A Meaningful Life Art Journal - FINISHED! - well almost

I've been working on this art journal for some time, I haven't been working on it constantly but it's been picked up and put back down quite a few times. I didn't start with a sketch on this one and ideas for it came in spurts. But I finally finished it this morning, well almost...

I love the cover and I'm pretty sure it is completed, I just can't get enough of antique brass. The cover is made with a piece from an antique carriage lantern, antique drawer pull, an old watch crystal, piece of an old doorknob, parts from an old pearl necklace for a clasp and an old rusty key. I used a little acrylic paint around the edges to make it pop.

All of the old photos in this journal are found photos or ones that have been given to me, they are not family but even though I don't know who they were I feel a connection with them because of the subjects, who they are with, and what they are doing.

 The pages may have a piece added here and there...

All of the pages are individually hand distress and grouped into six sections. Each section is bound together with hand dyed and distressed fibers and fabrics.

Each section has a collage with a vintage photo that includes old papers, paint, fibers, and hand drawing as well as a hand written caption detailing the parts of a meaningful life.

Every section has tags slipped in between it's pages at the top, each tag has a collage with old papers and paint and are ready to be written on.

I love this photo of the woman standing beside the jumping pack animal. The caption that came with it was "just before entering the black hills" which is where black hills gold comes from, hence the written caption "Live your dream."

I love how this journal turned out, it's got everything I need, lovely distressed and aged pages, rust, old fabric, old photos and all of those wonderful things that make me happy.

Hope you are having a Happy Day!