Sloppy Beginnings - Learning to Paint

I've never heard a single solitary soul utter or even insinuate the ease of beginnings.  I don't believe anyone has uttered the word easy in reference to beginning something new in the history of the entire world.  I know it's a bold claim, but anyone who even breathed the word easy in regards to beginnings must have been high.  I have to say I'm experiencing that times three months right now.  I'm loving the process and my classes - but somehow these fingers and brain cannot output what I want or need right now.  There is nothing I can do to change this - no easy fix.  However, I also know wholeheartedly things get better.  I've seen myself get better - just not good.  My progress for this week has been slow coming.  I've started to take my time and do very small increments of creative work when I notice my frustration mounting to unmanageable peaks.  I remind myself that this is supposed to be fun - to feel the brush in my hand and the sensation of the paint meeting the paper and sometimes, when I'm focused...I remember.  So not a lot of pics for this week.  Just know that I've worked each day to create something new and better.  This girl was a happy part of my week (for the most part).

In other news...I'm still battling with this abomination. I have loved her then made mistake after mistake in the finishing touches stage.  I cannot stand her in this moment - in most moments.  I keep plugging away remembering this fun - even when it blows.  I think I'll name her False Starts - she fits that name perfectly!

This is the best picture I got of this hag.  Pardon my anger towards her.  You can't look directly at her or she doesn't look right and frankly I'm fed up.  She's like Medusa.  Don't look her dead on or it's a little like dying...just kidding (a little). That's why her eyes or closed - no need to risk eternity as a statue  for this sad girl.  So that's it for today.  I hope you had a nice Sunday.  I had a minor thing happen - I turned 37.  I spent the day doing my favorite things - visiting the bookstore, Target, Michaels, and Chili's.  I spent it as most solitary creatures do...alone.  And it was perfect.  There are celebration plans in the works for this upcoming weekend.  A quick picture of my swag...

My plan is to make 37 figures or whimsical portraits this year.  I had planned on coming up with 37 things or goals for this year, but who am I kidding?  So excited about my haul.  Just in case you were wondering, the book is Figure it Out by Chris Hart.  I hope to get this book soon as well.  The author has a whole series on drawing and I'm pretty excited about learning more.  Right now my goal seems like a little thing, but it makes me happy.  I could make a goal to read 37 classics or listen to 37 audiobooks but those goals don't reflect where I'm at right now.  Not to mention, they're things I already incorporate into my daily life, albeit I wish I did more.  I'm going to take this first week to think about it further...but I'm happy with my one goal.  Again, hoping your day was great.  Until then...

P.S. I used my Andrea Gomoll's stamps on my first girl's facial features.  I freehanded the second girl using the stamps as a guide.  The stamps come with her Facecinating girls classes - I highly recommend volumes one and two.

Artful Beginnings: A Tale of Me and the Girls

As part of my challenge for Lent in 2013 - I chose to do something creative everyday. Specifically I worked on creating scrapbook pages. On some days, I cranked out multiple layouts. And then, on other days I worked slowly - placing a card or choosing a picture. The really beautiful thing about that journey was that it reignited my love for scrapping and being creative. I found that I enjoyed the creative process more and wasn't addicted to the need for lots of words. It was an epiphany and a pleasure. I think that was due in large part to the fact that I had been scrapping for six years at that time and I was trying to get the spark back - that little thing that keeps you going and moving towards being a creative being.

Cut to 2014...I had taken a few classes and started drawing faces aided by the lovely and talented Andrea Gomoll. Her online Facecinating Girls class comes with a stamp set that includes eyes, noses, and lips. It made things so much easier and I really felt successful. I decided to take the Lifebook 2014 class sponsored by Tamara LaPorte at Willowing Arts. I've been doing one or two projects a month since the year started and am really focused on faces.

So I decided that I would do a face a day for Lent this year - I've already changed this. Last year I made the goal to be creative each day in my scrapbooking. I realized a girl a day was a little too much. I'm going back to my previous model...I will be working on one mixed media girl each day with a focus on learning to shade darker skin tones. Tutorials for shading people of color are in short supply pretty much everywhere - so I'm really winging it. This is my fourth day - and truly this is a frustrating task. I realized this morning that it's because I'm a beginner. I know what I like and I can't produce it yet. And it drives me nuts. So instead of waiting to show my great work...I decided to show you my progress so far. Prepare to be underwhelmed and in one case horrified.   

   

I want to be totally honest...I had a guide for the shading on this one. I will not be sharing that guide because it is truly unfair to the artist that worked so hard to put her class together. I'm a beginner and it shows. I used the stamps from Andrea Gomoll's Facecinating Girls Vol. 2 class and did the rest by myself. I've made a few changes since then - but this was the basic look. I made more hair scribbles in multiple colors. I wanted to throw up after this first try - so horrified.

On the second day - I decided to try distress markers and inks. I was really motivated and inspired by the work of Brett Weldele. I used the stamps from Andrea Gomoll's Volume 1 class and got to work. I actually think this went well. There were only a few major problems. I used very cheap watercolor paper and it started to break down pretty quickly causing some color discoloration and curse words from yours truly. I was pissed at the time but actually like her a lot now. There's a lot to be said for taking a step back and chilling out.

So for those of you thinking - holy shit what did this girl do this time. I'll explain how this poor, sad, hideous girl came to be. My intentions were great. I wanted to use the same materials from my previous girl without the wear and tear on the paper. So I tried gesso and went to work again. I feel sorry for this girl. She's a disaster. She's an 'F." She's a failure - or should I say...the project was a failure. Remember this is just gesso and the EXACT SAME markers and ink. I could go on but there's no need...I decided to do a comparison photo.

OH....one other thing...I drew this girl. I got overconfident and drew the face in ink before I stamped the eyes. I will not be repeating that mistake anytime soon. I just can't handle mastering two skills (sketching and painting) at one time. The difference is huge and makes me love the other girl so much more. At this point I wanted to give up...but I decided to push forward.

This is my latest catastrophe. I used acrylics and a recipe of sorts. I completed this part of the piece yesterday and finished her up today.  This is a really great way for me to work.  It takes the pressure off.  I was really shocked by how she looked last night - I was calling her the ugly creature from Fraggle Rock.  But I'm so much happier with her now...

I'm having trouble with proportions - admittedly.  And her lips are an abomination.  I kept on screwing them up and making them bigger and bigger.  Don't even get me started on the friggin' eyebrows.  However, she's SO much better than the eery muppet from before.  She's a reminder that things DO get better.

So why this long diatribe...I just think it's important to document the beginnings. Beginnings can really suck. In my case it includes cursing, crying, and gnashing of teeth. I often lose the will to live. I often lose the will to make art ever again. I think my supplies should be given to someone else with just a little tiny amount of talent. Then I come to my senses and remember beginnings suck and this is just the growing pains of creating something better. I'll get there. I have the scrapbook pages to prove it.

So here are my new guidelines...

• I will use Andrea Gomoll's stamps - I'm not spending energy on drawing AND shading. It's too much right now.


• I will work on a mixed media girl each day. This can range from painting and stamping an entire girl or just painting an iris.


• I will share my work here weekly.


• I will share the materials I use when the shading and coloring is successful (by my standards).


• I will keep my girls in one place as a chronicle of my journey.


• I will use high quality watercolor paper when using uber-wet mediums.


• I will be easy on myself. I will relax. I will try to have fun.

Here's hoping it gets better. I hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday! Until then...

BTW: The pictures with additional art was edited using A Beautiful Mess' photo app.

10 Things

March is a big month around these parts.  There are three rockin' birthdays - me, my sis, and Tonks (our beastly mascot).  It marks the month of state tests, the beautiful beginnings of the 4th quarter at school, and the hope of spring.  I'm going to be honest - March 2011 blew...hard.  I know this March will be so much better. So this March - I'm so happy to start a new monthly feature (10 things on the 10th).  So without further ado...

1. PinterestGate - I am so confused by the variety of posts and information on responsible pinning, copyright infringement, and don't even get me started on their terms of use.  At this point - I've had a hard time navigating this issue.  Fortunately, I found this great article from Steph at Daily Digi and have some big decisions to make.  I'm seriously considering deleting my boards and starting over or going through the almost 5000 pins individually.  Why?  I want to be absolutely sure that everything has been pinned properly.  While I'm definitely not willing to give up my pinboards and what I find to be a great source of inspiration - I WILL do it in a responsible manner.  I'm just so glad that someone has finally put out something on how to positively use the site!  Woot, Woot!

2. Pan-Pastels - I went out and bought 13 colors and a variety of sponges last week to start using on my art journal.  If only having the products in your stash made you an art journaler, I'd be teaching classes in Italy by now.  Must have confidence and compassion towards my art journal beginnings.

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3. Perfection is for the birds...I have this absolute, terrifying need to do things perfectly in a few areas of my life.  I want to be the best scrapbooker.  I want to be an informed, compassionate employee.  I want to be a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, etc.  I want to be able to paint like Flora Bowley and art journal like Dina Wakely.  I'm not that way with my home, style, or body - but I will beat myself up over the other things.  I want to let go - to embrace imperfection.  I've read the works of Brene' Brown.  I've watched the presentations and listened to the podcasts.  I wish I could get it to stick.  I wish I could drink the Kool-aide.  I need to learn to be compassionate with MYSELF.  It's the only thing that matters.

4. Feature blogging has seriously been on my mind lately.  I'm heavily considering starting some feature weeks on the blog.  If you're wondering what that means - I'm actually still trying to get it worked out for myself.  You'll know more as things take shape around here.  I know I'm not an authority on art or crafts - but I can share my own experience as it relates to some interesting topics.  I'm hoping I enjoy this new direction.

5. I've read two fantastic books this month.  I cannot adequately articulate the feeling of contentment and intense joy I get from a wonderful book run.  One great book is a joy - but two, three, four in a row is a blessing.  These two books are going in my top 10 - possibly even five.  I need to clear my head a little and rank my favorites.  Please click on images to go to original source.  

       

6. Maple Bacon cupcakes.  I have two in my freezer as we speak.  They are from my local cupcake bakery and are utterly divine.  I've been interested in the idea of a bacon cupcake for quite some time and was not disappointed.  My local bakery has specials each month so these babies were no longer offered after the 5th of March thus the necessity of the freezer.  So happy to have two more whenever I want...

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7. Freezing cupcakes.  The girls of Georgetown Cupcake gave me an invaluable lesson in their book, The Cupcake Diaries.  Do not put your cupcakes in the refrigerator - it sucks out the moisture thereby creating a dry cupcake.  Dry cupcakes are not acceptable in this house.  Freezing the cupcakes allows for the moisture to be reincorporated in the defrosting process.  I've already tried it on two cupcakes and I'm afraid to say one was more moist than the day I usually buy it from the bakery.  Three cheers for the girls of Georgetown Cupcake.

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8. The Follow Your Heart Line by Rhonna Farrer for My Mind's Eye is rocking my world.  I can't get enough of it.  It is single-handedly responsible for kickstarting my scrapbooking yet again.  So happy with this line.

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9. I started yet another class - Finding Your Inspiration Station by Amy Kingsford.  So far...I'm pretty much loving it.  I will jump on any opportunity to find and use inspiration in a way that strengthens my own personal style.  So excited.  My first online class was on March 6th.  Lots of really great content in the first week.  

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10. Writing my first ten things post and loving it.  This was definitely a spontaneous post.  No forward planning around here.  Next month will be a little different.  However, there's something to be said for blogging the 10 things that matter to you at 9:00 AM on the 10th of the month.  

So there you have it - 10 things on the tenth at almost 10:00 AM in the morning.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday.  I will be spending mine getting some good coffee, clean laundry, reading, planning, writing, responsibly pinning, and with a little luck...crafting.  Until then... 

BTW: Double arm pump for Shimelle Laine - my inspiration for 10 things on the tenth.

Twisted Tuesday - I painted and I liked it!

Real quick post here...I made my first She Art girl.  She's not quite finished - but I did it.  It's important.  It's remarkable...not the actual art - but my willingness to finally plant my ass in that chair and be vulnerable.  No matter how you define it - paint is a vulnerable medium or at least it is for me.  I have to let go of the reins and open myself up to the idea of ugly, imperfect.  I did it and I'm so proud.  So without further ado - my first Imperfect Girl...

I have a hard time with some of the "stuff" here.  She has pantaloons on with maybe the ugliest shoes ever.  I believe she is most likely color blind or from some alternate universe where wood grain shirts are in (or maybe that's just the 70's).  I made the messy bun and almost liked it - I just don't know how to detail black hair or how to do skin tones so my girls are a reflection of me and my family.  I just need to remember first attempts aren't perfect.  They weren't meant to be.  I'm going to keep on working on her until I have something I like better or I screw it up beyond repair.  The most important thing to remember is to have fun and let go.  It's the journey...not the destination.  Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.  Lots of love and smiles all around.  Until then....

Back in Business

I'm baaack!  I'm so happy to be back - actually.  I've missed this space. The last few weeks have defied words - but at times have been shot through with such beauty and laughter it almost brought me to my knees.  It seems like tough times are like that - you keep on wondering why the hits keep coming - and somehow you're still you and the people you love are still the people you love - and you start to pull through.  It's a beautiful, yet heartbreaking, thing.

Let's be honest - in the past few weeks I have not had the energy or motivation to create.  It's been gone from me.  Fortunately - I always have the will to spend.  So...I just wanted to share a few classes catching my eye around the world wide web (I wonder why no one calls it that anymore?).

Patterned Paper Party by Shimelle Laine (already started - still wonderful) ~ I love her classes.

She Art 2 Workshop by Christy Tomlinson ~ I'm currently taking the first workshop and am shocked at the amount of video in the class.  It's an amazing amount of time for the cost.

Reclaiming My Time by Karen Grunberg ~ I'm a devout follower of all things KG.  I've loved her classes and highly recommend participating in ANYTHING she is doing - she's amazing.  She's changed the way I scrapbook - the way I shop.  Or - I think this needs a reframe...she's given me the tools to take control of my scrapbooking style and the way I shop.  A-MAZ-ing!

Move More Eat Well 2012 by Cathy Zielske ~ I'm wanting to make healthy changes in the next year...I'm hoping CZ and the BPC community can help me with that journey.

I have my eye on one more class...but will talk about that later.  I hope everyone is doing well and has a very happy Friday!  Finally it's Friday!  Until then...

The Mother LOAD Update

Hello All!  I'm so excited to share something crafty finally.  I feel like I have a little explaining to do to all my readers (all five or six of you).  Right now - I'm really feeling creative and inspired.  However, it hasn't been in the arena of paper crafts.  I've been all about reading, writing, and decorating.  So...don't be surprised if things look a little different for a while.  If there's one thing I've learned over the past four years - it's to go where the inspiration takes you.

On to the Mother LOAD...A few days ago I was watching a video by crafty Lain Ehmann on BPC and she was talking about getting "caught up"; which in scrapbooking terms should be the equivalent of MF in my opinion.  Then I realized...I haven't been doing my assignments and I better get my ass in gear if I'm going to do the 26 layouts in 26 days.  NOT to mention I should probably figure out when that whole thing starts, get pictures ready, do the other assignments, etc.  Basically I need to light a fire under my rear.  So - I took Lain's dear advice and combined two assignments.  I combined my Holy Grail new products from Authentique and started a page with the journaling.  I feel like I cheated a little since the journaling came almost verbatim from a blog post - but got over that quickly.  Using my blog posts on my scrapbook pages is breaking new ground for me.  No guilt necessary - double arm pump essential.  So without further ado...my scrappy efforts.

This first photo is my finished layout with everything in it's place.  Almost every product is from Authentique - a very cool company with a rockin' focus on being green.  The only additions are decorative brads from SEI and Basic Grey and wooden buttons from Studio Calico.  The picture is from MorgueFile.com.  I did some processing to it before having it printed.  Gotta love free pictures of hummingbird feeders when you're a girl like me.  

This photo shows the interactive parts of the layout - which is pretty much everything.  Both the large piece of patterned paper and the photo are connected to the background by a brad - making each section moveable.  The photo must be moved first then the large piece of patterned paper with the Jen Lemen quote.  You might be wondering why I chose to hide the journaling.  Frankly - it was a lot of journaling and I could not figure out a way to fit the picture and journaling on a 12 X 12 page.  I also loved the flower paper and just couldn't see covering it up with almost a full letter size page of paper - so I went with the hidden option.  It's not because it's too personal - it's just a story I wanted to document in more than one way.  I'm satisfied with the finished product.  No - I'm not satisfied - I'm ecstatic.  This is the byproduct of using the things I love.  Gotta feel good about that!

This week is a big week for me.  Work starts again and I have the perfect assignment to go with it.  The focus for this week is to be intentional and convey emotion.  This week is definitely bringing up some interesting emotions.  I'm starting at a new place.  I'm super excited, nervous, and a little trepidation.  All the normal emotions associated with embarking on a new journey.  Doesn't it just sound perfect!  I have some pics of my new office and I'm going to get a picture of my building.  The plan is to go digital for this layout.  Can't wait to see what happens.  So that's it for Sunday.  I guess I had a lot to say!  I hope everyone has a wonderful week.  Until then...

BTW:  The Big Idea Festival which is FREE starts tomorrow at BPC.  Sign up immediately if you're interested.

The Mother LOAD

I signed up for The Mother LOAD class taught by the great Lain Ehmann after a lot of hemming and hawing about whether it was the right thing to do with my current state of crafting energies at the time.  I also had been longing to move myself into a mixed media/painty place - but hadn't.  So - it was a big decision that was helped along by a gift certificate and an amazing discount on Mrs. Jennifer McGuire's website.  I have mixed feelings about the class even now - but the weekly assignments have gotten me off my keister and helped me make two layouts that I really love and I'm starting to finally feel like I'm in the right place.

If you're not familiar with BPC Classes - you usually get a PDF weekly and possibly some extras like videos, audio messages, extra information, etc.  Prior to the Layout A Day portion of the class, we are given assignments to prepare us for the final push - 26 layouts in 26 days.  It's been four weeks and I've done two layout assignments and all four photo assignments.  One layout assignment was not possible because it was about organization and frankly I had already organized the hell out of my space.  We were supposed to find forgotten supplies and make any kind of layout.  I skipped this challenge.  Our first assignment was to scrapbook the reason we are driven to tell our stories - to be part of this hobby.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Studio Calico; Stickers: October Afternoon; Bingo Card: Red Lead Paperworks; Wooden embellishments: Studio Calico; Spray Mists: Studio Calico

So again - it's not a great picture - but I rocked out something a little different.  It has a major glare because I used a flash - it's the clearest of about eight pictures so there you go.  It took a long time to decide how I wanted to do this page.  I thought about doing a grid style inspired by the current Creating Keepsakes issue but decided against it.  I absolutely love all the products I used on this page.  I went a little crazy with the misting so I covered it with butterflies.  They're on pop dots so the faux pas isn't completely gone.  All in all - I liked this layout.  But not as much as this one...

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Simple Stories, Basic Grey, October Afternoon, Authentique; Die-cuts: Crate Paper; Chipboard Embellishments: American Crafts; Letters: Basic Grey & Webster's Pages; Stickers: October Afternoon; Wooden embellishments: Studio Calico

If you think it looks like I threw up embellishments on this page - I sort of did and that's completely what I love about it.  I love the domino in the upper right corner.  I love the 8 ball in the doily next to the dress.  I love that I printed out an old picture of myself from the seventies onto a piece of patterned paper from the Nook & Pantry collection from Basic Grey.  I love that the journaling is hidden behind the photo.  I LOVE this layout and at first I felt like the papers weren't me - But it is me through and through.  The challenge for this layout was documenting your process.  We were supposed to take tons of notes and just get familiarized with the way we did things.  I decided to document my process on Evernote using the voice recording, pictures, and texts.  It worked out pretty well.  I talk more about the process at a later date.  I'm gearing up for the homework and layout assignments for this week and will have more to share on Wednesday.  I'm going to get started on going through all my process information and get a post going on that too.  Look for that later in the week.  I'm nursing a summer cold - my absolute favorite thing in the world - during a friggin' heat wave.  Anyhoo...I hope everyone stays healthy and happy on this Sunday.  Until then...

BTW: Sorry if things seem scattered - my brain isn't at full capacity.  And...let's be honest - even when it is - that's  not much. :)

Edited on 7/25/2011: The title of my second page comes directly from a song by ADELE.  The song is called "Chasing Pavements" and it's on her first album - 19.  It's my anthem right now and I love it.  It also really went well with a not so happy story.

What Does It Really Mean?

I've been thinking a lot about things lately - reading, crafting, life in general.  There's only a few weeks until my new job starts and I'm super excited/nervous/insert any emotion here.  So instead of rambling about only God knows what- I thought I'd tackle my reading pledge.  If anyone has noticed I've changed my book #5 - it was...

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It's a good book...at least the first forty pages.  I just wasn't in the mood - I know I will be - just not now. So I moved on to this...

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I'm loving this book.  I'm on page 200 and starting to realize that AP English might have failed me when it comes to vocabulary or that my memory is the equivalent of a gnat.  Not sure which one applies.  I've  realized I need to buy all my books on the nook so I can look up all the words I don't know - which trust me is plenty.  So - I'm getting close to the halfway point of my reading pledge - and I'm starting to get nervous about meeting my goal.  And then I remembered - this is my goal and it doesn't matter if I meet it only that I commit to reading on a regular basis - that's what matters.  So that's it for now...I have a few cards and pages to share from craft diva day and The Mother Load class at Big Picture Classes.  I'm hoping to get that together on Friday.  

Oh...and I've made another pledge for Labor Day.  I plan to make 28 cards for Operation Write Home  (the number was picked "randomly" from one of those handy Internet number generators).  I won't even tell you what the first number was - either 35 or 43 but that's a whole different story.  I've made 5 cards already so I'm well on my way.  Tomorrow is the last day of my summer job so I'm going to have plenty of time to hit the crafty table and the books.  Woo hoo!  I hope you've had a wonderful Wednesday and stayed cool or warm depending on where you are in the world.  Personally - I feel like I'm living on the friggin' sun right now.  I digress.  Again - have a good one!  Until then...

P.S. Big Picture Classes is holding their Big Idea Festival again for free.  Check it out if you're interested in finding out more about their excellent classes - BTW: I don't get any kick backs.  It's a great chance to get your feet wet and learn first hand the wonderfulness that is online craft classes.

Finding Your Way

I signed up for two of Karen Grunberg's classes in the first part of this year - Embrace Imperfection and Finding Your Way.  Embrace Imperfection was a two week, free class from Big Picture Classes.  Finding Your Way is a four week class and we're a little more than half-way through.  As any reader of this blog knows - my crafting cycles pretty hard.  And I've been in the rut of all ruts for going on 9 months.  That's not to say I haven't crafted here and there, but I haven't had the feeling of being in the zone in ages.  Let me tell you it blows hard.  I was hoping Finding Your Way would be the jumpstart I've needed and in some ways it has - I've made seven layouts since February 24th - but I'm still struggling.  Scrapbooking seems forced and it's really starting the piss me the eff off.  So - I'm going to share a few of my new layouts.  These are the few I'm crazy about. Sorry for the lousy pictures - they're from my iPhone.  Can't find my friggin digital camera battery charger.

These first two layouts are a bit of a departure from me.  I usually don't "do" multiple photos on a one page layout.  Nevertheless, I love the way these two layouts turned out.  I love the layering of patterned paper.  I love the use of a paper grid as the foundation.  I love the embellishments put into a visual triangle.  I love love love these layouts!

The last layout has me written all over it.  It's a pretty typical layout for me nowadays.  One picture, patterned paper, flowers, and buttons.  I love the grid background (more on that later) and the egg drop soup paper from jillibean soup.  I would eat that paper up if I could.  This color scheme is also one of my favorites.  I've really been embracing the gray lately.

So here's the big question - am I really finding my way?  Part of finding your way is defining your scrapbooking voice.  But...despite lots of time thinking about my voice (see this post from last summer) - I'm not sure I'm actually finding my way.  I have a lot of pictures from Christmas and plenty of stories to tell - but when I sit down at that table I feel...nothing.  Not sure where to go from here.  I do know a few things for sure:

*I love one photo layouts - but feel comfortable putting more than one photo on the page when it's a portrait orientation.
*I love using grids as a foundation.  I prefer it over cardstock or other types of patterned paper.
*I gravitate towards clean lines but will rock the tilt in a pinch (and love it).
*I love flowers, buttons, and brads.  I also love flair buttons.  I need more embellishments that I like!
*I'm a story-based scrapbooker.  Event scrapbooking scares me to my core - can't seem to do it.
*I like clean journaling - grid foundations facilitate this in a big way.
*I like using bold letters (especially American Crafts Thickers as titles).
*I'm also learning to love longer titles.  Need more letters to continue this practice.

Where does this leave me - almost in a good place (I think).  It's given me a little more clarity and hope.  I'm going to totally focus my crafting energy on kicking this latest "hiatus" in the junk.  I know I can push through this.  I miss my crafty life.  I miss my blogging life.  I miss so much.  And I'm just done waiting for it to come back.  I'm just done.

Joyful

Saturday was a huge day for me. I was able to take a class taught by the talented Wendy Vecchi. I went to a Stamper's Anonymous trunk show and got a whole lot of swag. Unbelievably I'm still on budget. I got some rockin' photos of artwork by Tim Holtz and Wendy. And...I finished my last sketch for Sketchfest. I'm so proud of myself. It was definitely nice to craft every night of the week. I would like to keep the momentum going. All these wonderful things are making me feel joyful! I love this feeling. So, instead of blubbering on - I want to show my sketch and one amazing tag from the trunk show.

I really like this card. The sketch is there in it's true form - but the flower, bird, and cage are my own little additions. I really love the finished project - mainly because flowers, birds, and bird cages are some of my favorite images! Love it. If you can believe it, I colored the bird and cage with colorbox inks. Then I overstamped with background images from Papertrey Ink. The flower is from Prima. These painterly petals are my favorite flowers of all time - must have more!

Okay - one last thing. I cannot finish this post without including this tag from the Trunk Show. It is completing amazing and NOT MY WORK AT ALL. It is the wonderful work of Tim Holtz and/or Wendy Vecchi. At the class, we learned that Wendy does a lot of Tim's examples presented at shows, etc. Needless to say - I bought this set after seeing the tag - just unbelievable.

So...that's it for now. Quick update on Wednesday Sisters - I didn't make my deadline - but my plan is to choose a longer book and try to finish as soon as possible so I'm still on schedule. I didn't read a word yesterday since I was out all day. I hope everyone had a nice Saturday and has a nice Sunday! Until then...Happy Crafting!