Is it elegance or grunge? Homage to Erika (and more)

It's great to be back and I'm so glad I can participate in Gill's Elegance and/or Grunge at Art Journal Journey.  I've been so remiss in joining in this month, and I hope Gill can understand my not participating more than I have so far.

A few days ago, my friend Erika showed a photo of her bird feeder that a bear had knocked onto the ground.

Imagine my surprise and joy when I found

this picture in a 2007 Birds and Blooms magazine my friend Sally gave me.    If that sweet face isn't elegant, I don't know what is.  As an aside, the two patterned papers I used to create the bear's background mat were gifted me by Erika, too.

The grunge comes from the wild and crazy background I created.

Materials used included three patterned papers, two washi tapes, a black Micron pen, and a page from a small dictionary.  All were backed on a used file folder I sprayed with some of my handmade shimmering mists (which sadly don't show on the scan).


On Saturday, after helping my friend's sister and her children pack to move to California (the San Diego area), I treated myself to visiting the Art and Book Fair.

As an aside, now that everything is packed and ready to move, except for a few essentials needed for the trip to CA, movers will come in Wednesday to take the items to the children's new home.  I will be there to help them leave this city that has been their home since birth.  And for those of you who I always visit, just be aware, I am working my way to you as quickly as possible.  I have the SLOWEST internet on the planet, just one step up from dial-up.

Now for the books I purchased.   I didn't get the huge bargains my friend Pamela of Cappuccino and Art Journal gets when she attends one of these book fairs,  

but I was still happy with my purchases.   I purchased from the lowest prices they had.  The orange dots were $4.00 (USD) each

and the green dots were $2.00 (USD) each.  I couldn't believe I had gotten three Sue Grafton novels in a single book for $2.00.

I purchased all most of the other books for the art that is inside them.

The two large, thin books I bought for their covers.  Most of the covers I kept from Sally's old books were in pristine condition, and I wanted something with a bit of grunge showing.

I left the price tags on them, but will probably remove them after I publish this post.   In case you are wondering, I spent $34.00 (USD) on these books.  I was really surprised I had spent so much money, but once they added it up, I couldn't very well put anything back.  I would have been too embarrassed.  The good thing was, I learned that the money raised goes to purchase new art for the Wichita Art Museum.

Here is where they will be kept until I want to make art.

They should feel right at home with the other books, rocking horses, and DUST!!!

Now let's forget about dust (while I grab my dust rag and wash cloth) and join everyone at Gill's wildly popular Elegance and/or Grunge at Art Journal Journey.