Tuesday, 12 September 2017

In the pink

Hi Everybody!

For Art Journal Journey, Yvonne's lovely 'Colour in my world'
theme, and for Simon Monday Challenge
'it's written in the stars' I have an A3 mixed media page. 
For the BG I splodged white,quin red and titan buff liquid 
acrylics from Deco art onto my page
and brayered them quickly to mix and move the colours. I then used 
a star/snowflake brayer-stamp to give some texture.
When it was dry I collaged 
the image of the lady, cut from a magazine, 
and used various stencils round about to
give some depth. The other images, including the
scribbly ones,  are all die cuts, made from 2 
sets of dies bought from Aliexpress in China, where they
offer a great selection of very reasonably priced, good quality stuff,
which is sent with free shipping.
I cut them from some scraps of paper painted with brown
metallics. The Eiffel tower was cut from a paper napkin. I used
some sewing to edge the page:









After the flea market on Sunday we visited a newly built
cultural centre in Neuss, called the Romaneum. When you go into the foyer 
you can look down onto houses from Roman times to the middle ages - a very fascinating view into the history literally under our feet:









Various pots and glass from Roman times up to the
19th century:




There is also a reading corner, where you can bring, take or swap books and magazines


Exhibitions are also held there, and at the moment there are paintings
from Gisa Rosa:



The best photos are still to come - watch this space!

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

Monday, 11 September 2017

T stands for ....

Hi Everybody!

On Tuesday we are starting a new challenge at TIOT -
My friend.

This can be a real or imaginary friend, and as always, 
projects of all formats are allowed. I'm looking 
forward to seeing your creation linked to our blog!

I made a digital collage showing my best friends -
memories and books. I started reading very early at the
age of 3, and always found adventures and friends in
them. The 'memories' I have included here show Erika, my great Auntie
Fanny and my husband as a little boy - his Grandma kept him in
knitteds from head to foot! I am also linking to Art Journal Journey,
Yvonne's lovely theme of colour in my world:





The 'Paris' challenge at Tag Tuesday runs for another week, and you
have plenty of time to join in. I made a digital tag:


Tuesday is also time for Elizabeth's T stands for Tuesday 
get-together, so here a big welcome to all of the nice ladies of the 
T Gang. Last week's postcards went to Deb and Hazel. 
Deb's is on its way, Hazel, I still need your addy!
This week's card is one composed last year from a painting
of hollyhocks superimposed over a photo of the Rhine. If you 
would like it, let me know in a comment:


I baked a wonderful cake at the weekend, apples filled with raisins,
bedded in vanilla and almond cream in a butter short crust pastry,
and liberally topped with cinnamon and sugar - yummy!
Help yourselves to a slice!



My drink is, as always, cappuccino:


On Sunday I went on the tram to a neighbouring town, Neuss,
and met up with my buddy G. This is where I waited for the tram:


The main shopping street through the centre of town was closed to trams
 and cars and the whole length of it was lined with booths where people 
were selling everything you could imagine. There were also plenty of places to eat and drink, with delicious smells greeting us at every turn:









I loved the golden unicorn on the chemist's shop:









We also visited some old walls from the middle ages and lots more,
so watch this space!

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


Sunday, 10 September 2017

Cover Reveal - Fairday Morrow and the talking library

Hi Everybody!

Today I am sharing a cover reveal for a new book by
Jess Haight and Stefanie Robinson.
It's a kids' book, but I must admit that even at my advanced age
I still enjoy them. The book will be published in October. To find out 
more you can also visit Jess' blog

Enjoy!

Eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow had no clue that moving from Manhattan to the small town of Ashpot, Connecticut, would lead to an unsolved mystery. Her parents’ dream of renovating a crumbling Victorian, called the Begonia House, into a bed and breakfast had seemed like treachery at the time. But Fairday found out that her new house kept secrets, and once inside its twisted front gates, anything was possible.


When mysterious notes start showing up warning that a librarian is in trouble and a bookworm is eating words, Fairday thinks the Begonia House has more skeletons in its closets. She notices a passage in her favorite book has been changed, and she’s certain something is dreadfully wrong. What happens to stories when their words get eaten?


The Detective Mystery Squad is ready to investigate! Fairday, Lizzy, and Marcus take off on a sticky trail and tumble into Nowhere. Like Alice in Wonderland, Fairday finds herself in a world where nothing makes sense and the lines of reality are blurred.


The three sleuths discover amazing things about themselves as they unravel more secrets within the walls of the Begonia House. Follow along with Fairday and friends as they open the next case in the DMS files to unlock the mystery of the Talking Library.




Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library

Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson, Co-authors 
Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson have been friends since they met freshman year of high school. After discovering they both loved the same books, their friendship grew, and they went on to co-author The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow. The first mystery in the Fairday Morrow series, released with Delacorte Press in December 2015. Stephanie and Jess are excited to present the next case in the DMS files. Having the brilliant illustrations created by their close high school friend, David SanAngelo, has made bringing the story to life magical. To contact Stephanie and Jess or learn more about their journey, please visit: fairdaysfiles.com

David SanAngelo, Illustrator
David SanAngelo is an award winning illustrator, and a two-time Emmy nominated director of animated shows for children and he won a kite flying contest in the fourth grade. Dave attended high school with Jessica and Stephanie, and they've all been friends for a billion years. Some of Dave's favorite things are: old monster movies, superheros and shred-a-licious rock music. Although he grew up in New England, Dave currently lives with his wife and sons in Decatur, GA. To learn more about Dave's illustrations, please visit: davidsanangelo.com



Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library 
Book 2: Fairday Morrow series
Release date: October 2017
Age Range: 8 years old and up
Grade Level: 3-9
Publisher: Willow Press


PRE-ORDER THE BOOK!






Catch the first mystery before the next case in the DMS files opens on October 23rd!






The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow
Publish date: December 2015
Age Range: 8 years old and up
Grade Level: 3-9

Publisher: Delacorte Press