Wednesday`s Handbound Book

I never leave home without my sketchbook.

This time it´s a blue one.

The edges of the book block were stippled with light blue ink.

Three ribbons were attached as bookmarks.

The cover paper was stamped with gesso for a resist effect that you see with the large white stars. After that was dry.... I painted the paper with acrylics and stamped some smaller stars. Once the book boards were covered.... I added the small quote made of the same painted paper.

A closer look at the cover paper and my favorite wave cut spine cloth.

"Art is just another way of keeping a diary."


Wednesday Stamper is featuring everything to do with Books this week.....go have a look.

Colors of Autumn

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

A. Camus

Autumn is officially here but my question is.....where did summer go?

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

E. Bronte

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons but.........

"In summer, the song sings itself."

W.C. Williams

I don´t know if I am ready to say goodbye to days like this.....

or this one either.


"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken."
J. Dent
Pull up a chair and enjoy the summer sun. Isn´t this the perfect place to sit and watch the leaves turn?



Go take a walk in a lush, summer forest.

Eventually.....the days will grow cooler and the leaves will begin to fall.
Collect some fallen leaves and paint the underside with watercolor.




Press the painted leaf onto watercolor paper.

It is a fun and easy instant Postcard.

"Autumn, the year´s last, loveliest smile."

W.C. Bryant
Autumn´s Glory is the theme at Sunday Postcard Art this week,,,,go have a look.

Simple Saturday

A really simple card....but sometimes less is more.

One of my favorite quotes too.

Enjoy your Saturday

being with those who help your being!

Considering the fact that this is created "with one layer" and the image is one of

Nature`s seashells,,,,this fits in perfectly over at Simplicity.

Count on Me

One of the many envelopes I was painting and stamping onto.

First I stamped an ornament with white gesso. When that was dry I painted over it with shades of yellow and blue.

When that was dry I stamped some numbers, the face, hand-carved leaves, script and swirls.

Now all I have to do is write the address on it and put it in the mail.

I am sure the postmen/women of the world enjoy a bit of color once in awhile instead of always white and business style......don´t you?

Over at The Three Muses you can see lots more artsy envelopes.

Shoes are Important

Shoes are important......just ask Cinderella.
This is one of my Christmas cards. A watercolor shoe with gold threads.
Christmas script is used on the background.

The theme for September is Shoes over at Inkurable..... go have
a look at more festive shoes.

Sketchbook

My newest handbound sketchbook. Handpainted acrylic with white gouache Kanji script.

Black ink markings, white flower and moth stamping.

A close-up of the cover paper.

"Das Leben ist Zeichnen ohne Radiergummi"
"Life is drawing without an Eraser"

A Great Teacher

" Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day

with a GREAT TEACHER!"

Nothing like a great teacher to make our "school days" memorable.

Here is to all the great teachers in the world that make our schools a better place.

I have had several teachers that made all the difference by making the learning experience

fun as well as challenging.

This is the handpainted watercolor and sepia ink paper used on the card.

I wrote some Kanji script ...added a little mark making and some white gouache.

The tag before it was mounted onto the card.

Tag Tuesday has a tribute to our school days this week and Lots to Do is showing distressed Tags.....go have a look.

A Little Flower

A card for a good friend.

I included some aged, torn script and thought I´d link it to:

The Three Muses.

Feeling Blue?

"If you´re feeling blue.....

try painting yourself a different

COLOR."

I was inspired by Sunday Postcard Art´s theme,,,,,Feeling Blue and go check out

Illustration Friday for all the Proverbs.

If the Shoe Fits

"If the shoe fits buy the matching purse."

I thought this watercolor was most appropriate for Illustration Friday´s theme: Proverb.

Book Exchange

This is a longstitch journal I made for Heather of Creative Solace. We decided we would exchange handbound books.

The cover is some of my handpainted watercolor paper.
I added her initials and a blue ribbon closure as well as sewing the flaps down to make inside pockets on the covers.



Some stamping of numbers, ferns and quotes were added before the binding took place....
as well as the leather spine.
I also added some quotes to the inside signatures on the subject of Time.



This is Heather´s book she made for me.
The Unseen Playmate by Robert Louis Stevenson.
These three fotos are courtesy of Heather.


The inside pages,,,, she so beautifully decorated with vintage fotos and a poem
about children´s imaginary playmates.

Another view of the inside,,,
these pages are tags which can be pulled out of little pockets in order to read the poem.

Thank you Heather for such a beautiful book. It is on display for all to read and admire.

Life is Delicious

I never met a cupcake I didn´t like!

My pen and ink cupcake was drawn onto some of my hand painted/stamped watercolor paper and painted with watercolors.

Illustration Friday is featuring lots of Desserts....go have a look. Don´t worry, they
are all calorie free........

Butterfly Tag

Watercolor butterflies ....my purple butterfly bushes are so full of butterflies this summer.

Tag Tuesday has inspired me to make some butterfly tags this weekend.

I tied the gold thread into the shape of a butterfly and hung three smaller tags from it.

Books are not just for Reading Anymore

This is a beautiful book that I won from Anneke. She took part in Dymphie´s "Let Loose" campaign. I was the lucky person to receive it!

Anneke also enclosed this wonderful card that she created.

I will now "Let Loose" of some artwork. Stay tuned for a future post all about this.

Thank you so much Anneke. The book is so beautifully made and along with the card,,, are on my display shelf for all to admire.

Wishing you all ,,,and especially you Anneke,,,,a rainbow filled day of sunshine and peace in a "freebie" that you might wish to use in your artwork.

Have a great weekend!

My Neck of the Woods

Nothing like a beautiful day at the foot of the Alps.

A peaceful meadow.....

filled with wildflowers......

Even the horses love it here.......

.......running free at the foot of the Alps...

The first one to tell me the correct name of the castle in the distance gets a little "goodie" packet.

Can you name the castle for me? Walt Disney loved this place. Bonus question: Who knows the name of town I am in while taking these fotos of the castle?

Good Luck!

P.S. You must be a follower in order to receive the "goodies".......