hello & howdy gentle readers.
perhaps like me, you have the next 39 days off and are enjoying a catalogue of days spent lolling about your summer cottages. or you may be on an uncrowded ferry catamaran whizzing through the aegean sea to one of the lesser known islands. i presume there will be stops along the way for you to take refreshing dips.
if you aren’t keen on diving or cannon-balling into the drink there will be smooth and efficient hoists to both deposit and retrieve you from the sparkling blue water. operated of course by a crew wearing blindfolds. then again you may be sporting your brand spanking new 400 dollar ward whillas suit featuring a crossover bodice with laser cut woven detail and adjustable straps. (boys and girls please add the appropriate capitals and commas to that sentence and write it in cursive for your summer homework)
well, for heaven’s sake, you’ll want the crew unblindfolded for that. WON’T YOU?!
or maybe you’re home like me sans the ww suit. in any case, i am tucked away up here in NELA and you better believe i could not be more pleased to be here with my captain’s log on the left and my visual journal on the right.
i follow the light around the house. sometimes on the porch. sometimes in my outdoor living room out back, other times right here next to a window.
i cleaned some bookcases recently. took down some the visual journals and did a bit of rearranging. some were from before i began blogging in february of 2007. now here we are, more than a dozen years later. i’m still telling my story in a picture book. making notes on the pages. trying very hard not to be too precious.
i like the way these books looked together on the desk as i was cleaning.
i need to do that simple running stitch on a spine again. it makes for a handsome book.
pam is on her way up for a 2 night slumber party. by the way if you want to have 5 days worth of play with her, she’s teaching a mixed-media botanical sketchbooking class at madeleine island school of the arts in wisconsin at the end of this month.
i think i see her pulling up in my driveway!
enjoy your wild and precious days. see you soon you crazy kids!
BTW, Mary Ann, what is the name of the bookbinding with the yellow thread (Animal Babies)? Thank you!
And I have about ten more years to go, I think. Will I make it??!!!
I love your book bindings; they are on my list to try. I love seeing what’s in your sketchbooks and how you’re spending your vacation. It is a glorious summer!!! Enjoy!
Mary Ann, as usual, inspiration from your blog. The stack of journals with different bindings reminds me that I’ve learned a lot from you through your courses. Today’s lesson … looking into the Last Homely House East of the Sea. Looks interesting. I love love love viewing how people live their everyday life in different parts of the world.
I wish I was there with you and Pam, I’d be of no trouble at all, just making the drinks and mixing the paints for ya! 🙂
In Sweden it’s been raining today, and I’ve done laundry, so everything smells lovely, indoors as well as outside my window.
xo
Your porch life makes me so happy! Looking forward to retiring together!
I wish I were enjoying the summer, but the humidity is getting to me and I don’t have my air conditioner right now. Once we move into our house, that should change. Alas, all my art supplies are also packed away. I’m journaling in my Hobonichi Techo every day, however. I think I am not a summer person; more of a fall person. Ah well…Glad you are enjoying yourself! XO
Gorgeous books, MAM! ❤️ Happy Summer to you! 😄
It is such a pleasure this morning to feel your contentment and happiness thru your beautifully written words . It is wonderful, your sharing of your journals. Your trees are getting more and more *tree-ish”. Really interesting pages. Love the idea of you bouncing wherever the sun takes you. Nothing like a sunny path. Thank you for taking the time to share all this goodness.
No need of bathing suit
😂
I am stealing that airplant idea with the seashells. I have air plants and seashells but never the ‘twain did meet. I am the proud mother of twins. One is named Rupert and the other is Rory. They are 9 weeks old and so energetic. They are already doing flips and leaping from my bed onto curtains; and they can already climb up the window screen! My first sets of twins are 22 years old and don’t like to hang out with Mom anymore unless I give them money. I am taking an illustration class at night and am scheming to be an illustrator of children’s books. So my summer will be full of sass, cats and lollygagging. TTFN
Really enjoying this summer vacation! Surrounded by the dunes, a mature forest and three crazy pugs! I have three more years till I am OUT of the teaching game….how about you?
oh dear darling natalie how i love hearing from you old friend. i have 4 years to go NO FAIR. xoxo