Roman style

 Hi everyone, I have another page for Matilde's Art Journal Journey theme of  'All About Numbers'

I decided to use Roman numerals on clock faces for my numbers.

I gessoed the page then added watered down ink using an acrylic block - the ink soaks into the gesso and gives a watery appearance. I added the clock stencil using texture paste then sprinkled with purple and violet Brushos over the clock before spritzing with water.

The fancy clock sticker is one I have had for a while, bought in France.

The girl with big hair is by Elena Zinski (From a Funky Fossil sticker book)I extended the ground and drew in a few more flowers.           The quote is by Studio Light.

It's pretty warm here today and there is a promise of thunderstorms.   We had a busy morning so about to take it easy this evening!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Three Men In My Art Journal

 Hi everyone, we've been busy socialising lately but I have also managed to get a few journal pages made.

I have been enjoying using washi tape in my smaller journals and in my travel journal prep too so I thought while I had my Aall and Create washi out I would make a background entirely with washi tape.

I stamped the three Tim Holtz cyclists ( I actually tried to stamp and emboss in white onto black but it looked awful)and then tore it out and mounted it on some torn black paper.

The quote is from the same TH set and mounted in the same way.

Matilde's theme at Art Journal Journey this month is 'All About Numbers' - I hope that there are plenty to choose from here.

I think these chaps would be happy at Moving Along With The Times, where the theme is Man/Boy 

As well as meeting up with friends and family we are busy getting things ready for our holiday. New guidelines mean more paperwork!

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands for the Last Day in Paris

The days really are whizzing by - it must be the sunshine that makes that happen - yes we have been having some lovely weather here. 

My post today will 'tidy up' our Paris visit.

We always try to fit in a visit to Parc Montsouris on our last morning in Paris.

It was a bit chilly, but sunny.

We sat on this bench with our coffees as it was too shaded in front of the kiosk - hmm.....no photo of the coffee!

We've never seen this croc before!

The kiosk from the other side of the lake

We walked through lots of street art to get to a restaurant we visit regularly - Chez Nennesse.

 

This is where we will join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands for Tuesday.

Hubby often 'helps me out' with desserts - this was a delicious chocolate and pear tart. If we hadn't been going to catch Eurostar home I would probably have taken half away with me. As you may see he had a cheesecake of his own.

The people on the table beside us moved out so I snapped this quickly before the table became occupied again - Brigitte is now 88 years old.

From here it was back to our hotel pick up our bags.......but my Paris story isn't over yet....

Thanks for looking, Chris

3 Little Birds Times 2

 Hi everyone, I have my Calendar journal to show you.

I started with a lime green wash over the whole page then added some Brusho powder and spritzed then dabbed to make a colourful background.

I used some of the Brushos to add some grass to the bottom of the page

I stamped some Janet Klein figures - the one on the right gives you a clue as to where I will be for some of the time on this calendar (I will fill it in when we get back.)I coloured them then fussy cut them.

I stamped two of the bird images three times with the intention of using the Bob Marley song as my title then totally went on another train of thought that led to me adding "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

Don't worry - it's just an age thing!!

I also used another quote from the little girl set and Bonjour from the other set.

I drew in some flowers

I am entering at Art Journal Journey and Matilde's 'All About Numbers' theme.

Here is last month's all filled in

Thanks for looking, Chris

Second on the 2nd in France

 Hi everyone - it's the 2nd of June and today is the day we join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for a look back at one of your previous posts for Second On The 2nd.

I have returned to France - Poitiers where our friends (actually my ex SIL and hubby)live. This was our first visit back in June 2013.

Poitiers Pics(Part 1)

I've had rather a lot to catch up on, so although we got back last week this really is the first chance I've had to show any pictures! 
First of all I must say a big "Thank you!" to my xsil and her hubby - we had THE most fantastic time! They guided us through menus and we had some fantastic meals, they drove us all over the place and showed us some real treasures and above all they provided us with some great company - we really did talk for hours!!! Oh! and they also took me to some great places to stock up on craft goodies(more of that another day)!
The journey to Poitiers was an interesting one, the first leg from Manchester to London was the worst - travelling backwards and no window to look out of! We then boarded Eurostar which was much better - more leg room and a view - got to Lille and had time to sit in the sun and have a coffee! Then - the most exciting part - a double decker sncf/tgv to Poitiers and we were on the top deck! Gosh! Did that train travel?!!! We did have a little delay around Paris for work occurring on the track but made up speed and were only about 15 minutes late!

The next day we were taken to Fontevraud Abbey - the final resting place of Eleanor of Aquitaine - I had no idea we were within driving distance so I was excited at the prospect of a visit(I've always had a fascination with Eleanor)
It was raining in the morning and after a fabulous lunch there was no sign of it stopping, so armed with an umbrella, we set off - xsil and hubby went off somewhere else with a promise to pick us up later! 
The abbey was built in 1100 by Robert d'Arbrissel, who put a woman in charge and made a rule that it would always have a woman in charge despite housing both monks and nuns! 

The tombs of Eleanor, Henry II, Richard I and Isabelle d'Angouleme (King Johns wife)

Eleanor supported the abbey by supplying funds to run it and ended her days there

The rain stopped and we went to explore further, the abbey was used as a prison by Napoleon so there was a lot more to see.

The Kitchen/Smoke house and garden

another view of the outside of the Kitchens

a scary carving....

and a beautiful angel

this was on a beautiful wall of roses

Another treat was in store on our way home - we were taken on a scenic route along the Loire, calling to visit a beautiful church and driving past the fantastic Saumur Chateau

As you can see from this page

 there certainly was lots to see in the area and I'll be back with more pages from my journal and some more photos if you can stand it!

             ---------------------------------------------

I hope you enjoyed this look back.

There are numbers on both of my travel journal pages and I can remind you 

that Art Journal Journey this month is 'All About Numbers' hosted by Matilde.

 

Breaking News - I'll be taking my new travel journal away with me when we 

meet up with our friends later this month and share a Gîte in Normandy.

All About Numbers at AJJ

Hi everyone, we are welcoming a new host at Art Journal Journey and saying a big Thank you to Aimeslee for being a great host for May.

Our new theme is 'All About Numbers' and Matilde of 100%Handmade blog is our host.

I have made a page using an old gelli print.

I used an Aall and Create stamp by Tracy Evans and added lots of other numbers around it, some from the same set and others by Bipasha.

Th Butterfly was stamped twice, separately onto another piece of Gelli print and then paperpieced together. The words are from a Tim Holtz Big Chats sticker book.

We hope you will join us at AJJ this month - there a few rules here but I'm sure that won't stop you!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Flowery Tribute

 I have one final page for Aimeslee's  'Flowers' theme at Art Journal Journey and I know it's getting late for anyone to see it.

The cover of the Radio Times for the week of the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla was designed by Andrew Jamieson, who also designed the royal invitations. I decided to cut up and rearrange the images on a green and gold background.The date of the Coronation is on one of the pieces

I added  a few pieces of Washitape and some rub ons I found in a drawer (in fact I found quite a few that I will be adding to some I bought recently)

Thanks Aimeslee for being a great host and making so many fabulous pages full of inspiration, and for all of the lovely comments you have made!

Tomorrow our new host will be introducing another great theme - hope to see you at Art Journal Journey in a few hours time.

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands For....taking a look at walls in Paris

Hi everyone, the time is flying and it's time for T Stands For Tuesday and a link to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog - The Altered Book Lover.

I'm taking you back to Paris and an enjoyable last day.

We went two stops on the Metro to the Nationale District. We had seen some the art on the buildings on journeys back to the hotel so decided to find out more about the area. 

We walked around a little bit but could only see one restaurant - La Halte - although there were one or two fast food places.

As it happened the food was excellent and a good price! We both had pork with a mustard sauce and garlic mashed potato. We both had water and I also had a tonic water.

These wall tiles were in the WC 

Afterwards we went for a walk around the area.

This is in Place Pinel so I assume this is the surgeon Phillipe Pinel

  

This is the Square at the centre of the map

I guess someone didn't like heights so did their mural sideways on this wall!

We had walked on to the next Metro station - Carnavalet

We had a pleasant afternoon - I will show you what we found another time

We ended up at Trocadero where we got some fabulous shots of the Eiffel Tower

The lower part of the Tocadero is being updated...but looks a mess now!

We walked over the bridge to catch the Metro back to our hotel

Finally an 'arty' shot - the Eiffel Tower growing in a bed of Primulas

Thanks for looking, Chris