Journal -The first signature

Well I have almost finished the first signature - and have sewn it in, which fits in very nicely with this weeks Lots to Do Challenge, which is 'stitches' - take your pick they are all stitched!

I have never spent so long making something arty crafty!

Inside cover/first page

 A scrap of old curtain material from a charity shop years ago, bits of torn paper, and material sewn on top - note not a straight line in sight and lots of scraggly bits.

There is a transferred french postcard image onto a bit of old pillowcase (ripped) all held together with some buttons.

Next page - there is lace between the two

A bit of old net curtain cut around the shapes to make a pattern

Lucinda's embroiderd vintage handkerchief from Kate in France

Its tucked into a pocket at the start of the story - which it typed onto paper, and I have painted and stamped on it, the sewn it onto cardboard to make a pocket for the hankie.

You can see that the next page of Lucinda's thatched cottage has changed somewhat!

The ghost is still there!

These pages look a bit more severe , with Lucinda staring out into the distance as Kate's ship sails off to France.  The pouch for the vintage map on the right is flamboyant

As  you would expect from France at the time.

The first page of this signature centre is in a posting below (the ornate letter from Kate) together with some previous pages made.

And the above is the other - where she spent a weekend with French aristocracy in one of their Chateaux

Sadly the story is too long to make a page for each part of it, so I am going to type that up when I have finished and include it in the journal as a little booklet.

More scraps of pages salvaged from a fire - one of Lucinda's this time, and one of her paintings for Kate, together with a painting of where she sat to write her letters

She loves to illustrate her writing paper too - just as I used to years ago when we used to write letters!

Phew only 28 pages to go, plus the cover.

But I have other more pressing things to do unfortunately

All the fabulous lace came from Very Mary the wonder Mary's Etsy shops has to be seen to be believed!

 

Scissors were banned, so too any other colour than black thread - and no measuring with a ruler either - you should try it - it's liberating!

I have been using all my 'skills' new and old, improvising, inking, painting, experimenting, transferring, printing, lots of tearing, sploshing, gluing, and a fair bit of head scratching - and it's amazing what you make with a stash of 'junk'.  And I got to rediscover my old sewing machine - and once I worked out how to thread it and use it again - we have become quite good friends.  I doubt I could sew a straight line - but those were banned too - so it suited me down to the ground.

The leaf print above on the watercolour page - that was a bit of fern that was hanging in the way of my craft shed door - so I snapped it off and laid it on my desk.  The next day I picked it up to throw away and there was a perfect layer of brown dust - must have been from the seeds - so I dabbed ink on the fern, and just lay it on the page overnight -and hey presto - an perfect print!

I am taking a break from this for a week or so - I also need to get some supplies of French 'pretties' to go in it!  And I want to track down some paper serviettes to use in it too.

28 pages and the front cover yet to do - that's 2 signatures.  Lots of adventures to 'travel' on - great places to visit, and there's going to be a bit of romance too of course - and a tragedy - every good story needs a bit of both - not quite sure about a happy ending - who knows - I don't!

Thank you so much for looking

Earlier pages in the posts below.

Kate has arrived safely at her destination

She was met by her cousins who whisked her away to meet their friends, but she did manage to make some time to write to Lucinda.

I wonder where she is - look at that notepaper!

It's gilded!  Lucinda has never seen paper like that before and her eyes are wide with amazement and wonder

'Oh this is so exciting', she thinks,

and can't help but sit and try to imagine herself in Kate's place.

'Well well, her poor country cousins have friends in high places, and she has been whisked away to a Chateau just outside Paris!  I must arrange to see Mrs Ellingham and talk to her French maid to find out what it is like in France.  Perhaps she can teach me the language.' 

Lucinda muses, beginning to feel rather envious of her friend. 

Oh my goodness, the chateau looks rather grand, no wonder she gets gilded paper to write on!

I think that we are only going to get an edited version of her adventures as there are not enough pages in one book for her to write about them all!

I have got rid of my blockage!

/I had a mental blockage regarding how my journal would progress, and didn't really have a 'theme' - and did not know how on earth I was going to fill all the pages.

Mowing the lawns must have done something to me, because this afternoon, working in a very hot garden studio - I suddenly worked out what to do.

It will all take place in the 1800/1900's

It is going to be based on a story which I will write 'around' the pages as they unfold.

A story about two friends

A tragedy

And it features Kate - and a french man, and someone else!

So far that is!

Two more journal pages

These are taking me absolutely ages to make. 

Another sneak peek - page.2.

I am doing quite a bit of burning - I have a story in mind - well at least for a couple of pages!

It's all to do with a candle - and a fire!

I need to find some quotes

I have just been 'letting go' and experimenting!

Art Journal - first page.

At last I got to make a start on my journal.

 I can't go into explicit details as it would be unfair to Carol whose workshop it is, and the other ladies who all paid to go on the course.  The fee is very reasonable so if you fancy joining in, just click on her name above which will take you to  her blog.

I've made a start on colouring my paper - what'd you think Gozzie?

No - that's not how they showed us in the course work - I am just experimenting.

Oh I see - that bad huh?  It'll look better when it's dry - and don't keep walking off with a petal!

It's bright today so sadly the colours are looking washed out.

They turned out shades of pale green one side with a hint of purple and the other side turned out shades of vintage browns.

I was surprised - nay - amazed at how they dried and now they are ready to embellish

It's a shame I just couldn't capture the actual colours which are much richer and warmer. 

I think it's going to be a journal of techniques and favourite images etc

This page is dedicated to transfers

And burning stuff to fit cos scissors are banned!

I'll have to have another rummage tomorrow to find something for the next page.

I won't be showing every page I make - it takes too long, but will show snippets

Flower arranging with a breeze block!

I am certainly stretching myself these days aren't I.  And today was no exception - I went on a flower arranging workshop which involved making a modern arrangement with just the minimum of 'ingredients'.

Aren't these Cymbidium orchids just gorgeous.

They look like little creatures from a magical kingdom!

I can see a little nose on top of an open mouth with a tongue poking out.

I used green willow - cut from my willow arch.

I took loads and it was snapped up by lots of arrangers.

The design is for a minimalist modern home

which it totally the opposite of mine

I just had to add some leaves to soften the harshness of the breeze block

I have to say that it does not suit my home at all.

But I spent a great couple of hours, in good company, and learnt plant manipulation amongst other things.  It was such a change of style for me - plants suspended in tubes.

I can picture a Christmas arrangement like this - with painted red canes, entwined with ivy, and  perhaps the breeze block being covered with holly and baubles - ideal for my little cold porch.

A summer makeover

I decided that I would give my mobile phone a makeover for the summer.

The colour is deeper in real life

The colours match my summer frocks