Journaling and using ugly stuff

Isn't it funny ... going through some old papers the other day - the decorative kind, not the "official paperwork kind" - and I was ready to throw some out. But of course, it's impossible to throw away anything even something that looked like a dreadful mess. Cut up and played with the rectangular pattern on the page made me remember why I'd made it to begin with.

I'm off to Art & Soul tomorrow, bright and early and am really looking forward to it. Even teachers get their batteries recharged at an event like this one. I'll give a full report when I get back.

In the meantime, if you are attending, come look for me at Vendor's Night! Have a fab weekend all. I'm off to finish my packing.

Paper Quilting

I think this covered every technique I'm teaching at Art & Soul, Hampton in my Paper Quilting Class. (Self-promotional heads-up: there are still spaces available).What a great excuse to work with all of those luscious papers and play with ideas for making more decorative paper.

My little tag book of decorative paper techniques grows constantly:

I found a consistent foolproof method of image transfer that I'm looking forward to sharing with all of my students. Linda at Collage Closet will be at Vendor's Night selling the Jet Print paper I've been using for these transfers. This is "THE STUFF". ***See the pod and little birdie in the the quilt above.***

Thanks for all your help Linda.

Kitchy Kitchen Stuff and A Rummage Sale

I wandered over to Teesha Moore's blog a couple of nights ago, just innocently surfing the web, and saw these measuring spoons. Drool. So I went to Anthropologie and saw these measurinsg cups.

Alright now, I have B-Day money burning a hole in my pocket but have to wait 'til after Art & Soul's vendor night. Collage on Alberta (from Portland, OR), with all its inky, paper-y goodness, will be setting up their store on site as usual, double-trouble.

I do this every year: spend my birthday money 17 times before actually spending it. It's very fun in the whole delayed-gratification kinda way.

On the other hand, I scored some great deals at my friend, Cathy's, church rummage sale last night. Retail therapy without the buyer's remorse. Weirdest purchase was a hairnet made from real hair. What could be better and odder than that?My treasure hunt unearthed a bag filled with the following items: a bunch of McCall's Kaumagraph Transfer Patterns for embroidery, together with hand-embroidered table runners which are quite beautiful. I imagine all the time and care the embroiderer spent on these items. I'm glad they landed with me, as I truly appreciate them. I threw them into the washer with some laundry soap, a vintage tablecloth and some mustard colored fabric and guess what? Everything turned yellow. Actually the embroidered pieces look quite beautiful in a soft yellow glow.

Thanks for taking me along, Cathy!

Eraser Stamps

Here are a few more carved stamps. I use Mastercarve because it is so smooth and it is thick enough to carve both sides. Two carvings for the space and price of one. Make sure your tools are sharp! If you are seeing crumbles while carving, it's time for new cutters.

I've been doing a little spring cleaning on my computer lately and found this journal page from about two years ago. A "Happy Birthday to Me" page. I love pears, the shape the color the taste the squeaky clean way that they leave your mouth after you've eaten one.

It seems kinda cliche, I know. But I don't really care. Pears are Female in their many luscious shapes, the Bosc, the Anjou, Seckle, Lady Pears, or is that Lady Apple? No matter it's a perfect seque.

I'm celebrated my 53rd birthday on Saturday and am more apple than pear-shaped these days. I'm pretty ok with the whole process of aging. I really don't think too much about it. My hair is gracefully graying, and most of the lines around my eyes are happy ones. No, I've got no problem. I like the confidence that has come with these years; there has been a lot of rough ridin' that I've managed to get through and I'm sure there will be more but what the heck, right? The smooth good times in between are well worth it. Wabi-Sabi.

Menopause has come and gone and I feel good about that, as well. That phase brought in a rewarding new time of my life. My kids are going off and that's fine, though of course, I'll miss them. I'll be getting a couple of parakeets this fall to, as my son said, replace him when he goes off to college.

Freebie from Keri Smith

Keri Smith is a wonderful illustrator and writer and has some very fine books out there on journaling and creativity; fun stuff and great ideas deftly presented with a light heart. Wreck This Journal is chock full of inspiration for loosening up and journaling, but take a look at all of her books.

She is offering a freebie on her website for you to print out. I'm gonna do that right now. Thanks Megan, for sharing this link.

Making Foamy stamps, Video Tutorial

I had the eraser carving bug lately inspired by this Gennine's wonderful tutorial (scroll down to find it). I love her art work. Also Milliande has, I think, seven (!) YouTube videos on making prints. I've added my 2 cents here:

Nature in my backyard

The moon last night

And lookee here! I very carefully took this shot without disturbing

Happy SpringTime to all of you.

Makin' Bracelets

Makin' mountains of "stuff" lately for upcoming shows and Etsy. Here are some new cuff-style bracelets. I used some those fabulous Byzantia paints from Stuart Gill from Artist's Cellar. I love the Byzantia paints: they have a very cool label as well (I am major marketing sucker). When I opened the jar of paint, I had that urge to taste it which I resisted but I can't help but wonder what that Fra Angelica color tastes like. They are a bit thicker and more opaque then the Lumiere Paints (which I love as well and have never tasted). I made the bracelets from "Grungeboard". Here's a description from Tim Holtz's website "Grungeboard is a gray, pliable synthetic material, similar to soft rawhide."

OK, anyway it seemed like a good material to me. It doesn't tear or crush and is very lightweight and comfortable. I got the smooth sheets so I could go crazy making patterns and use some of my handcarved stamps as well. Interesting material. Here's a couple more bracelets all varnished up and lookin' lovely.

Meaning-Full (less)

Oh drat, my journal is almost full. I need to let it go but not quite yet. First, I'll go through it page by page. Some pages might ask me to comment, fill in a color, whatever.

But more often, I won't do this. Unfinished thoughts are somehow more Ripe than the neatly tied up thoughts. Do you know what I mean?

Somehow meaningless half strung sentences with long pauses in between, left unfinished are more like the real me. In fact, very much like the real me. Meaningless is somehow more meaningful.

Transient Journaling: a basic journaling kit

I'm organizing a Journal Meet at Art & Soul Hampton on Friday, May 1. 7 pm, in classroom next to Collage. There were some questions about what is in a Basic Journaling Kit. Here are some answers!

First: a container. Look what I found at the craft store marked 50% off! It's an Amy Butler bag! Very good size for carrying my journaling stuff around the house, yard, to the coffee shop and to my friend Susan's house. Why do I bring my stuff to Susan's? I just wind up playing with her stuff. Somebody else's stuff is always so much fun, right?

Back on topic: this bag is very convenient. I've filled it with scissors, gluestick, some sort of coloring stuff (e.g., portfolios, caran d'ache or watersoluble colored pencils). I always bring my watercolors, a mister, a couple of water brushes and a small jar of water (spice jar sized). A couple of paper towels, a pen (or two) a pencil and my journal. I usually have some odds and ends tucked in there too. Like a rubber stamp and ink pad. Just in case. It's nice having everything packed and ready to roll.

You don't need this Amy Butler bag to pack a journaling kit. Any bag, box or basket will do.
Fill your chosen vessel with the tools you use every time you journal and you're always ready to go.

Journaling "Crazy House"

My art journaling experience is never planned. Well, maybe not "never", but the best times are when I'm just rolling along, flying by the seat of my pants with nothing in mind. It comes from "deep", ya' know? Why did that picture of the hamster in the rolling ball speak to me? Why did I write "Crazy House" at the top of the page. I didn't know at the time but, geez! OK, I've got it now.

I don't think that it is easy to work this way. I think it takes practice, it takes a certain letting go that comes to you with time. Letting go of possible future mistakes. Letting go of putting your thoughts into a box. I don't know what I'm feeling! That's what the journal is for: a space to allow me to speak from deep.

What I used for this journal page: Ink pad smooshed onto page, stencilled, red pen, black pen, colored pencils, gesso, rubber stamps and approximately one hour.