It was a beautiful day here in Houston and I went on a long excursion with Number One and little Miss Maggie my frisky fox terrier. In this part of the world, autumn comes late and the trees have finally shed most of their leaves. At first, I sailed right past this one but stopped the power-walk and ran back for it. Isn't it odd? I guess it's kind of a mutant oak leaf with it's two connected lobes...like a heart. I was immediately inspired.
I've kept a jewelry journal for a long time now. I find that if I don't jot down my ideas they tend to disappear into the abyss. My jewelry sketch book is pretty boring, really and I've wanted to art it up but never seem to find the time. Keeping an art journal for the sake of keeping an art journal is out of the question time-wise but, I wanted to play along with Misty's page-a-day in January. So, my solution to all this is to start a brand new jewelry journal. Not a boring little book, like the one I've been keeping but an exciting place to scribble ideas, draw sketches, paint color palettes, and collect patterns and inspiration. This is the first page of my new journal. It's contains rough (very!) sketches for a piece of jewelry I designed using the deviant oak leaf I found today. I did a gesso transfer of my leaf photo in the upper left corner. I added a strip of notebook paper on the right for my scribbles and thoughts. I added a few pieces of text and a graphic pattern from a very old book and a color palette I'm thinking of using for the piece.
For the covers of this journal, I'm thinking seriously of using a set of covers and spine that I made about three years ago in a workshop I took from my friend DJ Pettitt. We learned a fused collage technique and some of the images and text were generously furnished by DJ. I never finished the book I was supposed to make in class and, every once in a great while, I pull out these covers and wish I would do something with them. I think it's time!
A really fabulous idea. I just love all the pages of your new jewelry journal. I can't wait to see how the piece turns out! But I'm sure it will be filled with wonderful creations. You are such an inspiration :)
Gaby xo
Posted by: Gaby Bee | Friday, January 16, 2009 at 01:57 AM
what a great idea! I love how you took the journaling challenge and used it in a way that is meaningful to you :). The heart page is simply beautiful. I especially like the gesso transfer. I have been playing with gesso a little bit, mostly stamping with it, but i have never tried a transfer. Do you have a good tutorial somewhere, or something like that, for doing gesso transfers?
Posted by: Dale | Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 08:28 PM
Beautiful and inspiring! I blogged about my creations from your blog and Belle Armoire! I hope you don't mind, I gave you credit and linked back to you on the post! Wanted to share your wonderful work with my readers!!!
Posted by: jenn desjardins | Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 08:28 PM
It was great to find you on Misty's post. Your jewelry is wonderful and I love you Christmas Card post.
Blessings,
Posted by: Deirdra Doan | Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Love the "art jewelry journal"! and yes, hasn't our weather been great here in Houston!
Have a great weekend! xo..deb
Posted by: deb | Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 01:09 PM
How wonderful to read about the birth of your jewelry journal. Love the pages! I know they will be filled with beautiful creations. Thank you for sharing.
Diana
Posted by: Diana Frey | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 10:45 PM
That first page in your journal is fantastic. It looks like a vintage page from the 19th century!
Posted by: Seth | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 10:45 PM
I would love to know what you used to seal those collages. I love paper collage, but have never been able to use mod podge for anything much heavier. I'd love to collage with more texture!
Posted by: diana | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 08:39 PM
Hi Deryn, you've got a great idea there with the jewelry journal, and by making the pages so colorful you'll probably inspire yourself to stick to it! :)
--Dave
at Rings & Things
Posted by: Dave at Rings & Things | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 08:39 PM
What a great idea! The leaf was a message from You-Know-Who. He was saying, "I love you." Isn't He sweet? You are off to a wonderful start with this journal.
Posted by: Nelda Ream | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I Have never tryed doing a journel before your looks awesome!!
There is really no end to your talents
Jen
www.amarkintime.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jen Crossley | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Hi Deryn: Ohhhhhhh, I just love all your pages and your jewelry journal is fabulous !!!! of course I am such a fan of DJ's too. I think your journaling work inspired by Misty is wonderful : )I think it's a heavenly sign you found this little heart leave don't you ?? : )
Blessings, Sandra in AZ
Posted by: SandraG. | Friday, January 09, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Oh, what a great and inspiring idea Deryn. You just keep me inspired~what am I to do? LOL.
I actually started a journal (not specifically jewelry) while on holiday, and have dropped the ball since returning home...but I believe YOU have just pushed me back into action! Thank you my friend!!
Posted by: diane cook | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Good luck with your journal! I love your first page! I'm so into working in my journal that sometimes I have to remind myself to get to work on my other art!
Posted by: manon doyle | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 07:52 PM
happy new year. i ♥ hearts! we are blessed to find/see things in nature ~ i look at it as God or my angels i have in heaven saying 'hi' to me. love.love.love. your journal. so inspiring me to start one. have several but just do not write in them... but did start writing in one first of year & been writing, so that is good. need to keep one by the 'puter to write down things or sayings... rather than a million slips of paper here & there. that is one thing ta do this year. put them in journals... love. it m'dear. great blog, very inspiring & encouraging! look forward to seeing more pages. hugs & blessings, vikki ♥
Posted by: vikki tucker | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 03:34 PM
Hmmm, maybe, just maybe, I will start a journal for my ideas. I have so many post its and scraps of paper here and there... and then when I have time to create / play... I can't remember where I put all my ideas!
Yours is going to be sooooo lovely!
That leaf is beautiful and I am looking forward to seeing the piece you make.
Posted by: Lana | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I wish I had the discipline to start a journal.Looking forward to see how yours comes along~~~I know it will be lovely. I'm liking what you've done so far. There's so much to take in on your pages.
Carolyn
Posted by: Carolyn Mallin | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 12:43 PM
What a keen idea. I'm always trying to combine several projects or things-I-want-to-do into one.
The leaf is wonderful and isn't it amazing how if we are open to receiving, we are inspired by things that others would pass by. Love your page.
Posted by: Sharon @ norah'S | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Hi Deryn -
I can't wait to see how the piece turns out! I wish I had the discipline to keep my own journal...maybe next year?
:-) Molly
Posted by: Molly Alexander | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 06:57 AM
Hi Deryn
Thank you for all of the SS wire help! I think it is amazing, a sign, that you found that oak leaf. I've never seen anything like it...but YOU did on your walk. Any one would have walked right by and it would have gone unnoticed. It's a beautiful leaf, and a HEART none the less! Your jewelry journal page is so amazing...so much going on..I love the details, right down to the old fashioned date stamp!
Posted by: Cindy | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 06:57 AM
hi deryn !!! happy new year !! i too have no time to keep a journal for my jewelry , i just sketch things all over the place it seems!!!
anyways, thanks so much for stopping in my blog !!! heres to a creative and unforgettable 2009!!!!!!!!
xo,
beth
Posted by: beth | Wednesday, January 07, 2009 at 10:04 PM