Art of the Travel Journal

One last peek..

gentle reader, 

before I close this book...

and set it on the shelf to snuggle 

with the other 

travel journals in my office  ..

So many things 

about this trip were unusual..

like the butterfly pavilion 

on Harvest Caye..

and knowing my fondness for them

it made the trip so memorable..

and tiny sea shells,

my love of all things, tiny

 was fulfilled..

we  visited ports of call

that were unknown to us

and shared foods that were different from anything we have

tasted..

it is a most wonderful experience 

to be a seasoned traveler and yet feel

the thrill of parts unknown..

and to fill in the blanks that you

did not know existed...

"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask"

Jeff Johnson

The only thing we can do is 

answer when the sea calls..

when wanderlust

strikes..

and our feet itch..

I say..

surrender..

Ciao, Ciao!

Cover Embellishment Technique and Travel Flip Thru!

Well, dear ones...

I am planning to take some time

off this holiday weekend..

to bake and cook and read a bit..

perhaps even spend some time 

creating in the studio..

and 

 I hope you will find the time to

play with this little

technique

and have fun creating all manner of 

embellishments for books and assemblage..

it is always a good day

when we just go to our studio to make

stuff...

No matter what you celebrate..

I wish you a glorious weekend..

filled with a sense of renewal..

and 

I send you all my kindest wishes for 

a very beautiful

Spring...

Felice Primavera

xox

Impressions of Cuba

Today is a gorgeous day..

cool breeze and bright sunshine..

a perfect spring day..

But the day captured in

the photos below was warm and steamy..

Cuba was a toasty 80 degrees..

we got started early though..

so we had the cool morning to bask in..

as we started our tour..

My father was stationed in Cuba during WW2

and so I always wanted to visit the island..

He told me it was so beautiful and to go if I ever had the chance.. 

so go,  we did..

and gentle reader...

here are my impressions ...

and the little stories that made the trip so memorable...

This copper canopy sat atop the Palacio..

Angelic Canopy once sat on top of the Palacio was removed but fortunately not destroyed..

The angels were beautiful and I was so happy to see that it was not destroyed but placed 

near the front door to the old mansion..

Detail of the Angel

The massive entrance to the Palacio..

the street out front is paved with wood...

yes,

wood..

and the story goes that the wife complained that the carriages 

on cobblestones woke her every evening and so she commanded that the cobblestones be replaced with wood, so she could sleep..

great story right?

There are dogs...

everywhere..

they were friendly, and seemed well fed, but without collars or 

owners..

it seemed as though they were residents of the city..

another impression was about the constant restoration and use and mending of the old..

Street in old Havana with cannon.. as a bulwark

Though there were many crumbling buildings..

there were also many that had been rebuilt,

and lovingly restored..

Door to the church, both Catholicism and Santeria are practiced..

This building below was a stunning example of 

restoration...

The stone work and statues were incredible, 

and the woodwork around the windows was pristine..

The Palacio de la Familia la Pedroso, is now a small shopping mall..

I found the sign to the Palacio above so charming..

with 5 crows..

Below..

one of many tiny parks..

called Pocket Parks..

they turn up when a building is long past saving..

the people tear it down..

and build small parks...

So...

There are parks of course on every street..

and lots of cats..

well fed near the fish mongers...

Havana is a musical city and I had the good fortune to shoot this photo

in Old Havana..

Statues of old dead guys abound..

and I lost track .. 

but above.. 

so you have an idea of the scale of this statue

and the bushes, you can see my husband in the middle of the right side..

the scale was awesome ...

Havana was charming,
clean, friendly and amazing..
art and history, new and old architecture combine..

but the resiliency of the people..
and their kindness and smiles..

that is my favorite impression...


C4N!

Plaster Cloth Covered Journal

Ciao, dear ones..

we are back from our trip to 

the 

Caribbean

and 

Cuba

and I wanted to share my technique

for making another no stitch book..

but this time, 

using plaster cloth..

it is squishy and fun to play with..

I love the way it turned out and ...

I also

shared the rolled technique I use 

 for covering a store bought book..

I got my current journal covered with my mono printed fabric,

and it is yummy!!

I will be back on Tuesday with lots of photos 

from Cuba..

what an amazing journey it was!!

But so happy to be home and in the studio..

Thank you as always for your most kind remarks,

we so appreciate it..

Have a splendid weekend...

xox

March Art Journal Pages

Spring is such a fickle friend ..

warm one day,

 chilly the next..

we have had such a wet winter..

which made for a heavy pollen season here in Florida..

and people who suffer such things as allergies..

The white mono print to the left of the birds is a manipulated, double packing tape transfer,
surrounded by mono prints..
detail from March Art Journal Pages, Caterina Giglio.

have had a rough time of it this year..

I have no such problems however..

but the weather greatly affects me and I miss the sun...

strange...

 how the weather so disturbs us..

I know the sun is always shinning above the clouds..

but the warmth of the sun feels so good..

light is so invigorating...

and one can see everything so clearly.

So my pages for March reflect the view from my studio window..

the white flowers on the trees gone too soon..

in the rain.

the soft yellow gold of the new leaves..

and the brown sandy earth..

the birds fighting for room in their bath..

I used a variety of techniques for my pages..

including mono printing and packing tape transfer, that I manipulated and doubled...

 as well as stencils applied to the page.. in layers.

Ingredients: Acrylic paint, watercolor paint, colored pencil, pencil, antique ephemera, stencils, mono prints, collaged papers, packing tape transfer.

This will be a very busy week as we get ready to visit Cuba..

which is very exciting..

it is a cultural exchange trip..

and we will have a guided tour..

so I am working in the studio to get things all set up

for our return..

We will have another video for you on 

April 5..

I will cover my art journal with my mono print fabric

and I plan to create my travel journal, using a different non sewing technique

and applying 

Plaster Cloth..

You can keep up with our travels on Facebook

and Instagram..

see you then..

Ciao, Ciao!

Mono Prints on Canvas and Boards

Happy Weekend

dear readers and viewers..

So if you have been following along 

on YouTube

with me..

you already know that I have been 

Mono printing on anything that

is not nailed down

and having such fun with it.. 

So today we are using the same technique

with a sheet protector as a plate..

but also printing directly 

onto boards and canvas...

which is so very fun!!

give it a try!

I cannot wait to hear about your results..

and have a fabulous weekend

my dear ones..

xox

Book Covers Class

Ciao gentle viewers..

Here is the little trailer for my class 

in Fort Collins, Colorado

this coming May..

just a little smattering of a 

video 

and we will have a proper one uploading this Friday..

thank you so much for all your support..

One class a year..

that is my goal..

See you again on Friday!!

Ciao, ciao!