Saturday 23 July 2011

New journal page and a new studio woop woop!


Borders and hand by Tumblefish Studio
Paints and inks by Dylusions
Butterfly - magazine image

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER! Yay! 6 whole weeks of not getting up early, wearing my PJs all day if I feel like it, and more importantly some time to make art. Here's a journal page I did in my A4 (12 x 8) journal. I think you can guess what it is about! I actually used a quote from our school summer show - a child-friendly version of The Tempest by Shakespeare. The line comes right at the end of the play when Prospero is asking to be set free from the island where he has been trapped for 12 years.

Here it is as a work in progress:


And here are a few close-ups of the detail. I  hand-cut the circles from backing papers by Tumblefish Studio and scribbled round them a bit:


I built up the background layer by layer using paints and inks by Dylusions and a harlequin template by Crafters Workshop.


I wrote the quote with an old-fashioned dip pen. I love its unpredictability.


Now, with reference to a previous post about my new super-duper huge journal ... some of you asked me just how big it is. Well, it's this big!! This is HUGE for me - I started this art journey making tiny ATCs!


For the last few weeks we have been in chaos in our house as we moved my son into his new big bedroom (my old work room) and I moved into his old bedroom. It was complicated because we have an old house and it's NEVER just a lick of paint, it ALWAYS involves stripping about 100 years worth of wallpaper and replastering. Emptying the room that I had been creating in for the last 7 years was scary - my art stuff spread into 5 rooms and for the last few weeks I haven't been able to find a thing. 

But now my son is sleeping peacefully in his colourful new bedroom, and finally I have a work space that I can call my own. It is small but beautiful and it is MINE ALL MINE hahaha!

Here, let me show you around. Here's the view from the landing. Do you like the eye chart? Isn't it totally fab?! (Ikea of course!) It lights up and everything!


My eclectic collection of pots for paintbrushes and pens:


A close-up of my work area. Doesn't it look ... er ... clean?! Don't worry, that won't last long.


Here's the new storage (ikea again!). Everything has its place, the trouble is I don't know my way round it yet .....



Here's my little friend Ratty. I love him for his lop-sided quirkiness. He's even got a tattoo.


I made this angel quite a while ago, but a couple of weeks ago I found this rusted bird-cage in a florists in town. I think it's really meant for a plant, or maybe a candle, but probably not a trapped angel. When I was a little girl I used to long for a fairy in a jar, not a stuffed one - a real one! I think this is the closest I'll get.


I love this lampshade (Ikea again!). I was shopping with my mum and she said that she though it was horrible but I think it's a bit funky and a bit unusual (and probably a real dust trap hmmm).


And finally just a couple more of my favourite things. I found this whimsical bird in a shop on Mull, Scotland. I desperately wanted him but I was worried that he wouldn't make it home with all his toes intact. But lots of bubble wrap and a bit of TLC and here he is in his new home, alongside a cute hand-made bear:


The question is .... how long till everything is splatted with ink?!

Byeee for now.

52 comments:

  1. Love your journal pages and a whole craft room to yourself? I have craft room envy! I'm still squished in to a space behind the couch!!!

    Kathyk

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  2. Fantastic page kate, and OMG !!! that new book is HUGE !! (I'm still on A5 size lol).
    Love your new room. Sure you will have tons of fun in there
    isa

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  3. It's gorgeous Kate. I recognize the question about how long it will stay paint free. But then it had it's day of being new, so go create in it and make it your own, with splatters and all. I love your big book. Love the page you did today. Somehow your collages come out a lot better then mine. Lucky I am in the class with you tomorrow. Need to go to bed now, so I can open my eyes tomorrow morning... Vivat Ikea. Grin. My scrap room is also furnished over there, in the Leeds version!

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  4. Oh wow that is a HUGE journal, I thought my A4 size was big but this ones a whopper........
    Your studio looks lovely Kate and so does all your terrific bits and pieces. Have fun and enjoy the weekend, Annette x

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  5. Love your bird with long legs from scotland and the eye chart is fab asbis your craft room. I am amazedbyou have fitted everything into the one wall cupboard, my stuff is everywhere LOL. Great journal page, love the hand. Enjoybyour six weeks off and your new craft space. Tracy xv

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  6. Hi Kate! happy summer vacation to you! It's funny but I am also on my summer vacation and I live in a very, very old house that makes little painting projects into huge wallpaper layer removals, too! AND my workspace is a small room but I love it. Now, there our similarities end as my workspace is a complete and total mess...and I should be cleaning it now. Have fun relaxing and creating! Woot! Kathy

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  7. that is a HUGE journal...love it!! And I love the space you've shared...(if only the eye chart at the doctor's office lit up like that!!!).

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  8. thank you much for sharing your inspiration space...plenty to spark creating! blest be :)

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  9. Nice work area. Good luck in keeping clean.

    funny, you started with ATCs. I started with inchies.

    Enjoy your summer break. Ours is almost over. 3 weeks I think.

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  10. Kate!!! Congrats!!! You've made it through another school year!!!! Enjoy every single minute of your freedom, my friend!
    That is a really big journal...have fun filling it!!! And, I love, love, love your new studio!! So very clean!!! Enjoy your very well deserved break!

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  11. absolutely love the big journal!!
    and your studio looks great...i had a love seat in mine and removed it for fear it would get splattered...nothing is safe in here.

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  12. Wow Kate... so much to see... love your new journal page and that journal is a whopper...
    Your new art space looks awesome... totally love the pics of all the little additions... especially your bird... how cute... enjoy the hols...

    Jenny x

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  13. Great page - love the colours and especially the blue butterfly. Have fun in your new room :-)

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  14. I loved the tour of your studio, it looks so clean and neat. Mine always looks like a bomb went off! Enjoy your time off.

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  15. That art journal really is super huge, but I love that size. It is full of promise and carries all kinds of possibilities. Isn't it interesting how we eventually dare to enlarge the size we work on?

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  16. Your space looks wonderful Kate...I'm sure it won't be too long before it looks paint splattered! You've given it a real homey look with the banner and your handmade angel (love her cage) and Ratty and bear and your little Mull purchase :D
    Oh, just one thing - do you actually sit on that stool to art? Is it comfortable?!!!! :)
    PS - forgot to mention the fabulous page... it IS fabulous! And your LARGE journal...wow, that is big...look forward to seeing more in that :)

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  17. Love your pages, and that space is so lovely.

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  18. That's one big book!
    Happy new studio!

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  19. Kate your journal page is amazing. the quote so perfectly suits the image, wish I were as clever.
    Your craftroom looks wonderful, I have similar shelve my OH made and thats where the similarity ends! Mine is such a mess I'm going to clear everything out into cardboard boxes and refubish my room. Ikea is about 150miles away so I'm going to look on line. Love the illuminated eye chart and your quirky bird. Enjoy your summer break xx

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  20. Love your page, such a gorgeous background! I can't wait to see what your are going to do with that huge art journal.. Your studio looks great, Kate!

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  21. Love that big book! I have just ordered both your DVD's but will only be working in A4. My workroom needs to be re-organised and de-cluttered this week as I want to be able to include a large table from Ikea that has adjustable legs. The fun will then be able to start. Enjoy your summer break.

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  22. What a great space you have created! I am deeply envious of anyone who lives within 30 miles of an IKEA!! It's one of my dreams to move and refurbish a home with loads of storage from there!!!
    I understand your trepidation with regard to a bigger journal - I just acquired an A2 watercolour pad from a friend who moved abroad and that sems huge too!

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  23. Super exciting having a new work space whatever the size and yours is small and beautifully formed lol! Thanks for showing us around.
    Love your journal page. Lots of elements that fit right together. Love the words.
    x

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  24. What a fabby space to craft in :) never mind it will soon look and feel like home lol and your new book is awesome
    njoy the summer break :)
    Von x

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  25. Fab you have a new craft space, get that paint out immediately !!! Love your arty bits too !!

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  26. OHhhh, Kate! Your new space is BEAUtiful!!! Bright, cheerful and so arty! Don't you just LOVE Ikea?!?!? Hope you spend lots of happy, creative hours! BTW - I took a bit of a bloggie break and missed your B'day! Happy Belated!!! Your New BIG journal is fantastic1!! What a wonderful gift your husband gave you -- the gift of creativity!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo

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  27. That's a scarily HUGE journal Kate, but I can see why it might be fund to work in such great big pages! Your room looks lovely - and if it gets paint splattered that won't matter, because they're your splatters, so that's OK innit?

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  28. What a wonderful journal page. I love quotes so i like that you put a quote on the page. Your Journal book is HUMUNGUS! I have never seen one so big! I am envious of your new craft room! I especilly like your mouse and your angel in a cage. Have fun in your new room! :)

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  29. A whole room for yourself - I am soooo envious - my work area is a tiny bit of the table in the kids play-room!! And what a huge journal!

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  30. Love your gorgeous journal page!

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  31. love the look of your new clean room LOL :)

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  32. Well, everything looks splendid. JUst splendid!
    And I ADORE Ratty! He's adorable! - Kathy

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  33. Wohow, thanks for sharing your craft place with us, it looks wonderful, I wish you many creative hours there.
    Your journal pages are wonderful as ever, I really love them.

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  34. What a wonderful post, love all your goodies and your studio, love the journal page, as usual, even better IRL. Had another fabulous day Kate, really enjoyed it, and you are so patient, encouraging everyone, some more good tips to boot, thanks very much xx

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  35. oh kate...i LOVE your new studio. it's amazing and SO clean! i love your rat. i use to have 3 pet rats: millie, mollie and mabel. everything in your room looks great! i'm happy for you!

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  36. Love the big journal although I did think you had taken it to the opticians to photograph it until I read down and saw that you bought the eye chart from Ikea!!!! Your new craft room looks great, love all the little nicnaks that make it your own x

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  37. I love the journal, what an inspired present! Also your room is fabulous, you have inspired me to set to and give mine a clean up! Lovely stuff, enjoy the hols.

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  38. Fab artwork you show here on your blog! I know you will have lots of fun in your new studio........
    thanks for visiting my blog.........have a fun week!!

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  39. Fabulous! I paid my son and his girlfriend to help me sort my craft room out and we're nearly there! It's one of those jobs I've
    know for a while I couldn't do on my own!
    This is my first Summer without a school summer holiday! Very weird. But it's nice to not be absolutely exhausted at the end of July and needing to just collapse in a heap.
    Your huge journal is FaB! My dylusions paints arrived this am Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

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  40. Gorgeous room and beautifully decorated.

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  41. Journal page is gorgeous as usual. I don't think I could cope with that enormous journal book. Your new crafting space looks good and I just love that eye chart and all your little funky creatures.
    Thanks for a great day yesterday loved every minute.xx

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  42. Oh goodness Kate...that book is huge isn't it?

    I love the way you have worked that pointing hand with that quote & adding the butterfly has made the whole page feel really poignant.

    As for you craft room.....its way to tidy hahahaha but it looks fabulous my lovely xxx

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  43. It's wonderful when your new work space is all fresh and organized. I love it at that time. Seems like it's so much easier to keep clean and tidy. I hope you will be able to keep it semi paint-splatter free.

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  44. CONGRATS KATE!!!!! My issue of Artful Blogging arrived on Sat. It is so cool. So much fun to see my extremely talented art friends published. My blog banner made the cut for Banners We Love at the back which thrills me. Your newest journal page is gorgeous. I made myself a huge journal a few months ago and it's such fun to work in. And your studio is lovely. I'd love a room to call my own. Congrats again!!!!

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  45. Hi Kate,Love ♥♥♥ your page and WOW what a new Journal! Your crafty space looks really comfy and airy and I;m sure you'll enjoy creating in there. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Love S xx

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  46. oooooh wow loving your new crafty space!!!!! and wow your new journal is HUGE!!!! I am new to the art journaling thing and have just bought myself an 8"x8" book, and I thought that fairy brave, I am a bit daunted by the size!!

    Love your page ... love all the layers and that fantastic butterfly!!

    Hugs Juls

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  47. What a whopper!! cor, that's a big 'un if ever I saw one.. not sure I could afford the paint to fill a journal that big!!!

    Super background of course, :D

    LOVE your new sparkly room packed full of goodies. Had to smile at your Mum thinking your light shade was horrid!! I loves your birdie with the big feet..xx

    Fabby finished journal page. Hope the show went well and your son had a fab birthday.xx

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  48. What a great new workspace! I bet you can't wait to get started!:-)

    Also, I am intrigued by your jumbo-sized journal...I am like you, in that I began my artistic experimentation within the pages of a small watercolor journal. I tend to be really intimidated by large paper or canvas...but I think it's something I need to tackle, in order to grow!

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  49. What a great post Kate. I love your new craft studio. I wish i had one. I have recently being doing some journaling too so its lovely to come and see someone else's work. yours is inspiring, fabulous work.
    If you get time, please pop by my Dezinaworld blog today as i have a free collage sheet for everyone. I hope you will like it. Have a great day !
    June

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  50. Your studio looks great and oh how I long to take a class from you!

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  51. Lovely post...absolutely adore the 'set me free' journal page and your craft room looks yummy to me; wish I had all those cubbies to be my art supplies in! Hugs, Maggie

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  52. Your journals are stunning!!! I am very new to art journaling (have completed one of kirstys classes and just started the second). I intend to continue journlaing - its great way of escape for me!!!! I also intend to follow your blog. Such an inspiration x

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