Thursday, December 10, 2009



Gosh it has been almost a month since I last made a post here. Well you know it is the silly season for us, what with fairs each week haven't had time to scratch myself. I want to share some photo's taken in our garden a month ago when it was still spring. This is a new garden I created early winter, trying to make the back shadier as it is a real heat trap.

This is a closer image taken about a month ago everything is thriving.We pulled out all the shrubs at the front and have put in more formal gardens with box hedging around the edges of all gardens. The garden bed on the left has a row of the hibiscus commonly known as the cotton tree, they have lovely big red shaded heart shaped leaves, I think they will look lovely when they grow and for a high hedge, have moved some roses from the bed on the right to this bed and they are now thriving, lots of blooms. The Jacaranda in the middle of the lawn is a mass of lovely mauve blooms and leave now.Hah, can you see John trying to quickly get inside, poor love he did all the hard labour, the old bushes took a lot of work getting out.Lovely pink rose next to the garage puts on a lovely show for a few weeks and that its lot for the year, but so worth it, looks lovely framed against that lovely blue sky (I can tell you I am over that blue sky now, have had a few scorchers).One of the baby doves I captured on film out the front, the doves have been very busy, babies everywhere.This lovely apricot is the last of the climbing roses on the side fences, puts on a lovely show too. Roses in the bird bath....The star jasmine outside the bathroom fills the house with the most intoxicating perfume from its abundant blossoms, has been flowering for almost a month. There I have probably bored you stiff with my garden post but I know my family in New Zealand enjoy seeing it, so just skip through and look at the photo's. Bye for now Jacky

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Miss Johnsons Vintage and Handmade Market 2009

Well after spending the last 5 hours loading photo's etc on Miss Johnson's Vintage and Handmade Market I am all blogged out. Before I go I want to let you know it was and enormous success and we received lots of nice comments.

This was my stall that I was setting up until 12.30 Thursday night. Phil and I thought we would be clever, got the keys to the hall, set out all the trestles for the stall holders then went to load up with stock. Joanne and Anthony turn up with our heavy large furniture, took it all into the hall when a lady came in and asked what was going on. The hall was booked for Line Dancing until 9 oclock. Joanne, Anthony and kids roared around dismantling the trestles, putting the furniture etc in the foyer which they weren't using all in 30 minutes. When Phil and I arrived with cars laden with stock, pulled the curtains across the stage and unloaded all Phils stock up onto the stage behind the curtains in the dark, through the back door which was up the ramp. (can you just here Mum and Dad saying "What are those girls up to now") giggling away we crept into the kitchen hoping to be unseen to watch the dancing. The instructor saw us and tried to tempt us to join in (got to be joking, line dancing then setting up stalls to who knows what time). Went over to Albies, this little side of the road (like a pie cart if you can remember them) place that has log seating around an open fire. They had a write up about them giving them a top award for the whole of Australia for their hamburgers. Wow this place was jumping so many people waiting to their order, cars and motor bikes roaring in, took me back to my youth. So here is this couple of grey haired old ladies stretched out in front of the fire with our cappuccino's waiting until 9 oclock when we could get back to business in setting up. When I finally arrived home at 1 in the morning I couldn't get to sleep, so with about 3 hours sleep I was up again and back to the hall to decorate the hall and finish our stalls in time to help the other vendors get their stock into their stalls ready for 6 oclock opening. Whew, flew home to have a shower and get dressed, back to the hall 5.30 thank all the vendors for joining us and rewarding them with wine (only 1 glass mind you) and chocolates. Gee I feel tired just typing all this, I can tell you by 9 oclock closing I was nackered, could hardly lift my feet. Slept like a log and back again at 8.20 for trading until 4.30. If you are interested look on our blog http://missjohnsonsvintageandhandmademarket.blogspot.com damn me, I entered the other blog into the wrong blog spot, not have to go and try and figger out how to change it over.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Great Grandmother

Recently I became a Great Grandmother to my Granddaughter Jessica and Joanne a Grandmother to a beautiful little boy Jayden Anthony. Holding Jayden is our first born Grandchild Samara Dawn, who would have thought it, Sam has named him jellybean from his first scan, she is smitten with her little nephew as are all the other Aunties Courtney, Kaitlin and Maddison. Oh and their is Alyssa a second Auntie and 2nd Uncles Brad, Randall, Jack and Ronin. He is not going to go with out much love.

Go here http://www.artisticjourney.com.au/ , go to Jo's blog have a look at more lovely photo's of Joanne and Jessica with one much loved bub.

Cover for Paper Journal

When you finish all your pages, collate them by dividing them into 4 signatures (group of pages).
Fold each page in half, this should be along the masking tape and score to get a sharp edge, I use a bone score, but a credit card will do.To make your covers measure your folded pages, and using bookboard or something similar. I used a thinner more flexible bookboard for this one, as I am hoping she will take it in her schoolbag and it will get nice and shoddy from regular use. I also rounder the outside edges to stand up to rough treatment. For the spine using the same bookboard place all your folded pages into a pile inside the covers, measure from back cover to front cover with all pages in between, add a small bit extra to allow for book opening and shutting. (if you do not allow this gap your journal will not sit right.
Join the 3 pieces together using masking tape going all the way around front and back, put your overlapping tape on the inside of your cover. Score down the gap you have allowed between covers and spine. You will find that your journal will hinge nicely.
Above is folded cover waiting to be painted.
This one I have painted in Golden's Quin Burnt Orange, such a lovely vibrant colour suitable for a teenager I think.
Make a template for binding your journal. Measure the height of your pages from top to bottom. I also make a cross on the bottom of template to make sure that I always have that mark on the bottom, just in case I am out a bit in my measurements. It is possible you know. Mark in the centre page of your signatures making sure x is on bottom. Also make sure you have your pages up the right way, also possible to do believe me. Pearce through with a awl push it in well to make your holes big enough. Mark your holes in your spine allowing a space between each row to allow for thickness of signatures. You can use either an awl or if you have a Japanese screw punch use one of the smaller hole punch attachments as you only want a hole big enough for your binding thread. Binding Thread I must confess, here in Australia where its not always possible to get the authentic products we improvise, and I use Oven string, I figure if its strong enough to hold a chicken together cooking in the oven its strong enough to hold a little old journal together. For ease of binding and keeping the string tight I also run the string through a wax block, candle will also work just place string on candle and draw string through several times. To bind I use a long needle 3 or 4 inches long with a hole big enough to thread the string through.

At top or bottom of spine take string from outside of cover through first hole leaving about a 6 inch tail, from outside of first signature thread through first hole to middle of signature. Go to 2nd hole in middle of signature and thread string through signature then through inside of spine. Repeat in this running stitch manner until all holes threaded in the first signature you should be on the outside of the spine take a stitch sideways into next row of holes into next signature, repeat the first row, continue until all signatures are sewn in. You should end up with the two tails at the same edge, I take each one in to the hole next to it and thread it down through that hole, do the same with other tail then take under signatures until both tails are in the same gap then knot firmly. When you are sewing your journal into your spine you can add buttons or beads on opposite stitches going down the spine. I have done this on my Teesha Moore journals.

Above is the first Paper Journal finished. I have used the luscious Golden Green Gold on this one, painted a face on watercolour paper, sewn onto Blue cardigan St Cecilia - Waterhouse paper with black thread as I like the look of paper sewn onto other paper, I thought this paper matched the background of the image I had painted. You don't have to put a painted image you can just make a collage, if you make a paper collage, make sure you seal it, I use Golden Matt medium. I have left the back and inside covers painted with no collage as I am hoping my granddaughter will put what she likes on it.This is the same journal standing up so you can see the stitching on the spine, to match the colour of the cover I painted the string with green gold fluid. This Journal I have used heavier bookboard, it shouldn't bend at all. This journal is bigger at 13 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches than the burnt orange one at 8 x 10 inches. Wow that was an epic entry, I hope I have explained it clearly as putting the journal together correctly is very important to the overall look of your journal. Don't forget to send me photo's of your finished journals, I would really love to see them. Also if there is anything I haven't explained well enough please put it in the comments, this gives me a lot of good feedback.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

3rd lesson on making paper journal


Ok! so how have you been going preparing your pages, hope I have encouraged some of you reading my blog in having a go, because now comes the fun stuff, really I am getting as much fun making these journals as I am hoping my grand daughters will have fun using them. I am giving you the 3 stages of this one page to save you scrolling up and down to see the differences, above is the page with just the masking tape joining 2 pages together. My tools I have used are gesso, Pitt Brush Pens, fine line pen, stamps and scrap paper, other things you could consider are water colour crayons (you will need to put a sealer over the crayons, I use matt gel medium. I also use the gel medium to take the shine off the magazine images). This one is after I have added gesso.
And the finished pages waiting for the recipient to add script or more doodling. On the left of the page cut out from a teens magazine, cutting away all the background. Glue down with glue stick, glue a piece of scrap paper across bottom, great way to use up your scrap paper. Using a 8B graphite pencil draw around the edges where you would have shadows then smudge with a rubbing pencil (one of those firm rubber shaped like a pencil with a point on each end. These are really great for making shadows. On the right page using Pitt brush pens draw lines down from the figure every 2nd one draw stripes in two different colours and draw dots in the other space. Using a fine line black pen out line each stripe to define.
All that I have done with these pages is to write a quote on this one with a black fine line pen.

And this one a prompt for the recipient to continue with. With your black fine line pen, go for it, tats, wings, extra skirt, bangles and a hat, get the idea, so much fun I think she looks much more interesting now, journal ling can be added into all the white spaces. Golden gesso is a good substrate for your pen Remember this fun couple with fine line pen give them some movement and words coming out of their mouths and on the right I have used a prompt from Sabrina Ward Harrison's books, my favourite. Another scrap of paper on the bottom.
Use your favourite stamps mine are Nick Bantock (so quirky) using Pitt brush pens make a ribbon border around the crab and shade with graphite pencil and smudge, SWH prompts to get your ideas flowing. I used the black India Ink stamp pad as I find it nice and juicy.
Add scraps of paper one on right I have scalloped the edges and shaded. SWH prompts, a coloured photo with snips of masking tape on corners.This one a clip art clown with a border done with Pitt brush pens (one of my favourite tools).

Well that gives you some ideas the hardest part is knowing when to stop, and remembering its a gift for someone else, you just want to give them some ideas on creating their pages, way too much fun. In the one journal I have finished I have got 42 pages or 21 double pages. Will give you some time to catch up. Well that was a mammoth entry for me.

Have fun

Jacky











Thursday, September 17, 2009

Second stage making a paper journal

Okay the second step in your paper journal is to paint with gesso.

This one is painted just with gesso, can you see the script through the gesso

You can add some colour by adding a drop or two of fluid acrylic while the gesso is wet, this will lighten the colour. I also added an extra bit of bold script on the left hand side. You could add copies of photo's here and gesso over top.remember this fun one, gesso around the figures, then while gesso is wet use the other end of your paint brush to write some words or patterns. Page on the right is the one I ripped and I glued another page on top. Stronger page.Page out of bridal magazine, these pages are very shiny and paint doesn't want to adhere to it but the gesso is fine.Did you notice this image with all its dark background, whiten out with gesso and she floats with her wings spread out. This will give you plenty of options for next stage.This page is one of the bigger pages and I have only scanned one side. This page is out of the vogue book, I really like these, the pages aren't shiny and seem to take the gesso better, doesn't she stand out on the page.


Ok that's it for this stage, In my journal I am doing 5 double pages to each signature of which there will be four signatures (group of pages that will be sewn into spine together) so that will be approx 20 double pages. Will be back next week for next stage gives you plenty of time to get yours done.

have fun

Jacky

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

make a journal present with me


Hi, I am sharing with you a journal (make it 3 journals) I am making for three of my grand daughters as Christmas presents. You have plenty of time to make some if you wish. Doesn't cost much just takes a little bit of your time to make a personal journal for someone you love to write in and add more photo's etc. The first image is of a journal Joanne made after doing a workshop with Sabrina Ward Harrison when she was in Perth last year. Joannes journal gave me the idea of making these as Christmas presents. Tools you will need are a selection of books and magazines, look for sturdy pages. Masking tape from hardware shop three and a half centimetres wide. Scissors, and gel medium, I use Golden because it's simply the best, you can see some of the background page and it strengthens the pages.
These are some of the magazines I used for my pages, I look for suitable images, lovely colour images in FreshFruits, lovely black and white images in the vogue book, more lovely images in a fashion advertising magazine and a bridal magazine and then lots from old books. Images I look for nice are fashion pics, animal pics, jewellery, bags, cosmetics etc pics all that would interest my teenage grand daughters. I also like different size pages to give more interest. Are you getting the idea.These pages from the voque book, nice sturdy pages, join your pages together with wide 3 1/2 cm wide masking tape (the one I am using is smoother than some, when I join 2 pages together I leave just a little gap. These are pages from old books, nice and sturdy, I like to separate the ones with images with these pages.These are the amazing pictures out of the freshfruit magazine, just wait and see how these come out after further treatment.

How funky is this page from Freshfruits, this is going to look amazing. You can join different pages from different books and different sizes. You may not be able to see but on the old book page has torn when I was putting the masking tape on, but not to worry I will cover it with another page which will cover and strengthen the whole page. Well folks I am off to do the next step and will show you that in the next day or two. I really hope you will give it a go, if you do send me some photo's of the ones you do. Have fun

Jacky

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Online workshop

Recently I joined an online workshop at http://creativeworkshops.ning.com/ after seeing some journal pages in the latest Stampington Journalling magazine that I really liked. I was a bit apprehensive, wondering if I would find time to do the classes. I need not have worried as I was hooked, love the fact the materials you use are very transportable and the moleskin journal is a good size.This was way too much fun, as you can see I don't have a very straight eye, practise will be needed here. Love the doodling, you can do it while watching television too.

These bottom two are my interpretation's of the techniques.

I would recommend anyone who cannot get to classes the online classes are a good way to try different techniques. I had trouble with the videos, they took over half an hour to download and then when trying to view would only go so far, stop then go back to the beginning, I gave up in the end, I am afraid I don't have a lot of patience with computers, a love/hate relationship, have nearly sent it flying out the door on several occasions. The workshop I did was Pam Carikker's Shades of Grey.