Getting down to the final pages...

...in a journal is always such a fabulous feeling.  That's especially so when it's taken the better part of two and a half years to finish one (and that's by no means the longest one of mine, either).

This past week I finished the last spreads in the black and white journal and there's only the cover embellishments to complete.  I'm using the term 'finished' loosely here as we all know a journal is never really done - the possibilities for additions are legion.

With some 80+ spreads, it's just chock-a-block full, since I don't seem to know when to stop.  This book is NOT going to close up neatly.

Because the book will no longer close, even with that highly    s  t  r  e  t  c  h  a  b  l  e    elastic meant to keep a sketch book tidy, I suspect you already know the elastic will have to be snipped, right?

And because it's not going to close, I'm considering adding the 'linked' text that will tie the front to the back on the 'incorrect covers' so it will actually read from the 'normal' left to right.  Which would be just about wacky enough to once gain earn my nickname Wingding, won't it?

Here's your chance to weigh in on the issue.  On the front cover would normally be the text 'Just a reminder....' with the back page showing '....that at the end, there is only love.'  What's your thought?  Proceed as normal, knowing it will read backwards, or go with the reversal?  Enquiring minds..... 🤨😀

Well, the case...

...is closed.  After a week and a half of smelling like a forest of eucalyptus and sounding like a bob of seals (that's one of the words to call a group of those delightful creatures - isn't that perfect?), I'm finally on the finish line of this nasty cold.  That means that I could return to the studio and finish the slip case for the second star book.

Somehow these books cry out for a holding cell, and as any good murder mystery aficionado knows, it's not over until the culprit is contained.

Of course, I've been managing to get into the studio for short blocks over the period, so the black and white journal got two more spreads as I near the finish line there.  It's so stuffed with additions that I doubt a case will ever contain it, though.  It's akin to a bursting stomach after a pot luck dinner with family.

I've had a couple of experimental pieces on the go, too, and I keep throwing layers at them.  While they're mostly pretty ugly, they do have some interesting bits in them, so I'll be playing further to see what may come of the combination of paint, stencils, Kroma crackle (man, that takes forever to dry and I'm so not a patient person) and glass beads.

I'm heading out into the blogsphere now to see what you've all been up to...it's certain to be much better than an end-of-winter cold.  Here's to sunshine and blue skies for us all!

Experimentation...

...is the name of the game this week, as I play with small abstract pieces.  These two are 5" square, and I'm amused at my colour palette on the first.  Since I'd never willingly make mud when painting, I did it intentionally in the background just to see where I might go with it.  It was great fun.

This was fun as well - I love cheesecloth backgrounds and hadn't used one in a while.  My working space is so messy and crowded that I brushed some paint lid glom to one side.  It hit a pile of paint scraps, grabbing on for dear life.  Refusing to let go, it grew wings and became a bird.  Artist lives are so strange, right?

This next one, 7" x 5", nearly knocked my socks off into the stratosphere when it was done.  Going a little overboard on the pow colour, I'd say.  🤣

Meanwhile the dryer sheet curtains are getting some contrasting colour - finally!

A shot of the back of the curtains shows how much these circles are necessary to tie this all together.  The thin sheets of unpainted dryer sheets need to be tied to the painted ones, and for 'strength', they're all going in different directions (or perhaps that's just my spatial dyslexia going on there 😁).  

I've also been making skins to test for the second star book slip cover,

and continuing heartful play.

All in all, it's been a fun week here, made even more delightful due to the glorious sunshine and blue skies.  I hope your week has been the same on all three counts.  

It's in the stars...

 ...well, at least in the star book (#2) which is now assembled into its proper form.  

While small (3 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1"), 

it's already packed with some great detail, including some hand-crafted, quietly sneaky paper beads on the spine.

I'm feeling guilty for using purchased papers for two of the interior layers.  (Picture a 1920's-era heroine with back of hand to forehead, gasping in horror.)  There are a couple of reasons for this.  I didn't have enough handmade papers to complete either layer, and I was too impatient to make more painted papers, and these papers have been safely in my stash for over 20 years, as I couldn't bear to 'waste' them. I suspect some of you can relate.  🙃  How wrong is that?!!!

The topmost inner layer (and the last for assembly) is the deliciously marbled orange one above, and the next one in is by the same maker in blue.  I MUST learn how to create such stunning marbled papers in this lifetime.

The other two are quinacridone gold and umber papers which I painted.  Of course the cover is my hand-painted paper as well.

The next step will be to add embellishments, should I be able to bring myself to cover any of this mouth-wateringness.  I've been considering making skins from these lovely pen and ink drawings from the book I borrowed from the library.  It is chock-full of gorgeous drawings

and some wonderful calligraphy.

What's your vote gang?  Embellish, or not?  An inquiring mind waits with bated breath.

Yet to come is the case for this - I've already painted both sides of the paper I'll use for that, so it might even show up in this century.  In the meantime I'm wishing you a terrific week filled with world-wide good news and light energy.