Basement Studio – Page 37 – WHERE MAGIC HAPPENS

Friday In The Studio – My Sketchbook Is Almost Full

“Dear Father Christmas, please can you bring me a new sketchbook as I’ve almost filled mine up since I started it in January. Thank you”

I’ve only a couple of pages left in it and at the rate I’m going I’ll need to add a few tip-ins before Christmas. If anyone can recommend a good one preferably hard cover A4 please tell me as I’d be interested to know.

I know it’s a bit corny and I’ve said it so many times but I find the forest in Autumn so full of inspiration. When I get back from a walk my pockets are usually filled with treasures I’ve picked up along the way. I have to point out the mushroom below didn’t end up in my pocket, I took a photo instead. Just sayin’

I really need to work on my Christmas card design for this year and I’ll be working in those last few pages.

Have a good weekend

Jaine x

Friday In The Studio – Getting Ready For December

Who documents December in a special journal? This random pile is a few of my journals from past years including an altered book, fabric, faux dori and a mini file folder for Instagram photos, I’ve tried them all.

This year I’ve decided to go once again with an altered book but this time I’ve taken the pages out and used only the cover.

I thought I’d go with an elastic style binding to hold the pages in which will enable me to reuse the cover next year.

I used watercolour paper for the inside pages as I can paint, glue and do almost anything I feel like to them without them falling apart and just as a bit of an experiment I decided to tea dye the paper for a bit of a vintage feel.

Oh boy I had no idea that it would make me so happy once the pages were dry. To be honest, I really should have done it before I sewed the pages together as it was a bit of an afterthought but I was so happy with the colour, the staining and even how the pages curled and buckled once they’d dried. I was positively squealing with delight.

I’ve three books or signatures of five papers each sewn together on the sewing machine and these fit through the elastics in the cover.

The cover has been decorated with firstly some Collage tissue paper from Canvas Corp along with some lace, tags, stickers and a few sequins.

I am more than happy with it and can’t wait to dive in.

I’d love to know if you’re going to document December in any way? Let me know.

Have a good weekend.

Jaine x

Monday Chat, Apple Harvest Time

One of the things I love about life in Luxembourg is the feeling of community and togetherness. Here in my tiny village we have plenty of opportunities to get together and any excuse for a BBQ or beer tent and we’re on it. We’re so lucky to have our own chateau too which is a very pretty addition to the skyline.

The orchards around the chateau are managed by the villagers who trim the trees, plant new ones and collect the apples in the Autumn. A couple of weekends ago was apple collecting time and I went down with the family to help pick.

It’s all about the juice and of course we get to keep that too once it’s been processed.

Of course the Autumn is making the forest feel so magical at the moment. It can be misty, cold and wet but the forest stays the same all the time and my morning walks with Cooper are a real joy.

The beautiful view from my kitchen door.

I know these beautiful colours won’t last long so I have to get out and make the most of it.

I hope you’re enjoying the Autumn colours where you are.

Jaine x

Friday In The Studio, Sketching Again

It’s been absolutely ages and ages since I did any sketching, that’s not including the little sketches and doodles in my travel journal. No, I mean actual sit down with a pencil and seriously draw type sketching. I even had to hunt around for my sketch book it’s been that long.

Anyway I’m so glad I did and I even decided to document my weekend with a sketch in my journal.

The colours of Autumn are so inspiring and I can’t get enough of them.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I might try and get out in the garden for a bit more cutting down before the winter.

Have a good one and see you next week.

Jaine x