I've joined an online
Art journal group,
It's completely free and
chockfull of cool techniques
and lots of glitter flinging by the
workshop leader,
Effy Wild from
There is also a
supportive and generous
to participate with.
I've met many
very talented women
and am having a great time.
For my Book of Days
I am recycling a
Below are pics of the
front and back cover.
I'
Above,
I've taped up the inside pages
to protect them from paint.
I gesso'd the hell out of
both covers.
Added some kind of thin fabricy
stuff that a Christmas present was
wrapped in a few years ago.
Yup. I save everything.
On top of the fabricy stuff
I used gesso with a palette knife
to create texture.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do
with it,
I may try to make it look leathery
I may try to make it look leathery
or like the surface of an old stone building.
From the cover of the
original calendar
I only kept the word
"TODAY"
which I covered with
Dimensional gel
Dimensional gel
and now has a cool
raised effect highlighting it.
Part of our practice in this
journal is to pick
a word for the Year.
I've been struggling mightyly
with choosing the right word.
I have been thinking
for months about my
focus for the upcoming year
and I keep coming back to
"use what I have"
and that phrase does not
boil down to one word.
DAMN IT.
So, like all things,
I'm learning that the word
Mindfulness
pretty much covers
everything.
If I am practicing mindfulness
I am using what I have!!
I probably have thousands
of rubber stamps
but I really
don't use them anymore.
I came to a realization a
year or two ago that
I really don't want to use
anyone else's art in my work.
Sooner or later I will start
organizing them and selling
them on etsy or ebay.
These 4 stamps are among
my favorites.
"Be Still" is "still"
one of my favorites.
On these tags I journalled
about the things
I am looking forward to in 2012.
On the back of Be Still
I journalled about learning
more about Buddhism and
practicing Mindfulness.
On the Frida tag
I journaled about looking
forward to making strong friendships
with women who create.
On the dragonfly tag I journaled
about the upcoming Milestones
I am looking forward to this year
taking place in Sam's life.
Prom, choosing a college,
senior trip, and the continuation
of her independence.
And on the Venus tag,
I journaled about
"using what I have".
Pan Pastels
add the color to the tags.
I originally embellished a
baseball pocket page
with alcohol inks intending
to attach the page into the journal
to hold the tags.
You will see that idea
never made it into my
Book of Days.
After I got a start on the book
the feel of the plastic
is not organic enough with
the pages I have so far.
My next post will show
pics of the progress I've made
on the first few spreads.
I deviated somewhat
from the instructions
but Effy encourages
and nurtures our individuality
in a funny, wise,and
completely stress free
environment.
Good times!!
Now tell me,
how have you started
this new year?
Have you picked a word
to support your endeavors
in personal
and creative growth?
Or do you play it by ear?
Spill it, sisters.
xoS
