Welcome Autumn

Yup, it is official now.  Summer is over.  Autumn is here. But you know that.

Makes me ready to start my fall projects. I pulled out the box of Halloween art supplies recently. 

Today I am going to take you on a little trip back in time and share some fall (Halloween )  art from days gone by.

Hope you don't mind. I getting myself ready and looking for some inspiration for the project(s) I will work on this year.

Started my Halloween journal/altered book. I have only made it to working on the covers, but won't be long now.
Thanks for stopping by and putting up with my little flashback.
Have a great day!

Here Comes the Bride

Here's a journal page I recently made. I've been using those Tim Holtz found relative cards a lot recently, mainly because I've left a pile of them out on my work table. I don't think either of these folks look old enough to be getting married, but since its an old photo and times do change...maybe it was more common then. Wonder how old this photo actually is?

So my page is a polka dot Gelli print background on some tan paper. I stamped the writing image  all around the edges and stenciled the numbers. I sketched the flowers and painted them, then I outlined them with a white pen. I added the stamped trumpets and a few stamped words, and colored the bride's flowers. Then I cut the edges of the page into rough scallops. I think that dresses it up a little bit. I also added one of these little clothe butterflies. I got a pack of them as a freebie when I bought some other supplies a while back, so I figured I might as well use them.

So it has become fall here finally! The nights have become really chilly!

Brrr-makes it hard to roll out of bed and get moving. Guess summer is really just about over. But I will say it is easier to get back into the work mood and much better than the high heat and humidity we had a couple of weeks ago.

Enough about the weather. Time to get moving.

Have a super day and thanks for stopping by to visit.

A Little of This and a Little of That

 I am writing this Sunday evening while I watch from football with the hubby. I had productive day working around the house, but I am beat. I went through about half the stuff I brought home from my mom's house clean out last weekend, did a bit of cleaning, took a long walk, and a few other little chores. I am pleased what I got done  though. Its one of those good satisfied feelings.

My weekend was a great balance of play, accomplishment and relaxing.

Always a good way to spend a weekend I say.

Here's a journal page for today. It started as a Gelli-printed page, that I added a bunch of stenciling, stamping and some painted paper too.  

Stamped images are from Paper Artsy and Dina Wakely.

I love the polka dot background paper and all colors. Those Dina Wakely flying bird stamps are some of my recent favorites.

Though I never made it into my happy place this weekend, I don't have any of after school appointments this week-Yahoo! My goals this work week is to get some studio time and try to finish this book I am reading. I read a lot this weekend while enjoying some afternoon sunshine.

I brought this old stained table home from my mom's because I love the shape to it. It was also my Grandmother's table, and since it was not my mom's style she kept all her houseplants on it. You can see the rings from them.  One of these days I will refinish it, but for now I washed it. I am going to move it into the house and use it for my sewing table. But since it wasn't really dry  I'll move it out of the garage next weekend.

 And I snagged this kitschy little shelf unit out of my Mom's house too. I need a small set of shelves in my studio for some little knickknacks I have. I got it spray painted grey this weekend so next weekend I can hang it up.

OK, I think I've babbled on enough for one post.

Have a great start to your week and thanks for visiting.

Well, It Is a Page

Not my most favorite page ever, but I was trying to be clever.  I  think it is rather messy, even for me. But I shall post it anyhow!

I am linking this post to Art Journal Journey, guest hosted this month by Corrine. The theme this month is windows, and my page is about the telescope, which is the window to see the stars.

So this is a low key weekend for me! Got to love it after last week's craziness (2 after school meetings, 3 lunch meetings, 2 appointments....you get the drift.). I am relaxing to get my energy renewed and make myself ready for spirit week at school this week. Every day has a different theme and by Friday the kids will be NUTS. Oh my.

So yesterday was summery and we went boating. It was a bit cool, but not as cool as today. It may be our last boat trip, depending on how cool and rainy it is over the next few weeks.

We did see several seals yesterday, which was pretty fun.

 This guy was swimming right up near out boat, and then 2 boats zipped by and he dived and disappeared.

And the usual shore birds.

 I've never noticed these dead trees so filled with cormorants before.

 And flying.  I think that is actually a seal rather fuzzy to the right of the bird in this photo.

 This duck was feasting on crabs. You can kind of see one in its mouth.

And this seagull was having a long and relaxing paddle. He went right along side the boat, unworried about the dogs. One was very interested in him, but the seagull just paddled along.

It was that kind of day.

Th days are noticeably shorter now. By seven last night it was well into dusk.  Only 2 more days until it is officially fall.

Where does the time go?

Friday is Here!

Happy Friday everyone!

It is almost the weekend! Yahoo! I'm tired this morning though because last night was parent's open house at my school, and I got home late.  Plus since I can't easily go home after school (before open house begins) so I  hung around until six o'clock when open house started, and I think the hanging around just takes it out of you.But parent's night is OVER!!!

 At least until next semester.

 Today I have a journal page to show you. I am linking up to Paint Party Friday and also to Art Journal Journey. Thanks to Kristen and Eva for hosting Paint Party Friday and also to Corrine who is this month' host at Art Journal Journey. 

So my background is a gelli print. I painted the black border , added some white paint dots, and used a white pen to outline some of the background design's flower petals. The I added a bit of Gelli printed deli wrap and that cut little girl from TH found relative cards. I also added the little sun shaped window around her face, and added a few little sequin like stars. Then I added the quote.
Finally I added some of these little cloth and metal butterflies. 

This quote is really how I feel right now.
Smile!
I colored her eyes blue and I think that brightens up her whole face!
So I have a few photos from my week.  Nothing wildly exciting, as I've been tied up with work and have spent my evenings watching lots of episodes of New Girl with my daughter.

 Cool spiderweb covered in raindrops.

My chives are blooming. Rather late I think, but they are pretty to look at.

 Wednesday was such a beautiful summery evening I built a fire in the fire pit and my daughter and I had a hot dog roast. The dogs were very interested in the hot dogs, of course.I look pretty weird in this photo, but it is a selfie so what can you expect!.

It was my fun couple of hours of well needed escape from the week.
 I hope to have another fun escape this weekend. Not sure what, maybe some quiet studio play time or maybe going out on the boat tomorrow since Sunday might be rainy.
We shall see.
Hope you have a fun escape of some sort planned for the weekend.
Thanks for stopping by!

Doodled Background

Hi everyone! I can't believe we are already into the second half of the month. It is getting closer to the  start of autumn. The temperatures here in New Hampshire are warming back up, (since it felt like fall on Monday -it was actually nice), but hopefully it won't get too humid when the temperature climbs. I don't want beach weather any more.
I do however have a  desire to be away on a trip. This happens when I get too busy  during a week that I don't really want to deal with. Next week is a little less busy but just as crazy so I wish I could just disappear until the first of October.
Ha-ha!
So today I have a journal page for you. The background isn't my favorite, but I tried to salvage it. I can live with the background now. Reminds me of a pretty and warm blanket. I  could use a blanket like this background to sit on a beach in a far away land on my wishful thinking trip.

I do like this little head part. He is quite the dapper guy (TH found relatives). and I love how the little white paint dots look. I found this quote in a magazine, and it  seemed the total opposite of what he might actually say so I had to use it.

And I decided  I'm taking myself on this virtual wishful thinking trip . I'm taking you along too if you want to view any further. I'm going to relive this adventure . 

This was a school related trip I took in the summer of 2013 to Costa Rica. We visited schools, lived with local families, and got to learn about the rain forest ecology of the Osa Peninsula. We saw lots of gorgeous flowers, dolphins and whales jumping out of the water, and saw and heard howler monkeys. I fumbled all week with the 10 Spanish words I can speak...what an adventure.

OK, think I can now move forward with all the things I need to tackle at work today. A few minutes of looking at these old photos gave me the little recharge I desperately needed. 

Funny how a couple of minutes in memory land can make such a difference.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!