Thursday 25 September 2014

The shell seeker


This year on Rhodes we had a room on the other side of the block but still had a wonderful view out to sea. We were greeted by this gorgeous view as we opened the curtains each morning. Sometimes we caught sight of the local fisherman taking his boat out and for a couple of days this boat was moored there. The beach is just a stones throw away.

I love the deep shades of blue at sunrise. We love to wander down to the beach especially early morning when everyone else is still asleep.
Some mornings the waves are rolling in and on other mornings or later in the day the sea is as still as a mill pond. We love to wiggle our toes and leave footsteps in the sand


We always spent a few days of our holiday on the beach. I can never sit still for long so I go seeking shells or pieces of sea glass. There are not many to be found here but when I do find one it is like finding a little piece of treasure.

Our beach days were spent gently relaxing and reading between some walks .  We tend to eat earlier in the evening and after a shower and dressing in our fresh cool clothes we would stroll to our  favourite restaurant which over looks the same beach. It is wonderful to watch the sun go down as we sip our cool pre meal drinks. The shadows lengthen and the sun starts its final descent.











There is nothing like the inner peace that the sounds of the sea and the colours in the sky at sunrise and sunset can induce.

When I came home I decided to make a Moment to put in my journal. I embossed a sheet of water colour paper with my shell folder and sprayed some Dylusions inks to make a watery background. I wanted this to be in the centre of my Moment.

I wanted to join the Craft Stamper inking on tissue paper challenge so I used my new Visible Image sentiment, which I recently won, and carefully applied it to the centre of the shell with Matt Medium. I love the way it merges with the embossing like a wave on the sea.  I added my embossed panel to a piece of stamping card. 
I also added some grunge paste though a stencil to represent the sea spray and lots of die cut shells and a crab which I brushed with gesso to cover the original card colours.
I also stamped some more sea sentiments (by Crafty Individuals)  onto tissue and added these to my journal piece. I also printed  myself some personal chit chat words on Kraft card.


It was then time to put on my creative hat and put together my ideas. Here are some close ups;
 I made the sky with blended distress inks. My glowing sun was sprayed with and then highlighted with Rusty Hinge DI. I love the shine from this. The "rays" are archival ink applied though a Tim Holtz stencil. I wanted the deep coloured "rays" to represent the sun setting and the lengthening shadows it creates.

I used yellow acrylic paints to daub the shells and crab and blue acrylic paint to the edge of the sea. I spritzed some water to allow the colours to blend together in a watery swirl, just like the sea on Rhodes. I distressed the edges of my Moment and applied Vintage Photo DI.





and here is my finished piece..............
I have tried to capture all the times of the day at the beach in my Moment, together with some of the changing colours.

 I would like to enter my Moment into the following challenges;

Visible Image Make it sparkle it is difficult to see but in real life my sun, the waves and the coloured grunge paste have a gorgeous sparkle to them
Craft Stamper Take it Make it Challenge stamping on tissue paper edit;oops missed the deadline by 12 hours!
Pan Pastels embossing
A little bit crafty Distress it
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday anything goes

We did have a wonderful week away and I love my new Visible Image stamp.....it is so apt. We all need to remember that life is for now and "These are the Moments". My Moment is now in Jane's Journal and when I look at it it makes me breath and inhale slowly and remember those special times; shell seeking, being warmed by the sun's rays, hearing the waves of the blue Aegean Sea  rolling in and watching the sun set with my darling Hb....just bliss.

I will be back with some more photos from our late summer break in the coming weeks. Here in the South we are still enjoying balmy early autumn afternoons although there is a nip in the air in the mornings and certainly the darkness is encroaching into the evenings earlier and earlier. I have a day at home today and I am going to enjoy some Studio time with Billy and I have started to get out my autumn palette of colours. I do love the light of summer but I also welcome the changing seasons and autumn is a magical time.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x




14 comments:

  1. Jane that is a beautiful moment, really beautiful that sun is glorious. Your photos of tranquil beaches make me yearn to live by the sea again, I loved it in the Winter when no one was around and the waves crashed to the beach, maybe not so sunshiny but still fabulous.

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  2. Jane, I can't tell you how much I loved seeing your seaside photos and moments. Absolutely beautiful and charming. I love your beach day routine, beach, shower, early dinner, drink and sunset. Those are truly beautiful moments. I could feel the peace and contentment. Your card is fabulous, you captured all of the above, great job and charming card for your journal. xoRobin

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  3. Looks like you had a wonderful time in Rhodes again, Jane and your photographs are just beautiful! I would be with you picking shells in the sand - I would say that I'm not really a beach person, but on a warm day with the salt air and refreshing breeze, there's nothing nicer than hunting for seaside treasure!
    I love your journal Moments - they really capture the memories of your visits without the need for lots of photos or journalling and are so pretty to look at too! Hugs, Lisa x

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  4. You really shared a delightful piece here from your getaway, Jane! What a beautiful place this must be- How fortunate you've been to be able to return. Great job capturing these moments in your art- And the sentiments perfectly communicate this, too! :o)

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  5. Jane, your post transported me to that wonderful place and that gorgeous ocean with the sun sparkling on it. Just beautiful images. And it was fun to sit with you on that balcony and watch the sun go down. Gorgeous card! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. Looks like Rhodes is a place that is very special to you both and you had a lovely romantic time, watching the sunset. Love your journal pages, the colours are so spot on to a beautiful clear sea and your Tissue technique is spot on for applying to your page for a perfect result.
    Enjoy your weekend,
    Julie x

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  7. Another fab project, and the Visible Image sentiment just fits in nicely. Thank you for joining us in the Visible Image Challenge, and good luck, Hugs Pauline, DT member xxx

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  8. Wow, Jane, I have never had the good fortune to visit Rhodes, but your beautiful 'Moments' page captures the magic of your stunning photos perfectly. I love all the different techniques you have used so expertly.

    Hugs,
    Jennifer. x

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  9. Your photos are so beautiful Jane. It looks like such a special place and I can see why you love it so much.
    Your 'Moments' page is stunning. The design is wonderful, I love the colours and gorgeous textures too.
    Thank you for taking part in A Little Bit Crafty Challenge this month.
    Sue xx

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  10. Such gorgeous photos of sunshiney Rhodes, Jane....I love the sense of peace and relaxation that being at a beautiful beach brings, and which you have captured so well in your pictures and sweet crafted moment too.
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
    Helen xox

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  11. so peaceful.....I love the seaside. Also, your seashell card is fabulous.
    Anne

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  12. I love where you drew your inspiration from and captured all that in your finished piece - it's beautiful - all the texture and colors from nature.

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  13. What a pretty page. Love the colors. Thank you so much for playing along with the Anything Goes Challenge this week over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog :)

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  14. What a beautiful post..you have me longing for my holidays:-) Beautiful project Jane...so happy you joined in over at Pan Pastel UK and Craft Stampers. xxxxxx

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