My First Art Journal Attempt--GPP#9

I am not a journal/diary type. This blog has been a challenge for me. I trying to keep at it and not completely bore the socks off you guys! Like most little girls, I had received a diary as a gift (more than one over the years). I remember the clean pages and the cute little lock. I vowed that I would write in it everyday! But, after a few days...nada. I started this cycle many times over.
I always have a lined college ruled notebook around that I use for lists and notes. I also use a sketchbook, but they aren't the same as a journal.
I'm fascinated by the beautiful art journal pages I see in books, magazines, and on blogs. So when I stumbled upon Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Crusades, I thought I'd give it another try.
I save envelopes and bags in a not too small stack in my studio. I stitched a few together to make my journal. The front and back cover is a bubble envelope split open and wrapped around my recycled paper insides (signature?) I painted the cover with one of my birds then started in.
The first page is for GPPST "scent bank" crusade, it's a small black paper bag. I made a small illustration with strips of aluminum tape to help describe how my summer started. My first "scent" of summer is the fiberglass cast on my little guys arm. (I stapled a bit of extra fiberglass to it)


I continued on page 2 with an illustration of one of my favorite garden flowers.


Not a bad start...will see how long it lasts!

Catching up on sleep!

Today is for laying around, catching up on sleep and hanging out with the kiddies!
Maybe even a Popsicle.

More about Cedarburg tomorrow.

Off to Cedarburg

I'm off again, This time to Cedarburg. This weekend is the Strawberry Festival and I'll be set up as part off the Cedarburg Cultural Center Art Fair.
I'll be on Washington Ave, almost in front of Sal's Pizza.
Please stop by if you're in the area!

Back Home

We got back finally early Tuesday morning. Long drive but mostly uneventful.
I'm behind on posting re NC.

Last week we went to Asheville for the day. D'Arsi from Mamacita Beadworks is an Asheville local and gave me some suggestions on where to go. Thanx!!!
We stopped first at the Southern Highlands Craft Guild Folk Art Center. Nice gift shop and gallery space.

Next a short drive to Woolworth Walk, an old Woolworth Store turned into a gallery. Also, it has an retro lunch counter. I recommend the BLT, but my Grma liked her curried chicken salad sandwich. My fav artists were; Rebecca Tolk, Sarah Faulkner, Laura Kauffman, and Sharon Bailey. There were tons of other great pieces from artists but, I just don't remember their names.

Then we walked around downtown. The Ariel Gallery was great. Works from one of my favs Daniel Essig were all over. It is a coop gallery, so the artists also work there part time. Too bad Mr. Essig wasn't there when I stopped by. I would have loved to meet him and tell him how inspiring his fantastic books are! The jewelry I saw from Nancy Fleming was beautiful.
I wish I had some real money to spend. I was so inspired by the variety and quality of the artwork!

I never get sick of the mountains! The whole day in Asheville was perfect. I highly recommend it and I'm looking forward to going back. Also driving in and parking was easy, a big plus for an out-of-towner!

Happy Father's Day!

Emma was playing with her food!

Happy Father's Day Hon!!!!
This is my last day of vacation. Good-by mountains and fresh peaches! Hello Wisconsin! I miss my Hubby, my dogs, and my yard. These last 10 days I haven't gotten too much work done. Boy am I going to be busy!

On Vacation

I'm on vacation with the kids in North Carolina. We're enjoying the mountains immensely. This is the view from G/G's front porch. We spent so much time out there just looking. At home the area we live in is known as "the central sands", very flat! Here...you can't even go to the store without twisting and turning down the mountain and watching out for hound dogs just laying in the road. I know I make the locals mad, I drive way to slow for them, but I don't care. The roads can be fun but treacherous. At least to a Midwesterner like myself.

So far I've been to a few thrift shops and 2 flea markets. Not the bonanza I'd hope for, but not a waste of time either. I still haven't found any elementary school math books! I have a few more days here though.


The kids are having fun since my G/G have a pool. They spend every minute possible in the water! We also took a day trip to Chattanooga to the TN Aquarium. The second time we've been there. It is very nice, I especially love the penguins.
Tomorrow (today now I guess), we're headed to Asheville. I've never been there and I know I can't see everything in one day. I have some suggestions from a local resident, D'Arsie from Mamacita Beadworks.

I'm not getting too much work done.....I'll post pics when I do.

!

My new Crusade

I took this photo last year---One of my all time Fav's
This year the robin nest was raided and no eggs survived. I never got a chance to take a picture.

Not that I don't have enough to do already, but .... I decided to join Michelle Ward's Green Pepper Press Street Team Crusade #9. "What's That Smell?" How do I express/ create a summer scent bank? A challenge! My first summer scent would have to be fiberglass. I know sounds odd, but my youngest broke his arm last weds. His cast is fiberglass and I can smell it whenever I cuddle him. How to visually express the smell of fiberglass. That's just the start.
Friday morning we're leaving for a vacation in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina! I love it there...what wonderful scents will I encounter?