Wednesday, February 23, 2011

another kind of adventure journal

I posted this journal page on my other blog (www.weRpiecework.blogspot.com) because it relates to that blog, too.  The journal page pictured here is from my everyday adventure journal-- a little butter box book.  I carry it with me all the time, and this past weekend was a good example of why I find it as essential as my car keys!  My friend Fran and I were at our favorite antique place, an enormous old tobacco barn stuffed with unimaginable objects, looking for old buttons to use in our recycled wallet-making enterprise. 

Sifting through some old magazines down on the floor in a dark and dusty corner, I spied a framed collection of old coin purses.  The frame was a  memorabilia-type frame, about 2 inches deep and hinged at the top.  The coin purses were pressed between the filthy glass and a deeply-stained ancient piece of foam rubber.  And what a collection!  There were about a dozen little purses and bags, some as small as about an inch and a half wide and high.  Some were elaborately embroidered evening-type bags.   One looked like a child's marble sack.  My favorite of all was a leather pouch stamped in gold foil with the words First Farmers Bank.

The collection was priced at $250, over my budget for sure.  But I had my journal, so I was able to sketch a few of them, and I'll be back there next weekend to draw the rest of them!

9 comments:

  1. Funny you should mention sketching things that are too pricey to purchase. I have and do the same thing. It is almost, I say ALMOST, as good as purchasing them.

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  2. I've discovered I needn't take home all the rocks and feathers and leaves I pick up any more when we travel, since once I've drawn them they are mine. Same idea, but just in the interest of reducing clutter. Paintings are good and sketchbooks are super!

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  3. very cool. i would have been tempted as well. what kind of paper do you use in your journal? it looks so hefty and textured.

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  4. The paper in this journal is some kind of Thai paper, perhaps Lokta. When I made this journal, I was in a hurry and grabbed the nearest paper to hand and it was this paper. It was part of a wooden stamp kit that someone gave me years ago. It reminds me most of cream colored heavy Lokta. And it IS very textured and hefty. It makes the book feel springy and soft at the same time. It's not the greatest paper for water media as the paint leaks through to the other side, but I don't really mind that. It's very good for my Pilot V-Ball pen, which is my favorite tool.

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  5. Now I have a vision of you sitting on an antique milking stool engrossed in your journal. Very nice! I always wonder though...how long does this take you? Say Hi to Fran, Holly

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  6. Awesome! You will see my latest efforts in my BBJ this week. Much love to you.

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  7. lovely!! I'm a friend of Melly's and she said me over her. glad I came.

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  8. Holly- It only takes a few minutes. I add the color later. I draw fast without worrying about art-- just want to help myself see and remember!

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  9. Love your Butter Box Book... Thank you for the tutorial. I used a tea box for my book and just love it! (pictures on my blog).

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