Wednesday, May 30, 2018

In the Garden

Hi everyone.  Happy Wednesday.  Happy almost end of May. Wow, I can't believe how fast this month flew by. I say that every month so you'd think I wouldn't be so surprised how fast time flies every month. But it s always seem like the months zip right by.
This month Jo has hosted a great challenge over at Art Journal Journey  The theme was flora and fauna, and I really enjoyed participating. Thanks Jo for such a great theme.
This is my last page for this challenge. It's from my Japan journal and centered around a photo I found in a free travel magazine that I brought back with me. It reminded me of a moment on the trip when we visited the principal's (of our sister school) garden.
Here's the full spread. The card on the right is Principal Fujiwara's business card. Trading business cards in Japan is a big thing, and my school had to make some for each of us so we could participate in that custom.
You can see I layered some origami paper and some bits from a JApanese book to make my background. I used a vintage TH frame that I had around the magazine photo, and also added some little plastic flowers that I think came off of some cupcakes or a cake a long time ago.
Here's a few  other photos from our garden visit. Principal Fujiwara has both a huge vegetable garden and some beautiful flower beds too. And he even had some  tangerine trees laden with fruit.






And I want to send a shout to Jeanie at the The Marmelade Gypsy for a book recommendation. I just finished reading this book she wrote about in her post.
It's a fabulous story about a family, history and art. I'm with you Jeanie. It was a fantastic read that took me to Paris at the turn of the 20th century, Vienna up though 1940 and a few other spots including Japan.  I enjoyed a bit of armchair traveling!
That's all for me today.
I appreciate your stopping by and visiting.


16 comments:

CJ Kennedy said...

Your page looks very Japanese and the pink floral background looks like the pink flowers in the principal's garden. A friend who worked for a company who did business with Japan, told me the business card exchange was a big deal. There was even a proper way to present the business card. Good that your school had business cards made for you. The principal looks like he packed a lot into a small space. He obviously has a green thumb. Enjoy the sunshine.

Jeanie said...

I'm so glad you liked the book, Erika! I found it intriguing but not everyone in my book club did, so I'm glad it was a hit!

Did you find that in your school you visited the kids did the cleaning? Years ago, when Rick went, the kids did all the cleaning in the classroom at the end of the day -- mopping and sweeping, etc. I love the garden idea. What a great experience you had.

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a beautiful page you created to remind you of this amazing garden! I love the origami paper and Japanese writing and how wonderful is that magazine image - perfect 😁. I really like the simplicity of the business card too which to me seems so reminiscent of Japan. I also enjoyed looking round the Japanese garden with you, it's a magical place! Thanks so much for joining Art Journal Journey with all your fabulous creations this month and I'm so glad you enjoyed the theme so much 😁. Happy Wednesday! J 😊 x

froebelsternchen said...

Your pages are so beautiful Erika! I love how you took this free travel magazine photo for creating this fabulous pages to remember the visit at the fantastic garden of the school principal. So lovely arranged all the different meaningful pieces, so well put together all to create that interesting composition.And wow - even tangerine trees laden with fruit. Isn't this wonderful???!!!
Yes time flies - and that's life I think!
You supported Jo's theme in a fantastic way this month! You are such a supportive AJJ artist! Thank you very much my friend! I love your Japan postings!
The book sounds extremly interesting. I found some stunning details about the author and potter De Wal on YT now as I got curious.
I put it on my reading list for sure!
Thanks for the reference Erika! Nice weather here as well - very hot and some thunder-storms in the area already, but we had hardly any bad rain or thunderstorm yet. Hope it stays that way the whole week and weekend!

Hugs, Susi

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful journal page, great memories for you from your Japan trip. Lovely photos, too, thanks for sharing. Hugs, Valerie

Lenie said...

It is another wonderful page Erika. The black letters look japanese at first sight and I like your page so much!

Caty said...

This is a wonderful art page Erika !! Lovely design, with the so beautiful origami paper, the plastic flowers and the gorgeous frame and photo!!
Thank you very much for sharing the fantastique photos with us, they are all interesting, flowers and plants are great!!
I wish you a very nice evening, big hugs, Caty

sheila 77 said...

Hello Erika.
Great that you made a Japanese Journal page for the AJJ theme. How interesting that they trade business cards; this one looks so much more interesting with the Japanese characters. By using the origami paper and the little silver flowers, plus the photograph, you've created such an unusual page.
I was really interested in the garden photos. The garden looks so neat and orderly and productive.

sheila 77 said...

Oh and meant to say thanks for the book recommendation. This book looks really fascinating.

Meggymay said...

A fantastic memory page, the origami papers you used looked lovely and framing the main picture really draws me in to the page.
It must have been wonderful visiting the School Principle's garden, the flowers and trees looked so pretty and he did seem to have a super vegetable garden as well.
Yvonne xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I adore this journal page, Erika. It is both clever and artsy. I love how you adapted the washi paper with the plastic flowers and the focal image.

I wish Principal Fujiwara would come tend my veggie garden, since all my veggies are dead. His look not just healthy, but thriving. Thanks for sharing both your photos and the spread you created in your art journal with us at Art Journal Journey.

Astrid Maclean said...

A fabulous spread in your Japan journal! The origami and Japanese book papers are the perfect backdrop to that great photo! Never heard of the business card swapping tradition, that sounds fun (even though perhaps slightly pointless in some cases).

Wonderful garden photos too and I shall now be off to check out the book, sounds like a great story...

Gibby Frogett said...

Oh your journal page is really beautiful Erika and besides the lovely background (love the writing) thats such a nice photo too. What a great memory page/keepsake this one is.
And its always fascinating to see gardens and plants around the world - thanks for showing your fab photos :)
Gill xx

Words and Pictures said...

Your Japan journal will be a treasure trove of memories to look through in the future - I love how you've used all the things you found on your travels to add to the pages. Thank you for the trip to a Japanese garden too... a lovely adventure.
Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

I love your journall page - what great place the principal's garden looks! Chrisx

Divers and Sundry said...

That's an impressive garden! So large and so well-kept. The book sounds interesting, especially that it included Japan.