Black & White Collaborative Color Journal Pages

I belong to a Color Collaborative Journal group.  We have done several journals in the last two years.  I love my collection of these color journals, all of which feature pages by individual members and all are original artwork.  The members of this group are an amazingly talented group of woman and I have felt honored to be included.  This is, alas, our last journal.  I thought long and hard about how I wanted to express my feelings on black and white and finally decided that prints were the best way to go.

Each page in the journal will be 9 inches tall and 6 inches wide.  There is a back page as well as a front, so my pages, 9 inches by 12 inches, fold in half to make the proper size.  I have used my recently carved woodblock from the NPS workshop in Colorado as the featured artwork for the front of my page  in the journal.  I added some washi tape to jazz it up a little.

I did a foilographic feather print on the back.  I didn't get a great image, but it was first time using this technique.  I enjoyed the learning process, and the outcome was acceptable.  (I should have read and reread the very clear and concise instructions that are available on Charles Morgan's website.  Charles is a long time member of the Nature Printing Society and is a master at nature printing.  I will retry foilography soon, using Charles' directions.  I expect I'll have a much better result.  But, I digress....again!)

I had promised myself that I would get these pages done without counting down to the last second before the deadline of August 31st.  Well, I guess I met that goal, but barely.  They are in the mail, at any rate, and the lovely Mary Mouat will be receiving them in good time.  Mary is a member of the Color Collaborative Journal group and has volunteered to do the binding this time around.  Thanks, Mary!

And finally, on a silly note, here is a photo my friend Bee created on her iphone with some app she has.  (You might surmise that she had some free time on her hands while we were in Colorado.  Free time + iphone + app = silliness.)  My poor cat, Orcie, was one of the subjects she altered.  I will spare you the ones she did of me.  They are, ahem, not fit for a family blog being just too scary.  My Orcie is odd to start with, of course, being a cat, but he usually doesn't wear sunglasses.  I think he might like to wear them, but I, being a rotten and horrible person, refuse to purchase them for him.  The mustache, though, is just too much, don't you think?  He sort of reminds me of Tom Selleck.  (My apologies, Mr. Selleck.)

Pre-Hawaii "Housecleaning"

I am leaving for Hawaii on Monday and in preparation for the trip I have been cleaning house, both literally and figuratively. I found a few photos I have been meaning to share with you and thought now might be a good time to do so. The photo above was taken near my cabin. I love the winter sunset when viewed through bare branches. It always gets to me and this group of trees is on my way into my little house in the woods. I often stop to just take in the sun setting behind these winter trees.

And here we have the covers and inside covers for my China journal. I will be leaving on that trip in late April. I can't wait! China has been on my dream trip list for many, many years.

I have treated myself to a new watercolor palette and a few more tubes of Daniel Smith watercolors. I love the DS paints. I am not much of a watercolorist but I like to travel with watercolors as they are easy to pack. My new palette is small and holds a lot of paint. I think it's going to be perfect.

And, finally, I have to share a picture of my "helper." My cat, Orcie the Great and Terrible, calls this lolling by the computer, soaking up the heat from the infernal machine (his words, not mine)"helping." I'd have to say, not so much. Really. He's not helping. (Please ignore the terribly messy desk. It's one of those things I should be cleaning instead of blogging!)

Against All Odds

Against all odds, I remembered it was Self Portrait Friday! So, very early this morning, I took a couple of shots of my buddy, Orcie, giving me morning loves. He thinks that the best place to nap is right up against my computer while I do my morning email. It is not terribly convenient for me, but that doesn't matter a whit, to his mind. What does matter is that it's warm, I'm right there (at his beck and call) and should the mood strike, he can attack my typing hands at any time. He's full from breakfast and life is good.

Please forgive my hair....bedhead is not pretty!