i finished sister’s and my travel journals. mine is above left, as yet unbound in this photo. i finished the binding today, but went down for a nap before i could take a pic in daylight. on the right is the 2015 travel journal. nearly twice as large.
it seems every time i bind a new travel journal, i do something slightly different that i’m unsure of at the time. how will it work out? i don’t know let’s see…
last year’s quandry was stitching my signatures together and then doing a chimp version of a case binding. it was bulging, but the end result was a big sturdy book. surely capable of being thrown out of a train into a speeding motorbike’s sidecar. it seems i did that. the throwing thing. but i can’t be sure. it’s all a blur now.
this is my first hobbit-sized sketchbook slash travel journal. uncertain how that will play out. we’ll see.
i love the smallness of it. it’s going to fit so nicely into my bag and i’ll be able to tote it all over stockholm. with the convenient attached textile tie i can easily take down a would-be villain on the bus in no time flat. i forcefully swing it out, knock them in the temple, then finish them off with a swift kick to the shins.
the people of the bus applaud wildly (somehow i can’t really see swedes doing this part) and then i get the keys to the city.
or something.
i wish i would stop fantasizing about my own heroics, but alas i cannot.
since menopause the fantasies have increased. hormones?
the second i land in stockholm i am running non-stop to the allotment gardens of tantolunden. i am going to roll about on the grass, jump over fences, sit in everyone’s garden chairs, poke my head in their windows, and in general make a nuisance of myself.
in a very quiet introverted sort of way of course.
ingrid tells me the helvetia stamps are actually swiss.
my swedish stamps arrived safe and sound. i spread them all over the kitchen table and had a close look.
wyatt has healed very nicely. stitches out of his temple on friday. he sends well wishes and greetings to all of your fur people. and also. he keeps checking the porch for smelly brown paper wrapped packages of fish.
did one of you promise him something?
i finished the production side of class when i uploaded the last of the class videos on monday. i love my cute people in the facebook group. no really i do. especially the beginners who are posting their work. i take a singular pleasure in seeing people on wobbly legs start to become more sure of themselves. bolder. more confident. pleased with their efforts. it is the very best thing about hosting these online adventures. i imagine each person as a floppy doll. i sew sturdy paper wings on their backs (using duct tape for reinforcement) and away they go. off into the wild blue yonder.
of course some of the class members were already painting long before they joined up with us in class. they are special too because they shine large beacons of light along the path. fly this way. over here!
this group is so so active. if any of you are reading this i’m blowing kisses to you all.
see everyone soon. i’ll just be here. making preparations for my great expedition to sweden with my sister!
Oh, Wyatt’s ear is so darn cute! And looks to be healing nicely. Glad of it, it will make you rest easier as you jet off on your next trip. Thanks for the inspiraton and laughs in OMG, am enjoying it tremendously. Safe travels and have a fabulous adventure!
Safe travels MAM! Soak up all the Swedish goodness and report back! Glad Wyatt has healed up. In a different world, where cats had elective cosmetic surgery like humans, I think they would start getting their ears rounded like his, because it makes them SO CUTE! Of course I hope this never happens…
I’m one of those beginners in the happy and chatty OMG Facebook group and I’m blowing a kiss back. Who would have thought that beginners and painterly types could all get along so well in the same classroom. There is such a spirit of fun, sharing and support- really it’s just fabulous. You are such an Inspiration for all of us!
The Swedes will never know what hit them 🙂
Mary Ann,
Love your post!!! You are So Hilarious. But I must tell you that I am worried about Wyatt and his psychological health. I hope when he looks in the mirror he isn’t disturbed by his new body image (nursing terminology, don’t ya know…). You might really need to consider a “Go Fund Me” page for him and the possible need for plastic surgery… Just saying…
I hope you have a fabulous time with Sister in Sweden! I know that you will and I can’t wait to read all about it!!
Susan
Hi Mary Ann-I’m very interested in watching the progress of your Sweden journal. I am going to Iceland in a few weeks and have been working on my journal. I always switch mine up too, and I love getting some new ideas from you. Like you, I also bought a packet of stamps. My favorite of yours is the reindeer pulling the sleigh. I should be working on my Gouche class journal but I have to admit, I got side tracked in the first day’s class to journal making and that’s what I’ve been busy doing. Hugs-Erika
A wonderful post, perfect I’d say! ♥♥♥
Hi Mary Ann! Rolling around in Sweden reminds me of squirrel behavior. There was a baby in a nearby tree, but I couldn’t even get close to the tree. They’re such scaredy cats! Speaking of cats, I’m glad yours is doing well know. Enjoy your trip to Sweden … whenever that is.
xo
Deb
p.s. Still haven’t gotten around to blogging again.
PS I love the stamps too. I love anything postal, as you may know.
LOVE the travel journals. And the stamps. I am taking off in the fall too. Can I come over and make a travel journal with you?
but of course!
P.S. Enjoy your trip!!! Safe journey!
Lovely, lovely!
Speaking of menopause and fantasies, do dreams count? Last night I dreamed I was nearly attacked by a fish that swam in air. I think it has something to do with an episode of “Doctor Who” that I saw months ago, but who knows?
May I ask where you got your Swedish stamps? I am on the lookout for British/English ones to use in my TTV-made book. I never took much notice of stamps when I was younger but I really lurrrrrve them now.
My best to Wyatt. Your story reminds me of the time my grandma asked me to deliver a package to my great-grandma next door. My great-grandma didn’t answer the door, and I figured she was napping, so I left it between the screen door and the inner door. Later Grandma asked me what I had done, had Great-Grandma said anything? When I told her I’d just left it, she freaked because there was FISH in the package and it was SUMMER.
Well, jeez, Grandma, give me a frickin’ clue (to misquote Dr. Evil).
MaryAnn, Have the time of your life with Sister in Sweden( you are good at “time of your life” stuff )! I am looking forward to reading all about it! I am curious…..how did you come by all those luscious Swedish stamps? Leslie
i did an ebay buy-it-now search and found WAY more than i needed. if you go to sweden let me know and i’ll send you some!
Oooh, those journals look dreamy. As do the Swedish stamps. Pretty sure I have some of those around, must look for them. Hope you and Sister have a wonderful trip, can’t wait to read the dispatches!
We’ve met only in cyberspace but know that I love you, MAM. Have a wonderful trip. I’ll be impatiently waiting back in ‘Merica to see the creations summarizing details of your travels. (I traveled to Italy in May and you inspired me to take a journal and water color tidbits of the trip. It was most enjoyable…)
Mary Ann, Thanks for the chuckles this morning! You should be writing a book! You have such a wonderful view of the world. Thanks for sharing everything! Hoping you and Sister have the best trip, and that we will see lots of photos and comments. I just noticed that Michele Unger suggested you write a book also!
I third it! Write a book, Mary Ann!
You crack me up….Absolutely love your imagination it always bring a smile to my face.
Have a wonderful trip.
XO
Annie v.
Señorita Moss , estoy deseando ver esos diarios llenos de imágenes de Suecia; los jardines , la comida, esas casas tan bonitas en las que no puede resistirse a entrar…. adoro ese aire fresco y divertido que tienen sus sketchbooks.
La espero el próximo año en España para visitar la hermosisima Granada, o Valencia o Sevilla….. o para volver a recorrer las calles madrileñas que pisó en su infancia.
Enjoy your travel!
oh i love it when you comment in spanish!
y yo espero poder compartir con ustedes. Besos 🙂
Inspired by your donut and cupcake studies I have been painting Cheetos, Doritos, sunflowers seeds and popcorn. These subjects are technically much more difficult to paint realistically than bread or cake. However, I persevered in my sodium and fat studies with bloated determination. To date, I have completed several swollen orange and white pages in my sketchbook variously titled “orange” and/or “white.” When I ran out of cadmium orange I just swiped my Cheetos fingers along the paper. No water needed. Who knew gouache could be so enabling! Have a vunderful trip to the land of the Swedes.
And lest you think I am just kidding, I have eaten 2.3 cups of Cheetos for dinner cause someone brought them into the house! So good but sooooo blechhhhhhhh.
Thank you for sharing your life and talents with all of us. We will do our best to make you proud.
When I was a teacher, I never looked at a magazine without thinking of how I could incorporate a photo or
article into a lesson plan. Now you have reawakened my little eyes to the beauty and excitement that lies/lays (?) all
around me. I see painting and drawing subjects everywhere. I look forward to all dispatches no matter their origin.
Everything looks and sounds marvelous! I am so excited for you!
Lordy, o Lordy, Miss MaryAnn, you are going to have so much fun with Sister in Sweden. Hmmm…With Sister in Sweden. Sounds like a 1930s English autobiography about two intrepid siblings, complete with stout walking brogues and walking sticks from some tiny village in Ireland, heading to Sweden to see what is what. I’d read that book. You should write it! (I’ll spring for the walking sticks. And tea. There must be tea!)
Okay. Obviously I am well passed menopause. You can tell my the fantasies I have just reading your blog post!
Have a marvelous time.
XOXOXO
your fantasy is perfect. love love love it! can the sisters break up a fight with their walking sticks or trip a would-be purse snatcher?