My Mini Art Journal

I decided to pick up a small journal for art journalling when I was in Mount Vernon, WA last month with my good friend Deborah Moskowitz

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The journal is the perfect size for small musings and petit works of art.

In the front inside cover, I folded up a sweet note from a close friend and pasted it down. I can read it whenever I need a boost or if I'm feeling unloved (which is rare...)

I also stamped my initials - sg.

My friend Helen Campbell is a genius when it comes to working on small pieces. She is selling mostly ephemera in her etsy shop right now - you should check it out!

Anyhow, she has inspired me to work smaller.

I am also finding that it is a GREAT book for trying out different fonts, pens, and writing styles. It's nice to be able to just write one or two words instead of having to commit to a large journal page.

I played around with the word attachment during a professional development lecture this week. The letters are "attached" with black links. 

My little journal is a great place to glue in things that I find and little pieces of inspiration.

After watercolouring this page, I pasted in a heart doily that I saved from high tea close to Valentine's Day this year.

This spread features origami paper on one side and a bird on yellow watercolour on the other. I can use the wavy lines for writing down my musings when I feel inclined.

Here is a watercolour that I created on a hot beach day.
A full spread like this seems so much more accessible when it's so small!

I hope this inspires you to think differently about your art journalling.

Have you ever used a small journal like this one? If not, I would highly recommend it! 

Give it a try! 

 

Inspired By Carla Sonheim

I've recently been looking at Carla Sonheim and her silly, seemingly-haphazard way of creating art.  

There's a lot of buzz about her right now because she has just released a new book about drawing and painting imaginary animals.

Her creatures are adorable, and seem to be fairly easy to create with her steps. I'm hoping to win a copy from her blog so that I can review it and let you all know what to expect!

In the meantime, I've been working on my own imaginary creature in my mini art journal (more about this journal on Friday).

He has large teeth and very flexible, flappy lips. He's a herbivore who loooooves to eat flowers :)  

Take What You Need

I love guerilla art.

Guerilla Art: n. leaving anonymous art in public places.

Today I made this up and posted it on a wall in the main-floor hallway of my school.

When I checked back 25 minutes later, there were two missing (!!!).

There had been a class intermission during that time, so LOTS of people walked by it!

I've heard of other artist friends leaving their creative marks in their cities:

- leaving an art card at a table in a local coffee shop

- writing a message in chalk on the sidewalk

- giving a love letter to a stranger (randomly on the street)

- leaving a note of kindness or inspiration within the pages of a library book

- yarnbombing (often in the form as a hand-knitted piece wrapped around a bench or tree)

I think that the reason why I love guerilla art so much is that it is secretive for the artist and surprising for the recipient.

I love secrets.

I also love surprises.

Have you ever done any guerilla art?

Musings on Realities - For Real! :)

I've been doing a lot of blog-surfing lately. For inspiration, ideas, and just to learn about other people from other places.

Over at the Simple Woman's Daybook blog, I learned about the Simple Woman's Daybook exercise and I thought that it would be fun and interesting to do one of my own.

I hope that you enjoy getting to know me a little better!

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For Today

Outside my window...It's sunny and warm - definitely an Indian Summer for us here in southern British Columbia. I can see trees from my window and they remind me of growth and life. Being close to nature makes me feel grounded and secure.

I am thinking...about Chilaquiles. This traditional Mexican breakfast dish is a favourite of mine when I travel down south, and I've recently found this recipe that looks easy and yummy! I'm going to give it a try this weekend.

I am thankful...for my Naturopath who is currently working with me on refining my eating to exclude wheat products. I went off wheat two weeks ago and have been experiencing crippling digestive pain and discomfort ever since. It's been difficult having to leave class in the middle of a lesson to run across to the other side of the school to use the restroom. My poor students. Hopefully my Naturopath and I can figure out where I'm going wrong and eventually feel the benefits of eliminating wheat from my diet!

In the kitchen...I am not looking forward to the transition of outdoor grilling (which I do almost nightly) to indoor, oven cooking. I love stepping into the freshness when I'm cooking, and we have been eating outside on the sundeck since June. Luckily our prolonged sunny weather is enabling us to continue this...!

I am wearing...green pants and a black peasant top with purple embroidery. I bought the green pants just a few weeks ago for back-to-school, and I honestly can't get used to them. I thought they were cool and different and they fit me well, however the grassy green colour just seems to shout at me (and not in a nice way) whenever I wear them.

I am creating...an art journal spread in a girlfriend's Teesha Moore-inspired 16-page art journal. I created one of these a few months ago. You can see my book and read about the process here.

I am going...to host a BBQ with some friends this weekend. We are taking FULL advantage of the nice weather and plan to continue doing so until Mother Nature decides that it's time for Fall.

I am wondering...what kinds of things I can make that will sell well on etsy. Once I am pregnant and on maternity leave, I'd like to create a stay-at-home plan for as long as possible after my leave ends. This includes earning money somehow. Since I love art and crafting so much, this is where I am focussing my energy.

I am reading...Wheat Belly by William Davis. Hence the goal of eliminating wheat from my diet.

I am hoping...that I can go visit my parents tomorrow after work. My mom had surgery on her eye this week and I'm anxious to see - in person - how she is faring.

I am looking forward to...playing poker with some good friends this weekend. I'm an avid card player (for fun - I don't get into gambling) so I'm excited to spend an evening with some of my co-workers to have some yummy snacks and play cards.

I am learning...how my body works. I've learned that my blood type (A+) says a lot about my digestion. I've also learned that my body likes warm foods and liquids and rejects cold ones in the form of digestive issues. Interesting, huh?

Around the house...we are thinking about moving furniture around in two of our rooms. We can't afford any renovations, so we've thinking that we can freshen up the house by re-arranging the furniture. Fun! :)

I am pondering...what to do for my one-year anniversary of blogging. My first blog post was on October 3, 2011. When I look back at that post, I smile because it focusses on acquiring cheap art supplies - something I still love to do! Anyhow, I'm thinking a major sale in my etsy shop is in order, plus a giveaway. Birthdays are supposed to be fun, right? So let's have fun together!!

A favorite quote for today...is on a journal page I'm working on: "For pleasure has no relish unless we share it" - Virginia Woolf


One of my favorite things...is the parlour that I've created at home. I spend many hours there snuggled with a blanket and the kittens. I love the colours and the airy feel. The leather shag rus feels nubbly on my feet.

A peek into my day...today is the only day this week that I haven't had an appointment or errand after work. I'm definintely indulging in some time for myself by lounging in the parlour (above) and blogging! :)

Back At'er

This week I'm working on a journal spread for a friend's journal. Here is a little peek at it's beginning stages.

I've used various papers to create a border around this two-page-spread. (The photo shows the right side)

I've glued on a paper doll outfit and found a suitable face from an old Marie Claire magazine. Doesn't it look like she's looking down at her casserole? Love it! :)

Stay tuned as I work these pages from start to finish!

Teacup Crafting

I LOVE looking at vintage and retro teacups and saucers when I'm at yard sales and thrift shops...

I've finally been able to figure out a craft to do with my teacup obsession!

This is a fine bone china teacup and saucer - I couldn't resist it's cool blue/gray pattern!

Look at the detail on the handle. Isn't it just darling?
Available here.



This one is actual Royal Doulton. The pattern is called Lilac Time.

 

I loved this pattern because it's so dainty and intricate. Isn't it lovely?
Available here.

Recycled Paper Envelopes and Fancy Notepaper



I've been having a GREAT time creating envelopes and notepaper.



Each one is unique and pieced together carefully to create an original design.

I used my sewing machine to fasten all of the layers on, and played around with stitch variations on some.

THEN I decided to make some fancy notepaper to go with the envelopes.

The papers are folded twice and stitched along one end. Is that the top or the bottom...?

You choose.

For sale now - cheap! - in my etsy shop.

A New Style of Easy Chair

If you look closely, you'll see a black and white kitten reclined with his head on a grey-striped kitten's belly.

Now THAT'S what I call a recliner!

Garden Lighting

As my summer holidays wind down, I'm scrambling to maintain the restfulness and peace of warm summer evenings. This outdoor feature, made by a dear friend and her daughter, makes me want to settle into an afghan and watch the sun set.

Materials: wire, jars, reclaimed wood (a wooden chair arm?) and candles.

Hey Thanks!

Thanks for all of your comments and thoughts during my Tour of Special Places series! I've received loads of emails about my special places and I'm super happy to share a bit of my world with you!

I'm so proud of my home.
A final last pair of photos:

A Special Place in our front yard.
There is a large rose bush right behind these two chairs, and the aroma wafts over us as we rock in the evenings. 

And here is our home.
We added the shutters and window boxes ($5 each from a salvage yard!).
The landscaping was designed by me and installed by myself and my husband. Those hedge trees will grow and even out someday, right?!

Part Eight - A Tour of Special Places

I blogged about this just after I created it, and it is still one of the favourite parts of our home.

It measures about 4'x5' altogether, and contains sepia-toned images of our family and some of our favourite things. 

The Wedding Chapel photo at the bottom is from the Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas - where we were married. 

Part Seven - A Tour of Special Places

The double window in our bathroom was the perfect space I needed for a shadow-box display of my ocean finds. 

Sand dollars, coral, moonstone shells, wormwood and starfish all have a space of their own.