I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Wednesday 19 February 2014

The road through the woods...

Hello everyone!  Though I'm off shortly to roam the north of England in Shakespeare workshop mode (well, north-ish - Manchester and Rotherham for the curious amongst you!), I've left this gentle post for you in the meantime.

It's a simple little journal page - just me having a play with my recently acquired Pan Pastels, starting to find out what they'll do.  (You'll be getting a sense of the colours I went for by now...)


The stamps are by Artistic Outpost - mainly from the Old Grist Mill plate - one of the first AO sets I got (Think and Wonder and Serenity were the others, in case you're curious).






The background was just several colours blended together, and then I stamped the beautiful Postcard stamp from the Ephemera Backgrounds in Versamark ink and swept the Pan Pastels (think I'm going with "PPs" from here on in) over it to bring out the image.














You get a perfectly clear, sharp image, and I love that it tones in completely because you're using exactly the same shades. 











The leaves (Old Grist Mill again) are done the same way, but they're done in just one colour rather than more than one blended over as for the Post Card.












I simply fell in love with this central image the first time I saw it, and it still has the ability to infuse my spirit with calm and soften my breath.











I added some strips of book page which had been painted with melted beeswax which gives a wonderful parchment look to the paper.












And of course the Spring Greenery ivy is putting in another appearance - inked up and then edged with some Burnt Umber PP.







The sentiment is stamped on paper inked with Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress Stains to soften the look of it.

I edged it with some more Burnt Umber, and that was pretty much that.

Hope you're all having a great week.  As I mentioned, I'm away working for a couple of days, so I'll have to do my catching up over the weekend... see you soon!




I'm afraid I haven't managed the extra twist, but I'd like to enter this in the Anything Goes theme at the Premium Craft Brand Challenge.
And with this sentiment which I absolutely love and agree with, I'd like to enter this in the Show It With Words theme over at the Inspiration Journal.

An old road always looks richer and more beautiful than a new road, because old roads have memories.
Mehmet Murat Ildan

54 comments:

chrissie said...

You seem to mastered the Pan Pastels. This is a wonderful page with lots of interest.

I wonder if you are near to me on your trip up North. Not sure the Shakespeare company would fancy Bridlington.

Love Chrissie x

Claudia N. said...

LOVE the old grist mill, Alison,

and the little beet of green you added to your lovely page!

Hugs,
Claudia x

Rita said...

Oh Wow Alison. Your page is beautiful. The gentleness of the colours make it so serene. Enjoy your Shakespearean trip. Hugs Rita xxxx

Lisa Minckler said...

So beautiful. I see that covered bridge and instantly think of Meryl Streep in The Bridges of Madison County. I have always been a fan of your color choices and spending the morning on your blog has been so refreshing, again. :) Beautiful work and I hope you're enjoying yourself.
hugs to you,
Lisa

Yvonne Garner said...

A breath of fresh air! Love PPs and look forward to seeing more of your gorgeous work with them. Enjoy your day. Yvonne

P.S. Thank you for all of your faithful visits to my blog. It means so much yo me.

Marci said...

The instant I saw this on my phone, I just gave a sigh. Enough said, I hope. Sometimes I forget what you do in your day job. My ignorance of Shakespeare must give you shudders:-)

Evelyn Walter said...

Such a peaceful page! I always love your choice of colors, dear Alison. I wish you a pleasuring journey to Shakespear :)
xxx Evelyn

massofhair said...

Wondering how far oop North you are on your travels? Wherever you are i hope you are enjoying your work:-)

So glad you are enjoying the PP's, beautiful colour choices as usual & stunning choice of images. Love every little piece of your ArT:-) xxx

Unknown said...

Love the look of this Alison. I haven't tried Pan Pastels and guess I can add those to my shopping list now. ;) Your sentiment is wonderful and I need to take heed of it. I love that you have "colors" by which you are known, that's cool. Fantastic inspiration!!! Hugs, Lisa
{P.S. Have fun frolicking in northern England}

Redanne said...

Gentle colours and a very calm scene - really beautiful. Hope you enjoy being in our part of the world. Anne xx

rachel said...

beautiful page Alison - love the colours you chose - so serene. xx

Deborah said...

Always loved that Thoreau quote and it suits your page perfectly. Enjoy your time oop north.

Terry said...

Lovely journal page, Alison! Love the soft color palette you chose and the greenery is a great touch! Have fun!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful page Alison, I've not used my PP's in ages may have to dig them out ! Sue C x

Amanda said...

What a lovely relaxing page, great use of PP's love forward to more. Also a big welcome to 'Up North' enjoy.
Love
Amanda x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

This is very timely. I'm working on a very detailed project that's making me sleepy. I'll tell them that our time is being frittered away by details. I'm sure they won't mind. There is a lot of serenity in this piece. Covered bridges are so neat and such a thing of the past, such a simpler time. Great soothing color scheme. I think you've got those pan pastels licked.

Helen said...

oh, glorious!! I forgot to order that greenery die when I had (another) splurge... drat now need to try again! Hope you have a good trip.

sam21ski said...

Great Make Alison and hope you have a safe trip

Sam xxx

Willy said...

What a beautiful AJ page, love the soft colors!!

Meihsia Liu said...

This is such a beautiful page with fabulous colors scheme and stamping, Alison. Wonderful design! :)

Silvia(Barnie) said...

That's a wonderful creation, love the leaves.

Anonymous said...

This is so serene and I almost feel as though I could step into the page and wander through the woods.
Enjoy your wanderings up north (north for you, south for me!)
Wishes
Lynne

Jennie Atkinson said...

So wonderfully calm and beautiful and I just love that sentiment about frittering away ....... Have a lovely time in the "north"!! Struggling to learn my own words at the moment but a Noel Coward, not a Shakespeare!! I am one of the Fallen Angels x

Geraldine said...

Beautiful page, love your use of the Pan Pastels, now I want to try them out. I have a long list of products to try. Love the quote too, best wishes on your travels.

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Love the way you have used this set, Alison. I always think of it as a fall set, but you have given it a fresh twist. I really need to get it out and use it more. This is really great!

Hugs,
Linda

sara j said...

I smiled so when I popped in and saw the ivy once again...I finally got my die the other day and have yet to play with it, so I'll have to be content to visit your page. I think this all just blends together beautifully, and the words are just perfect. Hope your trip was all you hoped it would be!

Anonymous said...

Very serene and peaceful Alison.
Enjoy your trip.
Alison xxx

May said...

Beautiful scene Alison, Love the soft colours & design...The leaves are perfect... Hugs May x x x

Astrid Maclean said...

Beautiful piece Alison, so serene and peaceful with a kind of dreamy quality. Love those gorgeous blues!

Enjoy your trip up North, hope you don't get blown away, it's howling here this morning....

Dianne said...

Hello Miss ALison, I hope you have a fantastic weekend, I wa so excited when I first saw this, but after reading it, I was calm and relaxed :), you n have mastered those pastels, my friend said when she used them they made her feel like a real artist, and that is what you are a real fabulous artist, thanks for sharing, ((( BIG HUGS)))..

Anonymous said...

Beautiful page, the colours are fab. Hope you're having a great time.

Sandy said...

Have a wonderful time Sugar and don't forget to write AND take pictures. Wonderful page and I see you used ivy - wonderful idea as ivy and old covered bridges seem to go together.
Sandy xx

Netty said...

Beautifully laid out page Alison, wishing you a successful workshop.
Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

Kay Wallace said...

Love the softness of color you have achieved with these PanPastels, Alison! I am a big fan of vintage, and your have charmed me with this piece! Very well done, my friend!

cathylynn said...

Be safe and enjoy your trip 'Up North". Meanwhile this is a fantastic journal page with magnificent stamps and Pan Pastels. Looks like you've mastered another medium. Great job as always!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Hettie said...

Can I come for a walk with you but on a dry day please? This looks a lovely place, peaceful and serene!
Hugs
xx

maria's knutselplezier said...

So beautiful Alison, I love the softness of your work, I love Pan Pastels , your work is very beautiful !!!

Greetings
maria

Inkypinkycraft said...

Love the softness of the colours he ...yu have achieved a real gentle effect x hugs xvtracevx

Ana K. said...

With this beautiful project you remember me how much I miss walking through the forest (unfortunately is still not safe, because of the ice few weeks ago - broken trees and branches still falling down).

toni said...

Hi Alison, I love your atmospheric journal page, and I can see you have mastered the Pan Pastels already! I suspect they'll be making a more regular appearance in your work, lovely subtle blending. Have fun on your travels xx

maj. said...

This is absolutely stunning and your colour choice is perfect!!!

Lisa H said...

I agree with that sentiment! This is a lovely card, thank you for sharing it with us at Inspiration Journal. =)

Cocofolies said...

This is absolutely delightful Alison!!... Love the scene you have built up, the colours you have used, lovely details like the kind of parchemin you have made with beeswax over it... and the leaves. Gorgeous! Hope you are having a good week-end far away your home! Hugs Coco xx

Sue said...

Lovely Alison, Pan Pastels are so much fun arn't they. I love your gothic script and the way both sides of the page shows through. Hope you are home safely now xx

Matilde said...

Gorgeous!

Kate Yetter said...

Lovely pastels and scene.

Sue from Oregon said...

Thanks so much for joining our Inspiration Emporium February Show It With Words Challenge!

Lovely...I have always loved postcard stamps! Fun creation!

♥ Sue Kment

Mona Pendleton said...

So pretty Alison! Love all the distressing and soft, subtle colors!

Jools Robertson said...

Love the colours and the softness, I have just acquired some pastels need to experiment
Thanks for the tutorial love the finished effect

Jools x

hazel said...

A beautiful journal page, the colours lovely. I've not played with my Pan Pastels for a long time - must dig them out.
xxx Hazel.

Shirley said...

I can see these are amongst your fave colours Alison. Beautiful journal page. Note to myself ... I must learn to simplify. lol


Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Kasia said...

So lovely page, Alison! Love the soft colors :)

Mrs.B said...

A beautiful piece Alison, you seem to have mastered the PPs so well.
Avril

Kezzy said...

Wow such a beautiful gorgeous journal page and a powerful verse. I love the image, it is awesome. Hope you enjoyed your time in the UK :-) Kezzy xxx