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?