Do What Feels Right for YOU

Digital Adventures started today! I thought I'd share the intro video with you just in case you were on the fence, or were still unclear as to what the class is about!

I was talking to Andrea this morning -- check out her Creative Dream Incubator, by the way; it's on my dream list of classes to take & looks like FUN! (in between bouts of panic, as every launch has to have some kind of issue, however small!) about class size vs. value. As in, is it better to have a big class that costs less, or a small class that costs more? 

As we chatted, I realized I'd rather teach a smaller class of invested students than a large class where I don't have time to get to know everyone. I love small, intimate classes -- they feel much more like parties, and everyone gets to chat and know one another and watch not only their progress during the class, but everyone else's. It's like having a team of cheerleaders. I want to get to know my students, and with Digital Adventures, many of the students are my friends! So I'm super excited to sit down and put together each lesson because it's really just a long-distance Skype call of me sharing what I love. Doesn't that sound like the kind of class you'd want to take?

So I've decided to do a few things:

• I'm going to limit the size of my live classes so I can give each person individual attention, check in with them, and help tailor the experience to their level.
• I'll then open up classes as self-study (you get the content, but don't get to join the party!).
• I'm going to retire some of my old classes and cycle them out as new classes are added.

Is this scary? YES! But Andrea was wise when she said you have to go with what feels right to you. And Wren added that you have to do what you have lasting enthusiasm for. 

We also touched on changing exchange if the scope of a project changes. When I started Creative Warriors, I intended on it being a low-energy investment each month -- a PDF or blog entries, guided journaling, and support. Now, it includes project videos, a Facebook group (full of chatting, awesome women!), and a monthly 'zine of guidance and inspiration that contributors can get paid for (hopefully!).

It has evolved as the needs of its creator and group became clearer.

I have guest posts lined up, people to interview, and so much joy for the 'zine, I might burst. Check out these messages I've gotten so far:

"The zine is great. I'm delving into it now and wanted to pause for a moment to tell you you've done a great job. I really connected with what you said about living with a Shadow Life. I look forward to the next installment."

"I just finally had a chance to read through the zine [and] it's absolutely WONDERFUL. You can see so much of your heart and soul in this, dear! it's so needed right now too, it gave me such a jump start after two weeks of barely being alive with so much stress and no energy. THANK YOU for putting this out, and i hope beyond hope for you that it works out!  at least the pain means you're alive? yes, THIS. on so many levels."

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to squeeze in a little more art before my business trip (I know! I have another one! To SF!) later this week. Have you SEEN my to-do list? What's sleep again? I was up at 6:30 am this morning! I think I deserve a snack from Sonic, yes? With all the energy I'm putting into this, Art Journal Summer School may be the last live class I do online this year. Especially if I keep getting work from magazines & artists! 

Warrior Call - APRIL

Tonight (or last night, depending on when you read this), I learned the new moon of Aries holds a lot of power to manifest change, fuel initives, and help usher you down new paths. 

I created my first vision board tonight, finding the process of looking through random magazines for that I wish to attract into my life amazing -- I didn't create beauty, but I did create a picture of what I want my life to look like. I am beginning to trust in the Universe, open my arms to abundance, and follow my own path, not anyone else's. 

One of the big things is WARRIOR CALL.

It is a monthly e-zine created for those looking to use creative practices to get through life -- while it is written by a woman with health issues using art to process and discover, it is also for those with mental imperfections, overwhelming changes, circumstances out of your control, or who want to just get more out of a creative life. 

But I wanted to do something different. Starting with the next issue, Warrior Call will be written by the women of the Creative Warriors Circle to help empower, enlighten, and encourage them. They will get paid to raise their voices and help others. A collective project, no, gift, to you. 

Warrior Call - APRIL

6.00

{hodgepodge #2 is here!}

Actually, it was here Saturday, but I have been so busy, I haven’t gotten a chance to write anything until now. Well, I could have written something then, but it probably would have consisted of grunts and the occasional headdesk as I waded through 27 pages of a spreadsheet trying to get emails out. Which they’re mostly out, except if your partner forgot to put in their last name, and then you’ll get your email when they email me back and voila! Swap officially out into the hands of the people.

When I sat down to compile the material for Hodgepodge #2, I didn’t have a clear plan other than a collection of journal pages from two journals and a few ideas as to where I could go. But after awhile, a theme and purpose grew between those pages like weeds through cracked concrete — that rigid purpose we seem to give things cracking under the pressure of true creative inspiration.

What came out was an exploration of my adolescent phase, that rough, transitory period between first learning of art and excitedly copying the “masters” and the later phase where your own creative inspiration pours freely onto the page.

From the introduction:

Everyone knows the difficulties we encounter during our teen years, no matter where you’re from or your current age. You’ve gone through life as a child, always depending on your parents for love, protection, and guidance. Think of them as those artists you admired when you started, the ones you copied in order to get your footing, take your first steps. They’re there to teach you the ropes of life, give you advice, teach you how to make a PB&J sandwich and ride a bike and swim at the neighborhood pool.

These pages are raw. Like you’d expect of a teenager’s diary, there’s angst. Happy days. Doodles. To-do lists. Life was mirroring this transitional period in my life. There are essays to help guide you, exercises to boost your creativity, and a hand to hold when you need to laugh or have a good cry.

This isn’t a phase you go through once — you will continuously circle around as you continue to explore, and it is no less painful the second or third or forth time you go through this. It’s a shedding of the old and the birth of the new; a messy, painful, exciting process that plunges you into the dark Unknown of your own soul, and it’s up to YOU to get back out of the labyrinth, emerging as a reborn artist.

Writing for and working on this issue really brought that idea home for me. Lately, I’ve been going through a transitory phase myself and the darkness has really frightened me. Yes, I have faith that I’ll come out the other side (mostly) intact, but the shedding is the hardest, when you circle through again, because I thought I’d found my identity as an artist. Instead of going from replicating the work you admire, this second pass has me shedding my own work I’ve grown to love. I was comfortable and — this is a dangerous place to be in — complacent.

I never really thought of that word much until my brother said, “You can be comfortable with recovery, but when you get complacent, that’s when trouble happens.”

Look at the definition:

complacency - A feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble; An instance of self-satisfaction

Looking at it, you wouldn’t THINK there’s anything wrong with that, but if you give it a minute, you’ll realize that there’s no progress, no discovery, no exploration or play or fun. You’re just going along in the same old way because it’s comfortable.

But I digress. This is material for Hodgepodge #4! But it’s something I’m living right now, and working on this issue has helped clarify and take away a bit of the Unknown I’ve been walking through.

I created the cover for this one by hand, doing the kind of art I’ve been drawn to, a twist on my usual style, new techniques and materials employed in different ways. I love that I’m constantly experimenting, going to myself to play and discover rather than looking up the answers online.

I've experimented and found what colors work in the background and which don’t...

I posted this shot on Facebook over the weekend. I love seeing what materials are around when my favorite artists create, so I thought I’d take a similar shot! There’s, of course, stuff hidden from view, but most of what I was using was captured.

And huzzah! The darning foot for my machine! This has made all the difference when it comes to freehand stitching, and my fingers are now safe from being poked full of holes. ;) This is quickly becoming one of my favorite techniques. 

I sat down with the intention of creating a cover, and ended up making a piece of art. I just want to sit down and make one of these every day; there’s so much coming out when I work like this, and I can’t figure out why it’s easier for me to express myself on canvas “pages” instead of in my journal. But that’s okay — we create where we’re drawn to and let the Divine take care of the rest.

If you’d like to get your hands on a copy of Hodgepodge #2, head on over to the Shoppe for an instant download. You can also grab #1 as well as the three-parter of Page by Page.

As for me, I’m off on another adventure out in the cooling end-of-the-summer air and talking trees...

{studio vlog tuesday & some nice words!}

I've had some pretty nice things said about my various projects lately!

About Hodgepodge #1, Theresa wrote:

Samantha refers to this as a "gentle hug"...I call it a great, big, comforting mama bear hug! This is a must-have for all new, aspiring art journalists. I have not been able to put it down! I have been so inspired and for this Samantha consider yourself hugged! I can't wait for #2!

And Beth did an entire blog post about the first issue, saying many nice things, including:

I loved the personal side of this zine. All to often we admire other artists work, but never really get much of a glimpse into THEM aside from what they post on their blog or websites. Samantha’s zine is honest, raw and unashamed. It shows us that even those whose work we admire are real people too, with the same hopes, fears and dreams.

The first issue is still available for order as an e-book here. Pre-orders for #2 open on August 26th!

Nolwenn did a great post about the Small Art Mail Swap, saying:

I really miss receiving snail mails. I remember how excited I was to go to my mailbox everyday and check if someone sent me a letter (and I still am, but except bills… we don’t receive lots of personal letters).

It’s free (you just have to pay the shipping), and it’s simple: you create something (6×6 maximum) and you write an handwritten encouraging letter to someone that also signed up. And this person will do the same for you. You’ll make someone’s really happy.

Just a little note about the swap: we're up to 83 participants. It's going to be EPIC. :D

Also, it was brought to my attention that many of the hard links aren't working on the blog. I changed a setting to hopefully make links shorter, and it's only made things more complicated! I'll be fixing these right away, but if you can't wait, simply replace the httpwwwjournalgirlcom with blog in order to get where you're going.

I'd better get set up for tonight's live vlog! Check back here when it's over for the link to the recording.

ETA: I still haven't finished this journal page -- I had no idea what I was making! I'll have to take a pic when it's done for you. Hope you learned something nonetheless!

[studio vlog tuesday, 8/24/10: a journal page of layers....that keeps going!]

I think a lot of this was me playing around with new colors, ideas, and materials. Sometimes, that's how it happens...you have an idea and go to your journal to see how/if it works. I've been into experimenting lately, in such a major way that my studio's more a lab than anything else. I've come out of that cocoon, seen the beauty in my wings, and now have to learn how to fly by, well, throwing myself at the ground and missing. 

{mini-e-zine: learning grace: two weeks - a lifetime}

Instead of writing waxing poetics or appologies here, coupled with images, I decided to let it all loose and publish the last week and a half/two weeks of journal pages in a mini-e-zine FOR FREE here on the blog.

My finger is healing nicely, and I'm writing posts again; I'll be back to my regular schedule later this week, starting with Friday's Things I Have Learned, the Soldering Edition. ;)

If I didn't have this outlet of journaling, I don't know what I would have done. Gone more crazy than I did?

Please leave comments on the 'zine here or use the contact form to email me.

<3 kira

PS. YouTube found my background music in 2 videos -- they are still available for download on the Video Downloads page.

Learning Grace (PDF) - 24MB
(right click, 'save as')

{day 50: zine changes, journal #6, & everyday magic}

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="playing with sumi-e ink on layered pages"][/caption]

Days have been spent working in my journal. Being bound the Easy-Peasy way, I have 2 clear "section" where the gap stands between signatures: one is for beautiful art, paint, and flowing ink; the other, for words. For ages, I've written that I want to write more, and even made it one of my new year's goals. Lately, the words have begun to flow from me just as easily as paint and ideas. I have new faith in myself and my path. Fatigue and problems and drama had me doubting myself, questioning if art and journaling would simply be a hobby, or if it would grow to something more.

I think it is. Always growing, my seed has become a tiny sapling.

Changes @ Page by Page

I'd like to announce the addition of the wonderful and amazingly-knowlegeable Dawn Sokol as my co-pilot on the adventure of Page by Page. This came after some deep contimplation on my part and a moment of sarendipity when we realized we both wanted to do the same things.

Partnering with her will help keep me on-target and allow us to publish more than one issue a year! The outlines are already in place: please let us know if you have any suggestions or would like to submit something -- this is truely a community effort.

Journal #6

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="381" caption="the new journal's cover page"][/caption]

Odd thing is, there is no journal #5!

I thought this was #6 of the completed journals, but found out later it isn't. Oh, well! I created this one the Easy-Peasy way, not wanting to take the time to do a proper hardcover binding -- I wanted a new journal to work in right away! Call me impatient, but this is a great step for me, as I used to fret if there were any imperfection in my work and journals. Yes, the signatures are a bit loose, and the cover paper is peeling off, and the paper's all different sizes, but I adore it for it's imperfections. Celebrate the things that make you uneasy -- they are blessings in disguise. Rather than write here about the major changes in my life, here are the journal pages dealing with them. Click for larger versions @flickr.

Everyday Magic

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="bare feet, twirling skirt, and my new magic wand"][/caption] I think my father thought me mad when I squeeled in delight and rushed to grab this magic wand. Grinning, I asked him which I should get, and he chose this one -- blue and sparkly. Nothing like a 25 year old woman (as of Tuesday -- I can't wait for cake!) bouncing up and down because of a cheap wand. But I realized I need more magic in my life. So many moments of sarendipity have happened in the last week that I can't help but see magic everywhere.

Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

I use this word because I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in Fate. And isn't it just a beautiful word? Try saying it to yourself a few times over. Serendipity. Serendipity. Serendipity. I felt more alive, creative, and artful dancing around my studio with my new wand by candlelight than I have in the last few days of repetitive-feeling journal pages. Try doing something completly different, outside your normal experiance, in order to find your hidden creativity.

More to come...

I know I said this before, but I have more up my sleeve. I've begun writing a series of essays, or "chapters," on some new things I've discovered that has reinvigorated my creative life and journaling experiance. And since it's already written, I can say you won't be waiting 16 days for the next post from me!

Until next time, remember, you are loved and perfect exactly how you are. And I give you permission to:

story of a 'zine queen

Sorry I haven't been around the last, well, couple of weeks! Despite how easily individual pieces come together, combining everything into one document for a 'zine issue takes a lot of tender loving care. There are TONS of little things that come up, from color shades and image sizes and consistency...making sure spreads stay together and things are cohesive...that ALL needs to come together. And once you've got all that, seeing things in order often brings up MORE things!

There were some technical difficulties and such along the way. My original notes for Roben-Marie Smith's interview went missing. Then, the audio recording had problems. So I had to face the reality that I wasn't going to be able to present the interview in the question-answer format I'd done with Suzi Blu, and the fact that I had no idea how to write an exposition-type interview.

This writer's block delayed things past the original August 15th release date. While unable to write, basically afraid of doing such a horrible job... I did the final layouts on the individual articles. This time, I did them all in seperate documents, which made combining things a pain since I needed single-page fillers to keep things together. Yes, I basically made things harder for myself!

I CAN say this issue's the best yet. The experiance of two issues has improved layouts and how information's presented. There are more journal pages in the gallery. It's about 12 pages longer than the last. There are a few new features, such as a book review, reader quotes, and tutorials. The wonderful artists who've contributed have really presented awesome articles and ideas....in all, it's inspiring. In working on it, I've started to implement some of the techniques and I've been having a BALL. And my art's really prospered!

I am SO EXCITED to publish this issue for all of you. The proof's been printed, and I'm getting some tutilage from an inDesign expert tonight to make sure the layout's perfected. This will also be the first time you'll have the choice between a printed copy and an e-copy.

But the price IS going up. The format had to change, the 'zine's longer, and I'm printing more copies. And we're switching to priority mail for US orders because of lost issues and returned copies; I want to be able to put tracking numbers on all orders so you and I know where your copy is. Since priority's expensive for overseas readers, I decided to put up an e-copy, if they want to save on shipping.

So there you go. Look for a post later this week with information on ordering.

love, kira

tiny green buds where before there were none

This is my Spring.

Last week, I got my Spirit Cards read. A little-known fact: I am 1/8th Siksika (Blackfoot), and find myself drawn to nature and the tales of Native Americans. It feels...right. Anyway, these Spirit Cards are Native American and were read by a friend who's part Native, too, and has been reading these cards for about twenty years. A lot of what she said brought images to mind, one of which was that, "This is your springtime...you're getting ready to bloom." One thing I've noticed since I began healing myself, other than my heath improving so much that people are really noticing, is that things are aligning for me in the universe. Since this journal is where I am beginning to see the tiny green shoots poking through dark soil, I felt part of my friend's words should be on the cover.

It's made from felt and fabric. I embroidered the words in some unbleached muslin; it took the longest! I'm not very good at embroidery...I'm totally self taught...so much so I "invented" my stitches. It still was a blast to made, though! And the eyelets in the corners... *giggles* I'm just tickled pink!

Left: Me, mid-embroidery.

Mad-Dash Journaling.

I haven't been journaling lately....who knows why? Sometimes, you just need to go with the flow and accept that NOT doing an activity is just as valuable as doing it. This might sound odd, but it's true. You see, when I'm NOT journaling, I'm taking photos, reading, walking in the woods, playing with the dogs. All these activities feed my soul and become part of me. We are ever-changing creatures, and every experience we have changes us -- I am not the same person I was 10 minutes ago, and in an hour, I'll be different than I am now. My break allowed me to soak in inspiration, open my mind to changes in who and what I am.

If you've been reading, you know I've been going through some sort of spiritual journey. It's opened the world up to me, allowing me to see things differently. All of this input has been rattling around in my head until yesterday, it just had to get out. 

I didn't do much, and went out only to grab some new paint markers, fabric, and felt. The rest of the day was spent with my nose in my journal. Doodling and drawing and making dots -- I kept working on the yellow page here well past the point I'd usually stop....More and more and more and MORE!!! I colored and added more color and kept going and lines and omg, can you see how I just was charged, just couldn't help myself? *laughs* After I finish this entry, I'm going to go back to work....on my pages!!! Sorry that I'm only showing a bit...but near 'zine time, I like to save my pages for that...that way, the newest stuff's in the 'zine and reflects the most-current me. ;)

One of the things I've noticed is that I'm doing two things:

A. Moving around a lot,

That means, I'll doodle somewhere, and then flip the page and doodle elsewhere. Or draw. Or write. Or glue something down. Or paint. Well, I haven't really painted much as I pre-painted a bunch of pages....which reminds me, I have to do that again so I've got more places to play! But yeah. Unlike life, my journal is not linear.

B. Working piece by piece.

My pages are coming together after several small sittings. The page on the right down there (sorry you can't see all of it...it's still in progress!) started with paint. Then the drawing in pencil. Then the writing. Then the coloring of the girl. And it's FAR from done. On the left, there was the background, then the bird, then the cut out in the middle, then waves. Swirls. And the words ALSO came in seperate sittings. I mean that I don't sit down and work start to finish in one sitting. I'm LIVING in between. I might sit and doodle, but then I'm making lunch or playing fetch or napping or writing. Even going to work! I've found things are more unpredictable and easier to push the envelope, so to speak, than working through it at once.

Kira Workshop.

I'll be "teaching" a workshop this June through my mailing list, JournalGirl. I'm so excited to be doing this, and might start sooner....I'm creating, lesson by lesson, a journal for you all that will hopefully be useful to you after the class is over. I've wanted to teach for awhile, now, and figure if I can't do it in person, I'll do it online! Sometimes, you've got to just go out there and DO it. And, if I want to teach workshops in person, I'll have something together already -- as SARK says, make it REAL, and the rest will follow.

And Finally....New Amy Butler & K&Co. Stuff!!

OMG! Look!!! There's a new collection for K&Co. by Amy Butler. I wish I could have bought it all. Not only is it ROCKING AWESOME, but it's eco-friendly; the packaging is recycled and can be recycled! This picture only shows you a bit of the 88 die-cut pieces in this collection. They're all awesome, beautiful, and I'm giddy just thinking of all the stuff I'll get to use. It was only $5 for this whole thing. There's also beautiful fabric tags, alphabets, brads.....awwwwww......Run, don't walk, to your local Michael's and check it out!!

questions of self-fulfilling prophecies * bitten by a nice bug * marker layers of beauty

As with any sort of blogging, I've been around and have actually opened TypePad to post, but sit there, looking at the screen, wondering the validity of what I want to post. Is it interesting? Worth posting? You know how it goes -- too many questions!

The same thing happens with any sort of creative venture -- you start wondering if those thoughts, colors, etc are worth putting down. You don't want to disappoint, right? Even when the very person you're trying to please is yourself....and you're the one with the ideas! So wouldn't that mean that you'd be pleased because they were your ideas?

Try to wrap your head around THAT?

*laughs*

More inner than outer work. And I've finally been bit by the 'zine bug. I've decided I'm not going to try and force myself to work on it because that really doesn't, well, WORK. I get bit by this bug and then all I want to do is write and layout and design and wheeeee! I was wondering if I really DID enjoy making the 'zine, since it's been a few months since the last issue went out since I wasn't all gung-ho to go and work on it. But now I know.

I think I've got to start sitting down....showing up to the table. One of the hindrances has been that my laptop battery's not working right now (got someone on it!) so my laptop's been in one stationary place and when I get upstairs, I always want to read or paint or play with the dogs. Arg! So it's now with me and I'm working on a few articles of my own to add to the few I've gotten through submissions.

For a bit, I was sad that not many people have been interested in adding to the 'zine. But I started the thing by myself, and I'm going to keep working on it that way. I've got TONS of ideas and pictures and books to recommend, so that's what I'm going to do. I have too much fun to let external forces influence my emotions over things.

I DO want to get some Moleskine artists in a future issue. I've some contacts and ideas of my own, but please, recommend people you'd like to see!

Here's how this next issue wants to be born. A bit different (or a LOT!), but I am only the messenger!

Check out the AMAZING artwork of the very talented Niki Kelce  (flickr).

 
Isn't her work just awe-inspiring? After drooling over her flickr page for awhile, I actually pulled out my old stores of gel pens and markers and tried my hand....I wasn't very successful! *laughs* This girl really does have talent and I adore all her work. Go check her out and say hi!

Back to surfing the web for amazing journal artists to invite into Page by Page. Let me know if you know of anyone or if you'd like me to come pay you a visit.

<3 Kira

Week #5: Word Soup (II)

Yes, this counts as the last week of January/ first of February.

Morning Pages & Productivity & 'zine Stuff

I wrote a huge post last night about the wonders of Morning Pages and my productivity, but I'm moving slower today and the energy just isn't there. That, and my laptop's decided NOT to warn me when it's about to die, and I lost the post.

Which was pretty much the story of my day.

After being encouraged by Morning Pages, I not only packaged late orders, but collated and BY HAND cut down several copies of the 'zine to put in back stock. There's a foot-high stack of envelopes on my shelf that represents EVERY ZINE ORDERED. Yes, you read that correctly. If you've ordered a 'zine from me, it's goin' out by Monday. That's it. I'm caught up. Amazing, isn't it? There have been several issues of orphaned (lost) copies, and I've gotten 2 returned thus far, so PLEASE, for the LOVE OF PETE, make sure your PAYPAL ADDRESS is CORRECT & CURRENT. Nothing's worse than getting your copy off to you only to find it sling-shot back. You have to thus wait longer, and I have to pay for shipping out of pocket (too bad I can't use the stamps twice!).

There are several changing regarding the 'zine and such coming up, so I've set up an announcement list link over there on the sidebar for those interested in getting the updates and such.

The Informative & Cool 'zine Announcement List

Woohoo! Etsy Shop Updates!

I also UPDATED MY ETSY SHOP. New collage packs and several original paintings and journal pages are up there. It's time for Kira Fund Raising. I worked a 1099 job this year, which means I actually have to PAY taxes instead of getting something back. Hours at the Day Job are slow. And I've found out some of the debt collectors are calling the references (which is one of the most embarrassing things EVER). My paychecks are going towards my medications (which average over $400 a month), which leaves little to keep the blog going, the 'zine publishing, and other artful expenses. I've already decided to not buy any new supplies this year, or any new purses (I'm a bag ADDICT), so if something in the shop tickles your fancy, PLEASE give it a loving home.

Kira's Awesome Beautiful Etsy Shop!

Word Soup (part deux):

Ingredients:

• Word Soup Page
• Pencil or Pen
• Crayons, Markers, Oil Pastels

Pull out your Word Soup page from last week. Look at it. Read over what you have written. I'm sure a little voice in your head is saying, "Well, why did you say that? Isn't (blank) true?" Using your pen or pencil, write in what that inner voice is saying.

Things aren't so nice, now, are they? Invite your inner child to voice their opinion. Use colorful crayons, etc, to doodle on the page (as inner children love to color and usually ignore negative things BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TRUE). Your critic, the ego, is trying to stay in control -- do you WANT someone like that spoiling your fun? Let the inner child color and play and talk to YOU.

Look at the page when finished. NOW, what does it SAY about you? This is a completed picture, since all sides of you are shown on the page. Sit back and think about what is says and how you can improve on things (if needed).

Do this exercise once a week, if possible. It's important for us to stay in touch with ALL the Beings inside, not just the one that's with you when you sit down to do art.

Click on the image to get to flickr to see the full size (so you can read it!).

The Great Zine Saga

This, I predict, is going to be a long one.

So, the week I unveiled the 'zine and put it available for order, I sent it to the printer. Upon getting my proof copy back, well, I had to revise it, yadda, yadda, and expected to have it out soon, as it goes.

Another copy came back with cover problems. Fixed that. Sent it out.

On the day I gave the final version off to the printer (around the 14th), I was told I'd only be able to get half the order printed because they were taking the week off for Thanksgiving. Well, imagine my surprise. I told 'em to get as many printed as possible since it had taken so long to get the proofs printed in the first place (that, yes, is something I should have done earlier...remember, I'm learning as I go) and I'd get them all finished and out that week.

Here's where things get MORE frustrating.

On that Saturday (about the 17th), I called around trying to find a place that could bulk cut the pages -- since the 'zine's tabloid sized, it's printed on 12" x 18" and cut down to the 11" x 17". Most places said they could only take paper up to 15" long.

Side note: I never, EVER expected to have this many people interested. When I started, I expected 15 people to read the 'zine as my first 'zine (not related to this one) only sold about 10 copies. I got around 50 for the first issue, which was awesome and exciting and manageable. With as many order as I got this time, I couldn't really do things the same way (entirely by hand, including the cutting), hence the calling around.

I work near Staples, the only place who said they could cut the paper, so I dropped in on Monday to pick my order up.

They said it wasn't done yet.

Befuddled as to what could take so long, I called again on Wednesday. Again, not finished.

Thursday was a holiday. Friday, I went in and asked what the hold up was. When I saw my order, the receipt said $144.

"Umm, I can't pay this!" I told them.

Apparently, when I asked, the guy thought I wanted each one cut by hand by THEM, which is why it was so expensive. I couldn't believe they'd think I came in there with over 1,000 sheets of paper to be cut by hand....no one asked me anything, really, and I even had a voice mail asking me what I needed, again.

Side Note #2: Printer's layouts have notches at the corners to use as guidelines to cut the page. I clearly explained this. This isn't brain surgury!

I had to take what they'd done -- the ends -- which was considerably less (thank GOD).

I worked Saturday.

Sunday, I pulled the papers out. Despite the massive amount of paper, I had to go back to how I'd done everything before -- completely by hand. When I looked at the covers, I swore -- they were cut crooked!! I'd PAID them to cut them and they weren't even right. At this point, I had several emails inquirering where the 'zine was and I HAVE to get it out, so, after a fit of crying, I started collating and folding and stapling and cutting. I even went out to get one of those guillotine-style paper cutters....it couldn't cut through all the pages! I tried a free-form cutter. No luck.

The good news is there's a growing stack of FINISHED copies on my table. And I'll start sending copies out tomorrow. My finger's all sore from the cutting...poor thing! And tomorrow's my day off this week from my other job, so I'll be finishing them all and getting everything packed up for shipment. They'll be tipped-in the mail Thursday.

A lot of the delay came from, yes, myself. And my naivety that I knew how things worked and how long things would take because I'd done it before. But once before wasn't enough, and I've REALLY learned my lesson.

All I can do is apologize for the delays. I do know I've shot myself in the foot here, and many won't be ordering another issue -- I have to live with that. And honestly, I wouldn't blame you. As a consumer myself, I'd be frustrated as heck. For those on the fence, I give you this:

I swear to GOD, to all of you, and to myself I WILL NOT put the 'zine up for order until I have 100 copies COMPLETED and sitting next to me READY TO SHIP.

I can't let my excitement get to me and jump the gun. And I can't let my real life get in the way of business.

I really love writing for and publishing this 'zine and hope to continue doing so for as long as you'll have me.

And, in order to keep my promise, I'll post a picture of the COMPLETED 'zines with the order information. Just to prove to you how much you all mean to me, how much this 'zine means to me, and, you know, so you can call bullshit if need be.

Love,
Kira

And here it is!

Well, here it is! After, well, weeks of work, I've FINALLY gotten to the point where we're trying to figure out how many copies to print -- that means Page by Page #2 is now available for order! *G*

Click here to go to the order page!

Phew! I have just a few more little formatting things to iron out and that project will be DONE. *sigh!* While I ADORE creating my 'zine, it can be quiet overwhelming! When I published the first issue, I thought I'd get MAYBE 10 pre-orders; imagine my surprise when I had 40 to package and send out! What's great this time around is that I've enough capital to have someone else fold, staple, and cut it (for the first, I cut every single one by hand with a ruler and x-acto knife!).

I already have the NEXT issue planned, at least parts of it in my head. Please help me flesh it out by submitting YOUR ideas and journal pages and articles!

I feel a bit less crazy with a few things finished; now I have free time, but oh! I got a new "day job" (I am a firm believer in day jobs for artists -- great inspiration, fodder, and time to work things out) at Barnes & Noble for the season; it's my second year working over the holidays, and yes, I'm crazy for doing so! But I love it. I'm part-time, which works for me -- I can work and then paint or whatever when I'm not working.

Oh! I developed a new -- what would you call it? Pattern? Method? -- for making journals. It's SO FUN. The cover's padded and I used flannel so it's all cozy and warm...makes me want to curl up with it! And -- I figured out how to make buttons with my shrink plastic! EEE! I'll be binding a few now that I know all the measurements and stuff just in time for holiday shopping. Buy handmade! *laughs* I know I'll be making all my gifts this holiday...when I'll find time, I have no idea!

PS. Don't worry -- I'll be making video for y'all this weekend!

So Many Projects, so Little Time!

I'm gearing up for the second 'zine distribution. It often involves many manila envelopes, lots of tea, family and friends, and colorful markers. That, and lack of sleep. It's a home-grown operation over here, from start to finish, and a fun time of year.

I've released Issue #2's table of contents over on the Page by Page site; it also has some info on pre-ordering the 'zine. I'm totally psyched -- this issue's going to be much longer and has some GREAT contributors. This week will be devoted to finalizing the layout and FINALLY emailing back all of you who submitted pages for the Gallery. Sorry! :< <- long face!

You might be wondering what this little design on the left is for; I've designed several covers for what I call mini-BookBooks. You might be familiar with the term if you've read any of Sally Jean; she uses a thick book of cardstock as a journal to generate ideas. I got the idea of making thinner ones to toss in your purse or back pocket for those on-the-go ideas. We all have those days when we're going somewhere we don't want to carry a purse/bag to...and then, something awesome turns up and you're writing on the back of a receipt with the cashier's pen (I know I have!). These little things are much like the Moleskine Cahiers in cover stock, then filled with 90lb cardstock to shelter all your ideas.

I can't wait to get them all assembled! Those, with the 'zine and a secret project, will have me busy busy these next few weeks! :)

Now Semi-Live! Kira tries podcasting

This month's Crusade at the GPP Blog is to share some tunes. Since all my music files were deleted when I re-installed my operating system, I decided to try my hand at podcasting instead. I hope this still counts! I've done internet radio, so this seemed like a fun little thing.

Mirror Window Cover

Included in this podcast:

Fax Art
Mirror Windows Tutorial
Page by Page shipping info, future issues, and submission details

Just a little fun! Enjoy! And tell me what you think!

Just a note: it recorded kind of low, so you'll have to turn the volume up.

Download MP3 [16mb]

9 Things I've Learned From Being a Zinester

There are several things creating and distributing a 'zine has taught me:

+ Never guess with shipping charges. You will ALWAYS be wrong and not in the "I charged too much," kind of way.

+ Don't scan images if you're going to manipulate the size. I did this for my personal 'zine, and maaaan are they pixelated. Photographing them at hi-rez allows more leeway with size and scale.

+ Everything will happen at the last minute.

+ You will find an error while packaging the last copy. Since you stayed up late the night before, you will no longer care.

+ There is no such thing as too many copies. Nor is there such thing as extra.

+ There is something to be said about each copy going to an individual; they can't get together and notice the mistakes.

+ Two x-acto knives is NOT better than one if the second is held by someone inexperienced.

+ Labels are overrated.

+ It can be the most frustrating, agonizing, pull-your-hair out wonderful awesome experience in your life. It's like tattoos; you can't get just one.

Last night, Page by Page came in as unbound 12"x17" sheets. I spent the evening, and into the wee hours, folding, stapling, and cutting -- yes CUTTING -- the 'zine until all 40 pre-orders were DONE. This, of course, was after a morning of spray painting the envelopes and writing the addresses by hand with markers. And this morning, I ran to the post office for stamps....and proceeded to stamp 'em all.

I am SO EXCITED to throw 'em into the mailbox and send them off to all of you! This 'zine has eaten my brain and creative time for the last month, what with revisions, printing delays, and my injury. But they are finished, sent, ready for all of you.

Now, time to get started on the next issue.

First, I am spending the weekend creating lesson plans for the journaling class/workshop I'm hoping *crosses fingers* to teach this fall in Crystal Lake. It's one of those things; I have to think of all the techniques I use to journal, but as I sit with my notebook open, I can't think of ONE. *sigh* Cori on my mailing list has given me a great resource, and I'm using a teacher's lesson plan as a framework. I'm psyched and scared at the same time -- excited to be teaching, but scared I'll get rejected. Then again, I can always go on my own!

Today's a rainy day. It means I can sit and create and not feel guilty for staying inside with my art supplies. Anyone else feel like that on those warm, perfect summer days? That you should be outside? *laughs* 

a few extra copies

Page by Page is going out Saturday, and I have 3 extra copies left (as I needed to print an even number). If you're interested, email me. First come, first serve.

The 'zine will be available at the regular price ($6) in two weeks until I run out.

:) Kira

Born from Necessity...and happy happenings!

I think there comes a time in every creative's life when they must go with the flow and acclimate or simply stop.

The first time I came to one of these forks in the road was back at the beginning of high school, when I was first diagnosed with FMS and had stomach problems so severe, I was popping prescription-strength anti-nausea pills three times a day (and always worried, being as I like to follow the rules, that they'd discover I was carrying prescription medication in my bag). Several changes had to take place in my life, and I could either make them and life around my problems, or refuse and stop living.

Perhaps my current injury isn't as bad as back then (as things came on as result of an injury; I sprained my entire leg and was in a immobilizer and walking with crutches for weeks), but I wasn't painting and collaging and such. I'm right handed and enjoy writing by hand, painting, cutting things out, those sorts of things. Constructing these blog entries takes awhile as I need to rest every so often.

A quick non sequitur to say thank you, oh so much, for all your kind well-wishes! I cherish all the positive energy! I went to see the doctor again; she's put me on another batch of steroids. She thinks there's an pinched nerve in my shoulder caused by inflammation, and if this new batch doesn't relieve the pain, I have to get an MRI and see an orthopedic surgeon. Yipes! MRI's are nothing -- I've had 'em before -- but I might have to get surgery and THAT'S scary. At least insurance is paying for it. And did you know they don't sell slings at Walgreen's anymore?

Ahem. Anyway, because of all this, I can't really paint with a brush. I've begun cutting things out (of my new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, cause I LOVE the beautiful dresses and flowers!) and have some double-sided tape so I don't have to brush on any sort of glue -- I've forgotten how much I LOVE double-sided tape. And some colored pencils.

And painting with my left hand! I drip acrylics on the page and smear them around with my left hand until they "dry." I'm LOVING this new discovery, this new method -- I love how it looks and the messy backgrounds I can create over collaged pages or just atop my tinted gesso pages. I mix a little of color with gesso and spread it all over my pages....it makes it easy to work on and takes away that White Page Fright.

Yesterday, I was looking through the cards in my mom's copy of The Art Box and came upon Frida Kahlo's. Her painting spoke to me; I first became interested in Frida's work after reading the card on her in Randi's "Wide Open." I was intrigued by the art she did based on Frida's and always wanted to seek out more.

The card mentioned at the bottom that Frida suffered from spinal problems later in life and was bedridden. But she continued to paint despite extreme pain. I stopped and reflected, inspired. Frida's didn't let pain stop her, so why was I? Yes, my mother had been hounding me to take it easy, but weren't there other ways I could use to create? Wasn't a little shoulder burning okay as long as I paced myself?

I hope to explore more themes around Frida and her art, as well as my new methods born from necessity.

And now for some exciting news!

Look! That's me, after getting out of the pool, holding up the master copy of Page by Page! It's SO AMAZING to hold it in my hands after the last month! I learned InDesign by fire; I had to teach myself as I created the spreads and can't BELIEVE I did it! I am so proud of this publication, I'm giddy! Here are some sample spreads.

There are still 3 pre-order slots left over at my etsy shop.

Remember when I talked about  creating Inspiration Packs?  Page by Page started as a little hand-out to go with the packs of collage materials and kinda grew...but I wasn't going to abandon the Inspiration Packs! Here's a photo of the Large Size's contents:

There's fabric, papers, graffiti paper, transparent vellum, ephemera, foreign papers, punchella, random bits, doodle labels, and more! It all comes in a pretty, spray-painted plastic envelope. I currently have 4 available for $14 plus shipping. Let me know if you're interested!

And now, I'm off to read my copy of Artful Blogging, pet my own 'zine, and watch me some "Monk" and "Psych."

Have a fantastic, creative weekend!!!

<3 Kira

New, new, new! I like NEW DISCOVERIES!

Oh! Have you ever been working on so much, your brain just boils over? AIEEE! I received an email today from someone who requested a file from me WEEKS ago wondering where I went -- I have been so overrun by projects and such, I completely forgot! And here I thought my email filtering system was good enough to keep stuff like that from happening!

*waves* to all my new visitors! Feel free to look around and pester me with all sorts of questions -- I'm now checking my email & flickr comments more carefully and promise to not miss much! *laughs*

A bit of business. Tomorrow is the LAST DAY FOR PRE-ORDERS. The 'zine's off to the printer next week, and honestly, I don't know how I'll ever decorate this many envelopes for all the pre-orders -- I suspect a weekend spent outside on a drop cloth with spay paint and my new stencils. ;) I cannot WAIT to get all of them pretty and stamped and ready to go!

And yes, the 'zine is accepting submissions for our fall issue. If you've anything art-journal related, email me!

Uggg! I went to get my x-rays done (yes, still with this shoulder/neck thing from LAST MONTH), and THIS time, they wanted me to wait because my registration from Monday expired. It wasn't my fault they wouldn't let me get them then! They wanted me to wait 40 MINUTES!! ARG! I'm SO going in before work tomorrow to GET THEM DONE because I WANT this shoulder to get better because I can't paint for long! *laughs* Of course, I could use this as a time to experiment with doing art with my non-dominant hand. You know, I was ambidextrous when I was little?

Look what my dad found in the print shop today!

Isn't it COOL? They're lead letters from an old press (his print shop is closing). There are at LEAST three fonts in there -- I found an & that is TOTALLY FUN! He found some rubber-based ink, too, and this weekend, I am having tons of fun stamping them. I was also thinking about drilling through the lead and making charms out of them. Wouldn't they be CUTE? Now I just need to get my own press. OMG I would DIE if I got a letterpress. That stuff is AWESOME.

Nancy's cracker-box tutorial yesterday reminded me that I've ALWAYS wanted to bind a journal that way, so I got out some book board and FANTASTIC paper I found -- OMG, let me tell you! It's 90lb. card stock that's SMOOTH and everything writes on it perfectly and my Sharpies -- I cannot LIVE without my Sharpies! -- DON'T LEAK THROUGH THE PAPER! Do you know how RARE that is?!

So, I totally had to make my own. I covered the board with wallpaper and then played with some stencils I got at Michael's this afternoon. Half my colors are missing, though, and my purple wouldn't work! I really have to get NEW paint because some of mine have been out there for YEARS. I really want to get rose and a pretty green....I figured out how to make two-colored stuff...it is SO fun! *G* I need to get an apron, though, because last time I got spray paint on me, it didn't wash off for a WEEK!

Here is the journal I made! I added pretty reddish end papers to it. I don't like how far apart the signatures are, but it seems like the journal will grow into it's cover.

Here's a tip for working with bookboard: you ALWAYS want to cut WITH the grain. How do you figure that out? Try "bending" it. Whichever way bends easier, that's what you want to cut AGAINST. If you've made a journal and the covers bow out all funny, that's why -- keep this in mind. It was news to me when I first learned bookbinding.

I totally had to SPILL yesterday. My brain's FRIED from all the tiny details I've had to go back and fix -- Dawn, how do you design books without going insane?! -- so I took a break and just went all CRAZY on the page. My desk ALWAYS suffers after this, though, because I can't SPILL without making a MESS. Then again, I LOVE that kind of CHAOS! I want to keep my work area messy for a bit longer so I can SPILL in my new journal with it's pretty paper.

This week, I got an idea to make my OWN PLANNER. Like, design the pages and get it bound and such. I am TOO CRAZY sometimes -- just when things are slightly slowing, I think up something new!

And next week, I have an interview to be an assistant producer for an educational series. WHEE! I'm SO STOKED! Wish me luck!

*waves* Love you ALL!

<3 Kira

miniature disasters & minor catastrophies

Wow. What a weekend! 

My laptop didn't want to load the drivers for my printer, something I needed to work as I'm doing final layout edits for the Page by Page 'zine, so I decided to go ahead and re-install Mac OSX (yes, I am a hard-core Mac girl!). Well, let's just say it didn't go smoothly, the back-ups or the installation, and I was out of a computer from Friday until this morning.

Okay, fine. I can just work on art, right?

Nope. My shoulder injury from the car accident a few weeks ago has gotten bad enough that painting for more than five minutes is very painful, so I got wild colors and a few layers of gesso down in an hour period before grumbling in frustration and trading my brush for a pen to doodle with.

But all is well, now! With little to do yesterday, I cleaned my room and re-did my art area. It's now all organized and no longer strewn about my floor in a haphazard, oh-my-god-i'm-going-to-die way. I figured, as I'm out of gel medium, that I'd use beeswax, and didn't think having one square foot of my desk free to work with hot wax was a good idea.

While cleaning, I found a beautiful wood frame just begging to have some pretty art in it, so I took an hour last night and made a simple collage on a 4x6 index card.

This smaller format was easier to work on as it didn't take many strokes to cover the entire card. I

managed to not only paint one background, but two -- I disliked where the piece was going about halfway through and so coated the entire thing in a light turquoise. Thanks to Nancy, I have discovered and purchased punchella, something I'd never heard of before but am loving for the fun pattern you can make. Ooo...I should combine it with bubble wrap and go polka-dot crazy!

Ahem. Anyway. I also got some joss paper, something I've wanted forever but never could justify the cost. I knew I wanted to use both of my pretty new supplies in the collage, as well as some dollar ribbon I grabbed at Michael's earlier in the day. There's actually two layers of ribbon on there, as I started with one and then saw it didn't really fit.

This girl sits on my desk and guards my dreams. The joss paper, traditionally used at Buddhist funerals, symbolizes that she's not a living entity -- that I can't rely on those around me to cheer me on at all times and guard my dreams. She's part of me, that part that says screw it all and go for it. As a child, she's free from the judgmental voices in my head. She reminds me of what I'm working towards and gives me the confidence to do so.

I do hope you all have a great day. I, unfortunately, have gotten the flu in the summer, and am snuggled in a nice comfy chair watching crappy daytime TV. It's a good combination  for doodling in my journal. ;)

If you haven't pre-ordered Page by Page, go do so! I'll be closing the pre-orders on Friday. After that, you'll have to pay the full $6 for a copy. And oh yeah....I found out I can do more of it in color. :)

<3 kira

new projects and a 'zine announcement!

Yes, I'm still alive! *laughs* The injuries from the car accident a few weeks ago have been making me sick and achey (is that even a word?!), so I haven't had much time for art. But I HAVE been working on a few projects that I hope to have finished this week!

• Collage sheets! From those wonderful pages I discovered a few weeks ago. So far, I've got all the original images cropped and will be printing & assembling them today/tomorrow (depending on when I can get them printed on a nice laser printer). They'll be $1.50 each, and are full of great images!

• Inspiration Packs! Packs of paper, embellishments, and all kinds of fun stuff for use in your journals/artwork. I love putting these together for swaps and thought, "Why not put MORE together!" *G* There will be small and large ones, and I think they'll stay under $15 each. And every one will be different!

Lastly, a new 'zine!

My original idea was to include a small booklet with the Inspiration Packs...and, well, it's kind of GROWN! I thought it would be about 10 pages, but I'm at 20 right now, without final formatting. Here's the table of contents:

+ Introduction
+ Method to my Madness (Art Journaling 101, cleaned up a bit)
+ Anatomy of a Page (brand new and more detailed)
+ Words as Art: Adding Journaling to Beautiful Pages
+ Journaling Prompts: Jump-Starts for Inspiration
+ My Paint Pallet: Developing a Personal Color Language

Like I said, it's approx. 20 pages in full color, bound by hand with a little bit of embellishment. ;) And if you pre-order, you'll receive a free gift!

The cost will be $6, but if you pre-order, you'll get it for $4.50. I do accept PayPal. You can order it on the Publications page.  

If you have any questions, please email me at kiraboshi[at]gmail.com.