September 1, 2023 Journal Clusters & Some Recommendations!

Welcome to the first day of September and for some of us fall...the season of orange!  Where did the summer go...let's hope fall slows down...but I wouldn't count on it.  That slide into the holidays always gains momentum. 

We went up to New Baltimore, New York yesterday to a wonderful place to hike called the Hannacroix Creek Preserve.  There's a nice place to park and several hikes including one to a beautiful waterfall and one to the Hudson River.

We also had great seafood at a restaurant right on the Hudson in Coeymans, New York called Yanni's Too.  The Calamari is fantastic and if you order the calamari appetizer, be warned that besides being the best I have ever eaten, there is so much that even split in two it's like a main meal.  As a matter of fact, we took most of our entree home with us.

Remember when we did ephemera, well, another way to use scraps is to make clusters.  Gather fabric scraps, lace scraps, small pictures and paper scraps, some embroidery thread, card stock, ink and dobber and glue.  I like to use the card stock for a base and I usually tear it and ink the edges...

Then I begin adding pieces, a small picture first, gluing the center of the picture...

Next a scrap of fabric, again gluing only the center and continuing with each piece...

 Another picture...

A scrap of tule...

Some lace...

Another picture or word...

Finally, I used the embroidery thread and tied a bow with a drop of glue in the center...

To show you the size of these clusters, here's a picture of two with a penny...

And, of course, I didn't stop at two...

You can make clusters out of anything but it's a good way to use those tiny scraps that are headed for the 'round file'.

So, the Labor Day Weekend is here...well, tomorrow!  I hope all of you have an enjoyable time spent either relaxing and getting ready for fall or with family and friends.

I'll talk with you again next Tuesday.  Until then be safe and relax...