Thursday, August 11, 2016

Fairies, Elves, Giants and Gnomes

If you visit my blog regularly you are probably getting tired of seeing my Iceland journal. I have another spread to show you today. The theme is those fantasy folk that many Icelanders (especially in the past) believed lived in the island's landscapes. In Icelandic they are called Huldufólk
The left side of my spread is a painted mountain with my abstract glacier coming down. I created the face in the rocks by painting a coat, then laying down a die cut, then adding more paint. Once the paint had started to dry I removed the die cut and what I got was this nice image. I added some black molding paste and sand to make the ground on the base, painted in the greens and yellow flowers, and then  after doodling and painting the little fairy homes on a separate sheet of paper, I cut them out and added them.
The left side is made with a Gelli print on deli paper, along with the addition of the Icelandic postage stamps and the elf/gnome cut from a playing card.
I suppose these guys are part of nature's wonders, especially if you think of them in a fantasy way, so I am linking up to Gill's fantastic themed challenge at Art Journal Journey.
And since it is Friday. let's party. Paint Party Friday that is.  Thank you Kristen and Eva for hosting every week.
(And stop by both challenges to see some great art too!)
Some of you may remember this photo I took.
These are fairy home I discovered when we stopped at this wonderful little church right next to the ocean. They were on a little knoll behind the church. I used them as my inspiration for the little fairy houses in my page.
We noticed this little church on our first day in Iceland. Can you see it in the photo below, way off on the right.
 We turned off and headed down towards it.

  And here it is close up, although I somehow managed to cut the top of the steeple out of my photo.
 A side view with some of the little cemetery and one of the pretty windows.

 Who knew dandelions in a field would be so pretty? 
 And we actually got to go inside of this church. Most of all the little churches were locked- and we saw a lot of them. They looked perfect up against the mountains and open fields. This church was very pretty inside.
So we had a pretty successful trip into Boston to meet with the kidney transplant team. (My husband needs a transplant.) It might be as early as October. My husband has a couple of other tests to get done, and I (as the donor) need to meet with my team in a few weeks. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well in the next few weeks. :)
I'll be back early next week. I'm off for a couple of nights with the hubby along with his sister and her husband.
Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend everyone.

28 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful journal page, and they are surely right to believe in fairies! Thanks for joining us again at AJJ, and for showing the beautiful photos. Good luck with the transplant preps, hope all goes well. Hugs, Valerie

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Erika, you could post your Iceland journal pages till hell freezes over (or should I say Iceland) and I would NEVER get tired of seeing them. This latest entry is magnificent. The church is wonderful and really lovely inside, too. I like the tile (?) derail on the end of the pews. Very impressive.

I have my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that all goes well for this transplant.

froebelsternchen said...

Amazing impressions Erika and I love how you brought this into your journal! Gorgeous!
Happy weekend!
I am happy to hear that it sounds like the o.p. really happens still this year!
Wish you a good weekend with the relatives! Enjoy!
I will do the same... looking forward to my lovely visiters.

oxo Susi

froebelsternchen said...

♥♥♥ thanks a lot for another fab entry to AJJ Erika♥♥♥

Jeannette said...

LOVE your pages,i love gnomes and fairys so much,your pages its realy fabolous.
have a great weekend.


P:S:Love the old church,and the green of the land,beautiful.


hugs jenny

Rita said...

OMGosh! You two are doing a kidney transplant. I hope all goes well and you both heal quickly.

I actually love seeing the yellow dandelions on a green lawn. They are so cheery.
Beautiful church and the fairy houses are amazing.

Best of luck with the surgeries. :)

SLScheibe said...

Love the Iceland photos, so pretty! And the little fairy houses are really adorable - your art and the photo too. Best wishes with transplant prep. Hope everything works out perfectly :)

sirkkis said...

Fantastic journaling spread. I've read that they believe that under the earth there live folks... It's fascinating folk story.
Happy weekend ❤

Jeanie said...

So glad you are sharing all of Iceland. I'm sending your links to a friend who will be traveling there in October. I love every photo and your page as well. Terrific texture. Thanks for explaining how you did it.

Oh, and before I forget, thanks for stopping by the Gypsy. I've been gone and have MUCH to catch up with here. I appreciate your visits even though I was MIA (and probably will be again in another week.) And yes, the Detroit airport is NOT the best representation of Michigan!

Carola Bartz said...

Those little fairy houses are adorable - both the real ones and the ones in your journal. I truly enjoyed your photos of Iceland. Cute little church. I probably would have visited the cemetery - I love cemeteries, they are so peaceful.

Divers and Sundry said...

I've never seen a church ceiling that looks like this. Striking!

I hope all goes as y'all need it to as progress towards the transplant continues :)

Anonymous said...

So many stunning images, I could never get tired of seeing them! I love love the fairy houses. ;)

Gillena Cox said...

What a treat; beautiful story photos and art
Happy PPF: thanks for dropping in at my blog today

Much love...

Gibby Frogett said...

No not tired :) - still thoroughly enjoying your fabulous adventure and lovely photos Erika. Love todays journal pages with those sweet fairy houses and fab postage stamps. Will keep everything crossed and wish you both well for the weeks ahead.
Gill x

Christine said...

Lovely page and thanks for the tour. Would love to visit.

Lynn Cohen said...

What a delightful page spread. I loved reading about your process too. And all the photographs allow me a snippet of Iceland as well. Thanks you.

Meggymay said...

More wonderful photos, its good to see the countryside and places , you only read about in books. A wonderful journal page again.
Enjoy your weekend.
Yvonne xx

Carol Samsel said...

Great page and I especially like the fairy houses ♡♡♡♡♡ Best of luck with the transplant stuff♡

Unknown said...

Loved your photos and those fairy houses!

~*~Patty S said...

An enchanting post Erika!!! and your pages are fabulous too.
I am such a postage stamp hound my eye fell there first on that gorgeous gelli blue background. Charming Huldufolk...oh some of the names must be quite challenging to say. Like the one on that sweet wooden church. I am guessing you were trying to get that handsome stone wall in the photo and lost the steeple in the process ;-)
The beezy weezies must really enjoy fields of flowers like that.
Sending every good and special wish to your husband and you and the doctors too.
Happy Weekend... we are melting here in VA but hardly have time to notice (much!) because of all the construction stuff still going on.
oxo

~*~Patty S said...

OH and please don't stop with your Iceland pix...
I am enjoying every single one!!!

Indira said...

Wonderful journal page with fairy houses and gnomes. The church does look very pretty. Please let your trip to Iceland continue to inspire you. Good luck to you and your husband on the transplant.

Lisabella Russo said...

What a wonderful journal page and I love the fairy houses! Your photos are lovely. I hope everything goes well with the transplant.

Let's Art Journal said...

Looks like you had such a fantastic time in Iceland, your pages and photos really reflect the fun and wonderful discoveries you made while you were there! The Huldufolk and little houses are adorable. Sending you all the very best to you and your husband! Wishing you a happy week ahead! J :-)

Giggles said...

Wishing you well on the transplant. I hope someone near and dear is there to help care for you afterwards!! Adorable fairy house...I have several friends who love fairies so much they even write about them! Fun page. Gorgeous photos!!

Hugs Giggles

NatureFootstep said...

cool painting :) What should probably be ice looks like hair.
I love Iceland, has been there twice :)

DVArtist said...

I love seeing your Iceland pages. There is something very special about them. Your photos are fabulous. Thank you for sharing them. The kidney transplant will go very well. I have you and your family in my prayers.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love you magical page! Once again fabulous photos! Hope all goes well(and quickly) for you both! Chrisx