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 October 2016

What you love... or Etched Branches I

Hello all!  I'm here with the first of a couple of nature pages in my small journalling book (see Away She Went... for the details if you want them).   Both spreads use the Etched Branches stamp by Penny Black, but I think you get a quite different look in each one.  We're enjoying an Indian Summer here in Columbus, Ohio, so here's probably the last of the summery meadows for this year...  (The set of pages still to come is definitely heading for autumn!)


It's a simple page, but it's very much in tune with the words.  I'm still working on it being okay that I tend towards similar themes and colour palettes very often, not to mention favourite techniques and products... the things which make me happy when I'm creating.



I hope that it's not about being repetitive, but about recognising what feels like "me" when I make something.  I hope that it's about expressing something inside me which wants to come out in those ideas and colours.


I know quite well that this year, when I've had relatively little time for crafting (and usually on the move, as you all know), I'm even more inclined to use the time I have in ways which make me happy rather than trying to push myself in other directions.








In any case, here we are amidst the wild meadow grasses again... 

There are some delicate Distress Inks in the background, spritzed with water for soft texture.  I think it's mainly Old Paper, Weathered Wood and Antique Linen.












The Etched Branches are stamped in Olive Archival...

(It's all looking rather bleak and wintry at the moment, but things are about to change with some more inking around the edges.)












... as is the Cow Parsley (or Queen Anne's Lace if you prefer the posher version!) from Tim Holtz's Wildflower set.







I used a white pen to add detail to the flower heads as well, of course, as some white paint spatter to add the impression of a summer's day with pollen and haze in the air (better enjoyed on the journalling page than in real life if you're a hayfever sufferer as I have been for much of my life).











The words are from one of my Donna Downey sets by Unity.  I brought a grab bag of them with me, so I'm not sure which particular set these are from.

Simple pages, but they make my heart happy.  I hope they do the same for you.






There'll be some more seasonal nature pages along soon, and if I can get my devices to cooperate with one another I hope to share some pictures of the beautiful set we have for my production of Romeo and Juliet.  Talk about favourite things... watch out for crackle and splatter on a huge scale!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again soon.



Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odourless but all together perfume the air.
Georges Bernanos

In a meadow full of flowers, you cannot walk through and breathe those smells and see all those colors and remain angry. We have to support the beauty, the poetry, of life.
Jonas Mekas

39 comments:

Fliss said...

This is really beautiful Alison and love the gentle colours and the meadow look you've achieved too.
Lucky you to have an indian summer as it's now rather cold in the South of the UK and the heating has kicked in.
Hope you're well.
Fliss xx

Lauren Hatwell said...

Glorious is the word that instantly springs to mind. An absolute joy to behold! Lx

SewPaperPaint said...

Truly lovely Alison! Great sentiment. Hugs, Autumn

Helen said...

oh you've really whetted my appetite for things to come now! I hope you get the technology to work or I'll be severely disappointed, ha ha!! LOVE this page, old favourites they may be but perfect old favourites!

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such gorgeously delicate and soft art journal pages Alison - I NEVER tire of your wonderful colour palette and use of stamps. Jennie x

Redanne said...

This is so beautifully soft and gentle, I love the white pen work on the gorgeous Cow Parsley! Great sentiment too! Anne xx

Deborah Wainwright said...

These pages are a delight! I was taken back to my childhood books and how I loved their magical pages! Beautiful work Alison, I love it xx

Amanda said...

Beautiful pages and I just love the touches of white on the cowslips. Just do what makes you happy as it makes us happy
Love
Amanda x

Meggymay said...

Crafting and Art is all about making you feel happy, relaxing and enjoying the creative moment. Your pages are beautiful and I think you know we love your style as well.
Yvonne xx

Lynne Moncrieff said...

So pretty and Alison, create what makes you happy whether with colours and stamps that are beloved to you or whether stepping outwith a comfort zone - it is all about being happy.
Visiting this post has made me happy x

Anneke said...

Your work looks beautiful. I love the way you express yourself.
It looks so delicate too!

brenda said...

Just lovely, as your creations always are Alison.

B x

craftytrog said...

A beautiful page Alison! x

Marci said...

Love these pages. They make me happy looking at them! You always have such interesting quotes at the end of your posts, too.

hazel said...

A beautiful spread, the colours are lovely.
xxx Hazel

froebelsternchen said...

A wonderful spread Alison!

pearshapedcrafting said...

What fabulous spread Alison! Such a wonderful depth here - just like laying in the grass and looking through to the sky above! Love it! Chrisx

Jackie PN said...

Alison,
I love your color palettes and never find them boring or repetitive!
A gorgeous spread and your thoughts and sentiment is so right!Be you and be happy with that!
hugs&love,Jackie

chrissie said...

Really beautiful spread Alison and always great to see your makes.

Hope all is going well for you

Love Chrissie xxx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Ooooh this is gorgeous Alison, I was just admiring the Queens Anne Lace stamp and then realised I have that one too! Beautifully made as always, this is so you :)
Hugs
Donna xx

Corrie Herriman said...

How beautiful is that ! Awesome !
Corrie x

Ellie Knol said...

It's gorgeous.. a real Alison!

experiments in paper said...

So lovely!! I am taken with the sky in your second page. It reminds me of a brewing storm, and that wonderful stillness before the rain - very evocative, which is true of all of your work regardless of style! Many artists work in series to better understand where they are going - that is how I think of your "Columbus" period! xxx Lynn

Mrs.B said...

Well I for one never tire of seeing your gorgeous meadow scenes, or your favorite colour pallets. Love the quote you've used too.
Avril xx

Margik said...

Gorgeous page, Alison. Love the quote and the beautiful stamping. A delicate design as always!!!
Mar xx

maj. said...

A wonderful soft and charming work!!!

Sue said...

This is really lovely Alison, we should all do more of what makes us happy! Have a fun weekend xx

sally said...

Serenity- this is just such a peaceful place to be :-)

Sally xx

Astrid Maclean said...

I somehow managed to miss this one.. great work with those beautiful nature stamps and of course a wonderful background too! This little journal is going to be a real treasure!

Hazel Agnew said...

How magical, the white pen brings such life to your piece Alison. I love these stamps and have been working with them this week too. xx

Cocofolies said...

And a second fabulous spread on meadow... So beautiful, and again, so perfectly created with the genius white paint splatters around the flower heads!!! They really give a feeling of Pollen flying in the air... You do so well what you love... You're absolutely right to follow these steps in my opinion. xxx

A Pink said...

Beautiful! Gentle, delicate, tranquil and from the heart - speaks volumes x

maria's knutselplezier said...

These pages really look amazing, it looks like a painting or a photo , you really made another masterpiece!! I just love it!!!

Greetings
Maria

Dorthe said...

This is so beautiful Alison, just like a lovely summer day, here. I love your wonderfully painted sky, and the beauty of the flowers, with the white dots. Also the splashes give life to your spread, and makes it alive. The quote is fitting you, and the pages ,wonderfully, dear.
Hugs, Dorthe

Neet said...

So delicate, so gorgeous in fact. I love the misty quality you have achieved with this - transporting me to dreams.
Hugs, Neet xx

sarascloset said...

Another lovely journal page...I feel the sense of relaxation and serenity you must have felt while creating this page spread. Lovely soft colors; I could spend the day in this serene meadow! I love Queen Anne's lace, and always love seeing it along the roads when we head back north. It is a wildflower we do not have here in the south, and it was a favorite when I was a child living in New Jersey. We put their cut stems in colored water and watched the magic as their buds change in color! You have given me a place to breathe a big sigh of relaxation and brought back fond memories this morning! Thank you for sharing your talent! Hugs!

Diana Taylor said...

Beautiful pages and a wonderful farewell to the last of the summer.

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Your meadow certainly started out bleak and wintery but you've warmed it up so well. I say go with what you love. Sure stretching and growing are good for the soul too but ultimately, dance with who brung ya.

Sandy said...

Boy am I ever late to this party - love you beautiful artwork Alison!
Sandy xx