I'm Back

Havent posted for a few weeks as Ive been on holiday. Ive achieved an ambition Ive had for some time now. We have toured USA my husband was driving and we drove from Washington DC down through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Nashville Memphis and of course Gracelands down south to Layfette we stayed in Br Bridge right down to New Orleans. We had a wonderful time with a few adventures on the way Russell was stopped by the police for speeding and we got lost a few times even though we had a sat nav. We met some lovely people everyone was very friendly. We both had awful jet lag when we got home and it took ages to recover also due to rushing about and living out of suitcases. We suffered from lack of sunlight the temperature in the States was 98 at one time lowest 86. I loved the hot weather all that lovely sun but of course we were on holiday and could rest for the hottest part of the day. Some of the Brits I know start complaining when it gets to 25c. I started an art journal haven't attempted one before I wanted to make notes along the way to record the things we saw. I don't usually write a diary so to make it interesting to do I collaged and painted the pages. I'm still doodling in it I'm not good at drawing I will put up some pics when its done and some photos we took 1800 and did 3000 miles pheeeew.

Lucky Black Cat

Lucky black cat again a little larger this time made from the calico cat pattern.
He might land up on my craft stall

Postcards

Postcards I am taking to The States with me to post thought I might try posting without an envelope cant remember the term for doing that. I might call them plastic lace as they made from carrier bags strips woven with strips of material and lace then ironed to hold it altogether I then hand and machine embroidered them They came out quite well.

STAR Little Monster

This is Star Ive made him for my granddaughter who is just starting her first teaching job straight from college this must be quite scary but she is in a small village school. She wanted me to make her something to give one of the children to take home for the weekend if they had been specially good. I wanted to make something the children would really like to take home. I came up with this baby monster but I was inspired by Denise at grrl+dog click on the title Star. He or maybe she I did find making one that the boys would like too was a bit restrictive but it was fun to make. I would like to make one that is a bit more wild like the ones Denise has made. I do find it hard to let go and do wild and frayed

Another Altered Book Page

The title for this book is Beautiful Creatures.
I thought the ballet is very lovely and chose Swan Lake for the beautiful swan. The pages are collaged with paint papers and finished with the pictures and oil pastels. I like collage messing with paint and papers the only thing is its time consuming getting all your stuff out sorting and then getting more out putting it all away and then clearing up the mess.
This spread has turned out very well it all hangs together.

Altered Book Page

Altered book for Becky the theme was along the lines of sending a letter from yourself when young and then from older self. I thought this was a bit scary when I first saw the theme but it was quite a fun one to do. My thoughts went back to when I was 16 I left school at 15. Remember my grandmother telling me she left school at 14 and thinking she was still a child. My granddaughter has just finished college to start teaching and she is almost 23.I collaged about what was big in my life then I headed the page Return to Sender Address Unknown that let me out of writing a letter much to busy having fun at that age.If you look there is a picture of me at 16 on the little book we even looked innocent in those days. The second half you can see is not so busy but life is good and the heading is One More Step Along the World I Go with a book of quotes that have helped me through difficult times.