (I even went and bought myself one of these, I enjoyed it so much).
PMing next participant for address. =]

Journal Entry 17 by katrinat at Chelmsford, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, October 31, 2010
This has arrived on the last few days while i've been away, I look forward to sitting down and going through it and adding to it .

Journal Entry 18 by katrinat at Chelmsford, Essex United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (1/4/2011 UTC) at Chelmsford, Essex United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

off to Finland

Journal Entry 19 by kasenka at Rautjärvi, Etelä-Karjala / Södra Karelen Finland on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
It's here!

Journal Entry 20 by kasenka at Rautjärvi, Etelä-Karjala / Södra Karelen Finland on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I love it! And I'll also wreck its virtual journal a little by adding some photos =).

(Edited to add: The crumbled paper ball is not from this journal.)

Journal Entry 21 by kasenka at Rautjärvi, Etelä-Karjala / Södra Karelen Finland on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Here comes the next picture. I know I could add them to the same JE like ApoloniaX did, but I feel it is more fun to do like this...

Journal Entry 22 by kasenka at Rautjärvi, Etelä-Karjala / Södra Karelen Finland on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
And another one... I won't tell you how many I'm gonna add ;-)

Journal Entry 23 by kasenka at Rautjärvi, Etelä-Karjala / Södra Karelen Finland on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Perhaps this odd pic could be the last one... at least for now >:)

EDIT: I won't take any more pictures but here's a list of some things I did:

-coloured several things
-documented a boring event in detail
-added a fruit sticker and some other stickers (including BC-stickers)
-added some good thoughts
-sew a little
-stood on the journal
-added some more ways to wreck this journal (but didn't do them, I just wanted to make up some)
-wrote one word over and over
-added some incorrect page numbers
-poked holes with a pencil
-documented time passing
-wrote my grocery list
-left a hidden message
-wrote with my left hand, with my mouth and backwards
-scribbled on the edges of the journal
-doodled on the last page and on the back of the envelope
-I mostly did something here and there

This was soo fun! Thank you ApoloniaX for starting this ring.

Journal Entry 24 by kasenka at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 28, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (1/28/2011 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending the journal to the next participant. Have fun!

Journal Entry 25 by wingdutch-bookwing at Weesp, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, February 3, 2011
The book arrived in the mail yesterday. I've already done some wrecking. I must warn you... I'm planning on giving this book a quick shower. (Yes, evil is my middle name)

March 9th I've just PM'd Oedde for his/her adress.

Journal Entry 26 by wingdutch-bookwing at Weesp, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Just yesterday I've sent the book on to Oedde.
What did I do with the book?
Well, it took a quick shower. But really quick, don't worry. I've wrote some four- letterwords. Glued all kinds of stickers. Put a little grocerylist down. Taped some beads. Stuck tape on it. Such fun! I've been through the entire book.

And also wanted to excuse for keeping this book so long. Thanks ApoloniaX for the heads up. I'm afraid this one was that typical book that just got forgotten.

Journal Entry 27 by wingdutch-bookwing at Weesp, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (4/4/2011 UTC) at Weesp, Noord-Holland Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent off yesterday to Oedde. I suppose it won't take that long.

Journal Entry 28 by Oedde at Jena, Thüringen Germany on Friday, April 8, 2011
This has arrived in Jena now! And I have already started adding my two cents here and there, and it was great fun.

I noticed that I'm the last person in this ring before the journal returns to ApoloniaX - yay!! That means, it is my responsibility to do all those things you didn't finish, didn't do, or didn't dare to do! Like create a drawing with my hair, paste my pocket lint to a page, tear a page out and put it throught the wash, take the journal to bed with me (I'm not looking forward to that one, the journal smells!). I'm not sure whether I will do all of the above but I'll try to be brave, and yet, not tooo destructive...

Journal Entry 29 by Oedde at Jena, Thüringen Germany on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Well, everybody, I'm through :-)

I was preparing for an important exam while I was 'working' on this journal, and I have to say it made a nice change to reading, carefully taking notes, memorizing aso. It was very relaxing to pick up the journal, open it on a random page and follow the instructions. I enjoyed this book very much - in a completely different way, of course, than the books I usually read.

I have no hopes of telling you every single thing I did to the journal as I probably did something to 80 % of the pages. I doodled on every possible page (like the envelope, the copyright page, that weird text at the end), colored a few things here and there, tore, ripped, pierced pages according to instructions, and added some more page numbers. I stepped on the journal (with and without shoes on), leaving slight marks, and put a thumb print and one of the tips of my fingers in. I threw a pen at the journal, scratched it, glued it, scribbled in it, and rubbed it with dirt (makes a nice dirt stain). I added a pressed daisy, put lots of things on the office supplies page and the white things page, and did pencil rubbings. I put stickers and a piece of gum (unused ;) on the sticky things page, added a fruit sticker, and made a paper chain which I left in the journal. I tested pens (for some reason, I have always loved that!), traced what I had in my pocket as well as my left hand, and made a nice little apple print. I wrote carelessly, with my left hand, and with my mouth. One of the most daring things I did was to tear out a page and put it through the wash - it's back in the journal, a bit smaller than it was before and a lot more crinkled. I tried to connect the dots, failing spectacularly. I loved the page where you had to draw with glue, which I did. I also drew with my mailbox key and some ink. I made negative comments and suggestions of other ways to wreck the journal. I closed a page. Painted a ballycumber. Wrote on the margins. I did not sleep with the journal (those perfums you guys put on it... ;) but it did spend a night on my bedside table.

The journal accompanied me to work, to the university library, shopping, and all through town. One of the highlights of its stay in Jena probably was April 15th, when it came along to a BC meetup at Café Immergrün. Bookcrossers Stephanje, katilein, -baghira-, watercolour, and Gretchen1985 wrecked the journal quite a bit, but under my close supervision ;) For example, watercolour put in a lovely purple flower petal which she had been carrying in her purse for weeks. And they pretty much did all the drawing and writing pages, enjoying every minute of it.

Journal Entry 30 by Oedde at Jena, Thüringen Germany on Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (4/19/2011 UTC) at Jena, Thüringen Germany

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

So now it's traveling back home to ApoloniaX, with many thanks for this ring. I hope you won't faint when you see the journal, it really looks beat up...

Journal Entry 31 by wingApoloniaXwing at Bremen, Bremen Germany on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
My wrecked journal is back!!! Thank you for participating, everybody!
I just had a quick look through the pages, giggling most of the time...
I'll take pictures later and upload them on flickr.

Journal Entry 32 by wingApoloniaXwing at Bremen, Bremen Germany on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Here we go: Loads of photos.

Journal Entry 33 by wingApoloniaXwing at Bremen, Bremen Germany on Friday, April 29, 2011
Do you want another go at one of those journals? An empty one...
Starflash hijacked my thread to announce a new ring - see here. Seems to be a secret, well, not THAT secret, ring, hidden in a different thread :-)

Journal Entry 34 by wingApoloniaXwing at Bremen, Bremen Germany on Saturday, July 14, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (7/15/2012 UTC) at Bremen, Bremen Germany

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book has been back with me for over a year and now I realised I can finally let it go. Travelling to somebody who I think will enjoy looking through the pages and add some more wrecking. Feel free to keep it as long as you want - and ray it forward if you feel like it.

Thankyou! You guessed just write, I have been eyeing up these in the shop for a while now - but to get one that so many people have already contributed to is more than I could have hoped :) I'm gonna take as much inspiration from you guys as from the book itself.
In fact, I started already on the train - though I only had very boring biros with me, so I'll have more fun when I get a go with my whole art box (CRAYONS! YAY!)

Journal Entry 36 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, November 16, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (11/16/2012 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted out a week or so ago to a fellow BCer, to go along with a RABCK gift they won, since I spotted this on their wishlist :)

Journal Entry 37 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 18, 2012
Vekiki offfered to send a RABCK of used postage stamps...so I was happily surprised to find this wishlist book in the package as well.

I've had fun looking through it to see what others have done. I'll work on my contributions and then I might offer it to some of the other BookCrossers on the island when we get together next week.

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 38 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 25, 2012
I'm hoping to pass this to another BookCrosser tomorrow, so I thought I'd take a few photos to document some of the things I did.

The book is getting quite chubby with all the goodies stuck in it; also the spine is damaged (someone followed the instructions!) and some of the pages have been removed and replaced (quite deliberately). I thought it could use a little help staying together.

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 39 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Inkblot test: what do you see?

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 40 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Embroidery fail.

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 41 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Added a white origami crane.

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 42 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Where the book has been: now totally off the map in the book!

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 43 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Last one: who has had this book.

(Larger photo here.)

Journal Entry 44 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Monday, November 26, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (11/26/2012 UTC) at Honolulu, Hawaii USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Passed around our TOC gathering today and enjoyed by all. This will stay with one of the group members for a while before traveling again.

Journal Entry 45 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, November 17, 2013
Back in my hands after a nice long visit with purple58; I'll try to find a new home for it.

Journal Entry 46 by winghyphen8wing at Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Saturday, March 15, 2014

Released 10 yrs ago (3/15/2014 UTC) at Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I've been trying to think of a good way to share this with someone else who would appreciate it. I decided to released it at the Sullivan Building during today's Honolulu Mini Maker Faire for Secretariat's Oh, the Places We Can Go challenge.

I'm pretty sure I saw someone take this one home. :)

(Larger photo here.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Thanks for finding this book!

If you're new to Bookcrossing, I hope you will take some time to explore this wonderful free and anonymous community and learn what it has to offer.

Freed any good books lately? It's good for the circulation. :)

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