Jeudi Journsl - Care

 Today the quote is quite a long one - "Once Upon a Time I didn't Care.  I still don't.  The end". I wanted to fit this quote in with Elle's great theme in the challenge at Art Journal Journey, "Steampunk, Halloween or Steampunk Halloween" and so I chose to have Steampunk featuring in my page and to help with the page I wrote a story about two witches.

"Elvira and her best friend Belladonna were off out shopping for a party they were setting up for the children  in the village.  Being witches, good ones you understand, they were able to do good deeds like this.  The children had been consulted and decided that they wanted a Steampunk Party complete with wings and things,  That meant the two witches had to make several pairs of wings for each of the children to wear and probably lots of cogs for them to wear on their heads like halos.  Elvira was so excited.

The two of them ran around the  town buying up what they could that would make for a lovely party for the children and the two friends hurried back to the village with their purchases piled high.

Jeudi Journal

 Talk about spooky!  I began this page in my square journal first looking for a clean page to use.  Most of the pages had some pencil work on them and I thought about erasing the pencil out but then I came upon a clean page altogether.  Great!  Now what should I have for my background colour?  Orange, Purple immediately sprang to mind but I would be stamping in black and using orange certainly for my pumpkins.  Taking inspiration from Elizabeth's page I decided to use Iced Spruce as it was a kind of grey colour.   Imagine my surprise when I found that there were white marks appearing underneath my  plain colour!  I looked closely at the page, ran my fingers over it but could not find anything that was causing this.  Definitely a Halloween page.

"Bella and her friend Hermione decided to dress the house in readiness for Halloween.  And so they decided to go to a pumpkin patch and buy some pumpkins.  It would be fun carving faces into them, something they had never done before.  So off they set but not before Hermione donned her witches hat.  She had been a witch in a production at school and so she loved to wear the lime green hat with it's purple bands going around it.

Bella was a bit annoyed, Hermione always had to take centre stage in whatever they did.  Well, she would find a broomstick or something when they got to the pumpkin patch.  Did they sell broomsticks as well?

The two girls made their way to the Patch but to Bella's annoyance they did not sell anything to do with Halloween, only pumpkins.  So she looked around and found a corner with a few pumpkins in and she managed to get up on top of one of them, balancing so precariously in her high heeled shoes.

"Look at me, I'm the Queen of the Castle" she shouted. "Coffee in one hand, confidence in the other" and with that she promptly fell off.  

"I don't know about Queen of the castle" said Hermione, "and where you get your coffee from I have no idea but I will say one thing, you do have bags of confidence."

Jeudi Journal - Watch this

For today's journal page I used Distress Oxides as my background, remembering Leandra's rule of three which she taught us in the early days.  And so I used Mustard Seed, Wild Honey and Ripe Persimmon as my three Oxides, the latter through Dylusions stencil DYS34261.  I felt a touch of Autumn coming on.

The quote we had to work with was "You think that's bad, watch this" and that had to marry up with Mia's theme at Art Journal Journey "Make Your Own Background"

"Billy was 14 and just discovering a love of 'girls'.  Lira was a pretty young girl in his class and Billy thought she was the love of his life.  She was brave, she was beautiful and she was clever.  What more could he want in a girlfriend?  'Brave"?  Well, how many other girls had their hair that beautiful shade of purple  in his class - none!  'Beautiful'?  You only had to look at her eyes to see into her soul.  'Clever'? Well, that could not be denied, she was in the top sets for most subjects at school

Billy discovered she had a love of all things spooky and so he told her about this old house just on the edge of town which was supposed to be haunted.  Lira wanted to go and so the two of them set off with Billy's younger brother and his friend in tow.  

On the way Lira told them a spooky tale which made their backs tingle and the hair on their arms stand up straight.  As they got to the house Billy asked if Lira was sure she wanted to go in.  She definitely did but the other to were not quite so sure.  

"Your story was scary" he said "But you think that's bad, watch this" and he opened the door which creaked ominously and a bird flew past them making for the open door.  The two young boys screamed and rushed outside.   

"Billy, I don't think we will come in, we'll wait for you here" said  his younger brother.

And so it was just Billy and Lira who went into the house.  Cobwebs hung from the pieces of wood that hung down where the ceiling had fallen in, adding up to the atmosphere.  It was dark with only bits of light from holes in the structure of the old building for them to see where they were going.  Everywhere creaked and moaned, the old house was falling down, it had had enough of trying to stay upright.

All of a sudden a bat flew past them and Billy jumped, grabbing Lyra's arm, and then they both noticed a pile of rags in the corner.  It moved,   Billy grabbed Lira's arm even tighter, someone was there.  The pile of rags became a person.  A tall man stood there but the two of them did not wait to see who or what he was.  They ran for the open door, shouting to the two younger boys "run, run" and the four of them ran as fast as they could away from the old house.

When they. stopped running and dropped down on the grass Lira admitted that the visit to the old house had surpassed any story she might know and Billy had been right when he said "You think that's bad, watch this."

Jeudi Journal - How Old

 My handmade background for Mia's challenge at Art Journal Journey is a mixture of Distress Oxides Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio over my page in my small square journal.  Then Mermaid Lagoon DO was put through Dylusions' stencil DYS34230 which I think is called something like Diamonds in the Rough.   Next it was Cracked Pistachio again but with the pad used 'direct to paper' to obliterate some of the starkness of the diamonds.  Finally a few water splats to bring out the true nature of Distress Oxides.

To complete the page it was a few question marks, hand drawn, to emphasise the quote and then it was one of the Dinky Dolls from Dyan coloured with Promarkers and the quote itself.

"How Old Do I Have to be Before I Have Any Idea What's Going On" is Dyan's quote we are working with today.  Although my page does illustrate the quote with the question marks dotted around the background Wendy and I make up  stories that are are enjoyed by so many and although some times we have to really scratch at the old grey matter to come up with a story we do so for our readers.  Here is today's story from me, Wendy's is here -

"Polly was thirteen. That age that does not seem to fit in anywhere.  Too young to be with the bigger girls and too old for the childish things younger ones get up to.  That is why she tended to talk to her little Dalmatian more than anyone.  Spot had been her friend and confidant for two years  now and she did not know what it would be like without him by her side.

There had been a lot of whispering at home and the family, mum, dad and teenage sister, tended to go quiet whenever Polly came into the room.  She knew there was something wrong and it worried her.  Magda, a girl at school, had been through a tough time with the break up of her parents and so Polly began to worry about mum and dad, but why would Deena, her older sister, be party to it?  She had asked her older sister but got no real answer as to what was happening.  It was question question question as far as she was concerned.  And no answers!

"How old do I have to be before I have any idea what's going on?" she asked of Spot.  Of course he couldn't answer but he did look up at her with his soulful eyes and wagged his tail.  "Oh Spot, if only you could talk". She bent down and hugged Spot, she really did love him.  "Guess we had better go back home and see if they still have some secret."

And so the two of them made their way home.  On opening the door Polly  was surprised to see the three of them, mum, dad and Deena, all stood there waiting for her.

"Surprise, Surprise" they shouted in unison and mum came forward and waved a ticket in front of Polly.  "We are going to Disneyland, you are going to Disneyland.  It's your birthday in two days time and you, Deena and Me, we are off to Disneyland in Paris for three days.  Oh please say you love it, your present I mean."

Polly just stood there, "but why is dad not going too?" she asked.

"I have a lot of work to do at the office and besides who would be here to look after Spot for you?" dad replied.

"There's nothing wrong then?" queried Polly.  "I mean you and mum, you are ok." and it all came tumbling out, the worry she had had that mum and dad were going to split.  Tears spilled down her face and both mum and dad went over to their youngest daughter and put their arms around her.

"Of course not, why on earth would you think that?"

And so Polly began to tell them about Magda at school and how she had felt they were keeping a secret from her but now she realised what the secret had been.  She bent down and picked Spot up holding him close to her face and whispering to him "Guess there are some advantages to being too young to knowing what is going on."

And off she skipped, ticket in one hand and arms around Spot.  She really must bring Spot a lovely present back from Disneyland."

Jeudi Journal - Catch Me

 Today the Dylusion Quote we are using is "My Only Advice for Dating Me is Catch Me While I Care" and the challenge at Art Journal Journey has been set by the lovely Mia for the month of September and is "Make Your Own Background" which is something Wendy and I do more or less the whole time with, usually, Paint or Distress Inks before we stick our Dylusion figures down on top.

This background was done with Distress Oxides, smooshed on across the whole page and then some through a stencil down the sides.  I wanted to use autumnal colours because it is my favourite season but then I realised I had been using similar colours throughout last month because Chris' theme was "hot".  I liked my background so much that I stuck with it and added two figures on top to tell my story both dressed in cooler colours.

"Bettina was a pretty little girl, fairly new to the village and so a big hit with the boys.  She was bright and quite modern with her hair a pretty pastel blue colour and she wore it in two ringlets down either side of her face.  Her big eyes attracted many a boy to her.  She was not as innocent as she looked and could look after herself quite easily.

She had made friends with Maggie, another attractive girl from school  and the two found themselves meeting up many a weekend to go for a walk or a coffee and making plans for the evening.

It was a lovely Saturday in September and the two of them had been into town buying themselves some nice pieces of jewellery in readiness for a party that one of the girls from school was having.  Bett was talking about Kevin, a fairly good looking boy in the class above them.  Someone had told her he was quite smitten by her and it looked as if he was going to ask her out  whilst they were at the party that evening. 

"So what are you going to do?" asked Maggie, "Go out with him or what?"

"Actually I think I am a bit young to be making such decisions" was Bett's reply.  "I might tell him that my only advice for dating me is catch me while I care."

"So does that mean you don't care?" 

"No.I quite like him but he is a year older than me so I think I should wait a bit, I am only 16 and I think I should keep him on his toes for a while."

"But a lot can happen in a year" said Maggie.

"So" replied Bett, "if it was not meant to be then so be it, if it was, we'll be seeing one another in a year's time."

Maggie shook her head, "Sometimes I wonder where you get that old head of yours from."

Jeudi Journal - Sense

 "Making sense is just not your things is it" is todays quote to work with alongside Chris' challenge at Art Journal Journey which is Hot Summer (Days and Nights) for Wendy and myself who decided to merge our own challenge (just between the two of us) and the monthly challenge over at Art Journal Journey.  Our own part of the challenge is that we must use Dylusion figures which can be a problem at times.

Today I am using a page in my Dylusion Journal which had some yellow and orange ink splodged about it so I went over the whole lot with Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide to try to bring the page into a nice orange like my page a couple of weeks ago.  This didn't work and you still see the kind of mess in the middle but it does look better than it was.

I've been trying to sit with my feet up as much as possible as instructed by the nurse to get my oedema down and to help my ankle heal so it is a rushed page and story.  But I have been cutting lots of figures out that I had already stamped ready.

"Sally was in her favourite position, lounging on the living room floor, when Anna called to see her.  Anna had recently bought a little puppy and she couldn't take it out for the moment - until it had had its next inoculations.  She had popped to see Sally, who had three dogs of her own, and ask her some questions about raising her new baby,  little Bobby,   He was gorgeous, just a ball of fluff and so funny and a wee bit mischievous.  

Sally loved being consulted about looking after and training dogs and so she went off full mode into giving Anna all the knowledge she could.  The only problem was that Sally could get carried away when speaking about something she really knew about and so her advice became a bit too much for Anna.

"I don't understand you, I have no idea what you are talking about half the time" she said, shaking her head.  "Making sense is just not your thing is it?"

"What do you mean? asked Sally.  "You came asking for my advice and I gave it to you and now you say that about me."

"Sorry I did not mean to insult you, please don't get angry.  I just mean you know so much about dogs and how to look after them, train them etc but you use words that I don't understand.  Remember you have had dogs for a good few years and are used to this language but I am new to the game. I know it should come naturally to me but I want to do it properly and give Bobby the best home possible."

"And so you will, well, as good as my three have. I will help you all I can but let's do it in stages rather than all at once.  If we start again and you tell me what it is you want help with right now I will do my best to help."

Jeudi Journal - Break

 "Phoebe had been going through a rough time at home, her husband had been worried about his job as there had been several redundancies in his department and they owed quite a lot of money here and there.  In short they had been living beyond their means.

His mood had changed and he had started sitting in the sun lounge rather than anywhere she was.  Each time she suggested they went away on holiday to somewhere romantic and the children went off to summer school he walked away and out of the house.  She didn't know what to do.  She bought him a new state of the art camera but he had thrown it in a corner of the bedroom and refused to pick it up.

It was Phoebe's fault, she had wanted to keep up with the Jones's as the saying goes.  She wanted the fancy house on the fancy close where all houses were designed by a different architect and to the owners taste and although they could not afford it Andrew, her husband, had given into her because he loved her so much.  She had wanted an electric car as soon as they became available, her kitchen was the envy of most of her friends and the twins went to the most expensive school in the vicinity.  The only thing she did not get her way on was a private yacht.

As Andrew said, what was the point in having one when neither of them particularly liked sailing.

It was a hot day in summer when Phoebe began to lose it.  She was out with her friend Sybil, the sun was shining and all she had to protect her was a head full of golden curls.  As Sybil said, she should have worn a hat in that heat.  Sybil had made sure her arms were well covered from the sun and she had worn a white straw hat herself.

All of a sudden Phoebe began behaving erratically and muttering about butterflies and numbers buzzing around her.  She began flapping her arms about and the shouting was growing louder and louder. 

"What on earth is the matter?" asked  Sybil.

"It's nearly time for my psychotic break" muttered Phoebe.

"What on earth are you talking about. What's a psychotic break?"

"I just keep having hallucinations, seeing and hearing things that are not there.  It's ok I am seeing a private doctor and talking these things through with him.  It's all Andrew's fault, he is obviously holding back on something.  It's helping now, just talking to you."

"Would it help it we went home, or called in a little cafe for a drink of tea.?" queried Sybil.

"I think I had better go home and ring Dr Smith and talk it over with him.  if only these butterflies would disappear."

And so the two young women started heading for home.  Sybil wondering if her husband, Peter, could shed some light on the situation.  After all he was friends with Andrew and she guessed they talked as openly to one another as women do."

I was lucky in finding this background already done, so with the addition of a couple of Aall & Create stencils (sun, letters and butterflies) I had it completed to work with the story and also provide a hot summer's  day for Chris' challenge at AJJ.

Jeudi Journal - People

 "The older you get the more you realise why you can't stand people" is the Dyan quote for this week and

 "it is a boiling hot day again in the north of England where we find Lottie and her favourite oldish aunt, Esther. 

Both were inside escaping most of the heat the best way they could by having the curtains closed  and eating ice cream.  Esther had said they would be cooler if they didn't have the TV on as televisions caused a heat of their own and so the two of them decided to play scrabble for a while.  Even that did not help with the heat and so Lottie suggested that they go for a walk down by the beach.  Surely the temperature would not be as high as it was elsewhere with the gentle breeze off the ocean.

So the two of them set off for a gentle walk down by the water's edge but it soon became obvious that everyone else had the same thought and aunt Esther was not at all happy.  You see, despite wearing her straw hat, the sun had given her a headache and she did not want to disappoint Lottie by letting her know that she didn't really want to go out, lying down on the bed would have been her idea of heaven that day.

There were lots of young people playing music, little ones becoming fractious with the heat and crying because they could not have yet another ice cream, mums and dads getting all het up because of the little ones and it all became a bit too much for aunt Esther.

"|I think I am going to have to go home" she eventually said to Lottie, "You see, the older you get the more you realise why you cannot stand people."

"Oh auntie" said Lottie, "I had no idea you felt like that.  I always thought you enjoyed being part of a crowd."

"Yes, most days my dear, but not today.  I think the heat has got to me and I feel quite sickly and certainly not my usual self.  Do you mind if we go home?"

"Of course not" said Lottie, and the two of them turned around and started heading back to aunties house where she could rest on the bed.  "Would you like me to stay with you a while or should I leave you and go home?"

"Oh sweetie, this is not at all like me and I think I would like you to stay a while but only if you do not have something else to do.  Perhaps give your mum a ring and see if she will pick you up on her way home from work."

And so the day ended on a rather sad note with auntie not feeling well and Lottie having to stay and wait for her mum when she would have loved to join her friends down by the water."

As  you can see I have used my big journal for this one so I could use a figure that suggests an older person who is rather tall.  The young girl used to be my favourite of the heads from Dyan until I got the stamps I used last week.  To begin with I used Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide through a Dylusion stencil  here and there on the page with the border on the same stencil around the edges.  Figures are coloured using Promarkers simply because I find them easier to use on something like this than any other media.

So that is my journal page for Chris's challenge at Art Journal Journey which is Hot Summer (Days and Nights) hence the hot colour for the background.  Funnily enough although I chose Rusty Hinge which suggests a brownish colour it it a lovely shade for a hot day which seems to be 'the norm' for most of us as where we live at the moment.

Jeudi Journal - Crazy

The quote from Wendy is "You can exercise all you want.  You're never going to burn that crazy off" for this week and the new theme at Art Journal Journey which is set by the lovely Chris from Pearshaped Crafting - "Hot Summer (Days & Nights)".  Chris and I have known one another for quite some time although we haven't seen much of one another since we had lunch together a year or more ago after a visit to Lavinia in Ruthin.  We don't live too far away from one another and we share several mutual friends.

To begin my journal page I covered it with Distress Oxide Crackling Campfire.  I was hoping to use my new figures from Dyan at Art from the Heart but they are too wintry in what they wear so I had to revert to some of my old figures because of the "hot" theme.  Not to worry, the dresses will be useful later but I did manage to make use of the heads which I was pleased about.  I think they are so cute!  I am hoping Wendy will buy Dinky Dolls 3 (I bought DD 4) and then we can share images with one another increasing our library.

"Petra had called to see her friend Lottie who was lounging on the floor.

"What are you doing down there, you look chilled or whacked out, can't make my mind up which?" said Petra as she walked in the lounge having been told by Lottie's mum that she was in there 'doing her thing'.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe how much I ache," replied. Lottie, "I did an hour at the gym this morning and I haven't lost an inch.  I need to lose some weight by weekend so I will have to go each morning.  Sorry, won't be available for anything else this week."

"What on earth has got into you, there is nothing wrong with the way that you look."

"I've told her that over and over" came a voice from the kitchen, it was Lottie's mum who had already given her daughter a pep talk about too much exercise and diets etc.  "See if you can talk some sense into her will you love.  She might listen to you.  Want a cuppa?"

"Yes please Mrs Smith" called Petra.  "Can I be cheeky and ask if you have any of that lemon drizzle you made left over?"

"I have, and that's not cheeky, you know I've known you since you were in a pram.  Your mum and I used to go to the park with you two all the time.  You're like a second daughter to me.  There's apiece here in the kitchen for you, just come and get it."

"Thanks Mrs Smith" said Petra as she picked up her cake and cuppa.

"Hmph" came a sound from the floor.  "I sometimes think mum wishes you were me."

"That's nonsense' said Petra her hands on her hips by this time.  You know your mum, and your dad both worship you.  Mine wouldn't let me die my hair purple for starters.  Anyway, back to this exercising you are keen on.  Why suddenly do you want to lose more weight, you look great?"

"Well Robbie Nelson is going to be there this weekend and I am sure he likes me. a little.  If I could get a bit more off my waist I could get that dress in Pauldens' window, you know, the one with the big gold belt and the swishy skirt."

"Oh I knew there would be a boy somewhere in the picture.  You can exercise all you want.  You're never going to burn that crazy off.  Why can't you just enjoy your time with me and the girls, why does there always have to be a boy on the scene somewhere?  We've plenty of time for that, for goodness sake we are only just gone seventeen.  I'm going to finish my cake and be off, let me know later in the week what you are doing regarding Saturday's party."

And with that Petra took her cup and plate into the kitchen, said thanks to Mrs Smith and left via the back door."

Jeudi Journal - Invite

The quote from Wendy this week is "Thanks for the invite but I would rather sew my head to the carpet".  Sounds a bit painful to me.  Now to put the quote together with some botanicals for Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey.  It's the end of the month and AJJ will be having a new theme on Friday so, as I already had another page ready with some big florals on it I thought I had better get it used.  Thanks to Halle for a great theme, for once Wendy and I were able to fit our quotes into the theme easily.  Just wish I had been well enough to do more entries.

I had used the other side of the journal with this painting on it and coloured the figures min but to me they got lost a bit in the background so this time I left them black and white.  The story?

"It was the end of the day at Halle Academy and Roger was hanging around in the school garden hoping to see Monica who was in the class above him as he had such a great big crush on her and his friend, Johnny, was having a party on Friday night.  Just imagine if he could walk in with Monica.  All the other guys would be jealous because she was so beautiful.  It didn't matter to him that she was a year older, and a good bit taller, than he was, he had loved her forever.

Just then who should walk around the corner, and on her own, but Monica.  The birds all started singing and the butterflies flitting about (not really, just in his imagination).

"Hi Monica", he called

"Hi Roger" she answered, "what are you doing standing there?"

"Err, I was hoping to see you, I know you walk this way on your way home.  I wanted to ask you something important."

"OK" she said, shrugging her shoulders, she really wanted to be on her way, her brother would be in and he had a gorgeous friend that she had a bit of a crush on.  "What is it?"

"Erm, my friend is having a party on Friday, there will be lots of people from school there and I think there will be food and maybe the odd bottle of wine, I know I am going to take one if I can sneak one out.  I was wondering if you would like to go to the party with me."

Monica looked down on him, he was a good year younger than she was, and he didn't even come up to her shoulders.  No, she certainly did not want to be seen with a squirt like Roger.  The sun was beating down on them and she was in this rush to get home.  What should she say?  Let him down lightly or put him off forever?  Oh to heck with it she thought.  He needed putting down thinking he could have a date with her.  

"Thanks for the invite but I would rather sew my head to the carpet" she announced as she flounced off.

Poor Roger stood there, so disappointed.  Well, if that was the way that she felt he wouldn't be asking her to the Prom come the end of summer.  In fact he wouldn't be asking her to go anywhere with him in the future.  She was nothing but a jumped up snob."

Jeudi Journal - Stupidity

"I may not understand your level of stupidity, but I do admire your total commitment to it"  is the quote Wendy has given me to work with this week.and I have  to marry this with Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey - Botanicals.  So you see two figures and two flowers on my journal page but what is it all about?  As usual there is a story to unfold which will explain it all to you.

"Betty Blue wanted to buy something special for her mother for "Mother's Day" and so she went down to Hyacinth's Bouquet (the name was chosen based on a British TV Comedy) a well known and very expensive Flower Shop; well known for it's exotic blooms which you didn't see in other shops in ths locality, or even in the bigger towns and city around.

Imagine her surprise when she saw her old school friend, Priscilla Plum, sitting there on one of the flower chairs.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, "I didn't expect to see you here today."

"I work here" was the reply she got.  "I am apprentice now to Madam Hyacinth, how can I help you?"

"Err, I want a huge bloom for my mother, something that she will remember for the rest of her life as being a gift from me on Mother's Day,"

"How about a nice little posy made of Forget me Nots, or a vase especially made to show off the beautiful smelling Freesia?"

"No, I want something exotic, a huge bloom that she will remember for the rest if her life" insisted Betty.

"Perhaps some lilies, always popular with everyone."

"No, not large enough and certainly not exotic. besides which, I have an allergy to them as have lots of people.  I would assume you would know this."

"Roses then, you know what they say about giving roses to someone."

"More for a man to give to a woman in my book.  No!  Can I have a huge. bloom that says exotic please."

"I know, perfect for you to give to your mother, Agapanthus.  We got some in a few days ago.  They are huge."

"Yes, they are huge, I agree, and my mother has a garden full of them, not exotic.  Is Madam about?  Perhaps she can recommend something.  You see I may not understand your level of stupidity, but I do admire your total commitment to it.  Now can I see Madam please?"

Let's hope that Betty got the type of flower she wanted for her mother.  I am sure Madam Hyacinth could oblige.  Perhaps the South African Protea behind Betty in the shop.

Jeudi Journal - Exception

 The quote for this week is "I never forget a face, but for you I'll make an exception" - the quote must appear on my page and in my story and there have to be some botanicals on my page to comply with Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey.  The two elements make up the rules for my journal page with Wendy which we have been doing for simply ages.

"Jacinta had taken herself off to the local Botanical Gardens in the City.  It had proved be too hot a day for wandering around and she had decided to give most of the hot houses a miss which was a shame because they had the most spectacular specimens in them.  She just about managed to go in the Temperate House mainly because the Lotus flowers were in there and were quite a sight to see.

It was whilst in there that a young woman had turned rather quickly and stood hard on Jacinta's left foot.

"Ouch" shouted Jacinta, "that hurt."

"Pardon" said the young woman who was much taller than Jacinta, "are you speaking to me?"

"Yes I am, you stood on my foot and it darned well hurt." said Jacinta.

"I don't think so" came the reply.

"You jolly well did.  If you look you have left a mark on my shoe and I think my heel is bleeding  as a result."

"Nonsense, I was nowhere near you" said the woman in the white dress.  

Jacinta was, by this time, feeling a tad annoyed, there was nobody else about and she hadn't managed to stand on the back of her own shoe.  If this woman wasn't twice her size she would have a right go at her.

"You need to watch where you are going and not walk into people in the future, and just remember I never forget a face, but for you I'll make an exception and make sure we are never in the same room together again." and with that Jacinta turned and wincing a little, as her heel really was smarting, she hobbled out of the Temperate House and went and found a bench to sit on to examine her heel.

Luckily the woman didn't follow but she really had spoiled what could have been a lovely day.  "Think I will go and get a cuppa and a cake to cheer myself up" she thought as she stood up, a bit of sugar was good for shock wasn't it."

I took great care to make sure my words were straight but the scan was skewy as you can see if you look down the left side where the ring binding is.  Just not time to do it again as I need to be at the doctors in 15 minutes.  Sorry.

Jeudi Journal - Repeating

"There's no need to repeat yourself, I ignored you the first time." is the first quote of a new set Wendy has sent for the next few weeks.  Unfortunately I am away from home and I have not got any of my Dylusion stuff with me so I am doing what I can to make a page for this week.

Luckily I found three Dylusion figures, one was headless and the other two minus legs.  I decided I could get away with the legless pair if I put them at the very bottom of the page.  Today we went to Sizergh Castle and I tried my scooter out again along the pathway which goes up to a farm.  I have never seen so many butterflies in one space for a long time.  The field had been mown but they had left a large border and sown wild flowers in.  It is a picture of pink and white but I did not know the species.  It certainly attracts the butterflies.   

Sorry you can hardly see them

Anyway here is my story for this week - again apologies for it.

"Miranda was known in the village for being a busybody.  She always knew what was going on, even behind closed doors, or so the villagers thought.

It was late Friday and poor Pip was just walking down the village green by the floral display when Mirand seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Have you heard about the young couple at number 6" she asked.

"No" said Pip.

"Well apparently they have been trying for a baby for the past few months and nothing has happened so her father has given them some money to try with VHS."

"Oh VHS?" said Pip with a smile on her face, "I think you mean IVF, but is it really any of our business and should we be talking about it?"

"Do you remember me telling you about old Mrs Dyson, well ...?"

At this point Pip wanted to get home and start tea before her husband came in from work.  She turned and started to walk in the direction of her house.

"I said" shouted Miranda, "Do you remember me telling you about old Mrs"

At this point Pip turned around and said "There's no need to repeat yourself, I ignored you the first time.  And that was two days ago.  You really are a bit of a busybody and you should keep your tittle tattling to yourself."  She turned again and marched off at a quick pace, there, she had finally told Miranda what the whole village felt.  But should she have been the one to say it?  To late!  It was done."

So that is my story, sorry it had to be done in a rush and without the proper equipment.  Must go as friends are due shortly and I need to change.  Do go over to Art Journal Journey and see what Halle has done for inspiration for her theme Botanicals.  Perhaps join in.  You know you want to.

Jeudi Journal - Diet

 "Nina and her friend from school, Diane, were meeting for the first time in years, well, about three to be exact.  They had arranged to meet outside the gardens in town and they were going to go for a coffee after Nina had had her hair done.  It was one of those heavy oppressive days where a thunderstorm is threatening so Diane was hoping that she did not have to wait for long.

Along came Nina, right on time with one of her usual fancy hairstyles.  You never knew what she was going to do with her hair, especially in their younger days when she had worked part time shampooing for a local saloon and things hadn't changed much as they got into their thirties.

"Hi" said Nina as she hurried um to her friend, "I haven't kept you waiting have I?"

"No" replied Diane, "I had only just got here myself.  I was hoping you wouldn't be long as I am ready for a spot of lunch."

"Oh" said Nina, "I thought we were just having a coffee."

"Yes, we were," replied Diane, "but you see I am absolutely starving.  I'm on two diets - one doesn't give me enough to eat so, if it is ok with you, could we have lunch please?"

"Certainly" replied Nina with a smile on her face looking at her old friend.  Diane had certainly put on weight since she last saw her, in fact, at first she had wondered if her friend was pregnant.  She hoped it was the coat that Diane was wearing that made her look like that."

I made the thundery background with some Pan Pastels and then used some Lavinia shops to create the scene behind the two girls.  To comply with the theme at Art Journal Journey which the talented Halle has set for us which is Botanicals.  I hope my trees in the background and the flowers between the two girls will qualify for this theme.

Art Journal Journey

 Scraping in on the last day of June (where has it gone?) to join Matilde at Art Journal Journey with her fabulous theme - People.  I jut haven't done enough pages and so rushed in at the end with three in succession.

Today we have two aspiring  (note not inspiring) girls dressed in their frilly tutu's dancing in the local ballet school production of Swan Lake.  Just imagine how proud their parents must have been as they watched the twins on stage.

Little did they know, but Meghan had a strong desire to be the White Swan and so she had made an attachment for her head-dress so that she felt like that is who she was.  Obviously she had little knowledge of the story, maybe if she had she would not have wanted to be the White Swan.

Another page which I found already sprayed up.  All I have done is stamp some swans on it to represent the ballet (looks as if Meghan is riding on the back of one of them), and cut out a white swan which is peeking out                  of the top of her head-dress.  Meghan obviously thinks she looks "the part".

Art Journal Journey

I almost gave this a title as it shows the young boy waiting on the wall for his girlfriend.   What a shame she turned up with her younger sister.  Perhaps her mother had done it on purpose, made her look after her younger sister, or maybe it was just a coincidence.  I wonder what happened next?

I decided to join in with Matilde at Art Journal Journey who has People as her theme this moth,  I meant to post this one yesterday but had a bit of a problem  and so it is getting close to the wire, or should that be July 1st?

Like Friday's post the background was one I found in a drawer on which I stamped some brick walls, added a couple of strips of masking tape, some script and a splat!  I had obviously covered the card with some Gesso to begin with and then I think I had used sprays to give some colour.  They do have a lovely sheen to them.

There is only tomorrow left to join in so I am hoping to do another page but there is no telling what will happen.

Women

 Well, on Thursday we had a blog page headed "Men" and today we have one headed "Women".  I wanted to do another page for Matilde's challenge at Art Journal Journal and so came up with this one featuring women.

I've wanted to do an extra one or two during this month but my health has not allowed me to do as much as I wanted, the perils of aging.  So here I am, at the end of the month, with at least one page but there is another one complete and one in my head.

I was helped by the fact that searching for something I found some journal pages I had done quite some time ago - just background colour, so knowing Matilde's challenge was People I searched in the drawer of Tim Holtz figures and selected these three women.

I had bought an Andy Skinner stamp called Enigma a while ago and not used it so I inked it up and stamped patches of it here and there.  A favourite stamp of mine was done by someone I used to know personally, Penny.  And so I selected two of the complex creations (Mandelbrot set) which I like as patterns in their own right, and a title was born for the page.

So here is another page from me for Mathild'e's challenge at AJJ - hope you like it.  I'm close to the wire but hopefully can get at least another one in.

Jeudi Journal - Men!

 Have you ever wondered, as the two on my journal page today obviously have, about men and science?  The quote I am using today is "If we can put one man on the moon, why can't we put them all there?"  No, well does this quote make you start to think?  Or does your other half/brother/son or whatever male is in your life not annoy you enough to think like that?

"Eden and Lacey were two good friends, both married with one child - Lacey had a little girl, Eden a little boy.  The children had been born just a month apart and so the two girls spent a lot of time together.  This day they had gone a walk together whilst both children were in Nursery.  It was lovely to hae time to themselves without the children, although they loved them dearly.  

They had wandered to the edge of town where the woodland started and they stopped by the old ramshackle house that used to be quite pretty in its day.

"Oh, it's so good to get out in the fresh air" said Lacey, "just what I needed after the morning I had."

"What's the matter?" asked Eden, "Robert annoying you or is it Darcey, she seemed ok this morning when you dropped her off and I never noticed anything between the two of you?"

"Oh it's Robert, as if you wouldn't know.  He is so annoying.  At times I think he wears those darned head phones just to block out my voice.  I have to ask him something at least three times, the third time shouting so he can hear me.  I get quite worn out repeating myself over and over again and finally shouting at the top of my voice.  He really is so annoying.  If we can put one man on the moon, why can't we put them all there?"

"Erm, I can see what you mean and I fully understand why you feel the way you do but all men aren't the same.  Paul is a gem and I have no desire for him to be banished to the moon."

"Not today you can't but just wait until he annoys you and you will see my point.  I'm think of getting a dog and teaching it to chew plastic things like his ear phones."

Eden looked at her friend smiling as she did so and she did understand, it wasn't the first time Lacey had mentioned how Robert was permanently attached to his computer.  She knew she would hate for Paul to be like that.  She also knew Lacey's mood would change in a tick when she saw her beautiful daughter again.  She did look so much like her daddy that she couldn't be mad at him for long.

jeudi Journal- - Cooking with Wine

 This week our quote which we have to marry to Art Journal Journey's challenge is "I love to cook with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food" sometimes if we are doing a special meal and cooking it together we have a glass "for the cook" ie we both have a glass of wine.  Does that ring a bell?

In my story today we have Clarissa who is sat down wearing darkened glasses when her friend calls.  Effie, het friend, wonders what on earth Clarissa is doing sitting on the floor with her back to the chair.

"What is the matter - and why are you sitting on the floor?" she asks.

"Oh, nothing I felt a little woozy and so I sat down, but I missed the chair and ended upon the floor.  It's quite comfortable to be honest and I find it good for my back to have the chair behind me."

"Oh dear" said Effie, "Do you think you need to see a doctor?  I mean having dizzy spells at your age isn't good."

"No, no need to panic" replied Clarissa, "I love to cook with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food.  Maybe I drank a little too much this time."

Effie looked worried, it wasn't like her friend to drink to that extent, maybe she should see a doctor but if she wouldn't go there was not much she could do about it.  "I'll just keep an eye on her over the next few weeks" she said to herself.  "Shall I put the kettle on and we can both have a nice cup of tea?"

This was a page in my square Pink Pig Journal that had Gesso or some kind of modelling paste pushed through a stencil or two in various places on its surface so I just went over with DO's Cracked Pistachio to reveal what was underneath, looked like a bit of a mish mash of stencils so I left it.  I wanted to find a wine bottle or label inn my stash and came across this for Vermouth.  It fit quite nicely in the gap and so that was my journal page finished for this week.  

Think I had had a bit of wine when I put the quote on at the top.  It's a bit skewwy!

Jeudi Journal - Face

"I wouldn't pay for a face like yours, I'd ask for a refund" is the quote to be used today with the challenge with Wendy.  Matilde at Art Journal Journey has chosen 'People' for her challenge so I am marrying the two together.

"Lori has been to her favourite boutique in town, La Mode, which stocks clothes with a slight French air about them, at least she thinks they are chic and suit her.  As she walks out who does she bump into but Janine, her near neighbour who she often sees at the local tennis club.  Lori does not care for Janine and Janine does not care for Lori so the atmosphere is often quite cool when they do meet.

"Did I just see you coming out of La Mode?" asked Janine.

"Yes, I've just been ordering something for the Awards Evening at the Tennis Club" she replied.  "I thought at first I wanted something black but Madam showed me this gorgeous gold number and I just fell in love when I tried it on.  Can't tell you any more than that, probably shouldn't have even mentioned the colour, you'll just have to wait until the Awards to see it.  Have you got your dress yet, I presume you are going."

"Of course, and I had my dress sent over from Milan.  Saw it in a magazine and just could not resist it.  The only way I could get it was by ordering it from there direct.  I've just come from the Beauty Box, trying different make ups.  I like this blue eye make up she has tried on me today.  It was supposed to be taken off but I couldn't resist just leaving it on.  Have you thought of doing something like having professional make up done for the evening?

"No" replied Lori, "I have a cousin who works at the television studios and she is so good at make up, I am going to get her to do mine for me.  Won't cost me anything either.  How much will yours cost?"

Oh, it's quite expensive but then it is the best in town, I mean you just have to look at my eyes now."

Lori looked and smiled a little, not that Janine would notice, she was too busy admiring her reflection in a shop window.  Lori could not help herself "I wouldn't pay for a face like yours, I'd ask for a refund" she said as she turned and walked the other way.

It hadn't registered with Janine, she was far too busy admiring herself in the shop window.

The background is an old one in my square Pink Pig Journal which was made with Distress Oxides in greens and blues (probably Pistachio and Broken China) with various background stamps scattered over.  It had two winged figures on which I tried to cover with the figures and the shops.  It was about time it got used.