October 2018: Sharon's Circus Journal proved to be an interesting challenge for me. I had so many ideas many of which preceded me by others I discovered when I received the journal, so I set about creating something quite different and believe I succeeded. Sharon, I hope you like it.

This one is the outside of the A4 sheet which folds over to make a cover. I have not photographed my steps. I collected images from the net and did backgrounds using watercolour and sprays. I wanted it to be dark and moody, as this is no ordinary circus because if you go in, you may not come out.................

Here are some of the interesting characters you may find inside the tents when you enter. There are other interesting characters inside, please come in and see us.........🤡👹👻💀

Lisa J's Summer Journal - Home!

I sent my Summer journal off on its journey some 13 months ago and it returned home a few days ago.  Some of the pages were a surprise as not everyone blogged about their entries.

So here it is in its entirety!   I made the journal after checking out a few videos online, and it hasn't fallen apart which is very pleasing!  Here's the cover:

On the first page I wrote some stuff about me, and my rules/requirements for this journal.  Basically, what does summer mean to you?  

I did the first page in watercolour, from a photo my husband Scott took at dusk, down at the beach we like to frequent when we can get away for a weekend.  Which is not often enough with work and kids' sports!

The next page is a collage done by Robyn.  So bright and colourful!

Gail's page is also a collage, and I think some may be napkins?  I really love the quote, it's so true!

Next is Pam's entry - a mix of painting and collage.  The sand has little tiny beads through it and the water has heaps of texture too.  Love the bathing boxes!

I hadn't seen Nat's entry, so it was a wonderful surprise!  A gorgeous painting of a girl up close with a soldier crab.  And the crab has great features that you probably can't see well enough in a photo.

Next up is Wendy's cool surfer dude!  This page is a mix of painting and collage and I love how it turned out.

Lee's page was another that I hadn't seen.  It's a digital piece that has been printed and it's so different and quirky!

Deb's spread is all about looking out the kitchen window to the view beyond.  Wouldn't it be nice to look out at the beach and see the sun setting down over the ocean!  I love all the elements in this page.

Rose's page is so simple but so effective!  She likes to watch the tennis in summer.

Joan's page is a wonderful mix of painting and collage.  All the elements flow so well in this piece and I really like the composition.  Great waves too!

This page didn't photograph very well.  Each January, the ABC play old Countdown episodes on Rage on Saturday nights!  Unfortunately they often start around midnight, but if you can keep your eyelids open for an hour or two, it's so great to watch!  I've always loved music, especially 80s stuff.  So this page is a homage to Countdown and Molly Meldrum, and some of my favourite songs of that era.

I found this cool saying in Pinterest so decided to use it in my journal.  Who doesn't like ice cream?!  When we go down to Ocean Grove, we'll often go to Queenscliff - to wander the town, and buy a double ice cream from the wonderful Nordic ice cream shop there!  

And lastly I put some blank tags in pockets in the back page so the artists that did a page in my journal could tell me a bit about themselves.  Thank you to those that filled one out!

I went a bit overboard with putting my journal together so I still have heaps of blank pages left.  I won't post it out again; at A4 size it's a bit heavy and pricey, but I'll fill it up eventually!  I've asked my daughter Mel to contribute a page when she doesn't have so much homework (year 11...)

Thanks again to everyone that contributed to my journal; it's a real treasure and something that I can keep and look back on forever!

I know we had heaps of problems with the last two swaps, but I can't wait to participate again!

Cheers, Lisa

Joan's page in Lisa Jones's group#3 circle journal "Summer"

I am the last participant in Round #3 of the circle journal to work in Lisa's journal before it makes its way home to her.  It is a beautiful journal and I think Lisa will be very happy with all the lovely pages in it.  The theme for Lisa's journal is "Summer" and Lisa asked for participants to do a page that represented what Summer meant to them.

To me Summer is bright sunshine, water and people in colourful attire been out and about enjoying the nice weather.   I love the ocean but not necessarily the beach.  Been fair skinned, the sun and I have a healthy relationship with each other, but I do love to visit the ocean and watch the boats,birds,people swimming and all the other activities that a nice day in Summer brings. 

This page is a combination of paint, gelatoes,  tissue collage, catalogue collage, diecuts and some minimal drawing. I was quiet pleased with the composition and my minimal drawing prowess.  I think it fulfills the brief and I hope that Lisa will be happy with it.

I am lucky enough to live on the Mornington Peninsula which has beaches on both sides, Port Phillip Bay on one side and Westernport Bay on the other.   I live on the Westernport side and about 10 minute walk from the nearest beach, so very lucky. If we look out across the ocean on a clear day, we can see French Island straight across and Philip Island a little bit further on to the right, so this is not only representative of  my idea of Summer but also representative of my reality.

My Aphorisms Journal is home to me

My round 3 Aphorisms journal is home to me. 

Thank you to all you wonderful artists for helping fill my little journal....I love it !!!!

 Thank you Louise for hosting the swap. xox..

Thank you all!!

Deb's entry In Lisa Jones- Summer Journal- Round 3.

I'm late with this entry (story of my Life lol!)

For someone that loves Summer this one was hard for me as I always think Beach when I think of summer...but Lisa's journal was full of gorgeous beach scenes already.

So I actually asked my students to help me do a "summer in Perth" brainstorm on my classroom blackboard when our content was sending them to sleep:)

So..my perspective is looking through my imaginary Art Studio window, in my imaginary home where the family and I will retire (which will be on a beach somewhere in beautiful W.A....Hey! Dreams are free right??) We are looking out the window at my dream backyard with green lawn and an opening in my fence (made from corrugated cardboard, complete with bore water sprinkler stains) so that I can just walk down to the beach whenever I want. There will be a tree house, cricket,  BBQ's (with Shrimp cocktails) and cold drinks and all my family and friends are welcome to come and visit any time they like! A bit of nostalgia is the lace and crochet curtains framing my window.

the sunset and background was painted with water colours. The paper piecing and title was designed and cut on my Pazzles Inspiration machine.  the tree house was a chipboard embellishment I have had for so long that I no longer know where I got it from.  The 'tiles' on the windowsill were paper scraps, and the tap was hand cut. I have put 2 small shells my son, Jake, collected on that windowsill as decoration too. I hope this mixed piece survives future travels and that you enjoy it as much as I do Lisa.

                                                       

                                                                           Perth Summer
                                                                         By Deb Stephens