To Make Journals, Warm Up By Making Cards

I love to do things in big batches, and I work better when I’m doing a few things at one time. So, I got started on the cards first today.

Kit It

I decided to make my own “kits” for each set of four cards. That entailed doing the backgrounds, then going through my beautiful papers to find 11 themes – where I had enough material to make four cards. Then I put together coordinating papers and some various little doo-dahs that “go with” the color theme for each set of cards. I finished by choosing the backing cards for each set. These are 5×7 cardstock with nice textures in wonderful bright colors made by Bazzills and available at – where else – Michaels!

So, now I’m ready for the next step which is making the card fronts (44!) which will involve some tearing, arranging, gluing and stitching with the sewing machine. Then, I’ll put a nice coat of beeswax on the card, and adhere it to the color card stock. I’ll also have to make 44 envelopes. 

That’s another kit!


I’m going to create 22 kits for the journals too, and probably a bunch of little kits for door hangers and coaster sets. Haven’t quite figured out the coasters just yet.

Later That Day
Okay – I got three sets fully done, except the envelopes. Here’s a peek at six of them card from each set (click on the images for more detail). Oooh – yummy beeswax coating on all.



Ready to Make Some Journals?

I’m back from a fabulous art workshop in France with Anna Corba. I came back to a house I’ve been ignoring for about 3 months in favor of all the house design work and regular work. So, first thing I did was put away bags of art supplies from teaching in June, prints I made in August when I returned from the Minnesota art-cation lovingly designed by my friend Laurie Phillips, and all sorts of paperwork that had accumulated.

I also cleaned the house and got my guest room ready for company coming in a couple of weeks. In the process of all this cleaning, I found pads of paper I’ve been saving for years (literally, some were from my first job in 1981). So, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to make some journals for holiday gifts. 

I cut up the cardboard backs for the journal fronts/backs and got the paper for the insides all cut and arranged. Here’s a photo! Now, on to the decorating.


Stayed tuned for results – journals, cards, whoo hoo! Being creative is fun!

At DeGaulle Airport, On My Way Home From France


I’m happy to be home – arriving late last night (Sat), only to find warnings posted about traveling in Europe in the news this morning.

I saw many police and French military as I rode buses, trains and planes. Waiting to board the train in Toulouse, only ticketed passengers were being allowed down onto the platforms. Ordinarily, the French rail system is quite open. They don’t even seem to check your tickets all the time once on the train.

In the Lyon train station where I transferred, several young men were being frisked by the gendarmes. Then at DeGaulle, many military with short, fashionable semi-automatic guns were patrolling. I didn’t have the guts to snap a photo of a very tres chic woman soldier. I was tired, but I swear she was wearing fashionable shoes and earrings with her military garb and gun. Definitely eye shadow and a fancy hairdo.

Here are some photos of the last few minutes in Paris before I departed.


Travelling in France

I am so overdue to post here. What a long several weeks it has been with a lot of busyness at work, working on the new house plans and getting ready for another architectural review committee when I come back from this trip and then forcing myself to relax enough so I can do art while in this workshop.

I find taking photographs is a good way to relax and slow down, so here are some of my best in my travel postcards #1 and #2.

My Version of Young Me – Now Me

There’s a new trend in photo taking out there that has to do with reenacting a photo taken a long time ago, through the composition, what the person is wearing, gestures and facial expressions, etc. See more about that here.
I just ran across these unintentional Then & Nows of me and a couple of Claire. They are about 10 years apart.
How fun!