Tiny Cottage Journal

Here is another hand bound (Coptic stitch) journal I made during our recent Southern California coastal rainstorm!
Tiny Cottage Journal...I LOVE the shape of this book.
It slips easily into your purse or messenger bag - the perfect take-along art journal.
Measuring approximately 4 3/8" x 5 3/4" to the tip of the roof :)
Inside you'll find 32 pages of 140-pound cold pressed watercolor paper.
Each of the four signatures are divided with decorative paper alternating in blue and gold.
The Coptic stitch (allowing the pages to lie flat when open!) is done with waxed linen thread in three different colors.

*Just SOLD 02.05.08
... the Tiny Cottage Journal is on the way to the beautiful state of Virginia!*

*Please click on each image for larger views.*

Chinese Take Out NOTEBOOKS

Look what the California rain storm blew in :)
The perfect weather for bookmaking!
Chop-Chop-Chopstick Notebooks...
Want one?
*Click images for larger views*

The ROBOT:
(approximately 6 1/2" x 5" with 34 pages of white thirty-two pound paper)
*This one just sold 1.30.08*

SPRINGTIME:
(approximately 5 1/8" x 4 1/2" with 32 pages of white thirty-two pound paper)
*Given as a gift to someone special 02.10.08*

RED FLOWER DRUM SONG:
(approximately 8 7/8" x 4 1/2" with 16 pages of white thirty-two pound paper)
*This one just SOLD 1.28.08*

Each notebook is ONLY $7.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling!
Email me at: jolene@bellakarma.com
or leave me a comment with your email address!

THANKS FOR LOOKING!

You & Me & Rain On The Roof....

My favorite time at the beach is just BEFORE, DURING & AFTER a STORM :)
With strong winds blowing this afternoon I had to grab my camera and head up and over to the water...as I reach this high point around the corner from home this is my first view of the ocean...it has always been my favorite vantage point- even looooong before I lived here...it never fails to take my breathe away with it's beautiful vista...even (and especially!) on days like today-- dark and cloudy and wet!


No, this wasn't Photoshopped ...this watercolor of China Cove is taken through my rain covered car window :-)

Is this just too beautiful for words?.....

The five palm trees stood tall and clapped their hands in agreement!

This one was apparently so overwhelmed with her view her arms flew up in the air!


Further down the road at Little Corona Beach...I could watch these waves all day and never get
bored...


Down the road and around the corner...heading home under the rain soaked footbridge...
All too soon we will be back to BORING sunshine again...

Across The Universe ...or at least Across The Pond!

Some days "Kari-The-Mail-Carrier" fills my mailbox with bills and junk-mail...
Some days she knocks softly on the Dutch-door and leaves a bit of magic behind...
Those of you who read my blog regularly may have come to notice the sweet and often funny comments left by Kate who goes by "PlumCrafty".
Kate and I got to know one another via Craftsters.org - a cool on line community where artists and crafters share their ideas, tutorials, and a lot of support.
Kate lives 'across the Pond' and she has become like another daughter to me.
A bulletin board above my art table shows off the numerous postcards Kate sends me from her adventures around Europe - or right in her own backyard of the London area.

A long white mailing tube proclaiming "Royal Mail" arrived the other day and I was smiling before I even opened it!

IMAGINE my gasp and surprise when I unearthed this treasure!!!

On John's sleeve I placed the IMAGINE 'dog tag charm' that Kate also sent along. It is already on my key chain... each time I look at it I IMAGINE the wonder of the Internet and the friends and 'family' it has given me!

THANK YOU SWEET KATIE...I can't IMAGINE my world without you in it!

Earth to Jolene, Earth to Jolene....Come In Jolene...

Contrary to popular belief I have not left the planet.
Currently in a journal making frenzy.
Stay Tuned!

Chinese Take Out?

On a cloudy Sunday in-between storms it's good to keep busy at the art table :)

A while back I had seen a cool tutorial on making small journals using a chopstick as the journal's spine...and I knew I just had to try it!

These small journals have 32 pages and they measure about 4.5 inches by 9 inches...you make the journal the height of the chopstick. I used a piece of heavy weight scrapbook paper for the covers and the inside pages are 32-pound copy paper.

It's a great little journal to keep on your nightstand for jotting down thoughts and ideas!

Happy Birthday Jill Marie

On January 3, 1975 the greatest gift I have ever been given arrived.

The birth of my beautiful daughter, Jill Marie.

She is no longer four like in this photo - but she is still my 'baby girl'.

I LOVE YOU SWEETHEART.
HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY!