Monday, November 12, 2012

My initial reaction to blogs has always been that nobody cares what I think.  Publishing a blog would be comparable to offering advice to my grown children... reactions would vary from polite indifference to outright hostility. However, blogs have become a commonplace way to share ideas and projects in the world of art and craft. I guess one more won't hurt.
My maiden foray into blogging will be to share the hand made art journal that I created for a swap posted on another ubiquitous product of the internet, the special Facebook group.  This group is a mixed media group hosted by a Canadian art journaler and scrapbooker and includes participating members from all over the world.  My hand made journal was destined for a member in the UK. The criteria for the swap was to decorate the cover of a purchased or handmade journal and to complete at least one spread within the journal before mailing it off to your partner.  Adding other goodies was optional.  Here is a summary of my process and materials used.

Front and back covers

The Journal Cover
Machine stitched patchwork of Asian papers fused and stitched to a canvas base.  Embellishments done with stamps, rub-ons, Mehndi stencil sheets and Liquitex modeling paste tinted with Perfect Pearls, glass beads, handmade (not by me!) ceramic button and ribbon wrap closure.  The dangle is a glass bead shaped as a hand
Signatures contain 98 lb Canson XL Mixed Media paper (canabalized from a ready made journal); pamphlet stitched using waxed linen cord. The grommets were too small for the job, so I glued them on more for a decorative than functional purpose.

The Journal Page
I threw a great quantity of my media inventory (and I have a far greater supply then I have experience using them... I find shopping process takes less time than the creative process) on to this spread,
Materials used included but not limited to:
Gesso
Derwent Inktense Blocks (the best in the world!)
dress pattern tissue
Perfect Paper Adhesive Matte

My two page journal spread
 Hero Arts "Newspaper Background" stamp
Golden fluid Acrylics paints
Copic Markers
PITT pens
StayzOn ink pads
Faber-Castell Gel Sticks
Dr. Martin's Bombay inks (While working late at night on this, I spilled over half a bottle of blue. O the waste of ink AND paper towels!)
Inkadinkado spray ink
Various stencils & sequin waste
Stampendous "Ranunculus Field" stamp (my current favorite)
Bic White-Out pen (sadly, I overdid it...don’t like the circles)
Text from Sticker Nation 2: The Big Book of Subversive Stickers, by Srini Kumar (I’m not sentimental, so I love this book!)
Final buff and polish with Judikins Micro Glaze

Back cover pocket contains blank tags and a few vintage door prize tickets from the Steep Falls Library bean suppers.  I also threw in two Maine maps & magnet and a fresh mehndi stencil. Lots of collage potential with these materials.

The finished journal now has a home in Great Britain. My first transAtlantic art experience.  And my first blogging experience.

2 comments:

  1. Your journal is beautiful Valerie! (Your blog is pretty good too!)

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  2. I love your journal! I usually find blogs to be painfully boring. You however have somehow managed to inject your blog with your clever wit which is powerful enough to grab my attention. Well done!!

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