Hi Everybody!
Today we are starting a new challenge at Art Journal Journey, and this time I am hosting! My theme is'when one door closes another one opens'. Doors are often something which we take for granted, we go in and out and rarely think about them. Doors protect us, doors lead us to new places, they are sometimes beautiful, and sometimes old and shabby. It's always exciting to go through a door, or portal into a new place we haven't visited. At this time of year many of us open a door every day in an advent calendar. We visit friends, and go through the door and see what's waiting for us inside. And figuratively, we close one door and open another at the end of the year on New Year's Eve. For this challenge, anything with doors is welcome. You can make a scene of whatever is inside or outside the door. Show us anything to do with doors, nice or shabby ones you may have seen, doors decorated for Christmas or your advent calendar, there are so many possibilities. So open the door to your creativity and have fun!
Your journal page is quite inspiring and I am glad to see I'm on the right track with your great explanation of what this theme means to you. It's a totally lovely first entry and I am love this first image, too.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed visiting Bad Honnef with you. Seeing that horse on the balcony of that condo made me sit up and take notice. A real eye catcher.
That Horse on the balcony was really fun, especially in that otherwise very old-words and serious little town! Have a great day, take care, hugs!
DeleteYour journal page has so much of interest in it. Your photographs are brilliant as always. V xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Vee, have a great day, hugs!
DeleteBeautiful journal and great pics. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Annie, hugs!
DeleteHi Val, good morning! Lovely new journal page, and a great theme that you chose, have fun with it! Hope you are feeling better. Off to the dentist today! Have a great day, hugs from us all, Sarah
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the dentist, take care! Hugs to all!
Deletefeeling smile when i read that meme dear...
ReplyDeletei like the architecture of those building...very classic and have detail...
have a nice day
Thanks, dear, kind of you to visit!
DeleteAs you say, Valerie The Sage, doors are a part of life for all of us. Not a day goes by without we enter a door and we then go through it again when we leave. Sometimes we are shown the door! There are big doors, little doors, solid doors and doors with glass panels to lure you to open them and step beyond. High end shops selling merchandise at inflated prices are experts in using that kind of door. To open a door in any event may present a whole new world of opportunities, and sometime the door to some desirable goal is closed. The worst thing you can be called is someone's doormat. Birds perch on door frames; given a chance they will even fly through them. There are You Tube videos showing birds who have figured out how to open automatic doors and quickly sneak in to pilfer tasty treats, in the process becoming addicted to potato chips no doubt! And of course there is the door to your mind, to pass through only with great trepidation. This thing with doors is endless. The doors in the wonderful historic buildings are delightful and are to be admired by all. I am hoping you find a door through which you pass to see the doctor who cures bad fingers. That's what I'm really hoping! Hugs and kisses. David
ReplyDeleteHi David. Doors are really a great part of our lives, used by us all the time, and mostly not noticed because they are just always there! Yes, being a doormat is not highly desirable, but again, a doormat is a necessary part of our everyday lives. I do try to avoid entering the door to my mind, I'm always scared of what dreadful things I might see there. A very fascinating theme! My fingers are slowly getting better, I only have 2 bandaged up and hope that they will soon be liberated, too! I hope you will only enter doors today where you will be welcomed, and not shown the door! hugs, Valerie
DeleteI love the open-close theme for your art challenge. The photos of the doors in the little town near you are very beautiful, and I like all the half-timbered buildings.
ReplyDeletebest…mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae, I love those half timbered buildings, too, and doors, arches, windows are always fascinating. Have a great day!
DeleteLove this post! Your photos are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Debra. Have a great day!
DeleteI love this page Valerie, I'm sure those birds above the door are singing beautifully! Bad Honnef looks like a great place to visit - the horse made me smile! I hope you are having a good day. Hugs, Chrisx
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris! Bad Honnef and the other pretty little towns along the Rhine there are very pretty! The horse always made me smile! Have a great day!
DeleteI love this new theme Valerie. And your first page is a fabulous start. It is such a beautiful entrance and door too. Today is art day for me and I am excited to make some more doors. Bad Honnef has some beautiful doors too. It looks so quintessential German. And dancing with your dog is the best. If they dance with you. Maddie won't, but Pete loves to dance. Have a great start to the new month.
ReplyDeleteThanks Erika, glad you like the theme! I'm having an at and coffee day today. I used to dance with my dog, she loved it, and if I was singing, she joined in with a few howls. We had fun! Bad Honnef is a well preserved little town, I love the houses there, and this style is really very German. Have a great day, hugs!
DeleteThe first meme made me laugh. Haha. I love those old houses a lot. So much nicer than the high rises we see now.
ReplyDeleteYes, it made me laugh too! The old houses are wonderful!
DeleteI absolutely LOVE your beautiful Art Journal page! And I also LOVE the theme you picked for this month's challenge. Thank you for helping to inpsire me to create art journal pages out of my comfort zone! And as always, I especially enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful photos. Hopefully my husband and I can visit here someday . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon, glad you Like the theme!
DeleteVery interesting theme this month Valerie, I will have to think something up. Thanks for visiting today, you asked about coffee advent calendars, I answered in the comments but just in case you don't see it there, I am posting it here - amazon sell them! Lots of them! https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=coffee+advent+calendar+2021
ReplyDeleteThanks Elle, I will have a look straightaway! Have a great evening, hugs!
Deleteyou too!
DeleteThanks, feet up,blanket, TV!
DeleteBeautiful art and photos. Fun memes today
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine! Have a great day!
DeleteHi Val, Bill here. Beautiful art and photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill, enjoy your day!
DeleteWhat a fabulous theme and I was so pleased to see you hosting AJJ this month too! I hope to join you soon, time willing. Loving your page, it's so inspirational and the Christmas image is perfect 😁. The architecture is wonderful too, and the horse on the balcony is such fun! Happy December! Hugs Jo x
ReplyDeleteThanks JO, it would be great if you have time to join in! I love that balcony horse, too, such fun! Hugs!
DeleteIts always fun to come here and discover your posts Vj
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashok, always good to see you here!
DeleteThe sidewalk cafe seating is a welcoming sight. I love that horse!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone loves the horse!
DeleteHeh. Love the 2 men meme.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wondrous, festive piece.
And the pictures are grand. Love the horse:)
Hugs,
Yes, wouldn't it be nice!
DeleteLovely photos and art page. There is something charming and intriguing about doors, kind of like a winding path; you wonder what is on the other side.
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa, Doors make us curious!
Deleteso amazing houses:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy!
DeleteI love doors. they make wonderful subjects -- as you so beautifully found here!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie! Enjoy your week?
DeleteBeautiful page Valerie, love that photo with all of the garland! Gorgeous photos, that town looks so charming, love the first meme too!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Tammy
Thanks so much Tammy, have a great day, take care!
DeleteWhat a great challenge, and I love your piece - great photos too! Take care and have a very happy December, Sue xx
ReplyDeleteYou have a great December, too! Hugs, Valerie
DeleteWunderschön ausgedacht dir zu dem Thema und die Frau ist so fasziniert genauso.
ReplyDeleteEin wundervolles Posting ob gemaltes oder Fotos, ich habe es genossen!
Ich wünsche dir einen guten Tag!
Lieben Gruss Elke
Vielen Dank, liebe Elke! Dir einen schönen Tag!
DeleteA super new topic for the month Valerie and a fantastic inspiration page, I loved seeing all the photos of the doors you included.
ReplyDeleteYvonne xx
Thanks Yvonne, have a great month, take care and stay safe! Hugs!
DeleteFirst of all I must say how much I love your header. For some reason it gives me a warm and glowing feeling when I look at it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove your journal page and the theme for this coming month. I had not read your post when I did my journal page last night, just so many things to do at the moment (Christmas cake making, would you believe).
I love doors and you remind me of my friend in America who has now passed. When we could not remember something she always said we had to go back out of the door and come back in again to that room. Surprisingly it does often work.
Hugs, Neet xx
Thanks Neet. What your friend said about going out and coming back in again is true, it really works! The header was taken at the indoor snow and ski place, it's all decorated in Bavarian style, really pretty. I must make a Christmas cake again this year, the only problem is that I have to eat it all myself....sigh! Have a great day, take care!
DeleteI love your new header ...
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy seeing these photographs, the houses look so nice.
Take care
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, stay safe!
DeleteSo happy to see you hosting @ AJJ to see the new year out with a creative bang. I adore your chosen theme and the page you created to start it all off, lovely how they are adorn in traditional festive trimmings. If I had a penny for each door I have been through this year.. Theme jotted down and a free creative weekend, look forward to joining you.
ReplyDeleteKeep safe & warm Hugs Tracey xx
Thanks Tracy, have a great weekend, have fun!
DeleteFab theme and fab page, Valerie. SI really like the rustic border mixed with the festive and bright house/door. The people being a little translucent gives is such a cool feeling. So many possibilities with this theme. Great pictures of that town too! Even love the funnies! Hugz
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy, have a great day, hugs!
Delete