And Then It's August

Decided to make a new journal like the ones we are going to make at Squam. I keep discovering new things to make the construction faster and easier and I wanted to time myself so I'd know how long things took to dry and so on. I've really got it down to an art now, quick and easy which will allow us time to do some page entries. This is the class the students asked for last year so I've followed their wishes and there's still room in the class if you'd like to join us. I'll show you more photos of the finished journal at the end of the post.

But first! Last Saturday John and I went to Newport, Oregon to deliver paintings to Earthworks Gallery. We noticed a fisherman selling fresh line caught albacore off his boat so we purchased a couple.

Here the guys are filleting our tuna right on the boat. They have to go out one hundred miles to find the tuna.

While we were there we had a gander at the sealions. They make the most wonderful honking noises and are very ill-tempered with each other.

When we got home we called the kids over for an impromptu blackened cajun tuna feed. Which required a trip to the garden for side dishes.

Plump arugula.

Peaches.

For peach crisp. (I added the topping after taking the photo.)

Vegetables and summer savory.

Cooking on the camp stove. Beer on a hot day. And my girls did all the dishes. Happy, lucky me.

Okay, so here's the finished front cover. I was in the mood for lavish color and a rising spirit. 

The inside front cover. Collaged in part of a print from an old painting to remind myself to keep asking what makes me happy and to keep on keeping those things in my life.

Inside back cover

Front and back view and the spine. 

I love making books. Love love love it. 

xo