Wanderlust 2026 - weeks twenty-seven to thirty-nine - Stories Unfolded

Here are my favourite pages from my art journaling course, Wanderlust, weeks twenty-seven to thirty-nine, 'Stories Unfolded'.  Above features family photos and the pattern from 'Wing Maze' a turf maze which is near where we lived when I was a child. It is actually a labyrinth, rather than a maze. 

More family photos, this time of my Granny and her sisters.  The lesson was to make a shadow box, but I wanted to keep everything in my journal, so created a frame from cardboard and then added the flowers and photo inside.  I was pleased with how it turned out.

Pattern making using stencils and different media was the next lesson and I enjoyed layering up the prints and using a sparkly paste through the stencil too.

The lesson showed making a mobile using wire circles so I adapted it and made die cut circles instead.  The dried flower, feathers and leaves are stuck down so that they don't get broken.

Creating a body for this lady with fabric and paper was an enjoyable activity too and there is also a felt heart, using my hand made felt.  

This lesson showed a tin being decorated and painted, so my idea was to make a tin shape.  I used texture paste through a stencil on the right and lots of die cuts on the left.  I then added paint effects to give the feeling of metal. It became a flap in my journal and underneath is...

...things I love. The swirl represents being in that 'flow' when you lose all track of time (I did borrow that idea from the teacher).  I think you can work out what I love!

Finally, more texture, with texture paste through a stencil and on its own, stamps, collage and a bit of colour.  

The final theme for this year is The Elements Within, which sounds intriguing.

...and flowers inside

I was in town last Saturday and there was a market in the square.  I noticed a nice plant and flower stall and treated myself to some pink chrysanthemums (to me, chrysanthemums always have such an 'autumn' scent) and a little fern.  I popped the chrysanthemums in a vase once I got home and then Chris came back from the allotments with some beautiful jewel-toned dahlias from a fellow allotmenteer (thank you so much).  I ended up with a lovely display of autumn flowers.

Here are my pretty pink chrysanthemums...

...and here are the beautiful dahlias.

The colours are so sumptuous, aren't they? Pinks, apricots, oranges and deep reds.  I keep thinking that I should perhaps grow some dahlias next year, maybe...

Flowers outside...

Now the weather is cooler and we have had a bit of much needed rain, some of my normally very reliable autumn flowers are putting in an appearance and bringing me some lovely splashes of colour. Above is Japanese Anemone Bressingham Glow.  It is much shorter and much later to flower this year.  

Here is Symphyotrichum (Aster, as it will always be to me!)) novae-angliae Mrs S T Wright.  This one has seeded itself from the main plant which is further down the border.

Here is Symphyotrichum (Aster) Little Carlow.  For the last two years this plant's leaves have struggled against mildew, as it is near to a big Buddleia.  I may need to move it (again) or improve the soil.  The flowers are very pretty though.

Helianthus Lemon Queen, again, this is shorter and smaller than usual, but still has zingy yellow flowers, loved by bees.

Even the miscanthus is shorter, but still elegant, particularly when the breeze ruffles its silky flowers.

Liriope Muscari, a very undemanding plant. The stem in front is a herbaceous Clematis, New Love.

The hydrangeas are taking on their autumn colours of old velvet.

Salvias are still flowering - this one is either Raspberry Melba or Strawberry Melba!

This little clematis 'Neptune' is flowering for the second time this year which is unexpected, but very welcome.  these are the flowers at the top...

...and the bottom of the support.  I am enjoying this gentle slide into Autumn very much.

A Bargain!

 We recently went to a Charity shop (or Op shop as they are called in other countries) which I had not been to before.  We were on the way home and I mentioned I hadn't been there as it was a little off the beaten track.  So we went. I am very glad we did. I found another few pieces of Beryl crockery by Wood's Ware (which was a ubiquitous design found from 1940, in a few colours, which was used in churches, villages halls, schools etc.).  I always liked the green version with its simple, functional design and lines of decoration but until I had some to look at closely, I didn't realise there were little art deco touches on the handles.  There is an interesting article and some good photos here (The Darling Academy - Beryl by Woods Ware).  It was still being made into the 1990s apparently, so there is still lots around, but prices on ebay etc. are going up. We have collected the pieces we have from charity shops. 

I also managed to get this bargain acrylic ink gift set by Daler Rowney.  It doesn't seem to be made any more, but as these bottles of acrylic ink are about £6.00 to buy, this whole set was amazing value for £2!  There is a pearl purple, a pearl which shines blue and a gold. There is also a pack of pencils in B, 2B, 4B, 6B, a paintbrush, watercolour postcards and a black canvas, all unused. I have yet to play with the inks, but I do use acrylic inks quite a lot in my journaling, so they are a great addition.  I do love a bargain!