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

Lisa's Round 3 Journal Update - Summer

I found time on the weekend to make a cover for my journal.  I used cardboard, covered it in calico, and painted it in a water theme.

I'd decided I wanted some kind of closure for the book... but was too lazy to sew anything!  So I thought I would use some twine with some beading on the ends.  I added some twine to the spine of the book, so I could then attach longer strands of twine for the closure.  It was then that I discovered my knots in the spine interfered with actually attaching my journal to the cover!  In the end, it all worked out; my journal is attached to the cover only via the back page, similar to a Dylusions journal.  But it appears to be quite sturdy, unless it gets thrown around!

Now on to the twine and beading for the closure!  And then something actually in the journal!  

I best get back to it!

Happy Arting, Lisa xx

Lisa's Round 3 Journal...!

I have been watching the progress of everyone's journals for the past year since I've been in this group, with great interest!  But also some trepidation - what beautiful work; what amazing ideas; what gorgeous imagery.  I've been much more comfortable doing ATCs than journal work, but finally decided, what the hey!  Or as the kids say, YOLO!  You never learn if you don't try.

So I decided I'd like to make a journal, rather than purchase one.  I have a Dylusions A4 journal which I just love, so decided to make mine A4 too.  

I had watched a few YouTube videos and thought I remembered what to do.  Last night I was home alone (bliss!) as the hubby and kids were down the beach (I had to come back for work, sadly!).  Surely it would only take me a short time...!  

Anyway, I discovered I needed a refresher because it just wasn't working for me.  A bowl of icecream, a glass of wine, and a few videos later, I worked it out!  

I've used 5 signatures of 3 pages each, with good quality watercolour paper.  Probably too many pages, but I'm thinking that I'll use the first and last pages as inside covers.  I have cardboard for the cover, and am considering covering it with some heavy calico I have, which I can then paint.  The problem with A4 size is I don't have paper large enough to use for the cover!

Back down the beach tonight for New Year's Eve, so might get a chance to make the cover on the weekend.  

My theme is Summer - it's my favourite season.  I'd much rather be hot than cold (though 39 is a bit much today!); I love the beach, and swimming in the ocean; I love the long days and warm nights; Christmas holidays, and getting together with family and friends.  

I'd love to see what Summer means to you, and am excited about my journal making the rounds, and getting to contribute to everyone else's journal!

Happy New Year to everyone! xx