3- Years - 3

Three years ago today I posted the first entry here on Altered by the Sea. Cigar Box Wednesday, Atomic Lemon, Cemetery Saturday, Life on the Coast, From the Bookshelf, and all my trips and art adventures. What a time it's been receiving all your wonderful comments.



I want to once again thank the fabulous Lisa Hoffman who urged me over and over again to start a blog. Boy can that girl nag! But after 1076 posts - I gotta admit she was right. Thanks Leese - it wouldn't have happened without you.


And without all the support and encouragement of all of you who visit me here at my little studio by the sea. Let's raise a latte to another year!

Winter Wonderland

On our recent trip to New Hampshire there was something quite wonderful about bundling up, taking a brisk walk in the snow and then coming back to the cozy fireside and working in my journal.




Before we left, I prepped several of the pages with a beautiful blue glaze from Golden and others with a cream craft acrylic. With my stencil knowledge from Mary Ann Moss, I did a few of the pages and the back cover, using paper and lace doilies (which look very snow-like) and a Michelle Ward stencil from Mary Beth Shaw's Stencil Girl.



I spent some time last fall seeking out snow stuff - paper, ribbon, brads, rusty (!) snowflakes, and vintage postcards from long ago New Hampshire winters. It all got packed up in a cigar box (what else?!) and taken along. I went with a general colour scheme of blue, cream and rust, so dug through the stash finding bits and bobs that would work. All this went into the box as well.



I loved the way this vintage doily looked like a giant snowflake that landed on the journal page.


As usual by the time it was finished it was so full it almost made a circle when I stood it upright. But that's the way I love my journals and altered books - stuffed, crammed - completely replete with memories of the journey.

Life on the Coast

A snowy, frozen lake in mid New Hamsphire

Here's the water we were by last Sunday -

Off the coast of Hwy 1, southern Big Sur

And here's the water we're by this Sunday.
Photographic proof that we live in a varied and beautiful land.
(The snow was a wonderful experience, but as Dorothy says
"There's no place like home!")

From the Bookshelf

This is lots of fun - don't we all love to peek into other artists' studios? Well here's your chance. Lots of eye candy, studio dimensions, lighting tips, how to organize just about anything. Every size is covered - from closets to huge attics. Put out by the people that bring you the quarterly Cloth Paper Scissors Studio magazine. If you have followed CPS Studios since its inception you will recognize many of the studios in the book as they are taken from the magazine articles. I still found it valuable as it does present several of my faourites all in one place. If you're not familiar with the magazine this is a great introduction.

Over the River and Through the Woods

Not to grandmother's house, but to the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Built in 1902 and completely restored a few years ago - it's a vivid and impressive reminder of the glory and grandeur of times past.

It was a lovely drive past silent birch woods,
and frozen ice sculptures along the roadside.

I even spotted this wonderfully weathered silo.

We fly out today at noon, back to California. We'll pack away the big coats and snow boots, but the memories will be as fresh as the new fallen snow. Next week I'll have pix of the finished journal.

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Yes, that's the deck that hangs out over the lake -
the lake that is now frozen solid !

And in case you've ever wondered -
apparently I can walk on water.

View of Lower Kimball Pond from Franny's cabin -
Toto - I don't think we're in California anymore!

Suitcase Saturday

For our first Suitcase Saturday I picked one of the smallest ones I have. It's a reproduction (I got it at Ross!) of a vintage ladies' accessory travel box. But I use it to hold my collection of cabinet cards - those wonderful 4x6" photos from the late 1800's, early 1900's.

They are wonderful in journals, collage, and assemblage.

I've found mine at swap meets, flea markets, antique fairs and malls, and always available on Etsy or eBay.

Buttons & Bows - 11x14"

When I did my Shabby Chic Collection in 2010 I used them quite a bit.

Hello Boston!

photo courtesy karissamarie

We landed at Logan Airport last night. We've come to spend time in a wonderful cabin on a lake in New Hampshire and see some snow. First a day in Boston, see some sights and take a drive through Cambridge.

Next post from Lower Kimbell Pond, New Hampshire.
Brrrrrrr!!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!

We'll be flying out early tomorrow morning for New England - and a chance for this native Southern Californian to have lots of snow. When I was a kid, we'd go "visit" the snow at Mt. Baldy for an afternoon. In my thirties I lived in eastern San Luis Obispo County (where it does get cold in the winter) and we'd have very light snow every other year or so - 2" or so and it would melt in a day or so. And three years ago when I went to a Lynne Perrella/Anne Bagby workshop in Taos there was snow - but I've never since BIG snow like they have back east. We'll be staying with our dear friend Franny at her cabin onLower Kimball Pond in New Hampshire.



So of course this is a chance for a wonderful new travel journal - theme? Snow of course!

I've been gathering supplies. paper, ephemera and pix.

Prepping some pages, finding the
perfect embellishment for the cover

and getting very excited about getting started.

Life on the Coast

Early morning walk on Moonstone boardwalk in Cambria,
the sea glimpsed through the pines.