A Bit Of This, A Bit Of That

  Hello there! How's everyone? Did those of you in the US get to see the solar eclipse today??
Well, I did-just very brief glimpses thru my sunglasses as I did not have the special solar eclipse glasses one is "supposed" to use. I remember as a kid watching it and no one had those glasses then either. We made little makeshift boxes for viewing. In my area the eclipse was mid afternoon and it was only a partial one but still fascinating to me.

 Speaking of special views:

 After the only day we had heavy rain at the beach and the sky began to change we saw this gorgeous double rainbow from end to end over the ocean-pure magic to my eyes. (Scroll down for the art)

 I read three books during vacation:

 From left to right the first two are nonfiction memoirs/travel books-of course about living in France! I thoroughly enjoyed the first one which also includes some recipes. The second one was a very fast read and each "chapter" was only a page or two and you could read them in any order. Some of the chapters were a bit boring though I thought, and hubby agreed. And surprise! I read fiction too:):) My friend finished the Mitch Albom book and told me I had to read it-another fast read that kept me absorbed in the story and I loved it! Of course there's nothing like sipping tea, or coffee, or wine whilst enjoying the books. Joining T Stands For Tuesday with my wine. Cheers!

 A few more beach pics then more in another post so it doesn't get too long:

  We (me on left, Lynne and Wendy) and our guys got a kick at how we color coordinated (without consulting each other) our outfits and our nail polish colors.

                                      Our Cabana Boys! (Chad and my hubby on the right)

 and our third Cabana Boy-and chef for that day-Chuck (aka Chef Rolando). I made him a special toque for the occasion:)

  On an evening when it was my turn to cook I surprised them with chocolate crepes filled with homemade whipped cream and dressed with raspberry chocolate shavings for dessert.

OK, on to the art. I'm starting off with two ATCS:

 Here are close ups:

 They began by cutting two 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" panels from one of the  background papers I made using Distress Oxide inks:

                                            I love the effects of these inks!

Products Used for the ATCS: Distress Mixed Media paper; blue card stock; Distress Oxide inks: Broken China, Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans, Fossilized Amber; Distress ink in Vintage Photo; Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls, Botanicals, Alpha Tiles, Chit Chat stickers, Sizzix Thin Lits dies; Diamond Stickles glitter glue; die cut gear (ARTchix Studio); sewing machine and brown thread; Spellbinders die cut machine.

 Joining the Simon Monday Challenge (ATCS), and Try It On Tuesday (In My Garden).

 And for Art Journal Journey (theme this month is Poetry In Motion) and Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge 29 (Anything Goes) I have this journal page:

  I began by gessoing the page then gluing down some magazine clippings using soft gel medium under and over the images. Then I felt like going grungy so I don't recall the specific paint colors I used along with white and black. The number stencil is Faber Castell which I applied with gesso. The leaves and white dots were drawn on with a white Signo ball pen. Made some orange circles with an oil pastel. More mark making using white paint and my finger, then some spattering with black India ink. I wrote the words with a black Posca pen. I couldn't get that old 1960 hit song 'Poetry In Motion' by Johnny Tillotson out of my head so I put it to my page:)

 Joining in later this week to Paint Party Friday too! Thanks for bearing with the long post. See you soon.

          " Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August".       Denise Levertov