Journal 52 : Week 25

Journal 52 is a weekly prompt from Effy Wild (Free HERE) that I'm creating on a deck of jumbo playing cards 3.5'' x 4.75'' (8.5 x 12 cm). Each card will include stitch, a found word, and be inspired by the project I've been working on that week or what's lying leftover on my work table. See the original post HERE.
#25 : Enter. Inspired by some lovely key charms I've had waiting for the perfect prompt.

I thought I'd start working on the card (prepared with some scrap paper) alongside the background for my latest art journal page to see what sparked for me

Very happy to finally use a piece of polymer clay that I created many years ago. It makes a lovely portal with the sari ribbon.

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

Book of Days : No Mud No Lotus

I haven't been posting as much since my energy has been low this month. This was to be expected as I finished my last round of chemo but makes it no less frustrating. Art has always helped me navigate difficult times and I couldn't go past this lesson from Effy. Here's a peek at her lesson (top left) and what else is on offer in Book of Days for June : 

We began with the intention of creating the lotus on the left hand page and using the right one as our palette to develop into a separate painting. Effy began with watercolours so first thing I had to do was cover my left hand book paper in my recycled art journal with watercolour ground. The Ground means the watercolour paint doesn't soak into my page but as you can see the colours haven't flowed as they would on watercolour paper, plus you can see the brush marks of spreading the ground (wasn't noticable when first laid down the colour which also dries lighter). It's okay for a base layer.

Once dry you must always spray with workable fixative so the watercolour won't move with the next layers of media. Love what develops after...the right hand side is using up leftover paint and ink.

Find out more about the collaborative year-long class Book of Days 2020 and join us HERE. THIS LINK will take you to all the work I've ever done inspired by Book of Days through the years.

Journal 52 : Week 24

Journal 52 is a weekly prompt from Effy Wild (Free HERE) that I'm creating on a deck of jumbo playing cards 3.5'' x 4.75'' (8.5 x 12 cm). Each card will include stitch, a found word, and be inspired by the project I've been working on that week or what's lying leftover on my work table. See the original post HERE.

#24 : Empathy. Since I haven't been able to be creative lately, I have been inspired again by lovely paper and ribbon from recent birthday gifts. 

I began by gluing a piece of printed underpaper to my card (a scrap of paper alongside your work where you clean off paint or stencils). So love adding the fibre elements to these cards.

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

I am so grateful that while June has been extra-challenging so far physically, I have been able to at least manage to create these weekly art cards. Feeling better energetically today and hoping to share some other art with you soon.

Journal 52 : Week 23

Journal 52 is a weekly prompt from Effy Wild (Free HERE) that I'm creating on a deck of jumbo playing cards 3.5'' x 4.75'' (8.5 x 12 cm). Each card will include stitch, a found word, and be inspired by the project I've been working on that week or what's lying leftover on my work table. See the original post HERE.
#23 : Resilient. Inspired by some lovely wrapping paper and a new stamp, and have been dipping into some Klimt ideas of using gold.

I have had my last chemo treatment and am feeling grateful and taking each day at a time. Surgical consult is next (mid-July). I remain positive and am definitely wanting to celebrate my resilience. Effy used a face for her card so I was inspired to go that way too.

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

Journal 52 : Week 22

Journal 52 is a weekly prompt from Effy Wild (Free HERE) that I'm creating on a deck of jumbo playing cards 3.5'' x 4.75'' (8.5 x 12 cm). Each card will include stitch, a found word, and be inspired by the project I've been working on that week or what's lying leftover on my work table. See the original post HERE.
#22 : Synthesis. Wasn't sure what to do with this since nothing currently on my work table after tidying away the remains of my lovely mixed media banner and I'm having a slow start to the month. I was thinking about how to combine materials I love and that brought thoughts of fabric paper into my head. I've made a few projects featuring fabric paper techniques and I still have a stash in my cupboard. It was lovely to get the pieces out and I particularly enjoyed seeing the piece created in a Judy Coates Perez class in 2010 (the large dragonflies) and the tissue fabric inspired by Rebekah Meier (the gold piece). Need to think about including them in some way in some future work.

I also found this piece which I think is a perfect base for this week's card. 

Just needed to find the right bit to feature, then added stitched elements, a bit of gold pen, serviette, and the found word. The black heart will always remind me of the current global pandemic and the riots and protests. It is a sadly unsettled time. 

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

Art class inspiration...and temptation

Welcome to June. I'm trying to wrap my head and heart around so many sad and hard events in the world and the fact that I have my last chemo treatment next week. It's my birthday month but I may need to delay celebrations due to chemo response. I'm someone who loves to celebrate and use the occasion as an excuse for many fun social gatherings with different friends so this is also taking some head adjustment. I'm trying to decide whether I have the energy to create a book this month, and what that might look like. Or what might happen instead. So while I get my head straight, I thought I'd share some goodness that's happening in the art community. I thought I couldn't make room for any more art classes this year, but this past week have presented 2 major temptations that just might help me celebrate my birthday! The first is from Sal Schiebe and starts on June 11th. Check it out HERE.

Looks just gorgeous doesn't it? 

I need to make a decision about this one soon...

The other one doesn't launch until August and is the new collaborative offering from Tam at Willowing called Kaleidoscope 2020. Read all about it HERE and we can join a FREE taster week (from 17th June) HERE. 

The course runs for 4 months and features many teachers that I already love and a few faces new to me that look worth exploring. 

If you want to leap straight in, there's an early bird discount available now 

I am going to sample the taster week before I commit....looks amazing though. 

And in other news - this FREE offering : the Make Create Express Workshop is another year long offering that can also be sampled with a FREE weekend (11th and 12th July). All the details HERE. 

From past experience, this one can feel more pressured because you only have 24 hours to watch the content, but you mustn't feel like you have to see it all. Best strategy is to choose a few favourite teachers and enjoy them as free inspiration and time for you. Last year I joined and managed to view more than I anticipated which was really lovely. Lucky for me in New Zealand this falls within our next school holidays - useful for time zones.

And just one more FREE inspiration challenge that has just started : Daisy Yellow's 10th ICAD (index card a day). 

Read all about it HERE - there are some paid add-ons you can do if you want extra help and tutorials. 

See you soon with some art. Hope the sun is shining where you are.