An Altered Book

Lots of stitching and layers on this one for Debbi, as part of an altered book round robin.

Have a wonderful week!

Grunge and Sweetness, or ...

... rather sweetness and grunge. I think the sweetest gift of Christmas was some quality time with the newest little ‘H’, my nephew ‘A’. This photo was taken at lunch while he slept all snuggled in and I battled the brussels sprouts. Why do mother’s think those small green stinky vege are a traditional part of Christmas? I must say everything else was delicious and of course I ate too much.

I kept last years resolution, 12 months without hair dye (actually I lasted 13) umm, perhaps I should not mention hair when I have the frizz happening above :). So I will boldly state this years resolution - to drop three dress sizes. Other aspects of my health have been my focus for many years and medication took its toll, but I have stayed the same size all 2008 so I am sure that with a little work I can remove some of the excess.

I am not sure I will ever be able to sit like the sweet angel to the left (my niece) but I would like to be able to keep up with her as she plays her games and runs around the garden.

This was the third notebook I made and I experimented with some new colours - I like the green with my usual "grunge" and rust tones. I cut and covered all six covers, applied several paint washes and some stamping then worked on one book at a time.

This book was not meant to have webbing spray on it's corners, a certain ginger purr-baby decided to jump on my lap as I was spraying the back ground of the other two - luckily only the corner was effected and I decided it added to the texture. I can convince myself of almost anything.

After I made the note books I found one more of the tin signs I used as the focal point of each book. "spirit" started out red, the others were shades of cream and white to begin with.

Fun and Frustration

I recently purchased both address and guest books in bulk and I had a lot of fun decorating one of each, and a notebook over the past few days. I've popped these ones on my ETSY, but Mum and a friend have already commissioned four as gifts so I guess I will be playing with these for a while. The picture below shows the books before altering ( I have put a few of them on Etsy too) and some of the treasures Dad had for me today. I can't show you the rest yet as they are to make a gift for my brother.

The frustration is my jewellery, I have made a few gift pieces lately and will be able to share in a week or two, but my hands are not obeying my head. I have a lot of designs floating through my grey matter and am lacking the skill/training to execute them. From The Cave (as I call my creative zone) come a lot of screams and thumps then rustles; no not hitting my head on the table yet - the sound of failed attempts hitting the bin. Oh and the rustle, me rescuing said failed attempts to recycle parts.

It has been bliss to have a long weekend and I have so enjoyed sleeping, creating and chatting. What a difference one extra day makes.