Friday, December 25, 2015





Peace to all...


Tuesday, December 15, 2015

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!






Tuesday, December 8, 2015

'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?





Tuesday, December 1, 2015

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.






Tuesday, November 24, 2015

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!

◘  ♦  ◘


Tuesday, November 10, 2015

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...





Tuesday, November 3, 2015

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?



Tuesday, October 27, 2015

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...








◘  ♦  ◘


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

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?!