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I was recently asked over on my Tumblr if I could upload some journal pages. So, I grabbed my camera this afternoon and snapped some pics. Some are in-progress, some are finished...I'm really exploring what can be put into a journal, and trying new things. A lot of these were done in the past few days...I'm really flying!
I also have blue paint on my leg. Yeah, I don't know how that happened, either.
I've also written a tiny bit about each. Check 'em out on Flickr!
Phew! Working on the netbook is the most frustrating thing of my day thus far. It takes FOREVER for things to load...it took 15 minutes to start up properly! But until my tech support arrives, I'm without my lovely, pretty desktop. *pets silent machine* I did take over one of my monitors so I can at least post; the tiny screen may be great for writing and surfing the net on the go, but the entry box for Squarespace on it is MAYBE three lines long...*sigh*
So, some quick updates and eye-candy are in order!
First! I made a little vid with the netbook. I don't have my editing software on here, but wanted to play with a camera angle so....here you go!
(I actually posted it on Saturday...after waiting an hour and a half for it to save!)
Second!
I've put two original paintings up on Etsy. I've been prompted, seperatly, by two friends to do this, so I'm closing my eyes and putting it out there and am forgetting about it. I'm trying to value myself and my artwork more and this is one way of doing that.
(roadblocks & strengths on Etsy)
(when our hearts are full on Etsy)
Third! I've been using my Tumblr as a photoblog, since it's super easy to snap and post from my cell phone (whereas Squarespace doesn't have an Android app yet!). I try to post once a day, something I'm working on or the view of my desk...stuff like that!
Here's the address again: Journal Girl Loves...
I'm kinda taking this time without the constant hum of my desktop running in the background to stay off the internet and really create. I grabbed a good book from the used bookstore, have my sliding door open, and just got a box of goodies -- a nice, big order from the Shoppe at Stampington. So this girl will be off creating and playing and relaxing. I call this Creative Rejuvination and often come back from such breaks with tons of new ideas and stuff to share with you!
I'll be back tomorrow with snapshots! For today, enjoy some yummy trims. Mmmm!
PS. If you need something from me, please send an email! I don't have my pretty organized mail program right now, so I will admit I'm behind on things! Don't feel like you're being a pest -- I appreciate the help so I can help you!
"when our hearts are full"
12"x10" mixed-media on canvas
My latest painting, three weeks in the making. I've already bought more canvases to keep going. This was a hard one to share, as I always want to live up to the compliments I've been given on past work. O.o
I just adore her. I gave her pink hair, which seems to be a trend of some kind with my work as of late.
What I can't believe is that I doodled this one while watching TV the other night! Who would have thought I'd be able to play around with a pencil in my journal and draw things that actually please me?
Not me!
So keep working, darlings! Six years ago, I was a college student majoring in TV production. And now, I'm living the artful life! It just takes determination, love, joy, and a spirit of adventure. You can do it! Promise!
And now, I'm going to take my own advice and get off the computer and get creating!
A BUNCH of new stuff I'm experimenting with!
1. Puffy Paint. I was wandering through Wal-Mart the other day, and saw the little bottles of puffy paint. I thought, "Why not play with these?" as they're only $1 each. Grabbed a black and white and have been doodling around things with 'em since. Near everything I've touched since then has gotten the puffy paint treatment.
2. Gems and Rhinestones. I finished reading the Crafty Chica's first book, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter last week, and had a sudden hankering to grab some gems and glue 'em down. What fun they are!
3. GLITTER. See above. Also, there's this invention called a Glue Pen; holy CRAP do I love this thing! I have the Martha Stewart ballpoint one, and daaaamnn. I'm gathering coupons to get the other tips at Michael's later this week!
4. Fiber Paste. I think I've posted about this before, but I decided to try it out on paper. It's SO COOL. Feels like (and acts like) rough watercolor paper.
What new things have you tried? Once you throw the "rules" out the window, there really are amazing new discoveries out there for your favorite craft products.
I've gotten requests to share my newest journal-binding creating, the soft, fabric-covered yet amazingly sturdy button journals I began creating last October.
So, in-between projects & deadlines, I created this little mini-workshop to walk you through the process. Hey -- instead of me typing all this, why don't you take a look?
I really, really am in love with these journals. I've made two already and just can't get over how much I love 'em! It's rare that I use the same kind of journal twice...maybe I've found my Journal Match Made in Heaven?
Head on over to the Shoppe to grab your log-in. You'll get an email 24-48 after signing up (I don't "work" on the weekends, so if you sign up then, you'll get your log-in on Monday).
And this is my first little class of the year -- and I'm rolling out a new feature: DVDs
Yep! You can sign up, get access to the web classroom, AND get a DVD and printed workbook sent to your house. How awesome is THAT?
Anyway, I'm gonna stop blabbing and leave you with pretty pictures!
(ps. workshop ticket holders will get an email today about snail mail addresses!)
I had a post all lined up to publish yesterday, but when I was out with my friend at Starbucks, I was distracted by writing, and ended up not posting. Side Note: I really wonder what people think when they overhear us; our conversations are all fannish, and usually about the weird stuff we find online. Ah, well! I'll save that post for Monday because I've decided today is Watercolor Play Day.
This proclamation came to me quite suddenly, ie, Kass posted about her watercolors and let me know via Twitter, then encouraged me to get going. And then some other people started talking about watercolors, and I was like, "What the heck? Why not play!"
You see, on my birthday, I decided to go for it and buy myself something I've wanted for awhile but could never justify the cost of -- a compact set of Windsor & Newton watercolors.
The ones I have are for kids, and when you rub your hand over them, they're all chalky and uggg...and I wanted some nice ones to give me great colors, plus be portable enough to throw in my purse and accompany me to a cafe or restaurant (you mean you don't whip out your journal at the table? Some people call it anti-social -- I call it inspiration!).
Anyway, I had a coupon, so the set is mine. I spent that night trying to get a feel for them. I'm so used to acrylics -- fluids, more specifically -- so this is a new experience for me. I just think watercolors look beautiful, and really want to keep going and maybe go a bit bigger. Luckily, the paper I use in my journals has a great tooth that accepts the watercolors nicely, so we're gonna go collage and play.
Also, have a painting to finish. And more ink to spray. I love the weekends! Despite working on creative projects all week, the weekend's when I can simply play without any guidelines or deadlines getting in the way.
I spent the day giving my art journal some much-needed attention.
This is the girl I sketched last week, filled in with paint, glittery ink, and paper.
Pulled out some paper to collage, which I haven't done in even longer!
Also? Applying gesso with a palette knife? Fantastic!
This week's painting, in-progress.
Naturally, I had to knife some gesso in my journal as well!
And here's a beautiful reason to not clean off your stencils after each use. ;)
Just call me a junkie.
Lately, it's all I can do to turn my brain off to finally get some sleep. There are all these ideas swirling around up there, stories meshed with things to make and experiments to try out and my fingers are just itching to get started, to make one, to see if the idea works or doesn't.
With my lovely cushy journal all finished and away, I needed something new. And so I stuck with what I know, what works, and made myself something that can try to contain everything in my head. I imagine it will soon look like a paint aisle threw up on a lab notebook, because with everything I want to do, am seeing myself do, well...let's just say I wasn't up at 2am reading -- I was trying to fix a flaw in a Wordpress install because, yes, half these ideas are being created just to share.
