Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Geisha girls


I'm once again joining Yvonne, aka Meggymay, our host this month at Art Journal Journey who wants us to use Words and Numbers in our art.

This is all about Geisha girls and fortunes found in fortune cookies.

I love the fortunes I get in my cookies when I visit an Oriental restaurant.

Some make a lot of sense, some don't.

Most have numbers on the back, too.  That made it even more fun to add these fortunes.

Fortune cookies come in clear plastic bags

with clever images on the front.

One Geisha is playing a musical instrument.

It looks a bit like the Morin Khur, but without the bow (longer than the one used with a violin).

Next it is time to check out the two Geisha girls who are wearing their finest head dresses.

Another fortune cookie bag sits on the right side of the spread, too.

Half of an old pill box, found in my Asian stash, was added to the right side of the page.

The costumes were as beautiful as they were colorful.

I rotated the page so you could read these fortunes.  The top one makes no sense to me, although I believe it means you must have action and follow-through after you have a new idea.

Another rotation so you can read this one.  Wow, if only I had ANY living relatives, I would be happy.  This one definitely wasn't meant for me.

I really liked this one, because all the lucky numbers were on the front.  It's a perfect response to friendship, too.

I decided to stand this up before I added it to my Challenges altered book.

For this spread, I started with 110 lb card stock.  I colored it using water soluble crayons (Cindy's gift that just keeps on giving).  I tried to emulate the colors of the women's dresses.  Once dry, I added the two fortune cookie bags, then the Geisha girls.  Next I added the pill box and the computer generated numbers also colored with the orange crayon.  Finally, I randomly picked seven fortunes from my stash and used glue dots to adhere them to one end so the viewer could view the backs, too.  I like interactive pages in my altered books, and I believe the person looking through them does, too.

Thanks for visiting Bleubeard and me today. Your visits mean the world to us.  We hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey.

18 thoughtful remarks:

Iris Flavia said...

Ohhh, beautiful!
My Dad was a watch maker, amongst other, and sold enough Seiko-watches to get a journey to Japan as a pressie.
I still have that "umbrella" he bought me (along with a kimono that I had to wear to school for carnival, try to walk in such a thing, bleh! ;-)...)
Thank you for the memories!
And yes, smiles can do it all!
Did you know there even is a The Simpsons episode on fortune cookies :-)
Oh, I love them all! Great work!

Valerie-Jael said...

Fun page, great idea. Have a great day. Off to the dentist now....Valerie

craftytrog said...

This is a super page using all those fortunes you've collected Elizabeth! I love the Geishas too. I can't remember ever having a fortune cookie myself, but then I haven't been to many Chinese restaurants.
Have a happy day,
Alison xx

Neet said...

I love your geishas, in fact I went through a phase of trying to find novels which featured stories of geishas so I have read a lot about them, fact and fiction.
Your page is super with its pictures and "fortunes" galore.
Here's hoping you have a lovely Christmas with Bleubeard and Squiggles - pass on tickles to them and take a hug for yourself.
Neet xxx

aussie aNNie said...

Gorgeous Geisha girl projects, always a pleasure to visit and see what you have made next.x

My name is Erika. said...

That is another fun page. I love how you added the numbers. Very nice. And those fortunes are really great additions. I really like the positivity of those fortunes too. And I have to laugh at the long lost relative coming into your life. My first thought is maybe someone would leave the recipient some money. I guess I feel like I have spent enough on Christmas gifts, not that I spent that much but sometimes it seems like we are expected to buy more than we want. I didn't do that either but I am just sick of all the holiday sales ads everywhere including email. Smile. Anyhow, I adore the spread. Nice work my friend. Hugs-Erika

CJ Kennedy said...

I like the different take on counting books. Like one, two. Buckle my shoe. Maybe for your pages One, two. Dance to the tune. Okay a stretch. Fortune cookie fortunes are always fun as a lot of times ideas don't always translate across cultures. You got some good ones.

Meggymay said...

This is an awesome page , I love how you added the fortunes and the lucky numbers. The one that really spoke to me was...... The only way to have a friend is to be one. I am truly lucky to have you as a friend, we may never meet, but I know you would be there for me.
Thank you for this fabulous page for the theme at AJJ.
Yvonne xx

Divers and Sundry said...

Cool! Those outfits are lovely, but I've heard they're difficult to put on. Might be worth it :) Fortune cookies are fun, aren't they, but sometimes I'd rather have the one the other person got lol

sheila 77 said...

Hello Elizabeth and Bleubeard and Squiggles too, of course.
These fortune cookies are terrific.
There are at least three of these "fortunes" which have come true in the past few weeks Not saying which ones - and I'm saying nothing about a long lost relative!
Dealing with problems before they arrive could be a bit of a puzzle but I like the one about Ideas - that is certainly true and I hope that will change in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the fun post.
Love from Sheila

Sandra Cox said...

Very clever use of words and numbers theme.

kathyinozarks said...

beautiful pages-love how you used the theme

Rita said...

Geishas always have seemed so exotic and mysterious to me.
Happy holidays, Elizabeth! Almost Christmas! :)

Cindy McMath said...

Lovely pages Elizabeth! I love the selection of Asian images and ephemera.

Elkes Lebensglück said...

fascinating journal, great with your geishas
I wish you a merry Christmas time,
Elke

Let's Art Journal said...

Beautiful pages! The geisha images look amazing and I love how you teamed them up with the fortune cookies 😁. Wishing you a wonderful week! Hugs, Jo x

froebelsternchen said...

These pages are simply gorgeous!!!

Jeanie said...

I like this piece a lot, Elizabeth. It has a lot of energy and I loved seeing the quotes and fortunes up close. I've always been fond of this Asian style and the geishas. The colors, everything, work together so well.