Great Journaling Spots

Nothing more fun than grabbing your journal, 

ordering a latte and settling down for an afternoon 

of sketching, writing, sipping, sight-seeing and dreaming.

 Whether it's down the block at the local quay,

 a small restaurant in Italy,

 or the Latin Quarter of Paris,

  

or even a late breakfast near the Eiffel Tower. 

 No better way to spend the day!

Grab your journals and sketch bags and  let's go!

Life on the Coast

Extra large lure on a shop a block and a half away

 from the sea in here Morro Bay!  Now that would catch a BIG fish!!!

Have a great weekend.

Fantastic Toy Friday

Remember Wagon Train? I never missed it - the covered wagons, the wagon master, the scout, the Indians?  The wild wild west! I'd put on my cowboy duds and sit glued to the old black and white TV set. and when it wasn't on I'd play with my my little "Wagon Train" set. Wow - we surley went for cowboys and Indians back in the late '50's, early '60's - never realizing how much of it was so politically incorrect.  Still, a fond memory of childhood.

Some Time Off - Back Soon!

Mouse guarding the studio table!

Have had a rough time with chemo side effects the last week or so and have spend most my time napping (and reading art books and mags).  Starting to feel a bit better and hoping to be back in the studio soon and woeking on some great projects.  But for now, just regaining strength and energy. I'll post here and faceBook while I'm back up to snuff and let you know what's going on.  In the meantime - nothing like a picture of the late, great, beautiful Mousie to keep our spirits up!

Journal Progress

First efforts,..

More rubber stamping in different  colours.

A final few stampings, and the daily journal entries
 stuck in the back of the library card pockets behind the vintage photos.

More Thrift Store Finds

A rather nice haul at a couple of thrift stores in Cumbria earlier this week. 

Including a copy of CPS that I didn't have and picked up for only $.50!

Lots of wonderful vintage cabinet cards and 

carte de viste for use in the current journal.

And this retro wooden top in faded primary colours!

Love the dapper dude at the bottom left!

Pinterest Fun

Beautiful example of various types of calligraphy.

And vintage diagrams ans compasses.

Life on the Coast

The Cayucos Pier bafore reconstruction on a beautiful late Spring day/

Favourite Toy Friday

Every weekend when I was in elementary school we'd watch The Shirley Temple Story Hour. It was akways a little disconcerting to see her in TV in her old movies from the 1930's and then see her all grown up reading fairy tales to her own children. One year for my birthday I received the Shirley Temple doll complete with the costumes from CaptainJanuary, The Little Colonel , and Rebecca of Sinnybrook Farm - all tomboy roles, you notice. I had a lot of fun with this and acting out the stories to go along with the different outfits.

Thrift Store Find

My friend Susan and I went thrift store shopping over the weekend - with my now limited energy we only got to two of them.  But really scored with this hand full of books from my elementary school days, including,  3-count 'em-3,  Happy Hollisters and a baseball book.  And all for a mere $5.00.
Guess what I'll be reading this week?!

More Journal Time

A few more journal pages, this one finihsed,

and these two ready for the writing,

sketching and more embellishments.

I'll keep you posted and show you the final pages.

D-Day

Thanks, Dad  - Altered 78 record album

This is an altered book that I made out of a vintage 78 record album. 

 That's my dad on the front along with his Sargent stripes from the Army  Air Corps.  

Here are the spreads from inside, filled with remembrances 

of his time serving during WWII.

Many are his actual medals and paperwork,

 while some is ephemera that I've picked up at 

flea markets and swap meets over the years.

This piece was part of my 2011 solo exhibition "The Pity of War"

Thanks to all who served on that historic day.

Journal Time

 A few of the latest pages from my current 

daily journal - Steampunk Postal Boys.

Have really been having fun combining

 a themed journal with my daily jottings.

And since the theme loosely concerns post office and mail offerings,

.it's giving me a chance to use lots of vintage

 stamps and postage paraphernalia ...

... envelopes inside of envelopes and lots of chances 

for faux addresses and postal markings.

Envelopes with maps, glassine  envelopes that 

I've stamped on and filled with old photos and journal jottings.

Having a lot of fun with this one - can't you tell?

Cornwall Holiday?

Love these vintage travel posters featuring Cornwall.

We spent some time there in September of

 2006 and had a wonderful time.

To get a daily dose of Cornish views go here.

  Lovely photography of the beauty spots of  Cornwall.