Friday, November 24, 2017

Handcrafted Art Journal

Not sure if I ever told you about my participation in Wanderlust 2017 hosted by the Averys. I was enticed to join this yearlong journey by the participation of several favorite guest artists, but most especially by Rae Missigman. When her lesson aired, I was deep in the recovery process from rotator cuff surgery on my dominant arm less than one month prior. Her lesson was creating a simply sewn, handcrafted art journal using everyday office supplies. Brilliant. Beautiful. However, not something I could do at the time. 

So, I eventually downloaded the videos and the .pdf document with the intention of "someday" creating this precious book. As the time drew closer to my daughter's birthday (which fell this year on Thanksgiving Day), I decided I would give the journal a go with, of course, some variations to make this journal specifically my own. Paired with an instructional book on watercolor techniques, it was an exceptional hit. 




I can't begin to tell you how much fun this project was to make and to give. It was received with total delight and great anticipation about filling the five individual signatures with different themes (not my idea). I hope you'll be inspired to create one (or several) as unique gifts that inspire.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Playing with Pastels

Today my daughter came by with her art journal and oil pastels. We traded our pastels (both had different brands) and just played. I opened up a journal I had bought a while ago that is filled with black mixed media paper and decided to play.  What I created is below. 

I used Cray-Pas (my daughter's) and she used my Portfolios. Since she has been working with her brand for a while, her report was she preferred the blendability of her pastels to mine. Since I haven't done much with my pastels, I cannot comment.  I hope you get a chance to break out your toys and play some today as well.

Week 4: #100daysoftags

  Week 4!  Lots of yumminess this week, incorporating bits of papers that normally would be thrown away and dollar store finds into my colla...