Pilgrimage to paperville

Saturday was amazing. We were on the road early to make sure that we reached the destination before closing.

I am not a garage/yard sale fan... in fact, if you see me perusing the table at a yard sale, keep driving. It's a sign that there is nothing here that you (ha! anyone!) will want. It's just a fact of life. But we stopped at a few sales anyway.... just to prove this law of (my) life.

Travelling along old US 12 there were also plenty of antique and thrift stores to keep us busy. This particular marvel of beautiful blue/rust was in front of a rundown used-to-be tourist trap, now permanent garage sale. Could anyone not love that blue? Yum!

We don't often choose to drive into big city Michigan, but the mission Saturday was specific... and it required going urban. Taking back roads made it a little less painful, especially when we came upon  endless fields of sunflowers!

Finally - be still my heart - we pulled into Ann Arbor, straight into the heart of Kerrytown. Pushing past the lo-o-o-ong line outside of Zingerman's, we finally arrived at - can you hear the angel choirs? - Hollander's! I was going to take pictures, but I was so overwhelmed by room after room of paper that I couldn't think of anything else.  Fortunately, I had determined ahead of time what my $pending limit would be. (I only went $12 over!) In addition to a brush and linen thread, this is what I brought home...

I'm so excited. These are so incredibly beautiful that I can't wait to see what I do with them.

So-o-o, what am I doing here?

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Book #1 - ready to go

My dearly beloved gave me an online art class (Mixed Media Variety Hour) for my birthday. I am loving it. The first project I have completed is this idea book... from start to finish, from pieces of paper to book board, from tape and PVA to needle and thread, I made this book.

You know all those ideas that gather dust in your head? No more lost ideas for me! They are going in this book so that I have a handy reference for inspiration.

I'm thinking of making more for all of the other categories that seem to languish in the dusty corners of my mind. Besides, it was too much fun to just do one.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might... Ecclesiastes 9:10

Booklet project

It's hot here. Really hot. And we get humidity that runs about as high as the temperature!

Now that I have that off my mind.... it's time for show and tell.

I have a booklet project in the works. Eight pages, filled with color, stitched and ready to be filled. In fact, the zendala created here was stripped to a single layer, ripped into random shapes...

 

... and added to the booklet pages.

This was my first attempt at making a single signature. Thanks to good directions, it went well.

All of the little tidbits that will tell the story on these pages are waiting for me to glue them in their proper place. Can't wait to hold the finished project in my hand. It's a gift... I need to get it finished!!!

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Psalm 67:3