Tag : art journal

259 posts

I created this piece as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the toilet paper crisis of this spring in the midst of the COVID-19 panic buying.  You may be questioning how this is a nod to that so let me explain.

The colorful papers that make up the background of this piece are the colorful wrappers from our “who gives a crap” toilet paper.

Back in January I’d had an ad for Who gives a crap show up on my Instagram feed. I was interested but didn’t jump on the bandwagon however did get on their email list. Little did we know this was going to be a really good plan.  I love that its a little more eco-friendly than standard TP and the company is part of the greater good.

So now back to the piece…

I tore pieces of the wrapping paper and glued it to some printer paper.  I used a bit of paint to blur the details in a few spots to make it feel a little more cohesive. The page looked very 1980s.  I ripped a piece of mop-up paper and stitched it vertically along the page. Over the top I created a loose ruffle of some equally 80s feel fabric.

Since my mind was in that era I decided that some day-glow green mesh on a tag was fitting. Very 80s pastel and geometric shapes…anyone with me so far?

If I’m completely honest, I’m not sure the quote fits the page but the color of the stamped image worked and I’ve had it in my stash FOREVER!

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

Today I wanted to share another journal page based upon my theme of A Stitch in Time for this month’s challenge on Art Journal Journey.

The focal image was the driving force for this piece.  Believe it or not… the clocks are chocolates. Crazy right?

I wish I could remember what magazine this image came from but I really stink at remembering details like that sometimes. Other times, I can remember stupidly intricate details about the most mundane of interactions. Honestly, I think it’s more of a people vs object thing. I am able to retain info about people…its a relationship thing.

I tend to use layers upon layers until I feel the page is complete.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time?

Art Journal Journey

Welcome to another edition of T stands for Tuesday.

I decided to make this a twofer post after realizing that I had added some coffee themed tissue paper to my A Stitch in Time themed page for Art Journal Journey.

Art Journal Journey

This page started out to be something completely different but as I continued adding paint and paper elements to the page it somehow evolved. I really need to take a cue from Eileen at The Artful Crafter and take photos along the way.

The substrate was a page from a book…lots of interesting imagery that I thought was driving my direction. I guess I took a sharp right, maybe a left…who knows.

I just kept playing until my page spoke to me…and it said “follow your dreams”

I, of course, added fun and purposefully wonky stitching. I was turning the dial that controls the width of the zig-zag while sewing. It gave the stitching a really unique look.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time?!?

 This week is looking to be a hot one around here. I’m setting myself up with some indoor projects to work on.

These books are for a big project I’ve had in mind for years. I’m finally going to tackle it. There I said it…now I have to do it.

I also arranged and cleaned out my closet. I had several t-shirts that just had to go.

I decided to tear them into t-shirt yarn. I’m thinking these will become a rag rug.

So many possibilities…

What are you doing today?

I wanted to share my latest art journal page for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey.

I decided to go with an asymmetrical page again…I like how the edges add interest to the page. The patterned paper with the clock face is from a 12×12 piece of scrapbook paper from my stash. I have no recollection of when or where I got it. I have picked up box lots of craft supplies/scrapbook supplies etc. Unless I purchased something myself, I really stink at remembering a source…and even then its a little iffy.

The tag is an offcut of a masterboard I created. I love how much interest is created in a simple tag creating them in this fashion.  The stitching is both decorative and utilitarian. it holds down any bits that were not properly glued.

I added a beautiful dyed skeleton leaf as a dramatic backdrop for my found text.

Won’t you join in the fun for A Stitch in Time?

Art Journal Journey

I decided to be muted and listening after posting my #blackouttuesday statement. This was not good timing since I’m am lucky enough to be hosting this month on Art Journal Journey. Never-the-less I thought it was important to do.

This piece incorporates  both stitching and a time reference to the A Stitch in Time theme I have chosen because I’m an over-achiever. :)

All the blues are definitely out of my usual palette but I was feeling the love for them this particular day. I used both vintage ephemera and new scrapbook paper to give an eclectic mix that works very well together at times.

The stitched element is an off-cut of a collaged masterboard I created. I cut the masterboard into postcards with a few leftover chunks. I had thought this piece would become a bookmark perhaps but it felt right for this page.

I’ve had the label and game card in my stash for a long while so the words I picked seemed to reflect that notion.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

If this is your first visit to my blog, WELCOME! I’m Halle and I’m so glad you stopped by! Fun facts about my name: it’s pronounced Holly, it’s Norwegian, actually is spelled Hålle, with an accent mark…just because my parents wanted me to correct every person I ever came into contact with. 

I am honored to be hosting for the second time on Art Journal Journey …thankfully in June again. I work with middle school children with special needs by day and am wife, mom, artist, and blogger by night. I am addicted to paper, fabric, and collage.  

I have chosen A Stitch in Time for the theme this month. For this theme, you can choose whether you want to include an element of stitching, of time, or get crazy and include both! I hope you enjoy this theme as much as I will.

This type of art journal page is one of my favorite kinds to create. A loose-leaf page that will end up adhered to a page in a binder. Working with loose sheets gives so much flexibility. The edges don’t need to be even, you can punch holes, set brads or eyelets, or stitch anywhere you want.

Originally this stack of fabric, book text, tissue paper, and gold sheer ribbon was only glued under the found text. It just needed a little something more. Had this not been a loose-leaf page it would have been impossible for me to machine stitch at this point.  The stitching added the little touch that was needed.

Since this page was quickly becoming very vintage-y (yes, I’m making up words now… it’s my blog, so I can do that). Ok, where was I…ah yes, the vintage feel needed an old clock face. I’ve had a small stack vellum industrial gauges and clock faces in my stash for a long time. I’ve always struggled to use them. This piece was small enough to run through my small Xyron to make it into a sticker. Problem solved.

There are so many elements and textures going on with this page. I love how it turned out. This almost feels like a kitchen sink page…you know…I threw everything at it but the kitchen sink. I think that works sometimes as long as the elements make sense together.

So be free…make pages with uneven edges, add swirls of baling wire, cut up old slides. Stamp, paint, glue, fabric, thread, lace, stickers…use whatever inspires you at the moment.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

Welcome to yet another rousing edition of T stands for Tuesday.

This week finds most of us in the same place as last…at home, still at home. The difference for me is now my job has started back up after an extended spring break. I find myself in a very strange place much like hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people. Trying to figure out how to work from home.

I had two laptops set up on opposite sides of the table yesterday. My work one was the only one that actually saw any work. I had thought I’d get this post written but navigating through day 1 of distance learning proved to be more intense than I had expected. Honestly, I think it’s easier to just go to school. Likely because there is also no distractions.

When I’m at home I tend to wear those other hats; chef, nutritional consultant, household manager, inventory specialist, artist, garden and landscape architect, blogger, chief procurement officer, mom, seamstress, and wife. All these titles…and likely a few I missed…I’m used to at home…it’s the new one, the one that is my actual paying job that needs to be my focus. So weird. Such uncharted territory.  I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to work since with so many folks now unemployed. I am determined to do my absolute best to support my students during this confusing time.

Speaking of the artist hat. I have been neglectful in posting this journal page. 

It’s a very simple page. The striped background is an artist page from an old Stampington & Company magazine. After adhering bits of scraps, I was at a loss as to what I wanted as a focal image. I decided on drawing simple greenery. I used watercolor crayons over my pencil marks until achieving the look I wanted.

The green plant provided hope for spring. We are definitely in need of a little greening up out there. Everything is brown, matted grass and depressing. It is warming up though, so it’s coming!!

Last week I was also sewing masks. I had seen repeated calls for help with providing masks for health systems that are running low. Ones that aren’t used on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Since I had materials to create the specific ones shown in this video tutorial.


masks

I made 28 and a friend stopped by to pick them up from the front step to deliver with all of hers. I had posted this image on Instagram. Shortly after a woman private messaged me asking if I’d be willing to sell her a couple of masks. I told her no but I would send a couple to her. She wanted to pay me so instead I told her to Pay It Forward.
 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hello everyone.. the picture of the bandanna face mask were made by @halleshobbies and she is donating them to a medical facility. She also sent one to me ( I have IPF) I offered to pay and she asked me to Pay it Forward. The Respironic Nebulizer machines are mine. I contacted Lifespan and a home nurse is picking them up. They will be given to two families that are going to be healing at home with the Covid- 19. Lifespan hospital will thoroughly clean the first of course. It is my way of paying it forward. With my illness these machines were almost in every room of my house. They actually have saved my life many times. If any of you can find a way of donating anything to help out in our current situation look around the house see what you can do. Even if it’s giving your neighbor some toilet paper. A huge thanks to Halle. Please everyone go check out her channel!

A post shared by June Basiliere (@thriftedinapeartree) on

I love that! I’m so happy that our little exchange has the potential to save lives!!

Today is day 2 of distance learning. My own children seem to be doing just fine. I talked to a neighbor last evening…at the proper social distance…her girls are early elementary age and in Spanish immersion. Her day was not so easy. Hopefully, we will all settle into this new normal quickly and keep on learning each day. Perhaps discovering something deep inside ourselves that we weren’t able to see before.

empty halls

This lonely hallway photo I snapped gives me pause. So quiet, so lonely. Yet look…there is light at the end, just as there is light at the end of this journey for all of us.

 

What are you doing today?
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