A quick warning before we start - not so much a long post warning (though it's one of those too, once you get over to Artistic Stamper and see the actual project)... but a slightly sad post warning. It's a project about love, but it's not a happy ending!
There's plenty of lovey-dovey Valentine's preparation going on Craftyblogland at the moment... but this is from another perspective.
The words in my love note come from the darker side of love, in the form of a "Dear John letter" - a plea to be set free...
It's the break-up letter as a journalling page. Splitting up is, I'm afraid, a frequent side-effect of the pressures to "be romantic" on Valentine's Day... Heck, I've done the deed myself on the 14th February - a long time ago, it's fine!
Sorry to offer up the sadder side of things... but that's what arrived on the journalling page, and I didn't want to get in its way.
I hope you at least like the pages at The Artistic Stamper, and I do wish you all so much love and joy... all year, not just on that day!!
2019 UPDATE - now with some updated links to take you to the Encore post here at Words and Pictures.
And if you don't mind having to travel to see the full project, I'd like to enter this in the following:
As one of the Love Notes over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge
And at Stampendous Impressions where they would also like to see Love Letters for February
At the Stampotique Designers Challenge they're looking for the Heart in your Art
And at Bunny Zoe's Crafts the theme is Hearts and Love
The only whole heart is a broken one, because it lets the light in.
David J. Wolpe
Oh Alison! Almost lost for words having just been to look - beautiful! (sob, sob) Chrisx
ReplyDeleteOh! Dear...that is so sad...the poor woman wantng to be free..and the story told[showed] so beautifully in your art Alison..gorgeous journaling page..
ReplyDeleteAnd never had a card,flower or pat on the back for Valentine in my life..I'm a sad woman today...lol..
luv CHRISSYxx
love it - sad or not - fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Neet xx
A beautiful piece even with the sad undertones.
ReplyDeleteHi Alison, a stunning, relevant piece of work. Having experienced painful Valentine's Days, I understand how it is not a day of joy for everyone. Gorgeous, well thought out work. Bravo! Yvonne
ReplyDeletethis is beautiful inso many ways have been and left some love x
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work Alison.. Love the texture & colours.. from heartache comes beauty..Fabulous work.. Hugs May x x
ReplyDeleteAnd you seemed so happy when we met at Stamperama... off to check it out in full now. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSad but beautiful! Just checked the full project and love all the gorgeous details and elements. Great design, Alison. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us at Stampotique and joining our challenge and adding a heart to your art........and what a lovely ( although sad) project you have created!
ReplyDeleteJackie
Just read you were at Stamperama yesterday ... We were probably stood side by side in the paperartsy booth and didn't know it ... I did see Helen in there!
Honestly I very much appreciate your "earnest" Valentines make among all the hearts swirling around me when I visit blogland, Alison.
ReplyDeleteI would have gone for an even more "dark" approach if I had had to visualize your journal's topic. I still find the tiny hearts too cute (and the cracks not obvious enough). But the whole page is really beautiful...maybe too beautiful for its message I guess. At least for me.
Being married to a mathematician we don't celebrate Valentine's Day at all. (And I am not sure if I should be happy about it - I have never been good in "being happy" or "in love" at command and I think we should celebrate a shared love when it feels right - not when a special date tells us too - I honestly feel the same about mother's day...but obviously I am the exception ;).
Thank you for sharing this post! I definitely enjoyed reading and seeing.
Hugs,
Claudia x
I echo what May said and this is indeed beautiful Alison and in that lovely colour palette we both appreciate.
ReplyDeleteB x
That is one gorgeous Dear John letter.
ReplyDeleteWow Alison so powerful, lovely colour combo and as always your attention to detail is fabulous.......Love It!!
ReplyDeleteMaggieH
Absolutely stunning! It's always good to see both sides of a situation and Valentines is always thought of as full of love and happiness and you are right - it isn't true for everyone. I am partial to stories with a bit of tragedy and heartbreak, so I loved seeing this journal page. It was so perfect - I am glad it didn't end up being too 'dark' which can happen when dealing with sad subjects. I love that you have captured in this an element of hope as well as despair, and you have kept some beauty there amid cracked hearts and teardrops....whoops sorry for the long reply! I normally struggle with what to say but I guess you can see that this really spoke volumes to me ;o) I would love to be able to see this next time we pop round! Love and hugs Laura xxx
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty much all been said already here. Just been over, and this piece makes such a welcome relieve to all the other Valentine's pieces out there.... it's stunning all round!
ReplyDeleteOff to take a closer look Alison.....love what I am seeing so far. Xx
ReplyDeleteJust in case that it did not come out right...your journal page is absolutely adorable, Alison!
ReplyDeleteAnd of course the really dark thoughts weren't anything that should be shared via a journal page that is posted on a blog. No offence meant! You found the perfect level of taking an earnest approach to a theme combined with beauty in the making.
Sorry if my comment has offended you (or others).
Claudia x
Fab piece. Never doubt the work you're producing, sad or happy it will be appreciated :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely no offence, Claudia - as I've just emailed I really appreciate your deep response and you're right about the dark side not being allowed too far out!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
The story is sad (in one way), but your page is awesome...textures and stamped images, wonderful photo...I love it Alison!
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad but that is what real life is like and I do believe we should love each other all year round, not just on that day! This is just so very beautiful Alison and it really does tug at the old heart strings..... we have all been there I suspect. Anne xx
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I'm with you-who needs one day to tell those you love that you in fact love them. I rather like all the other days in between myself. :) Second, your project is fabulous Alison and can't wait to see it over at AO. I love the direction you took with it and I always love your color palettes. Hugs, Lisa
ReplyDeleteStunning journal page Alison and I am also a very un-valentines person. For me love is an everyday thing not a once a year day. I love your story and despite the sadness there is a wonderful feeling of freedom being able to break free. Just fabulous x
ReplyDeleteAs always, Alison...gorgeous work. Love your journal page...so elegant and beautifully done. <3 Candy
ReplyDeleteHi Alison, I cannot believe all the creations you made that I have missed! I had to pin some of them as they are so gorgeous!! Sorry I haven't been around, busy with my family and home.
ReplyDeleteI love this softer sadder side of Valentines Day as in real life it sometimes goes this way. You made a beautiful page for the thoughts of someone who has been in this situation. Not fun as you said, but it leads the way to better things! Thank you for visiting my blog, I just adore your work!
Hugs Kelly
This looks beautiful but now I'm off to see the complete post.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Cathy-Lynn
Just seen these beautiful pages at AS and they are stunning. Fab work as always Alison. Annette x
ReplyDeletehttp://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/
wonderful Alison - tinged with sadness but thats life! Hugs rachel x
ReplyDeleteGorgeous project and I love the sad background story to go with it. It is such a beautiful piece. Kudos to you for running with the darker side of love.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful piece. The color palette and the images you've chosen work so well to reinforce your theme.
ReplyDeleteOops! I forgot to thank you for joining us at Stampotique Designers Challenges!
ReplyDeleteBad me. :(
I've just left a comment on the AS DT blog, this is a stunning work of art Alison & I love the story.
ReplyDeleteJust popped back from the AS blog - stunning pages that reflect the despair but also the hope.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hint on the typo.
Avril xx
Aww. Can only see part of it through my tears! Let me get my hanky out! That's better.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Alison.
Hugs
xx
Fabulous story telling through your art but there is an and? I need to know if she did escape and get to use the compass, in my mind she did as I love a happy ending. Fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteLove
Amanda x
Just been looking at the whole post at A.S. blog. Its a stunning page, with a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
These are fabulous and somewhat sad pages. I love them. Thanks for joining us Stampotique this week !
ReplyDeleteCorrie x
Yes love should be an all year event! Gorgeous art again, Alison! As always your work is so inspiring and so many lovely details! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI just flew over, like I said BRILLIANT, It's wonderful when your art can move people,it's thought provoking,so much meaning, beautiful and brilliant, you spread love through your creations and it's a wonderful thing, thanks for sharing, have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteBeautiful art work Alison. You have used your talent and skills to create something very special and added so much of your inner self both through your words and pictures. That is what is so wonderful in blogland, we visit an art gallery everyday and get the artists personal response as well as the visual stimulus, I love that you engage the viewer on many different levels. Thanks for sharing it all. Xx
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful project!!! What a great background, such a nice colors!
ReplyDeleteThis page has so much love in it , I really love every detail of it!!!Great ART!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Maria
Always something to think about in your posts Alison. This has such a lot of meaning in pictures and in words.
ReplyDeleteLove Chrissie x
I love it! So many details to explore :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Stampotique DC this week
xx Arwen
gorgeous grungy layered pages Alison
ReplyDeleteThis looks so beautiful Alison and the stamping and vintage colours are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOff to look at the whole project.
Fliss xx
Love this. The title totally sold me x. Beautiful x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful journal pages!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Alison! Love the color palette! Thanks for joining along with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous, Alison! So sorry I didn't get to meet you at Stevenage!
ReplyDeleteLucy x
Hey pretty lady!! I could not possibly retype what I just did on the comments on the PaperArtsy blog. So if you don't mind hopping over there you will see what is in my heart about this make. I feel like I pop over here and pop over there so much I forget where I am.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely brilliant!
Sandy
Oh so sad...I love love! But, using a break up letter as a journal page base is BRILLIANT!!! I applaud you, and what a gorgeous page too!
ReplyDeleteSo sad but very beautiful!
ReplyDeletehugs, Unni
Stunning! So much love and life in this wonderful projekt...
ReplyDeleteLove this such serene colours
ReplyDeleteand the background with the little hearts is very special
Jools x
I think it's beautiful. Thanks for joining us again at Stampotique.
ReplyDeleteYou have so very literally put some "heart in your art," Alison, and I am touched by your beautiful honesty in this piece. I am glad that you felt comfortable in sharing the other side of love with us at Stampotique.
ReplyDeleteWow wow wow truly stunning journal page with such a beautiful heartfelt story which oozes from the page. Broken hearted at its best, if that's possible :-) Kezzy xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic and unique idea! Thanks so much for entering this great project in our February Love Letters Challenge! We sure hope you'll be back for Mixed Media March!
ReplyDeleteI love your attention to detail to set the mood of this piece! From the broken hearts to the caged bird, you've created a subtly sad background for your story. Even the distressing adds to the sorrow! This is a fresh approach to a frequently over-sappy holiday!
ReplyDelete