Books

December Christmas Book

I make books.  I love making books.  I journal.  I love to journal.

Every morning I journal; morning pages.  I started this after I read the book "Artist Way", by Julia Cameron.  Some of you  may recognize the book and/or author.

I have been doing morning pages since 2011.  So, for about 6 years.  That is a lot of journals.  But, I enjoy the process and now have gotten into the habit of writing in my journal every morning.  I have been writing in a journal someone gifted me, since September 1st and will end November 30th.

I wanted to make a special book for December 2017.  Sort of a journal/photo album/smash book.  I want it to contain the memories that I will be writing about and places to add pictures.  A place to add ticket stubs or movies tickets or.... 

So, this is the book that was created.  It measures 8-1/2" X 8".  I love the way it turned out.

Since I did not have pages large enough, I chose to use cheap file folders.  I wanted the folders to be more paper like.  I also used 11" X 14" paper that I coffee dyed, which created a flap when folded.

I added some scrapbook paper to put photos onto.  Because the backside of the paper is white, I can use it for journaling.

I sewed in an envelop to put either embellishments or things I collect along the way that can not be attached to the pages.

There a lots of pages for writing, for photos, for smashing and whatever else I  may want to add to the book.

I made the front and back cover the same and I like how the plaid binding looks.  To me, it gives it an old fashion sort of feel.

Although I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving, I can hardly wait until December 1st gets here, so I can start writing in my book and adding all those other memories along with it.

Scrap Book

Left Overs

This little book is literally a "scrap" book.  

It measures approximately 9" X 6" and is a made with left overs.

I had a few pages left over from a mixed media paper pad.  I used the cover of the pad for the cover of my book.  I folded it in half and folded the few pages left in the pad for my book pages.  I had left over decorative paper from a previous book I made, so used that to decorate the outside of the book.  Tied everything together using a pamphlet stitch and there you have it.  A new new mixed media/journal book.

I used the hard back from the pad on another project.  

Calendars 2017

September 2017

Did you know "September" is a song by American funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, written by Maurice White, Al McKay, and Allee Willis?

Did you know September is the only month with the same number of letters in its name as the number of the month (9 letters/9th month)?

Did you know until Julius Caesar's calendar reform of 45BC, September had only 29 days?

Did you know on average, September day more babies are born in the US than on a day in any other month?

Did you know in the UK, September 26 is the most common birthday for people born in the last 20 years?

Did you know September is the 9th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and the third month to have the length of 30 days?

Did you know September was originally the seventh of ten months on the oldest know Roman calendar?

Did you know September's birthstone is sapphire?

Did you know the birth flowers for September are forget-me-not, morning glory and aster?

Did you know the zodiac signs for the month of September are Virgo and Libra whose end and start are related to the equinox date?

Did you know September 4th is Labour Day and National Macadamia Nut Day?

Did you know September 5th is National Cheese Pizza Day?

Did you know September 6th is National Coffee Ice Cream Day?

Did you know September 9th, 1850 California became the 31st state to join the Union?

Did you know September 10, 1847, the first theater opened in Hawaii, in 1935 Popeye was heard on NBC radio for the first time, in 1953 Swanson began selling its first TV Dinner and in 1955 Gunsmoke premiered on CBS-TV?

Did you know September 12th is National Chocolate Milkshake Day?

Did you know September 14th is National Eat a Hoagie Day?

Did you know September 15, 1949 The Lone Ranger premiered on ABC, in 1965 Lost in Space and Green Acres premiered on CBS-TV, in 1978 Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks to win his 3rd World Heavyweight Boxing title and in 1982 the first issue of USA Today was published?

Did you know September 16th is National Guacamole Day?

Did you know September 17, 1683, Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is the first to report the existence of bacteria and in 1916 The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, WWI flying ace of German Luftstreikrafte, wins his first aerial combat near Cambrai, France?

Did you know September 19th are Jimmy Fallon's and David McCallum's Birthday?

Did you know September 25th is Will Smith's Birthday?

Did you know September 29th is National Coffee Day?

Well it is...

Tag Book

Quotes & Sayings

Ugly Heart

Need I say more?

CitraSolv Papers

Altered Papers

Aren't these papers gorgeous?

I think they are.

A couple of years back, I took a class with Cathy Taylor, altering papers with CitraSolv and National Geographic Magazines.

I decided this weekend to alter more papers.  This is what I got. 

As soon as I saw them, I knew they would make great papers to Tangle on.  Although you can still see the text, once these papers are tangled on with Zentangle Patterns, the text will disappear into the background.

I think some organic looking tangle patterns will look great on these papers.

What do you think?

Metalpoint/Silverpoint

Metal Point Mandala

This is an old technique called Metalpoint or Silverpoint drawing and was used before the development of graphite pencils.

Leonardo da Vinci and other masters used this method of drawing.  Many original Silverpoint drawings done by Leonardo da Vinci have survived today.

Over time the metal used in metal point drawings can change color.  Some of the masters drawings looked liked they used a red/brown pencil.  These were probably drawn with silverpoint.

The challenge with metal point is that the marks cannot be erased, so you need to work carefully.  The metal point does not smudge, however, so there is no need to worry about your hand smudging your work as with graphite pencils.

This Mandala was drawn on a canvas board with a metal point tip.  Drawing with a metal point is like drawing with a hard 4-6H pencil.

This Mandala was drawn with a metal point as shown in the black holder.  You can also use silver and gold, which will change in color as it ages.  The metal point and silver point will tarnish to a nice patina.

Overall I am very please how my first metal point drawing came out.

Calendars 2017

AUGUST 2017

Did you know August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and the fifth month to have the length of 31 days?

Did you know August birthstones are the peridot and sardonyx?

Did you know the birth flower is the gladiolus meaning strength of character, love, marriage and family?

Did you know the Western zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo (until August 22) and Virgo (from August 23rd onward)?

Did you know on August 1 1936, Adolf Hitler opens 11th Olympic Games in Berlin?

Did you know on August 3rd, Martha Steward with be 75 years old and Tony Bennett will be 90 years old?

Did you also know August 3rd is Watermelon and National White Wine Day (United States)?

Did you know August 5th is National Underwear day (United States)?

Did you know on August 6, 1890, at Auburn Prison in New York, murderer William Kemmler becomes the first person to be executed by the electric chair?

Did you know August 8th is National Cat Day?

Did you know August 12 is World Elephant Day?

Did you know August 13th is International Lefthanders Day?

Did you know August 14th is National Creamsicle Day (United States)?

Did you know August 20th is World Mosquito Day?

Did you know on August 21, 1888, American inventor William Seward Burroughs patents the adding machine?

Did you know August 22nd is National Eat a Peach Day (United States)?

Did you know August 24th is National Waffle Day (United States)?

Did you know August 26th is Women's Equality Day (United States)?

Did you know August 28th is Crackers of the Keyboard Day?

Did you know on August 29th it is More Herbs, Less Salt Day, National Lemon Juice Day (United States) and National Chop Suey Day (United States)?

Did you know August 31st is National Trail Mix Day (United States)?

Did you know on August 18th, my oldest daughter was born?  

Well she was!

Tag Book

Let Go

Quotes & Sayings Tag Book

It has been quite some time since I've done anything in my "Quotes & Sayings Tag Book.

The last entry was was June 2016.  Over a year ago since my last entry.  I did not realize it has been that long since I did anything in this book.

 I did this shortly after my oldest son's birthday.  He pasted away four years ago and I guess I realized it was time to let go and start to heal. I think working on this page helped with that. 

"Let Go" was the only thing I was going to do in this book...

...but then I started to think about what I would like to do on the next page.  I started  working on the next page, sketching in a design with pencil, adding a little of this and a little of that, and before I knew it, I had already finished another page.

It is sort of zentangle, mandala and doodles all in one.  I guess it just had to happen, because I think it went along with the previous page, but did not realize it until I was finished.  The hand in the drawing is mine and I do not know if I did it right, but what I do know, I enjoyed doing it.

Mandala Monday Book

Pages

Indian Theme

Another Mandala for Monday and that is a good thing since today is Monday.

I had an idea for this Mandala, however, it did not quite come out exactly like I wanted.  

But then again, I was not quite sure how I wanted this to be.

I wanted sort of an Indian Theme to my Mandala.  

I think it came out pretty good, since I was in a hurry to get this done today.

I am surprised no matter how many Mandalas I draw, each one is different; each one is unique.

Calendars 2017

July

Did you know July's birthstone is the ruby, which symbolizes contentment? 

Did you know its birth flowers are the Larkspur or the Water Lily?

Did you know the zodiac signs for the month of July are Cancer (until July 22 and Leo (July 23 onwards)?

Did you know July is the seventh month of the year?

Did you know it is the fourth month to have the length of 31 days?

Did you know it was named by the roman Senate in honor of the Roman general, Julius Caesar, it being the month of this birth?  Prior to that, it was called Quintilis.

Did you know July 1st is International Tartan Day?

Did you know July 2nd is World UFO Day?

Did you know July 3rd is Women's Day?

Of course you know July 4th is Independence Day (United States), or is it?

Did you know July 5th is World Environment Day?

Did you know July 6th is National Fried Chicken Day (United States)?

Did you know July 10th is Beatles Day (Liverpool and Hamburg)?  It is also Nikola Tesla Day and Statehood for Wyoming.

Did you know July 11th is World Population Day?

Did you know July 27th is Martyrs and Wounded Soldiers Day (Vietnam)?

Did you know July 30th is International Day of Friendship?

Did you know there are now only 153 days remaining until the end of the year?

Well there are....

Book Binding

Book Binding Class

I had my Book Binding Class yesterday and I must say it was lots of fun. 

My students were Charlotte Carpentier and Lynell Harlow.

Above is the book I made with my students.  The front and back covers of my book were covered from a couple of magazine pages I found in the magazine "Breathe".

I added a decorative pocket to the back of my book, so I can stash away notes or what nots.

Here is what the back cover of the book looks like.

Here is Charlotte's:

Didn't she do a really good job?  I think so.  

She used a wall paper sample to cover the covers of her book.  She cut out some of the design and backed it with red Latka Paper.

I am sorry to say I do not have a picture of Lynell's book.

This is what you missed out on.  Books for journaling, drawing or whatever you heart desires.

Mandala Monday Book

Pages

Another Mandala for Monday.

 I did this one this morning and am surprise at how quickly I was able t create this one. 

 I am enjoying the process and seeing what comes out of my head and translate out my hands.  

Sometimes they are not always the same.

This one had a totally different look before I added the black dots on it.  It also did not seem quite finished just being round, but when I added the outside square, that completed the whole design.

Zines

Zine 1

(Pronounced "Zeen")

I know, your thinking "what the heck are you doing, drawing and writing every which way?"

Well, I happened to stumble upon these cute little miniature magazines, called Zines.

They can be anything you want, from political, to just plain nonsense and can be anywhere from 2-3/4" X 4-3/4" to 5-1/2" X 8-1/2" and anything in between.

The paper is folded in such a way that you end up with 8 sections.  A front and back...

page 1 & 2...

page 3 & 4...

...and page 5 & 6.

When I saw these, I thought I'd try it out and see what I could come up with for my Zine.  Of course, once again, it took a life all of it's own.  I was going to do more writing, but it turned out more interactive instead.

I used stickers, some images from a magazine and most everything else was drawn free hand, even the writing, printing and lines.

It's nice when you try something new and you not only enjoy the process,

but everything comes together so nicely.

Mandala Monday Book

My Mandala Book

I have been wanting to do this book for quite some time now, but life happened and things kept creeping in ahead of this book.  I think I created this book, last year sometime.

  

The design I drew was totally unexpected, as I planned something totally different, but as I was creating what I thought what was in my head, this popped out instead.  Funny how that happens.  However, I managed to fine some time yesterday to at least make the front cover design.

 It is a simple accordion style book, approximately 6" X 6".  It is was made from left over strips from another book I was making.  

The left over strips were approximately 22"  which I used two, but I do not think it is quite 44" long.  

I plan on drawing half circles, quarter circles and some that are split and continue onto the next page.  It is a bit hard to see, but I have already started to draw in some of the circles.

I look forward to seeing what designs emerge from my head as my hands try to translate what I perceive what my eyes are seeing.

Calendars 2017

June 

Did  you know June's birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone?

Did you know the birth flowers are rose and honeysuckle?

Did you know the zodiac signs for the month of June are Gemini (until June 20) and Cancer (June 21 onwards)?

Did you know June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregoria's calendars?

Did you know it is the second month to have 30 days?

Did you know the first Wednesday is Global Running Day?

Did you know the third Sunday is Father's Day AND National Flip Flop Day?

Did you know the Friday following Father's Day is "Take Your Dog to Work Day"?

Did you know June 2 is National Donut Day?

Did you know on June 5, 1968 Bobby Kennedy was assassinated?

Did you know on June 6, 1925 the Chrysler Corporation was founded and the first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey in 1933?

Did you know on June 7, 1885 the Statue of Liberty arrives in New York City and in 1849 the song "Happy Birthday to You" was first sung?

Did you know June 9 commemorates the birthday of Donald Duck?  He made his first screen debut on June 9, 1934.

Did you know on June 10, 1752 Benjamin Franklin flies a kite in a lightening storm and discovers electricity?

Did you know on June 11, 1982 the movie E.T. was released?

Did you know on June 12, 1880 John Lee Richmond pitches baseball's first "Perfect Game"?

Did you know June 14 is Flag Day and the U.S. Army is formed in 1775?

Did you know on June 18, 1873 Women's Rights advocate Susan B. Anthony is arrested for voting in Rochester, NY and Sally Ride becomes he first woman in space in 1983?

Did you know on June 22, 1874 donuts were created?

Did you know my oldest son would have been 43-years-old today?

Mandala Mondays

Seed of Life

The "Seed of Life", is also known as "Sacred Geometry" or "Flower of Life"

Last Monday I went to CharKat's Creative Insanity for Mandala Monday, where once a month we get together to create what?  Mandalas of course!

This month we used the "Seed of Life" as our inspiration in creating these unique Mandalas.  I was not going to color mine in, but when I saw Charlotte Carpentier's, I went for it and color mine in, using watercolor pencils.

By just deleting a few lines here and there or adding a few lines here and there, you can create different designs.  Here are a couple I did doing just that:

and

So, just by adding a line here or deleting a line there you can create a multitude of designs. 

Thank you Charlotte, these were so much fun!