Art Journal Swap Complete!

For the past year I've been involved in an art journal swap organised by Robin Sparrow Books. We each chose the theme for our own journals and once a month sent out one of our journal pages (A5, folded, paper of our choice) to another participant to decorate. So we each had one page a month to decorate and in return a page was decorated, embellished, illustrated or painted for us. Here are the pages I decorated for others. In my next post I'll share the book I created with the pages made for me!

11. Trees for Elizabeth

10. Four Seasons for Roselda

9. Magnolia for Shuna

8. Once upon a time for Milly

7. Growth for Rose

6. Free form for Julz

5. Vintage Fashion for Gillian

4. Beach for Glenice

3. Moroccan Bazaar for Sue

2. Words for Biddy

1. French Antique for Linda

- Sam

The Blue Book

For the better part of a few days I experimented with some mixed media techniques I used for a book back in February. This time I repurposed a cover of the book A Pocketful of Years which seemed like a great title for a journal that could possibly contain memoirs, or serve as a guestbook or wedding book. For now I'm just calling it the blue book. It was fun tea staining paper, lace and other ephemera to embellish the torn edge pages. I'm also really pleased with the buttons, charms and ribbons I found for the cover, which are a mixture of modern and vintage pieces.

- Sam

Metallic Card Making

Here's some cards I've made recently.

This is for my 3 yr old grandson (safety pins glued shut!)

and one for my 46 yr old stepson.

and then I was on a roll!

The next one is a bit OTT but I'm thinking a certain 7 yr old might enjoy it next year.

This last one is my favourite.

Now my scavenger hunting in Hospice and second hand shops has increased double-fold.

Nuts, bolts, chains and washers are now included in my foraging, along with

lace, doilies, fabrics and buttons.

- Karen

Road Trip

Our favourite road trip stops (apart from cafes and walks on the beach) in no particular order; art galleries, art supply shops, antique and second hand shops, sewing/patchwork/quilting supply shops and book shops.

Up cycled, recycled, pre loved, revived, restored, secondhand, vintage.

So much character, so many stories to tell.

Something for him, something for her. Something that sparks an idea, a connection, a memory, a new project, a gift.

Some of our best finds have been in Hospice, Salvation Army and SPCA outlets.

and

We've developed a renewed interest in lace, brocades, buttons and stamps.

Attention to detail; an eye for hidden treasures; searching for patterns. Always on the look out.

Learning new techniques, exploring new pathways and stretching the comfort zone.

Can't wait to get started on the next project.

- Karen

Down the Hobbit Hole

Hobbiton! I finally made it here! I've wanted to visit you for so long. Wow, what an amazing time we had. Amazing place, people and food! I'll be back some day ...

"I'm going on an adventure!"

The famous hole at Bag End.

A lovely hobbit hole for a gardener: 36 Bagshot Row.

A delicious meal at the Green Dragon.

Just ... wow.

"I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!"
Not actually taken at Hobbiton! This is Mount Ruapehu, another stop on our road trip. 

- Sam

Paper Making Play

Any leftovers from our torn edge journals are bundled into bags for a rainy day ... literally! The weather hasn't been that great here over the past little while, so yesterday we took out the paper making equipment and had a play. Not the best weather for paper making, but it's been a while since either of us made paper and we were itching to give it another try.

Paper scraps are soaked over night.

The next day, they're mulched with electric mixers.

We added some green tissue paper to the bath (on the right).

After being pressed to remove excess water, pages are hung to dry overnight.

After they're completely dry and pressed, they'll be ready for use!

Some lovely embossing (above) was revealed when we removed the dry papers from the fabric. We produced around twenty pages with this batch and still have pulp leftover, so we will be making another batch soon!

- Sam & Karen

The Importance of Play

Today I discovered the truth in Keri Smith's advice;

PLAY! 

Make mistakes

mess it up

confront your inner critic. 

Anything's allowed.

Scribble, doodle, dabble, dip.

I began cautiously and methodically but then shut my critic off and let the colours and textures speak for themselves.

Will probably use these 9cm by 12cm pieces for card making but can see their potential for book covers too.

 

Had fun mixing paper, fabric, wool, gauze, threads, braids and beads.

Will keep reminding myself to step outside my comfort zone and try new combinations.

Anything's allowed!

-  Karen