Peace to all...

Fill the Pages

The Documented Life Project 2015:

"Life is a book, we fill the pages."

Squares of painted paper cut into

1 3/4" squares and glued to

black card stock. I had plenty of

scraps to choose from!

Most are watercolor and Sharpie

pen, but some are acrylic paint.

(please pardon the shadows...the paper is really cream colored. 

I was having some difficulty getting the page on the scanner properly)

The theme for the week was supposed

to be all about the words...so I did write

some words on a few squares. But for

some reason the painted papers were

what really made me happy, so that's

my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Linking up with the T Tuesday

gang over at Bleubeard & Elizabeth's.

Sharing my drawing of a wonky tea cup and 

having my mocha coffee. (Yes, it's ok

to have a beverage other than tea)

Join us for a beverage of your choice,

a pastry, or maybe even some

creativity!

'Tis the Season~ Art Journal Pages

 " 'Tis the season...to get

caught up in the madness

of buying things."

Watercolor background, stamped

circular designs, chalk pastels applied

around painters' tape used as a mask.

Sometimes I need to remind myself

that this season isn't about all of the

stuff. It should be about time with

those we love. And I probably do

have way too much stuff...

Large lettering drawn through a

stencil, drawings of ornaments placed

within the masked rectangular areas.

Sharpie pen and assorted markers to

add more line and color.

Very 'busy' pages...just like the season!

Sharing a re-post of my wonky

drawing of a snowman mug...

and linking up with 

Bleubeard and Elizabeth for

T Tuesday. Stop by for a 

visit and a warm beverage!

What have you been

doing during this

busy season?

Celestial Collage

When we visit the local

Catholic Church, I admire the

art. The stained glass windows,

sculptures, and paintings are

wonderful.  On our last visit, I

brought home a copy of the

clip art from the order of 

worship booklet. (it's like the

 Church bulletin I am more 

accustomed to) Since angels

 are a favorite subject for me to

draw, I wanted to use the 

rectangular art that I cut from

the booklet, for some art work. 

The larger cherub below the 

Celestial label is my resulting drawing.

The Celestial Seasonings tea

label seemed appropriate...

Linking up with the T Tuesday

blog hop over at the

Altered Book Lover blog.

Thanksgiving to Christmas Transition

It's that awkward time when I am itching

to decorate for Christmas, but I don't want

to overlook Thanksgiving...

The result is that a few fall decorations 

still linger, but some Christmas

 things begin to appear.

Below, some old sheet music that has

seen better days. I intended to frame it

some day, but it never happened. Into

the Art Journal it went.  

Such a beautiful vintage illustration!

If you read the credits at the

bottom left of the page, you will see

that this sheet music was compliments

of a corset company!

Couldn't resist trying my hand at the

rose illustrations from the music...

Drinking my mocha from the Santa 

mug this morning...some red and white

Christmas decorations are beginning to

make their appearance.

Linking up with the T Tuesday group,

to see what's up with my Tea friends,

and to enjoy another cup...

Wishing you a Thankful week,

and much happiness!

◘  ♦  ◘

Painting on a Dryer Sheet

copyright Dianne Bishop Carey 2015

Painting on an unlikely surface

can be an interesting challenge...

how about a dryer sheet?

Watercolor and gouache, with

touches of white gel pen on a 

generic-brand, used dryer sheet.

copyright Dianne Bishop Carey 2015

It's a bit like trying to paint on 

Swiss cheese, as the surface is full

of holes. At first I had the dryer sheet

 on waxed paper as I painted.

When I realized how much paint (a lot!)

was ending up on the paper below it, I

just decided to glue it into my journal

and continue painting. It needed the

background surface to 'fill-in' the little

holes in the texture of the fabric.

copyright Dianne Bishop Carey 2015

This was a challenge from The

Documented Life Project~ The Journal, 2015.

Another suggestion was painting on dried

tea bags.  (Now I realize that it would have 

been perfect for tea day!) Tea bags or

dryer sheets are both free, recycled,

 translucent surfaces that can be

used for art. The texture of the finished

piece is very interesting...soft and blurry,

because the bumpy surface prevents

sharp details. The woman in this little

painting is modeled after a lovely black

and white vintage photo that I bought in

an antique shop. The hair-style was a

challenge, since I couldn't discern a lot of

detail in the old photo.  I decided to cut 

the dryer sheet into an oval shape and

make it resemble a piece of jewelry.

Dianne Bishop Carey 2015

Linking up with the T Tuesday group

over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog...

sharing a beverage, and whatever

else we are experiencing

at the moment. 

Stop by for a cup!

Here is a tea cup that I bought at a local

 thrift store this week. It's quite pretty, 

  and it was inexpensive! There was no

 matching saucer, as you might be able to

 see in the photo. I just picked out a saucer 

 a little similar to the cup and went with it. 

Think, mismatched "Mad Tea Party."

Wishing you warm cups of

whatever beverage you enjoy on a 

Fall harvest pumpkin kind of day...

Translucent Coverage: Torn Fabric

The Documented Life Project 2015~

The Journal.  One challenge this month

was to use vellum, which I didn't have.

But fabric I do have!  I think the very

sparkly translucent fabric I used on this 

page is organza, but I'm not sure. It's very

difficult to see in the scan above. A

loose stitched 'flap' covers two layers

of fabric, adding sparkle and mystery.

There are rows of vertical hand-stitching,

but I don't think they're visible in the scan.

Click on the photo for a better look...

Above, the organza has been lifted to

reveal the cotton fabric that has been

painted with a simple floral design in

watercolor. It echoes the designs in the

printed fabric beneath it. I drew around

the flowers in permanent Sharpie marker

for more definition, since the watercolor

naturally faded and bled into the fabric.

I also quilted around the flowers a bit 

to connect it with the floral fabric beneath.

When lifting all three layers of fabric,

journaling is revealed beneath...I 

like the initial splattered and swirled

watercolor background, but it is 

difficult for me to leave it alone and

not overwork it...

The facing page:  I drew this little

flower from a bouquet my husband 

brought home to me. It is 'pen direct to

paper,' (no pencil sketch first) and I rather

like the pink background showing through

the leaves of the painting. The bouquet

survived a night in the car, as my husband

forgot to bring them in to me when he

got home from work! Since it was in the 40'sF

that night, they were a bit wilted, but 

perked up when I put them in water!

A very nice surprise...

Here's the coffee mug I am having

my morning mocha in today...

linking up with Bleubeard and Elizabeth

for T Tuesday.  Enjoying my flowers,

both real and stitched. What are you

enjoying these days?

Autumn Journal Pages

I am influenced by the color

around me, including the

colors of the seasons.  This week

in Ohio, the light seemed golden, 

the autumn colors of the trees were

silhouetted against gorgeous blue

skies.  I spent quite a bit of time

walking at various parks this

week, enjoying the sunshine.

Above, a collage in my 

Documented Life Project journal.

The month of October challenge

was Translucent Papers.  The strip

of paper on the left of the spread is

Deli paper, painted with gouache.

 You may be able to see the 

yellow lined paper that is visible

beneath it.  The Jack-o-lantern and

moon are copies of watercolors

that I did, inspired by vintage images.

Next, I used painted tissue paper

on the pages above and below. The

 tissue was painted with watercolor,

let dry, and torn into leaf shapes.

Wet tissue paper is very delicate and

tears easily! Let dry after gluing, and 

draw outlines and details. (I used purple

gel pen) The oval leaves are from

 a vintage child's 'Shape Book.'

I think the above page is actually

my favorite.  The torn tissue paper shapes

were glued down for the leaves and the

shapes of the trees at the bottom. I also

used some highlighter, and fluorescent

gel pen, but not sure that detail is 

visible on the scan. (click to enlarge)

A 'Happy Halloween'

Artist Trading Card...

washi tape, markers, pen

and scrapbook paper.

Linking up with 

Bleubeard and Elizabeth for

T Tuesday, when I generally

have coffee instead of tea...

but no one seems to hold it

against me as we are all very

individual in our tastes!

Stop by Elizabeth's blog for

 a cup of something...

◘  ♦  ◘

Cross Stitch Halloween

Halloween cross-stitch designs from

The Prairie Schooler, Book No. 181.

I painted the grapevine wreath

 black and dusted it with black glitter.

I may never get all of the black glitter

swept up in the spare bedroom...

I swept, I used masking tape to collect

the bits that wouldn't sweep up. Now I

remember why I don't usually use glitter.

The kids will probably wonder if 

there are bed bugs next time they visit!

How's that for scary?!!

I did use paper underneath when I 

sprinkled the glitter, honest. It still 

went everywhere...

I heard that Prairie Schooler designs is

 closing up shop, and so I ordered

several of their patterns. They are easy

because they don't have half-stitches,

and are often in a square format.  I think

the 'angel-skull headstone' is my 

favorite on this wreath.

"Of course I can drive a (broom) stick"

was finished into a pincushion. Pretty

happy with the results...

The 'ghosty' version of

Pumpkin Jack is hangin' around nearby.

I stitched the wreath designs on 11 count cream

Aida fabric, so they were easy to see to stitch.

They are mounted on cardboard, with some

frayed black fabric as backing. The pattern

called for black felt for backing, but I used

what I had on hand.

Linking up with 

Bleubeard and Elizabeth's

T Tuesday party,

where you never know what

we will chat about...but there

is always a beverage involved.

Mine is mocha, because 

chocolate for breakfast is

cool.  Right?!