More Color Experimentation in Summer Themes

Things have still been demanding in my guest book shop this season, but I've left you all hanging long enough between posts. My bad. *hangs head and pokes at floor with toe*

Anyhow, I've been trying really hard to get some art journaling time in wherever I can. Even if I don't have time to actually journal I can prepare some pages ahead of time!

This one reminds me of a clear blue swimming pool.

Last year I posted about playing with color using those color-coordinated paint sample strips from the home improvement store. See that post here.

A very tropical feel. Pass the margaritas!

Well, I am at it again. It's fun to just do backgrounds because I don't have to think about it, I just play. At the end of the day my brain is fried from corresponding with customers and writing up listings. And it's better for me than vegging out in front of the TV (which I do as well).

Very beachy...sand dunes, maybe?

The combinations the paint manufacturers come up with aren't necessarily ones I would choose, but it's fun to do something different--it can really inspire fresh creativity to shake it up a bit!

A tall, cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day!

I like the dots on this page. I could have filled the entire page with dots. It was hard to stop myself after just nine!

More experiments are coming! I had fun making these and sharing them with you, I hope you enjoyed them!

A Diversion Into Marine Life

This week we visited a marine science museum. It was awesome to see such a variety of marine animals, and most especially, TURTLES! I just love turtles!

Here's an unusual looking turtle with a soft shell.

And the beloved sea turtle, posing for his picture!

It was difficult to get a good picture of these colorful jellyfish. The flash bleached them out but it was too dark otherwise, so they're a little blurry, but you get the idea. The color is more intense than in reality but it does make a cool picture.

Now I'm back to work again...time to make the donuts! :D

A Quick Hello!

Just popping in to let you know I haven't forgotten you! Things have been so busy in my shop I barely have time to do anything but make books. I feel like the sleepwalking guy in those old Dunkin Donuts commercials..."Time to make the donuts"...only for me it's books!

Serenity now, serenity now...any Seinfeld fans out there?! (This picture is truly vintage, taken by my grandfather back in the 1960's. I think it is somewhere in Canada.)

In the midst of all this busyness my printer decided to act up. After much troubleshooting and calling in the hubby, we decided the problem was an internal part which cannot be replaced. And of course, it's just 2 weeks after the 1 year warranty expired!! So I had to get a new printer, and this time I got the extended warranty!

Signing off for now, over and out! ...Time to make the books...

Before and After

I've been so busy in my Etsy shop I didn't even notice when this poor little book expired. It has been sitting neglected in my expired items for a month now. I discovered it the other day but had second thoughts about relisting the book without making some changes.

It had 190 views but no hearts. It sat in my shop for 4 months without selling. Hmmm....what's wrong with it? Maybe it just doesn't stand out enough? Too plain? And ironically I called it "The Jane Mini Journal". Plain Jane. This afternoon I took a break from producing and played a little. Here's what I came up with:

How's that for sprucing the little neglected book up?! I took a tag BluebirdLane was so kind to include in a past order, tied a little sprig on it with some seam binding and voila! Not so plain anymore! Hopefully this little book will find a loving home now.

Oh, and by the way, I changed the name too. It's now "Butterfly and Hollyhock Petite Journal". No more plain Jane.

A Closed Door

When one door in life closes, another opens...

After much thought, I have concluded it is time to leave the Etsy Bloggers team. I have enjoyed the relationships built over the course of the last year and I will still be visiting your blogs. My decision to leave has nothing to do with my team mates; my experience with the leadership was the driving factor in my decision that a change needed to be made.

I wish you all the best and hope to continue seeing you in blogland!

There's No Place Like Home - And a Cool Vintage Pair Of Shoes

Okay, so I look more like the Wicked Witch than Dorothy in these, but I think they're the coolest shoes (and socks) ever!

These shoes are vintage 40's (?? any shoe experts out there ??) that came out of my grandma's closet. I used to play dress up in them as a kid and was so excited the day I grew into them and they fit! Fortunately for me my foot stopped growing at that point and they still fit.

Sadly they're as uncomfortable as hell because the padding is completely disintegrated but I'm sure I could replace it. I'm just scared to wear them outside...I'd be really mad if they got messed up!