Thursday, February 28, 2013

Gloomy Weather Projects

The weather has been yucky here these past couple days.  We've had rain, hail, snow, and ice.  I'm trying to ignore the gloom.  I've been tending to business, painting, making pretty little things, and going through my stash.



I pulled out some of my vintage books, of which I have many. One of my earliest books is 175 years old.  It's some sort of journal, but I have no idea what it says.  It's in German.  I know it's dated January 8th, and it belonged to someone named Anna. That's about it.




It's beautifully handwritten, and held together with twine.




I love the cover.



I COPIED some of the pages.  Yes, let's be clear about this.  I would never rip apart a nearly 200 year old book.




The paper I used to make the copies are old sheets of stock paper.  So, it's basically vintage-on-vintage.  I tinted one of the sheets blue. The other I left natural.  They make great bundles, wrapped with hemp twine, and sporting a dried rose bud.




I have a ton of loose French book pages.  They're NOT 175 years old, so I don't mind tinting them.









I tweaked my plaster cherubs.




I wanted more depth, and color.












Old metal flowers made a nice bouquet for my alabaster vase.




I made a cute vignette, and




went back to painting.



Clay rose fragments got a few layers of color,









and so did a couple plaster plaques.












I came across this faded cluster while going through one of my boxes.  I remember finding it in a basket I purchased at an estate sale.





I love the colors, on both sides.




I think I'm going to use these colors on my next project.



Okay, as you can see, I've been going a little stir crazy.  Snow is in the forecast for the next few days. Ugh.


33 comments:

  1. What gorgeous things you create Rosemarie - it's like balm for the soul dropping by to visit!
    It's pretty miserable here too - but I keep telling myself we're in the home stretch now - almost March
    Have a wonderful rest of the week :)
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  2. What a beautiful journal, Rosemary! The handwriting is gorgeous, too. I'll bet it would be interesting to have some of that translated. I'm glad to hear you have your creative juices flowing. I feel like mine have dried up for the time being. Hopefully, some nicer weather will get me inspired soon.

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  3. You sent that weather across the lake to Michigan, I'm weary of winter. I love the pages, so pretty. And so glad you did not use the real book!!!! The handwriting is beautiful and flowing. Have a great week, Laura

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  4. As always, your projects look great. If you ever do a tutorial on tinting paper I love to see it : ) Kitty

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  5. OMG that German book - oh be still my heart it is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

    I love what you did with the copied page, sheesh you are so talented.

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  6. My goodness Rosemary, that amazing old book is just GORGEOUS!!! I love the bundles...they are just beautiful! Everything is, the cherub is so wonderful, gorgeous layers of goodness. Hoping some sunshine heads your way soon! xxoo, Dawn

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  7. I have lots of old books too, but none of them are are that old. That was a fabulous find.

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  8. What a truly amazing (and priceless) treasure! Found you through WUW, and am a new follower. I love your taste.

    XOXO,
    Meredith

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  9. Seeing all of your beautiful creations do not make me think of gloom but of blissful days of the artist creating art. Love all of your pieces. Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

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  10. I'm loving the blue tinted paper! Aren't you dying to know what that journal says? :)
    We won't be getting "real" Spring here in Colorado for quite some time yet. Thanks for sharing your pretty projects!

    Jeanette

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  11. You have such a way of creating ambiance with your photos. Love everything you've been making lately.

    Hang in there....Spring will be here soon:-)

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  12. You've turned all that gloomy weather into very pretty creations! Just holding a two hundred year old book is a thrill and I really like the way you have found to share it with others.

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  13. Love the handwriting on that paper--it looks gorgeous how you "fixed it up"!

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  14. A wonderful idea ! Tagebuch means Diary and the script is very oldfashioned and hard to read, but I´m very glad that you just copied the pages ! This book needs to be complete. It would be nice to read it (if possible) and to learn some of Annas dreams :-)

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  15. The alabaster vase and metal flowers are so pretty!
    Hope you are having a great week...
    :)
    Cindy

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  16. Your vintage papers are beautiful Rosemary! You always find cool old books and treasures!Amazing how lovely handwriting used to be!
    xx
    Anne

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  17. Your a busy gal, and honey I have lots snow over here I am sure there is 22 inches in my yard, it's over my boots when I go out to feed my birds

    I love old books and have drawers full and I love your metal flowers

    And I like your blog very much

    happy snow days ahead

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  18. I love how creative you get when it's nasty outside...beautiful photos too.

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  19. Wow, 175 year old book! Gorgeous! That was a really great idea to copy the pages:) I'll send you some FL sunshine if you send me some snow!

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  20. Wow, you've been busy, Rosemary! Your antique journal is such a find, just look at that old penmanship. It's great that you can make copies of the pages. I adore your cherubs, they are so sweet! Hoping you get some much needed sunshine and a break from the snow:)

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  21. Wow, you've been busy, Rosemary! Your antique journal is such a find, just look at that old penmanship. It's great that you can make copies of the pages. I adore your cherubs, they are so sweet! Hoping you get some much needed sunshine and a break from the snow:)

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  22. I really like those vintage copies and the rose bud...so soft and pretty!

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  23. Oh sweetie you have been so busy and it is all so lovely! I just adore the handwritten journal tied with twine, I can only imagine what it says. My mojo has seemed to gone somewhere warm without me! Not waiting for Spring...I'm tired of painting in snow banks and making a quick run for the house and yet everything I seem to want to do, needs a layer of paint! Glad to see your mojo is working overtime!
    Hugs,
    Pendra

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  24. Beautiful as always Rosemary. I heart vintage books. They are such treasures. I hope the gloomy weather leaves quickly. Have a wonderful weekend

    xo
    Kate

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  25. I love that you treasure your treasures, like that journal. You are obviously using your snow time to continue to create. I look forward to your posts. Stay warm and keep on keeping on.

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  26. So glad you have lots of projects when you are "homebound" due to the awful weather...great idea about copying those journal pages!...love them..and received my clothespins and love them...thanks Rosemary!!...

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  27. If you should decide to sell some of these copies of your pages on Etsy, would you please let us know on your blog when you do so. thanks, they are lovely

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  28. Love, love that antique journal, quite the treasure indeed. I so love the hand writing back then, hard to read I know. I have an old journal, late 1800's it is a farm journal with charges like a store of sorts. I work at a small town town clerks office and the old antique vital records are amazing. I love the bundles..
    Michele

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  29. Love all this prettieness, Rosemary. The weather has been a pain here too.

    Cynthia

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  30. Those 'bundles' are so pretty -- I love the way people USED to write -- a true lost art. Glad to at least see the sun for a change -- hoping they're right about 50 degrees next weekend!!

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  31. Everything is soo pretty Rosemary! Thanx so much for joining us at THT.

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  32. Thank you, Rosemary, for all the information. You have many treasures, including your amazing talent.

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