Art journal

After being inspired by The Art Journal Workshop, I started work on the inside pages. 

I found the book that I disassembled for the covers at a thrift store quite a while ago. When I got it I hadn't realized that all the pages were glossy which doesn't work very well for altering.  

I still loved the covers and knew I'd use them 

in some way.

The inside pages are recycled cardboard from cereal type boxes. I obsessively save them to use as substrate for so many different projects. The pages are all a uniform height but the width is very random. I felt this might give the journal an interesting look.

So far, I've slathered leftover paint from other projects on a few pages and completed one from scraps on my table. 

The journalling reads: 

Forget the darkness behind you. 

Turn your face towards the sun and bloom.

Experimen-Tea

So I did get inspired from sorting buttons. Not to actually used any of those buttons but by color. 

I painted a 12x12 deep edge canvas with several shades of yellow.  Then using a palette knife applied a bold wave of burgundy then some thin lines with the edge of the knife. 

I knew I wanted a circle...I love circles for some reason.  I knew I had a perfect piece of Citra Solv paper. I used gel medium to adhere it to the canvas. 

It' still needed something. I decided to try out beeswax over the top. I've always wanted to try it so why not right!

It wasn't as easy to spread as I thought so I decided to get out the heat gun to try to smooth things out a bit.

After several minutes of fussing with it ...melting,...cooling...melting some more...

I came up with my finished piece.

Or at least I think it's finished... This is where I struggle...not knowing when enough is enough.

I love that the paper that once looked slightly out of place is now firmly set into the painting..looking as if it is "one with the canvas".

Stop by Kimmie's to see what the Tea Tuesday gals are doing today....maybe you'll even see a teacup in a picture.  :)

When lacking inspiration...

Organize. 

Seems to help me sometimes. It is yet to be seen if it did the trick 

this time. 

Stacks and stacks of books

When I read about Seth Apters latest collaboration idea I loved it! 

I have tons of books....both ones I've created and vintage ones.

Of course, being the procrastinator that I am...I didn't even start to gather anything until about 25 minutes ago. Boy, was I in for a surprise... I had way more books that I ever realized. 

My stack on the coffee table had to be moved to the buffet where I could use the wall to prop them up!

My book arts stack is very colorful...and fluffy.

I tend to make books that don't have a chance of
ever laying flat. 

They must sit splayed open inviting a passerby to pick it up.

 

The edges of altered board books are probably my favorite. 

With the ripped papers hanging slightly over and the different colors of paint grazed 

across the edge by happenstance.

I also use stacks of books in decorating my house. This stack currently sits on the mantle.

As a little lift for a plant to get it some much needed sun.

For some height on a shelf.

And lastly the set of books
I refuse to stack.

They are the first thing you see when walking into my house. 

I have my Grandpa's medical books and his Norwegian Seminary book, my dad's Bible plus some poetry books from the 1800's.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Now I must set my house back to rights...geesh...what a mess I made.

Heirloom Tea

My garden harvest is winding down...so

I've started the process of saving seeds for next years garden. This way I'm creating my own heirloom seeds. This is what I've collected thus far. 

I'm waiting for a 3 other tomato plants to ripen so that we may sample the goods and see if they are worth saving.  

I got those plants from my psuedo-sister-in-law so I don't even know what they are called. 

Do you save seeds? Vegetables? Flowers?

I save them all....it's fun to see what comes of it and besides that-

IT"S FREE!!

Stop by Kimmie's blog  to see what she my Tea Tuesday friends are up to today. 

I'm heading there next myself.

BTW-Kimmie also has a wonderful gardening blog that can be found on her side bar.

"Grow"

Awesome book

I just had to share my excitement about this book I checked out from the library! 

The Art Journal Workshop by Traci Bunkers

I have major art journal envy of those who do it so well. I just haven't been able to set myself free enough to do it I guess. 

I feel like this book can help me.

It's definitely going on my wish list...

It's fully of step by step photos for some great background techniques.

Tip and tricks...

By the way...
I'm not being compensated in any way shape or form by anyone. I'm sure that Traci Bunkers doesn't have a clue who I am nor do the publishers of this book.
Just wanted you to know that before I went any further.

I've gotten inspired.
First I did a quick, no thought page
in a practice book.
Not bad...not great but I'm working at it.

I've got an idea in mind for a bunch of recycled cardboard as well.
Just working on getting it prepped with my horrible gesso. I say horrible because it is some lame off brand and it's so watery.
Live and learn then buy the good stuff.

Early tea...late post.

I had to take my mom for an appointment this morning and somehow ran out of time before leaving.  

I was busy composing my to-do list...and even glanced at the crossword from Sunday while enjoying my cup of tea. 

I already drank most of a pot of coffee. It's rough getting up at 5:30...

Hopefully I'll actually get a few of those things crossed off the list before the day is out. 

Wish me luck...I'm going to need it!

Stop by our hostess, Kimmie's blog when you have a chance...she has some beautiful photos posted today.

Little bits of creativity

I've been working on a few things over the last couple weeks.

I made the cover for my ABC_alteredbookclub 8th Anniversary swap book. I'm waiting on the last page to arrive before binding.
I used Citra Solv paper for the background then cut the flower from a photograph I took a few years ago.
I added the paper flower and "Joy" brad for interest.

Since we have a few September birthdays in our family I've been busy making cards. This one is for my mom. She loves butterflies and flowers.

Lastly, I'll share a little peek at a mixed-media painting I've been working on. It's not finished...definitely a work in progress.

Did you miss me?

Over the past couple weeks our family tried to squeeze as much time out of what was left of summer as possible. We ended up doing and seeing things that we hadn't ever as a family even though they are right around the cities. Stay-cationing, I believe is the hip term for that these days.
I'll only highlight a few...



The kids and I helped herd these sheep at a working farm that's part of the local park system. It was quite funny...we were just there for a walk and to buy some produce and eggs when they asked if we could help. When do city kids get the chance to do something like that?!?

We stopped by beautiful Minnehaha Falls Park on our way to a museum one Saturday. Neither of us had been there since we were kids ourselves. It's so beautiful that we have it on our list to see once more of the leaves start to change.




















After a walk around the falls area we went to a one of a kind military museum that is sadly scheduled to close at the end of the month.   It really awesome to walk around all of those old vehicles...peek inside...






Of course, I took hundreds of pictures of a multitude of subjects in a multitude of other places but I won't bore you with them all.  I just wanted to say hello and that I'm back online...no thanks to our cable company who kept me offline for 5 days longer than I expected.  GRRR!

Next time I'll show you some new art...