Tuesday 23 December 2014

Collage, Christmas market and cats

Hi Everybody!

Today I feel more or less normal after my birthday excesses - it won't happen again for another year! Sorry that some readers missed my photos yesterday, I am showing a lot today to make up for it! I visited Ratingen today, a neighbouring town, and had a look round the old town and Christmas market, although it was very cold, wet and windy!

For Art Journal Journey I have another collage to share. This one has been made with one of my collaged wooden hearts, mounted onto corrugated card. The heart was painted with gesso, and collaged with pieces of torn paper, printed and hand-written. Then I gave it a coat of diluted gesso before adding the rose rub-on (LaBlanche). Then I added some gilding flakes before giving it a coat of crackle varnish. The corrugated background (A4) was painted with gesso and sprinkled liberally with Frantage EP in white and gold and heat embossed. Then I collaged more paper scraps and gilding flakes before fixing the heart and some brocade ribbon. I will use this as cover for a journal.








The Christmas market and Church






A beautiful, vintage carousel:




One of the old houses:




The main entrance to the Christmas market:



And last but not least a lesson in relaxation after supper from Lucky and Lilly:
Stretch out on the floor;


Make yourself comfortable:


let your eyes close:


Sweet dreams!


Have a great day you all, take care, 
and thanks a lot for coming by!

26 comments:

  1. A beautiful collage Valerie. Love the creative art forms you employ. your work always fascinates me. Love your photography as well. Love the relaxation tutorial of your cats. I will be visiting more as time permits in 2015. Thank you for the E-card. It is beautiful.

    Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR.

    Many Hugs & Blessings
    Jim & Jill

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  2. Lovely romantic collage. Sweet cats and nice photos, sorry about the weather. Happy Belated Birthday!

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  3. Love the collage, and all the different techniques you have used in it. The photos are wonderful, love the market and old houses, and of course those kitties are priceless! Hugs, Sara

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  4. A very beautiful collage Valerie. I just love the crackle on the heart--I have never mastered crackle at all but love to see it on projects.

    What wonders you saw on your travels. I felt I was there with you. The close-ups of the old fashioned Merry Go Round are wonderful

    The stars of the post have to be the beautiful cats and the way you captured them in the photographs is magic.

    Hope you are fully recovered from the birthday treats now and have a great day.

    We are going to join the crowds to do our food shopping for the holiday--that should be fun--NOT.

    Love Chrissie xx

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  5. Merry Christmas to you. Lovely looking collage here my friend and beautiful design. and,,,,just love the gorgeous photos....thank you ..xx
    {The Journey is the Start – my personal blog}

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  6. Eine wundervolle Cover Seite ist das Valerie... fabelhafte Texturen..so schön!
    Dein Weihnachtsmarktausflug war schön! Danke für die Fotos..

    diese beiden Katzen erinnern mich sehr an Garfield! LOL!

    Knuddel!
    Einen wunderschönen Tag!
    xxx
    Susi

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  7. Happy belated birthday

    The Christmas Market looks fun

    Karen x

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  8. Fabulous collage! Thanks for the ecard - beautiful. You got me with the photos of the cats, I love them. The white cat looks as if it might have attitude! Enjoy your Christmas.

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  9. Your collage is stunning Valerie, so, so lovely!
    I have a wish that I will, one day, visit a real German Christmas Market. Just the images make me feel warm & fuzzy inside and Wee Man would love to ride around and around on that carousel.
    Your cats look so chilled, I hope the enjoyed a fine cat-nap (hehe).
    Sending you warmest Christmas Wishes for a fine festive time, from Wee Man & I ((hugs)) :o)) xo

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  10. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the collage ♥♥♥♥♥ The Christmas Market is so charming and who doesn't love a Merry-go-Round ♥ Wishing you the best Christmas ever!!!!!

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  11. Looks like a great time was had by all (including your cuddly and cute kitty kats!!!)
    Another December birthday girl!!!
    Keep celebrating your beautiful creative life liebe Valerie ♥
    thank you for sharing so much goodness with us.
    I enjoy each and every visit with you and sometimes have no words to express and that is saying a lot for me *ggg*
    Your crackled heart bursting with roses and touched by golden flakes is oh so lovely!
    fa la laaa to you and yours
    oxo

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  12. Oh my goodness!!!!!
    First your piece is gorgeous. so beautiful and vintage. I love the little adding of paper and the gold is perfect.
    Beautiful Beautiful.
    The photos...oh thank you thank you for sharing something so beautiful and dynamic. The detail of the carrousel..what it must be like to see such a beautiful thing.
    the homes and the feel you are making me want to move there...so beautiful.
    hugs
    susan s

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  13. Just gorgeou, beautiful collage, Valerie. Love it and your wonderful photos.
    Your art is always enjoyable to see.
    I wish you Merry Christmas, hugs xxx

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  14. How nice to see the market, the different interesting buildings and church.
    Love to see the cats, cats know how to relax, they are beautiful in all positions and they know it, and too fat? -who's worried about that? - fat is beautiful.
    Oh and I enjoyed your arty heart too.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, must be nice never to worry about your figure or fat rolls and just enjoy life and relax....

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  15. Oh nein, wie schön sind deine Katzenfotos! Ich liebe Katzen so!

    Jetzt werde ich wohl 2 Tage offline sein, meine Kiddies sind da - und die Blogposts für Weihnachten vorbereitet...
    Habe du ganz wunderbare Festtage, liebe Valerie!
    Herzliche Grüße von Ulrike

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  16. Beautiful textures on your page, the heart looks amazing. Loved the photos especially the comfortable cats.
    Yvonne xx

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  17. After a day of food shopping, rearranging furniture & pulling out holiday dishes, etc., I feel like your cats right about now! I could do with a snooze or at least a rest, but there is so much more to do! Your collage today is very romantic. Love the vintage carousel, too!

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  18. I fell in love with the cats I just shared your post with my son who works in the oil field. He loves it all and the fat cats lol
    hugs
    susan s

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  19. that Christmas market in ratingen seems to be wonderful...
    hope you have a peaceful time and can relax...
    best wishes, johanna

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  20. Oh my that sleigh on that roof is exquisite!! Thank you for your lovely photos- and your mixed media piece is just luscious with all of that yummy texture!! xoxo

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  21. Beautiful collage. I love the crackle paint, the gold and your rose looks so vibrant and real.

    Cute kitties.

    Merry Christmas,
    Teresa

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  22. Was für ein fantastisches Cover! Tolle Texturen und so viele schöne Details! Einfach klasse! Danke auch für die wunderschönen Fotos!
    LG, Annette

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