Balloons and birds

Hi Everybody!

For Art Journal Journey, journeys, I have a last page. Strange really, as it was the first page I made at the beginning of the challenge, but it is the last one to come out of the file. I combined various photos of the Rhine, the plane and the wild geese, and added a vintage balloon image (from Wikipedia). I found a stamp with a similar balloon in my stash, and added some cancellation marks.

And more of my visitors. The woodpecker is very athletic and hangs itself sometimes in strange positions to get at the food:

The jays love my balcony snack bar:

A little tit was sitting on the edge of the flower pot, and flew away as I pressed the button:

And Mr Blackbird likes the food too:

Have a great week, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Star trek revisited

Hi Everybody!

Star Trek journeys would really be the ultimate way to travel

and see new planets and galaxies. My hybrid piece for

Art Journal Journey, journeys, links back to this unforgettable series

with a famous quote - 'Beam me up, Scotty!', used so often in the saga by Captain Kirk. I made a hybrid piece, using a hand-painted background, overlayed with an old document. I added a photo of the houses taken here, and added some of  'my' faces in the windows. And one of 'my' heads had to stand in for Captain Kirk with his famous message....

You still have 2 days to join us and take part in Erika's lovely challenge!

This is one of the newer Rhine boats, and is advertising Christopher Street Day, which is taking place in Düsseldorf this weekend.

I wouldn't mind a little boat like this:

Today I watched the ships looming out of the haze:

There are lots of flowers along the streets of our little town:

And this is evidently not a window box but a door box!

 

My finch spends a lot of time on my balcony:

The young jay still looks rather scruffy:

His favourite spot is right by the fat balls:

Have a great day you all, take care

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Weekend post

Hi Everybody!

For Art Journal Journey, Journeys, the lovely theme chosen by Erika, I have a mixed media  Paris spread made in my 'new' journal, which is almost full! 

You still have a few days to join in the challenge!

The magpie pecks at the food so quickly it is hard to get a clear photo:

There are now 5 jays coming to feed:

The little tit (chickadee) likes to be fed:

I'm glad the cormorants don't expect me to supply them with food:

And the horses always seem to be happy.

Have a great weekend, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

A journey from this world to the next

Hi Everybody!

Today is a public holiday here,  and the sun is shining - a wonder!

For Art Journal Journey, Journeys, I made a mixed media double page about John Bunyan's book, Pilgrim's progress, written in the 17th century. He tells about the journey of a man, the pilgrim, burdened down by sin, who asks forgiveness and then sets out for the celestial city, experiencing many hardships and temptations along the way.

I read this book as a child, and was fascinated by the strange language and ideas.

John Bunyan was imprisoned for many years as he refused to accept the 'state' religion in England of that time, the Anglican Church. This was one of the reasons why the pilgrims sought their freedom in America. John Bunyan was buried in Bunhill Fields in London, a graveyard where many famous dissenters found their last rest. (The name 'Bunhill' means Bone hill!) On the right-hand side I used the frontispiece of his book, which I digitally superimposed with William Blake's illustration of the pilgrim. On the left I added photos of his grave, where I showed his pilgrim coming to visit him. The smaller stone at the top left is a memorial stone erected where he used to live. I am also linking to Paint Party Friday, hosted as always by Eva and Kristin.

(Photos used courtesy of Wikipedia)

Here are some of my balcony visitors this week:

Have a great week you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!