Some Mail Art

Hi there Folks,

Its been a busy week...all work and...you know the rest.  

I have now found myself with 4 days off in a row...wow!  What will I do.  Today was a wash.  I did absolutely N O T H I N G.  I lazed around.  Ya I know ...me...nothing!  Not like me.  I call it a "recoup day"  Doesn't everyone need one of those?  One where you can just let go of all your responsibilities and just B E.  No guilt, no should haves, no lists in your mind....just BE.  It felt like one of those days today.  I surfed the net, got some cool movies.  Watched "American Idol" the one I missed from last week.  Checked out some blogs that I haven't looked at in awhile (because I have no time).  I had time to enjoy making supper instead of just throwing something together because it's late.  

It was a very relaxing day.  I feel newly rejuvenated.  Like taking a deep breath of fresh crisp air.  We all need to check in with our inner selves once in awhile and really listen to the calm, the quiet...our own heart beating.  Do you ever make time for yourself...check in?  What does your body want?  Your mind...your spirit.  Reconnect...with....YOU.

I thought I would share with you some "Mail Art" that I have received over the last couple of months.

I got this one just before Christmas.  It is from "Lady L".  It's cool.  It is sewn all the way around, reminds me of the cards and letters I used to get from my Grandmother.  I love it, the colors are calming and the cup of tea...amazing.  Very tiny details to cut out.  Very precise.  Takes allot of patience for this one.  What is better than this...I love getting miniature "Art" in the mail!

This is the one I sent her.  I think I have put this picture up already.  But I sure enjoyed making it.  I used a stencil with watercolors and inking and I just went to town.  I have talked so much about this mail art that 2 of my co-workers joined the group.  It is so exciting.
 

I received this one in the beginning of this month from "Winged Heart".  I just love it.  The colors are bright and I love the use of the primary colors. The recycled paper is amazing as well.  And the messages stand out so well.  Like we all have the power.  Use it!

This is one that I made and sent him.  I used recycled paper as well and my "Twinkling H20's" stickers to make the star shapes and stamps and of course inking, I love inking.  Postcards are the perfect size for miniature art.  I am not intimidated by the small size and I feel free to create.  I get to try out new techniques and I don't fear rejection because "it's ANONYMOUS".  Yippee!

This is my newest one.  Different eh?  I am not sure who I will send it to.  Maybe I will put all the names in a hat.  There are only 13 names left on the list.  For this one I used my Windsor Newton watercolors wet-on-wet technique, my Neocolors 11, pen and ink, stamps and stazon ink, white gel pen and piano music paper.  


I think...to answer my sister's question about my studio.  During my days off I will be working in the mess (God help me).  I will try and get some of the stuff put away.  I need some shelves put up and a door would be wonderful.

And another thing...this month is very special and not just because of Valentine's Day.  It is my little nephews 5th Birthday.  Happy Birthday "Little Man"!  I love you.

 Well guys...time for bed.  Sweet dreams.  Until next week have a wonderfully creative week.

"You are the creative type.  We all are...even if we don't know it yet."        Oprah

Where Did Monday Go...?

Hi Folks :)

I completely lost Monday...I mean it...gone!  You know your old when...you actually lose days...wow!  So I was convinced I had today (in my mind it was Tuesday) to blog.  Sorry about that, so it is Wednesday and I am here with my coffee and the silly poodle and we will have a Wednesday Blog instead. 

So last week I left you with my book-binding dilemmas.  Well I am here to say that it all worked out, I was amazed.  It is not perfect or that pretty either but it is "functional" and that 'my dearies' is the most important thing.  The minute we let go of our chains or expecting something to be something it is NOT, we are free to enjoy "What Is".

The copic-binding stitch that I learned how to use, makes it so that when I open my journal it lays down flat no matter what page it is open to.  I love that.  I left some of the pages in and you can certainly tell...they are all warped and buckled and my new "inards" are all straight and flat.  I am very pleased.  I recommend trying this at home...ha! Ha!

As you know I am participating in the "Sketchbook Challenge" and Dianna Trout whose book I own and recommend "Journal Spilling" has put up a short "Doodling Game" video...very fun and funny...she is great!  Check out here video. Put your cursor over the link (in pink) and click and it will take you right there.  Here is my page that I did after watching her short video, she is right - it is an excellent warm up for your art work and it amazes me what comes out of a person when they are simply just "doodling". Here is mine....

Isn't that crazy?  Wow...I had no idea where that was going and don't ask me what it means...I have no words.  But guess what?  It was fun!  The process is what I enjoyed not the end result.  I am still doing some shading and playing with it.  
   
I have two entries that I want to put into the "Sketchbook Challenge"  for this month.  Remember the theme is "Highly Prized".  I sketched "my girls" and now I am working on another one which is "my passion" I guess.  It's in the works right now, its a watercolor and I am learning to play with water-colors...so I am having fun with this one...take a look...

The great thing is that I am using the pages in my journal that I bound myself on watercolor paper.  Cool.  It's nice using watercolors on actual watercolor paper, it works so much better.  So I am learning that using the proper tools, sometimes is essential for easier results.  I am not saying that watercolors shouldn't be used on just any paper because that is not true...I have done beautiful pages with just that.  But using watercolor paper gives you a "tooth" for the colors to stick to that I wasn't aware of, the paper absorbs better and dries without bubbling, almost gives the colors more vibrant color.  Very Cool.  So I better get my butte in gear if I am going to enter these before the end of the month.  Wish me luck :)


Have a wonderfully creative week.  Love and hugs xo

"Just be yourself...everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde

Here is another huge video of Milliande's Journal January...
 

An Exercise in "Book-Binding" and "Patience"

Hi There Folks;

Have you settled into January?  

Now that the Christmas rush is over, tinsel and tree gone...how about your New Years Resolutions?  Have they died like mine have?  The only one I've kept so far is to "Journal" everyday.  I am being creative everyday.  This makes me happy and keeps those creative muscles supple....now if only I could exercise everyday, I would be even happier that I have muscles.

A really good read on Journal Fodder Junkies take a look at Eric's Rules.  They are amazing and inspiring.  This is exactly what I'm talking about.  No matter what your creative craft may be these are good rules to live by.

So today is my second day off in a row (this never happens).  And I have been struggling with my new 2011 journal.  I love it but the paper sucks.  

 So I searched the Internet (as I always do when faced with a challenge) and found this.  So I went to my paper stash and behold I had some old watercolor pads collecting dust and various other good quality paper and decided to try my hand at book-binding.  The black book on the bottom is my journal and on top is the signatures that I made and sewed together using a "copic" stitch so that the pages lay flat when the book is opened.  Cool eh?  The fun part came when I gutted out my journal and placed the signatures inside and it was toooo THICK...omg!!! How could this have happened!  OK...deep breathes and problem solve.  

I had left one signature in the journal because I have done some art in it already and I wanted to keep some of my pages in, but this made it too thick so I cut out a little more of the pages in my journal and placed weights on my signatures so hopefully that will make it fit.  I am learning alot in this old art of book-making.  I do love it but I must say I am a bit stressed, my beloved journal has been gutted and I have nothing to draw in.  So I will be up ALL night until it is fixed.  As you can see there is my journal on the bottom and my signatures on top.  It will work out and I should give myself a break as Jackie says; "this is your first time, you can't be perfect at EVERYTHING."  This is true, I am so hard on myself.  I am pretty proud for attempting this, even if it doesn't work out I still come away with alot more knowledge that I didn't have before.

I belong to a "Mail Art" club.  People in the club send you a postcard in the mail and you send one back, as simple as that.  You can do anything you want.  If you are into photography you glue a picture on a postcard and send it, if you write send a poem on a card etc.  I received one over Christmas from "Lady L"  (oh yeah it's anonymous) and this is one that I was working on for her.  Making art for someone you don't know brings up alot of different feelings, you are basically doing "art by intuition" I guess.  I did what I like and I sent it.  This is how it turned out.

Well...I must get back to my poor journal with no substance, she needs her guts.  Wish me luck.  ;)

"You're Braver than you believe and Stronger that you seem and Smarter than you think"  Winnie the Pooh

Here is Milliande's Day 2 video
 

Art really is everywhere....

Good Day All :)

I have had a pretty busy week trying to get in all my favorite art journalling classes.  There are so many free ones right now.  January is the greatest month for art is seems.  Check out the Sketchbook Challenge, you'll notice the new button on the right side of my blog.  Click on it and it will take you right there.  They are posting a "prompt" for the month of January.  It is "Highly Prized".  I pondered this for quite awhile...doing a journal page for this is hard and if you saw how small my journal is there isn't a lot of room for everything I "highly prize".  Family and close loved ones are the most prized for me and if I was doing a mural I could fit everyone who have changed my life and inspired me...but I am not so here is what I have so far;

I am still working on the layout, but it is turning out pretty good I think.  I still have some work to do on Britney (the girl on the right) she isn't quite done to me yet.  If I get done before the end of the month and post it in the Challenge I will have the opportunity to win some cool products.  Want to join me?  What is it that YOU "highly prize"?  It can be anything from God to a salt shaker...join the challenge :)

As I mentioned before Milliande is doing her Art Journalling January.  And in week 2 we were doing Zebra Mandalas.  I was just beginning mine and it turned out very busy lol.  
Needless to say, Milliande is on day 10 and I am still on day 2... I am definitely NOT a speed artist.  No wonder I can't make a living at this.  But it isn't a race thank goodness, and I am totally enjoying drawing and doing art with these fantastic women!  I have allot of catching up to do.  I will attempt to upload her video on my blog so that you can see what I see.  She is such a free spirited artist...she creates without fear.  That's what draws me to her, I need me some of that.  She isn't afraid to mess up and is perfectly fine if it doesn't turn out the way she expected.  I am learning to do that.  Let go, breathe....

I uploaded a video but it turned out supersized...sorry...I am still learning how to do stuff.  Next week I will try and make it smaller.  


I received some amazing "Art" in the mail from my "Amazing Uncle Don".  At 70+ yrs of age his painting just gets better and better, he inspired,coached and supported me as a little girl and still inspires me to this day.  I hope and pray that I will still be in love with art at that age and can still produce the beauty he captures.  Thanks Uncle Don ;)
  Every year he sends me a beautifully hand painted ornament and every year I am so thankful!  These are the best gifts, art from the heart.  


Another cool site that I am taking a free online art class is the strathmore visual journal workshops .  Check it out, I am taking a free class with Pam Carriker and her new book will be out in February...can't wait!!

" Doing and making; are acts of HOPE and as that hope grows we stop feeling overwhelmed by the troubles of the world."                    Corita Kent

Well folks...Have a creatively wonderful week.
Love and Hugs :) 

Back to the Grind...

Well it is time to take down Christmas...it always makes me feel sad somehow. All the lights and the glitter, all the tinsel and happy snowmen, the beautiful well wishes on sparkly Christmas cards, the house and yard all decorated....it all has to be put away for another year. Doesn't the house look so B A R E? So dreary. What a big job us humans go through every year...decorating not only the tree, but the house the yard and not to mention the pets, with their little hats and bells. (Ok...maybe not everyone does this but they look so cute all decked out.) And after one month we have to carefully pack it all up and put it all away. This is alot of work and no one even talks about it. Everyone just does it. It all disappears. I am happy Christmas is over but I miss the sparkle of it.

I have been Journaling with Milliande. Every year in January she journals and puts up videos of her doing her journal. It is alot of fun and she has a new video every day until she gets sick of it. Last year I think she lasted over 20 days. This year we are doing Zebras. Check out her site http://milliande.com/art-journal-january-2011.html
This is my picture for Day 1.
I really wasn't a fan of zebra's but I now have a new appreciation for the animal. I have been doing a bit of research on zebras so that I could draw them and use their pattern in my art, and wow what an unbelievable animal. The stripes on them are so perfect and not one zebra is the same as the other. So I am glad I am branching out in this unfamiliar territory and drawing things I would never draw. It is quite liberating.
Do you go out on a limb? Take a chance and do something that is unusual for you or bring something new into your craft; whatever your craft may be.

Day 2 on Milliandes Journal January we are doing zebra mandalas, here is mine...its not done I am in the beginning stages right now.So I will show you next week how it turned out. I am having fun with the pattern and the stripes.

Well folks...until next week. Have a good one, be happy...it is a choice you know.

Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth..."You owe me." Look what happens with a love like that..it lights up the whole sky.
Hafiz

So HAPPY that it's all over!!

Good Day Sweet Lovelies;

Doesn't it feel great that the rush and the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over? I love the magical part but it feels like a "wedding" sometimes....all the preparation and excitement and its over and done with before you even realize it.

This year was a sad and special at the same time. It was the first Christmas without my mother-in-law (she passed away this summer) her birthday was Christmas Eve so I had mixed feelings about Christmas this year, I really missed her. And the good news was that my parents were down and actually stayed for Christmas which they don't usually do so it was a special one. It was especially good because there were no huge family wars or anything, everyone got along and we all enjoyed each others company.

As I promised I will put up all the ornaments that I made this year. I did very different stuff this year and tried some new techniques. On the mittens I did some collage, I glued some scrapbook paper on them and did my painting on top which was kinda cool and fun, they were for my daughters. On the cross I used acrylics and I dry-brushed the colors so they were really subtle and then I hand-wrote two prayers, one on each side. That was for my sister.
These ones are wooden snowman heads that I drew on and painted using acrylics. They turned out pretty good I think. I had fun doing it...just a teenie bit rushed. Next year I am going to start way sooner, like in September. This one was for my little nephew.



I really enjoyed making this little bell for my bestie. She really liked it. Again I used acrylics and sprayed sparkles all over it after I was done the painting so it had a shimmer to it. All of them have they year on the back and I signed them all.

And this last one was for my Mom and Dad. Same techniques for this one. They all seem to have their own personalities don't they?
I belong to a Mail Art Group and I got my first postcard just before Christmas. So I will post my progress with my postcard that I will be sending out to Lady L. It is all anonymously done which is pretty cool because you get to do art by intuition. You don't know the person so you don't know what they like or dislike. I love that. Wish me luck.

Well guys...enough for today. Until next week. Be safe, happy and artsy.

"If you want to be happy, don't compare yourself with others."

Merry Christmas

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and many blessings in the new year. 2010 has been a real challenge for me and I am looking forward to putting this year to rest, there were good times and hard times...but I guess that goes for all eh?

This year I have learned a lot about myself, about life and some things that only comes to you when you reach a certain age. A real "knowing" or an "understanding" that life is only as complicated as we make it. It truly can be easy if we let it.

Christmas for me this year has and still is hectic because people seem to be a little on edge and running amok ha ha, and as my Mom says "It is a real MESS". But as families come together you learn about each other all over again...some personalities clash and some just fit nicely together like you were never apart...but ohhh how we learn from both and where would we be without that balance???

I want to apologize for missing Tuesdays' Blog post...It just didn't work out, so I thought I would post now. I love you all and hope that this Christmas Season finds you healthy, happy and whole and that the miracle of Christmas lifts your heart and makes you joyful just for being....YOU are the gift of Christmas spread the love!!!

"Healing your own heart is the single most powerful thing you can do to change the world."
Deepak Chopra