Hi all!
In my last post I was showing how simple it is to build a journal page by working piece by piece and filling it up.
I meant to take more progress pics but got carried away and next thing my page was complete!

I missed writing on Wed & Thur so they were written in on Friday. Friday was done in two parts - some in the afternoon and some at the end of the evening. So as you can see if you don't let too many days pass it is easy to keep up to date.

The page:

• Photo added that I had allowed space for with very thin cardstock mat
• A note I wrote myself and attached so I could lift it up and read both sides.
• Photos of my workdesk.
• A quote I cut out of a scrapbook catalog
  
• Business card from restaurant
  
• Photo of daughter
• Journaling! with colour changes each time I write.

Today's Tip:

For a cohesive (settled feeling) to your page try to limit and be thoughtful with your colour selections. My background wash always jump starts the way the page colours are going to go. From there I often will choose a image I have on hand such as a picture I like from a magazine, or a rub-on that works with those background colours. I like to then use that image as a colour swatch for the rest of the page.

The fun thing about this technique is it often gets you out of your comfort zone of favourite colour combinations and because its a image you like it is not so drastically removed from your preferences.

In short, a pleasing picture that you like often has a great colour scheme. Stick to that scheme and your golden!

~Kathleen

Labels: Journal Tips, Journal-Ideas, Journal-Pages

Hi all!
I thought I would post a few progress photos of how my journal pages come together. When I show my journals, sometimes people get a bit overawed by the busy-ness of them all which is then followed by a kind exclamation "I couldnt do that". Let me assure you, if you want to keep art journals like this - you CAN!

Three simple tricks.

1. Start at the top
2. Include stuff that interests you
3. Fill in the gaps

Easy peasy!

That third trick is a funny one as I have no aversion to empty space. My artwork and scrapbook pages show that. But in my journal art, my preference is: More is More! A full to bursting page is interesting, compelling and it takes less emphasis off the writing (this will come up in future posts) My journals tend to be pretty public (ya think?..lol) and if viewers are distracted by sketches, photos, memrobilia they are less likely to witness the inner workings of my brain! Plus I love how exciting an overflowing page looks.

Journal page progress
So... If you look at a previous post Monday's entry looked like this:

The date coloured and glued in, a paragraph and a rub-on.

Yesterday's (Tuesday) : The date, a recipe (recommended!!!) cut out including its picture from a magazine/website, snippets from an article I was reading cut out and glued in, a stamped image of a bird over the text, number stickers added to the recipe to create interest.

Today: The date coloured and glued in (I like keeping to the same format at the moment, though that may change). And since its only 5pm that's as far as I've got!

TIP:
I have a photo I may want to add once its developed. I know the sizes I like to print so to work my writing around I keep cards or old photos handy to work as placeholders as I write.


In this photo the red card is just sitting there so I know how much space to leave. Sometimes I make decorative placeholders and attach them with ribbon to the spine of my journal so I always have a placeholder card on hand. Plus they look cool if its a funky image or photo.

Ok that's my page in progress so far. Its now 5.06pm I have stuff from my day to write and a class to teach! Catch you later :)

~Kathleen

Labels: Instruction, Journal-Ideas, Journal-Notes, Journal-Pages

Perhaps you can relate... do you see the art in your mid-creation workspace?

Mid-art project all the bits and bobs, tools and ideas accumulate and form a colour co-ordinated little piece of work desk happiness. The above photo of my desk (exactly as it as I write) may to most people seem like a bit of a shambles but I see creative possibilities, problem solving and ephemera from my day (just waiting to be added into my journal!).


Photos just like these sometimes find their way in my journals. They remind me of the joy in creating rather than just the achievement of result. Plus, as with my other activities they show how I have spent my time.


One of my favourite things to do is let these items to a bit of double duty at the completion of a project by creating a greeting card or an Artist Trading Card from the little bits left over. The colours and elements almost always work together beautifully, all the tools are out already anyway and nothing is wasted.

Labels: Art, Journal-Ideas, Studio-peek

Life happens faster than my artwork! Journal pages for Sunday 8th March...

As previously mentioned, I'm winding my way through Metro Magazine's Top 50 Cafes. Man, cafes WANT to get on that list, such great exposure... I wonder how many other nutty people like me plan to visit them all??

Takapuna Beach Cafe was the supreme winner so I figured I might as well start there. Wow! Is this a cafe or a restaurant with a cafe label? Coffee was great (a given for any cafe on that list) but the food - oh my. I had granola 'bix' which hardly describes what was served... I'm talking Brazil nuts, honey, poached stone fruit and big wide coconut peels. Heaps of staff and quick service, I'm glad I went early - the place was packed!

After that, I needed a good walk. Takapuna Market is on every Sunday Morning so I wandered up. I'm not sure there are many places you can buy antique glassware, Ben10 watches and a jar of tadpoles all at once.


These kind of locations are great for image collecting for future artwork and inspiration. The range of items, colour, combinations and groupings is huge.


Use your viewfinder to crop away unnecessary backgrounds. Get close and ask yourself what is it that I wish to capture with this photograph. Make sure that element or idea is the main focus without any distracting items that dilute its emphasis.
Example: Light reflecting off a table of apples. Cropped to include only the apples, photographed low to get the light hitting the surface.

Repeated shapes, items of similar types make striking imagery. Look for colour combinations and textures that catch your eye.
Example: Buckets of waterlilies. The colours of these were clear and sharp, also the spiky shaped petals seemed almost plastic like. I haven't seen waterlilies grouped like this before - a must photo!
If you wish to photograph someones stand, or items on someones stand its just courtesy to ask first.

This journal spread:
Left page - Prewashed background, magazine cutting photograph which folds out, business card, turquoise pearl embellishments.
Right page - Sewing machine stitched photos including a fold out flap of photos stitched onto copper fabric mesh and a tassel to complete.

My favourite buy of the day was a red tipped sunflower...hmm and the piece of fresh raspberry fudge! What's your fav market buy?

Labels: Great-Places-Auckland-Region, Journal-Ideas, Journal-Pages, Restaurant-Review

Got a drawer full of yummy ribbons? Yeah thought so, I knew it wasn't just me!

My fav thing (among many) is making Book Belts. So simple to make, holds my bursting journal closed in my bag and is like my journals changeable fashion accessory. Here's how to use your ribbon stash to make your own Book Belt.

You will need: Your journal or notebook to gauge size, ribbon (I like twill and grosgrain ribbons the best), two metal rings with the diameter about the same or a bit larger than the width of the ribbon, two snaps and matches or a lighter.

1. Start by wrapping your ribbon around your journal to determine the length you need. If your journal is going to bulge or expand as you work in it then allow a little extra length.


2. Using a match or lighter touch the end of the ribbon towards the flame to melt the ribbon and stop it from fraying. Note: This only works with synthetic ribbons. Cottons require stitching to stop them fraying. Obviously use caution with this step :)


3. Take one end of the ribbon and thread it through the two rings and fold over about an inch. Using eyelet setting tools, set the two snaps through from the front of the ribbon to create a ribbon loop around the rings. If you don't have snaps you can hand or machine stitch the ribbon closed. Your book belt is now complete!


4. To use your book belt, wrap it around your journal and thread the loose end through both the ribbon rings.


5. Then split the rings apart and thread the ribbon between the rings and pull firmly


Now your journal is all fancy like and snug!

Stay tuned for how you can personalise your book belts even further.

If you make your own book belt I would love to see, post a link in the comments section so I can stop by.

Byes for now
~Kathleen

By the way, this was one of the six projects we made in my Journals Workshop at NZ Scrapbook last night. If you are in Auckland, keep an eye on our class calendar for upcoming Journal Workshops, I do new techniques and ideas each month. I have just added another date for my Intro to Journals Class 31st March 2009, and my Journals Workshop Class for those who have already started a journal on the Wednesday 15th April 2009. Bookings and inquiries can be made by phoning 09 912 0665

Labels: Classes-and-Workshops, Instruction, Journal-Ideas