13 Journals - Sepia Grandmothers

This book in the 13 Journals round robin was entitled Sepia Grandmothers. It was one of my favourites. I used copies of Victorian scrap that my grandmother collected as a girl, copies of her baby pictures and pieces of vintage correspondence.



Another photo shows her and my grandfather standing in the garden of the house where my mother was born in Azusa, and a vintage postcard of Warren, Indiana, my grandmother's birthplace. She grew up, married my grandfather, and lived there (other than an 8 year homesteading experience in West Texas) until they moved to California in 1920.

From the Bookshelf

Just in time for Spring -this little book was my first introduction to Sarah Midda. Wonderful tiny drawings, beautiful handwritten text. One of those books that is a joy to pick up, again and again. She has several other delightful volumes including a sketchbook and diary of Southern France.

Fun in Santa Barbara

A midweek day off - we decided to take a day trip down to Santa Barbara
and do three of our favourite things -

1.) Have lunch at Jeannine's - Bakery and sandwich shop extraordinaire!

2.) shop at Art From Scrap - found object heaven, and

3.) visit the Santa Barbara Art Museum - current exhibit: Delacroix to Monet.

Cigar Box Wednesday

Victorian Scrap - gold wings and crowns, colourful cherubs and birds, card tally cards.

Many reproductions, but some vintage - 70-80 years old.

Ive raided this stash to use in the new journal I've just started - an old edition of Dickens,
the vintage scrap is the perfect accompaniment.

Blanche - 1890

A handful of well loved bits that belonged to my grandmother
when she was a child,living near Warren Indiana in the 1890's,
collecting pictures that came with the coffee and flour.

She painstakingly wrote her name on the back of each one
- and sometimes the date -before storing them
in a shoebox beneath her bed.

I was denied the pleasure of knowing her,
she passed before I was born,
but these small treasures from her childhood
make her feel very close.

10,000!

detail 10,000 lire note

10,000 visitors to Altered by the Sea! Thanks to all of you for making this milestone a reality. I'm continually delighted and amazed that you drop by, and love sharing my art and my little bit of the coast with you all.

Life on the Coast

The mustard is blooming, the sun is chasing away the fog, and the ocean cliffs beckon - I'm off for a walk along Moonstone Beach in Cambria. Enjoy your weekend!

13 Journals - RED !

The RED! journal was the first one I received in the mail in the 13 Journals Group round-robin.
I took my inspiration from vintage fashion and then pulled out every piece of red I could find in my stash.

I was especially happy with the copper metallic pen on the embossed background paper that picked up the copper foil along the page edges.

From the Bookshelf

This is a delightful romp with eye candy galore. Over-sized and outrageously colourful. A myriad of ideas and jumping off points for not only interior decorating, but wearable art, mixed media art and the art of living. Carolyn Quartermaine Revealed was published in 1997, but holds up well. I found a used copy in 2005 for around $15.00. Used prices on Amazon are up to $72.00 now! But try your library or local used book shops - always a chance of a bargain.

A Host of Golden Daffodils

The quintessential flower of spring - the golden daffodil.
Above - $.99 pure pleasure from Trader Joe's.

And here, a print that I made,
in a credit card machine lino printing class with Marsha Shaw.