Turning 'Hmmmm' to 'WOO!' - A Simple Fix & GIVEAWAY!

Hey there, you little sparkler you!

The sun's at it again - blue skies, warm air, insects EVERYWHERE! Summer's definitely well-and-truly here. The Colonel's just come in having flash-fried his bad-ass self in the garden again. He's quite happy. And hot. Toasty kitty!

AAAAAAAAAAAAnyhoo....remember yesterday's stress page? Twitchy birdy with all his stritchy-scratcyness? Well, you've all been completely gorgeous and wonderful, but you know when you have a page in your book that's just........ Hmmm... One of those pages that you're really never going to be sure about? Well, this was such a page. I don't HATE it or anything...it's just.....blah, sitting in a book that I'm otherwise mostly happy with. Soooooo I decided to be proactive and DO a thing with it - and, VOILA!

It's now a book! Well, why not I say! It wasn't going to stay in the sketchbook and it would have been shoved in a box somewere 'til I chopped it up for some project or other, so might as well make it into something useful - and you know, I really, REALLY like it now!  Just shows you that nothing's a failure...with some determination and a little creativity anything can become a jolly part of a happy collection! I took plenty of pics so here we go:

It's a simple two-signature pamphlet stitch book, using pretty pink waxed linen thread with beaded dangles that hang below the spine so that when the book's open it will lie nice and flat.  I chose a mix of glass beads and Tibetan silver charms that would complement the splooshy colours. The colours do so very much make me happy!

I used a piece of ribbon from my mum's sewing box, threaded through the spine to tie-fasten. I added two yummy lampwork beads to weight the ribbon which can be tied in a pretty bow on the spine when the book's open and being used.

 I used some designer paper to create a lining to the cover and a spine-strengthener then collaged some vintage images - just because it looks pretty! The paper's a fabulous heavy weight cartridge paper (300gsm) which will take pretty much anything thrown at it, so ideal for mixed media work. There are 12 pages - it's a nice size for a small keepsake project

The book measures roughly 10.5" x 5" (closed so has a good 10" square as an open spread - very workable!

I really like this book now. It feels nice to hold and it'll be good to work in. What do you think? Success? Anyone want to give it a home? YES I'm making this my FIRST GIVEAWAY!!! FANFARE!!!! DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DAAAAA-DAAAAAAAAH!!!  Anyone who'd like to have this book to play with just leave a comment below - all you have to do is begin ONE of your sentences with "I'd like to give this book a home because......." then...tell me! I'll run this 'til the end of the month and draw a winner (randomly to make things fair) on 31st May,ok? So - as this is my first giveaway post I'll run through the simple rules one more time (for my benefit as much as yours !)

GIVEAWAY RULES:

If you'd like to enter the draw,

• Leave a comment below THIS post
• Write ONE of the sentences in your comment  beginning with "I'd like to give this book a home because......"
• Make sure you leave a link to your blog so that I can contact you if win
• Check back with me on 31st May to find out the winner

That's it. Easy enough? The winner will have to have contact details ready so that I can post this to them. This is open to any blog visitor in any country. One entry per person please - I'll only include one entry per person in the draw.

Ok - I hope that meets with happy approval! I've been DYING to do a giveaway for AAAAGES but had no confidence or courage so fingers crossed I've chosen the right thing to do! That's it - I'm off to wait with nervous excitement to see what you think! Love and hugs to all of you from me! xxxxx

Woolly Bags, Pouches and Journals, Oh My!

TA-DAAAAAAHH!!!!

*Leaps from behind a curtain with jazz hands*

Yes I'm still in one piece. Plans may have gone a little awry over the past couple of weeks but The Colonel and I have made it through alive and mostly in one piece. My wibbly brain did its thing again at the beginning of the month and, as a consequence of its impishness I spent the greater part of a week under a blanket in that freaked-out world that only my mental pathways can create! To illustrate, I shall harness the powers of The Colonel and his photo journal -

Where's the kitty?

Surely that's just a big old pile of wubbie blankies? Surely? Unless........

THERE'S the kitty! Under the blankets - out of it all. Yep. Solidarity, my little feline compadre, solidarity. Mmmmmmm.....blankies.....

So anyway. Fortunately, a couple of gorgeously lovely people had given me inspiration for a couple of projects so I dragged myself back to the realms of (tenuous) reality, raided the craft cupboards and got crackin' with some arty fartyness, which eventually helped me to find some momentum....a controllable tempo. My inner metronome has a wanton arrhythmia which plays havoc with my focus, but working with repetitive tasks is a control and valuable measure. Avoiding more random, unfocused arty pursuits, I rooted out my needles, threads and fabrics and began stitching. Wow did it help..... Hell yeah! I can't show you too much of my efforts as I know that they're winging their way to recipients as surprises from lovely fellow bloggers, but one item has arrived safely at its destination so I can at least post a few piccies to give you an idea of what I've been up to:

.....iiiiiiiiiiiit's a journal bag!! It's red plooshy squooshy velvet with pretty butterfly fabric lining and, oh, a LOT of yarn, sari silk and cord tassely goodness! I love colour. So shoot me. And yarn. And fabric. I am weak and have no self control. *sigh* .....but it's so FLUFFY!

It was delivered to its new lovely owner along with the red 'key' journal. It is very cuddly! I mean, not entirely PRACTICAL, but it's full of luscious colour and lovely woolly goodness!

I have made a journal pouch for myself as well, but it IS practical, I'm afraid! It fits in my bag without getting tangled on stuff and holds my journal and pens - it'll do nicely...

I know, I know, but it's still cuddly! My lovely blog buddy Kathy from Kathyinozarks has nudged me into embellishing so I think what I'll do is wait 'til I'm finished with this journal, THEN foof-up the bag, pimp it out with yummy yarns and beads and such so that it stands out on the shelf amidst the rest of the journaly chaos! Whaddaya think? And if you love the idea of scrumptious hand-spun, hand-dyed bespoke yarns, go give Kathy a visit and say hi!

*ARROOOOO--GAAAAHHHH! SENTIMENTALITY ALERT!*

Actually - that brings me around to something that's been on my mind for a while. In this world of disassociated, disembodied anti-social media, the BLOG seems to stand alone as a place where intelligent, kind, generous, talented and friendly people can find a genuine meeting of the minds with fellow bloggers. The people I have met through blogging are all - without exception - inspiring and welcoming. I've had such dreadful and life-shattering experiences with people in my life that it left me broken and devoid of trust. I want to take the opportunity to thank you, my fellow bloggers for helping me to begin to rebuild my faith in humanity. You are a true gift. I've asked some of you if I can feature one or two of your photos in my blog posts and THANK YOU for saying yes!  Over the next few weeks I'll be highlighting as many amazing blogs as possible and I hope that you'll go visit and let them enrich your lives as they have mine.

And now, schmaltz over, moooooooving on....I have three new journals up on Etsy. They're roughly 8"x4.25" and are ideal for art journals! Here's a sneak peek:

Happiness journal:

Oriental Splendour journal:

Collected Treasures journal

Uk post prices are still as cheap as chips, however I've noticed that fees to ship overseas are not quite such a bargain. I've priced by the best weight option including very basic shipping insurance and I've decided that I'd rather play safe with selecting shipping weights as reducing packaging can result in damaged goods, which is not acceptable. What I CAN promise is that I'll fill each and every parcel sent with treats and goodies right up to the shipping limit, so that the cost of shipping will be offset by having a box full of awesomeness to open and enjoy. Post fees will effectively be offset with fun and useful goods. It's scary that it costs the same amount to ship just one book as it does to ship a box filled with extra stuff. I can't help feeling that post services are simply out to diddle us out of our hard earned cash. What do you think of post charges? Do they stand in the way of your sales? I'd be interested to know how you handle the problem so let me know if you'd like to by leaving a comment below. 

I have a week full of posts for you. As promised, I have some journaling ideas, tutorials and exercises which I hope are helpful. I have a look at a couple of my canvases and more besides. Better late than never, eh?! I'll leave you today with a colourful journal page and a big hug of thanks for visiting me and being epically patient with me and my useless temperamental (emphasis on the 'mental'!) brain! See you soon - Shroo :) xxx

Some New Journals on Etsy!

Hello, you wonderful You!

Here with a quick post - mostly pictures - about new journals finally listed in my Etsy shop. These have really been a labour of love as I currently only feel moved to make my journals and altered books when I'm very emotional and full of memories. Most of these reflect my dream states where my head is filled with days at the seaside, my old home by the sea and my heart's joy - the wild beauty of untamed nature. 

The books are coptic bound and allow, pretty much, a 360 degree display when open. I've tried many wonderful binding techniques, but I keep coming back this method which is still very pretty and versatile, but crucially allows for greater practicality of use, especially for art journalers. I also stayed true to my promise of reducing my arty hoard by selectively adding some of my favourite lampwork and art beads - some of which I've had for nearly fifteen years! I'll recover from the trauma of using them EVENTUALLY I'm sure!! Okee - no more rambling, here- have some piccies!

'Gaia's Dream'

'Heart Of The Ocean'

'A Mermaid's Wish'

'Seaside Dreams'

'Rock Pool Treasure Trove'

That's them then! Each one contains a mix of papers (colours and weights) which are great for writers or a fun challenge and opportunity for art journalers. I feel a sense of achievement in having finished them and put them in my shop (at looooooong last). I hope you're going to praise yourself for your achievements this week - you know you're awesome!

I'll be back this weekend with the first of my 'supplies' posts ...I TRIED to narrow it down to just ten things but honestly....that's just not gonna happen..... See you then - hugs from Shroo :) xxx

 *  *  *

 My uncle, Grandpa and mum at the beach, braving the icy cold of the British coastal waters! My Grandpa would quite earnestly tell them (and me too) that baby jellyfish would swim through our legs - so that there was panic when they were spotted!

My Grandparents 'living it up' at the seaside! Party on!