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...

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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?!

I Can Drive a Stick

Continuing to share Halloween

themed items this month...

"From ghoulies and ghosties and

long-leggity beasties and other things

that go bump in the night,

Good Lord deliver us."

I stitched this sampler from a printed

kit when I was a newlywed, so it's 

about 40 years old! It has been removed

from its frame with the intention of making 

a pillow from it, but somehow it hasn't

happened yet...

A few of my favorite things...

old books, paper crafts, doilies,

Halloween characters and fall color.

A card received from a past Halloween,

 thank-you dear Elizabeth!

Here is Pumpkin Jack...he doesn't sit

very gracefully...and there is a

'ghost version' lurking somewhere about.

One of this year's projects, above.

I designed this myself. It was fun to stitch,

 and just makes me smile.

Will post photos when I get the

project finished. It's going to be

a pin-keep, or small pillow.

Joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth

for tea or coffee, or whatever

shenanigans I can get into

 on T Tuesday.

Do you decorate for Fall

or Halloween?

Halloween Sketches and Tutorial

Sketches for Halloween

from vintage images.  These

are in my art journal from 2008,

pencil, pen, and colored pencil.

I plan to celebrate Halloween on

this blog for the whole month, so

stay tuned for Halloween fun,

both old and new!

Sketches for Art Dolls, also 2008.

The paper doll on the right

is the one I ended up making

from cardboard. You will get to

see 'Pumpkin Jack' later on in

the month of October...

Above, a sketch for an ATC

that I was planning. I don't remember

if the final card ended up looking exactly

like this, but I really liked the way this

sketch turned out. Look out Blues Brothers...

Above, is the art journal page

that I made for a TUTORIAL

this week. It's over on my 

weight-loss blog, Healthy Momentum.

You can also find it on the Tutorials Page

of this blog in the side bar. (look for the tea cup)

 The Tutorial was designed to be easy,

 for people who are just getting started in

journaling, or aren't confident in

their drawing skills. Try it!

Linking up with 

Bleubeard and Elizabeth for the

T Tuesday blog hop.  Above, a 

cute Rooster Tea Pot and matching

cups that I saw at Sauder Village.

Join us for a beverage and

creative pursuits.

Creativity Is...

"Creativity is Risk-Taking" ~  Sting

Many things can prompt a page

in your Art Journal.  If I see an interesting

 image or hear a snatch of phrase that 

gets my attention, I grab a bit of 

paper and write it down. The 'notes to

 self' get slipped between the pages of 

my art journal until I decide how to 

use them in my art. 

In this case, I was listening

 to a National Public Radio

broadcast about creativity. I hadn't

really thought about what creativity

actually IS, but these quotes

rang true for me.

To roughly paraphrase 

Elizabeth Gilbert, author:

We've often heard the phrase,

"follow your passion," but that puts

a pretty strong sense of intensity 

(and perhaps stress) on the individual. 

Curiosity is much more doable.

It gives us 'permission' to work our

 day job and follow our curiosity where

 it leads us without the pressure 

of having to become

a tragic figure or 'starving artist.'

Another place I've found art journal

fodder is on blogs.  Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

does pod casts with her mom and

 a guest artist. They are full of gems of

wisdom and laughter. 

"Creativity is about exploring possibilities"

is a remark from Julie.  When I listen

to a pod cast, I take notes!

  It's fun and informative, plus I can doodle!

Where have you found inspiration lately?

Linking up with Julie's

Art Journal Every Day blog hop.

Stop by for some inspiration!

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