I finally finished the purse I have been working for such a long time. I don't know why I had such a struggle with it. The colours haven't shown up very well so I will take another photo tomorrow in the daylight.

These are the signatures ready for my journal workshop. Now for the embellishments.

I spent quite a bit of time today scanning photos, birth certificates, passports, marriage licences, etc. I am looking forward to the embellishing.

It was very hot here today and yesterday, it's supposed to cool down by Tuesday. Too hot for me so I have stayed at home in the cool.

I have had two busy days. Today was fun, I went to Lonsdale Quay with a friend for fish and chips, went to Dunderave (a little village near the beach in West Vancouver) and then went for a long walk along the seawall back to Park Royal (a mall) and caught the bus back home. It was a lovely sunny day, not too hot. perfect.

This is my second zendala. I haven't done any more since, I bounce around from one thing to another so I never get bored. I don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing but it would sure help if I had more room.


These two watercolours are ones I did several years ago - I don't actually remember doing them- I just found them amongst my stashed away paintings and paper. I didn't like these when I did them but I quite like them now. That is why it is not a good idea to throw things away when you don't like them. This has happened to me quite often. I rarely like things when I do them but looking at them with fresh eyes presents a different perspective.
I really like watercolours and they are really a better option for me because of the toxicity and smells of acrylics. I think I am going to sign up for an on-line watercolour course when I am finished with the journal workshop. I have also signed up for a one day workshop on how to put zippers in purses. This is on September 4th at Spool of Thread on Kingsway Ave. Lots to look forward to!!

FLOWERS IN THE RAIN

I have been busy today dyeing more paper with tea and tearing it into pages. I also almost finished a crazy quilt purse but I didn't have enough fringe for the bottom so will go buy that tomorrow and finish it. I tried to make a mini collage the day before yesteray and it ended up in the garbage, I was too tired and it just didn't come together.

I worked on the September newsletter for the building where I live and took some photos of my neighbours garden to go with a poem she wrote for the newsletter. It was about summer rain so I took photos of her flowers with rain on them. I also put some hydrageas in the lobby to brighten things up. All in all a very productive day.

Today I had fun preparing my journal pages and some trims with coffee, tea, berry tea and walnut ink. I did one page with Lumiere paint and some acrylic ink and I don't like that one so I will have to doctor it up. I will do the other side of the pages tonight or tomorrow. I don't have much room in my little studio apartment so everything is scrunched up on my patio. Fortunately, it is a hot, sunny day. You can see the sunny shadow across the pages. I just realized I forgot to dye some cheesecloth so I will do that now, it will only take a few minutes. the great thing about using these things for colouring and dyeing is that they are non-toxic. I have become pretty sensitive to chemicals so this is a real bonus and added to the enjoyment. Also, environmentally friendly! I have been getting things ready for my mini-collage so will hopefully get that done this evening. Will post it later.

I touch one strand
the whole web dances
Back on track, I am so happy I created something today! This is my second mini collage. It's a good start and I will do some work on my journal later. Feels so good!!!

Here I am back again after almost a month of absence. I just joined and On-line Journal Workshop http://kiwicarole.blogspot.com and I hope this will get me back on track with my creativity. It looks like so much fun. Ever since I found DJ Pettit's journals I have wanted to learn how to do this type of journal. I already have pretty much all of the supplies so I am ready to go! I didn't do any more mini collages as I got caught up in some medical tests (everything's fine) and helping my neighbour by packing up his apartment and helping him get settled in the care home he was moved to. Things didn't get off to a very good start for him but he is sort of settling in now, doesn't have much choice really.

So now back to focusing on my creativity. I am really looking forward to it and meeting all the new people taking the Workshop.

Here is my first mini-collage. I am not terribly thrilled with it but I can see it is going to be good practice for making bigger ones. It actually looks better here than in real life. It was a good experience because I had many interruptions while I was doing it but it didn't matter because it is just for fun.

The sun has gone behind the clouds again they are never far away in Vancouver but the temperature is very warm. I am lucky down here by the water as there is almost always a cool breeze.

I have been helping several people lately and am really questioning what that is all about. I like to help people but the universe is blocking some of the things I have done and I wonder if it is telling me to mind my own business. Do you wait to be asked or do you offer? Not sure where the line is because I seem to be innately programmed to help - as many women are - and just automatically offer my services. I monitor myself to make sure I am not overdoing or doing things I don't want to do but the universe blocking things really has me questioning myself.

An example is that a neighbour who has no family or friends went to Mexico for medical treatment. I had been dropping in on him from time to time just to see if he was okay and if he needed anything. He called me just as he was going in for his treatment and then I didn't hear from him again. He was to be home in five or six day so after a week I called the hospital and there had been some issues and getting him home seemed to be one of them. I offered to meet him at the airport not thinking it may be a late night arrival. It turned out to be 10:50PM. I took a cab to the airport (I don't have a car and don't use public transit at night) waited until 12:15, asked the people at the information desk if they could check if he was actually on the plane or held up in customs but they were less than helpful. They said whether he was on the plane or not was confidential. Anyway, I finally left and waited until this morning to call the airline - making sure he hadn't arrived home later because of some delay - and contrary to what the airport personnel said they were more than happy to tell me he was arriving today at 11:30AM. So, I am pleased that he is home safely, but I am out $61 in cab fares and don't feel I can ask him to reimburse me because he didn't ask me to meet him. I went into it knowing he may not pay me back so that is not the biggest issue. The biggest issue is should I have minded my own business and not offered to go to the airport?