Artist Tribe Introductions

I thought long and hard about how to introduce myself today 

but in the end I thought maybe if 

I described my art journaling style then maybe that would convey who I am...maybe...lol

This is my latest art journal page that I made using 

Downloadable Collage Cut-Outs: Stupendous Sea Life

that I created for today and I am also linking this to

Paint Party Friday and to Art Journal Journey.

1. Occasionally I get in a sewing mood, I really love that it adds texture without bulk. One thing you will find in my art journaling: flat pages. The reason I don't like bulky pages is that it makes it harder for me to continue journaling. It's difficult to draw or paint on pages that are buckling or bulging. Anyway, that's my own pet peeve, but I do love looking at other journals that are loaded to the max.

Small beads and the occasional sequin are also often included.

And some more projects that I've created with my awesome, fabulous, wonderful

Khadi Papers 8x8 Sketchbook

2. Now I do enjoy hanging heavier/bulkier beads and charms on the outside of my journal books. I adore the tactile feel of them and the sounds that they make when I pick up my journals.

link to the post 1 Journey into khadi papers
link to the post 2 sublime textures

3. You will usually find quotes, poems etc. on my pages, I rarely create a page without adding some wordage. I also have a new toy, a typewriter and I enjoy hauling it out on occasion to type word strips, I also like to type on my journal fodder and collage with it. I did both on this 2 page spread.

link to the StencilGirl post - Silence

3. I also enjoy water-coloring, stencils and outlining. I almost always outline everything, it just doesn't feel complete unless I do it. 

I've tried not to, really I have ...but so far I can't rest the urge.

4. Sometimes I get in a mixed media mode and collage, splatter paint and gold leaf. I don't do a lot of this in my journal, usually, it's what I create on a canvas but sometimes I'm just in the mood to do it, so why fight it?

link to the post - Om Shanti

5. I also like to practice typography but I really have to concentrate while doing it and take my time. As you can see from the Om Shanti page what my writing looks like when I don't slow down...not so pretty! lol

6. I also am not a very patient artist. I think I have a mild case of ADD...
Case in point: Doing the dots was very boring to me while I was creating the page but afterward when it was completed, I loved it.
Sometimes I have a hate/love relationship with a technique I am using.

link to the post - Oceania!

So maybe you learned a little about me through my journaling style.
to recap...
I like flat journal pages, like to add bulk to the outside of my journals, addicted to outlining everything, occasionally will get messy, love using words along with typography and I'm not very patient.


I am looking forward to visiting my art tribe sisters and seeing what they created!
I hope you do too!


One other thing you should know is that I love to win prizes, how about you?



One lucky winner will receive $20 Gift Card to the Shop at Gwen Lafleur Studios! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on any or all of the blog posts during the hop - the more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win! (One comment per person per blog please.)

You have until Sunday, October 1st at 11:59pm mountain time to leave your comments. The winner will be announced on the Gwen Lafleur Studios Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/GwenLafleurStudios) on Monday, October 2nd.

Make sure to visit everyone and leave a comment to have a chance to win!
Gwen
Jackie
Lynda
Linda
Jill

Silence

 Today is Throw Back Thursday over at StencilGirl and I am using the Chain Mail stencil  from StencilGirl,  Japanese Chiyogami Paper and one of my eco-printed papers in my Khadi journal from Gwen LaFleur's store.

I began by sponging some DecoArt paint through the Chain Mail stencil creating a rectangular grid across the 2 open pages.

Then adhered the leaf paper to the right side. I needed to trim off a bottom section of that paper to make it fit on the journal page.

I love pen work as it really brings out designs and draws your eye into the art so I detailed around the leaves and added dots to the stencil design.

Next, I added the Japanese Chiyogami Paper, along with the section of eco-printed paper that I had cut off earlier onto the left side into a geometric design of thirds. Finishing them off by outlining the edges and smudging them with the blender pen.

I also got to play with my "retro" typewriter which always makes me happy😊

Art supplies make me happy.
What makes you happy?

Sublime textures

I talked a bit about my khadi paper journey and how much I love it and if you have never heard about khadi paper then you can visit this link to find out how they are made.

Journey into khadi

Today I'd like to show you some additions to the cover that I added.

First, since I initially sewed through the cover I needed to hide the back
"sewy bits", so I adhered a sheet of marbled paper from the India and Nepal collection, they are just beautiful papers! I also added a strip of Tibet Jewels Sari ribbon along the seam and then stamped the word ART on it. 

I tore the bottom part of the Sari ribbon and threaded beads and charms onto it....I REALLY love the look of this! This texture always makes me stop for a minute to appreciate their beauty before opening my journal. You can almost hear my inner muse sighing with delight and then whispering...
"let's get creative."

To the top piece of the Sari ribbon, I tied on one of the Going Global Turkmen Jewelry Parts charms and sewed on some more beading.

This just makes me happy, not gonna lie. I adore texture by adding fibers, beading, and charms. Combine all that with the deckled edges of the hand-made paper and you might achieve your own slice of heaven!

Snail mail week

I love to create mail art but I will also admit that sometimes I find it hard to sit down and do it. So this week was dedicated to creating some artful mail. I always hope that it makes someones' day a little bit brighter to receive it.

I also joined a monthly stamp club from Rubbermoon and got my first stamp, the little bee. I think she is darling but then I think all the stamps from Rubbermoon are whimsically artistic. I used at least two of their stamps on each envelope.

Bought some envelopes without the address lines which I think look better with the art. It was by accident but I think I like it!

Linking up with

Paint Party Friday

The Grand Final – The World

I figure what better way to send this challenge out than by mail as this particular challenge is about sending a message...a note to the universe so to speak.

I may not have been able to use every single element in all of the challenges even though I tried, but I did complete all 6 challenges and it was a lot of fun. Even learned some things too which is always a bonus in my book!

• CIRCLE(s) symbol of the globe, and of infinity👍
• Words for PEACE, LOVE, HARMONY or UNITY in any language👍
• Wire, sewing, lace, ribbon, something interlaced to 
• symbolize interconnectedness👍
• WHITE color of unity and peace in the world👍
• And as we all are open-minded people your project need to include a HOLE or something OPEN.

Another span of 7 days...whizzing by...

1. & 2.

One day to go and one day of editing the video!!!!!!!!

Shoes are done and we had a great time in the merry old Land of OZ. 

VIDEO HERE

3.

After painting OZ shoes for like ever it was a nice change to do something different and pleasantly pleased that 2 people wanted prints!

4. 

Having cards made from this one

5. and this one

6.

I finished up a design team project which I can't share yet but it involves these kuchi patches...wait till you see what I created. lol

7.

and my last ITAC challenge

linking up this week to
Paint Party Friday

Challenge 5 - the Americas

I almost let this weeks ITAC challenge go by without an entry. I found a previous background page in my journal that sorta fit the green portion of the challenge  (green is just not a color I use often) and took out a pipette and some India ink and started playing. 

I always try to "let go" when pipette painting, I mean really, it's a must-have mindset when painting this way. Especially when your surface is covered with ColourArtes Silks Acrylic Glazes which you can see adds a lot of glossy shimmer. The ink really slides around and it's pretty much an 

"It is what it is" moment

....lightbulb moment!!!!

I have a Rubbermoon stamp that says just that!

I love it when I am thinking in tune with my stamps!

 Kismet!

Then I thought I really wasn't into adding a currency element until I remembered a coin from Gwen's Going Global Turkmen Jewelry Parts which I thought would be a cool element to hang off the journal.

• Shades of green👍
• Something transparent or sharp, like ice
• A large format feature, XXL size
• An element suggestive of money and currency👍
• One or more elements inspired by music and/or Samba👍
• Decorations made of feathers, metal, leather…

BUSY week

1. African art journal page
ITAC challenge this week was Africa!
 Not my usual style but I do love putting symbols on my page so it's OK.

2. Khadi journal
I really would love and appreciate a comment over on my Journey into Khadi papers as it is my first official post for Gwen Lafleur's Artist Tribe. If you like exotic and cultural embellishments then you really might want to visit her store, jaw dropping goodness there.

3. Design team post for StencilGirl

Check out how I painted the sides of my canvas here!

4. We're off to see the Wizard

Shoes are painted but I'm going to wait for next week to reveal them along with a video of our trip. We leave Sunday for the Land of Oz and should be back home before the remnants of Irma hit the mountains.
Praying for everyone in its path and for the people affected by Harvey.

Linking up my week to
Paint Party Friday

Rural Folk Art

Hi everyone!

Here is sneak peek at my canvas I made for today's StencilGirl Talk post.

I do hope you pop over and visit and if you do, please leave me a comment so I know you did! And much thanks because it's little things like doing that which make my day!

Journey into Khadi papers

I'm excited to introduce my first project for Gwen Lafluer's Artist Tribe. It is an honor to be one of the ambassadors on her first design team. I would highly recommend checking out the other artist and their projects for some awesome inspiration! They blow me away!

 And be prepared to be blown away over the Khadi Papers 8x8 Sketchbook! 

These beautiful 8"x8" sketchbooks are made from handmade Indian cotton rag paper. The artist quality pages are perfect for drawing, watercolor, painting, and mixed media.

Here is a link to how Khadi paper is made, 

and no exaggeration, 

the papers are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Gwen's Essentials - Khadi Papers 8x8 Sketchbook

I love to collect little bits of nature and add them to projects whenever I can like this little piece of bark that I glued first and then double secured it by sewing it onto the cover with some silk cording. I think it looks perfect next to the Dot Leaf wood stamp that I dipped into some of my ColourArte Shimmering H20 Sea Spray.

WoodblockStamp Design Dot Leaf

And who doesn't love adding some pieces of jewelry parts for added interest and as a plus, they sound like little wind chimes when you move your journal,
oh yeah, big bonus there!!!!!!!
 I've also discovered a new love for hand twisted newspaper cording! I thought it looked great threaded through my giant hand-papered bead. The cording is glued and then sewn onto the journal just like the bark.

Going Global Turkmen Jewelry Parts

Handmade Newspaper Yarn

I also love that this journal will be showcasing my eco-printed papers. It's a fascinating albeit long process to create them but I love how they turn out. I made a video of the process last year. Now that I have this scrumptious Khadi  journal I am thinking I need to make more papers!

 Pop on over to Gwen Lafeur Studios 
and check out the other yummy things she has in her store!

Challenge 4 - Africa!

After some fun research, I took my inspiration
 from these two pieces that I found on the internet to create my design.

But first, let me show you what I began with. This is  "cast-off" print left over from some stenciling play using the small flower from the Floral Facets stencil collection by Carol Wiebe from StencilGirl. I had misted the stencil with some spray paint and being one not to waste anything I had pressed it onto a gesso'd art journal page. which left a faint design.

It also gave me Some texture in the form of crackling.

I was happy that I was able to keep the crackling, it even shows up slightly through the yellow paint.

And don't be surprised to see me do more beading along the edges of my journal pages like this cause I really love it. Doing it this way gives me an awesome embellishment without adding any bulk to my pages.

Warm, bright colors 👍

Repeated ethnic patterns👍

Charms, pearls, metallic wire…👍

Words or text👍

Textures, cracks, rust effect...👍