Appreciation

 

Today I am sharing this journal entry with Elle from Empire of the Cat, our host this month at Art Journal Journey.  I've actually had this post ready since the first of the month, but was waiting for my friend Joseph Peck to get his new web site up and running.  His current web site is here.  The new site features snippets of everything from classical to calypso to relaxation to rock to drum circles.  In case you didn't know, Joseph plays steel drums.

Long ago, when I was still in grad school, my friend Joseph Peck lived in my basement and was already banging away on the steel drums. 

It was at that time, he told me that music is the universal language.  I've never forgotten it, and that is how this journal entry came about.

Here are a few step out photos.

I used several different sheets of vintage music.  I love how the color varies depending on the age of the paper.  I used cream and black variegated thread to hold everything together.  

 

This is the entire journal page with all the sewing.  The sentiment was computer generated and outlined using black dye ink.  But that doesn't explain the title of my post today.

However, if you click on this link, you will be taken to Joseph's site where you can hear the song that became the title of today's post.  The first time I heard it, Joseph only played the steel drum.  I actually cried when I heard it and then he told me he had written it for me.  I asked if I could name it and I called it Appreciation.  It is the only album not published by Joseph himself.  He and a band he formed in Florida called Trouble Creek went into a studio in Missouri, where I joined him while he was recording the album called Blue Earth.  I paid for the five day recording session, the master, which he has, and the first 1000 copies of the CD.  There are 10 songs on the CD, and Appreciation is the final song.  Although it is over 10 minutes long, the first 3 minutes and about 20 seconds features mostly Joseph and his steel drum.  Much of the rest of the instrumental features the other instrumentalists.  The music was written and composed by Joseph.

Thank you so much for visiting today.  I truly appreciate it and hope you will allow my friend Joseph Peck to entertain you while you are visiting Art Journal Journey.