Journaling... Project Life?

I've been trying to do some journaling every day. It's a helpful mini-meditation. I also feel like I'm doing something, even something small, that's creative. My poor little journal has been covered in tea and soda (multiple times) but it's hanging in there. I picked it up at Barnes & Noble a couple of years ago but it's finally being used. Luckily, my hoarding tendencies have served me well and I have a large box of new journals to work in if this gets irreparably damaged. I would love to do some more intricate journaling using my own bound books but for now, baby steps. This works for me and it's easy to carry around with my little pencil case with pens, highlighters and a few markers.

My new favorite journal trick is to doodle with highlighters. It's a quick color add to the page and a little lettering then good to go.  I'm still working into the fancier lettering. It's tougher than you might think. I always forget which way the sun is shining to create "the shadow". Ugh. 

Earlier this week, I did a quick note on "Intention" which my yoga instructor has been setting for me which is kind of handy. And the one she set was about resolution and being firm, mostly in practicing my yoga, but it got me thinking about commitment and trying to do some documentation regularly. I've been following Pam Garrison's lovely Project Life updates and decided I'm trying it next year. There's some hope that the studio might be in shape to handle an ongoing project like that. Might even get it's own cubby. But I don't want to over commit. :) I can also start gathering the supplies slowly, use what I've got and set aside for this as I go through supplies and reorganize. Relatively low cost beyond binder and inserts is my hope.

I'm also working on how to use my fancy DSLR along with taking better iPhone photos. Signed up for SnapShop (yay!) so with 5-6 months to practice with both I should be fairly proficient by January. I also ordered a super cute camera strap for the DSLR. If I can accessorize, it helps create the habit for me... at least that's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Also really loving the idea of getting started and involving Sophy. I would love to see a week through the eye's of Sophy. That baby has serious opinions.

Inspiring Me Right Now

I'm jonesing to get some art going again but have been fending off illness, and by fending off I mean deep in throws of another one, in addition to trying to keep up the exercising, cooking at home and getting the house organized. I feel like we've finally gotten a pretty good routine going with dinner and bed time but am having some trouble working in art on a regular basis. I blame Bravo and my desire to lounge in my super comfy bathrobe.

Sophy was off yesterday for MLK day so Rolland and split the day for baby coverage. I had the morning shift and while she napped I made a necklace and got started on a couple more ideas. It was fantastic. I had thought I could keep my 4:30 am wake up time and alternate art/gym but I'm not sure how feasible that is. a) I've been pretty exhausted and b) I'd rather not have a forced stop if I get on a roll. But, I have no shortage of inspiration. Here are some of  projects that are calling my name.

Art Journaling - I've got a couple journals in progress and need to finish watching my vidoes on lettering but I still have not gotten in a good art journal fix. I really, really want to make my own journal and love the binding on the one below that Pam Garrison's posted on her blog.  Pam is the queen of journaling and I've taken a few classes with her. They are always fantastic.

Pam Garrison

Ok, maybe Pam is the queen in training to Teesha Moore. She's truly the journal goddess. I love her style while recognizing it really isn't mine. I still find her pages incredibly inspiring. I love her layouts and the lettering with the gorgeous color is such a fantastic combo. It's awesome. But, my mind isn't as surreal oriented as hers. Or anywhere near that creative. I'm jealous. But always love looking at what she's done and find myself reaching for a pen even if it's just to get in a quick doodle. I find this image especially appropriate since I'm 40 in a few weeks and the highlight of pink is always going to be a winner.

Teesha Moore

 

I can't remember which blog I found Inez Storer's work but immediately fell in love. I feel like it's got such a great stream of conscious flow that I'm dying to try. I've got a canvas that has been given a good coat of gesso and has a base coat of cerulean ... you now immediately need to go here and watch this. It's ok, I'll wait....

Love that movie.

Okay, now that I'm back and a little more focused. I think this is most likely next up. Maybe even combine the stream of conscious flow with some of my journaling to get in a two for one. After that I can immediately start worrying about where to keep the relatively large finished piece but I'm going to stay positive and call that a good problem to have.

Inez Storer

I've always got the jewelry but and have seen a few pieces like the one below that incorporates some toys into the work. I have a couple of other examples but the pins go straight to images not the source or blogs directly so I can't credit them. Drives me crazy. Poor pinning people! Also, it makes stalking soooo much harder. What? Like you don't get obsessed and immediately need to know where to track down a tiny beat up toy taxi? ... right, just me.

Super Cute Truck

This is another 2 for 1 since it's a charm bracelet but includes toys! I've been collecting old plastic charms. Yes, "collect" = "hoards" but that's not really the positive. True fact. I lost my shit one night when I lost my jar of these pieces and demanded Rolland find them immediately while I tried to not sob. I was very pregnant and a little crazy. The above might have happened normally but without the tears portion. Anyway, I think this one is super cute and could easily be done in a quick project. 

I just have to make do with giving up some of my stash. Normally I would just order up some replacements but I'm working on the hoarding and being more frugal.

Charm Obsession - Paula Montgomery

Maybe if I mix in some more stones... :)

Anything else I should add to my obsession list?

Random Wednesday

It's been super relaxing so far in 2013 but we are making progress on the organization. Kitchen clean out and clean up is still going forward with only 2 cabinets left. Lower cabinets have all been Sophy proofed and we swapped out the heavy Le Creuset pots with the much lighter weight baking pans on our island so when she pulls on them down like she did the other day she isn't immediately at risk for a concussion. The loud crash did scare the hell out of her for about 5 minutes and then she was right back it. I may or may not have giggled a little and gotten a pretty dirty look from a disgruntled 10 month old. She is an adventurous little girl. Greatness. I hope she never loses it.

We also used up all the chicken stock in the freezer in 2012 so Rolland made some on New Year's Eve. Glamorous. We did have on our dress pajamas...not true. Totally regular pj's. But going into the New Year with a tasty batch of chicken stock does make me happier than a drunken revelry. Also, I don't drink so there you go. After the chicken stock we had some tasty chicken left over and I made enchiladas for our New Year's lunch. We usually have Central Market tamales but no one wanted to get all scrappy with the other shoppers to get them. CM for the New Year's tamale rush is madness. For reals. But, we had our tasty chicken enchiladas stuffed with black beans, chicken and cheese with Trader Joe's enchilada sauce and more cheese on top to keep the Mexican food tradition alive. There was also black eye pea salsa for luck. The tortilla soup not tasty and was a giant disappointment although I'm not a major fan of them anyway. The tortillas are from CM and super tasty. I'm hoarding butter tortillas in the freezer for an emergency, zombies or what not.

Besides improved home keeping, I do want 2013 to be a little more art filled. Rolland got me a much coveted flex shaft (pics in the future!) with the fancy pink limited edition shaft that will require some studio rework. It was already on the reorganize list anyway. I have big plans for some soldering projects, jewelry pieces and more frequent journaling. The journal pages are great since they're easy to do when Sophy's sleeping and I get a little creative outlet. This one was a super New Year's Eve quickie page but I love the colors and got in some drawing that I usually don't do. I really need to work on my lettering, I find it tricky and intimidating. I have no idea why but am adding it to the art goals for the list.

Tomorrow is back to the mines. I'm totally not ready but am already contemplating my outfit so there is that. This partial week of doing nothing has been awesome. With a plan for a more frugal 2013 I'm hoping to get more of them in. Happy Wednesday!

In progress

Midnight journal page since the baby was all riled up one night with the kicking. I'm cheating a little with the large scrapbook pages I can just cover existing journals with for immediate backgrounds then adding the layers. I'm loving the pink, black and white.



We've also started the baby prep stocking with food for the freezer. I'm guessing in the first couple of months post delivery I'm not going to be all about the cooking so we've started making the "freezes beautifully" items. So far this includes: meatloaf, red beans and sausage (the rice cooked later will be a breeze), lasagna and pumpkin bread. The rest of the week includes pizza dough, chicken stock and chicken pot pie. With my family coming down next weekend if Sophy hasn't arrived, Mom will probably finish stocking the freezer for a good 6 months!

Journal Pages: Paris

Paris pages that I can't stop. I've already added some pink scallops to the postcard. It really was like spring time even though it was October (a few years ago) when we visited. So lovely. I need to convince the husband to give it another try.

Smash Journal

I've been obsessed with journals lately but lacked some motivation but my new Smash Journal has helped me jump start the pages. I love the prompts and working intuitively by just pulling out pieces laying around my files or desk. It was especially great after my fairly crappy day to just play.

First 2 full pages finished in the journal. 2 more in progress for later postings.