Out and About. ..

Setting up shop with HAPPY HERBS SOAP!

 

It sure was a wonderful weekend in the Catskills...

GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD TIMES...

AND GREAT MUSIC!  

All the journals come with a handy carry pouch, too!  

 

SNOW DAY...YAY!

With all the snow and rain and ice...

well, the perfect day to get back into the studio to CREATE!!!

Many personal journals that I started before the holidays came barging through, are now back in the production line of my

"creative chaos"!!!

And this little gem of a book was stowed away on a tall shelf, 

that decided to just come down...shelf, books and all!

 

Now, I have never read this little set of books (Vols. 1 - 4 only) that were sitting so nicely up on that shelf, which is probably why they were dumped on me at this particular time...

after many years up there. 

You see, I collect old books, just for the hell of it, I guess, 

but mostly because they look great up on my shelves...

And as soon as I opened up Volume 1, I read in the lovely old script writing of the former owner, how deeply she felt about the knowledge and intellect of this writer, Dr. Frank Crane.

However, it was the introduction to the book that captivated me so much that I proceeded to read through Volume 1.

Now this is exactly the type of "to the point" writing that speaks volumes to me...and it is exactly the style of writing that I like to delve into myself with good old pencil and paper.  

And it is this "to the point" set of works that I have been working on for years, and have just now decided after reading Volume 1 of Dr. Crane's Four Minute Essays, that this will be the "living legacy" that I plan to leave behind...books that I have written, in my own sometimes scraggly, sometimes elegant handwriting.  

No, not published works, but a true testament to what makes me "tick"... with a little bit of what ticks me off, too! 

 This little set of books FOUND me at just the right time!

Onward...2019!

 

  Feeding the birds...in memory of Ursula!

 

 

 

Write Your Own Happy Ending

Storytelling Alchemy

I have been asked by a friend, Miss Renee Damoiselle, to create writing journals for early registrants of her upcoming Storytelling Alchemy Retreat in lovely Chester, CT. 

The day job gets in the way of the creative flow sometimes, but lo and behold...they are done!

Included in the retreat, is a copy of Renee's new book...to be released on October 1!  Available now for pre-order on Amazon.  Just click the link at the top of this page.  
  

Each little journal, is at least 50 pages, all different types of paper, some are coffee stained, with pockets, and tucks and tags...and plenty of writing space to...

 Write Your Own Happy Ending...

Find the Divine...

Storytelling Journals

I have been asked by a friend to create a limited number of 
personal journals for early registrants in an upcoming

 Storytelling Retreat held by Renee Damoiselle. 

Now these are just a few of them, and each one is a OOAK work of art! No 2 are alike.  I just love all the textures on the front and back covers, and the inside contains coffee dyed pages, pockets, tags, tuck spots...many special spots and places for personal journaling with at least 50 pages in each one! 

 

Also included with your retreat registration, is a signed copy of Renee's new book scheduled for release on Oct. 1.  You can preorder your copy on Amazon thru the link up above.  

I love making these journals!  I love all the elements that are sharing space along with fabric and fibers, sassafras leaves, patchouli leaves, wood bark...whatever jumped out at me and screamed..."PICK ME"!  They are now lying on a bed of palo santo wood awaiting shipment.  And if you have never smelled palo santo wood...you should seek it out!  There's nothing like it! 

Thanks for stopping by...I'm in full "creative chaos" mode in my studio!  And loving every minute of it...(but, still have to keep the day job!)  

Aloha...

Tags I Received in the Swap

These are the tags I received from EC from an online 

TAG SWAP!!!  One for each of my daughters!

Love them...

Tis the season!!!

Not enough time to create more journals...they are allll gone!  YIKES!

 

What's her name?

Here's a little journal I made, inspired by a tag that came with an order of "crow bags" from Sherrie Cox. 
The thing is...I can't figure out what to name the vintage lady on the cover.  Any ideas?  Please leave me a comment about what her name should be!

With coffee stained pages, and a few tuck spots, a couple tags, there is plenty of room to
"write creatively". 

This little book measures 4-1/2" x 6", 40 pages, and it would love to hold your secrets...or a short story!  

I love making these journals..

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek.  

So, tell me...what's her name? 

Thanks to Diane and Karen...her name is:
Evangelina Rose! 

Aloha!

Altered Book/Hawaii

My resolution for this year is to, CREATE MORE ALTERED BOOK JOURNALS!!!

And here's the first one of the year, up and running, with the stash of coffee dyed papers screaming at me to be included. 

HAWAII by James Michener

A couple years ago, I went on an adventurous trip to meet some family members for the first time, to none other than Waikiki Beach...Honolulu bound, all by my big bad girl self.  It was crazy!!!

Now this book from the used book sale at the local library, was already falling apart.  So its guts just pulled out very easily.  

However, because the spine was so flimsy, I reinforced it with a piece of cardboard, glued in.  

 

Now, along with my incredible stash of coffee dyed papers, here is a peek at some of the things I collected during my stay...right on Waikiki Beach.  My brother made sure that I got plenty of postcards, matchbooks from the Chart House, where you can sit and sip your Mai Tai and watch fireworks on Friday nights...and some cool coasters from all the bars that he dragged my butt to.  Hawaii beers are quite good, btw.  Especially ALOHA BEER! Who knew?  

 

Longboard Beer is another good one, and of course I had to snag one of those coasters, too.  I gathered magazines, maps, saved receipts from all the shops and restaurants, and with the incredible photos that I took, this is going to be one great trip down memory lane for me...and also for my brother, an island native, who will be the recipient of this Scrapbook/Journal of our 2-weeks running all over the island.  Good times for sure!

A work in progress...

I even saved the receipt for the awesome Hula Pie plate that I stuffed into my suitcase.  Everything else, I had to ship home.  4 boxes worth!!!  And I will even use part of one of the USPS boxes that I used, because the flat rate boxes in Hawaii have a very nice message...

 

So far...so good...

With lots of pockets for the postcards and other goodies, this is going to be an interactive journal, that will also include my island cousins...more on that in my finished journal post! 

 

 So, ALOHA from Hawaii...and frigid New York State!  

December Beauty

Old Man Winter has arrived!

It's magical...and while I have many book projects and journals in the works, there comes a time to rest and breathe!

For me it is hard when I have this wonderful collection of gorgeous coffee and tea stained papers just calling my name, begging to be included in one of my creations.  

The stash has grown since this photo was taken, and it is filling an entire wooden box that smells so good with the wonderful coffee scent, and layered between the papers is palo santo wood sticks and cut cedar wood circles.  It smells AB FAB!

Oh, I'll get those journals done.  Not in time for Christmas, 

but oh, I can hardly wait to tackle this stack..soon!

Aloha!  FA LA LA and all that jazz! 

 

Journal Mania Giveaway Winners...

The two winners of a pair of these fabulous salvaged bookcovers, and a wonderful vintage cellophane postal envelope, full of paper ephemera to start your own Journal Journey...

are....

Bettsi Ledesma   and    Deborah Weber!!!

Thank you for stopping by to take a look at my
"long overdue/book renewals"... and for popping in on my art friends at Arty Tea Party. 

More journals coming out soon...and wait until you see my new paper stash...it is to swoooon over!

Here's a sneak peak...Aloha!

Hawaii Hiatus

Sunset at Waikiki

It's been quite awhile since I have been here to blog about altered books and other projects.  However I have a good excuse.  OK, not really, but planning a 2 week getaway 5000 miles away from home all by my big bad girl self, was a really BIG DEAL for me.

The purpose of the long trek to Hawaii was to reunite with my beautiful island Mama's family.  Most of whom I have never met before.  And what a beautiful family they are.  I am truly blessed.  Even have a little 13 year old hula dancer cousin.  And thankfully, I came back just in time to see the gorgeous colors of Autumn in the Northeast.  Culture shock going...and coming back.  But it's soooo true...THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, as I strum my ukulele...

 

So, I am back in the saddle and have many book projects, mostly journals, lined up and cranking them out for the holiday season.  And I'm gonna try my hand at bookbinding, too.  Yes, I'm rejuvenated and ready to dig my heels in...ALOOOOHA!

Linking up to Skywatch Friday here...and I'm actually early for once!!!  GO ME!!!

Journals

Some more journals...

Just finished 3 more journals from the book ends that I saved from the dreaded recycling stack.  I have jazzed them up abit using some of the end papers as well.  With 50+ pages, with pockets and tags and other paper ephemera to help tell a fantastic new tale.  Might even make a cool new art journal.  Lots of surprises within...  I have many more on the work table; some headed for my etsy shop, and some headed for the local Spring Fair.  That is if Spring actually shows up! 

This one is decked out in knit with a vintage pin.

Burlap flowers for this baby.

More burlap and a denim flower...yep, more upcycling!

And a great BIG shout out to Kelly for her awesome monarch photo postcard, and to my Dear Friend Nina of Happy Herbs Soap for the AB FAB stones she gave me for my newly fired clay meditation plate.   The tall point is Phantom Citrine and it is beautiful right next to the perfect specimen of Black Tourmaline, both grounding and protective stones that transmute negative energy. 

These are beautiful...thank you Nina!!!

Incense For Inspiration

The Mixing Mirror © 2013 hula.la

The first thing on the agenda today is to mix and roll some of my "passion" incense in order to awaken the  the inner spirit that influences my inspiration.  I burn incense constantly when I am home doing my "domestic" duty all the while sneaking in some of my creative chaos along the way.  On my vintage mirror that I use to gather my supplies, are the last of the Autumn mums and gourds, along with the dried herbs and resins to mix with the 2 year old homemade wine from the grapes at Two Crow Cottage that I use to 
create "passion".

Mini scrapbook or journal

 While the washing machine is doing its thing, I have a slew of papers spread all over my work space in order to complete at least one of the mini altered book ~ scrapbook journals that I started before the storm blew into town and disrupted my inspirational flow.

I can also fit dishes and baking into this little scenario because everyone is out and about, and I have the whole place to myself in order to just LET LOOSE!

Watch out!!!  And if you want to get some incense to enhance your creativity, visit Nina of 
Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage.