i’m slowing gathering ephemera for my bavarian travel journal. these photos came from an ebay “buy now” listing. they’re mostly people, and not landscapes which i wanted, but i’ll use them anyway. looks like they were sent to a relative (someone’s cousin’s sister) in nyc because the family couldn’t be located.
over time, photos and the people who took them become separated. we think it will never happen to us, but i’m starting to think it happens more than one would think. i think digital footprints will be even easier to go missing.
i’m playing around with maps. drawing forests and mountains. all practice for my travel journal. i’m no good at doing things that require precision, but even i could have done a better job with the “wallgau” letters. hah! being impulsive has its drawbacks.
my mountains and forests have improved since i did this map the other day. practice never makes perfect (what’s that?), but it helps.
here’s an old map from the 1950’s that i found on ebay. i do wish i had a magnifying glass though!
there are some wonderful fantasy map making nerds on youtube that are into creating imaginary places. so far i’ve found them my favs for learning different ways to create forests and mountains.
it may interest you to know that while i’m typing this blog post i’m drinking pear cider. why?
because some character in a rosamunde pilcher novel drinks it (can’t remember which book) and so as i strode through the market this morning i happened to glance over and spot a 6 pack of … pear cider of all things … i wish they came in smaller bottles. although i may give the impression of being a complete lush, i’m actually a real wimp when it comes to booze. a 6 oz. bottle would be perfect for me!
oh look! i almost forgot…
another ebay find. oversized postmarked envelopes sent from bavaria. i’m still thinking about how to construct our (carol & i) travel journals…i’m thinking the sewing machine will need to be involved.
hope you’re well in your part of the world. making travel plans of your own, cobbling together your big ideas, finding treasure maps that will lead you out your front door and down the merry path of summer.
see you soon!
I can’t wait to see your newest travel journals!!
Those maps are great!
I have mailed out the promised postcards / photographs. Lots of landscape ones from the area around Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald. Looking at your maps they are a perfect match! I rescued them from ending in the trash but had no idea what to do with them. Looking forward to see a couple of them in your travel journal!
I am planning my big trip to Norway in late summer. Travelling with a cruise ship doesn’t require much planning what route to take or where to stay, but I need to brush up my painting skills and figure out which art supplies I must take with me! Deciding on a travel journal, making maps, dreaming of fjords and mountains…
oh! everything sounds splendid. thank you. going on the hurtigruten by chance? i look forward to getting back to bergen and all points north one day.
No, we’re travelling on a cruise ship (about the same size as the Hurtigruten ships). With a cruise ship you don’t see so many ports along the coast, but you have more time to explore on the fewer stops. Plus we can start in Germany, and the prices for drinks are much cheaper.
I’ve been thinking about the Hurtigruten in winter, it’s cheaper and I might just sit all day and watch the sky, the mountains and the ocean without much intention to leave the ship…
Hi Mary Ann, I enjoy your blog very much. I am a retired teacher and know you will love your retirement as much as I do. About today’s blog…have you thought of putting the map on your printer and enlarging to size of the area you want larger? That might be an option. I also make travel books so thank you for the tips on how to depict mountains, rolling hills and ridges.
elaine, that is an excellent idea and one i hadn’t considered… scan here we come!
I love your blog and read every one! I love your map making practice…..trees, mts….I never thought of that! I only every put in cities and lakes. AND, you inspired (enabled) me to go to etsy and buy more postage stamps than I can ever use for my upcoming rivercruise on the Rhone River. (Switzerland, France, Germany and Amsterdam)
Tell us about your plans for Bavaria. On your own? renting a car? tour?
xoxo
i can’t wait to see you blog about your river cruise! i’ve always thought those looked dreamy! also…i enjoyed the video of your gorgeous sketchbook from asilomar here:
http://janeville.blogspot.com/2018/04/from-my-sketchbook-asilomar.html
i’ll be blogging about our trip to bavaria in my next post!
Have you been to England? Cider on tap is the best, though I confess to never having tried pear cider. Here I like to buy Woodchuck brand. Don’t know if it’s available on the West Coast.
Love the map drawings! And I would be thrilled with the people photos too. Imagine their stories. You’ll have a fabulous time!
you are simply priceless! That’s all.