For the Love of Birds

I am a little shocked when I troll through the photographs of my work and see how many pieces have birds and bird-related elements in them. As anyone who knows me is aware, birds have always been an important part of my life. I as introduced to them at an early age and spent many delightful hours watching them at my grandparents' house and at my own. I also live with five feathered family members who bring me great joy each and every day.

Mixed Media Monday - Boxing Clever

Books and boxes are two passions of mine. The former I like to alter and the latter to recreate into shadow boxes and assemblages. I have to be careful when I go into a store like Michael's because I tend to sometimes be more fascinated by the packaging than with the contents. That was the case with this little suitcase-like tin box. It languished for a while in my cupboard of odds and sods then one day I was inspired to pluck it out and use it. What came to mind were doctors who would make house calls often in rural areas where house were miles apart. This is my tribute to those men of medicine and my submission for Mixed Media Monday this month.

An Ode to Swimming

I'm sitting here writing this blog posting looking out the window at the swimming pool all sealed up and put away for another year. I know it's inevitable but a part of me mourns its retirement. I decided to pay homage to my love of water and swimming in these journal pages. That's what I love about art journaling....you can write about whatever takes your fancy. I was running one morning and a childhood ditty was firmly playing in my head, over and over again. I didn't have the coordination to do the accompanying actions, thank goodness! I would have looked ridiculous. Do you remember it?

Swimming, swimming in a swimming pool,

When days are hot, when days are cold, in a swimming pool,

Breast stroke, side stroke, fancy diving too,

Oh don't you wish you never had anything else to do but....

Theme Thursday - Faces

Do you find that you fall in love with techniques? When I do, I find myself craving the opportunity to use them. This is the case with Joanna Pierotti's (Moss Hill Studio) layered backgrounds. They take a while to create but they look stunning surrounding cabinet cards. These two lovely ladies are part of my vintage photograph family.

Three Muses Challenge - Automobiles

When I was young, my family and I used to visit friends who lived on a farm. They didn't actually farm but instead used the property to store vintage cars. We used to wander through the barn where animals used to be sheltered looking at all of the old automobiles. I remember the cracked seats, the instrument panels, the cranks that were used to start them and the smell of times and travels past. Occasionally we'd get to ride in the rumble seat as the owner tootled us along the country backroads....always exciting! This is my entry for this week's Three Muses challenge with the theme of "automobiles".

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Fall

Well, the last few leaves are stubbornly attached to the trees but the majority of their cohorts have fallen and have already been raked up, vacuumed up and bagged. I notice a loneliness about the landscape when I am out on my runs in the morning. The air isn't filled will the bird calls that I enjoyed in the spring and summer months. Yet, at the same time, there is a peacefulness about the time between fall and winter. These round robin pages are my entry for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week with the theme of fall.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Spotted

Good Monday morning. Hope you enjoyed the weekend. The weather was spectacular here in my "neck of the woods" although a good friend sent me a photo of her backyard covered in a white blanket of snow. There is something cheerful about polka dots isn't there? The theme for Think Monday, Think ATC this week is "Spotted" and this is my entry.

Guest for "The Artist Trading Club...Swap 'Til You Drop"

My very talented and sweet friend Chriss Rollins runs "The Artist Trading Club...Swap 'Til You Drop" and has bestowed me with the honour of being the November guest artist. The theme until the end of the month is "Man to Man". I'm always ruing the fact that male images are difficult to find but I've been fortunate to unearth a few fantastic sheets from favourite online vendors. They inspired me to create these "manly" artist trading cards. More can be found on Chrissy's blog.