Houses tucked in tight

The Neighborhood

I've been trying to do some fun quick pieces,

not wanting to spend a huge amount of time, just some things

to encourage inspiration and creativity.

These whimsical houses fit the requirement.

The background is a Gelli plate print

(Ya, like everyone else, I have a stack of 'em mouldering on a shelf :-)

And the simple geometric shapes are quick to paint.

So ~ at least they start out simplistic. Of course then I begin playing with 

all the little details and the time adds up.

But it's OK because it's lots of fun. . .

I may do a series of these little neighborhoods.

This one is a nighttime scene, so no people in it.

They're all fast asleep in bed!

I call it "Tucked In Tight"

The theme at Inspiration Avenue this week is

Houses

Stop over HERE to see the entries in the challenge.

They will all be in by Sunday, November 17.

You still have time to enter!

Full circle!

Priti Lisa's Journal

Lisa has a love for the Virgin Mary and also Frida Kahlo.

I couldn't decide which theme to go with 

for my pages in her journal so I did both.

Actually just one page of Frida . . . this is one of my favorite photos of her.

Lisa chose the color  turquoise , a beautiful color for Mary and also

a bright Mexican color that suits Frida.

The gold color is metallic, but didn't photograph well.

Lisa's journal is so packed with beautiful pages, it was impossible to close!

I had a difficult time photographing my pages, since they wouldn't lay flat.

I'm sure all 9 of the journals were packed like this as the last pages were finished.

I received mine back the other day and "overjoyed" and "astounded" are

much too mild to describe how much I love it! And no, it doesn't close either :-)

But, my finished journal will be another post . . .

I'm afraid I added to the thickness of her journal with this cross.

(Lisa, feel free to snip it off and use it somehow, if you want!

It might alleviate some of the bulkiness!)

This 

“Magical Journal Journey” 

(thank you Lisa W for the perfect name!)

has been such a beautiful experience! I think we are all in 

agreement to do it again. It's wonderful to have received

my journal back after 9 months, but also sad that it has come to a close.

But the friendship of the 9 of us doesn't have an end date!

It is strengthened and flourishes with each Magical Journey!

Have a lovely and creative weekend!

Think about gathering some artist friends and starting your own

round robin! You won't be sorry!

Magical Journal Journeys ~ Angie's White Pages

Angie's White Journal

Finally! I finished these pages eons ago, but with plenty of family obligations 

and other stuff too uninteresting to go into here, I haven't posted since September.

I almost forgot how to do a blog post!

Angie chose White as her color. White is simple (sometimes).

It's serene and pure, and at first it was a bit intimidating.

No hiding behind COLOR! Although as you can see, 

some color has sneaked (snuck? no.) into my pages.

The right hand page started as a Gelli print in which I kept seeing

images like fairies, leaves and flowers. I picked those out, 

and kept adding other pieces to the page.

I had been looking for a chance to use the beautiful Edwardian lady . . .

As I was gazing at the next two blank (white) pages a song popped into my head.

I've always loved the song "Happiness Runs" by Donovan, and hadn't heard it in years.

Somehow, there it was running through my head!

Happiness runs in a circular motion.

Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.

Everybody is a part of everything anyway.

You can have everything if you let yourself be.

The verse goes (first and last...I think there's only one):

Little pebble upon the sand,

Now you're lying here in my hand,

How many years have you been here?

Little human upon the sand,

From where I'm lying here in your hand,

You to me are but a passing breeze.

The sun will always shine where you stand,

depending in which land 

You may find yourself.

Now you have my blessing, go your way.

Since the theme of these two pages is the sea,

I've included a few sand dollars I found on the beach in Mexico.

And of course a little pebble :)

So sorry I'm late posting this, Angie!

Since we are so close to the end of the Magical Journal Journeys,

I was afraid you might receive your journal back before I completed these pages!

Anyhow, only one journal left.

I have Priti Lisa's Turquoise book on my table right now

and will be finishing it up today!

September 16 IA Challenge

Woodland

Above is a watercolor I did many years ago. 

It is from a photo I took in Virginia, probably

around Petersburg or Williamsburg, or maybe Richmond.

We used to drive in the country a lot in those days,

and found many beautiful woodland places.

I didn't want to let this challenge go by without posting something

(especially since it was my turn to choose the theme, and also because

woodland forests are some of my favorite places).

Suddenly it's Friday already and I am busily working on

my postcards for the IA Altered Postcard Swap

and also finishing up my pages in Angie's beautiful White Journal.

No time to spend on Woodland art, even though I would love to!

Since it's a favorite subject for me,

I do have some things I may not have posted before.

Okay, I probably have posted these at some point, 

but there's no time to search around to make sure!

This one is from my 2012 Sketchbook Project journal:

I had to download the one below from the SBP website when I discovered I

never photographed these 2 pages. Of course, the sketchbook is now at the 

Brooklyn library (along with the other thousands of entries :)

It's kind of cool to think the sketchbooks will be there probably as long

as the library is there for anyone to check out and look at!

The project is ongoing, a new one every year. I haven't entered again, but I may in the future.

The SBP people have digitized the books...HERE is the link to my pages.

This one I have since started to rework, and it's unfinished now but I hope

to get back to it one day soon...finish it and put it in my Etsy shop.

Here is a bookmark which is in my Etsy shop.

Visit Inspiration Avenue to see
the entries in the Woodland challenge.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

I hope the autumn weather is treating you well!

(Or Spring, as the case may be :-)

Inspiration Avenue challenge: Kodak Moment

Not Kodak, but nevertheless, a “Moment”

Not even film, of course, but digital.

These pics are from Jesse's trail cam.

Deer seem to come out more often at night (safer that way? ...debatable)

And I think it's unusual to see 2 bucks together. They are usually alone.

Head over to Inspiration Avenue

to see the Kodak Moment challenge entries!

Magical Journal Journeys

Magenta and Teal for Kat

. . . and a bit of silver . . . and gold . . . and butterfly colors . . . 

I so enjoyed working in these happy colors that were chosen by Kat.

 Although, as usual, I ended up sneaking in a few extra hues here and there.

The fabric I used for the flags and flower pots does gradate from magenta to red.

But, looking back, I think I've basically stuck to magenta and teal. 

I loved the quote on the right side of the first page:

“Two lasting bequests we can give our children:

one is roots, the other is wings.”

~ Hodding Carter

So my theme became Roots and Wings.

I've known Kat loves angels, since the time she so generously purchased

one of my angel paintings during a charity auction years ago.

Angels are fun to paint, both realistically and whimsically.

After doing a few in Kat's journal, I'm thinking of 

painting some Christmas angels later on.

Believe in angels, as they believe in you.

The reverse sides of the tags say 

Faith

Hope

Love

Some whimsical trees.

I know Kat loves trees, but I've just discovered she has a secret wish

to own a small propeller plane...magenta-pink with turquoise polka dots of course!

(another fine example of Wings!)

I'm so wishing I could have included a painting of Kat doing

acrobatics in the sky in her whimsical plane,

 but I've already sent her journal on to Priti Lisa!

Ah well, I'll keep this in mind for another time!

Two more journals to go in this Magical Journal Journey.

hmmm...one is white, the other is turquoise.

I think both will be fabulously fun!

Don't forget, one more day to join in on the

 Altered Postcard Swap 

at Inspiration Avenue!

Deadline to join is September 5.

You will have til September 21 to complete your postcards!

Would you like to join an 

  Altered   Postcard   Swap ?

Head over to Inspiration Avenue HERE to

read the details. But hurry . . . deadline to join is

September 5, 2013!

I've never made an altered postcard before...

So if you've never made one, join in anyway...

there are lots of examples to be found to give you ideas.

CLICK HERE

to see what you can find by Googling "altered postcards".

There is a junk/antique/thrift shop near me where I found

these postcards that I'm thinking of altering:

Unfortunately there is no message on the back of this one.

Guess I'll have to make up my own...

I had a cowgirl outfit very similar to this, so

this one really caught my eye!

Ha! Found it! That's me on the right.

I guess my mom (er, I mean Santa) forgot to bring the boots.

Love this message, a loaded question 

that really deserves an answer:

"Dear K------: (can't read the name)

Why don't you ever write to me?

Love to all, From

Moe"

It could also be Mae, but I think it's Moe.

It's addressed to:

Miss Emma Brennan

Punxsutawney, Penna.

and came from Boise, Idaho.

This one is a postcard of a fruit label.

Stop over at Inspiration Avenue to join and to see

examples of some altered postcards.

This one is one of my favorites since I love Frida:

[source]

See you in the Swap!