Inspiration Avenue Challenge - Art Journalling

Well, how could I miss this challenge???

I adore art journalling, and this was the perfect nudge I needed to get on with a new journal...

I bought the basic pieces several weeks ago - front and back covers, and two packs of pages - from 7 Gypsies... they arrived in several packs unpunched, and you add your own bookrings - THE perfect book-making kit for the one-handed :)

The beauty of this 'binding' is you can add and remove pages as you wish...

This is a page I'd made pre-stroke from another book, which was landscape 5x7, so I just punched holes down the other side to make it fit this new 7x5 portrait format...

Here's the tags front and back...

Sadly, I can't make such little, intricate tags any more, but I can stamp and stick, so on a blank page from the same older journal, I made this page today showing some 'Favourite Things'...

I just love this bookring format, not only for the flexibility of adding and removing pages, but mainly for the fact it encourages playfulness - it's not a 'proper bound book' - it's just a place to make images and to express yourself...

I can't wait to see what the others have been creating this week, so I'm heading over to The Inspiration Avenue... while keeping half an eye on the tennis - Andy Murray's level 5-all in the first set against Marcos Baghdatis...

Life is good :)

Virtual Coffee Tuesday...

How do Tuesdays come around so quickly???
I swear a week nowadays only has 4 days in it...

This will be a short and sweet post, as I've been thinking a lot this past week, and pondering exactly what I want from my blog, my life...

I'm working my way through Jan's book, on her e-course...

... and this leapt from the page the other day:

It is crucial at this passage of our journey that we give ourselves permission to slow down and be alone. To take time apart from others to get clear about what has happened and who it is we are being invited to become (p. 102)

So I'm taking a wee coffee break...

I may post at other times - or I may not - but for now, no more Virtual Coffee Tuesdays...

Much love xxx

WOYWW no. 159

This will be a short post - assuming I can keep a internet connection long enough to upload it *sigh*

Once again I waiting for inspiration...

Shoshi and I are having a lil swap, as she was unwell when we had the 'official ATC swap....

She's happy to have a postcard from me, as I know I can work on that size...

Maybe some others want to join in - I have a pack of 25 blank cards... :)

Oh, and here's my finished journal pages from last week

Can you believe I won the IA Challenge 'Chickens and Roosters' last week??

I can't, but am very honoured as there were some simply stunning entries... if you have time, pop over here and see for yourself :)

btw my dad loved his card and gifts for Fathers Day! You can see how we spent are day by scrolling down for yesterday's virtual coffee post :)

Well, it's the time for the moment of truth... and if I can post, I'll see you all over at Julia's Stamping Ground for our weekly jaunt around each others' desks...

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and a great week xxx

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Down memory lane...

Hello again!

What a lovely day - the sun is shining, there's a gentle breeze... I think we could sit outside, if you want...

I hope you've had a good week... did you enjoy Fathers Day? We had a lovely lunch here - it's where we went for Dad's birthday in March, and we all enjoyed it, so back we went :)

I'd asked Dad to bring some old photo albums from his home - I'm determined to make use of these photos in my journals - many of which I remember from my childhood, and lots of pics my parents took of our kids when they were small.

So we had a fun time perusing them, and sharing stories...

Here's my Mum aged 20 - already married and a mother...

I remember this picture vividly from my childhood, and I think it captured many elements of my mother - attractive, elegant, yet remote... she wasn't a hands-on mama, and it's true, I'm more of a Daddy's girl...

My Dad was stationed in Singapore, which is where I was born... Sadly, I have no memories of our time there, which is why I used to pore over these photo albums.

Here's me aged about 18 months/2 years...

and here's my two at a similar age... first Sam...

and Esther...

I think there's a strong resemblance between Esther and me - especially around the eyes (and both she and I were thumb-suckers!), maybe less so with Sam... what do you think?

Well, I won't bore you with any more family history...

I want to hear about your week, while we enjoy this gorgeous June day... ready for a refill?

With much love xxx

IA Challenge - Chickens and Roosters

I've been just ages since I joined in the Inspiration Avenue weekly challenge - what with me and dh both being sick, the kids on half-term break, but keeping well....

... but this week I made it!

I just love this proud chap announcing the new day...

so I coloured the stamp lightly with pencils...

and added butterflies...

And we're so grateful today is a new day... and so far Molly cat has been much better... we think she caught an ailing/poisoned mouse, brought it home Friday night, and promptly got sick herself, so Nick spent yesterday morning at the vet's, and throughout the day giving her medicines...

.... but by last night she was much improved

... and is almost herself this morning... *phew*

And today is Fathers Day - Google have made a sweet animation, so look something up - and my Dad and brother are coming and we're out for a scrummy lunch and a lazy family day, so I'd better crack on...

Cock-a-doodle-do!!

WOYWW no. 158

Well, yesterday was a rather productive day - finally, after a couple of weeks feeling like Dr Death's missus... my dh and I caught a nasty tummy bug and have just been passing it back and forth... thankfully, the kids are as right as rain :)

Anyway, the desk...

First a card I'm making for my Dad - Fathers' Day on Sunday :) The image isn't great, I'm afraid - it's another dull and drizzly day, and I don't know how to 'mute' the flash highlights...

It's a collage of stuff he likes - music (he's always listening to the radio, CDs, vinyl, cassettes in the car...), some script (he's an avid reader), a map (he's a great walker), flowers (he loves nature and he's a mean flower arranger!), and a good boy eating an apple (I think my dad's the only person I know who isn't a vegetarian, yet he gets his 5-a-day each and every day!!) No wonder he looks so good at 70 :)

And my beautiful ATC from the lovely Ann

... a celebration of WOYWW third anniversary the other week - I shall treasure it :)

And on the right of the desk, a journal where I'm working on this week's IA challenge 'Chickens and Roosters'. I've missed a few challenges lately, so I'm hoping the energy levels remain high enough to finish it...

I'm thinking I'll stamp 'Today is a new day...' across the page between the rooster and the butterflies...

Well, I'll go see if Mr Linky is up over at Julia's Stamping Ground - he's gone AWOL... probably in Poland enjoying the footie...

Then I can hop around the globe taking a peek at everyone else's desks :)

Have a great Wednesday!!

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Finally...

... I feel almost myself...

It feels like ages since I had enough energy to do something more than get up and dressed!!

Now I know I have loads to babble on about, but it truly takes me ages to pull all the pics and links together, so this will just be a snippet of what's been going on...

So, grab your drink, and a biscuit if you wish, and settle down for a catch up :)

First of all, I must finally show the postcards I received in the IA Postcard Swap... I never got a fifth one, but I do have four absolute beauties!!

The first arrived from Nancy

It's a print of one of her paintings, with a real pressed flower from her garden on the front - a little bit of Colorado made it safely to Grantham :)

Next came this gorgeous collage from Peggy

It doesn't photograph too well as it's been laminated to protect the collage - but some of the words read 'Painting is just another way of keeping a diary', 'Handles attention well', 'Queen' and 'Soars'.

Next came this fun envelope from Diane

with a wonderful selection of stamps on the front

and you just knew there was something extra-special hiding within...

What a beauty!!!

And finally, a bland, brown envelope from Maggie, but within which was this inviting package...

... and on opening the bow was revealed this...

... a truly gorgeous card with a sweet note on a tag :)

I hope you can find some time to visit this amazingly talented ladies' blogs - talk about a feast for the eyes!!

Now, I need to find a safe way of storing and displaying these artful treasures, and isn't it wonderful getting something beautiful in the mail???

And now I'm bushed and ready to sit back, enjoy my coffee and soak up your news and lovely company :)

With love xxxx