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...

Monday 27 May 2019

Sky Dreaming

Hello all!  I know I've been very quiet here on the blog and vanishingly absent around Craftyblogland, but I'm finishing out the month with a bit of a surge by comparison.  I've just done some Creative Card Making for A Vintage Journey, and there are at least two more posts to be squeezed into May after this one.  And then I suddenly remembered my resolution to join in at Art Journal Journey at least once a month this year...


The lovely Erika a.k.a. BioArtGal is the host there for May and her theme is In the Sky/In the Air.  Coincidentally my page Having Fun Flying for last month's Having Fun theme would have fitted in perfectly for this, if I'd only known!  But I'm back with a summer sky for dreaming in.







It's a very simple page, so for once it's a pretty short blogpost, you'll be happy to hear!  It's done in the journal with some sort of sizing on the pages which makes the inks do really cool things.

In fact, it's not really an art journal at all.  It was an old notebook left over from Cestina's work days, which I helped myself to.  You can check out other spreads making use of the special ink+paper effects in this book here.











For this one, I did my usual wrinkle free distressing, using Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks, and then added some Stormy Sky Distress Oxide smooshes over the top of that.













The wildflower and grass stamps are both by Tim Holtz, one stamped mainly in Olive Green Archival...

















... the other stamped mainly in Leaf Green Archival.
















I used a dip pen and some Prussian Blue drawing ink to add the wording.

















If you look closely, you'll see I tried it in white pen first.  It didn't show up well enough, but I rather like it as a ghostly shadow of the phrases.















The words needed an echo somehow, so as well as doing some ink splatters with the same Prussian Blue ink, I then added some hand-sketched meadow flowers of my own.














The dip pen gives them a lovely quirky line, thicker and thinner according to the ink flow.

And I added some white acrylic flower heads by dipping a wooden skewer in some white paint and dotting it around.













The flock of birds flying away are stamped in Watering Can Archival, and now I'm free to let my dreams float away into the summer sky.







Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'll be back very soon with another new offering for you.  It's going to be a busy end-of-month!

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
John Lubbock

I'd like to join in at Art Journal Journey where the theme this month is In the Sky/In the Air

22 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

This is gorgeous, Alison. I love the "ghost" writing, the birds, and of course the the dip pen meadow flowers you drew by hand. I like those even better than the stamped ones. This is awe inspiring gorgeous, dear and it's the perfect addition to Erika's theme at Art Journal Journey.

Helen said...

What a gorgeous page!

Sue said...

Ooh I really like this Alison, the Prussian Blue ink is perfect hereon your delicate pages. Have a very happy week - hopefully not too much work x

Astrid Maclean said...

A gorgeous spread, the background and stamping are lovely and I really like your dip pen writing and hand drawn flowers! Here in Scotland we can only keep dreaming of blue summer skies, nothing but grey and it's so cold....

Patty O'Malley said...

Lovely pages, Alison!

craftytrog said...

Such a lovely spread Alison, love the quote! We're off to Chamonix, so I'll be a bit quiet for a few weeks. Hope you get more crafty time now.
Alison xx

My name is Erika. said...

Oh I think page is perfect for AJJ and looks a lot like my sky today. I love the various spots of blue and how together they make a wonderful sky. And I also love all the grasses and plants growing in the spring sunshine. Thanks for remembering to join in as your art is always appreciated. Happy new week. Hugs-Erika

Craftyfield said...

Lovely page, wild grasses are a favourite of mine and I love these colours!

Dorthe said...

It is so graceful, stunning with the Prussian Blue ink flowers of yours, the dip pen words, and with the flying birds in the blue sky , it could not resemble the one I`m looking out on just now, more ..
So lovely Alison - xoxo

Amanda said...

Beautiful pages, might be more simple but equally fabulous. Love the handwritten words
Love
Amanda x

froebelsternchen said...

This is so artistic and unique - I always love your wrinkle free distressing and in combination with all the personal touches here you created a rare beauty in my mind! I am thrilled to see this wonderful spread linked to Erika's topic at Art Journal Journey dear Alison! Thank you for joining in with your always amazing art! Happy week my friend!
Big hugs, Susi

Valerie-Jael said...

Your sky page is really beautiful. Love the colours and delicate plants and the shadowy birds - all very dream. Hugs, Valerie

Marci said...

I love these stamps you used, they create such a delicate look. So pretty.

suzyb said...

I LOVE YOUR WORK!!!!! Yes I am yelling, nicely tho'. lol I do love that bird stamp, I have that one. I love your colour palette. ;)
Enjoy your week.

Brenda Brown said...

Love your signature blue and green summer skies pages and the fabulous quote you added. Beautiful xxx

Neet said...

You've certainly captured the essence of a summer sky. I can almost feel the sun on my face as I lie back in the meadow with the pretty flowers surrounding me and the birds flying overhead.
A beautiful page Alison, a gorgeous background and wonderful imagery.
Hugs, Neet xx

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous journal spread, I would love to stand in a scene like you created and just breathe the air.
Yvonne xx

Julia Aston said...

wonderful stem stampings and lovely sentiment on your beautiful pages Alison!

Cocofolies said...

Beautiful page. I love its lightness... also your handwritten words, and the idea to wrote them first in white. All these shades and the whole atmosphere are wonderful.
I hope you are feeling well now Alison, with sun around you like me in Brittany today! :)
Hugs xx

Redanne said...

A beautiful spread Alison, those ghostly words are a stunning addition, as are your hand drawn stems. The background colours and stamping are so restful to the eye and the birds add an extra layer of calm.... just glorious!

Sincere apologies, trying hard to catch up but always enjoy lingering here. Anne xx

Mac Mable said...

Such a peaceful note book creation. I have felt so peaceful looking at it these past few days and reluctant to add a comment to spoilt the moment x. Now that is a comment I have never left on any blog before x.
Love the soft colours and the addition of the dip pen and the white acrylic flower heads but hey I love it all! x Let your dreams sore x

pearshapedcrafting said...

This really is such a beautiful spread! I love the words you have used and the way the white and blue entwine! Your addition of the dip pen flowers is perfect and those birds flying up into the sky make this the most calming of scenes! Just what I need at the moment - while I have been poorly nothing has been done and certain things must be done before we shut the flat up for a while...and never mind the packing!!! Hugs, Chrisx