Monday April 19

Here's another journal page that I set up for writing on later.  I used the cutouts from the Bo Bunny papers to make the patchwork background and then added the lovely little flower card front.  I bought a whole bunch of these flower cards at Marlowe's in Kennebunk and will get more the next time I'm down that way.  This page feels like a summer sunrise or sunset to me even though I think of this particular Bo Bunny line as fall.  Still looking for that perfect pen...

Sunday April 18

I set up this page for journaling later on.  I'm still looking for the perfect pen to write over chipboard stickers without smearing.  I am also thinking that it will be a "letting the cat out of the bag" story, but I don't know what that will be as I don't think I have any cats in bags at the moment.  The "Live What You Love" tag is from a card line label--I found this whole line of cards that use this slogan and really bright colors.  I think it's the perfect motto for me right now.  If I don't love it, I'm not going to do it, be it, think it, live it.  Don't you just love the image of the cat peeking out of the bag?!  Looks just like my Tinsel cat.  I think my journal is evolving into something other than what I had originally thought it would be.  I'm liking what I'm discovering as I create these finished and unfinished pages.  

Saturday April 17

I've been trying to figure out what to do with the large collection of paper dolls I have acquired.  I'm thinking they may become card fronts like this page--papers, an interesting color image, a paper doll and some of his/her clothing.  This is one of the Mary Englebreit dolls from her magazine.

Some of the other dolls I have are ones cut from old magazines that have been named on the back in some child's script.  these are some of my favorites.  I also have babies, quintuplets, children, and male and female adults.  There are tons of clothes including ball gowns and sailor suits and a variety of accessories.  I think I could have some fun with this.  I'm wondering if there is a market for this kind of card.  Maybe I need a card rep...

Friday, April 16 For Miro

I made this page last night for my friend Miro.  I know it's awfully pink and girly for a guy, but it was just what I needed to do.  Miro is dying.  I expect that he will leave us today.  The butterflies for me symbolize that transition, of moving from this realm to another, of transformation, of hope and peace and love.  All that pink is love.  Waterlilies hold some kind of magic and incredible strength and beauty.  Miro has been that magical, strong, and beautiful person, witty and joyful, artistic and creative.  I will miss him.  I don't know how to say all of what I'm feeling today.  I am grateful to have known and loved this incredible young man and I will always treasure his friendship.  

Monday April 12

Friday, April 10

I love this Brassai photograph "Fortune Teller, Paris, 1933" and have several postcards of this image tucked in a variety of places in my little house.

I am fascinated by Tarot cards.  I must have eight or ten decks.  I love the imagery on the cards and the intuitive significance I find when I draw a card in answer to a question.  I have studied Tarot with Jeanne Fiorini, an expert practitioner in Tarot.  I have notebooks and books that I can refer to for more interpretive ideas when I do a reading for myself.  I do not read the cards for other people.  I have not done a reading for myself in a long time, but I will sometimes pull a card for the day to see what is there for me to consider.  I think that my intuitive skills are stronger because of the Tarot.

Some of the art I create is connected to the Major Arcana in Tarot, the list on the righthand side of the page.  I have made tiny Tarot houses for individual cards.  I created a series of Fool image cards and three-dimensional constructions for The Fool, The Magician, The Hanged Man.  I made a stained glass piece for The Empress.  I have made personal shrines that include Tarot images or symbols.  I have created a series of 52 cards based on drawing a card for the week for a year.  Some of these things I have given away, some I have sold, and some I keep.  I guess this post reminds me that there is still work I can do based on the Tarot, both for myself and for others.

The April Journal

I'm back to working in a smaller journal again.  On the cover I combined a clock sticker with chipboard butterflies on top of the packaging from the other two dimensional stickers I chose.  I decided that the page format for this month would consist of a central image and a list.  This will be a Book of Lists about things I am interested in.  I'm not sure yet whether I will do a page for every day like I've done in my more recent journals.  It's already the 8th of April and I've only got one page!

My favorite food is BREAD.  I really do believe that I could live on bread alone!