Wednesday 21 October 2020

Midweek Post

Hi Everybody! 

Life seems to be getting curiouser and curiouser. The Covid numbers are rising, and we are getting new instructions and rules on a daily basis, which is good, but sometimes confusing, as the rules are varied from district to district.  More people are really wearing their masks,  and once again toilet paper is a valued commodity which people want to hoard - a bad sign! And we are all suffering because of the strikes which are being carried on . Yesterday and today we had no trams, trains or buses, some hospitals and many kindergartens have been closed. I am not against strikes, but this is not the time for it. And we still have no heating here....

I have made a lot of journal spreads in my new 'junk' journal, and am having fun working in this format (16" x 8"). The background was painted transparently to let the background show through. The crows and sentiment were stamped onto tissue and then pasted on with art potch:



I drew over the tree with a gelato:



In this one the background is not transparent as it had a little coffee accident and had to be repainted. Shame about the coffee, though! The tree was painted, the three little cuties are part of a Gecko Galz image, the stars were stenciled:





I am linking to Chris' 'Hold the line' challenge at AJJ

The photos were taken this morning before and during sunrise, but it was so cooooold on my balcony! Still, some things are just important:













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

63 comments:

  1. Love your balcony photos, I hope the heating is fixed very soon, you have been without heating for too long now. Your junk journal pages are wonderful. Our virus numbers are slowly going down here after a strict lock down in the city, hopefully they stay down.

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    1. Thanks. Glad to hear the numbers are going down again. Stay safe and well!

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  2. Hi Valerie wow what a wonderful colourful post,I love the colours that you used in your junk journal and wow love your witchy pages,well done my friend on your beautiful work,And wow look at the colours in the sky truly amazing Thankyou for sharing them with us Valerie,stay safe my friend and take care xx

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    1. Thanks, the sky was truly amazing yesterday. Stay safe!

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  3. I am so worried about everything going on in our world, things just seem to get worse by the day! I can't believe you still don't have heat, that's just ridiculous. I sure hope it will be repaired soon. Your art and photos are all fantastic as always. Stay warm and safe. Hugs!

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    1. The world is in a sorry state just now. We will somehow get through it all! Stay safe!

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  4. Beautiful pages and photos. Really hope the heat comes on soon for you. Yes, these are crazy times. Halloween has been cancelled in virus hot spot areas.

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    1. Thanks Christine. It's sad to cancel festivities, but it's a side effect we have to accept just now! Stay safe!

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  5. Gorgeous journal pages Valerie! I love the backgrounds and that fabulous tree with the eyes, cute kids too! Stunning photos, the sky are beautiful. I can't believe you still don't have heat... sending warm hugs :)
    Tammy x

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    1. Thanks Tammy, and for the warm hugs, much appreciated! Stay safe and well!

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  6. Sorry to hear you have no heat yet. That is just crazy. I love both of your journal pages. The witches are very cute and crows are just perfect. I love the transparent feel. Thy are both perfect for Chris' challenge at AJJ. But I will say your sunrises are gorgeous. Hope you have a nice warm blanket to coat while you watch. Happy mid-week. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Thanks Erika. I dress very warmly just now, and hot water bottles and blankets are always available! The sunrise yesterday was extra beautiful! Stay safe!

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  7. Amazing art pics VJ. Love your nature photography... Where is this place?

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    1. Thanks Ashok. It's the view from my balcony! Stay safe!

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  8. So sorry to read you are STILL without heat. I feel for you. It's supposed to get quite warm here tomorrow. Then there is going to be a hard freeze on Thursday night, so I have to get my plants in. I hope you aren't getting hard freezes there, especially with no heat.

    I love your transparent page with the tree and the birds. It is lovely. Your coffee stained spread is beautiful, but spooky. That spider with his web and the tree with the eyes are scary. But the cute little witches are adorable. Thanks for sharing these with us at Art Journal Journey using Chris's theme.

    Your early morning sky shots are wonderful as always. Couldn't pick a favorite today, because they were all splendid.

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth! Have a great day, stay safe!

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  9. Hi Val, good morning! Hope you had a good sleep. It's still dark and cold here, I hate getting up in winter. Love your beautiful journal pages again, you get better and 'more better' as little S says! Wonderful photos. Take care of yourself, stay safe, too! Hugs, Sarah

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    1. Good morning Sarah! Thanks, I'm pleased I'm getting 'more better'! Have a good and safe day, and look after yourself, hugs to all!

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  10. Hi Valerie, do you have electric? if so do you have electric blankets there or heating pads? those would help to keep warm brrr Your art is wonderful and I Love your sky photos very much hugs from the lake Kathy

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    1. Thanks Kathy. I have an electric back heater and have lent it to a neighbour, she's very old and needs it more than I do just now. Stay safe and well!

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  11. Good morning Valerie: I didn't get up this morning until just after 7:09 am, unheard of for me! i am usually up a little after five. I guess my body needed a little extra sleep. Congratulations on putting crows into your artwork. I will be sure to let the locals know that their brethren in Germany have achieved stardom, but I doubt that will impress them too much. The situation with your heat is getting a little ridiculous. i hope you have an electric space heater or something similar to add least add a little warmth. It is nit so long ago that you were sweltering under conditions of un unbearable heat. This morning we have to go for our flu shots and there is a whole rigamarole attached to it due to Covid. I wonder how long it will be before we are lining up for a Civid shot? Not any time soon I am willing ti bet. I received an email from a friend in Australia who is sending a book to me. how sweet is that? Take care, stay warm, stay safe and drink COFFE! Hugs and kisses, David

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    1. Hi David, well done on sleeping a bit longer. I have been sleeping a bit longer, too since it's now dark in he mornings. I have an electric back-up heater, but I lent it to an elderly neighbour, she needs it more than I do, at least I can move myself. But they have said it will be ready this evening.... Hope the flu shots help, I had mine a few weeks back. Good question about the Covid shots, I think it will be some time net year, we shall see. How nice to have a book to look forward to, that's nice. Have a good and safe day, take care, and don't scream when that needle jabs you! Hugs to you both!

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  12. I can't believe the number of typos above! I am sure you will get the message, however!

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    1. Okay, I won't count them, I'm good at typos especially when my fingers are cold!

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    2. Obviously in my case my brain couldn't process all that extra sleep!

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    3. Perhaps it's still sleeping....

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  13. I'm so sorry to hear you still don't have heat! On top of that the strikes and TP shortage. How frustrating. And yet, you still create beautiful art and take uplifting photos of morning skies. Take care.

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    1. Thanks CJ. They have promised that the heating will be on this evening....

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  14. This is such a beautiful , brilliant post and awesome colours and great design. xx

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  15. I thought you would have had your heating back by now Valerie, strikes at any time are difficult to cope with, do folk think about how they could be effecting other folk like themselves. Lots of changes daily here and local mayors squabbling about money and who will pay for the lock down, but my family is my priority just now. I could sit them all on a naughty step and give them a good talking to if I were able.
    Stay safe.
    Yvonne xx

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    1. Good Idea, we will need a very big naughty step this time! Stay safe!

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  16. I am sorry that the problems with the strikes and lack of heating continue. Hope they are resolved soon. Nice art and great shots of the sky.

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  17. Between strikes and Covid, I'd be insane right now. Numbers are up here, too -- and yes, the "instructions" are confusing, based on where you are. And enforcement is limited.

    But you art. WOW. I really loved both of these. I'm so impressed with the blend of your backgrounds here, and the colors. They're really striking and so impressive with the overlays of image. Love them both.

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    1. Thanks Jeanie. Life ain't getting easier, that's for sure. Stay safe!

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  18. Beatiful photos:) Have z nice day :)

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  19. Fabulous spooky pages Valerie, and what beautiful photos. I hope your heating is fixed soon, it's far too cold now to not have it on. Our covid rules are all over the place too, but I'm sure another lockdown is on its way. Take care and try and stay warm, Sue xx

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  20. Here they keep issuing "recommendations" *sigh* We do have mask mandates that most abide by, but what's with the below-the-nose mask =wearing practice? :(

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    1. I'm thinking that the below-the nose people don't have much above the nose in their heads!

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  21. Living your Halloween pages! The ravens and eerie background is fabulous, I love it 😁. Wow, those sunrises are stunning too! I wouldn't want to miss such beauty either so thank you for going out in the cold to capture them 😀. Happy and creative wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. Thanks Jo. The sunrise draws me out like magic! Stay well and safe!

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  22. I really like the vibrant wash of paint in your backgrounds. The first one reminds me of the sunset photos you posted.

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  23. Wie schön dein Tagebuchseiten und mit dem Raben und tollen Hintergrund. Hoffentlich bekommst du bald mal die Heizung reapariert wenns dann kalt wird nächste Woche.
    Die Streiks sind auch nicht gerade jetzt an gebracht in dieser wieder schlimmere Zeit von Corona.
    Lieben Gruss Elke

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    1. Danke, liebe Elke. Die Streiks sind momnetan absolut nicht angebracht, es ist wirklich eine Schweinerei. Wir haben momentan genug andere Dinge um uns zu beschäftigen! Dir einen schönen Tag!

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  24. I love these pages Valerie. The transparent ones have a real eerie feel about them. I must say though I do love the vibrant colours on your coffee pages - the eyes on the tree made me smile! Thank for linking these to AJJ they are perfect for my theme! Oh My Valerie! Those sunrise pics - incredible! I hope those selfish strikers get themselves sorted soon and I am hoping that by now your heating is ON!!! Hugs, Chrisx

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    1. Thanks Chris. Still no heating! Have a good and safe day!

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  25. I didn't realize things were getting worse there again. I guess that is true of us all now - the braver we feel that worse it gets. I can't imagine what it is like with the strikes as well AND then no heat. I hope that all improves soon. Hope we can avoid strikes but I can see something like that happening here too. I totally agree this is the worst time for all that.

    On to your great pages. So perfect for this time of year. The girls are really cool - I love their outfits and faces. It all works perfectly together. I wish I could take off today and play as I have several ideas that popped into my head after seeing your page and pictures.

    Thanks for doing your posts - I always love visiting! Hugz

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    1. Thanks Nancy. I've given up housew**k, leaves more time for play! Yes, it's getting worse here from day to day, as everywhere else, too. Stay safe!

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