Heavenly Gardens Journal Returns Home

 I joined an International Journal Round Robin back in June 2010 and my journal entitled Heavenly Gardens returned home a couple of days ago.  Here it was back then, and here it is now, all fat and overflowing with gorgeous artwork!  It really is amazing, a real treasure so I thought I'd share it with you here.

It's been around the world, to USA, Australia, the Netherlands and Ireland in it's travels.

 Here is the post where I shared my inspiration for this journal

 I created the little pocket at the front of the journal to hold paper seed markers which acted as the sign in sheet for the artists and they decorated them with a riot of fibres, threads, charms, beads, foliage and flowers.

 Gabby

 Lynda

 Clairester - page dedicated to her  Aunt Molly

 Vera

 Lizzie

 Milliande

 Milliande

 Antje

 Monika

 Monika

 Tike

 Toos

 Toos

 Toos

 

Louise

 Louise

 

 Helen

 Helen

The pages are all fabulous, each artist adding their own unique take on my theme.  The last entry smells divine, with a piece of lavender from her garden.  I could comment on each page but I think that the image speaks for itself - showing the wonderful creative and giving minds of the ladies who have and still are participating in this adventure, (I think my journal is the first to make it back home, some are still travelling and at least a couple I have yet to work in).

So a very big shout out to these talented ladies - Gabby, Lynda, Clairester - dedicated to her Aunt Molly, Vera, Lizzie, Milliande, Antje, Louise, Tike, Toos, Helen and last but not least the most dedicated organiser you could hope to work with, Monika.  It's been a pleasure ladies, I'm so happy to have 'met' you and I'm blown away by your creativity and generousity of time and energy.  If you are ever up for another Round Robin just let me know....

Journal Pages

It's been a while since the last journal from the International Journal Swap came through but this one is the latest. The theme is Connections and I chose to interpret it with the connections between the 12 artists taking part in this round robin.

I made small journals representative of the journals travelling around the world, between us, and used postage stamps to illustrate one of the ways in which we communicate, email being the other.


The small journals have themes, including India, Vintage and Postage Stamps. On putting them on the page I realised that I would have to find a way of closing them otherwise they would get crushed when the journal folded so I came up with attaching ribbons to the backs of them so it could be tied on the front, securing the tiny journals closed.

I had great fun using some of my favourite colours, in acrylics, alcohol inks and glimmer mists and used a plastic doillie as the stencil for the molding paste.

Last I heard my own journal was in the States and it's coming closer to it coming home. Can't wait to see it. This journal was bulging with beautiful work and it was difficult letting it go but it's now winging it's way to Lichfield to the next artist :)

Lots to Do

The latest journal in the International Journal swap is with me and my entry needs completing today so I can post it on tomorrow

I've laid an initial background of vintage book, music sheets and atlas pages

Above are my journals from the journal making class, hoping to get on with decorating the pages later.

And hoping to get some more canvases prepared. I've been reading Pam Carriker's book Art at the Speed of Life and one of her tips is if you're going to prepare one canvas you may as well do more whilst you have everything out and a gluey brush - hearing you Pam :) Then when the muse visits I can get straight on with the project.

Since I last posted....

I've become a year older, if not wiser


Had lots of cards from family and friends to mark the occasion


Received some lovely chrissies, my favourites, just like my grandma had


Finished another page in the International Journal Swap, fairytales the theme, Rapunzel my choice

Had some wonderful post from Postcrossing and these adorable ATCs from the Roses on the Table swap I did

Made some hanging ATCs for a Holiday Ornament ATC swap on Milliande

Unconditional Love Journal Entry

This is my entry in Tike's journal with the theme Unconditional Love. This is one of the journals in our International Journal Swap round robin. I had fun creating this page and got the idea from work on the vintage wedding atcs earlier this week. Hope she likes it :)

International Journal Swap - Mythology #2

Finished my page for Helen

International Journal Swap - Mythology #1

I've finally gotten around to starting on the journal from Helen on the theme of Mythology. I've been thinking, deliberating and procrastinating for a couple of weeks now. One of the themes I was mentally kicking around was mermaids and when Helen said that she liked mermaids my decision was made. I started by making a background collage of sea themed papers, atlas pages, vintage sailing book, a song about the sea, and a vintage travel book about the Tropic of Capricorn.

I then used watersoluble crayons and gesso, together with acrylics, stamps, stencilling to add interest to the background. I've just started painting the mermaid and have a ways to go yet. I'm so glad to be off the starting blocks. It is so seemingly difficult working in someone else's journal, will I make a complete mess of it and ruin it, etc. But once I was working I suddenly realised that I was not thinking about what I might do, but about what I was doing. So the moral of the story is to just get going, doing something I'm familar with - collaged backgrounds and let the rest flow.

My journal has started on it's journey, I reluctantly posted it out yesterday. Reluctantly because it's become precious to me and I have to trust the postal services not to lose it. But on the plus side I'm so looking forward to seeing what the other artists create on my theme.


In this pouch above, I have sign in tags like seed markers and I'm asking them to put their name, the date and their favourite flower and then if they feel so inclined to put a tassel, bead or charm etc on it and I'm hoping to have them hanging from the spine of the journal at the end. When it returns I'm hoping to put a fabric cover on it.

Little letter to the artists

Let the fun commence!

Nice Afternoon

The anticipation has started for my favourite rose - Jubilee Celebration, to come into flower. I didn't realise I had this cheeky chappy on the bud until I uploaded the photo.

My sister in law got a couple of these funky curtains recently and has given me one. Oh, what to do, what to do, any suggestions??

Here's a sneeky peek at the Heavenly Journal's progress, alot more to do yet and I have to post out by Wednesday, cripes!
Had to put a little picture of me on it somewhere, lol.

PS Also finished something for the Boudoir Swap today but can't show you that until Anne hopefully receives it later in the week, my lips are sealed :)