... and I just knew something was going to happen.
First I made this large cut-out moth in my A4 Journal.
But something was not right, it was too large and neither one thing or another. So I cut out lots of small moths.
As I had decided they were 'paper moths' they needed to be on a paper background. I felt these small versions looked much better.Another ideas that has been going around my head is to make some Lotus Flower books which I had first seen on Heloise blog. It was for these that I had coloured the paper, but I hadn't decided on a cover theme. The paper moth seemed ideal. I used the moths on the front covers.
The background is a scanned paper bag from The Chattanooga Choo Choo museum in Chattanooga and an old style publicity newspaper from Niagara Falls, both souvenirs from my Greyhound trip round the USA in 1977. (Rummaging around all the bits of paper I brought home cost me several hours of reminiscing). I added a bit of distressing ink, pen and pencil work and a bit of glitter. The results are here and I am pleased with the way they have turned out. The pages are folded 10cm squares and the covers just over 5cm to allow for an overlap.
Linda at Blue-eyed Girl was my inspiration here and she gives a super tutorial on how to make these pretty little books.
I tried to be aware of my creative process here; the initial idea of wanting to use the image of the moth, then the frustration as it didn't quite work out as I first thought. Then the connection of different inspirations and influences to complete the final design. Now I feel no desire to repeat the pattern, but may well try some variation.
I am still staggering from the amount of 'stuff' I have manged to create in the last year or so since retiring. I want to feel that I am not just madly running from one novelty to the next, but following my own 'art foundation' course and hopefully somewhere along the way I can feel I am truly on an artistic journey.
Thank you for sharing it with me.
