Wednesday this and that

Hi Everybody!

For Art Journal Journey, maps, I have another hybrid piece.
The Matisse ladies were fussy cut and placed on a splattered blue background. Then I overlayed it digitally with a vintage map (Wikipedia) and added the sentiment.

We had more storms here this afternoon. This morning when I took my walk I saw that the level of the water in the Rhine is still high, and has not yet started to recede:

The accordion player and a few other musicians always sit and play on Sundays and holidays:

And on Sunday there was a flea market. A lot of the shopkeepers joined in and sold off things from their shops at competitive prices, and a lot of private people also used the chance to clear out their unwanted junk treasures. It was strange to see so many people around on a Sunday.

On the way home I was able to admire the poppies in the fields:

Have a great day you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Of maps, men and coffee beans....

Hi Everybody!

Hope your week has started well. We have had less rain here, although there are  lots of storms about. The Rhine is still high, but hasn't risen more, so that's good.

Today, Tuesday, sees the start of a new challenge at TIOT, 

It's all about him, so we would like to see you linking your masculine cards, pages, projects etc. All formats are welcome, so please get your thinking caps on and join us - you have 2 weeks to upload your work. I made a mixed media journal spread in my 'new' and already almost old journal:

For Mary's theme of Maps at Art Journal Journey I  made a coffee map (map courtesy of Wikipedia). I added the map to a photo of coffee beans from my stash, and then my fave drink, a cappuccino with Amerettinis - yummy! Today is T stands for Tuesday at Elizabeth's, where our posts have to be food and/or drink related. So a big hello and  wave to all of the T Gang from me!

This is the 'Schiffchen' (Little Ship) restaurant here by the river. It is very expensive, so I have to content myself with admiring it from outside:

On Wednesdays we have a Dutch Fish Stall, where they sell delicious, fresh fish to take home to cook, or you can eat yummy fishy snacks directly by the stall. They sell wonderful, crispy fried fish, which is my fave, and occasionally I treat myself to a piece, and then walk the few yards to the Rhine to eat it:

On the other side of the market is a nice, pub/restaurant, where you can sit inside or outside, and the prices there are reasonable.

Have a great day you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

A bird's eye view of the world

Hi Everybody!

My journal page for Art Journal Journey, maps, has been inspired by the French expressionist painter and sculptor Georges Braques, who lived from 1882-1963. Together with Picasso he founded the cubist movement. My favourite paintings though are his birds. I made templates some years back, and have used them again here, on a dark background which has been sprayed and splattered with bright colours. I then digitally overlayed the painting with a map (Wikipedia), and added the sentiment.

The water in the Rhine is still high, but hasn't risen since yesterday. The top mark here shows the height of the water in 1795 - good 6 metres higher than it is just now, which must have been an absolute catastrophe.

I love the reflections on the water:

This boat was too large to fit into my photo:

Mr Blackbird:

My Jay:

A hungry magpie:

And Mrs Blackbird:

Have a great day, take care

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Swinging London Ladies

Hi Everybody!

It's weekend, enjoy!

Thanks to all those who sent me get well wishes - I am feeling less groggy

so your good wishes helped!

My hybrid collage for Art Journal Journey, maps, led me once again to London. I made some templates from some images from a prospect that arrived in my mail box, and used them to map out some ladies. I was inspired by thoughts of 'Swinging London' back in my youth, and made them into swinging ladies dancing over the Thames. The background map is courtesy of Wikipedia, and once again shows the area where I grew up, went to school etc. I'm afraid there will be more London collages coming this month!

Here is has hardly rained today, which is good, as the water in the Rhine is still much too high, although it hasn't yet reached the danger mark. The rain and storms should be abating by Tuesday, so hopefully all shall be well. Some places have been badly damaged by the floods, I feel so sorry for the people who have lost everything this way.

The cormorant now has an island all alone:

The jetty is almost at the same height as the embankment:

There is still more than a yard before the water spills over the wall:

These pigeons drive me crazy. They like visiting my balcony, land on the flowers, pull them out,  knock down the feeders, make themselves comfortable on MY recliner, and eat everything if they get a chance....

and they look so sweet and innocent!

The poor jay got soaked again yesterday evening, and came back for a feed just before it got dark:

My wellies are my best companions just now!

Have a great day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!