Fall, Christmas, and French journals November 12, 2018

I've been so busy making journals I forgot to update this!

I sold 5 last month and I'm busying making new ones for my ETSY shop:   
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesertsandBeyond?ref=pr_shop_more

If I really work at it, I can make 2 journals in a week.   I do each journal individually, by hand, so it takes me a little longer than mass producing them.   My last 2 (and I have 1 more to finish today) have a LOT of fabric and lace and threads on them!   Very French/boho!!!


Here are some photos:   Please DO come and take a look.   They will make wonderful Christmas presents!   You can follow the link to my ETSY shop to get more details about them and their YouTube flip through videos!   Thanks for stopping by!

 Fall theme

 Christmas

 Time & Travel

 Winter theme

 Cute, cheerful Christmas

 side view

 Another travel/French one

 Postcards one/travel

 French boho

 Another travel one

 side view of French/Boho

 Another French one

Christmas

ALL of these can be found on my ETSY site:     https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesertsandBeyond?ref=pr_shop_more

Some new journals

I just thought I would update this blog with some photos of my newest journals, as of June 29, 2018.

Thanks for stopping by!

This is my Western themed journal (NOT COWBOY!)...I have photos, postcards, and magazine pics for the 4 corner states:  Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.  She is available HERE in my ETSY shop:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/607989526/junk-journal-handmade-recycled-book?ref=shop_home_feat_2

Another one:

I really LOVE this one!   It is a nature/botanical themed one.   Here's the link to it in my ETSY shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/604360174/handmade-journaljunk-journal-nature?ref=shop_home_feat_1

And, here's ANOTHER ONE!

This is my eastern Sierra Nevada over sized book.   She has a lot of my own photos, as well as pictures cut out from travel brochures that I picked up on our last trip. I coffee sprayed the pages!   Here she is in my ETSY shop:   

https://www.etsy.com/listing/609234198/handmade-junk-journal-coffee-table?ref=shop_home_feat_3

And, yes, ANOTHER ONE:   (I've been VERY BUSY lately)

Yes, another nature one!   This one has coffee sprayed pages and is also over size, PERFECT for your coffee table!   Here's the link to her in my ETSY shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/609420248/handmade-journal-nature-journal?ref=shop_home_feat_4

AND, FINALLY...!!!

"Brown"...another over size journal.   This one is LOADED with stamping!   Nearly every page is full!   I absolutely LOVE this one and if it doesn't sell, I'm KEEPING HER!   She has nearly 160 pages!   Lots of fabric sewn in, too.   Here she is in my ETSY shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/610333378/handmade-journal-writing-journal-memory?ref=shop_home_active_1

Thanks for looking !   Enjoy your week and upcoming Independence Day.   By the way, starting June 30, some of these journals will be 20% off in my ETSY shop, so PLEASE STOP BY and take a look!

~Cheryl Ann~

journal maker

When is enough ENOUGH???

I sold 6 journals in January, zero in February, but 3 so far this month (March).  I have a wide range of prices for my journals, from about $16.00 to $32.00, depending on the journal and the amount of work (hours) I put into each one.

I like to give my potential buyers a variety of styles and prices.

I have quite a few favorite journal makers myself.  These are gals that have inspired me and who have given me tips, ideas, suggestions, and styles. 

I've purchased over a dozen journals myself so that I could look at them and feel them and see how they were made.  They are all beautiful and gorgeous.

HOWEVER...

I've noticed that their prices have gone WAY UP!   One gal went from $65 a journal to now $150!  YIKES!   $150 for a journal?  Others are now up to $200!!!!

Now, I'm not saying that they don't deserve that kind of money.  I'm sure they do.  BUT...they have priced themselves out of what I CAN AFFORD.

YIKES!

I guess I'll just have to make my own from now on...Here are a few photos of my recent journals.   These are available in my ETSY shop:   https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesertsandBeyond?ref=pr_shop_more

Newest journal 3 ring mini binder nature theme

So, I found this 3 ring binder at one of our local thrift shops a while ago.  It was in perfect condition, so I bought it for $0.99...I sat it aside until I was ready to use it for a journal.

Well, this week was that week!  I had been hoarding her pages, waiting to put them in.  They were already sewn and decorated with fabric and lace, so I just had to put them in order and then embellish them with stamps and journaling cards.  It is always fun to do the embellishments!

She is now in my ETSY shop:   https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesertsandBeyond?ref=pr_shop_more

and HERE is the link to her:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/597366527/junk-journal-3-ring-binder-journal-mini?ref=shop_home_active_1

I also did a You Tube video flip through:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nWW27Cvc6Q

Please do take a look!  I LOVE these 3 ring mini binders.  She is 8 3/4 by 6 1/2 and she has 60 sheets of paper, so that's 120 pages for writing or journaling.  She has either lace or fabric on every page!  She also has several GORGEOUS cards inside!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!

~Cheryl Ann~

I've made a few videos!

I've made a few videos for You Tube about my journals.  Here are some of the most popular ones:

*     Journal sizes:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AoQUwZlZgw

*     Finding your own style:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=932Y5_B1hPk

*     Travel journal using a 3 ring mini binder:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z2Ik7uSbUo

*     My own personal journal:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_wniXoGHf8

I hope you enjoy these videos!

~Cheryl Ann~

Journals

Well, it is nearly 2 years since I retired after 30 years of teaching and 7 years prior to that as a legal secretary.  Kids are raised and grown and now we have 5 grandkids.  WHERE did the years go?

I'm busy now making journals...ALL kinds, all sizes!  Since I love to write (I have 3 active blogs), this is the perfect creative outlet for me!  We don't get out as much anymore as we used to, so my photography isn't like it used to be...

I've posted a link here to my ETSY shop where you can see my journals and other journal supplies:


https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesertsandBeyond?ref=pr_shop_more

Also, here are some photos of some of my journals:

Please DO stop by and take a look around!
~~Cheryl Ann~~