{a little weekend adventure & miss scarlet's school of patternless sewing}

Hello, darlings!

I know I’ve been away for a bit, but I’m back! Last week, I had a horrible flare-up of my fibromyalgia, to the point I could barely get out of bed! I spent the time watching my favorite TV shows on DVD (Chuck &, you guessed it, Fringe!) and reading in bed, which was pretty nice! It’d been a long time since I allowed myself to just be…and the relaxation therapy worked, because I felt better a few days later. And then this week, I was down with a stomach bug for 2 days! Phew!

Sundays are my favorite days of the week, because I spend the time in my favorite coffee shop with my dear friend Judi. She clips coupons and I play in my journal or write stories, and we always end up wandering around the East Valley on our “grand adventures” that usually begin with me going, “Let’s go to Mesa,” and then we just see what we find!

One Sunday, we found an amazing vintage thrift shop that is just perfect! They’re still working on it, but the place is magical! (It’s called The Good Store Thrift, if you’re in the area, right on Main Street) I just adored the shop, and kept talking about my paintings…and something tells me I should bring in some photos, just in case. Who knows what could happen!

I love being impulsive and unpredictable on my Sundays. An idea will come to me and I’ll just go for it – and that’s what happened last Sunday. A bit of back-story: I live very close to a magnificent used/new bookshop called Changing Hands. After being in my apartment for days with my flare-up, I decided to head over there and wander around; they have amazing books and also a great gift area – it’s the kind of shop where you can find Kelly Rae Roberts, Donna Downey, and Papaya! gifts, as well as all sorts of fun things that come with an indie bookshop.

When I walked in, there was a fun, crafty display for Kathy Cano-Murillo’s book signing the next day. What fantastic news! I’d always meant to grab her first book, but the desire got lost somewhere, so I decided I’d go the next day to her signing and grab a book. How fun, right?

So, last Sunday, I told my friend we’d be stopping by there for the signing.

Let me say this: Kathy is adorable. Adorable! She’s so animated and full of life and just sparkles. I first met her last summer at CHA where she was running a make-and-take with her wonderful craft line – and I learned the merits and joy of glitter! She just has this energy about her that made me have to grab her new book, Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing.

I finished reading it last night.

Oh my goodness, darlings, you need to read this novel!

First off, the women are smart – Miss Scarlet has two science degrees. Mary Theresa works in computer programming. I mean, when do we get to, as women, read novels with smart girls in them? Just because we love to craft does not mean we don’t have minds that can grasp complex ideas – have you ever tried to engineer a journal or skirt from scratch? I’d like to see some of those nay-sayers do that!

Second, there’s a whole lot of heart. I wish these women really existed so I could run to Glendale and sew with them. The characters are fleshed-out, brilliant, funny, and true. I love the positive attitudes and the organic progressions of all of them as the story goes on – there’s nothing forced, and the blossoming of each woman is magical!

The story is one that we, as artists and crafters, know so well: Miss Scarlet loves to sew – feels it in her blood – and decides to go for it. She creates items for an Etsy shop while working two jobs in fashion to pay the bills. She loves her family but feels they don’t support her dreams. She’ll do anything to get to that next step, to “make it.” But the moral of the story is this: don’t forget who you are in the process.

Which is a very important idea to remember. Miss Scarlet has ups and downs throughout the novel that I can defiantly relate to. My own parents were exactly thrilled when I left my “normal” job to pursue art full-time, and I’ll occasionally get The Talk from them about sustainability and stability. But when you feel something in your soul, you have to go for it, and I’ve learned that it all comes from a place of love.

And here’s the kicker, the ultimate sign of a good book: the end made me cry. Not sad tears, but OMG this book was wonderful and I actually feel real character resolution. Which is why I felt compelled to get up and write this blog post – because I think everyone who does an art or craft or anything because it makes their soul sing, should read this book! You’ll be inspired to not only go for it, but do it in style!

{in the studio...}

Just some shots of projects I'm working on around the studio while I recover from a FMS flare-up. :D 

{getting lost in translation}

I had this whole post lined up for today, glamor shots of various projects on my desk at the moment, each swirling with color and intent. They’re not the for-fun pages I’ve created for the past five years, those explorations in the studio that lead me to where I am now; instead, each is being created for a specific purpose, a plan in place up in the air somewhere that I’m clinging to like a child tethered to a kite in a thunderstorm.

And saying all this, I’ve been in incredibly high spirits lately.

But yes, intent. I feel as though I have something to say. Instead of letting emotion spill onto the page and hoping others can pick it up, I have thoughts and words and meanings and lessons I want to convey, except now I’m having some sort of speech problem, much like when I try, after being out of college for five years, to construct a sentence in Japanese.

すみませんわたしはまいご…

Befitting, as I received a letter today that says, on a collage:

Dear Samie,

Your art is awesome and so are you!

Love, Erica

A beautiful piece of art, with a letter attached, and I had tears in my eyes as I read it. Who would have thought I’d ever receive anything like this 5 years ago when I began teaching myself to draw?

I want to tell stories. I always have. Ever since I was ten years old and wrote the saga of a girl on the Oregon Trail for class, I’ve been addicted to telling stories. Those of you who follow me on Twitter know that I have a perchance for little fan stories (and if not, there’s nothing to see here, move along *innocent whistle*). And lately, each painting I work on tells me a story about myself, and seems to be transforming me, a bit at a time, into something new.

Shiny, but worn on the edges.

A couple weeks ago, I was lamenting about how I didn’t have much money. Which is true, and a naturally reoccurring pity-fest in my life, except this time, I realized what the problem was.

Me.

I’d become my own roadblock. I couldn’t blame the world or the internet or anything but myself. I’d been doing things without really producing anything, creating without making a single thing. And my stories were getting angry, being all bottled up inside, words craving to get out. So I began writing. I’d write in the morning or late at night. I wrote, a few days ago, well past midnight, having shot up out of bed with words floating across my sight.

And these pages. These paintings and journal pages, they’re beginning to take on the same effect. I’ll work late at night or early or instead of watching favorite shows on TV (which is almost unheard of). They’re telling me stories and I have no control over what the endings are. They simply are.

This one, though, has me befuddled. I feel not disappointed in it, but that, after what’s been said about the two before it, that I’m the disappointing one. Except I see this story in there, this beauty no one may ever see because they weren’t there. And I wish my grammar was better or something, because now I have another canvas, another journal and bits of me, and I’m getting lost in translation.

Or am I?

Wild, random thoughts can be dangerous. I think the perfect remedy for this is to go create more pages for my new class and hope I can string words together better on the page. Because I have all this love and desire to share and help others unlock, and if I can’t, if I’m not saying it right, well, wouldn’t that just suck?

I'm not down, just reflective. Sitting on the edge of a hill, not knowing what's past the next one, just that it's gonna rock.

{watercolor play day!}

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.

{a little wish can certainly come true!}

\

There are six magazines on a special shelf in my bookcase.

There isn’t anything special about them -- they aren’t collector’s editions or in perfect shape or boast the signature of someone famous -- but they’ve been carted across the country, kept in various shelves or boxes, and are always clutched, when taken from the shelf, close to my chest.

These are the six, including the one I received in the mail today, that I have been published in.

Allow me a moment to let that sentence sink in.

That I have been published in.

As far back as 2007, I wanted to share what I was discovering with the world, to spread all those wonderful things I was doing in hopes of inspiring others. I’ve been pretty fearless with my artistic explorations -- this may be the result of never have learning the rules past elementary school art classes. The only teacher I had was myself -- this is back in 2005, before all the YouTube videos and amazing books we have now. There wasn’t much out there, and I wanted to change that.

I published a few issues of a ‘zine called Page by Page. It was then that I had this particular dream:

You see, the tag-line for the Melange section in Somerset Studio is ‘A lively romp through journals, zines, and art adventures. And when I held issues of my self-published little magazine, I thought,

I’d love to be on the pages of this!

And since then, I’ve had an artist’s profile in Art Journaling, journal bags, essays, paintings, journal pages -- all these amazing, wonderful opportunities -- including a lovely interview -- me, interviewed! -- in the current issue of Artful Blogging with my amazing, talented friend Roben-Marie (who I met when I interviewed her for the last issue of my little ‘zine!).

When I opened my mailbox and saw my contributor’s copy of Somerset Studio, with my article in the Melange section, my heart just soared. Sometimes, the route to your dreams takes the most serpentine path, and even after all I’ve accomplished -- all that is on my plate, all the projects and wonderful things that are happening around me this year, right now! -- I remember me, all those years ago, wishing to see my artwork on these pages. And not only that, but my work was chosen to be an artist’s paper. Imagine my glee!

So let me give you a little advice:

Do it.

I was afraid. I had Dawn and Roben-Marie tag-teaming me a year and a half ago to send my journals in to Art Journaling. They told me to just do it -- send them in and see what happens. What did I have to lose? And so, with my eyes closed and fingers crossed, I packed my journals into a box and sent them off.

At the beginning of the year, I submitted work to a new editor. I was scared! And almost didn’t do it. But then I remembered I had nothing to lose. I wouldn’t gain anything unless I tried. How do we grow unless we take that next step? I don’t mean just for getting published -- and let me tell you, it doesn’t magically make you feel validated or silence your inner critic forever or get you thousands of followers -- I mean for ANYTHING on this little art ride we’re all on.

So stop thinking about doing it and do it. I will tell you: I have worked with many editors and they are all sweet, amazing, passionate people who want to help you get your art out into the world. You have NOTHING to be embarrassed about. Don’t think your art isn’t good enough or that you’ll be laughed at -- these women are such kind spirits, they’ll hold your hand and help you through.

And then, one day, you’ll open your favorite magazine and your little wish will be true...in full color.

{sunday in the studio}

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. ;)

{[video] four awesome things to do with collage pauge}

This week's video is all about fun techniques I discovered you can do with Collage Pauge. If you've been a regular here, you know how much I love this stuff; I decided that it would be fun to share all I've discovered through experimentation with it!

Sorry about some of the shots, btw. I was experimenting with 2 cameras and failed to see the correlation between a shot over my right shoulder + being right handed. But, like with journaling & painting, experimentation is how you learn, grow, and improve.

And since I've spent so much time online this week, I'm signing off to finish cleaning and work on my painting for this week. It's windy and rainy here in Phoenix today, so what's better than curling up with tea in your pajamas and painting?

ETA: I forgot -- I took a screenshot of me working last night, just to give you an idea of how I did this. And how crazy I am...

{sometimes, working without a plan is the best plan!}

'in prayer' 24"x18" mixed-media on board

This one took me 2 1/2 weeks to finish, but here she is!

For me, this was a new experience. I'm used to going about things a certain way, of crafting my layers intuitively but having an overall idea in mind. With this, that seemed to float out the window while I was working, and at one point, I had to sit back and let her settle for a bit before getting back to her.

She started at a very different place -- one of dejection and sorrow -- and blossomed into a woman in prayer as the world takes shape around her. The leaves on the left were doodled one night with Copic markers, and the papers in the flowers were made while out creating last week.

I think, with this one, I was exploring color and brushstrokes just as much as I was cheering myself up. I love how paint looks when spread with a small brush, and it was something I hadn't done in awhile. And while I painted, I began to feel better and better about things. In fact, the words I originally wrote with paint are all covered up. Amazing how something like a painting can transform you.

Of course, to stay on track with my 1 painting a week goal, I won't be able to pull off my now-loved larger paintings; my canvas for this week is 9"x12", and I'm excited to get started because I have NO idea what to paint! But I'm back in the swing of things -- working in my journal, getting samples and projects finished, doing design work for others -- and am happy letting things develop as they will. Wu wei, remember?

My other accomplishment today was FINALLY setting up an online classroom site for myself. I didn't want to pay for Ning, so I went through a very frustrating 2 days of trying to get software to work, and at the last minute, found something that's easy to use and perfect for what I'm doing. Easy-peasy is my motto!

With the WISH Journal Workshop now being about a year old, I have reduced the price to $10. Yep! Get full access to all the materials and make your own pretty journal for just $10.

I've also ported over my workshop from 21 Secrets. It's all about getting started journaling on loose canvas, and if you missed 21 Secrets, you can now get this little workshop for just $10, too! 

This is all groundwork for my next art journaling workshop (coming out in March) as well as this little idea I have about starting a kit club of my own. I'm working out the details, but it'll be a mix of digital & mailed items, videos, resources, and fun bits. I think that'd be awesome, don't you? Who doesn't like getting a little extra. And on the theme we're seeing here, it'll be something like $10-$15 a project, and you can sign up for any month whenever you want.

(If you have a Workshop Ticket, you'll be getting log-in information either tonight or tomorrow, for the new site!)

I figure, I have all these ideas in my head, I should start taking them seriously and sharing them with the world!

Tomorrow, I'm totally filming a video, by the way, all about my love affair with Collage Pauge. I was playing around yesterday and actually made a cool effect with it -- after a year of using it, I'm still figuring out new things it can do!

♥, samie kira