Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Less Than Three

Before I get to the real post, I have to take a line or two to honor a hero of mine.  Davy Jones passed away today, and I owe a lot of my self-confidence to him.  Rest in peace, Davy.  You meant a lot to me.

Michelle's penultimate GPP Street Team Crusade was to showcase what we love.  I realized that I couldn't decide what to showcase, and that this would be a great opportunity to finally start a whole art journal to showcase the things I love and the things that inspire me.  My favorite things.  But, this being me, I couldn't just buy a journal or sketchbook, I had to make one.  So, with some buffered paper, book board, and my new paper cutter, I cut and folded myself a nice little text block and covers.  I plan to do a Coptic binding (my first ever, from online tutorials) so that it lays flat when it's open, so I had to cover the boards before I bind it.  So rather than just cover them, I went ahead and decorated them too.

Front cover

I haven't sewn it together yet, but when I get the chance I'm going to go ahead and take a stab at this Coptic binding thing.  Since it's just for me, I don't really have to worry about it being perfect...

Then it took me a while, but I finally decided what the first love I would showcase in my new journal would be.  Sepia tones.  They're my go-to palette, my neutrals that go with everything, my antique paper look.  And Tim Holtz's Distress Inks come in all the right shades.  Now, not having much art mojo for the last couple of months, I'm a little off my game.  But last night I managed to pull this together.  Not perfect, but it's something. 




I did the coloring on parts of the flourish with one of the new Distress Ink Pens.  Wow.  Love the pop that it provides.  Will definitely be accumulating more of those for more tone-on-tone details.  I do love me some tone-on-tone. 

Not sure what the next set of pages will be, probably an homage to the color RED.  Another favorite color.  But there will be sure to be some books, some bands, some movies, and more colors making appearances in the book of loves.  I intend for this to be an ongoing project, maybe even revisiting pages now and then, keeping everything a work in progress.  We'll see.  Stay tuned.

9 comments:

michelle ward said...

Carrie - what a great endeavor! Bravo for getting started on a journal dedicated to your favorite things. Love the homage to sepia. Delicious. Love the scrolly pattern too - is that a stamp? *need* Can't wait for RED! Love your baseball slide into home plate on the team site. Thanks for coming play...here's to finding your mojo. xo

Maryanne said...

I think your book is wonderful! I love the sepia tones and the pages you created for them.
I thought of you the minute I heard about Davy Jones. I know what he meant to you. Love you!

jgr said...

From a fellow sepia fan: Your book is great! I love the scroll, too. And congrats for the 'rally' to get it done in time. :-)

Diana Taylor said...

What beautiful pages -I just love sepia tones and old, vintage papers too - you have done a great job. I shall definitely be popping back to see what else you add to your beautiful book. Keep up the good work!

K J D said...

Thanks for visiting me btw.... I smiled when I read you liked some of the same things as me :)

Your sepia tone pages are great and the book you have created to record your other loves is awesome ....

Terri Corona said...

Hi Carrie - thanks so much for the comment on my journal page today. I'm fascinated that you're an archivist! That sounds right up my alley. I tried to comment before, the first time I looked at this post - I love the sepia colors and flourishes and distress colors - and I'm very excited to hear there's such a thing as distress pens. Anyway, I think I was confused as to how to leave the comment, but I'm trying again!

Parabolic Muse said...

Okay, now, where was I when you posted to the team? I guess I was just slacking around again. These pages are really pretty. I like the colors and it's so full of texture.

Parabolic Muse said...

And any time the word penultimate is used and used correctly, it's fantastic!

Sylvie said...

Hi Carrie. I really love your new book. This binding thing is not as easy as it seems! You did great. I love your color palette and your page. It reminded me that i love sepia also, but forgot for a while. It was my first distress ink ever. I can't wait to see what you will do with red.