Number Fifteen!

At the end of January I launched my Joy Journal Project....and I mailed my 15th journal a few days ago. It was just the right project for me this past winter. When I was absorbed in cutting, folding and stitching, I was in a place of peace.When I was doing it for someone else, I was in a place of joy. 

I am aware of a few sets of papers that still might come....but for the first time in awhile there are none waiting in the wings. I welcome the break to focus on other things...but will also welcome more papers if and when they come.

I tweaked the original post just a bit...but the general guidelines are still there if you are interested. 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2026/01/hidden-in-my-joy.html

You can always contact me by email with questions at joyfulputtering@gmail.com

This seems to be a good time for a sneak peak  of the covers (there are 3 layers to the cover) of journal #15....the one chocked full of Julie's joy! 

Do you see the dotted rainbow card on the left....that's where I started. Her grandson loves rainbows...and there's lots of things that honor him in the journal. The first thing I did was cut off the white around the rainbow. 

I backed the dotted rainbow with fabric. 

It seemed a little risky to stitch between the rainbow colors in black thread...but I just went for it. It gave the rainbow definition...kind of like black pen and ink would.

Phew! I liked it...so continued with black thread through the whole journal. 

The second layer is a thread spool postcard. I like how the circles of the spool image gives a nod to the circles in the fused fabric on the left. 

One of Julie's cards became a sweet little pocket in the corner.

The third cover is a collaged with Julie's cards...and a few of mine.

I lined the inside of this third cover with rainbow striped fabric and wrapped it around to the front...then covered the edges with solid aqua fabric. I outlined the collaged pieces in black stitching. 

It seemed inevitable that the part of the fabric snippet strip Julie provided would be the belly band closure. 

The bright pink daisy will make more sense when you get a glimpse of the inside. The colors of these layered covers are much more vibrant in person....I'm guessing my lighting wasn't right.

I'll share some of the inside once it's in Julie's hands. 

Cherie, Dale and the flowers got quite a few miles under their belt yesterday! They made it to the Route 66 midway point between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Their last stop last night was in Chickasha, OK to see the 40 foot high leg lamp sitting on a 10 foot box. It's a classic image from A Christmas Story. I think Cherie and Dale like quirky roadside attractions. How fun is that!

Searching for Words

Hopefully this will make more sense later in this post...if it makes any sense at all!

In hopes that we thwart the destruction of democracy and protest against the pandemonium in our government, Paul and I meandered downton to admonish the disingenuous and malevolent sycophants in power. We were greeted by an eclectic and friendly group of neighbors and a plethora of cogent signs. 

Another Saturday at a rally in downtown Portland...I loved this modified no parking sign:

 NO KING ANY TIME!

It's kind of ironic that I write a blog. Writing has never been my strong suit as I often find myself searching for the right words. When I'm telling a story I mix my metaphors and often twist or misuse a catch phrase. And don't even get me started on my editing skills. But here I am...doing what doesn't come easy. Thank you for looking past my errors and bumbly sentences and just seeing and sharing my joy. 

I've been searching for words on my puzzle table too. I remember Margie doing this one...but this is the first time for me and I'm really enjoying it.

It's interesting where my mind takes me as I find and assemble a word. They're not all familiar to me...so I've been looking them up as I go along.

As you probably guessed....all the bold words in my opening paragraph are in the puzzle.

The Traveling Flowers left the Santa Fe area and made their way along Route 66 with a stop in Tucumcari, New Mexico for lunch.

They made a stop at Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. It's an interesting and popular swimming and diving spot with underwater caves.

 

The Muralist

We're celebrating Kelly's birthday this evening....and I collaborated with Clarke to make her a frog. For those of you new to the blog...Kelly is my son Sam's girlfriend. And if you want the backstory to the frogs....you can read this post. 

Kelly is an artist...and spent a chunk of her career painting murals around the state. So we are calling this one The Muralist! Kelly has a green sweater almost just like this. The feminine lace....the pin...the nose ring and the boots personalize it just perfectly! 

Happy Birthday Kelly! 

Here are some of Kelly's murals. This first one is part of a whole series in a stretch of buildings. I want to go back and take more photos.

It was quite a day for The Traveling Flowers. They visited Tsankawi Unit, White Rock City Visitor Center and Bandelier National Monument. Don't you feel like you're right on vacation with them?

Cherie said this was the first day that three different people asked about the flowers....and one of them offered to take this photo! I can tell they're having fun with this! I know I am!

Wonder

It's that time of year when I wonder if the scilla are blooming in the lawn on Abby Lane. This is the post from last year about this time....actually a week from now.

I went that way on my walk and sure enough some were in bloom. I'm guessing more are coming so I'll check it out again next week.

I hope I never stop wondering.

And I hope I never stop taking the time 

to explore the things I wonder about.

The Traveling Flowers made it to Santa Fe yesterday....high on my list of places to visit! 

I think the stick pergola is so inviting. 

I chuckled when I saw that Cherie and Dale took the flowers to breakfast with them this morning....and it looks like they even served them eggs! 

And I'm sure they appreciated a little time by the fire. I'm loving the humor...and the fun Cherie and Dale seem to be having with The Traveling Flowers! 

Julie's Joy!

This quote made me chuckle! And after the very stressful day yesterday wondering what our unhinged president was going to do....anything that can make me chuckle is a good thing.

Righty tighty lefty loosey one of those little life lessons that often comes in handy.

Julie learned about the blog and my Joy Journal Project from Cherie....and she didn't waste any time sending me a big pile of joy! It was sitting on my dining room table for more than a week while ideas percolated and I finished up Emily's.

There were colorful bits and bobs.....and lots of rainbows. Once I had the cover design and size figured out...I was off and running. I'm actually nearly finished after about a week of fiddling. 

Julie included puzzle pieces, stickers, stamps, quotes, fabric snippet strips, grandson art....and lots of cutouts. It's turning out to be another bright and colorful journal chocked full of Julie's joy.

Julie is a quilter..and included a couple of fabric selvage edges that you can see in that first photo. After I posted about the selvage on Emily's journal cover...Lily shared a quilt she and a friend made entirely from selvage edges! Who would have thought! 

I would love to see it in person....it's amazing! 

Cherie got me looking at clothing tags....and now Julie and Lily have me looking at fabric selvedge. 

The Travelling Flowers are still hanging around the Grand Canyon. 

They visited the Desert View Watchtower yesterday...which by the way....was designed by a woman! Do you see them there in the foreground?

This pose made me smile. Pure simple joy!

That's what it's all about!

All Their Own

I told Cherie that these photos needed a post all their own. The Traveling Flowers look just stunning with the backdrop of the Grand Canyon. Thanks Cherie!

I think Cherie is having as much fun with this as I am!

Cherie and her husband Dale having lunch with a view!

I continue to feel like I'm on vacation with them!