Hi Everybody!
Today we are celebrating the start of not one, but TWO new challenges - at
We have a new hostess at Art Journal Journey, Mary Nasser, and the new theme
that she chose is 'maps'. We are happy to have Mary with us, as she is an established and accomplished mixed media artist who specializes in maps, and also designs stencils and stamps. She also has a home page which you can visit to learn more about her. She made us a wonderful piece to start the month, and you can see it on the AJJ blog.
I hope to see many of you joining in again, and projects of all formats are welcome!
For my start up piece I made a hybrid creation, using an 18th century map of London (courtesy of Wikipedia) as my background. I chose the part of East London by the Thames and docks where I was born and grew up, as I still feel very much attached to this corner of the world. The Beefeater is standing guard over the tower of London, which was a couple of hundred yards away from where we lived. If you look under Mr UM's umbrella you can see 'Well Close', which at my time was called Wellclose Square. The area belonged to the 'Freedom' or jurisdiction of the Tower for hundreds of years. Many of the old building there have sadly been pulled down in the meantime. The place where my great Grandparents settled when they immigrated to England was in a little court off the square, it is even possible to see the house they lived in on the enlarged map.
I think the little girl with the camera is a symbol for me, as I loved having a camera in my hands, even when I was small, but the camera had no film in it!
I love the place where I live now, but That corner of London will always be my home.
At Moo Mania and More our new challenge is 'Masculine'. Once again,
projects of all formats are allowed, not just Moos, so hope to see lots of you there in the next two weeks. I made a mixed media piece on a painted and stenciled background. The postcard has a torn-paper background, and the image has been made with a mod-podge transfer and then clear varnished.
Yesterday evening the temps started rising after the stormy day,
and you could see the water steaming off the fields:
Later on, when the steam had more or less cleared, everything had a bluish glow:
The sun managed to get up this morning, but I was up an hour earlier!
Some photos taken before the big rainfall:
And these were afterwards.
Have a great day, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!
Both pieces are wonderful, but I really love the first one as I know what it means to you. Fantastic photos too. Hugs Sarah
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comment above - I really think both pieces are brilliant but that the little girl represents you as a child, that is very special.
ReplyDeleteWishes
Lynne
Great London piece -- I can feel you certainly left your heart in London Town. A good start for the "Masculine' theme as well. Photos absolutely lovely. hugs, Donna
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work for the themes Valerie and your flowers are stunning. I heard France is also getting a lot of rain.
ReplyDeleteI think maps is a great challenge to follow journeys. And I love your page. I think the black, white and red main colors always looks wonderful together. And you have that new TH stamp that I love. Your Moo Mania piece is very nice too. I love the vintage gentleman. He looks like he's thinking of something he knows about but no one else does. Have a great start to the new month. June-wow. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteToll ist Deine London Seite - eine schöne Hommage an Deine Geburtsstadt!
ReplyDeleteUnd die Doppelseite ist ebenfalls wunderschön gearbeitet!
Es ist also kein WUnder dass DU so schöne Fotos machst immer, wenn Du schon als Mini geübt hast-lol!
Viel Spaß bei den Challenges diesen Monat !
Bussi
Susi
It looks like you are going to have fun with the AJJ challenge. It's a fun one, and I'll have to put on my thinking cap.
ReplyDeleteMoo-mania and more also looks like fun. I may have something I can actually enter for it. Your entry is just perfect.
Your photos are amazing. I can relate to steam, but I fear the mosquitoes that will soon find their way to our doorsteps with all this rain. The flowers are lovely, whether they've been in the rain or not. Hope you are having a wonderful day.
Both great pages Valerie and I am so pleased you used your personal map area as it is so special to you.
ReplyDeleteThe masculine page is wonderful with an amusing quote.
Great photographs as always -hope the sun shines for you today--we have rain, wind and cold again.
Love Chrissie xx
It's been raining cats, dogs and horses these past few days, and today is no different!
DeleteDie schöne, alte London-Karte hast du toll in Szene gesetzt! LG Ulrike
ReplyDeleteGreat artwork today Valerie. Love the pops of red on your first one! Your photos are so gorgeous today, wow!! All the misty shots are amazing and well done with the roses and raindrops!! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteOh another wonderful AJJ challenge that will keep me working/playing in my travel journal. Nice to "meet" a new artist too.
ReplyDeleteYour vintage London map piece is wonderful (the black n white n red is so dramatic!) and filled with the extra meaning of your childhood home ♥
Your journal pages are excellent too. Funny I used a masculine image yesterday for the first time in a long time.
It is steamy hot here in Virginia.
Thank goodness for air conditioning.
Happy June my talented friend oxo
Yes, I knew you would like the idea!
DeleteMarvelous map page and so perfect for you as London brings back fond childhood memories. Now I know why your photos are so amazing. You have been perfecting your technique for years. We all enjoy what you share each day. Red oriental poppies are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
C
Yes, that would account for it!!
DeleteThis is truly a work of art. I love the mapping. Wonderful photos too.
ReplyDeleteSuper pieces for your challenges Valerie, and great themes too! Beautiful photos also!
ReplyDeleteGreat pieces today Valerie, and fun themes for the coming month xx
ReplyDeleteOoh, I just love that old map. The pics you put with it are perfect.
ReplyDeleteFab masculine page. Love those vintage images.
Hugs,
Teresa
Hi, Valerie. Since I entered AJJ in May for the first time, thanks to you, I guess you will entice me to do it again in June, haha. Just wanted to say that I enjoyed your childhood story. I have actually visited the Tower grounds, in fact, in June 2004 when we did Europe, I can remember not going into any of the buildings very long, spent most of my time sitting out on the grounds and it was so so pleasant. Just think, I was right around the corner from you maybe, were you there in 2004? xoxo
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if I visited in 2004, but maybe! I used to love sitting outside and watching the Thames and the Bridge.
DeleteLove your art journal pages filled with maps! Your limited palette of colors in these is wonderful and rich! SO excited to be hostess of AJJ this month! Thank you! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLovely art journal pages with such clever use of images.
ReplyDelete