Round Robin Spoiler Alert- Kim's Journal

 Well, this is sadly the last of the Round Robin Art Journals in this swap. It has been so much fun playing in all 7 books. This is Kim's Art Journal and she is a very vibrant spirit. She loves color, whimsy, collage and words, so I tried to incorporate these things in the 2 page layout I did in her book.

 Everyone included a bird symbolizing the Round Robin , so I chose a sweet little blue bird in flight.

                                " Live Life as if it were Created just for you"~ Maya Angelou

 This card made me laugh. It came from overseas and I love the way it was written. "It will flick in my Gizzard if I can't make an Z". It seemed whimsical enough to be included here.

 This is Kim's journal cover. Isn't it gorgeous?! She is such a wonderful artist. I am always envious of her use of color. Her work always seems so HAPPY.  =)

                                                  This is the back of her journal. Love it!
                                       Hope you have time to create something fun today!

Maggie and Stephs Art Journal Spoiler Alert

This is Steph's Journal. Isn't her cover just gorgeous?! She wrapped it in one of her painted canvases. I am so taken with her paintings. She is uber talented! Uber...not sure that is a word? But you get the idea.

 

The prompt Steph gave us was to do something that represents what inspires you/your artwork. Well nature inspires me. Swirls appear in every doodle I have done since I was little. I also love color and inspirational words.

 

 I chose the quote: "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom". Marcell Proust  Stephanie and I love to garden and her blog is named Dragonfly Studios so I included a dragonfly.

 This is Maggie's beautiful cover. Isn't the color so vibrant and happy?! She painted it inside and out with these gorgeous rich colors.

 Maggie loves the sea and so I decided she needed a little bit of the summer to keep her warm during these fall days in Pennsylvania. Look there is a playful sparkling mermaid splashing in the water.

 The quote I chose for Maggie's pages is by none other than Jacques Cousteau himself. Who better to quote than that guy, huh?.

 "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in it's net of wonder forever" So true, so true.

Through my macro lens

I was out in my garden this afternoon with my macro lens prepared to take a picture of a dragonfly. Well, it flew away just as I prepared to click the shutter. So since I was out I decided to take a few closeups shots. The one above feels so romantic to me. I love these multi-colored flowers. They appear to have tiny little flowers that make up the large bloom.

  I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.  ~Henry David Thoreau  We grew great big Elephant Ears from bulbs, this year. They are enormous and I just love their curves and rippled edges.

Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose.  ~Author Unknown This is a hibiscus bloom all snug just waiting to unfold it's gorgeous petals and show off it's fuzzy little round headed stamens. 

I hope you are enjoying the remnants of summer. I missed the fireflies this year. There weren't any here. :( But there were lots of these little guys that live on the front shrubs. They are tiny and bright orange with long spindly black legs. I had to get really close to capture this one. Nature is so fascinating, refreshing and inspiring. Enjoy! 

Priti Lisa's Art Journal Spoiler Alert

This is Lisa's Art Journal. Isn't it so cool?! I love the metal  and rusty elements. She added the number 8 because there are 8 of us participating in this Round Robin.

These are my 2 pages. She loves Saints and crosses and quotes so I tried to combine all of those in my layout.

 

I added a few quotes that I think are special, like Lisa. One is Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint you can on it. ~Danny Kaye

 

Saint Anne and Mary

A favorite quote of mine that suits this art journal...

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do"~Mother Theresa

Frida Kahlo is one of Lisa's favorite artists so I included one of Frida's quotes. "Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?"

So I packed her up, added a bow and sent her flying off to the next artist, Kim.

Hello Sunshine

 Hello Sunshine!

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow" ~Helen Keller

Myrtle Beach Vacation

 

A few pics to share with you all in this lull of mine. We vacationed in Myrtle Beach 2 weeks ago and of course my camera was by my side many of the days. I loved this rusty old lock. It has so much character. 

 You all know how much I love old chippy paint, well my heart started to flutter when I got under this pier and started looking at the nuts and bolts. The green on the wood is so pretty and the bolt looks like it has been there for a hundred years or more. Don't you just love it? I know I'm a little wacky but I do love it.

 This was my view from under the pier. It made me think of how comforting to know we are always watched over. The architecture is so neat under there. It's like a little chapel.

 This was our view from our condo on the 16th floor of the Sea Glass Tower. It was magical. Every night we watched the Sky Wheel lights change every second and the bungee towers on the right were always active. So many people being flung 300 feet into the sky and then that sudden drop back to earth and then back up again...and so on. Over and over. We could hear the screams from the excitement when our patio door was open.

                              I played around with the pier image and I really like how it came out.

 

 Yes we are a goofy bunch. From left to right toprow, our Daughter Alex and I, Alex, BIL Scott, Husband Jack, and niece Sarah, Bottom row left to right, SIL Lisa, our Daughter Alex and the rugged lock. We always have fun in shops with hats and masks. We can't help ourselves.

Our Daughter Alexandra, Moi, and Hubby Jack going to dinner to celebrate our daughters 20th birthday.

Round Robin Spoiler Alert Angie's Art Journal

This is the spread I did for Angie's Art Journal.

Angie loves hearts and vintage ephemera and red.

This thought came to me when I added these layered hearts and the skeleton key and lock. Art unlocks the heart. It really does. There are 8 lovely artists participating in this Art Round Robin. 

Home is where the heart is was my inspiration for this little house. All dolled up with layers of goodness, just like our lives. 

Have a lovely weekend friends! We are heading to the beach for vacation. I can hear the laughing seagulls already and taste the salty air...aaaahhh...

Spoiler Alert Kat's Round Robin Art Joural

 

 Kat's Round Robin Art Journal. I did 2 pages. My inspiration were branches of friendship. True friends anchor us like roots do a tree.

"A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart"

 

I wish you sunshine and happiness friend.

The Snowy Owl

The owl is wary and wise

He knows the names of the stars in the skies

He hoots and he toots

and he lives by his wits

but mostly he sits...and sits...and sits.

Like a whisper in the night, the snowy owl finds delight.

I used chalk and oil pastels for the backgrounds. I liked the way the colors blended.

I hope Kat likes it.

Have a lovely week friends.