Deep breaths

 

Thought for today via the artjournal--when you don't have the time to roadtrip but your soul is screaming, "Get me outta here."

 

4 syllables for you today: Sab-bat-tic-al.

 

Coloring is good for the soul...

Not all people find peace in art, but some of us do. This reminded me that I used to spend hours coloring away.

(Source)

And I still do. Every night (that's the goal anyway..) I try to doodle one page in the art journal. Most recent is this one....

"If I don't do something creative, my head might explode."

Tuesday. (Again. )
Although class is over, still sketching.
(And listening to the Miss Rebekah playlist, the one that shuts down any negativity--it IS Tired Tuesday, you know.)

This one was a happy accident: Papermate felt tip black marker + water--I love the streak-y-ness.

And sketching some more..



 

And then playing to make poster art...

 

 

 

 

 



Playing Fashion Illustrator

Have you heard of "Skillshare"?  If you love to learn (another obsession over here), this site offers classes on every subject from just about anyone who wants to teach, for a mere $20.

I'm currently enrolled in this class taught by a favorite blog illustrator.

 

This is hers from her blog, PaperFashion

 

 







Guess what we're learning (or in my case, simply experimenting with)? I've learned thus far:

 

 1.)This style of drawing isn't really in my wheelhouse. I don't like to sketch lightly, and I like details. Fashion illustration is about the clothes--drawn quickly, with a light hand.

 

We haven't painted yet, but I've been sketching.

 

Here's my inspiration runway photo (and my pinterest inspiration board):

 

2013 Erdem Spring Collection

I love the colors, textures, & silhouettes of almost all of these dresses.

 

 

So, I sketched Katie's way..

 

 

And then I tried it my way:

 

 

And then I tried it again with this inspiration:

 

 

And I really did it my way--geekery and all..

and Yep, Zoe did go a little cray. cray.

 

 

Painting lesson is next week, so I'll share color when I'm done.

(And keep practicing, and practicing, and practicing..........)

 







Flow, Ephemera, & Teachers

 I felt like career counseling in 1992 consisted of selecting one of 4 paths; lawyer, doctor, teacher or psychologist. I had no desire to be any of these.

 

 When I think about it, I often hear my dad's voice telling me, "You'd make a wonderful teacher."

Blah. I had no desire to play referee to a bunch of kids who HAD to be in my classroom. It takes a special patience to do this day in and out. Patience I don't have.

 

 I never took even one art class in high school--why? Because I was too busy trying to be a psychologist? Three letters for you: W.T.F.

 

There is some crazy freedom in creating for me; a calm in the crazy. Do others crave this? I have to believe that they do.

 

Remember we talked about the spirit of "Woosa" for 2013? Part of that, for me, is to help others find it. Sometime this year, I'm going to teach (Yes, Dad. Teach) an abridged art journaling class. 4 week, 1 hour sessions.

 

I like to plan & prepare so I started building the prototype for this class. A hodgepodge of techniques I've learned and a twist of crazy.

 

{Cover}

 

Zee Junk Journal---full of crap from my life.

{the inside cover -you can download & print this very bookplate here}

 

{the inside}
 

{the title page--a must}

 More on this later, but if you are intrigued, stay tuned....

Since we are talking about paper love, I have to share this very fabulous magazine I came across at church (er, Barnes & Noble) the other day...Allow me to introduce my newest favorite mag:

"FLOW"
 

The quote and this graphic had me before I even opened it

 

 This is the first international version of this Dutch magazine--If I were an editor, THIS is exactly what I would create. The pages themselves are also a delight- they are printed on mixed media. Glossy and matte paper makes turning every page seriously fun!

Big Girl Coloring Pages; you've got to be kidding me?

Free paper!! These wrapping paper samples are full-size! Someone, pinch me!

The Table of Contents




All this paper AND talk of mindfulness? SOLD!

 

If you're a paper whore, this magazine is worth every penny....Plus serious material for your junk journal. 

DIY-Talk Nerdy to Me

DIY-Eye Love You Valentines Card

I love eyeglasses and nerdy girls. I also love handmade anything and the fact that there is a day devoted to professing it to all those that you love.

 I started to sketch and was reminded of those little sewing cards from the 70's--the ones you use shoelaces to outline an image on a card. 

So here we go:  Easy instructions to DIY one of your own.

Supplies: embroidery floss, a needle, the template, and paper

I printed (and designed, really) for this particular paper: You can find @ Michael's and probably at any craft store. If you can't find, you could just use any piece of cardstock--you may just have to do some trimming.

The template is right here: download and print it. (I'll wait for you.)

If you are having issues printing, I've included instructions in the file. Otherwise this is pretty easy to do.

Mine in progress....

The back of the card--If yours resembles a messier version and it bugs you, cut a heart from some scrap paper and cover it up. 

I've made a bunch--you could color this little lady or leave her alone for your "love" recipient to color.

On my final, I used a rounded corner punch on the card, added a few gold hearts, and lined the envelope. A little nerdy love is on it's way.

Enjoy!

The Journalista Shares

Still visual journaling--or trying to every day. This stuff is like my very own version of crack--I've got 2 pages left in this one. If you're trying to start, I'll share with you some journal ideas (and how they look in my little book.)

 

1.) Doodle over a black and white photo. Color parts of it in.

(You can find this exact photo right here.)

I used a favorite quote by Nelson Mandela..It begins, "Your playing small does not serve the world."

 

2.) Make a 2 page vertical spread. Another B&W and a Martha Beck-ism we've talked about before.

 

3.) Try some calligraphy.

I've been obssessed with learning it. I love this page too for another reason. I made a run to Office Max and found oodles of paper to use in my journaling. This paper is a page from a kids "learn to write" notebook. I brought my stash to the checkout and the clerk asked me, "Are you an art teacher?" No, just a paper hoarder.

 

4.) Draw what you ate today. Try replicating the font from the packaging.

 

5.) Journal one of your own life Aha moments.

I use this mantra to make decisions all the time.

 

6.) Draw what you wore today. This is a standard for me. I love to create outfits and then document how they make me feel, where I got the pieces and why I chose them. 

 

7.) Use those paper bits you've been hoarding. I ordered free samples from here just because they were pretty and used them to create a spread.

 

And just because I can't stop practicing, here's another quote from my stash:

 

If you've been the statue for awhile, break out your supplies and start drawing. You'll feel better in 2 minutes.

 

Art Journalista Full Tilt Boogie-ing

I believe I have found my happy place--full of scrappy paper, markers, and books. I believe I am thoroughly and untterly addicted to creating and filling Art Journals. It's like the messy hair version of scrapbooking (of which I've never been a fan).

Obsessed with  doodling, drawing, thinking, and creating, I have found my place. If you need an island of creative peace..I'll share a few "boats" to get you there.

Art Journalista E-Workshop: The bottom journal is this photo is made from this class. Using an old magazine, and bound with just glue this journal's pages are BIG. A challenge for me sometimes to work in, but a great size when inspiration hits.

Like this page founded on the outfit of the day. A full size doodle fits perfectly.

Found & Bound E-Workshop: This was the very first class I ever took. (By my talented girl again.) This journal uses a composition notebook and the binding is sewn. I really like the size of this one. I've almost filled it--a few pages from here:



(BTW, have you heard of the Fire Starter Sessions? A great book if you're struggling in limbo of your career life. I'm still there, but this book is full of good words. See photo on the right--inspired by this book.)

Full-Tilt Boogie: This has been the best workshop. She teaches a ton of different types. The two other journals in the above photo are from this class (and that's only one sewn binding she teaches.) If you are a paper hoarder, these are great to use up that stash. (I love the way Maryanne teaches--no measuring..my kinda girl.) At first, after I made her journals, I was disappointed that she didn't teach specific pages. But then, I found that doing it my way was wayyy liberating. (I'll share some pages from my first Full-Tilt journal another day.) There is something very therapeutic about just gluing bits and pieces. The pages create themselves--it's amazing really.

And here's an every Thursday page tutorial if you need some inspiration:  Every Day is a Holiday.

More later, after I unstick myself from this keyboard. (My fingers are so full of glue and paint right now.)

Do your art. Now.



Breathe, Focus, Pray, & Color (a ripped off title from Pinterest)

{Via Work is not a Job}

Sundays usually remind me that Monday is tomorrow.

And Mondays remind that I haven't done a thing to stop the dread.

{For the record, I'm officially tired of wasting my life waiting for Fridays.}

No new revelations today. Just sharing the ladies that keep creeping out of me.

This shirt is at the shop and from the minute I saw it, I wanted to draw it.

We also got in a slew of new bejeweled hair clippies and the packaging was less than Stash worthy. This card allows the clippy to sit in her "hair" and if you ask my packaging junkie brain, "Why, yes, I'll take one in every color."

After Letter Whimsy 1.0 AND 2.0 classes, I lettered (and doodled) this as a thank you to the artist.

Those classes were serious therapy for this caged (er, cubed) sales analyst.

{Her class is still available if you need a brain break.}

This one is also a "work in progress" packaging lady for the shop..

Is there a Fortune 500 company out there that needs a doodler on staff?

{Just for the sake of giving credit where it is due...the pinterest pin that inspired this post's title.}

A DIY Gift-a-palooza

What I've been up to is no longer a secret. (Not that it ever really was but..)

A dear friend had a little holiday boutique and asked if I had anything to sell..well, of course.

The above is a little sampling. I love a good diy gift, so I thought I'd share. You have something like 30+ days until Christmas. (No pressure.)

A pillow made from my stash of feedsacks, some scaps, and a Stampin' Up set I've had forever. No tutorial really, but google diy pillow and a million results will come back. Takes about 1/2 hour to sew.

An oilcloth change purse, I used this tutorial.

Again, easy peasy.

DIY Gift wrapping kit; a few deco-d clothespins, some bakers twine, and tags.

(Did I mention I loved kraft paper wrapped presents?)

Tags are pretty simple but you download mine here.

As a self-titled artist, I love this quote by Joyce Myers:

"A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere."

What a simple gift for your artist friends, a teacher, an entreprenuer, or a plain old doodler.
I altered some pencils (here's a great tutorial using paper) with a bit of washi and glitter tape, and made the envelopes.

You can download the envelopes here.

Don't get me started on washi tape--I'm sooooooo addicted.

Try etsy, or http://www.cutetape.com%20if%20you/

(...consider this your warning on pretty tape addiction.)


Acrylic paint has never really been on my radar. That is, until I ran across this class.
I loved the original, and mine turned out great. I want to make a million more.

A great girlfriend gift.

{It's official. Now, I'm a Brave Girl addict, too.}

And of course, I try to journal on a weekly basis...page 13 in progress.
This pages is about stitiching and life. A 16 square life sampler...

You can make your own art journal too. (Link to the class I took...)
I'd love another filled with someone else's thoughts.

Get crackin'--you can do this. Make something.