Message In A Bottle by Collage Soup: A Collaboration with Ellen Brook — Wartime Letters, Vintage Photographs & Original Mixed Media Art for Collage, Junk Journaling & Paper Crafts

A Book Born From Letters Never Meant to Be FoundMessage In A Bottle is a deeply personal collaboration between mixed media artist Ellen Brook and Collage Soup, born from a remarkable collection of World War I-era letters written by Ellen's grandfather to his wife while stationed overseas. Discovered decades later among family belongings, these fragile pages became the beginning of a conversation across time—filled with longing, devotion, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection.Unlike traditional Collage Soup books, the front of each page features one of Ellen's original mixed media paintings. The reverse sides include authentic photographs, letters, plus some AI-generated imagery created to expand upon the visual world of Ellen's artwork and provide additional collage fodder.What's Inside (92 pages)Original mixed media paintings by Ellen Brook on every front pageAuthentic WWI-era photographs, letters, and ephemera (~20% of reverses)Weathered letters, telegrams, maps, medals, sewing elements, and postmarksPatriotic fragments and symbolic objectsThese pages are meant to be cut, torn, layered, and transformed into something entirely your own—bringing together original artwork, historical artifacts, and emerging technologies through the timeless human desire to reach across distance and be heard.Perfect for: collage, junk journals, mixed media, scrapbooking, and paper crafts. Read more