lone black bird

wonder (half) full wrist wear

2012-02-27T17:48:00.003-08:00

i was fortunate enough to win this bracelet in a give-away from taylor earlier this month. it arrived in the cutest package (i should have taken a picture of it!) and, needless to say, i was thrilled. it may be hard to see in this photo, but the bracelet is made from a strip of green leather and is decorated with all sorts of fun, whimsical items. the whole collection wraps around my wrist and closes with a snap.

the best part is how comfortable it is to wear. i feel like i am wearing a treasure chest and love showing it off. thank you, taylor!

i don't think she is selling these bracelets but you will love her blog, half full, which is filled with her travels, her students and their work (she is an art teacher), and her magical creations.

fff - comfort foods

2012-02-25T13:59:00.002-08:00

so yesterday i posted that our list for this week is favorite comfort foods. here is my page which is definitely not an exclusive list - there are so many foods i love! but on this day, this moment, my favorites presented themselves here.

all of these are dishes from my childhood. funny how that works. i am looking forward to seeing more of your favorites. the linky is posted below in case you would like to show us your list. otherwise, just write it in the comments. i hope all of you are enjoying a relaxing and comfortable winter (or summer for you in the s.h.) weekend!

five for friday - week 4

2012-02-24T16:38:00.003-08:00

it's friday again - yay! time to put on our thinking caps and dig deep into who we are with another list. officially it is winter in the united states. i now live in the arizona desert so "winter" has a whole different feel. yesterday my nephew in denver told me all about how he and some friends at school rolled the "biggest snowball ever!" so whether you are enjoying some sunny weather or bundling up inside, let's talk comfort food. my definition includes something that cooks on the stove or in the oven for hours and smells delicious throughout the house. potato soup was specialty of my mom's and i still love to cook up a big pot of it on a winter weekend (whatever the conditions be outside.) what are your favorite comfort foods? list your top five in some creative (or not) fashion and share it with us. :-)

i will post my page tomorrow and a include a link so you can show us your idea of comfy yum.

fff - the qualities of a leader

2012-02-19T17:52:00.000-08:00

here is my latest five for friday entry on the prompt "what five qualities do you believe are important for the leader of a country." check friday's post here for more details.

this really taxed my brain! i had to think deep about what person i would love to cast a vote for. i can't wait to see what you think. remember, it doesn't have to be formal - it just has to come from a place inside you that knows who you are and what you believe. please share your ideas so we can all benefit from collective wisdom.

the linky (which should be working this week *fingers crossed* is below.

five for friday - week 3

2012-02-17T16:20:00.001-08:00

monday is presidents’ day and 2012 is an election year here in the u.s.a. what are the top five qualities you would want the leader of your country to possess? be honest, think hard. if we envision them, perhaps they will appear. and, let's face it, we really need some inspirational people in key positions all over the world.

my linky was not working last week so i apologize. many of you emailed me your entries and i was so touched. my i.t. guy (my husband) has been very busy lately but i will make sure it is up and working tomorrow.

if you would like some background on five for friday, please look here.

until tomorrow then....

list of love songs

2012-02-11T01:49:00.000-08:00

here is my fff page for yesterday's prompt. i have been using a black pen and colored pencils in this journal. my list of songs (at least for now) include miracles, true companion, crazy love, baby i'm amazed, and the first time. each of these songs has a special memory attached to it for me.

please link up your page/choices below. i really can't wait to see what songs move you.

five for friday - week 2

2012-02-10T01:38:00.000-08:00

welcome back for another week of five for friday. if you are new to this series and wondering what it is all about, check out this post.

valentine's day is just around the corner and, whether you are a fan of the holiday or believe it is over-rated, everybody has a few songs that stir their heart. this week let's list our five favorite love songs. or just songs that you love. either way, i can't wait to see your choices.

five for fun

2012-02-04T01:13:00.000-08:00

here is my page (list) for our first fff (five for friday). i have listed five things that say fun for me. *if this makes no sense to you, please see my previous post

this is not my definitive list. i think on any given day, i may come up with some different answers. but that isn't the point. making a list is a snapshot of a specific moment in time. and that is what makes this a fun exercise.

please create your own list and leave your link right here: if linky does not appear please leave your blog address so we can visit your list.

five for friday 1

2012-02-03T01:05:00.000-08:00

here is a repeat of the definition and the february 3rd prompt:

Five for Friday is a new journaling project I am proposing for the next twelve months. Beginning on the first Friday in February, I will post a topic for a list. Then on Saturday, I will post the list I created from this prompt and a linky for you to share your own work anytime in the following week.

Listing is a fun and introspective way to delve deeper into what makes us unique. You may need to think about the prompt for a few days but the answers are already inside you! We are all made up of moments and thoughts and preferences that are the building materials of who we are. The more we know ourselves, the better we can make choices that are right for us and create the life we were meant to live.

Listing can take many different forms. I bought a sketchbook where I plan to write my lists and illustrate the page with colored pencils. You may do something similar with paint or mixed media. Some people may want to make a book just for these prompts. Maybe you already keep a journal and you just want to include FFF in it. If you like to write, a regular notebook or pretty journal from a bookstore will do. You can even jot down these lists on whatever is handy at the moment (receipts, a piece of junk mail) and then collect them in a shoebox. And there is nothing wrong with just making a list in your head! The point is you are thinking about you and exploring what you think!

Please email me with any questions or leave a comment here and I will get back to you. I hope you will decide to join me on this journey into what makes us “tick”.

Here is the prompt for our first list (february 3rd):

let’s start off the year of fff with a positive and uplifting list (and another f word!) what activities do you find fun? list the five things you (most / first) associate with this word.

february 2012

2012-02-01T01:15:00.000-08:00

february, for me, means valentine's day. i really do love this holiday. as a teacher, it is one holiday that all students can celebrate. my sister, who is the sweetest, nicest person you will ever meet, was born on valentine's day. so, in the spirit of the season, i have been crafting some valentine's cards.

i used a sharpie marker to draw the outlines and colored pencils to fill in the spaces.

obviously, i like a "theme". in this case, it consists of " love + a verb".

i have really enjoyed making these at night, sometimes while watching tv.

i'm not sure who i will send which card to but each one is special to me.

i have always believed that home-made valentines are the most meaningful. i want to be able to send those who are important to me a card i made myself.

welcome february! may all of you be surrounded by love (and valentines) this month.

five for friday

2012-01-27T04:10:00.000-08:00

Please email me with any questions or leave a comment here and I will get back to you. I hope you will decide to join me on this journey into what makes us “tick”.

birthday cards

2012-01-17T16:20:00.001-08:00

i have been making some birthday cards for my january friends. you can buy pre-cut blank cards and envelopes at michael's for $1.00! they are in the bargain bins up by the registers and there are eight to a package.

then i just used a black pen, my glaze pens, and colored pencils to decorate them. i put a rubber stamp of candles on the one above.

so easy and inexpensive! the designs are certainly not perfect but they do have that unique, "home-made" look.

here is a picture of the supplies i used. i made several cards but forgot to photograph any until i was ready to stuff the last one in an envelope! i am going to start some february birthday and valentine cards tonight. be warned - they are addictive! but at least they are useful. :-)

finishing up jyc 2011

2012-01-06T09:04:00.001-08:00

i am finishing up the last of my journal your christmas pages for 2011. this year i went with a much simpler style:

some pictures i cut out of magazines and catalogs,

lots of writing (i love my new sakura glaze pens!),

a few borders and fancy lettering,

a couple drawings (i used a black pen and watercolor pencils),

and lots and lots of thoughts put to paper. i like how versatile this class/project is and am already wondering what i will do for 2012. :-)

my winter break is almost over so i will be returning to home, real life, and work on monday. see you there.

rub-on fun

2012-01-02T01:22:00.000-08:00

i have been making some thank-you cards for the wonderful holiday gifts i received. here are a few i made using some rub-ons i recently bought at hobby lobby.

these rub-ons are addicting!

so easy! so fun!

i have had the best time playing around with them.

here is the package i bought. i think it was about $8.00.

the book comes with a tool for rubbing on the images. if you have never used these, i encourage you to try them. i plan to buy some (lots) more when i get back home next week!

where i am

2011-12-31T22:10:00.000-08:00

i am spending my winter break up in sandpoint, idaho. here is a photo of my work space.

and here is one of my view.

i have been blogging for two years now. sometimes i think about this and question why i blog. i question whether i have anything worthy to contribute. and, of course, this kind of thinking leads to continuous unraveling and more questioning. but the truth is i enjoy creating. i enjoy sharing. and most of all, i have connected with some of the most loyal, inspiring, and talented people through blogging. i wouldn't have missed this for anything. so thank you for being here and supporting me through all my (warranted and not) questioning. happy new year!

thank yous

2011-12-30T21:58:00.001-08:00

last month some friends gave me a box of art goodies which included a package of blank cards. the past few days i have been working on making these into thank you cards.

i just used a black marker and colored pencils on these cards. it was so much fun to doodle and create different designs. i feel it is the least i can do to show my appreciation for the thoughtful gifts i received this season. now i just need to get them in the mail!

12.31 doodle journal

2011-12-28T02:49:00.000-08:00

i am also taking the class doodle 12.31 this month. i have to admit i haven't been the best at doodling every day but i am inspired by dawn and the prompts.

i used an old children's board book as my journal, pages gessoed and then painted.

i used scribbles and fabric paint and various pens on the pages.

instead of a page a day, dawn encourages her students to combine many ideas and days on the same page. my entries are not chronological but i am gradually filling up the book, here and there. again, i highly recommend this class: fun, great ideas, and very economical. i promise to share more later this week.

JYC 2011

2011-12-26T14:37:00.001-08:00

i am participating in journal your christmas with shimelle again this year but in a whole different way. last year my journal was overflowing with ephemera, color, and pictures. it is so full i can't even close it. but this year i wanted it to be a bit more subtle. more writing, less stuff.

i used a few pictures from magazines and catalogs but i didn't fill whole pages with them. there is maybe one image or drawing on each two page spread.

i printed out some little photos with my pogo printer and wrote about those on some pages. i didn't keep up with the daily themes as much but i did keep them in mind. this year i just wrote about the days, the season, the memories - whatever i felt like at the time.

i did make some pockets to hold keepsakes. and, again, lots of writing which isn't very exciting to show. this is a fabulous class that gives you all the support you need with detailed descriptions and prompts or the freedom to do your own thing, if you wish.

art every day

2011-12-19T01:11:00.000-08:00

here is the agenda i had for my monthly reading interventionist meeting last wednesday.

it often seems like i don't have time to create - work and the other daily business of living take up my waking hours. but i do grab the chance to draw and write when it comes along. and that's the way it will have to be for now. can you tell i am in a holiday mood these days?!

christmas cards

2011-12-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

i have been busy making holiday cards. this photo shows the papers i put on the front and inside of the card. the "base" of the cards is a blackberry colored cardstock. i ended up making over 50 and i may not be finished yet! in the process, i experimented with several pens and paint, finally deciding my favorites to be sakura glaze pens and tulip metallic fabric paints. my apologies to those who got one from my earlier batches during the heavy experimental phase - the later versions were much more attractive! the last several years i have felt compelled to make my own cards, to send something from my own hand and heart as a greeting.

all wrapped up

2011-12-05T05:14:00.000-08:00

i spent yesterday blissfully crafting for christmas. i used some fun, holiday colored, fabric and "wrapped" a gift card + a candy bar for all my nieces and nephews. yes, the packages are sewn shut so they will have to use a scissors to get them opened!

there is not much one can do to make a gift card more exciting so i try to think of unique wrapping ideas each year.

here are three that i snapped a photo of but i ended up making 14! each one is different and i even decorated the back of them with some sort of embellishment.

i had a blast making these and only used up about ten dollars worth of fabric. i am definitely in the holiday spirit now.

JYC... 2010

2011-11-30T16:00:00.001-08:00

a couple weeks ago i went into my craft room with the intention of getting materials to make some thanksgiving cards. well, with all the shuffling about that required, i ended up stumbling upon my journal your christmas album from last year. i had a blast with it last december but never finished it. as i started looking through it, i got the bug again and was compelled to work on it some more.

look how fat it is getting! pretty soon i won't even be able to close it.

fortunately, i kept the list of prompts and had a whole tub full of supplies ready to go.

i didn't put these photos in order. i didn't even complete the pages in order. but they are getting done.

it has been fun to jump into it again and really puts me in a holiday mood.

jyc begins again tomorrow, dec. 1. i'm not sure whether i will start a new album or just continue working in this one since i have extra pages in it. i guess i will decide tomorrow! here's to holiday projects, in the now or year(s) later - may we enjoy them whenever they inspire.

my holiday mural

2011-11-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

i have been quiet in this space for far too long. it's not like i set out to take a break but that is what has happened. but i am back now, well-rested and ready to share some of my latest projects with you.

the school where i work is putting on a variety show and a kindergarten program during the month of december. i volunteered to paint the background which is ten panels of 4' x 8' plywood mounted on frames made of 2' x 4' boards - very heavy and awkward to work on! but it is coming along. the above photo is of a quick painting i did when i was coming up with ideas. the stage background will be similar but will have more space between the trees. i actually think it looks better than this but it is hard to tell when you are working up close with such a big piece. it has been fun and challenging to work on a different kind of surface. i have to finish it this weekend so i will take a picture of the completed project and post it soon.

i apologize for not keeping up with all of your blogs the way i usually do. i hope to jump back in this week and find out what everyone else has been doing.

lofty inspiration

2011-11-11T01:49:00.000-08:00

as i have stated before in this space, i love clouds.

last weekend we were up in northern idaho and i got the chance to view some incredible cloud formations.

i could seriously sit and watch clouds all day. even though i know this is not a very productive activity.

and, with a lake, you get cloud reflections, as well. this is my definition of blessed.

i would love to be able to paint these clouds but i have not had the courage to attempt this difficult task, yet. maybe someday i will explore the many shades of white, gray, and pink.

but now i am in the study phase. looking closely at all the variations in color, size, and depth. and it's ok with me if i never move beyond observation.

where i've been

2011-11-09T18:07:00.001-08:00

i spent last weekend, a long weekend, up in north idaho. it was cool, not cold yet, and no snow. i was secretly hoping for a snowstorm while we were there but the weather remained mild, more fall-like.

here is where i sat and journaled. i drank tea, daydreamed, and spent hours looking at the window at an incredible view (which i will show you very soon.) i know i have not been posting much lately so i wanted to show you where i've been. even when i am not physically here, a part of me still occupies this space.

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T19:33:00.001-07:00

our pumpkin "masterpieces" this year

sketching

2011-10-25T01:42:00.000-07:00

here are some sketches i made in italy while i was there earlier this month. below is an excerpt from my journal about why i like to sketch in my travel journals.

i don't sketch because i am good at it or even because i hope to be someday. i don't sketch to remember or because i want to share the view with someone at a later time. i sketch because the activity draws me into a subject on an intimate level. it is a way to really see and feel and be present with an object or a scene. i like to focus in on a part of the whole, as the artist must have when it was created. i find the act of sketching meditative, soothing and satisfying, regardless of the result.

pages from my travel journal

2011-10-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

here are just a few random pages from my journal that i kept when we went to italy last week. of course, i am not finished with it yet as i continue to add and remember things about the trip.

i used little photos printed on my pogo and business cards from places we went.

even a leaf i glued on a page - i thought it would crumble and fall apart but it didn't!

lots of writing with little bits and pieces glued on the pages.

hmmm.... from these photos i'm realizing a lot of my memories are about the food!

some things i learned on this trip about travel journaling: i like my pages best when i write in pencil, black or brown ink. always bring tape (i forgot but bought some while i was there.) set aside some time each day to work on my journal. take it with me everywhere, even when i think i won't need it or am trying to lighten my load. bring real sketch pencils (I only had a basic mechanical pencil.) i am always trying to figure out the best way to keep a journal on vacation.

i don't have any other trips planned for the future which means i may actually get this journal finished!

patterns

2011-10-17T06:17:00.001-07:00

i was in rome, italy last week - eating delicious food, walking ancient streets, and marveling at all the aesthetic beauty. one feature that seemed to appear again and again was the patterns i saw in so many places.

i have more from rome to share with you in the coming days when i get back on schedule. i am still catching up on my blog visiting, wanting to see what everyone has been up to lately.

italy

2011-10-06T17:20:00.001-07:00

my husband and i are off to spend a week in rome beginning this saturday. it will be my eighth trip there but his first so i am anxious to show him all my favorite spots.

i made a journal to take with me. it is actually very similar to the one i made for africa a few months ago. perhaps i am in a rut but it seemed to work well for me then so i'm hoping this one will be as good of a travel companion.

i like to have lots of pockets, room to write and places to glue the things i collect along the way.

but i have also saved many blank pages to record whatever happens in whatever way i feel like.

i like the mix of inspiration (half the fun of going anywhere for me is in the planning and anticipation!) and possibility (thus the empty spaces, waiting to be filled.)

we are scheduled to be back late on Saturday, October 15. ciao!

first fall taste

2011-10-01T18:10:00.001-07:00

ok, so i am a couple weeks behind in moira's falling for you class. nothing new for me. the prompt (on sept. 16) was first fall taste.

when i think of fall, i think of apples. my grandparents used to live in a house surrounded by apple orchards in western colorado when i was young. i can still smell all those ripe apples on a fall day if i take myself back in time.

for this page, i used craft paint, colored pencils and a black pen. the leaf came back with my husband after he went hiking last weekend up in northern idaho - the colors matched those on my page so i felt compelled to include it. my most satisfying journal pages include both my artwork (however simplistic, as in this page) and handwriting.

falling for you is a class full of prompts and videos and handouts. i plan to catch up as soon as i get a chance. :-)

unknower

2011-09-28T17:13:00.001-07:00

i did this page over the weekend while i was out of town. the proportions on the face are way off, i know, but it was a quick sketch. i had just read an article in the sun magazine that said p.l. travers, author of mary poppins, described herself as an unknower.

i am so intrigued with this description. we all want to be knowers. in fact, some of us are know-it-alls! so what does it mean, what does it feel like, to be an unknower?

i used pencil and watercolor pencils. i wish i would have made a background now that i look at her, but this is all that happened. my husband was curious about the wild hair but i didn't intend for it to be hair at all. i wanted to express what an open mind might look like - the color of air and totally free form.

my give-away winner

2011-09-19T17:40:00.001-07:00

in my last post, my 200th, i offered a give away consisting of some of my favorite art journaling supplies. i had 17 comments - a record for me. :-) using an online random number picker, the winner is 11 and that would be lis, my soulful and talented on-line friend. so lis, i will be sending the items shown below, plus lots of other goodies i keep throwing in the box, to you by the end of the week. thanks to all of you for your comments and support!

i am taking crafty moira's new class, falling for you. one of the prompts last week was "apple of my eye." here is my (psychedelic) response crafted with a black sharpie and colored pencils. within the lines i have spelled out the names of those who hold that special place for me.

my first attempt was a painting of an apple and an eye (extremely cliche) but it was so bad that i had to tear it out of my journal and hide it (from myself) in the garbage! ugh. does that ever happen to you?

two hundred + a give away

2011-09-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

this is my two-hundredth blog post! i am absolutely amazed at how quickly they have added up. this has been such a wonderful experience - the support and friendships i have been gifted are more than i could have ever dreamed of back when i first started almost two years ago.

to celebrate this milestone i am giving away a collection of my favorite art journaling supplies. just leave a comment and i will choose a winner on sunday, september 18. spread the word! thank you all for sharing this journey with me.

trio on canvas

2011-09-08T01:05:00.000-07:00

here is a group of paintings i made for a friend earlier this summer. it is so fun to paint on canvas!

as i've mentioned before, i am not a good photographer - the colors seem a bit off in this photo. i used the dry brush method (which i learned from my sister years ago) on the details. paint is probably my favorite medium. what would you say your favorite medium is?

relentless heat

2011-09-06T01:48:00.000-07:00

it has been so hot here in the arizona desert! i actually prefer hot weather to cold but this is getting to be a bit much, even for a sun lover such as myself. however, when i see how parts of the rest of the world are coping with even worse conditions, i realize how lucky we are.

on this page i painted using warm colors and then journaled about the heat. september is here now and i'm looking forward to some relief in the way of a cool breeze soon.

a place for color

2011-09-04T08:18:00.001-07:00

i wanted to share with you this container i painted several years ago.

it was just a cheap, terra cotta pot that i bought at wal-mart. i used acrylic paints for the designs and then sealed it with varnish. there is a lid from a sour cream container in the bottom to cover the drainage hole. now it is a perfect place to keep all my markers. i need to make another one for my brushes!

a shared heart

2011-09-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

my three year old niece, hazel, and i worked together on this heart. she cut the paper, i drew the outline, and then she colored it.

i love how she just lets her spirit and ability drive her work. she is so proud of what she makes and then delights in giving it away as she moves on to the next project. i *heart* her so much.

the august break - aug. 31

2011-08-31T01:27:00.000-07:00

new pens from the art store - yippee!

many thanks to suzannah conway and her august break. this was a fun and easy way to spend the month. :-)

the august break - aug. 30

2011-08-30T01:19:00.000-07:00

art is serious business

(my niece, hazel, at the phoenix children's museum)

the august break - aug. 29

2011-08-29T01:15:00.000-07:00

i took an unintentional break from my august break! but now i'm back and so ready to dive into more (timely) creating.

zentangle in progress

the august break - aug. 22

2011-08-22T07:20:00.001-07:00

my niece hazel, enjoying her stay in sunny arizona

the august break - aug. 20

2011-08-20T01:06:00.000-07:00

this wonderful three year old is coming to visit me today!

the august break - aug. 19

2011-08-19T05:02:00.000-07:00

trying to stay sane in the middle of it all; colored pencils

the august break - aug. 18

2011-08-18T01:05:00.000-07:00

a journal page inspired by a quote from liz lamoreux; she's wonderful!

the august break - aug. 17

2011-08-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

a page from my wellness journal on craving more summer

the august break - aug. 16

2011-08-16T01:58:00.000-07:00

journal page, "having it all"

the august break - aug. 15

2011-08-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

just coming off a full moon weekend

the august break - aug. 14

2011-08-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

this guy is in progress - i am slowly putting him together

the august break - aug. 13

2011-08-13T11:38:00.001-07:00

taking my journaling "on the road"

the august break - august 11

2011-08-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

desert view, grand canyon

the august break - aug. 10

2011-08-10T01:32:00.000-07:00

the august break

a page from my "searching for soul" altered book

the august break - aug. 9

2011-08-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

today is my dad's 68th birthday. happy birthday, dad!

here he is in yellowstone nat. park, with his grandkids, july 2010

the august break - aug. 8

2011-08-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

how my kitchen table easily morphs into a craft table. too often.

the august break - aug. 7

2011-08-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

me with my (second) favorite thing in the world: trees

thumb butte, prescott, az july 2011

the august break - aug. 6

2011-08-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

my intention to say "yes" to the truth of my life

(on the inside cover of a journal)

the august break - aug. 5

2011-08-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

a page i did about weekends with my husband

the august break - aug. 4

2011-08-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

i love, love, love clouds

the august break - aug. 3

2011-08-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

i sketched this tree in the dark against the night

sky while at the grand canyon last week

the august break - aug. 2

2011-08-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

the august break

altered book cover

the august break

2011-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

i am participating in susannah conway's the august break this month: a photo for each post with no (or very little) words. it will be a challenge to keep my blogging mouth shut but also it should be less pressure to just come up with a picture of what kinds of creativity i am currently immersed in. my summer is officially over in just a few days as i head back to work and begin another school year. *sigh*

a photo from our trip last week to the grand canyon

summertime photography scavenger hunt

2011-07-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

rinda from gallo organico is sponsoring a summertime photography scavenger hunt. there are 21 prompts for participants to capture. we took this list on a family road trip to the grand canyon last week and, although we didn't find them all, we sure had a fun time looking!

my team: frankie, caitlin and enrico

rain

hand-lettered sign

a rooster

our country's flag

thank you, rinda, for a fun idea. i am no photographer but i loved how this activity made us really work together and take in our surroundings for the items on the list.

travel journal IV

2011-07-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

ok, this will be my last post featuring my travel journal from africa. but i have to tell you, it is huge! i could blog for a month on it but enough is enough. :-)

my colored pencils helped add a bit of interest to some pages. so glad i brought them along.

i also brought a tray of watercolors which i did not use much. we didn't have a lot of leisure time.

i did do a few sketches, which i really enjoyed. it made me look at things in a more intimate manner, connecting me deeper to what i was seeing.

i bought a pack of four little bottles (i think they are made by seven gypsies) and gave one to each of my travel companions. i put dirt in mine from the olduvai gorge. i love how they allow you to take a different kind of momento home.

so that's it for this journal. it is definitely my favorite souvenir, my most treasured keepsake from the trip. i would love to see other travel journals so please share.

travel journal III

2011-07-18T06:52:00.001-07:00

here is just another look into my africa travel journal. believe it or not, i am still working on it after being back for over a week now!

i used my pogo printer to get the little photos. i really love journaling with it.

some of the pages are not very colorful. i didn't want to put too much on them before i left because i wasn't sure what mood the place would have or what colors to use.

i gave away and lost some pens along the way. by the end of the trip, i was down to about three colors!

i loved having these little pockets on some pages. i tucked notes and tags inside.

some of the pictures are from a used book i bought at the library last spring - it was a great find that added so much to my journal.

travel journal II

2011-07-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

here are some more pages from my africa travel journal.

as you can see, i stuck in just about anything that wasn't nailed down!

for the first part of the trip, i would work on it at the end of the day. but then i wised up and started taking it with me during the day so i could pull it out whenever i had a chance. that seemed to work better for me and i got a lot of things down that i probably would have forgotten by nightfall.

it is apparent that i didn't take time with good handwriting or spelling - my goal was to get it down when i had the chance!

i loved having the little envelopes and pockets to tuck away short notes and receipts.

my travel journals have all been different and it seems i continue to discover what works best for me. i love getting ideas from others about how they capture their memories so let me know if you have any tips.

travel journal expo

2011-07-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

here is the journal from my recent trip to africa. while i am still adding a few bits and pieces, it is almost complete and completely full! i am going to post pictures of a few pages over the next couple of days. feel free to bypass these entries since looking at someone's travel journal may be as boring as being forced to sit through someone else's vacation slides!

i certainly didn't baby this journal - it traveled most every rugged road alongside me and i must have pulled it out of my bag several times each day. it got spilled on, dropped, and covered with the dust of the land but held up remarkably well.

it is full of my insights, photos, brochures, keepsakes, tags, receipts, and much more!

i took a variety of pens, a pencil, and watercolor pencils. i also had a small tray of watercolors but only used them once.

i packed the necessities of a glue stick and a little pair of scissors (which security would always take a look at but let me keep.) some of the images in here are cut out of flight magazines.

i collected memorabilia along the way and glued it in when i got a chance. my pogo printer was great for helping me keep track of what happened each day. i'll post some more tomorrow but this gives you an idea of my messy, colorful, random travel journaling!

out of africa

2011-07-10T05:50:00.001-07:00

i am back from my trip to africa, in which i traveled to tanzania and kenya with three of my friends. it was an incredible trip, surpassing all of my expectations. here are just a few photos of our experience taken by one of my travel companions, kaylynn.

i will be sharing pages from my travel journal later this week. i can't wait to see what everyone else has been doing this summer!

africa

2011-06-24T13:21:00.001-07:00

i'm leaving tomorrow on my trip to africa. i will be going on safari in kenya and tanzania with three of my friends.

here is the journal i made to take with me. i started this project lots of times and had to wrestle with many gremlins in order to make something that i was proud of. it was a bumpy path but, in the end, i realized my creativity is what it is. whew, all that from a book i haven't even written in yet!

the year was stamped on vintage poker chips. i bought the book at micheals but personalized it with all kinds of stickers, stamps, stitching, book pages, maps, ribbons, etc.

i added several pockets to tuck receipts, tickets and other travel ephemera into.

i left a few pages blank, as well! i can't wait to start recording the details of my adventure.

i will be back home in two weeks, anxious to show you my completed journal and see what all of you have been doing!

hat bling

2011-06-20T09:47:00.001-07:00

two of my travel companions on my upcoming trip to africa gave me this hat for christmas. it is comfy and practical but i had the urge to personalize it. after going through my box o' beads (it is embarrassing how many i have!), i chose these multi-colored seed beads and got to work. while watching hours of daytime tv, i added some bling to the hat, one little bead at a time.

it wasn't easy to sew through the canvas but i loved working on it. it made me feel productive while i took in some talk shows.

here is a photo of the back of the hat. i am looking forward to donning it under the sun in africa next week!

fruits of creativity

2011-06-16T17:37:00.001-07:00

i have had so much fun the past couple weeks playing with paint and experimenting with colors. here is a cheap canvas i painted titled "fruits of creativity".

i am fascinated by the shapes of trees - they are so satisfying to paint. i kept this one "naked" for several days because i loved the way it looked. i feel a series coming on...

pass the book

2011-06-15T08:16:00.001-07:00

the wonderful and most generous sian has a "pass the book" series on her blog where she launches art books out into the world. months ago (i am embarrassed to say exactly how long it has really been!) i received this book from her via rinda. (note: check out these two great blogs, if you haven't already - they are such treats.) i am now, finally, ready to pass it on.

the book is Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book by Brian Froud and Terry Jones.

it is a whimsical account of Lady Cottington and her attempt to prove the existence of fairies by catching them between the pages of a notebook.

it is a delight to go through, colorful and surprising. some of the images are a bit disturbing since the fairies are smooshed! a perfect book to escape into another world through.

if you would like to participate in "pass the book" by receiving this title and then later passing it on yourself, please just leave a comment. i will randomly choose a name on tuesday, june 21.

lately

2011-06-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

i have been quiet here in blogland lately but am busy working on several things since my summer began.

i have been painting up a storm! just loving the feel of all that liquid color spreading across the surface.

i have also spent a lot of time working on my travel journal for africa. this is one of the most enjoyable parts of travel for me.

and working on my so-called "art alter" - a repainted piece of discarded furniture. i have the feeling this won't be finished any time soon.

so that's what i've been up to lately besides drinking lots of iced tea and lounging while enjoying all of your blogs. oh, how i do love summertime!

finished!

2011-05-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

i found this chair a couple months ago sitting out on the curb in my neighborhood with a note on it that said "free".

i have been working on it for weeks now, priming, sanding, painting. it shouldn't have taken me so long to complete this project, but i just kept painting, touching up, and repainting. i think i worked out a lot of anxiety and issues, stroke by stroke, on this chair!

so today i declare it finished; not perfect, but ready for use. i am going to put it in my craft room/studio in front of my sewing machine.

these photos do not show the colors accurately but you get the idea. i know my family will be glad to have it not sprawled out on the kitchen floor anymore!

Hazel's birds

2011-05-26T18:17:00.001-07:00

i took a walk early today around my neighborhood and when i got home i wrote this simple poem:

this morning i heard
the sounds of birds
echo off walls and over the rooftops

not so long ago
a two-year old Hazel
told me these "hooo, hooo" noises
were the owls talking

no, i said to gently correct her, those are pigeons

smart but kind, she just
gave me a funny look,
so knowing and deep that
i even question myself now
about the source of that avian song

some of you know that hazel is my niece, near and dear to my heart.

later this afternoon i sketched this journal page using colored pencils and oil pastels. i printed the poem, cut it up, and glued it on.

i am challenging myself to do a journal page a day for the next month, may 25 - june 25. this period of time is the longest i will have all year without work, travel, and other commitments.

let me know if you want to join me with this!

questioning

2011-05-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

lately, i've been thinking about why and what i create. i wonder: where this all is taking me?

am i getting any better? what purpose it serves?

the truth is i don't know the answer to any of these questions. i have decided to continue to work on something everyday. to let the questions sit with themselves while i make art. that the process is always going to be more important than the product. i know that creativity is essential to my being and that is all i need to understand.

in progress

2011-05-18T19:21:00.001-07:00

this is my last week of school for the year and i have been so busy wrapping it all up. i haven't had much time, or energy, for any of my projects. but i have been painting the free furniture i picked up on the side of the street a few months ago (i wrote about that find in this post.)

there is something so soothing about the painting process. i actually look forward to getting out my brushes and adding some more color at the end of each day.

it is a slow process, as i have changed the blue and the purple hues since these photos were taken. but that's ok since it is now become a form of meditation for me. These pieces will eventually get finished, or i should say, completed for the time being. meanwhile, if my blog sits quietly for awhile, you know i am probably adding one more coat of paint, a single brush stroke at a time, while resting my mind.

good mail day

2011-05-09T16:38:00.001-07:00

look at this beautiful postcard i got in the mail from lis! she also participated in the ihanna diy postcard swap. she did not have my name to send one to but i got one anyway! lucky me. :-)

thanks, lis! i can't wait to hang this up in my studio.

art is long

2011-05-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

i made this journal page a few years ago. i remember i was in an airport but i can't remember which one or what trip i was taking. note to self: put a date on your pages!

i love the way drawing helps me pass the time while i am "stuck" somewhere.

more props!

2011-05-03T16:31:00.001-07:00

i have been busy making the props for my school's upcoming musical, alice in wonderland.

here is the door for the doorknob character.

and the sheet that alice will wear when she grows big. i folded a twin sheet in half and cut/sewed an opening in the middle for her head. i put newspaper between the two layers so the paint wouldn't soak through while i was making it. i also made her a hat that looks like the roof.

and my new favorite product! it is so easy and fun to use.

i made this carrot with it. i'm not sure what the carrot is going to be used for but plan to attend the production on friday evening so i'll find out then.

and the finished carrot. i also made a big gold key but forgot to take a picture of it.

i have really enjoyed helping out with this and plan to do it again (and start much earlier) next year if the directors will "hire" me back. :-)

ephemera

2011-04-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

ephemera is my favorite word.

these are some beautiful pieces i received from melissa. she sells all kinds of fun packages of random goodness for journals in her etsy shop.

i wrote and told her i was planning two trips this year, one to africa and another to italy. she made me a custom package of wonderful goodies to build my travel journals with.

i am amazed at all the materials i received and how quickly and beautifully packaged and reasonably priced it was!

i don't know her personally, only through a business transaction. so without any hidden agenda, i urge you to check out her shop if you are looking for interesting and unique ephemera. :-)

doodling

2011-04-28T19:58:00.001-07:00

i attended a superintendent's certified council meeting the other day. agendas were provided and i proceeded to doodle all over mine during the hour+ i was there. i had other photos of my mindless sketches but felt uncomfortable about sharing pieces of the agenda itself.

this is my perfect way to get through the countless meetings i go to each week.

do you think it is rude to doodle during a meeting? i really am listening (and taking notes here and there) but have an irresistible urge to draw!

props

2011-04-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

the school where i work is putting on a production of "alice in wonderland" in two weeks. i never realized before that there are crafts involved in drama but now i am happily volunteering my time to the props. here are the umbrellas i "swirled" and tomorrow i start on the door and house front.

any project that involves paint, brushes and a little imagination is a treat for me!

even more mt journal

2011-04-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

yes, this travel journal seems a bit scattered. i have used so many different materials and techniques, trying to explore all the possibilities.

maybe "random" is a style. i have had fun with it, despite my misgivings. please let me know if you have ideas or suggestions as i am in the process of creating/obtaining a journal for my summer trip to africa.

two more postcards!

2011-04-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

here are two more postcards (from ihanna's diy postcard exchange) i received over the weekend.

this one is from adrianne and came from portland, oregon. it came in an envelope because it has this beautiful heart attached. i love the sentiment!

you can see more of adrianne's varied work on her blog.

and this postcard was created by kim from new york. it is decorated in color on both sides - very fun and thought provoking (who do you want to be? that's heavy!) thanks kim!

i have received seven postcards so far in the exchange so, theoretically, there are three more heading my way!

mt journal continued

2011-04-17T16:18:00.001-07:00

here is another page from my travel journal from spring break.

i have been really thinking about what i want to do for future travel journals. each one i have made so far has a different look. do you have a favorite way to record your journals?

more mt journal pages

2011-04-15T06:23:00.001-07:00

i have been trying to work on my montana travel journal from my spring break trip last month.

here are a few new pages. i am experimenting with different styles, different techniques.

the photos were printed with my new pogo printer. i just love it!

this journal has really been a lot of fun and i'm nowhere near finishing yet!

postcards received - 1 and 2!

2011-04-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

i am participating in ihanna's diy postcard swap and i have received my first two postcards! i can't tell you how excited i was to get these in the mail - grade-school, jump-up-and-down, happy.

this first one arrived on saturday, april 2. it is from andria who lives in pennsylvania (all the way across the country!) you can check out her other work on her blog.

then on tuesday i got this gorgeous card from michelle. i already have a place to hang these in my studio as a testament to the generosity and talent that exists all over our there. thanks andria and michelle!!!

the postcards 9, 10, and 11

2011-04-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

intentional women 9 - release

intentional women 10 - reflect

intentional women 11 - reach

i only sent ten postcards but made an extra, just in case. i hope these are finding their way in the mail to their destinations. tomorrow i will show you a beautiful postcard i have received in this swap that ihanna organized.

the postcards 7 and 8

2011-04-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

intentional women 7 - protect

intentional women 8 - ignite

the postcards 5 and 6

2011-04-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

intentional women 5 - grasp

intentional women 6 - explore

the postcards 3 and 4

2011-04-04T20:26:00.001-07:00

intentional women 3 - detour

intentional women 4 - design

the postcards 1 and 2

2011-04-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

here are a couple of the postcards i did for ihanna's swap. i created a series of women and assigned them each a powerful verb. i call the series "intentional women" to honor the fact that we are in charge of our lives.

intentional women 1 - choose

intentional women 2 - advance

i will continue to post the rest in this series this week. i want to thank ihanna for such a wonderful opportunity!

postcards II

2011-04-02T21:09:00.001-07:00

i have been busy working on my postcards for ihanna's exchange. the deal is you are to make ten original postcards and mail them out to the addresses you receive. i wanted to do a series so that all ten of my postcards were connected in some way.

i drew different women on all ten postcards and then assigned each of them a verb. i wrote a short piece about them, using the verb, and then painted them.

i will post them all when i am finished but just wanted to tell you about the process. i have had such a great time creating these portraits and then writing about them - a complete indulgence in imagination and creativity! my goal is to have all of them in the mail on monday.

postcard swap

2011-03-29T20:17:00.001-07:00

i am participating in ihanna's postcard swap. you make ten original postcards, send them off to the people on the list she gives you (from all over the world!) and then you will receive ten postcards in the mail (from all over the world!) i cut my postcards out of heavy duty paper and i have all my ideas sketched out. now i just need to sit down and make them so.

i know it doesn't look very exciting right now but i will soon be showing you the finished products. they are due in the mail by april 8 so i can't be putting it off inevitably! (thank goodness for that.)

the look of together

2011-03-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

"together" is my word this year so i cut these pictures out of catalogs of what i think the word looks like in terms of clothing. i used color pencils to sketch my head on these bodies but you can't really see that. then i used a brown pen to write what women who wear these outfits are like and then, with a black pen, i wrote inbetween these lines how i am like these women. i painted the background gray with watercolor pencils.

i may never wear these outfits (they are a bit pricey!) but i can still exemplify "together" (or at least that is the point of this page.) write it and own it, right!?

fashion mag

2011-03-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

i have been staying in the hospital with one of my dear friends and leafing through the many magazines her concerned visitors have left with her. i typically am not interested in the high fashion magazines since i will never buy nor wear any of the clothes in them - ok, let's face it, i can't buy or wear any of them! but the photography is striking and some of the images are downright captivating. here is a page i ripped out and glued in my journal. i used a thin sharpie to write down my thoughts and painted her lips with a coral sharpie (just for fun and impact!)

so now i'm going to be taking a new look at those types of publications on the hunt for more good journaling materials!

magazine caption prompt

2011-03-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

sometimes i use captions i cut out of magazines for journal prompts and this is a perfect example. it is from an ad but i can't even remember what for (probably something like insurance or retirement accounts!) however, it is so thought provoking so i jotted down several things that i need to do now.

too bad there is no spell check on fast and furious journaling - looks like i mispelled blossom. :-)

mt travel journal I

2011-03-23T19:31:00.001-07:00

here's the first page in the travel journal i took to montana over my spring break last week. i used sharpies, colored pencils, a photo printed with my new pogo, and some pictures i cut out of the flight magazine.

here's another photo of the cover. i'm still working on the pages - it's one way to make a trip last and last!

my new toy

2011-03-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

i bought this pogo printer (actually, my husband bought it for me - :)) to take to montana this week. i am excited to use it and put the photos in my travel journal. it is so light and handy. the 2" x 3" photos have an adhesive on back so i can slap them right on the page.

i'm not much of a picture taker but i think this pogo will encourage me to add more photos to my journal. i'll let you know how it works when i get back on march 18.