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...

Thursday 2 June 2016

Beautiful Moments

Hello all!  I'm still in recovery from travels and in preparation for more, so it's pretty quiet at the craft desk.  (Catch up with Beijing - The Forbidden City III and Beijing - The Artists' Quarter if you'd like to keep up with the travels... not that that's really keeping up - Beijing was in February - but I'm doing my best!)

However, I am thrilled to be over at Frilly and Funkie as a guest today, thanks to my Trash to Industrial Treasure project.  It's an honour to be chosen by the fabulous F&F team, and I was delighted to accept the invitation to guest design with them.  The new Let The Words Do The Talking theme couldn't have suited me better and, given my limited time at the craft desk, I gave myself permission simply to enjoy myself.  Here's the resulting page spread...


I suppose it's a sort of spring/summer version of A Beautiful Adventure, possibly my favourite journalling pages from last year.







I chose one of my all-time favourite Tim Holtz word stamps - and it's a thought I really try to live by.














I'm most successful at being in the moment when I'm being creative - whether that's at work with Shakespeare's words, or at the craft table, or when singing.  And those times definitely yield beautiful moments which stay in the memory.













There are also uplifting moments of presence when I let myself engage with nature, whether on the large scale - mountains, landscapes, forests - or on the small scale - the joy of a tiny new leaf starting on my Ficus, or a butterfly alighting on my arm.







Or there is delight in silence, especially that silence just before a favourite piece of music begins, and of course there are moments of heart-soaring joy in listening to the music itself.

The more of those beautiful moments I manage to build in to my life, the happier I am all round.











So the Distress Ink background here made me really happy.







The torn script interspersed with soft textural wisps of cheesecloth made me happy.













The layering of the grasses and wildflowers made me happy...















... stamping with abandon to create a lush summer meadow.


















My first chance to play with the Wildflower die-cuts made me happy.















And I found unexpected pleasure in getting a little bit sparkly for once...















... with micro beads, seed beads, sequins and mica.















I really enjoy how they interact with the paper scraps and cheesecloth and, above all, how they catch the light!















At the heart of it all are the words, of course.















And though they may not seem to be very visible, white-embossed amidst all that sparkle and colour...







... I hope the thought behind them is present in the whole page.  It feels like a beautiful moment to me.  I hope you like it too, and that it will help to inspire you to Let The Words Do The Talking.


Thanks so much to the amazing team over at Frilly and Funkie for picking my project and for having me as a guest again.  It's always a delight and an honour - another memorable moment!  And thanks to all of you for your visits and comments - more delight and honour to have your company for the journey.  Happy Crafting all!

All that is important is this one moment in movement.  Make the moment important, vital and worth living.  Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused.
Martha Graham

48 comments:

carol edwards said...

This is so beautiful x

Helen said...

this made me go "ohhh" as I saw it - a stunningly beautiful page... trademark Alison colours, and so simple but effective. I LOVE it!

Anke said...

WOW traumhaft schön, liebe Alison. Ein wundervolles Werk !!!

Liebe Grüße
von Anke

craftytrog said...

Absolutely stunning, and reminding me of the beautiful country walks we did on holiday! Missing those so much!
Enjoy your rest between trips Alison xxx

chrissie said...

A very beautiful spread Alison with great colour choices and a wonderful quote.

Love Chrissie xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh those little moments of happiness, they make it all worth it!! A beautiful spread and a wonderful companion piece to the earlier Autumnal version. The little bits of sparkle along the centre give the whole piece real depth, I would just love to walk right into that beautiful summer meadow and enjoy the moment!

Cestina said...

Oh just lovely....xx

Guida Machado said...

So beautiful!!!
Hugs,
Guida

Suzanne C said...

Beautiful pages! Lovely texture and layers with the colors and dies.

Pamellia said...

What an incredible page Alison! So many layers of foliage, you really created a lush field! I so love the quote you used! It's been an honour to have you as our Guest Designer at Frilly and Funkie! hugs :)

Dawn C. said...

This is a lovely spread. I like the text paper with the cheesecloth and the nature colors that are very soothing. I feel relaxed just looking at this!

Lys said...

Just lovely, and so many happy moments in there! Still your favourite colours but inventive again... Relaxing too!

Marci said...

I would say it is like an early summer's day, refreshing and not too hot, yet. ( At least, not like a Midwestern blazing hot summer's day). And you have made it memorable, too, full of beauty.

Sandy said...

I must plead guilty - I am not fond of the industrial/funky/metal look like the grungy look or whatever it is called. This is right up my alley. Beautiful in every way form the soft blues to the pretty greens and the sparkles add so much. Your spread soothes my soul and makes my heart go ahhhhh. I don't have any other words to explain how I feel. Beautiful Sugar - absolutely beautiful!!
sandy xx

Dorthe said...

It is stunning dear Alison,
Stunning in the beautiful way , of daily hours of happiness in the amazing nature .You captured so wonderfully, both meadow, "sea" and sky, when I look at your gorgeous spread, and the words tells the happiness you feel being there and creating from your feelings ,after! So alive and smiling !!
Hugs
Dorthe

Maureen Chandler said...

This is absolutely delightful - thanks so much!

Amanda said...

A beautiful spread over the journal pages and your touch of sparkle so beautiful. Enjoy your time back home
Love
Amanda x

Jennie Atkinson said...

So many happy moments for you! and us too !!!! Such a fabulous journal spread - the background is just gorgeous and I love all those fabulous elements which drift across the pages. Just gorgeous! Enjoy your time home before the next travels. Jennie x

Lauren Hatwell said...

Absolutely beautiful. Lx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely background and words and the meadow flowers are perfect for,the backdrop. This really draws you in and I love he wording, congratulations on your guest slot . Tracy x X

pearshapedcrafting said...

This really is a beautiful moment! The colours alone are gorgeous but the way you have taken us right out
of into the countryside is perfect for the weather we are having (that may just be in the NW!) Hugs, Chrisx

pearshapedcrafting said...

That's 'out of town. .' Cx

sarascloset said...

Alison, your pages just bring a sense of calm over me! Love the bits of bling and mica to add a little bit of sunshine to your beautiful meadow! Congratulations on your guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie--you've done them proud! Hugs!

Willy said...

Wowww this is beautiful, I think your work is so inspiring, thanks for sharing!!

Mrs.B said...

Beautiful pages Alison, just like a serene meadow with a stream running by.
Congratulations on the GD spot.
Avril xx

rachel said...

super beautiful alison - I love the scene - the beads and sequins are a genius addition - wonderful! big hugs rachel x

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Absolutely stunning Alison, transports you instantly to a summer meadow
hugs
Donna xx

Deb said...

Stunning journal page Alison, so evocative of a beautiful summer meadow with that wonderful colour palette and soft textures and images! Love the addition of the cheesecloth and the sparkly bits and those words fit your pastoral scene perfectly. Thank you for sharing it and congratulations on your guest DT post at Frilly and Funkie! Deb xo

Brenda Brown said...

Glorious layers, inclusions and words combining to create magnificent pages and post. Congrats on your guest spot and for sharing your very uplifting pages xxx

froebelsternchen said...

That SPREAD makes my soul smile---- what a fantastic happy make... the soft layers are so beautiful!
GORGEOUS Alison!

SewPaperPaint said...

Now that's what I call stamping with abandon! Beautiful layers and love the torn paper "mountains", what a great touch! <3

Paper Profusion said...

Gorgeously fresh and uplifting Alison. Congratulations on your guest spot. Nicola x

Diana Taylor said...

Wow, as soon as I saw the first image I thought of the book I'm reading with my Book club - The Girl from Krakow. It's set in Poland in WW2. You have captured a feeling and an era perfectly - it's an extremely moving piece, the family picture in the middle being so poignant and drawing us to ask so many questions. I was really touched by this beautiful and soulful work.

Craftyfield said...

Beautiful page Alison, very delicate ! Love the added bling and actually the spread made me think of an underwater scene...

Inkypinkycraft said...

such a beautiful project xx just gorgeous x

Julia said...

I certainly had a beautiful moment seeing this amazing piece of art. It is so dreamy and there is so much depth to it. I love seeing your work, it makes me happy. Thank you Alison x

Cocofolies said...

We can feel your joy creating this spread Alison... I love it !!!
These simple pages are just so beautiful.
I've tried to find this set of stamps in France (or passing by amazon), but it seems to be out of stock at the moment, sadly.
However on my wishlist now, thanks to you! :D The whole set is so beautiful I agree!
Fantastic, great to finish my day with you tonight. Hugs xxx

experiments in paper said...

Oh, Alison - I so admire your ability to capture nature in your stamping & colors! I can almost see the fireflies as I walk through your meadow in the evening....wonderful pages, as were the earlier ones you reference in winter! xxx Lynn

Nan G said...

I want to come sit in your meadow, butterfly! Such a beautiful place you have created for us to ponder the words and enjoy the moment! Hugs

Nikki Acton said...

I didnt think it was possible to get so much depth onto a 2D surface with just 2 colours! Alison this an absolute gem! xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Fan-tas-tic ! Love it !
Corrie x

Hazel Agnew said...

I was half expecting you to break into, raindrops on roses during this piece Alison. I also get great pleasure and release from singing. Loving the joyful abandon and the white embossing is such a wonderful contrast. Excited again! Xx

Sue said...

Perfect, just like a Summers day! xx

sally said...

Such a peaceful page, it soothes my saddened soul ( dad passed away 29/5) I really love the strip of sequins/beads through the middle.

Sally x

Julie Lee said...

What a beautiful and evocative spread! I love the textures and the colours and also it helps me to keep in mind the importance of those moments when the heart soars! xx

Ruth said...

The touch of sparkle is gorgeous. Fabulous step outs, the layering of textures and the distress background all build up to beautiful journal pages. FABULOUS!! Ruth xx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Love the wild summer meadow scene. Sparklies! That's so cool. Yep, this is perfect.

Jackie PN said...

Such a gorgeous spread Alison!! Speaks of summer to me! xo