New Christmas ROD!

Ah, I had so much fun completing the last Christmas Rod, I had to make another.  I had more ideas I wanted to try on this one.  Seems that happens when I am creating, one idea springs into 10 more.  I have to write them all done so I don't forget.

This ROD was done again with Christmas colors and a poinsettia theme.  Here are a few photos.

The inside cover is a holly design.

This journal has an added pocket on the inside front cover.

Fused paper was used for the trees.  Can you see the teeny vintage star sequins? 

Two places to store cards and tokens from the holidays.

The journal is 9" x 6" and has 2 signatures and a total of 48 pages (both sides)

It is up for adoption in my Etsy shop.

Christmas ROD Journal

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  This year I wanted to create a special journal to record all those memories we quickly tend to forget.  And here it is.  I never thought the day would come.

Finally.  Finally I have completed my Christmas ROD journal that I was inspired to create from taking Mary Ann Moss's Remains of the day class.

Whew.....this book is a beauty!!

It is 9" x 6" and thick with 2 signatures with 20 pages each!  The cover is created with velvets, cottons, sparkly fabrics and vintage trims.  I love it!

These are a few of the fabric pocket pages.

For more photos please visit my Flickr Site

This journal is available in my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeeLewalski

Angels and Photoshop

I've been playing with Photoshop today.  Trying to see what will happen with my photos by adding textures and backgrounds.  I am following a tutorial I found on DJ Pettitt's  blog.  I used a few of her backgrounds too.  

This is my original photo that was taken in an old graveyard in Boston's North End. 

Here is one effect I added for the background.  I liked the way this looked when I was creating it, but I am not too sure about how it looks here.  This was done with the overlay technique.

This was another effect  and a different background which looks cool.

Here is one of my Santas with an added background.  I love how this came out.  

I hope to try a few more and print them for use in my journals.  

Christmas ROD #1- Memories

A fabric pocket page

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year.  I remember , back in the day when the decorations wouldn't hit the stores until after Thanksgiving.  I waited for that day, ( which is now referred to as Black Friday) to start my shopping!   I also thought of Christmas starting in July, before it became popular to have Christmas in July.  I have made some of my best Santas in the July heat.

And here were are at the end of October, and I am in the Christmas mood again.  This time I used my spirit to create my first ROD journal.  I had a blast buying new fabrics and using my vintage trims.  This journal is 9" tall x 6" wide.  It has 40 pages, which is 2 signatures of 10 pages each.  This is a very chunky book. The pages are decorated with fabric scraps, paint, old ledger paper, vintage trims, and German Dresden scraps.   There are pockets and places to hold cards, letters, photos, lists or anything you might save from the season.  Plus plenty of room to record memories and stories to remember for next year.  I really love this journal and hope you do too.  Here are a few photos.

This is the front cover

The fabrics are a red Santa toile, red velvet, a sheer white with red and green sparkly dots, along with other fabrics.   A piece of antique lace trims the inside edge.

Here is a top view to show how chunky this book has become.

I love this photo of the antique lace trim.

I have more photos to show, only I can't seem to upload them right now.  Please go check them out on my Flickr account.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/30624977@N08/

I'll add more photos tomorrow to show the pockets and hiding places for memories.

Sneak Peek at Santa

Santa Candy Container

ROD journals- Christmas theme

Fabric pocket page

Lately I have gotten myself hooked on making RODs.  That is "Remains of the Day" journals, created by Mary Ann Moss  who's blog is Dispatch from LA.  Here are a few photos of pages I have been working on.  I decided to start with a Christmas theme as I have always wanted a Christmas journal to keep track of my thoughts, gifts I bought and received, special cards and the stories we seem to forget from year to year.  This will be perfect!

Another fabric pocket page on the right.  

This journal will be listed in my Etsy shop soon.  Keep watching for a preview of more pages.

North End Boston

Sunday I took a trip to the North End which is the Italian part of town.  The bakeries were packed with lines out the door spilling onto the narrow sidewalks.  I never realized the demand for good Italian pastries.  There was a new flavor cannoli, Lobstertail cream.  I didn't dare to try that one.  As I was walking,  I found this one little store which was my favorite.  The name said it all, as they did just about anything from dog walking, shopping, picking up laundry, fixing bikes, computers, whateva you need!