Inktober in my Hobonichi

Peter Pan quote...

and a collage to fill in some blank

 space. Here's a tiny coffee

cup for my link-up to T Tuesday

this week! 

I used a vintage illustration as my 

model for the tale of Bluebeard, showing

the moment he gives the keys to his

new wife. Bluebeard warns her not to open

'that one door.' You can guess

what happens then...

The busy weekend caused me to

play 'catch up' in my Hobonichi

after the fact. Loved having my son and

his family here, even for a short visit.

A new month, a new challenge.

I may combine 'Inktober' with the

Hobonichi Challenge prompts...

I enjoy getting out these little

folk art figurines every Fall.

The gargoyle was an interesting

subject. Not my favorite. But good

to draw something out of my

comfort zone.

It's difficult for me to resist adding

watercolor to the ink drawings.

A little bit of orange background 

can't hurt, right?

The Hobonichi Challenge for Oct. 5th

was 'spider.'  Having this in my planner

is creeping me out. I may have to cover

it up with a flap of some kind!

Hope you're enjoying October so far.

Thanks for stopping by!

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?!

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?

Travel on T Tuesday

Smash book pages recently created

in my Eco Green Smash book...

the pumpkin theme continues!

Above, some ideas that I drew for

Halloween Artist Trading Cards.

Loved the adorable goofy pumpkins 

on the scrapbook paper I bought!

I exchanged an ATC with Dawn over 

at Everyday Memories with Project Life.

Love the colors, the zentangles,

and the cute ribbon~

Thanks Dawn!

I taped her atc into the book with 

decorative tape...

and underneath the atc I drew a Harvest Moon.

My Travel for the week was a quick trip

to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky where we met our

son and his family.  Had a great time,

even though it rained every day. We were

very thankful that we 'camped' in a cabin

and not a tent...you CAN

 roast marshmallows in a drizzling rain!

I like to sketch scenes along the roadside

while we drive.  These mystery plants that had

been frosted had marvelous brown 'heads' and

an almost glowing lime-green stem.  Perhaps they

were little sunflowers? I am not sure, but we

only saw them on a short stretch of highway.

Had fun sketching the corn field too...

Bits of songs and silly conversations,

and radio chatter...life can be a bit random,

don't you think?!  And when the grand kids

are not in the car, I have to be the one to

ask, "Are we there yet?"

On our way home, the fall foliage was rather

obscured by the cloudy day and rain, but

I still enjoyed the autumn colors.

Having my mocha coffee this morning

in my panda mug, which is getting more chipped

over time, but I can't bear to retire it!

Hope you will enjoy some tea or coffee today,

some color~ or some pumpkin!

Linking up with Elizabeth for T Tuesday...

Tricks on Tuesday

If I designed my own travel mug...

it would have curlicues and curling leaves

and a scary pumpkin face...

a grinning cat face seems a bit creepy too.

Very toothy grins and bulging eyes...

while sipping my mocha coffee and surveying the

grinning pumpkins and cats, an old folk poem comes to mind:

"from ghoulies and ghosties and long leggity beasties

and other things that go bump in the night,

good Lord deliver us!"

Linking up with Elizabeth for T Tuesday

link party.  Join us!

Pumpkins on T Tuesday

Stitched pumpkin pillow with wool front.

Primitive pumpkin pattern from "Threads that Bind."

The features are reverse applique'.  Which means you

cut out the shapes and sew the contrasting color behind

the opening, instead of stacking contrasting colors 

on top of each other. 

I rather like this sad pumpkin face...

Voting is still open over at Notforgotten Farm

for your favorite Finish on the cross-stitch pattern

that I used on the penny rug bag.  There are so

many lovely pieces there! Of course I would be
delighted if you vote for number four...

Below, the painted pumpkin doll that I

created several years ago. He's a rather

large fellow.

I saw a similar doll in a shop, but didn't

want to pay the high price, so I made

my own version.

Love how the dangly legs turned out!

Please visit Bluebeard and Elizabeth over

at Altered Book Lover blog for more

T Tuesday activities.

Happy Fall - T Tuesday!