Frida Kahlo journal page

Yesterday I completed a journal spread in a vintage photo album based on a tutorial at carolynsnehring.blogspot.com. She has several great tutorials on her blog. I had some pictures of Frida Kahlo that I wanted to highlight so I did not cover the page with the watered down white paint which would have given it a dreamier look. But I did use watered down paint to cover several dictionary pages which I tore into squares and arranged on the pages as my background. This spread is a larger format - about 8x10" in a vintage photo album.

Downtown Turnaround

The Jacksonville "Downtown Turnaround" celebrated the return of the downtown square. Like many small towns, we received a federal grant in the 1970s to modernize the old downtown shopping district. Urban Renewal took away the rotary traffic pattern, added new facades to many of the old building, constructed plastic awnings over the walkways and added ugly square brick quadrant buildings on the four corners of the central park. In effect, this killed off the downtown which was already starting the downhill slide as the bigger stores moved to the new shopping mall. For many years, citizens have bemoaned the demise of the downtown. Many of us remember the glory days when the stores stayed open until late on Friday evening and the teenagers drove around and around the rotary - sometimes pulling into park and visit before heading to one of the two downtown movie theaters or to get a giant hamburger and milkshake at one of the local drive-up restaurants.
For the past several years, several dedicated citizens have headed up a renewal project for the downtown. This past year, the counterclockwise "rotary" pattern around the square was opened up and there is once again downtown parking in front of businesses. Central Park was cleaned up and is now "green" again - with the quadrant buildings gone. The past weekend celebration featured area businesses, food, drinks, and entertainment including the largest of the Eli Bridge ferris wheels - which was made in Jacksonville. It was wonderful to see so many people having fun downtown.

Jacksonville Downtown Turnaround

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Jacksonville belle

I purchased several pieces of hometown paper memorabilia at a local flea market. The advertising brings back memories of businesses from long ago - some I remember but many I've never heard of. Most of the advertising I put in my antiques mall shop but I had a few paper pieces laying on my work table and decided to do a journal page around them. I can imagine the excitement in picking out fabric, patterns and accessories for a new dress - perhaps for a special occasion. I'm curious about the business card for Alonzo Smith. My maiden name was Smith - my ancestors came from England. A good friend's maiden name was also Smith - her ancestors came from Madeira Island, Portugal. We have a large population of residents with Portuguese heritage. Many changed their last name to Smith to blend in with the already established residents. They were proud Americans!

Orphaned doll needs a good home

Garage sale season in central Illinois is finally in full swing after a long spring of cold, rainy days.

I couldn't resist this beautiful old doll who has seen better days. I wish I could restore her but I hope someone else will get her and fix her up. She can be found in my etsy shop: . I love the little bluebird necklace around her neck.

Vintage orphaned doll by NX211 on Etsy

Vintage orphaned doll by NX211 on Etsy

Tap Dancing

I made a simple scrapbooking page today and journaled about my early tap dancing experiences. My mother taught tap dancing to area children in our home. She had a

tap board to put down in our living room and we danced to records played on our console.

My best friend growing up was often my dance partner. One memorable experience

was when we participated in a talent contest at a local county fair. We sang "It's a

Grand Old Flag" waving our small flags. At the end of the song, we threw the flags

aside and started our tap dance. We were disqualified for descecrating the American flag.

My Mother was mortified!

Traveling Salesman

My favorite relaxing form of mixed media is making a visual journal page. I like to sit down at my work table and pick from leftovers on the table or perhaps a picture that speaks to me. Today was the first day in a long time I've had a chance to do that -- and start a blog!! Anyway, this journal spread evolved from an old magazine page I'd saved about traveling salemen. My maternal grandfather was a traveling salesman in the Midwest. He started in the depression when they lost the family farm and continued into his 70s when he retired. He would leave home usually on Monday morning and be out 3-5 days as he made his route, staying in small town hotels and eating in diners. He often picked up hitchhikers for company. He loved his job, made lots of lasting friendships and saw the country.

Fly With Me

Come "fly with me" as I begin my blog journal. I'm "flying by the seat of my pants" but I hope to share my love of flying, antiquing and mixed media art.