Journals and more Journals

I have been having the nicest time this month ...
 - sorting papers and making the stash into journals - two for me as Travel Journals for 2012, some for friends and maybe some for Etsy - still to be decided.
 

My two Travel Journals for 2012

Decorated covers


- decorating the covers of two altered books using molding paste pushed through lacy curtain fabric and painted

 - preparing painted pages and starting collaging a page which I will work on further 

Ready for an Autumn collage

- making weekly journal pages influenced by Nicole, one of my Lawendula's Paper Swap friends. Nicole pastes down various pieces of coloured paper and writes over the top. Her pages are amazing!

Background prepared

A rotated view - does anyone know how to turn it around - it keeps jumping back even though I alter it in my photo folder!

   - and entering a blog competition hosted by Bronwyn - AND - WINNING - A Brother Sewing machine and a $50 voucher, courtesy of Lincraft! How lucky am I?
Browyn set herself the task of creating an item every day for 2011 and blogged about it. If you open the "Home" tab on her blog page you will discover paper and fabric and wood crafts - many recycled clothing ideas and many easy-to-do projects.
What a great creative year lies ahead for me! I hope for you, dear reader too.

NEW YEAR 2012

Happy New Year to you!

 Here in Australia, and particularly in my part, summer is in full swing! Beach walks, outdoor meals on our deck, tourists and holiday atmosphere everywhere.

We had a very relaxing Christmas Eve BBQ (prawns, special salads & marinated meats, berry coconut cake) and Christmas Day Dinner ( Turkey, special vegetables, plum pudding & brandy sauce).

As we  had such sadnesses during 2011, I deliberated for ages about whether to say grace, make a speech etc but in the end I lit 3 candles - a red centre one for our son-in-law, who died in July; one to "acknowledge" the sad and difficult times of the year and one to "celebrate" that we were together and are looking forward to good times.

I received 2 more cards from my Paper Swap friends - after Christmas - caught up in overseas mail & public holidays- they took more than 3 weeks to arrive. But I love them both - thank you Robert (card on left) and Nicole (right).
Nicole won second prize in a competition with her card, which is layered in red and green and features a tag from Cavellini and paper from anna griffin. Robert has collaged a monoprint and painted on watercolour paper - a lovery wintery feel.

I've been spending time finishing my Junk Journal (begun at the end of 2010) when I retired from regular teaching - which also means I've been getting rid - no - using - all those bits lying around on my bench, in drawers, in the cupboard ... you probably know what I mean!

I've used some old Christmas cards I'd kept because I loved them - to make 2 Christmas books, using paint, serviettes, wrapping paper, stamps, and the cards. I love the cover of the pink book!

 

Two pages from the Christmas books made with old cards.

 I've done 2 spreads for the Round Robin Altered Book for girls in the group and made 3 journals so far - one for our up coming cruise, one to just play in - and one I'll use to collage and write in - inspired by Nicole's blog. I want to make another larger one to work in for Effy Wild's course, Book of Days.
 

Altered book page for Joanne.


I'm looking forward to a creative, healthy and happy year - and wish you, dear reader, the same.