Wordless Wednesday

My Poor Thumb

I have been making books for sale for over two years (for myself, much longer) and this is my first major injury. Up until now I have prided myself on being so careful.

Mr. Bump by Roger Hargreaves 

One of my favorite stories from childhood, most likely because I can relate to him!

I work with a lot of sharp tools--rotary cutter, utility knife, guillotine style paper trimmer, needles and awls--and aside from the time I stabbed myself in the hand with the awl, I have been limited to paper cuts. Until now.

I was cutting some book board (for no one in particular, just stocking up, lest any of my customers feel guilty!) and one piece in particular was giving me trouble. I tried cutting from a different angle and WHOOPS, got my thumb. Thank God for fingernails or I would have cut the entire tip off!

It feels a bit tingly and is getting in my way something terrible. I can't tie ribbons, I'm having trouble punching holes in my text blocks, and sewing books is quite a challenge. Every night I'm so fed up with the bandages I unwrap it just to get some relief (and air to the wound). And wouldn't you know my shop has been busier since the injury than it's ever been! I like to be busy but prefer the full use of my digits!

Art Journaling

Several posts ago (wow, has it been that long?!), I was talking about exploring the world of art journaling and promised some photos of my progress. Alas, I either keep forgetting to photograph my work or am too chicken to post it. I think it's some combination of the two!

One of my blogger friends has been posting about her dive headfirst into the world of art journaling and has now shown me for the coward that I am by showing pictures of her work. So...here goes. Forgive the smudged out text, but I'm not THAT brave! :D

I used complementary colors in blue and orange for this spread. One of my biggest revelations (and challenges) was to NOT think too much about the layout. I tend to analyze things to death, so it was really stretching me to just grab pictures and paste them onto the page without thinking.

This one worked so well...the little short guy and the clothing tag. Such irony!

I wrote in different colors of ink to emphasize certain words and to give the page some visual interest since there was so much text. I used Paint Pens by Sharpie for this page and I really like them. The extra fine point worked great for journaling.

I'm still in the process of discovering my own unique style so it's quite possible successive art journal posts will look different than these. I was influenced mainly by Teesha Moore's magazine collage style, though she takes her work to a level far beyond where I am at this point! After I get all my pages completed I will bind them together into a book. I'll show you when I'm finished (no promises as to when that will occur!).

An Experiment With Posies

If you've been reading my blog for a few weeks now, you might remember a post I did about a month ago on these crocheted posies. I sold out of my first batch and have since added some more in my shop.

I want to show you what I did with the main posy in the above picture...

Ta-dah! What do you think?

I'll be offering this mini book for purchase in my shop. I just love working with these little petite books! They're so much fun.

I was thinking about why I enjoy creating the little books so much better than the large books. The only thing I can figure is that with the large books I feel like I have to be more formal--now who made up that rule, I'd like to know? :). However, with these little books, my goal is to use the scrap papers I have laying around and play with fun embellishments like the posies, so I feel less restricted and able to experiment. Maybe I'll get brave enough to try something fun on a larger book!

Imagining Spring Is Here

Heavy With Dew by OliviaGirdPhoto

Along with most of the rest of the US, I am so tired of this cold weather! It has been a very rough winter, especially for those of us who aren't used to such cold temperatures. As I write this, I've got a cherry pit heating pad on my back (because I ate ice cream for dessert and now have the shivers).

So, I'm going to pretend spring is here since that is the latest topic for the Etsy Bloggers' Blog Carnival. Melissa of MadeByMelissa is hosting this round and asks what items are in my shop to celebrate spring. I have all sorts of spring guest book designs, since spring is the start of the wedding season.

I thought I'd go with a yellow theme, to coordinate with the daffodil picture. Here is my Mums In Canary Guest Book.

I have one more yellow book in my shop but it's more of a summer theme...but here is one still in the works from my Petite Series--to be listed soon!

Ahhh...I feel warmer already! I hope these bright, cheery yellows warmed you up also!

The Featured Etsy Blogger for March is...

DizzyDragonflies! DD makes hand dyed yarn and knitted items. Such luscious colors in that lovely yarn basket! Visit her shop to see all her goodies! She also has a blog too.