Old Postcards and Childhood Memories and WOYWW

I have been struggling to do much in the studio recently as the Carpel Tunnel problem in my left hand has become decidedly worse.  This has been going on for several years and after quite a long waiting list and some hospital cancellations I'm thankfully, or should I say hopefully having it done on Friday!

However, I have managed to make these little collages, doing little bits to them here and there over the last couple of weeks. I still need to do some more hand sewing but to be honest that's quite uncomfortable for me at the moment, so they will have to go into the 'work in progress' box for a while.

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW  to see what other people have on their desks this week.

Color This Quote

 I've just finished this month's challenge for Colour this Quote, over at Artists in Blogland, and the quote to inspire us was

'Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year'

                                                                    Ralph Waldo Emerson 

This was quite a difficult challenge for me, as at the moment every day is most definitely NOT the best day in the year!  However, I decided to think about 'best days' and immediately holidays and childhood sprung to mind.  A lot of distress ink, Ranger dyes and rubber stamping later and I finally finished.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and moved away from my favoured cream and neutral backgrounds and palettes.  I am disappointed that the gold embossed writing along the top just didn't show up clearly in photos or scans, and it's also a bit wonky - but that's because I didn't do it on one of my 'best days'! 

 If only every day was a day like these!

 Close up showing the gold embossed writing along the top of the page

I removed the ink with clean water on a fine brush to write the words next to the image, and it reminded me of the 'invisible' writing we used to do as kids - I think onion skins were involved somehow - anyone remember that?!

THE BROOKLYN SKETCHBOOK PROJECT

I'm on a bit of a roll now and have just finished the third section of my sketchbook - it's been downloaded onto my website and also my profile page (click the icon on the right to see more).  Just seven more pages to go - still brimming with ideas and I am certain that the ideas I've been putting down in this little book will be leading me on to other art work - so exciting!

Page 20 - transfer gel, photographic images and organza