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 16 October 2013

I do remember an apothecary...


Hello all, and welcome (back!) to Words and Pictures.  It's time for the monthly Artistic Outpost bloghop, and after all the excitement of the new releases, we've been let out to play with a Designers' Choice theme this month.  

We're in a Halloween mood here at Words and Pictures, after my Tim Holtz tag yesterday, but you'll see all sorts of makes as you head round the hop... Here's the full itinerary:


Linda, Alison, Terry, Kate






I wanted to play with my new Apothecary set - not "new" new, but new to me, and such a lovely set of vintage images - not strictly spooky, but with a slightly macabre twist if you choose to think that way... so it seemed appropriate in the run-up to Halloween!

I started with a Manila tag and stuck some torn pieces of book page randomly onto it.

Then, I smooshed it around in some Distress Stains on my craft mat.  I'm pretty sure there was Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap involved, and perhaps a touch of Antique Linen.

And of course an edging of Vintage Photo Distress Ink for that burnished, distressed look.








I stamped the word Apothecary and the building directly onto the tag, using Coffee and Black Archival on the stamp to give a bit of extra shading to the image.












I added a partial stamping of the prescription slip in the top corner - love how it's layered onto the Gothic script of the book page.

This skull and crossbones - a hint perhaps that you might not want to trust this particular apothecary with your health and well-being - is the larger Idea-ology one.  You saw the teeny-tiny version on yesterday's Tim/Our Creative Corner tag.










The apothecary himself, Mr Forrest, is stamped on Specialty Stamping Paper, and I used Vintage Photo DI to darken the background, making him stand out.














The poison label is also a partial stamping, and also on Specialty Stamping Paper.




A couple of other Idea-ology elements... the pen with which to write the prescriptions...

Who holds the key to the apothecary's secret cabinet?













The seam binding is dyed with Distress Stains - Pumice Stone, Vintage Photo, and a hit of metallic sheen from Brushed Pewter - and tied together with my favourite paper string.

I mounted the whole thing onto suitably dramatic black card, to give a touch more definition, and there you have it.




I do hope you'll find the time to hop on round to see what my immensely talented team-mates have been up to.  Should you get lost along the way you'll find all the details here.

House Move Update - for anyone who's interested!
The beds were moved by the removal firm yesterday, so we're now officially "in" the new place (having been shifting stuff ourselves on a daily basis since the beginning of the month).  We now have two days to sweep through the remaining chaos and clear it - either to the new house, the charity shop or the tip! - before handing over the keys to the new owners on Friday... nearly there!

Mr Forrest looks somewhat more prosperous than the apothecary Romeo seeks out, and I can't imagine he has tortoises, fish skins or stuffed alligators hanging in that rather elegant looking drugstore, but it's one of my favourite speeches so...

I do remember an apothecary,— 
And hereabouts he dwells,—which late I noted 
In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows, 
Culling of simples; meager were his looks, 
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones; 
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, 
An alligator stuff'd, and other skins 
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves 
A beggarly account of empty boxes, 
Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds, 
Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, 
Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show. 
Noting this penury, to myself I said 
"An if a man did need a poison now, 
Whose sale is present death in Mantua, 
Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him."

From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

I'd like to enter this (belatedly) into the Something Spooky challenge at Country View Challenges 

43 comments:

Helen said...

Great tag, love all the little touches. Glad you're nearly at the end of your house move, and get settled quickly! Good luck on Friday!

Brenda Brown said...

I love the apothecary theme on your tag and the images you have used Alison. Good news about the house and hopefully the weekend will be the start of a very happy new period in your life. Good luck with the handover.
hugs {brenda} x0x

chrissie said...

Terrific tag and great stamps. What a wonderful word Apothecary is-not sure how it would be used these days except for art and history.

So pleased all is almost over with the move-bet you find some late treasures in the final sweeping and clearing

Good Luck

Love Chrissie x

Cocofolies said...

Great tag Alison, love all the details on it and the theme too. And good news !! :) Good luck for the "chaos" my dear Alison, but so much joy after that! Hugs Coco xx

Rita said...

Fabulous tag Alison. I bet you'll be glad to get settled in at last. Hugs Rita xxx

Maggie said...

Fabulous tag Alison good luck with the move I really don't envy you our last move(no.9) was our very last I hope......so stressful!
Happy crafting
MaggieH

May said...

Fabulous tag Alison...Good luck with the move & that Friday goes well... Hugs May x x x

Deborah said...

Definite Dr Crippin vibe with this one, Alison. Glad the house move is going smoothly.

Suzanne C said...

Fantastic Apothecary tag! Fabulous design! Love the metal charms embellishments!

slbt17 said...

when I think of Artistic Outpost, I always want to pull out my Archival inks .....
Great look!
Sandra ltb

Redanne said...

I love your tag and love the apothecary theme, Mr Forrest looks like such a respectable fellow - I would love to have a potter around his shop! Good luck with the rest of the tidying up, hope you will soon be fully settled in your new place. Hugs, Anne x

Janny Jager said...

Great tag Alison and beautiful stamps.
Love every details.
Greetings Janny

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is great, and one of my favourite AO plates! (did enjoy your week on PA last week!),

Lucy x

Sophie said...

Wieder so ein außergewöhnlich tolles Tag für Halloween.
CHAPEAU!

Sophie xx

Terry said...

Alison, I love how you used the Apothecary collection! Great vintage feel and the skull is such a great touch! Awesome tag!

Hettie said...

Great tag there Alison! Love those stamps and the little charms are to die for!
Hugs
xx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, such an amazing tag, gorgeous details.

Netty said...

terrific theme and love your fab tag, Annette x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Love this set! Great tag!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

More or less spooky but in a great way Alison...great job

Shelly Schmidt said...

Wonderfully done- love the black touches you added to the building- the ribbon is fantastic and love the skull charm! So many fab touches!

Nan G said...

A wonderful apothecary .......for viewing only. :)

Mrs.B said...

Wonderful Tag Alison, love your theme these using images for Halloween.
Great news re the house move.
Avril xx

Maelchen said...

What a wonderful, detailed tag, again, dear Alison! It is as if a whole story-book has been compressed onto one tag! Thanks so much for introducing Mr. Forrest. It was very nice indeed making his acquaintance!
Hugs,
Manu

Anonymous said...

Fantastic tag, I love every detail.

Gerrie Johnnic said...

So, this is where you go to get your drugs! They have special potions for stampers? If so, please send quickly! lol Love this.......the silver adds so much, very creative.

Anonymous said...

I can see why you like this set - how fabulous and I must say, he is rather dashing (or I am not getting out and about enough LOL)
Like the colour palette and of course wonderfully stamped.
Wishes
Lynne

itzamitzi said...

All your "smooshing" and "sticking" of things onto this tag turned into a lovely finished project. Great tag!

Meggymay said...

Fantastic tag, love all the wonderful images and details.
Yvonne

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Love this - sensational color palette and great use of the Apothecary set. I need to use it more - thanks for the inspiration! Your wonderful TH Idea-ology embellishments are the perfect accent points for these images!

So glad to hear the move is in it's final stages. Hope it will all soon be a distant memory!

Hugs,
Linda

Shirley said...

Sounds as if you are nearly there Alison, now comes the part of making it your home to enjoy.

The colour tones are really pleasing to the eye on this tag all soft and natural. Then you see the scary scull and crossbones plus the poison and everything takes on a sinister feel. Love it sweets.

Crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Kezzy said...

Wow wow absolutely stunning, love the browns which you always do perfectly and the stamps are amazing. Hope all is going well with the move :-) Kezzy xxx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Almost there my friend. Hey at least you have a place to sleep now!! Can't believe how much you have been in able to do during all of the chaos. The move certainly has not dulled your creativity. Love this tag Alison. Definitely has that Halloween vibe to it. Love those stamps!!! -- Mary Elizabeth

Lisa Somerville said...

Fabulous tag Alison, wonderfully embellished with your silver accent pieces!

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Great tag Alson, love the warm brown tones and the metal embellishments add wonderful interest and dimension set against the stamped images. Hope the move has gone ok . Tracy x

Kate Yetter said...

I so love your tag and the theme. The stamping is lovely. I do love a good apothecary! Fabulous!

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Great news about the house, hun! Love the tag, fabulous inky background and I love the apothecary theme! xxx

Dianne said...

Oh boy I'm loving this tag, all those browns excite me, I love how you did the building on there, like the ship you used in another tag, like it floating on there , amazing, the embellishments are perfect, fabulous tag Missy, I'm happy to hear it's almost over, even though we moved every year with my parent's, there was something exciting about setting up a new home.. Thanks for finding time to share, (((( BIG HUGS )))), hope you get a wee bit of rest on the weekend..

hazel said...

A brilliant tag.
xxx Hazel.

Julie Lee said...

This is such a fabulous tag. I love your colour scheme and the wonderful attention to detail in the seam binding and paper string. I wish you every happiness in the new home and lots of time to create ever more lovely projects, full of your usual imagination and panache! Julie Ann xx

Anonymous said...

Sorry Alison, aber ich kann unmöglich alles kommentieren, was mir auf deinem blog gefällt. Ich säße morgen noch hier ;) Bitte nicht böse sein.
It seemed, that you´ve moved again?
Ich wünsche dir ganz viel Spaß in Deinem neuen Zimmer. Kreative Ideen hast du ja eh mehr als genug ;)
Diese Ikea Boxen hast du klasse gepimpt! Iiirgendwann sind meine auch mal dran.

Ich wünsche Dir noch eine schöne Woche,
siljan

Sandy said...

Smashing Alison - you know I love Halloween. The building looks just like a lot of the older buildings near where I grew up. However, the members of my coven, would rather make our own poison. We would never buy it from a drug store. Too easy to trace.
Sandy

Unknown said...

Such a fab tag Alison - great to have you back [s]. Thank you for adding your sparkle to our challenge this month at Country View Challenges. Chris xxx