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...

Monday 3 August 2015

It's always ourselves we find in the sea

Hello all!  I'm back with my second Summertime creation of the month for Country View Challenges.  As the host, you always leap back into action almost immediately, so if you missed my first offering, you could go and have a wander In a Summer Meadow.

And this is actually the second post of the day here at Words and Pictures... in between, I squeezed in a Calico Car Rally - I'd love it if you had time to check that out!

For this second Summertime piece, I've moved from the meadows to the beach...


My team-mate the fabulous Brenda of Bumblebees and Butterflies has quite often shared altered clipboards, and a while back I ordered a cheap set and they've been sitting around waiting to be pressed into action.






Here's what they look like before... and I confess I hadn't actually intended to use one of them for this at all.
















It all started with a journalling page - I was just playing with lots of DecoArt Media Line sprays, some stencilled circles, splatter and so on.










And then I looked at it and I thought, "Well, that's got a look of the seashore about it"... the spume and the spray and the bubbles.

"That might work for the Summertime theme", said my brain.










I started to gather embellishments and it became clear pretty quickly that I'd never be able to close the journal with the bits and bobs I wanted to use. That was when my brain flickered onto the idea of the clipboard and - to my delight - the page fitted almost perfectly onto the board.

Now I was able to set to with my beach combing additions.
















There's an Occasions Found Relatives photo at the heart of it. I'm fairly sure I've already shared the e.e.cummings poem at the foot of the post before... but it was bubbling inside me all through this creative process. This may be Maggie and Milly or Molly and May... you decide.

In any case, I used DecoArt Media Line Fluid Acrylics to tint the sea, dabbing it on with some water, and rubbing with my finger, and then repeating the process until I was happy with the depth of colour.
















The stained and torn book pages are coated with crackle glaze to give a look of sandy dunes rippling up between the shallow waves.













There are more bubbles thanks to a bargain Elizabeth Craft Designs die...













And cheesecloth - somewhere between fishing nets and the wisps of white on the top of breaking waves.












The girls have been collecting shells and sea glass from amidst the tiny stones and sparkling grains of sand (seed beads and some Finnabair micro beads)...














... starfish (Calico Craft Parts primitive stars lightly crackled in that role) and pebbles...













... an old anchor (another Calico special) - a really lucky find, that.













As you know, I love glassy translucence, so I added Glossy Accents and Crackle Accents to some of my journalling bubbles.














They catch the light very pleasingly!











The clip itself has also had some work. I've tried to give it a look of the ocean waves just offshore, in the distance from where our girls are paddling.














I've used a variety of crackle paints and glazes and the DecoArt paints again to offer a look of the cresting breakers heading in towards the beach.











I hope this captures some of the feeling of those golden childhood days, paddling in the shallows, exploring rock pools...









... discovering and collecting all the exciting beachcombing bits and bobs we find so fascinating.








And with everything they've collected, it would never have closed inside the art journal, so it's just as well I went with the altered clipboard idea!  If you'd like to meet someone else who's been collecting far too many seashells, take a wander over to Cestina's Dollshouses to see who's selling seashells (though not quite on the sea shore!).


We'd love to see what Summertime conjures up for you, so come and play along with us at Country View Challenges this month. Remember, there's fresh inspiration from the team every couple of days over at the blog and a great prize from our fabulous sponsors Country View Crafts, so we hope to see you there soon. Happy Summertime crafting all!


maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang 
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing 
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone 
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) 
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea
e.e. cummings


I hardly ever get to play in challenges these days, but I would like to enter this in the Happy Holidays theme at Stamps and Stencils (the bubbles were made using the large Prima 12x12 bubbles stencil).





Remember to check out the Coaches, Planes and Automobiles at Calico Craft Parts if you're looking for inspiration for some boys' toys (though as a lover of vintage vehicles I hope you'll let me come and play with them too). 

47 comments:

Lauren Hatwell said...

How beautiful! Summer always makes me think of the seaside and you've captured the essence of all those holiday memories beautifully. Lx

Jean Franks Beck said...

This is gorgeous. I love all the little collected details of the ocean, and the way you've done those bubbles with the crackle. So creative.

Nan G said...

Beautiful seaside vignette ! I love the bubble die cut. Been looking for that die for ages. As an FYI, my stars were cut with the Sizzix stacked bigz die and I hand creased them. The 3d die is too costly. Hope to have a mid way pic of the bottle up soon. Hugs

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Alison! I just love the idea of decorating a clip board and your bubble background is just to die!! The wooden accent pieces work so well with the book page scraps and the cheesecloth is wonderful!! Love it! hugs :)

Karen Petitt said...

So happy I came over to take a close look. This is so beautiful! I will have to look out for some of these boards as I love the idea of altering one, although I don't have the skills that you do hun, love it! Karen x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

What an alteration! I LOVE the page you did to cover the board. I'd never want to use this as a clipboard anymore, and cover up those cuties.

Amanda said...

Wow brilliant love the story telling. Fantastic details as always
Love
Amanda x

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Absolutely beautiful Alison, I don't know how you manage to get your blues and greens palette so dreamy! Jealous!
Biggest hugs
Donna xxx

Dorthe said...

This is a wonder of happy sea shore hours, wading in the glittering sand, watching the water bobbles, and Molly and May having fun !! So wonderful with the cracked bobbles, Alison, the bits of old pages, also glittering and all the beautiful colours of the sea, together with cheece cloth also dyed to match. Gorgeous ,dear !!

Hazel Agnew said...

Hopefully there is still that child in all of us and I always bring home treasures from the shores!
This is a timeless piece Alison which makes me smile! The whole concept is so uplifting! Xx

Terry said...

Alison, what a fun clipboard! I love all those bubbles and the wonderful embellishments! The cheesecloth ties it all up so nicely! Love the texture! Hugs!

Julia Aston said...

I have a stamp with the last line of that poem by e.e. cummings - but I never heard the complete work! What beautiful colors and design on your creative clipboard! Julia xx

Deborah Wainwright said...

Stunning background those most are yummy. Love how you have brought this all together. I especially love your clip at the top it looks amazing. The cummings poem is also beautiful. Hugs Debs cx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I've forgotten my troubles looking at this Alison…..this a stunning creation! I love that yummy texture and all those bubbles! My cousin and I had outfits like that but I bet that's not Mablethorpe!!! Hugs, Chrisx

Redanne said...

You really took me off to the seaside with this gorgeous seaside scene Alison (and I think you know how much I love those too), the colours are wonderful, I love the picture of the girls and the Calico parts look fabulous! Off to see your other piece now... Hugs, Anne xx

rachel said...

awesome piece Alison - I think that background is just beautiful and all the ephemera look amazing - I adore this. Hugs rachel x

Meggymay said...

A stunning project, the textures are amazing, you just want to reach out and touch. Fabulous details and a super old found photo.
Yvonne xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

This just shouts summer Alison ! Love love love that amazing background - just stunning xxx

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Firstly, I adore the title of this post, I just had to say that!
Alison, you know I am a sucker for when a story is weaved through art and from the moment of reading the title post you had my complete attention which was held all the way through.
I was never a child who loved the beach but there were some lovely times with my family and close family friends when we would all enjoy a day together on Midsummer Saturday, oftentimes at St Andrews. This was when I was a child and you have definitely brought a lot of warm memories flooding (even though i didn't like the sea, didn't like the sand between my toes and would prefer to sit in the car LOL) back to me.
Wishes
Lynne

Gio said...

OMG! It's marvellous! It's really like a soft breeze in front of the sea ( Sardinian one, of course). All the little details, and the clip , and the image. Everything is perfect. You almost make me love the colour green !:-)

Hettie said...

This is absolutely gorgeous Alison. I love the picture and the concept is wonderful.
I have two of these clipboards with every intention of altering them and now I will have to. I know the picture too....my Aunt and Dad in around 1936 :-)
Thanks for the inspiration.
Hugs
xx

Helen said...

what an amazing piece of "clip art""lol. It is very evocative of times past and seaside holidays. the colours are gorgeous and the bubbles brilliant. Love it!!

Marci said...

It is lovely! Beautiful colors. The e.e. cummings poem I had forgotten, so thanks.

Nikki Acton said...

Amazing details and stunning results. The tones and texture of your sea is just fabulous. Nxx

Susan said...

Oh my goodness. This piece is gorgeous. The colors are my favorite. Thank you for sharing it.

Candy C said...

Alison...I just love your art! This clipboard is such a lovely piece and I totally agree with you about it having a seascape feeling. Beautiful color combinations and I really love the added crackle to the bubbles. It gives them a wonderful translucence. Interesting process of adding all of your other elements. I love your found relatives. A perfect vintage picture for your background! I also love all of your words, anchor, shells and other dimensional pieces. Really a lovely clipboard!

Sandy said...

You always amaze me Alison - outstanding. As you know we just moved from the mountains of NC to an island in Florida. What a change. So I am all enthralled with sea and sand - shells and water life. So colorful so much fun. You always come up with the best ideas - you must know every technique there is.
I am anxiously watching my mail box kid!! I will let you know when Santa arrives!
sandy xx

Marjie Kemper said...

Absolutely gorgeous, Alison! I saw this on Pinterest and had to pop right over to see. Love it!

Lisa Minckler said...

I feel like I owe you fee for the transaction. You being the travel agent and me having just taken a fabulous mini vacation. How glorious and wonderful this post was for me. The transformation was, as always, so refreshing and thrilling to see and I have to say, it fueled me with inspiration! So happy you joined in a challenge for fun too. :)
hugs to you Alison and I have to tell you that you time you spend on my blog leaving your very nice words, is truly truly appreciated!
Big hugs,
Lisa x

Unknown said...

Oh WOW--Love this altered clip board, Alison!! Gosh, yeah--I now need to find a collection of cheapie clipboards to alter--See what you do to me!! Make me want to buy things :) :) LOL!! But, it's all in the name of art and creating, so it's OK :) :)
This is a magical day at the beach with you, Alison! You took me right back to my childhood spending time in tidal pools, exploring the small collections of sea water, touching starfish and sea anemones, finding hermit crabs and trying to coax them out of their shells to have a walk-about in the palm of my hand! I can feel the waves land at my ankles and I can feel the ocean spray on my skin :) Just lovely!! Oh, those carefree days!! Thanks for that brief stroll down the watery shoreline!! XOXO-Shari

Jackie PN said...

Alison! this came out just delish!!! I love love love it! xo

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Alison,
This is a fabulous Bg to offset the cutest image and a great post as well.
Smiles:)
Sue

craftytrog said...

Simply stunning Alison, yummy background! xox

Chrissy said...

I love and get so inspired by anything seaside Alison, and this is just superb..gorgeous textures and colours and such a sweet photo..love,love,love all those bubbles..

luv CHRISSYxx

Gitte said...

Beautiful creation.

Etsuko said...

I love this Alison! so many fab bubble textures and wonderful photo.Gorgeous!! xxx

toni said...

A gorgeous project Alison! Love that bubblicious background and that lovely picture. So many fabulous textures and embellishments too. Thank you for sharing this with us at Stamps and Stencils. Toni xx

Unknown said...

Stunning alteration and the colours are very vibrant, I love how the paint has crackled on the metal clip...Thanks for joining us at Stamps and Stencils
Sharon x

Deb said...

Alison, what a stunning creation, a wonderful representation of an idyllic day at the beach, brings back many happy memories for me! Love the crackle/gloss on your background bubbles and the seed bead pebbles interspersed with your shells and starfish, netting and glass pebbles is just perfect. The treatment of the clip is amazing, you evoke the feeling and image of breaking waves perfectly on it. Thanks so much for sharing this, it is just lovely and thanks for the ee cummings quotation, it's been many a year since I've heard it and love it still. Deb xo

Unknown said...

So many mediums yielded such awesome texture Alison! I'm in love with this and the vintage photo is so sweet. xx

Julie Lee said...

I've always loved that little poem: there is something so haunting and rather wistful about it. I love the idea of an altered clipboard! Yours really evokes the colours of a summer's day at the beach - the kind I remember from childhood holidays in Devon and Cornwall. I can imagine gazing into rock-pools as I look at this blog post. It's beautiful, Alison. I'm sorry I'm so behind with commenting, as I've been doing an on line course and also my Mum has been ill with a chest infection. xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Oh Alison ... this is marvelous. One of my favorite holiday pastimes is beachcombing for shark teeth fossils. I spend a great deal of time looking into the tide at the ocean bottom for what it has to offer. Your clipboard is like a snapshot of what I see as I'm wading and searching!. Stunning depth (love the crackle finish on the bubbles!) and I love the organic feel of your elements. Just wow!!!!! Hugs - Mary Elizabeth

Deborah said...

That green and turquoise bubble background is divine - and everything you layered on top just perfect.

Sandy said...

I have to tell you Alison - this is so bubbly and wonderful and feels just like the beach. I ought to know, I live on an island!
Sandy xx

Julia said...

"Maggie and Milly and Molly and May" .... that was hidden deep in my memory until you posted it. This is a very nostalgic piece of work and very beautiful indeed.
Julia x

Brenda Brown said...

I want to get right inside this, it's cunningly designed and put together - love it xxx

A Pink said...

I can finally say I have been on my summer holidays this year! Thankyou Alison Its been so long since I last went to the seaside and today has been a real treat as your gorgeously altered clipboard and narrative took me there ! Absolutely fabulous project x