Monday, August 3, 2015

Memories Documented - Guest artist for Somerset Memories Blog

Hi everyone.
a few months ago  I was invited to write a post
for the Somerset Blog as a guest designer .
I am feeling very blessed indeed.

My Art Journal Cover 

I am so excited and grateful to have been invited to share 
one of my Art Journals with you .
I have journaled most of my life and love to look back and read
about my memories, words and feelings .
In 1999 my treasured son Mark, age 22 was killed on his motorbike .
as you may imagine this left a huge hole in my life.
I was absolutely consumed by pain and grief....3 years along my grief journey
I discovered scrapbooking in 2003 and it has changed my life .



"To me this craft is the perfect combination of art,
 photography, beautiful paper,
and glorious words.
I especially love to choose some elements, 
cast a spell and see what happens, to create a dream and follow it through.
 Subtle shadows, light and color are all ingredients for casting the spell.
  I am inspired by colour and texture …which I weave into my works
I love to include stitching, chipboard, journaling, muslin, 
fabrics, metal elements, inking, masking and texture paste..
Getting messy brings out the kid in me
Mark is always in my heart and Art Journaling
 is a wonderful and powerful way of keeping his memory alive .
I made a promise to myself to honour his memory
 by living my life to the best of my ability"

For this particular journal I chose 4 colors of the chakras
Orange, Yellow, Blue and Blue.
why may you ask ?
Orange 
is the color of emotion. passion, pleasure and health.
Yellow
is the color of self-esteem, self-worth, confidence and personal power
Blue
is the color of self expression, nervous system, communication, will power and creativity .
Brown
is the color of transformation.. being grounded and in touch with nature.
releasing the old/detachment and beginning the transformation into a new state of awareness .


MY COVER 
Memories Documented 
 I have created lots of layering and texture. 
The layers represent my grief and pain.
I find by journaling and creating my heart is healing little by little .
The metal, spark plugs and cogs - Mark's motor bike 
The numbers represent the years of my journey
The Graphic45 pen-nibs are for my journaling.

Materials used 
Art book /We R Memory Keepers
All the chipboard is from Dusty Attic .
Golden texture paste
Tim Holtz
 Distress inks and sprays/metal name plate/tissue tape/collection stencils
Graphic 45 nibs / metal plate
Golden texture paste
Prima patterned paper
Kraft paper

"Write to yourself " 
Make the next book you buy an empty one
fill its pages with the thoughts. feelings and stories from your life
written words can capture a feeling forever.
record JOY and a decade later you can read it over and feel 
THE HAPPINESS
 you felt on that particular day.
"Record despair and one sad day you can read it once again
 and know that you can RECOVER just like you did before ".
Being a student of your own history you can design a better future.
capture in words your life's journey
before TIME steals away it's lessons.


I love to use the ring bound journals .
they are very sturdy 
and also makes it very easy to 
change and rearrange my pages and pockets.
 Lots of pockets with tags, holding memorabillia and journaling .
above is a shot of some of my pages in this journal .


TUTORIAL 
A step by step to create one of my tags found in this Journal .
Firstly Gather the ingredients for the Tag 
Graphic45 black tag
Distress crackle paint
Distress rusty hinge spray/tissue tape 
Versa color turquoise ink
Stencil
Golden moulding Paste
Pallet knife
A quote and paper.









Complete the tag with more distress ink to create richness and depth
add crackle paint and string. .

thanks so much for looking at my work .
I hope I have inspired you to have a play with an art journal 
they can be on any subject / theme you choose .
happy scrapping and 
warm hugz to each of you xoxo

28 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. History poignant, sad...:( Work amazing as the last!

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  3. very sad story ... I admire your work !!! Thanks for sharing their secrets .

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  4. Always am inspired by your creating. Your art journals are so beautiful, they look aged, rustic and full of beautiful details.. You are such an inspirational lady Heather with what you share.. You touch my heart...

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  5. Such a beautiful and touching piece of art!! Thank you for sharing this!!!!

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  6. Ah Heather, your Art is outstanding. I so enjoyed reading the back story about your techniques and choice of colour. Beautiful, beautiful, work. TFS

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  7. Gosh, that's such a sad story.I feel so sorry for you and your family.
    Your art journal is such a great way to document this in a creative way. It turned out absolutely gorgeous.

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  8. Absolutely stunning.....really enjoyed the mini tutorial......I would never have thought of putting the writing down first....it works a treat here....the colours you've used are so apt & the idea of journaling in a ring binder. BRILL!!!! So wonderful you got asked to guest over there. FABULOUS :):)

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  9. waw waw waw you are such a huge inspiration dear Heather!!! I love all your work! Thank you so much for inspiration

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  10. You touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes...I have no words to truly express my feelings right now. All I can say is your strength and creativity is so inspiring! Thank you!!!
    Hugs,

    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  11. Heather, your art journal is so very beautiful and so intensely private. Thank you for sharing your art, emotions and life with us...you touch my heart.

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  12. A sad but very inspiring post Heather. Thank you for sharing such a treasured project x

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  13. Heather, I have loved your work since I first 'discovered' you. But even more so, you have been a huge inspiration to me because every time something is going 'wrong' in my life, I remember what excruciating heartache you have been through and how strong you are....then I'm able to pick myself up again. Thank you for all of the inspirations you share with everyone. Lisa

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  14. Oh Heather... yet again you totally get to me with color, composition, words, design - you name it! LOVE your works - congrats on the Somerset (again) - totally deserved!

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  15. Stunning Heather, a wonderful altered effect colour combination, really fantastic!! Many thanks for this inspiration!!

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  16. waht a great cover, heather! a wonderful and special work!
    greetings
    margit

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  17. Woo hoo. That is so exciting Heather and I just adore your journal. Congrats. A great honour. x

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  18. Amazing journal Heather! The heart and soul you put into this (and all of your art) is always so evident. You are truly an inspirational woman.

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  19. I love your journal, Heather. I, too, lost a loved one (my youngest brother, to suicide), and last year my ex-husband passed away unexpectantly, so I've been wondering how to journal about my grief. With the loss of my ex, I seem to have lost communication with my son, who was very close to his father. I don't know why my son has stopped communicating with me, but it breaks my heart. I continue to send him cards, etc., telling him how much I love and miss him, but he never replies. I'm not even sure I should journal these things. Although I don't use pockets or tags in my art journals, I do journal my thoughts. I don't know why I'm telling you all of this...your story just touched my heart. Anyway, thank you for sharing your journal and thoughts. Hugs, Maggie

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  20. Heather,I love how this turned out,I would love to make a journal for DD. Stunning work of ART!!!!

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  21. Love this Heather! You are so inspiring!

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  22. This post really touches the heart .. firstly with your thoughts about losing your beautiful son and secondly with the stunning art you have created in honour of his memory. What can I say Heather? This is beyond beautiful .. beyond stunning. Totally inspiring. Hugs xx

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  23. Heather what a tragic loss. Your work is wonderful. Can I ask you a question. You did a page called Bliss. I am trying to find what big circular die you used?

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  24. Stunning, stunning, stunning! Your work is truly so amazing! xxx

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