Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Remember


I'm once again joining Erika, my internet friend and host this month at Art Journal Journey where her theme is "Every journal page tells a story."

Today I've created a mixed media page, reminiscent of Valerie's concept of scooping up any and everything loose on her craft table.  That's what I did when I  created this spread.

I started with a sheet of deli paper I had painted earlier and glued it to my substrate which is my Coll-AH-ge Two altered book.

Everything on this page, with the exception of the deli paper, is recycled.  I had cut the word "Remember" from an old book cover months ago,

I fussy cut the bird from an old calendar page I had originally set aside to use in Valerie's bird theme for our International swap.

I found the flower on my craft room floor, and the string was removed from a tag I used a few days ago (the wheat tag).



The feather came off one of Squiggles' toys.  After he played with it awhile, I decided to use it on this page.

And finally, the piece of red was left over from one of my Asian themed pages.

Now that you have seen all the pieces I used, here is the story in journal form.  I remember my Grandmother (grandparents raised me from birth) had a parakeet she loved dearly.  One day, while she was cleaning the cage, the parakeet flew out the back door I opened at just the wrong time.

My grandmother was brokenhearted and cried for days.  I felt so bad, I wanted to crawl away and die.  On the fourth or fifth day, there was a banging noise at the back door and my grandmother went to investigate.  Lo and behold, her beloved parakeet had found its way back to my grandmother's loving arms.  Its claws were clamped on the screen door, and both my grandmother and her beloved (albeit frightened) parakeet could not have been happier.

Thank you for visiting, and yes, this is a true story, even if the paper bird, and all the pieces I used for this mixed media piece were pulled from my recycle bin or my craft table.  Now let's head to Art Journal Journey, because there are even more incredible journal stories there.

20 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Lovely story behind your parakeet page, great that it came back again. Love the page, and the things you put on it, including the straggly feather! Have a fun day, hugs, Valerie

froebelsternchen said...

What a lovely story and a wonderful page!
You made art from nearly nothing! Great!
I lived with different parakeets during my childhood- my favourite was "Bussi Burli" ( would translate it with "heart kiss boy" )which spoke so well and nice. I was simply in love with him - but he didn't like me that much- think he was jealous of me as he wants to be the FIRST kid of my mother...lol!
Will never forget him.
Thank you for bringing the memories back to me!
Happy Day !

chrissie said...

A very beautiful page and a great story with such a happy ending-thank you for sharing it. I thought of my grandma with her beloved budgie called Beauty and devastated she would have been if the same thing had happened.

Have a great day

Love Chrissie xx

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Oh my what a beautiful journal page. I really must start one myself. Not sure what sort of "paper journal" one would use.

Have a great day x

My name is Erika. said...

What an amazing story! I'm glad it had a happy ending. If I had been the one to open the door I would have been so upset too. I love hearing you talk about your grandmother because I was very close to one of my grandmother's and you've made me think a lot about her. I may have to do a story page about her. I love your page today and its always great to use of the scraps-and even better when you get such a cool page. Hope its a good day. Hugs-Erika

~*~Patty S said...

Precious page you created and I really like how the text shows through your lovely deli paper background.
My heart was breaking for you when I read about the great escape E!
Thank goodness for happy endings.
If that little parakeet could talk what a story it could have told.
Your pages tells a really nice story.
oxo

Sandra Cox said...

Oh Gosh, what a wonderful story.
I love this piece. The pale green background gives it a soft dreamy affect.
Kudos.

CJ Kennedy said...

Poignant story and I'm so glad it had a happy ending. Wonderful to use up things you already have instead of buying more. I liked how you didn't completely cover up the text of the background page. The first words I saw in one of the close-ups were extreme sensitivity. A reference to your telling the story in pictures? Or my interpretation? Either way, it works.

CJ Kennedy said...

Oh, and would you please send me your snail address? i have something I would like to send to you. You can find the email link for me under About Me on my blog. Thanks.

DVArtist said...

I really like this idea of creating with a story in mind. Lovely art and story.

R's Rue said...

Great

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow Elizabeth! What a brilliant story, so pleased the parakeet found it's way back home! I love your page that was made from bits and pieces! Hugs, Chrisx

Meggymay said...

That is a wonderful story Elizabeth and I am so pleased it had a happy ending.
Its a fabulous page using your bits and pieces.
Yvonne xx

Rita said...

What an inspiring story!! Love it! :)

Rebeca Trevino said...

It's lovely, E!

Jeanie said...

Oh, what a wonderful story! And a perfect page to go with it.

And your comment -- it's fun to know that you collect copper too! I love it -- especially copper teakettles which tend to mostly come out in the fall. I'm not sure they'd hold water anymore but they sure look pretty on the mantle!

Rike said...

What a great story with its beautiful happy-end! You made a wonderful page to remember! I like the bird, the feathers and that loose ribbon.
Rike xx

Sandy said...

Wonderful page - I really like it A LOT!!!!
Sandy xx

Let's Art Journal said...

Oh my goodness, I'm so glad there was a happy ending to your story, what an emotional rollercoaster :-). Your page is wonderous, I love the hummingbird image you have used. Thanks for sharing your story and wishing you a lovely weekend! J :-)

Sandy said...

Came back for another visit as I love this page and paid more attention to the story - fabulous!!!
Sandy xx