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...

Friday 29 March 2019

Good things are beginning

Hello all!  It's been a little quiet round here, I know (only on the blog - real life is anything but quiet!), but I couldn't miss a Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey.  It's that extra Friday in the month where the Creative Guides get to play just for fun... as long as it's on a tag (or two).


I'll be packing and flying (Friday and overnight), and then hopefully unpacking (Saturday) by the time many of you read this, and once I'm home I hope to get back in the swing of things again here at Words and Pictures, at least for a while.  For now though, I'll quickly share some details of this pair of tags and then get back to the packing.






I don't really remember very much about what went on in the backgrounds.  I know there's some Distress Ink-ing and some inky stencilling with a brick pattern by the look of things.















The leafy stems are embossed in (probably) Wow Vanilla White.
















And I've used one of my quote stamps to create some text detail hovering in the distance.













The Paper Dolls are always a delight to play with - they tell me stories as I go.  I love the contrasting attitudes of these two...














The boy is all open smiles, ready for anything that life wants to throw at him.













The girl knows that, as a female, she may have to fight that little bit harder to get her share of the good things - but just look at that determined expression.














I layered up gessoed book page scraps, messy cotton thread, and some Idea-ology ephemera behind them...















... this large label being cut in two so that each child could have half of it.  Fair's fair...














Some dark washi tape provides firm ground for them to stand on.













And you'll see that eventually I layered the tags onto some white card to give them a contrasting frame.














The stitched borders are stamped rather than real - still waiting for space/time to work with the tiny sewing machine I have stashed away - but I think they look pretty cool.














The Idea-ology word stickers seemed appropriate when I was just at the start of this latest production process here in New York... all about things beginning and adventures in store.












Now that I'm about to get on a plane home, they can refer instead to the upcoming set of adventures of shifting that home across a continent!













The ribbons at the top were cut out of the neckline of a cardigan - who hangs cardigans on a hanger anyway?  Waste not, want not... here they are topping off the tags.

These tags look a little un-me to me... it's all that black, not a colour I work with much, preferring my vintage browns.  But maybe the slightly grungier look is fun for a change.








Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you'll hop over to A Vintage Journey and see the fun and games my fellow Creative Guides have been having for Tag Friday, and you're very welcome to share any tags you've been making this month in our Linky collection.  See you there!

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
Helen Keller

34 comments:

Julia Aston said...

Beautiful green/tan backgrounds on your sweet his and her tags Alison! love the texture added with your embossed stems, looped thread and papers! xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Safe travel's Alison but as you say you may have already landed by the time you see this.. Love how you've used those paper dolls upon your beautiful layered tags they really are a facial contrast and i'm thinking maybe the girl really wishes she could be the one to play that bugle hee hee!! Fabulous Tags.
Happy Friday Hugs Tracey x

Helen said...

Hope you are home now (all that dreaded unpacking!) I love how you use the art dolls, I really must play with them more... your tags are fabulous.

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful tags, hope you are now safely home by now. Hugs, Valerie

Brenda Brown said...

Such delightful tags with gorgeous details Alison I love the stitching around them, I thought it was real and wondered how you had managed that in New York!! But everything fits together perfectly as always and yes fair’s fair with the sharing.
Hope you’re safely back and not too jet lagged. Have a great weekend back in your own home xxx

Lenie said...

These tags are wonderful and I like the colours very much. New colours and the way you use the paperdolls always gives me a lot of inspiration! Thank you! I wish you a very good weekend in your own home. Lenie x

Neet said...

You always create the most interesting backgrounds and these are certainly interesting. Love the colours you have chosen and all the elements that you used to make up such a stunning pair of tags. It is all the little extras that you do that makes your work stand out against the crowd. Things like the text that you have hovering in the distance, the stitching, the loose cotton threads - all of those little elements that surprise the viewer and make for a very interesting and pleasing piece of artwork.
Thanks Alison.
Hugs, Neet xx
stay safe in your travels

My name is Erika. said...

Nice Alison. These are really pretty tags! Your TH found relatives looks like they are made of newsprint and part of that paper scrap background. It looks great. Happy weekend and happy spring. Hugs-Erika

Mrs.B said...

I love these two paper dolls pared together, carefree and serious.
Great backgrounds which are still very 'you' even though you've used black.
Hope you're home safe and can have a relaxing weekend.
Avril xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Bravo to you for continuing to play even while away from all your larger stash. These are adorable and artsy. I wish you safe travels and hope all went well in NYC.

S@ndy Diller said...

Love both of your tags. Great gentle colors and the texture is perfect. Safe travels. Hugs, S@ndy.

Roosterhead Designs said...

Ooo Alison, love, love, love, this set of tags! So rich in layery details and texture. (thanks for the 'up close' photo's which tell us so much.)
You are in some ways similar to an architect, or builder : ) adding
and improving until it's just right~ Love the white contrast and how you ground them with the washi. Awesome! Hope you are home and settling in. Hugs, karen o

Redanne said...

Wishing you a safe journey home Alison.

You have created such a beautiful set of tags, the backgrounds are wonderful and the paper dolls are such perfect choices. I love the faux stitching too! Anne xx

Dorthe said...

I hope you had a safe journey Alison, and am happy home .
I love your tags, with the white sprigs , on top the muted green and tan . so beautiful, a background for the two kids . I find it great with the black details , and the stitching - you could have fooled me :-)
xoxo

Marci said...

Lovely tags. The green is very appropriate for Spring. I hope your flight went well and you are relaxing at home by now.

Craftyfield said...

Despite the black details, your style is still recognisable! I love the delicate hues of the background as well as the scene set for the dolls to exist in. Great work as usual, Alison!

Meggymay said...

Two beautiful tags, super colours and sentiments for them both.
hope you have a safe journey home.
Yvonne xx

Amanda said...

Hope you had a good flight home. A great couple of tags,fabulous backgrounds as always, she looks as though even though she might have to fight in life my money is on her to win!
Love
Ananda x

froebelsternchen said...

Wow - these tags are amazing! Just your unique and so beautiful style Alison! Hope you had a good flight and enjoy already being at at home again! Big hugs, Susi

Let's Art Journal said...

Such a fabulous duo of tags! The backgrounds with the white embossing look magical, they showcase the paper dolls and words beautifully 😁. Wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x

Jennie Atkinson said...

As usual Alison, a fabulous duo of tags. The backgrounds are really stunning and I would never have know the stitching was a stamp ! They are just the perfect support for your lovely collages of the paper dolls and words. Fabulous !! Happy homecoming x

Diana Taylor said...

These are so beautiful Alison, I love the foliage in the background and the images are delightful. I thought the stitching was real - it's a fab stamp, so very realistic. Hope you had a good journey.
Diana x

Cocofolies said...

I hope you have made a safe travel and are happy to be back home Alison! You will certainly appreciate some more quiet time... :)
Love how you've used those paper dolls upon your two gorgeous layered tags, there are so many lovely details as usual! And I love also the fake stiching, so realistic!
Hugs, Coco xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Fantastic tags, Alison!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I suspect that I'm so late visiting, you are now home and more than likely unpacked. I was quite impressed with your tags. I like how you cut the circle you used in the background so it could be used on both tags. I was SO surprised that was faux sewing, too. It really impressed me. I actually like these green spring inspired colors and had to laugh at your recycling efforts with the cardigan ribbons. My feelings of not wasting anything, either.

Welcome home. NYC will miss you, dear.

Nikki Acton said...

Stunning as always! Wonderful backdrop to your characters - and love how you have positioned them on book paper. Fabulous details with the embossing, stitched edges etc.... welcome home :) xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

Hope you have arrived safe and sound by now....
A wonderful pair to add to your collection, great use of those paper dolls, they sit in their wonderful surroundings just perfectly!

Lys said...

Another two lovely tags! Not so much black, just enough to enhance the details perfectly. Both of the children are a strong effect, beautiful!

sarascloset said...

Delightful tags, Alison, and the black looks great! I love your backgrounds; as always, there's so much depth and detail. This pair of kids reminds me of my twins when they were that age, my boy always happy, my daughter with that look of having to keep pace with her brother. Love the sharing of the ephemera; it would be what I would do as a Mom. Great news you are back home, at least for a while. I am hoping you are kicking back relaxing today recovered from any ill effects of the trip. Hugs!

suzyb said...

Another couple of masterpieces. I just love your style. Your colour choices are so me. I have saved this page and plan on going back to it for inspiration to make my own. :) Thanks Alison.

R's Rue said...

Beautiful.

Margaret Mifsud said...

I'm sure you are home safe and sound by now Alison and I hope the trip was uneventful. Two gorgeous tags you have created here. The backgrounds are, simply, awesome! Gorgeous colours and I love the embossed stems .. a wonderful contrast! Great mix of ephemera and the paper dolls are always a lovely addition. Truly beautiful makes! hugs xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

There's still enough of your favourite techniques to recognise this as yours Alison! I love the darker colours along with the greens! Hoping by now you're fully unpacked! Hugs,Chrisx

A Pink said...

A wonderful pair of tags , Alison . Lovely colour tones, detail and balance.
Sorry for the late commenting - life jst gets int he way sometimes .

Hugs x