Hello, friends,
For this Wednesday’s visit to the Attic, I wanted to share a little piece that brings together several things I love: watercolor painting, old objects, handmade paper, and the small details of nature that are so easy to overlook.
Nature Collected is a one-of-a-kind miniature art journal tucked inside an altered tin. It is small enough to feel like a secret treasure, but opening it reveals a collection of original artwork, paper, and texture.
A Little Tin with a New Story
The journal began with an upcycled Tiger Balm tin. I sanded and scratched the original surface, then added rust effects, layers of paint, and an intentionally aged finish. After sealing the surface, I decorated the lid with resin roses, beads, and a butterfly, antiquing the embellishments and adding touches of gold.
A small metal file plate holds a coffee-dyed label marked simply “Journal.” I love how that little label gives the tin the feeling of something that might have been discovered in an old drawer.
Eight Little Watercolor Discoveries
Inside is a circular accordion-style journal featuring eight individual original watercolor paintings. These are the original paintings themselves—not prints or reproductions.
As the journal unfolds, little scenes of nature appear: flowers, insects, and other small discoveries, each with its own character. The reverse sides bring in naturally dyed papers and selected decorative papers, so the experience changes from watercolor to pattern and texture as you turn the pages.
The circular pages are connected with coffee-dyed cotton strips, giving the journal a soft, handmade quality that feels right at home with the weathered tin.
The Beauty of an Imperfect Object
One of the things I enjoy about altered objects is that they do not have to hide their history. The scratches, uneven surfaces, and layers of color become part of the finished piece.
Because this tin has been altered with multiple layers of paint and finishing materials, the lid fits snugly but does not sit perfectly even around the entire edge. That irregularity is part of its handmade character, and I have included photographs so anyone considering the journal can see exactly what to expect.
A Small Place for Wonder
I imagine Nature Collected being opened slowly, perhaps on a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea, simply to enjoy each little painting. It is the sort of object that invites you to notice the details—the color of a flower, the shape of an insect, the texture of a piece of paper.
There is something especially satisfying about giving an ordinary object a second life and filling it with art. This little tin has become a home for eight original watercolors, and no other journal will be exactly like it.
If you would like to see more photographs or learn more about this one-of-a-kind piece, you can visit Nature Collected in the shop.
Thank you for spending a little time in the Attic with me today. I hope you find a small moment of beauty in your own day.
Warmly,
Colleen
Butterfly in the Attic
