Recent Journal Pages

Sometimes when I get in a "journaling rut," I go back to the past where lots of interesting memories are stuck in my brain cells. This memory came alive when I found this great pic from a rock music magazine. Great phrases, words and pics can always be found in these types of magazines which I used to get handed down from my daughter.

I'm grateful to have a job especially in these tough times but even the grateful get gloomy. Can you see it? Yes, visual journaling is my thing!

I still don't have a budget for the library which is a first. By this time of the year I've already ordered stacks of books and a few library supplies. Rather than give up hope or gripe that there's no money, I try to focus on what we have and what our kids still find exciting enough to borrow.

Here's a page that I "scribbled" on. It felt good to get it all out and I even turned the offender into a monkey! LOL!!!

Hope you enjoyed viewing some of my recent journal pages. Did you know I once hosted a Journal ATC swap? Yes I did. The rule was to art up the front and journal on the back. Each artist was to sign their name, date and series number somewhere. It was fun and the participation level filled up. I did leave some players wondering about some of the things I wrote because it was like leaving cliff hangers. Well, there's only so much you can journal about on such a small space. I'll put it like this, it's a fun challenge!

Journaling ARTventures!

Journaling is a journey for me.

Colorful backgrounds are a must for my journals. By now you MUST know the important role of color in my life.

I usually don't have qualms about what I enter in my journals.

There are those moments when I have to do the "scribble" in my journal! This is reserved for those rare moments when I DON'T want to make a horribly awkward situation public knowledge. I like to throw in phrases that I've cut out of magazines to add punch to my pages.

Sometimes all you need are a few phrases and a great pic to say it all! I created this page when I went a little overboard at the stamping convention. I know I'm not the only one who's been there, done that!

Sometimes I know what I want to say and other times I don't. Sometimes it doesn't matter to me that someday someone will read it and other times I do. You can probably tell which pages go with my do's and don'ts. I'm a great scribbler which works perfectly for my "I don't want anyone to ever read what this says" entries. I also have a great stash of phrases for those days when I know what I feel, but don't want to write about it. Teamed with a great pic is all I need to make this kind of entry complete. And of course, colorful washes of color always help to make an interesting page.

Old Pages, Same Message

My thoughts on journaling have not changed much. This was my message to a group of players in a Journal Round Robin.

Even back then I had a special stash of phrases and pics saved for my visual journaling artventures.

While going through my old journals I discovered one connecting thread. My love of color! Another message that still has deep meaning for me is to make time for art.

It always becomes a little challenging for me to balance my creative side with my job. I come home tired, sometimes dead beat. But somewhere during the week or weekend I'm getting my fingers painted, inky or glued. LOL!! I HAVE to do something creative. Swaps have pushed me to continue, workshops I've led or taken have done the same and when I didn't have either, I could always be found altering a page in my journal.

I've gone back in time to show you some pages from past journals. Today I bring you two pages from a Journal Round Robin that I once participated in.

Artventurous Inspiration

Today while checking in on fellow bloggers, I discovered that artist Janice Lowry, who I recently saw on public television, has passed away at the tender age of 63. She was an excellent human being who did some pretty awesome art. If you haven't seen her work, go to http://www.janicelowry.com/ to see it. You'll get a glimpse into her world and drool when you see her studio.

Janice is an example that we are not guaranteed "X" number of days, months, years. How ironic that I planned to include a picture from one of my older journals with the quote "What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it." She accomplished so much in her 63 years and it wasn't because she sat around waiting for it to happen. Well, don't let me tell you about it. Just go to her website where you can also click on the link to her blog and read her husband's tribute to her.

Live life to it's possible fullest for you. We all come from different backgrounds and situations but we all have time to make it happen. Don't wait till it's too late. In the end will that dust bunny really make a difference in your life and will you be dreading that you didn't wipe the furniture enough?

Sunday Artventures!

This is my "R" is for Rebel ATC for the ABC group. I like his hair cause it's purple and glittery. Now that I look at him he looks more like a retired rebel. LOL!! This card will be traveling to Ireland to be with BT.

This ATC is done in colored pencils and ink. It too will be heading off to BT's corner.

Sisterhood is the name of this ATC and it's on it's way to BT. We agreed to swap out 2 cards. I knew that one day I'd use this stamp!

This is my "S" ATC for the ABC swap. The background is actually medium blue but it came out looking white under the scanner.

So much has been happening all around me lately. I made it a point to catch up and finish some important business, uh, art business that is. It felt good to sit at the table and work on ATCs that I owe to some of my art buddies. Finally! They're done and so outta here as of tomorrow. Like my friend Jolene says, "Make Art not War!"

Thankful Thursday

These ATCs were sent to me from my friend Gina who lives in Ireland. We're both in the ABC ATC group and the "S" is for swan card comes from that swap. When I saw her Picasso Cat ATC I had to grab it and the same with the Coffee Time card.

Gina threw these inchies, vintage buttons (I've got to hide those from my seamstress daughter!), and some ribbons that are camera shy! Notice the inchie that says "relax." How did she know?

This is an entry from my Frida mini journal that I wrote about the first time my dad, well, you can read it. Just click on the pic to read all about it. And yes, this picture is from my wedding day 30 years ago! Look at him! He has "Godfather" written all over! LOL!!!

This was taken on Father's Day 2009. My baby sister is to the far left, then it's Dad, me and Mom.

It's Thursday evening and it's Friday in other parts of the world but it's never to late to be thankful, especially when it's Thankful Thursday! It's been a rocky two weeks and keeping my blog up has been challenging. Thanks to those who check in frequently to see what I'm up to. Sorry you've been seeing the same old post. I had to check my dad into the hospital last week. We've been waiting for a bed and one suddenly became available. He has weak legs and there's a program at the VA Hospital in the Physical Therapy dept that his doctor thought Dad could benefit from. I'm thankful to the hospital staff for showing genuine concern and compassion not only to my dad, but to the thousands of vets that pass through their doors on a daily basis.

The majority of my summer was spent driving my father to and from doctor appointments. As the two of us sat there waiting in traffic, I was taken back to when HE was the driver and I was the passenger on the way to the allergist for my weekly injections or doctor appointments. Here we are several decades later and it's still just the two of us only I'M the driver and he's the passenger.

Been Tagged!

Click on the pictures if you need help seeing the questions.

My friend Sherry, from http://www.gotart4u.blogspot.com/ tagged me last week and I'm finally getting around to posting my questions and answers. The rules are for me to tag 4 in return so, I tag the following bloggers -

Joss from http://www.soulbrush.blogspot.com

Gina from http://www.bt-thecraftygardener.blogspot.com

Lynn from http://www.lynn-noname.blogspot.com

Gayle from www.gayle-rubberandink.blogspot.com

Some of you are rebels (I know which ones ;) but here are the rules....Yes, rules!........

Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog. Replace one question that you dislike with one of your own invention. Add one more question of your own.

Tag 4 people.

Let's see who plays. If you don't, no worries. Now go!

TGIF #3

Thank God It's Frida! Here's a page out of a journal that I never wrote on.

Rather than make a collage on front of stretched canvas, I decided it would look better on the back.

My friend Jolene sent this altered CD to me. I love the way she placed faces of Frida along the edges.

My friend Christina sent me this altered CD featuring Frida. She designed the background using Sharpies. I'm not sure what medium was used to color in Frida's clothes.

This is the back of the above CD. Or is it the front? No biggie. Both sides look great! I think she used Sharpies to add color throughout.

Where did the week go? Who cares, TGIF!!!! Thank God It's FRIDA!

Thankful Thursday!

Not that there's anything wrong with having quintuplets, but I'm very thankful I don't have any. LOL! This ATC is on it's way to Teri from the ABC group we're in. We're at the letter "Q" and it's always interesting to see what everyone comes up with.

This really cool envelope recently arrived in my mailbox from Rhode Island where artist, Lolo, lives. Look at that U.S. postal stamp featuring the raven! It's Lolo's very own creation that she had turned into a postage stamp! Is that cool or what?! There's a fancy stamped image on the envelope that she applied some glitter onto. See it?

When I opened the envelope, this P is for Poppies and a Pod was enclosed as well as this lantern note card. What a cool lantern stamp that is. I'll have to find out who makes it.

This O is for Oriental Man came from Lynn. Her husband was the model for this sketch! Don't give me a pencil or pen to sketch anyone cause I'll only make a big mess. LOL! Great job, Lynn! You can visit Lynn's blog at www.lynn-nonameblog.blogspot.com where you can see some of her fabric delights.

The mailman brought me some fun stuff recently. I always get excited when a decorative envie or a fat pack bulging at the sides arrives. They can only mean one thing - COOL ART INSIDE WAITING TO GET OUT!!!

I received a very cool "P" is for Poppies ATC from Lolo. She does really cool paintings and I'm pretty jazzed about having a couple of her originals! You can visit her blog at www.studiololo.blogspot.com to see what she's up to. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks to my art friends for making my mailbox shine!

Peace Offering

This little guy (50/50 named after the creamsicle bar by the men in the family) is always ready to lend out a purr. He's the most loving man cat I know even if he likes to make trouble with the girl kitties.

Momma looks very stand-offish but she is always the first to greet guests and she loves men. And me, of course. She brings me comfort when I'm feeling down and she's sitting right next to me as I type.

My kitties always know when their hairless momma needs a jolt of inner peace. They sense when something is not right with "her." So they come and sit nearby hoping to make it better. It helps until my mind starts to wander. I'm always telling others to let it go and to not let the negative junk take over. Why is always easier said than done?

Here's to a week of peace for everyone. Be calm and take deep breaths.

TGIF #2

"My painting carries with it the message of pain." Frida Kahlo

Over here on my blog I've decided that TGIF translates to "Thank God it's Frida." These pics are taken from pages in my Frida mini journal which I taught last month.

"When the idea of a mini journal workshop sprung up, I knew that Frida would have to be one of the themes. I've always loved her art and admired her for not letting the pain she endured from Diego and her body deter her from creating. Painting seemed to be her pill. And because Frida's life was associated with pain, I decided that my journal entries would be my personal observations on my father's declining health and watching him age before me. Not easy watching the man who once stood tall shuffle about carefully and become easily forgetful." Linda, July 27, 2009

Thankful Thursday

These ATCs were in a large pack I got in the mail the other day from Soul! I love the varied shades of color on the black background.

Soul suggested we make ABC ATCs featuring verbs. Here's her take on verbs using the letters "A" (far upper left which is "ADD" and yes, she did ADD lots here! LOL!) all the way to "M" for MEND (which she stitched onto fabric - very cool and clever!).

Here are the letters "N" through "Z." Deep meaning behind her "V" ATC for VISUALIZE (it's the one with Mandela). And who would have thought "uncurling.." as a verb! Not me. Oh, and can you see the tear on my rotator cuff in the "X-rayed" shoulder?! Leave it to Soul! LOL!

She's still at it with those inchies!

Cool map! I was straining to see if I could find where Soul lives. The pack of tags and doo-dads will be used one day when I'm looking for that "something" I need to add on.

I should really post my Thankful Thursdays early enough for my international blog pals to view them on time. I'm sure a couple of them are snug in bed waiting for Friday to stroll along. Well at least they'll have something new and exciting to look at when they roll out of bed, even if it's a day late.

I got a fat envelope in the mail the other day from my friend Soul! I was expecting to get my ABC ATCs from the swap she challenged me to a few months ago. When I opened the pack I was so overwhelmed by the extra goodies she placed in there. I wanted to share some of those fun items plus the cards with you here today. Click on the images to get a closer look.

If I hadn't taken the first step in setting up a blog, I would have never known several of the people I know today. Somehow you wandered over here to check out my artventures and stayed. Some invited me to play with them and encouraged me to bring out a little more of my creative side. Someone suggested I join in on a "Fake Journal" project which was like being in Fantasy Island, minus Boss, Tattoo, and of course, the island. LOL! That was something I will always remember because it gave me a chance to pretend and write about the type of shop I would have liked to have had in my life, if given the chance. Thanks, Christina! And thanks to those of you who gave me the nudge I needed to get out more often to play even when I didn't feel like it. I can't imagine what else I'd be doing right now if I wasn't in any art swaps. All that time doing what? Cleaning? Eating? Spending money? Definitely not that. LOL! And continued thanks to you for visiting my blog.