gelli prints & self care

I filmed this on Monday, my first day back in the studio in nearly 21 days. 

While the cause of this migraine is still a bit of a mystery, I've been slowly getting better over the past few days. I'm not back to full strength yet -- four hours of art and I'm dead on my feet, errands exhaust me, and it's taken me all day to answer a few emails and post -- but I'm slowly getting there, one day at a time. And like always, my fibromyalgia has complicated matters a bit. But it's okay. I'll get through. 

Which brings to me to what I said about self-care in the video. I truly think there's a point when our self-care can stop us from progressing forward; the belief that we're not well enough keeping us from living our life. There was a point, last week, when I had to be rushed to the doctor, that I got depressed. Majorly depressed. Prayers turned angry as I felt I was being punished and ignored, I stayed in bed all day in the dark…I felt like I would never feel better, never get back to life, and seriously wondered if there was serious damage being done to my brain. 

And yes, you can wallow there for awhile. You can let yourself just be, and stop thinking about answering emails or keeping up social engagements or even eat healthy. Crawl under the covers. But at some point, you need to get pissed. 

Yep. Pissed. Angry. You aren't going to let this, whatever it is, keep you from living life and finding joy and spreading whatever inspiration & love you can. And honestly, ever since I started forcing myself to work through things, I've felt better. More positive. Happier. 

I've been working on my Gelli Print Junk Journal e-course. I haven't been able to advertise, or share the work, or do a promo, or all of the myriad of things you need to do to run a successful class online these days. I'm trying not to get discouraged by the lack of sign ups or messages asking for assistance (which I understand, but wish someone would acknowledge that my work is worth what I'm charging!). Art Journal Summer Camp was a wild success with over 60 students, and I'd love to get there with the new class. I'm sharing SO MUCH. Spending hours and hours developing, making samples, writing lesson plans, and even found a new binding style that you don't know but that will highlight the prints wonderfully. 

This artist's life isn't glamorous or easy -- it can be stressful a lot of the time when you're depending on others to help you pay the rent! -- but it saves my life in a new way every day, and that's worth more than anything else in this world (except good gluten-free pizza…maybe). 

Now, I have a lot of work to do, and not too much energy left, so I'd better get to it! 

dreams come true (& unicorn magic)

Tonight, I walked to the bookstore and browsed, then crossed the street and sat outside Starbucks to drink in the cooler fall weather and write in my art journal. 

After nearly two weeks in a fog, it's finally cleared. 

(I had a low-level migraine for awhile, that climaxed in a Major Brain Busting event over the weekend. It seems to have been caused by gluten filler in my new sleeping medication; since stopping it, I have felt much better!)

Just before all this started, I took a giant leap. In fact, I remember the conversation clearly, all the excitement and joy I was feeling, and then getting in the car thinking what did I just do? How are you going to pay for that? Where will you put your supplies? What if you're inspired at 2am? That wall of reality rising above me…

Except I no longer believe this is reality crashing down. I truly feel it was my Inner Critic raising all the reasons I shouldn't do what I was about to. 

Which was to get shared studio space with one of the most creative, sci-fi-lovin', rocking' business women I've had the honor of meeting. 

You may be going Samie, what are you saying? You've wanted a studio outside the apartment for years!

It doesn't matter if it's a studio or ordering prints or sending in a class proposal -- whenever we reach for our creative dreams, the reality suddenly frightens us when it comes true. We wish for so long, we almost don't believe it will ever come true, and when it does, we're all too good at making us doubt ourselves! Suddenly, there are a hundred reasons why we shouldn't do this or that, why this was never a great idea in the first place, or that we just aren't ready yet. 

Which is such crap. We should. It is. We are. 

Let me share with you the first two pieces I started working on in there on Thursday evening. I was all by myself and ended up dancing around to Turkish music, singing to my Sara Bareilles CD, & slinging paint. 

It felt wonderful. 

I'll be uploading a new video on Tuesday, btw...it had to take a break while my head was pounding! But I'll be recording a journaling vid very soon, too!

Don't forget to join me for this month's gelli print e-class! I'm even learning a new journal-binding style for this one! I'll be sharing behind the scenes pics starting Monday on my Instagram account, so don't miss out! And there is a coupon available if you need help paying. ;)

A place for play and soul*connection...

I created this art journal spread by the light of the TV last night. Not wanting to turn any more on because of the spiky migraine I've had since Friday.

But I was able to sit on the floor and spread around paint. It was interesting to look at it in the light of day and see the full brilliance of the colors.

And it expresses an idea I've had for awhile...that our art journals aren't the place for precious things. Anything drawn or painted or glued shouldn't be so loved that you are fearful to cover them up and allow the pages to be transformed further. We dive into our journals to explore, to play, to get in touch with out soul*selves.

In fact, the page on the right had a pencil drawing of a girl I really liked, but it had kept me from doing anything further. Maybe working in the low light helped me to get past that and play.

I'll be sketching tonight, and playing more with my handwriting. In the past month, I've been drafted to do two separate projects with my handwriting alone, and it's an avenue I haven't really explored until friends gave me the sweetest compliments & encouragement.

Washi Tape Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered! You all had fabulous ideas for playing with washi tape (and I hope to reply to you all this weekend!). If you need ideas, browse the comments for some awesome ones!  

Art Supply Haul (video)

I managed to get out to our former-Utrecht-now-Blick's grand re-opening and score some killer deals!  

I thought I'd film a little haul video for you guys since I haven't been able to film a regular video this week. Let me know which new supply you'd like me to play with first for next week!  

Join me this October for a Gelli Printing and Journal-Making adventure! Click here for more details! 

Q&A about Gelli Print Junk Journal!

I've received a number of questions about my newest offering, so I thought I'd write everything up for you!  

I wasn't going to open up sign-ups -- or post the full info page -- until October 1st, but everyone seems excited and ready to jump in...well, why not?  

Q: Is this an online class or in-person?  

A: Both!  

I know this was a bit confusing...This is an online class . But! If you live near Mesa, Arizona, you can take it as a series of 2-hour classes at Artspiration Studio starting in November. I didn't want to leave all my lovely online readers out of the fun!

Q: When will this class start? How long will it be?  

A: Class will run from Monday, October 21st thru Monday, November 11th, 2013, and I will be available and roaming the forums until mid-November.  

Q: Why only three weeks? How much will we learn/how many videos will there be?  

A: I learned, through my last e-class offering, that a shorter class is actually more fun! When classes run 6-8 weeks, life tends to get in the way, and we slowly fall behind. 

I will post 2-3 videos every week, along with examples and a PDF handout. My videos are professionally produced, in top-notch HD. They will run 10-15 minutes each, so you can easily watch one before work/school/the day, or whenever you have a moment to sit down and get some inspiration. I run two cameras, so you can see directly onto my workspace, as well as see me as I explain a product, technique, or cheerlead for you as you go on this adventure!  

Q: How long will we have access to the class?

A: You will have access for 2 years. You are also welcome to download the videos directly to your computer! 

Q: What supplies will I need for this class?  

A: You will need:  

• A Gelli Arts Gel Plate OR home-made gelatin plate (you can easily find tutorials on YouTube or Google!)
• Acrylic Paint (craft paints work best, especially Martha Stewart brand) in at least yellow, blue, red, white, & black
• Watercolor paper (any kind will do; hot press is best but can be costly. grab some from the kid's section if you need a cheaper option!) 
• Brayer
• Spray bottle
• Cardstock (for cutting stencils) 
• Sewing machine (for stitchery), stapler, or other means of making patchwork paper (glue, thread, etc!) 

We'll also be doing a bit of bookbinding. These are the basic supplies you should have on-hand: 

• Bookbinding thread (you can also find this in the jewelry section of a craft store)
• Needle
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Bone folder (or use the handle of your scissors!) 
• Awl
• Vintage/hardcover book  

Q: What will you be covering in this class?

Here's what we're going to do in class:

• Learn my methods and techniques for gel printing
• Make hand-made stencils from recycled materials
• Play with print & pattern
• Stitch papers together for patchwork art
• Create signatures 
• Learn bookbinding & use vintage books

This class will be run over on my Ning network, The Studio @ Journal Girl. You will need an account there to take this class . I will be sending out the invites a week before class is scheduled to begin .

And lastly: how much will this class cost? 

Gelli Print Junk Journal will cost $80. And there are 5 spots left in at the Early-Bird price of $45. When those spots are filled, it will go up to the full price, so grab one now! 

If you have any more questions, leave them in the comments below! This class promises to be a ton of fun -- my students in Art Journal Summer Camp had a blast and quickly filled up the forums with hundreds of replies, comments, & connection. They even organized their own swap! So this one, I know, will be even more fun than that! :) 

Yummy Gelli Print Parade!

Yep, it's a yummy gelli print parade of artsy prints! 

When I was staying with Roben-Marie, I showed her my new methods for making gelli prints that allows you to make more prints at once AND play around with home-made stencils, among other little secrets (keep reading!). We then took over her dining room table and played for hours , making so many prints, I came home with an overstuffed folder of colorful fun! 

AND! Have you seen the current issue of Somerset Studio?  I wrote a gelli print tutorial for you all! 

Christen came up with the most cleaver title, didn't she?  

I'm thinking of putting some of my more artsy prints, included a couple seen in this article, up on Etsy this weekend. :)  

And now, here are the prints! They were done on 140lb hot press watercolor paper. It really does  make all the difference when you're printing! I also want to mention that my pages were made with the 6"x6" small gelli plate. Don't think that you need a big one to make pretty prints...the small one is unique and tons of fun!

I have an awesome  announcement for you all, especially if you love making prints or want to make some like mine...

A couple of months ago, some girlfriends and I were chatting about prints at an art journaling play date when one said she'd love to maybe make a journal....and I said, "I've done that! I love it!" 

Then they told me I had to teach them.  

I've been developing this class since then, and after I played with Roben-Marie (plus general soul-searching), I decided to turn it into an online class!