January--Lifebook 2021--Art Journaling

 Wow, can't believe we got through 2020--let's hope this year will start to turn around and we can get some normalcy back--although I'm so used to living this way--that it now seems the normal way  :-)  I'm just happy that I'm able to do what makes me the happiest and content--it really does make a difference to find that in your life and make time for it everyday!

So now that Christmas craziness is over with and the quiet month of January has settled in I've been able to do the same thing--settling in--in my art room and playing.  

And this year I'm so happy that I decided to sign up for Lifebook 2021 hosted by the wonderful Tamara Laporte.  I haven't been in it for a couple of years, but this year I knew I needed to make some art for just me.

Our first lesson was with Tamara--our goddess of light--

Love all the layers and texture--it was just fun to play with different mediums.  And the next lesson from Tamara--our happy owl--

I took it in a little different direction from hers, but loved her owl design and kept to that.

So the next week's lesson (yes there is a new lesson every week with 32 different instructors!) was with Cinnamon Cooney

Again, I put my own spin on this piece--except for the tree girl--I love her!

And I've been playing around with different art supplies--I decided to give charcoal a 2nd chance.  A few years ago I used it and gave up on it--I didn't like the messiness of it.  But this time I got past that and discovered it's fun and forgiving!

Definitely will be  experimenting with these pencils some more--I like the way they work with other mediums.   And the best way to experiment is where else, but your journal.  I'm committed to the one I started last year when the quarantine started, and I'm getting there--adding more pages--

....mostly faces, which I love to do and when it's in my journal I have more freedom to play around, because that's what a journal is--a place to experiment in--this is what I like to put in my journal--painted faces!  and playing with different art mediums.  I think my favorite thing about art journaling is that they are all unique with each artist--it's each person's own individual voice coming out--in words, or paintings, or marks or whatever--no rules--love that!

I've also been making other art that's now in my Etsy shop.

Altered a cigar box with one of my journal girl images--

some of my whimsy art on 6 x 6 surfaces--

this one has a polymer clay bird that I had made some time ago--I found the right home for her

and also some assemblages

I really enjoy making vintage children themed art like this--I just like the nostalgia of it.

So these pieces are all available and you can find them HERE

 

This has pretty much been my month in the art department of my life--my favorite department!  :-)

Hope where ever you are life is good for you and getting back to a happier time!

Back From Highway 127!

It's  so  good  to  be  back  in  weather  where  I'm  not  melting  anymore.   We  had  a  good  time,  but  it  was  very  very  hot,  and   for  the  most  part  rainy--but  none  of  these  factors  stopped  me  from  doing  some  serious  shopping.

This  is  what  we  saw  for  miles  and  miles--these  clusters  of  flea  markets  jam-packed  with  soooo   much  good  stuff--it  was  overwhelming.

I'll  show  you  some  of  the  best  that  I  found--

....vintage  items  from  the  past  that  have  been  forgotten---I  always  want  to  rescue  them--especially  the  photos--who  gives  away  their  family  photos  anyway??

...more  fun  "rusty  gold"  items--I'm  a  sucker  for  old  hardware--I  have  pounds  of  it--enough  to  last  me  for  2  lifetimes...

....and  look  at  these  large  spools  and  bobbins---I've  never  seen  a  booth  like  this....he  had  every  size  and  shape  of  spools  and  bobbins  that  you  could  imagine--I  wonder  if  I'll  ever  see  this  booth  again...

.....and  please  help  me.....I  can't  stay  away  from  children's  blocks.....I  Love  them!!

There's  more....lots  more....but  these  items  were  my  most  favorite.  

They're all  put  away  now--I'm  becoming  very  organized  with  storing  everything,  which  I'm  really  proud  of.   These  are  my  art  supplies  and  tools  for  helping  me  make  pieces  like  these--

I  mix  the  old  and  the  new  to  make  these  fun  little  shadowboxes....and  they  all  started  out  like  this--

These  6 x 6  gallery  canvases  flipped  over  to  become  the  shadowboxes  that  you  see.

And  before  I  leave--I  also  wanted  to  show  you  where  we  went  in  Nashville--no  flea  markets,  but  other  very  cool  places--

For  you  American  Picker  fans--this  is  Antique  Archaeology--Mike  and  Frank's  second  store  that  they  opened  up  in  Nashville,  and  yes--you're  seeing  this  right--a  line  to  get  in--the  place  was  too  crowded,  so  we  had  to  wait  about  20  minutes.  I  saw  some  of  the  actual  items  that  they  picked  on  the  program--very  fun  place!!

The  Hermitage  Place  (aka  Andrew  Jackson's  plantation)  Photography  wasn't  allowed  inside--too  bad,  because  it  was  beautiful, and  95%  of  the  home's  furnishings  were  authentic,  right  down  to  the  wallpaper  on  the  walls.

...and  finally  a  backstage  tour  of  the  Grand  Ole  Opry--Loved  this!!---What  a  great  history  to  this  place!

Tennessee  is  a  beautiful  place  to  visit,  and  we  had  a  fun  time.....and  the  Highway 127  sale  was  just  icing  on  the  cake!