Artful Adventures

I won!!

 
There's a reason for showing these pitiful blank journals, all journals that I've nmade with visions of me filling them up faster than I could make them.  Journals with "stuff" hanging outside the edges, bulging with the tidbits of my life and lots of art.  Well, it didn't quite work that way:)  I try, I really do, but nothing ever really clicked with it, and I never made it a habit to actually sit down & journal on a regular basis.  That's all changing now-finally-read on, it'll all make sene:)  Whenever there's a drawing or raffle or anything, I give it a shot, but seldom, if ever, do I win.  Well, I just broke that streak!  Remember a short time ago, I posted about a drawing being held over at MMCA?  The prize that was being given away was a month of an LK Ludwig's online journaling class, round 2 of her Point & Shoot journaling class!!  I participated in the October round, and wrote about it here, loved it, learned a lot, and was planning on taking the next class anyway so it was perfect.  Now I'm learning tips & tricks, no special equipment needed, just some time, and that I can do.  Here's my poor journal that I've been working on for several years, that's one sad looking journal!  But soon, I'll be posting those filled to the brim kind of journals that I've loved for so long!  There's still plenty of time to join in, just go back up & cick your way over there:)  And a huge thank you to Debbie Overton for coming up with the idea of the drawing and for digging into your own pocket to pay for it!
 

Another Celebration!

Turns out that my birthday last week end, was shared not only by my "birthday sistah", the one & only Annie Lockhart ,if you ever meet her, you'll love her, but be prepared for her practical jokes-I still owe her one!  The date also marked the 5th anniversary of MMCA, which started out as, and continues to be, a group of artists brought together to share their collective knowledge, exchange ideas and techniques, as well as mentor each other.  The group has grown over the years and branched out a bit, quite a bit!  It now offers a Marketplace so that anyone can set up shop to sell their art, and a blog that offers interviews for us to read, free images to use in our art, and everything in between.  The most recent interview was by Sheri Gaynor, it's a great interview, as they all are.  I've got Sheri's book, and recently posted about it, so I was pleasantly surprised to see her interview-made  it a good day for me:)  Now that I think about it, I should let you know that if you care to join us in the Marketplace, there's been some changes-the best one is that you have the option (there's several payment plans to choose from) of not spending any money up front!  Just apply (all the info is on the front page of the Marketplace), let Debbie build your shop page while you create, and not pay anything until you sell something-good deal with Christmas looming ahead!  The MMCA group itself, like any group, you can participate in as much or as little as you'd like-my favorite kind of group, life gets busy sometimes!  But pop in, check us out, meet some new friends, say "HI" to some old ones, and you just never know what's going on-like right now there's a drawing for a month long class, LK Ludwig's Point & Shoot Journaling class.  I'm in the class this month (and LOVE & it!) recently posted about it, you can find it here.  Hmmm, I got a lot chattier than planned, and threw out a lot of "linkie love"-so click away and enjoy:)

Creative Awakenings

 

Have you read this book yet?  Creative Awakenings:  Envisioning Tour Life Through Art, written by Sheri Gaynor turned out to be one of those books that I couldn't put down.  The timing is perfect for this time in my life, how about yours?  I honestly think there's something for everyone in this one, and if the book isn't enough, there's also a group that you have the option of joining, an interactive salon where you can share the process with other like minded souls.  This EnVision process will guide you in setting your own intentions for your life, and then follow through-that's the tough one for me.  But the last few years have been a challenge for me, icky boring medical stuff that I tried to ignore, but it didn't work.  It didn't make me feel any better, it didn't help to try to explain to foks why I had turned into such a different person, the kind that there were days that I didn't like me so much, and I'm sure others felt the same.  Chronic pain will do that to you.  I'm heading in the right direction now, finding answers to old & new problems, but at least finding answers.  With any luck, I'll stop feeling like I'm just treading water soon, and be ready to rejoin the human race-what a relief!  There's no doubt that this book will help me along the way, help me focus on 1 intention at a time, 1 day at a time.  There's actually a couple of different ways to work through this book, one of my favorite things about it.  You can do it in a month or work through it for a year, 1 month at a time and even make a travel visa for the journey if you choose.  If you don't have any local buddies to do this with you, you can find peole in your region through the group, or maybe you'll choose to go it alone.  But read the book, you won't regret it.  The first Monday of each  month, you set your intention, EnVision it through your dream journal, collage about it, write about it, work towards making that intention a part if your daily life, and then move on to the next month.  Are you up for the challenge?  I am!  My book is ready & waiting, covers aren't finished yet, but that's the least of my concerns.  Let me know if you give this a try, we can boost each other up when necessary:)

Another October Event-Journaling Class

 

One day not that long ago, I was looking around at blogs and landed on LK Ludwig's blog which is always a pleasure to visit.  But this time, she had a post about a class she's teaching online starting Oct. 1, called Point & Shoot Journaling, saying the class would show us how to use the tons of photos we all have stashed all over the place-at least I do!  Well, she said a lot more than that, but you'll have to go over there & read it all yourself:)  But I've got photos stashed in camera software, some on Flickr, some on CD's, but not much organization so I can seldom find what I want anyway, and I'm not really using them except when I blog.  Now I'll have a reason to sort my photos, put them to good use, and finally, finally, learn to journal, and to make it even sweeter, the class is very affordable.  Can't ask for much more than that!  Now I have visions of books that are overflowing & containing our photos, our memories, our life!  Can you tell I'm excited about this?  I am, I really am!  Wish me luck, I've never been successful in the journaling department, but I have a good feeling about this one!
 

Welcoming in 2009

 

How's that for a view out of a window:)  It's been a tad bit chilly here to say the least, but the frost that formed on the window was so beautiful, the kind of beauty that only nature can create.  Although I'm not so sure it's good to have frost on the inside!  So here we are, January of 2009, a time to reflect on the past year and plan for this year.  A long time ago I stopped making resolutions, they're the kiss of death for me-never ever work.  But a concept for the year, or a plan, or maybe even a word to live by-now that I can handle.  Tammy had posted about a word for the year, an idea that came from Christine Kane's blog, and then a couple of days later in another post she said "I wish to only do new things and/or to repeat only things which are bringing positive energy into my life."  Within this post, she included a link to a blog that I hadn't been to before, and boy have I been missing out!  It's Ancient Artist:Developing an art career after 50 and in this post the author, Sue Favinger Smith said, "We have a choice.  Live on Purpose."   Are you still with me, there's a point to all this which I"m getting to in my normal round about way.  Then last night as I was trying to get caught up reading emails, I read a post from Leah's Creative Every Day blog, where she included a link to a blog that has a list of questions, that if answered could potentially help each of us guide ourselves through 2009, once again living with a purpose.  I'll be putting those questions and my answers to them in my journal now, and again next December, so that I'll be sure not to forget to reflect, see how I did, and begin planning for the following year.  But now I'm jumping the gun a bit, so have to back up.  First I had chosen 2 words for myself for the year (even though it was advised to choose only one-never been very good at following directions) and those words were "awareness" and "choice" which I then put into a phrase for myself for the year, "know that I have choices and to be aware of them".  Kind of sounds a little like Sue Smith's "We have a choice.  Live on Purpose." quote, doesn't it?  I'm a firm believer in the fact that these kinds of things happen for a reason, so I'm sticking to my phrase that I chose, and I'm also going to LIVE ON PURPOSE.  Life can be way too short and I've had my fair share of close calls, and life is what you make of it.  Yes, things happen, I'm well aware of that, but I'm the one that's responsible for the choices that I make and I need to be aware of everything around me, aware and in awe of all that surrounds me, especially the little things that we tend to overlook, like that frost on the window.   

I've started journaling again (should have some photos tomorrow) and plan on keeping at it all year.  I've said that every year for a long time but it always felt like I was taking time to do play and not do other stuff.  So this year I'm working on it at times when I wouldn't be in the studio anyway, as I prefer to work only in natural light.  And I'm already seeing the benefits of it, a chance to try out new colors, practice techniques, both old & new, and finally a good place for me to sketch.  It's undecided at this point if it'll end up being mostly a visual journal or a written one, probably a combination of both.  And to help jumpstart this and to be accountable for it, I've joined in on Misty's group of January Art Journalers-come join in!  And another place to be is Leah's Creative Everyday blog, a no pressure place that just makes you be and think creatively every day, as intended.  Which remindws me, I need to get the new badge for this year in the sidebar.  Once again, I'm entering the year with good intentions and perhaps lofty goals, but if I just stick to my basic phrase, I'll be ok.  Not much new to report on the medical front, except last week the doc told me I had to give myself 10 more of those damn belly shots, hopefully that will be it.  At my last blood draw, my numbers were right on the money and if they're still there on Wednesday when I go for more bloodwork, I should be heading in the right direction, whew.  Now I just have to quit worrying about it and get on with life, but I have to admit that everytime I feel something in that leg, I have to wonder if that blood clot is moving around!  Once again, I talked too much, big surprise:)  So I'll leave you with a picture of the beach in Algoma.  You've seen plenty of them in the summer, but this winter view is enough to send chills down your spine just looking at it:)  It's cool though, no pun intended, to see how that landscape changes so drastically.  So tell me-what's new with all of you?  Were the holidays good for you?  I really want to know!

No more excuses-Art for me!

A couple of days ago, I went over to read that latest

post by

Michelle Ward, which turned out to be one of the more entertaining things I've seen/read in awhile-and I mean entertaining in a very good way!  It was an introduction to

SuziBlu and her video journaling.  As much as I've been whining lately about wanting to be better at journaling, this was exactly what I needed to see.  You seriously can't watch these

videos without grabbing your journal & going to work in it.  All of my excuses for not journaling were written on both pages with a black sharpie, big & bold-then covered up with gesso.  I used the oil pastels that I've had here for years & never used (not sure I like them yet), tape that I bought a couple of years ago & never used, and wrote in it even though I hate showing anyone my handwriting.  That's how effective SuziBlu is at getting someone to journal, and have a lot of fun doing it!  No more excuses, they're all covered up, I'll fill this journal up yet:)  Thanks Michelle for the introduction, and thank you SuziBlu for sharing your enthusiasm!

True Confession

True confession-I want to be one of those people that have wonderful, spilling over the edge, brimming with art & wise words kinds of journals.  I've tried, but the words feel "stiff" and the art isn't spontaneous, which is how I want it to look.  So, in an attempt to loosen up a bit, I've hauled out the spray paint and did some preliminary backgrounds on a few spreads.  Now I know why Michelle Ward loves using spray paint!  It's instant gratification, dries quickly, and the results aren't totally predictable-well, at least they weren't for me:)  By actually showing these pages in their virtually naked form, without all the embellishing & sage words to live by that I'll be adding (I wish!), it'll make me want to actually finish them to prove that I can do it.  So feel free to jack me up a bit if I don't show a finished page in a respectable amount of time:)