My cards are on their way.

Yesterday I finally sent my cards. And I recieved my first card too, a very nice card from Finland. I'll make a post when my ten cards are here and show them off all at once.
To join this swap has given me plenty of hours with joy. I've been doing a lot of different stuff. Seems that creativity grows while beeing creative. Right now I'm experimenting with art journaling and that's a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I found this blog about: Raw art journaling, very interesting blog.
Tomorrow I'll have to buy some more acrylic paint. Just have a few colours now and I need a lot more to my experiments.



My best wishes to all of you.

My second attempt

The creditcard tecnique.

I read about how one can use a creditcard to smear the paint onto the pages and wanted to try that. You will find the information here. The first thing I noticed was how thin the layers became and that the page ended up very smooth. Ofcourse, one can make a textured page too by using the creditcard but the way I did it the result became smooth. With a smooth page it's much easier to draw or write on top of it.
With these thin layers the paint dried up very quick and therefor I learned that I'll have to plan colour mixing before I start.
It's quite "messy" but that doesn't matter at all. I really think I can work this in to something exiting. Never knew it could be so fun.

The spread below is my first try and I'm very pleased. Think I had some beginners luck. The page called Sunset Rock came out very well I think, and I almost can't believe that it was me who did it. Me...ha ME ??

When I had done the "painting" I just began drawing, unconscious, so to speak and as often before (in this mood) it gave me some surprisingly results. It seems to be the best way for me not to plan too much. There are always so much to compare to and that lead to limits rather than free expression for me.

While doing this spread, I came to think of at least three new things to try so this is really exiting.

I would love to hear your comments.




Enjoy your Sunday.

Art journaling, my very first try.....

I have never done this before.

I really feel to be in deep water but it looks so fun to do this so I decided to have a go.
Off I went to buy some old books ( remember my habit in life, 2-3 at once) and I really found some suitable books. They have nice illustrations and pictures so I'll probably use some of them.

The book I fell in love with at once is a book (danish) describing Australia. Lovely drawings and photos inside. Accordingly to iHannas advice all my books are sewn and they do have a suitable size.

I don't quite understand.

I do not really understand what this is all about, so if anyone feel they would tell me a bit about it I would be greatful.
I think perhaps there are few rules, do what you desire are probably the main thing.
Below you can see my bargain. I paid NKR. 45.- for each book (USD 7.-) and that is real cheap for a quality book.




Break the neck of the fear.

I've seen a lot of examples of how others do this but can I? The backgrounds are my fear. Hanna Andersson (iHanna) does make such nice backgrounds and I admire her work so much. I had to reread some of her earlier posts and she had some interesting tecniques to share. I'll try some of them later on.

Strong minded I opened my box of Gesso and smeared it onto 2 pages, and waited for it to dry. My acrylics were ready and I started to paint. Inside my head I heard this woice......what to do, what to do, what to do, WHAT TO DOOOO...
I did something and... wow... it don't look bad at all.

What do you think?





One spread done.

Ok, I can see this is made by me. It's not exactly the work of a pro, but my first. I'll let myself develop for a while and we'll see then. It was fun and when I can manage to make some good backgrounds I will consentrate on the rest.




Have a nice and creative weekend everyone.

A few books I made last year.

Could I manage to make my own book?

Last year I read about bookmaking and was curious if I could manage to make my own.
Well I could and the picture below shows the first one I made. It was not ment for anything, just to see if I could do it.
Later on I painted small images in my book and several people have wanted to have the book. I can't give it away so it stays at home. I'll probably use it as a diary when on a trip abroad.
The paper I used is a very nice water-colour paper. The papers are sewn into the cover and looks like a real book. That amazed me a lot.
Some of you might recognise little Michi. She is my little Japanese girl. I've written a lot of stories about her but a mistake made me remove them all from my blog. I have them as drafts though so I might publish them once more.





I had to try once more just to see that I actually could do it, and yes I could once more. ( two or three is my habit in life. hehe) I made images in this one too but I don't feel satisfied about them. Don't know exactly what for but that's the way it is.




The last one I made for a purpose.

I wanted to make a book with several signatures. I had plans for four but three signatures filled the cover. This book I would use to learn how to draw in perspective. Houses was the main thing, and it was easy to learn but the book was not suited for that. Too small. I made some attempts and my plan was to draw houses and their front doors. Made five before I gave in.
It was a good idea so perhaps I start over again in a more suitable sized book.




Best wishes to you all.

This isn't exactly strategic planing but fun.

I have to admit I couldn't resist making another one.

This one haven't got a name yet. He/She is more the right size but too much stuffed. The head is too big this time. So I've learnt a lot making this one too.
Besides I've learnt a bit at Picasa too and thats a struggle for sure. My tecnical abilities is below whatever.( Or more correctly, my interest for tecnical stuff)

Isn't this some cute pictures?

Just as the doll becomes more alive in the pictures than in person. I have to smile each time I see these. Haven't made any clothes yet. Is it a he or a she do you think? I really can't decide so I'll wait a bit and see.
Just wanted to share this with you all.





Have a nice evening everyone!

Need to knit something a little rougher.

After making the small doll I felt like doing something rougher.

I have this wonderful book about laceknitting.The shawl facing the front cover is reffered to as " The Crown Prince square shawl." It's really delicat, but that have to be for another occation. In spite of spring coming I decided to knit a scarf. I do not have any experience with Noro yarn from earlier on and I'm very satisfied. It feels so soft knitting with, almost like it melts in my hands. The colour changes are really nice too, one just have to be aware when starting a new ball.



This pattern is rough enough to show off even with all the colours, and it's easy enough to knit and listen to radio at the same time.




I'm looking forward to see how it looks like when blocked, and then I have a brand new scarf to start next winter.




Wish you all the best and enjoy your day!

A gift of great value.

I was the only one they knew who would appresiate this great gift.

Yesterday I was given a knitting magazine dated back to 1949. It is complete and the content is very exiting. It contains a lot of baby clothes several different mens jackets, socks, skarfs, mittens and the most exiting... womens underwear!!
A couple of bed jackets and a two piece bathing suit.
I'm so thankful and exited...






Have a look, isn't it delicious?

I'll just have to try to knit some of this. It looks so delicious, back in those days they had to make it for themselves. I'm really looking forward to make some of this.
I got this from my sister in law. Luckily she had me in mind in stead of throwing it away.
The heading says something like: "Featherweight and still warm"






I really can't resist this last piece!

This one is reffered to as a "sun suit" Don't you think it's cute?
Don't know whether you can spot the buttons. There are five buttons at the pants and three at the top. That top could be a hit right now. I'm a bit uncertain about the pants though.





This book came along too.

It's handwritten and contains a lot of patterns of baby clothes. How many one would need to be proper equipped.
There are patterns to oldfashioned aprons too, and several types.
At the end she describes how to weave and how to set up a loom. All beautiful handmade with the most delicious handwriting. I really do feel lucky.