Paint Party Friday

Glad to be joining in over at PPF - here is another entry in my handmade journal, it's almost finished and so I'll be making another one very soon, although I think it will be another one of my beloved paper bag journals.

When I do get around to putting it together, I'll try to take some pics and share here.....

Hope your weekend is humming right along - cheers all!

Paint Party Friday

A quick offering for Paint Party Friday - late to the party again, bless all of you who find/ make / have the time to make your art & get it posted on Friday! :)

This page went through more transformations than you can believe (yuck). I thought if I wiped it out one more time with gesso I'd just rip it out -seriously, and only because there was nothing on the other side.

The flowers outside my window were my inspiration for the fantasy ones here so I painted a few stems, collaged some handpainted paper leaves and flower heads with found  papers. A bit of pen work and vintage book text "serenely confidant" finished the page.

Yes -flowers are definitely "serenely confident", blooming alongside all the others, each one unique and confident.  I hope this inspires you to push through when you're 'stuck'.

Laura
xo

Paint Party Friday

A quick journal page for Paint Party Friday, I was featured there last week and again,

thank you for every lovely comment and all the supportive feedback, you rock  :)

If you've followed my work for sometime, you know I'm a huge fan of using quotes in my journals as opposed to writing out day to day living /emotions etc. ( i've never liked writing in a diary - my best to all that do though!)

Anyhow, I stopped making art of any kind for almost 9 months (!) this past year when life got in the way and my creative 'well ' dried up (yes that happens to all of us creatives, hang in there!)

Personally for me I think it was because I was worn out from making art in general and fell into a huge funk (which was kinda scary). I'm SO grateful that art journaling brought back my love of  creating again, it's my soul's work and who I am and that should never be neglected or put aside - remember that!

Illustration Friday - 'retro'

Happy to be contributing over at Illustration Friday for the prompt word 'retro'. I've been immersed in art journaling lately and really loving silhouettes with text, images etc filling in the image

What's more retro than polka dots and miniskirts, right?

Anyhow, i traced an image loosely in a magazine, her skirt and hair were too modern-looking so I redid it and wrote the lyrics from a fave song "whiter shade of pale" (original band Procol Harum) 

however I love, love the Annie Lennox version.

"we tripped the light Fandango

skipped cartwheels cross the floor

i was feeling kind of seasick

but the crowd called out for more

and the room was humming harder

when the ceiling fell away...."

"whiter shade of pale" (1967 original version)

Be awesome, be well & creative - have a great week!

Paint Party Friday

Hello to everyone over at PPF - here's my humble offering for this week.

I've recently got back into playing in my fave art journal,

I love it because I made it to fit my needs - 300 lb hot press watercolor paper,

amazing weight and durability.

Most journals out there can't take a lot of layers and scrubbing

or an "oops" moment: I need more gesso!

mixed media, handmade journal

Question:

"do you suppose she's a wildflower?" - from alice in wonderland

Answer: YES

Journal Bliss

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." - Thomas Merton

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hello friends, how is your week going? Just popping in to share a couple of spreads in my handmade art journal, it's been so freeing to just play / make a mess and experiment with different techniques.

Using stuff on hand is one of the best ways to get unique mark makings on your pages - I've used the ends of a paper towel roll and the bottom of a water bottle dipped in paint for pattern & texture (see the round circle-like pattern in the first spread?

'shine.sparkle.dazzle."

If I don't like the way it's going I just slap on another coat of gesso and start over - btw did I mention that gesso is one of my fave art supplies?!

"not everybodys cup of tea"

Go lose yourself in your journals this week, it's time well spent - cheers!

Paint Party Friday + Happy Monday!

A quick post to show you my latest journal spread and I finally joined in over at PPF, it's been quite awhile let me tell ya. Anyhow, be sure to stop in there - they are such a fun, creative bunch!

I've been doing a lot more experimenting in my art journals as the freedom for expression is quite nearly limitless. I've been working on a few canvas boards too but having more fun journaling. It's such a great meditative process and ALL mistakes - if you can call them that - are definitely happy ones :)

mixed media handmade journal, "Be..."

Have a great week!

Illustration Friday - 'natural'

Hello friends - how have you been? Have been quite busy and productive but wanted to jump in on IF's word this week, 'natural'. I haven't contributed anything over there for awhile so this is my humble offering...

 "natural', mixed media handmade journal

I've read that you need to put in 10,000 hrs. to perfect your craft, so if you do it part-time (like me) that would take about 10 years... I think I;m about halfway there :)

Have a great week!! 

Illustration Friday - 'red'

Hey all, happy weekend -quick post for IF's word prompt this week, 'red'. My inspiration was Jimmy Choo's 'anouk" red patents. I got one of his sig. perfume gift boxes for Christmas, LOVE...

This was created in another of my handmade journals (finally finished it after a very long time) The japanese cherry blossom paper strip you see is the inside cover of the journal back, it happily peeked out and fit the theme :>

Have a creative week!

The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

Hello friends! Just wanted to share a little project with you from the Do What You Love website. The deadline to post online to the group is tonight so I'll be making this a short post and finish it tomorrow.

Anyhow this was my first time jumping in on this: a global swap of stitched postcards with each one having a prompt word - for this 7th swap the word was 'create'. And actually I'm not even sure how I first stumbled upon the DWYL website but when I seen the sign up for this swap well......I do love serendipity :>

Here's the front of my postcard that I created for my swap partner, Beth Parker. I love her bright & fun, colorful illustrations and can't wait to see what she created for me (!)

I'll post the back of the postcard and some closeup details tomorrow.....

Cheers! xo

Illustration Friday - 'twisted'

Hello friends, a quick post for the IF word this week 'twisted'. Haven't joined in over there in ages so popped in seen the word, then got to work.

I had lots of ideas float around in my head on what to illustrate: gnarly tree trunks, braided hair, a forest path, leafy vines etc. In the end I went with a favorite snack - warm, soft pretzels (with plenty of mustard, thank you)

Pretzels have quite a history actually, dating back to the Early Middle Ages. There are numerous accounts on the origin of pretzels, as well as the origin of the name; most agree that they have Christian backgrounds and were invented by German monks. Read more about pretzels here....

Anyhow, I'm totally going to make these sometime soon after getting a craving for them doing this illo :> Here's the recipe I'll be using, it looks a bit complicated but it's quite simple to prepare:

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Philadelphia-Style Soft Pretzels

4 cups (600 g) all purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
1 package active dry yeast
1.5 teaspoons salt
kosher salt for sprinkling
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 cup (180 ml) milk
3/4 cup (180 ml)water
oil for greasing bowl
2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 1 cup water
1 cup  (115 g) melted butter

In a food processor pulse together the flour, yeast and salt to mix, then add the honey and milk. Slowly add the water until a soft ball forms, pulsing for about one minute. Continue to mix the dough for 3 more minutes, then turn onto a floured surface and knead by hand until dough is smooth and elastic (about 2 more minutes).

Form into a ball and set in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (approx.an hour). Keep dough bowl covered while you work, break off a walnut sized piece, and roll into a long rope 16-18 inches long. Use illustration as a guide to form a pretzel shape and set on baking parchment lined cookie sheet or a lightly greased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

When all the pretzels are shaped, cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), and brush each pretzel lightly on top with baking soda mixture.

Bake until golden, about 12-15 minutes.As soon as the pretzels come out of the oven brush them with melted butter, and sprinkle with kosher salt. Best when served warm and dipped in your favorite mustard.
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Enjoy some pretzels and have a great week!

Happy 2014!

Hello friends and Happy New Year - I hope you have been well and are looking forward to this brand new year filled with new dreams, hope and possibilities. Last year was a quirky one for me with short bursts of creativity but mostly it was filled with expanses of  no inspiration and more thinking than doing. I've always been a glass half-full person though and so managed to hang in there and wait it out.

So now.....on to inspiration! I love, LOVE the color Pantone selected as their color of the year, anyone with me on this? Such an upbeat color, it's impossible not to feel good looking at it. (btw the knitted coin purse with the felted pull is from Paper Source)

Wishing you all the best that 2014 has to offer, abundance in all areas of your life and a gentle reminder to not let setbacks derail you on your journey - sometimes they are blessings in disguise. ♥