​“Have some wine,” the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.
Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. “I don’t see any wine,” she remarked.
“There isn’t any,” said the March Hare.
“Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it,” said Alice angrily.
“It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being invited,” said the March Hare.

My friend Vanessa over at a Fanciful Twist is hosting a Mad Tea Party this Saturday! The virtual tea parties started back in 2007 on a very bored day. It's been a few years since we've had the annual tea party/blog hop, so I'm excited to invite you to join the fun. Grab a cup of tea...it might be iced in this summer heat...and check back tomorrow for the virtual tea party!
What, you ask? Why would you want to attend a virtual tea party? To sip virtual tea, of course...to take time to enjoy lovely photos and art, and to stop and smell the roses, virtual, though, they may be!

Wondering just what you might see? 
     Just a peek from the past of the Hatter's humbugs for tea...

We’ve been surviving rolling blackouts, zero degree temperatures, and snow for days. West Texas definitely isn’t built for this! We’re thankful we have a fireplace and jugs of water.

​It’s the perfect weather for a good mystery and some art supplies this evening. I looked at my Instagram stats, and no surprise, these were the two most popular posts of 2020.

 Not only do I love art journaling about books I’m reading, so do my characters in my Cedar Wells Mysteries series! You should join us in the fun...that might even keep me from talking to imaginary characters. Probably not.

I’m reading The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams (which is free right now on Kindle). It makes me want to bake scones...and I don’t think I’ve ever even eaten one. I went so far as to find a recipe. We’ll see how that pans out.

Want to be part of the Book & Brush Club? Grab a pen, some markers, paint—whatever supplies you have on hand— and show us what you’re reading! #bookandbrushclub

How are you surviving the stay-at-home orders? I have to say complying with the safety regulations doesn't bother my little, introverted self at all. While my work-from-home job providing teacher support is in overdrive, the fact that I actually get to be at home affords me a little cozy mystery art journaling time at lunch and in the evenings when I leave the office and walk six steps to the craft table.
I broke out the paints, and I'm art journaling with the Cedar Wells Book&Brush Club gang again. Those of you whispering over there in the corner....yes, I know Sarah and her friends are fictional characters. However, they’re always having conversations in my head, anyway, so why not join them!
FOMMF? Fear of Missing Mystery Fun? Do you have it?Of course, the stress is real, but not to worry! Grab that cozy mystery you’re reading (you are reading one, aren’t you?) and some art supplies—watercolor or mixed media paper, markers, paints, colored pencils—whatever you have on hand and  create an art journal page about the book.
Sarah’s friend Trudy always creates journal pages that include recipes from the books they’re reading.  Taking a lesson from Trudy, I created some art for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. Maybe I’m done with this one...maybe not. :) I think it needs a few more references to the book, although part of me wants to stop with the dairy cow and the recipe for Hannah's Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies. By the way, did I say I love cows?

How many clues and references to the book can you hide in your journal page without giving away the mystery? Think all five senses when you read, and jot down some notes to help you remember until you’re ready to get creative!
I created a Backgrounds 101 video to help you get started with your cozy mystery  art journaling page. In the video, I talk about some inexpensive supplies I use and two ways I paint quick backgrounds.
Do you have any favorite journaling techniques? Be sure to share your ideas and mystery art journal pages with us! 
And, as always,