Adding to Louise's Journal

 I was so excited to see Louise Kirby's nature study journal in my mailbox. I felt instantly inspired and got to work. I had been working in my garden and had collected some feathers which I used on my first entry and included some quotes from one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver, and one of my favorite composer/singer Leonard Cohen. I throw in the Bob Dylan quote just because it worked so well.

I also think it is pretty incredible how small the world can be. I participated in Shannon Ganshorn's International Mixed Media Postcard Swap where you make 10 postcards and receive 10 postcards. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I got a small envelope made from an old calendar (very cool) not only filled with a wonderful postcard but Australian postage stamps and paper. Next I got an even bigger surprise. The package was from Pam Parker who just happens to be Louise's mom! How cool is that?

So Pam's wonderful gift became my inspiration for my next entry. I am the only American in the group, but I do not want to make the entry too patriotic looking.  I live in Illinois which is known as the Land of Lincoln so the postage stamp was where I started. I have a great relationship with a female crow and being out in nature feeds my spirit.

After I mailed the journal off the last time, I thought it would be fun to add a bookmark and kicked myself for not having made one. Didn't want that opportunity to slip by so I created a bookmark using a recycled part of a calendar, some rub-ons, colored pencils, markers and a stamp pad. It's now attached to the journal.

I feel such an honor to be able to share this journey with Louise and Helen. It has truly been a lot of fun and a great learning experience.

This is my latest page in Louise's journal, we have had a late and slow autumn this year, not much wind or storms so the trees have been beautiful.

I love textiles so for this page I embroidered the leaf onto silk organza and the background is dilusions inks.

Thankyou for the gorgeous pages in my journal.

Karen the American icons were a great idea! Fantastic page!!
Louise Your Ned Kelly page is fabulous too!! I grew up in Wangaratta right in the heart of Kelly country and in the last school holidays when we were up there we finally found Stringybark Creek (didn't have a good map last time). This is where it all went wrong for Ned and he shot two constables and became notorious. The kids are really interested in bushrangers at the moment so your page has been admired very much, thanks again Helen.