Journaling Days

I thought I would share a peek at a new journal I am working on. I made this one myself using fabric, book board, and watercolor paper signatures. It's still a work in progress as I want to add some embroidery and other embellishments to the quilted cover. All the pages are at various stages of incompleteness and still have a lot more work to be done on them, not to mention the most important component - the journaling!!!
The page above shows the beginning of a technique I learned from Pam Garrison using vintage wallpaper and Copic markers to extend the wallpaper design on the journal page. Still lots to do on this page.

I used some heart and hand masks and Glimmer Mist sprays on the right page.

Watercolors and doodling.

More watercolors, masking and Glimmer Mists.

Lots of washes of color to fill in with journaling later.

While we were at our cottage last week, I picked up a few new ready-made journals to jot down notes, thoughts and ideas. I have such a weakness for notebooks and journals. I can't seem to resist when I see a new one. The top one features a favorite quote of mine from the SHE book on the cover and I see that Cerri just listed some of these journals in her Little Pink Boutique here. The middle one is a blank journal from the talented Kelli Rae Roberts. Her drawings are always so full of whimsey. The bottom composition book-type journal, with the blue & green color palette, bird cage and another wonderful quote, just called out to me. It's available from Live-Inspired here. Happy journaling!

Spring Banner

Recently I participated in the "One String At A Time" banner swap that Kari hosted on her A Year of Color Blog. My partner was Susie (who doesn't yet have a blog) and through emailing back and forth we discovered that we both like the same colors and vintage-looking things. (Isn't it fun when that happens?) Susie just wrote and told me she just received the banner I made her, so it is now safe to post a picture of it for you all to see. As soon as my banner arrives from her, I'll share that with you too. Happy Spring! (Our blanket of snow that fell on Saturday night should be all gone by tomorrow when the temperature is supposed to go up to 54 degrees ~ woo-hoo!)

Swap Updates and A Giveaway

~SWAP UPDATES ~ For St. Patrick's Day I participated in a little swap that Karla (Karla's Cottage) hosted, in which we each exchanged two tags with a St. Pat's Day theme. These are the tags I received in the swap. The one above is from Kathy (Country Chintz) and the tag below is from Karla herself! Aren't they lovely?
And as an added bonus, Karla tucked in all these wonderful wallpapers! How sweet is that?

To see my contribution to the swap, click here.

I also participated in this darling springtime swap hosted by Sarah (Gypsy Mermaid Life)

We each were to make specific items to hang on a springtime clothesline - hat, gloves, dress, bloomers, bird and butterfly.
Here are the beauties I received in the swap:
Gloves ~ Sandy (Quill Cottage); Butterfly ~ Sarah (Gypsy Mermaid Life)
Dress ~ Catieann (Catiean's Corner); Bird Tag ~ Sadie (Craftily Everafter) Hat ~ Tammie (My Art Soul Wings); Bloomers ~ Tricia (Tricia Stirling).

To see my entry to the swap, click here.

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

This is a beautifully illustrated cookbook from the Among Friends series of books. Authors Shelly Reeves-Smith and Rosie Kelley have combined the most delectible recipes with sweet drawings to create a keepsake cookbook. To enter, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post and I will draw the winning name on Tuesday, April 1st (no foolin').

Chocolate Withdrawal

I don't know about all of you, but I am just starting to come down from my Valentine's Day sugar high. We seem to have more chocolate in this house than any family should be allowed to have. I swear I can feel my face starting to break out just from writing about it. It is awfully yummy, so I'll just have to eat it fast to make it all disappear!

Mr. Postman has been good to me again. Personally I think he's just after my chocolates. He's been bringing me lots of Valentines as well as the little pretty pictured above from Karla's Cottage. It's a beautiful handmade folder filled with lovely wallpapers which will turn into something wonderful once I dream it up in my head. Karla said that it wasn't selling in her shop, (can you imagine that?) so I just couldn't let it stay there and think it wasn't loved. I love just opening it up to look and touch the beautiful papers. I got another delivery yesterday of even MORE wallpaper from the lovely and talented Miss Holly Doodle. I am so anxious to start working with all of this fun stuff!

I was at Michael's today and found this cute little metal wall pocket in their new spring decor section. There are some pretty nice things in that aisle and I may need to go back and take a second look VERY soon.

On THe Seventh Day of Christmas

It's day 7 and that means there are only 5 days left until Christmas. . .YIKES! I am totally not ready yet. Still have tons to do around here. Every year I say I will be more organized and every year I end up further behind! What's up with that?

Well, today I got to open this lovely present which is from Donna of Under The Red Roof . I love the paper she used (probably because I used the same paper to wrap my day 9 gift in).
And just lookie what I found inside! Isn't it pretty? Isn't it sparkley? Isn't it joyous? I love the colors as they are perfect for my studio. Donna used her special "all time favorite" vintage wallpaper for this piece. I know how hard that is to part with. I can see why it is her favorite too ~ it's gorgeous!And this is the back of her plaque. It's just as pretty as the front! Thank you so much Donna!