'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday 21 May 2021

 Thought I'd shock you and post next day 😍

I found my photos of the book I made for an old friend...a friend I really love and respect, to be honest.  Although more my mum's age than mine, her youngest son is the same age as my younger son and they were best friends at school, until we went to live in France, many, many years ago. She's now one of a group I belong to in the church I'm currently at, and always someone to turn to - a real spiritual Mum. Because of lockdowns, we obviously haven't been able to meet up for the last year, communicating via Whatsapp  instead. The first day we were able to meet up again - socially distanced, in our Community garden - was her birthday, so I was asked to make something for her. 

It was a disaster from beginning to end. I started by trying to make someone else's design - very NOT 'me'. Because of the mess I was in with medication problems I had, I tore it up and restarted it 3 times and was tearing my hair out by the time I finished it, crying every time I went into my craft room.. So, I decided against the die cut book and made a concertina. I still tore out pages and started over again a couple of times, but that was mainly because no matter how hard I tried, I ended up with marks on my white space every single time I touched the book. So by the time I gave it to her, some of these pages were missing - mainly tag pages - but  I'd added a couple, too. I did a LOT of die cutting, as you can see - plus all the pages and layers I threw away!

Front of folded book

Page 1


Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Book open on one side, with the die cut tags for the ladies to each write their birthday messages. I sponged and stencilled the backs, having glued two different sized tags back to back, and added ribbons/threads. Unusually, I used patterned papers to cover it.  Sorry, but you'll have to click to enlarge in order to see each page - though you've seen them all above, really.
So this is what probably put me off going into my craft room - along with the mess I created when I decided to clear a lot of the stash I no longer use, but taking up too much space. That's still in project, though I'm beginning to yearn to get back to creating again 😊
So, still one more 'Janet Klein' book to upload, then I'll have more or less cleared my folder for now.
This is definitely 'for the ladies' so I'm going to enter a few challenges, because that seems to be a common theme at the moment, for some reason. 

Challenges I'm linking to:-
As You Like It - Favourite Colouring Medium and Why
I used Prisma Pencils because I find I have way more control with them than with pens or paint and can vary the shades more by blending and/or shading.

Stinkin Inkers - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Feminine

Crafty Gals Corner - For the Ladies

Crafter's Café - Feminine - Girls or Ladies

That's all for now. Thank you so much for coming over today! 

Back soon

Blessings

Cath
xxx

9 very kind comments from lovely people:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Oh Cath, regardless of your misgivings, this is truly amazing. We are often hardest on ourselves, but this turned out AWESOME. I'm sure she loved it.

Jinny said...

What an amazing creation, Cath! Wonderful & cheery images and so beautifully colored. Love each of your pages. I'm so sure your friend loved it, too! Thank you for joining us at The Crafter's Cafe, and I hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Jinny

My name is Erika. said...

I'm not very good at making art when the pressure of a project gets to me either. You are not alone in that. I think I want it to be perfect, and when it doesn't look like I think or feel right or whatever I get very frustrated. Glad you managed to find your mojo because this book is lots of fun and came out perfect. I would think your friend has to love it and appreciate the time you put into it. Thank so much for sharing this back with us at TIOT. It's good to see you back posting there. Hope you have a wonderful weekend Cath. Hugs-Erika

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous concertina book, I love these images they're such fun and pleased you didn't give up on the idea totally. I'm sure your friend would have loved this.
Thanks for sharing with us at Try it on Tuesday.
Avril x

R's Rue said...

You did a wonderful job. It’s so beautiful.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

cass said...

Wonderful! Thanks for entering your wonderful creation in our Feminie Challenge at The Crafter's Cafe this fortnight.

Squirrel x said...

Just wow, and so worth all the hard work.
Thank you so much for joining in with your favourite way to colour for the AYLI challenge. This is a fab creation and we really appreciate you taking the time to enter. Hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Squirrel x

Brenda said...

I'm so sorry to be late, but so glad I made it here to see your wonderful creation. I'm sure it will be cherished by your friend. Thank you for staying with it and entering your beautiful creation in our last challenge over at As You Like It. Hope you'll join us again soon!

crafty-stamper said...

Glad you stuck with it -it's absolutely beautiful love all the pages and images and backgrounds-I know how you feel though I can make a card and think oh that will do do whoever but when faced with an actual request mojo takes a holiday and I had same problem with sons project too -what are we like lol
Carol x