Remembering Summer - A Travel Journal

I created this little 6x6 inch journal to hold my memories of this summer.  The cover is book board cut down from a novel I finished reading and the pages are painted watercolor paper.

I used the freezer paper that I painted the pages on, scanned it into the computer, and worked with Photo Shop to make the covers.  The book cloth binding is dupioni silk and cloth buttons from Japan.  I use Xyron machine adhesive to attach the covers to the book board, the book binding and end papers. Then, stitched the pages into the book.

Before finishing the covers, I added the words that described my summer.

The title page includes a Swedish proverb, "A life without love is like a year without summer".  As the days get shorter and darker, these memories add light.

In June, I went to the Focus on Book Arts conference in Forest Grove, OR, made a little zine and took a Washington State road trip in July.

The trip started with a long weekend on Lake Chelan with my book group.  We took the three hour ferry to Stehekin- a trip I highly recommend.

Then, I spent two weeks on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound.  In the next post, I'll describe one of the workshops I took with Jane Davies.

Mary Ann Moss-Style Mexico Travel Journal

This weekend, I completed a Mary Ann Moss- style travel journal for an upcoming trip to Mexico. Several months ago, I took her "Remains of the Day" shabby journal online class.

See the two other journals I made from her class Here and Here.

I used Mexican themed fabric on the front cover, free-motion stitching and tape. I sewed it onto a canvas base to give it body. I zigzag stitched the edges and then added a sheer tape to finish them off.

The back cover is a hand-sewn fabric swatch on felt made by Robin Olsen that I bought at our Portland Art Collective Show last year.
Here's what the journal cover looks like opened all the way. The tie is made of Dupioni silk, free-motion stitched with black thread.

For this journal, I wanted to add more pockets for postcards, photos and other ephemera that I collect on the road. One of Mary Ann's ideas that I really like is using security envelopes with windows. Every part of this journal is made from fabric or paper scraps from my studio.
For some of the pockets, I used UPS label envelopes with a glued back and clear front.

For other pockets, I sewed decorative-collaged paper on each end and across the bottom. On this page, three pockets await to be filled. Now, I'm ready for Mexico!

Travel Art Supplies with M. Graham Watercolor Palette

Our sketch group is hosting a group of women artists from Costa Rica this next week and we made them travel art supply kits with a M. Graham watercolor palette. The kit includes a sketchbook with 15 pages of watercolor paper, a glue stick, a water brush, a pen, tissue paper and a palette.
I learned how to make these palettes from Cynthia Mooney. I used 150 grit sandpaper to give tooth to the Altoids tin surfaces.
Then I conditioned some Sculpey clay, put some Sobo glue on the bottom of the tin and then pushed in the clay. The Sculpey clay is heavy. Cynthia says she prefers to make these palettes with paper clay which is much lighter in weight when dried.
I formed wells in the clay with the end of a marker and baked them in my clay dedicated convection oven at 275°F for 20 minutes.
I covered the bottoms of the tins with red suede paper and the tops with garden sketches using the adhesive from my Xyron machine.
Then, I added the M. Graham watercolor paints. These are my favorite travel paints because they do not dry out and go onto paper smooth, with great color. Make yourself a travel art supply kit and enjoy using it on your vacation this summer. You'll remember your travel art as much or more than your photos.

Día de Los Muertos en Mexico

Hola, This weekend, I made my sketchbook for our trip to Mexico for Día de Los Muertos. Three of us from our Tuesday sketch group plan to create for two weeks in Oaxaca and Mexico City.
Check out Día de Bloglandia for more fun with Día de Los Muertos celebrations. For wonderful photos and information, Fran is writing a "Tales from Oaxaca" series about her 2007 trip.

Here's my calendar page to fill up while there with ephemera and handwriten journal entries.
Today, we sketched at the Lone Pine Cemetery, one of Portland's oldest pioneer cemeteries. The vibrant autumn colors filled the skyline with their beauty. Fall is one of my favorite seasons representing change and preparation for new beginnings.
In Mexico, I want to experiment and try out different drawing and watercolor styles and techniques- in other words PLAY.

I probably will not post again until the second week in November. Hasta luego!

Durfort, France "the idea collector book"

The last part of my trip to France included a train ride to Toulouse, meeting my second art group with Dayle Doroshow and a drive to Durfort-our home for the next week at La Cascade. This group focused on art journals and dolls made with items found in local markets and a theme of ancient France. My favorite book was our idea collector.
the front cover made with French fabric and a polymer clay transfer
the inside cover with toile and a sewn signature with a variety of papers in different sizes
fabric samples
An ink and pen drawing of La Cascade by Peter Welsford, a Brit whose studio is across the street from La Cascade.

1930's stamps found in a Vide Greniers or an "empty the attic" flea market
An envelope, accordian book to hold workshop notes and treasures
The back of the idea book with a V-W pop-up and fabric frame

A Visit to Jumencourt

I took the train from Gare du Nord to Anizy-Pinon to visit Pascale, a fellow artist in our PhotoArtJournal group. It turned out to be a highlight of my trip. We drove to her home in the village of Jumencourt. She prepared lunch for her mother and I, gave me a tour of her studio, shared her art projects and took me to see the medieval castle- Coucy-le-Château. We spent a wonderful day together. Merci Pascale!
The gargoyles and ancient patterns on the castle walls offer inspiration for future art projects.


The castle garden reflects how it looked in the 13th Century.

Monet's Home & Garden in Giverny

To see Claude Monet's home and gardens in Giverny was a dream come true. We left rain drenched Paris and traveled by train to sunshine.
The gardeners plant and maintain the gardens much as Monet did during his life.


Hollyhocks grew everywhere in France and are one of my favorite flowers next to roses.

I sketched the water lilies and enjoyed the peacefulness of the pond.

Paris Markets and Walks

Here's an overview of my French vacation in a collaged calendar. Each day I added a photo or note that represented my experience.

I stayed in Montparnnasse- the 14th Arrondissment and really enjoyed the neighborhood.
Monsieur Gilles, the hotel receptionist, became one of my French professors.
A sketch walk in Jardin du Luxembourg.

The food market Saturday morning on the Boulevard Edgar Quinet.

The Port Vanves flea market
I visited one museum located at the Hotel de Cluny- Musée National de Le Moyan Age (Middle Ages) to see the unicorn tapestries, Book of Hours and other treasures.
The bouquinists along the Seine offer not only all kinds of books but wonderful botanical drawings and prints.