Journal 52 : Week 39

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.
#39 : Puzzle My main puzzle at present is which project to tackle first! It's school holidays and I have a huge "want to do" list. Decided I would start with Laly Mille's lesson from the Free Life Book 2021 Taster sessions and see where it took me

Resolving the puzzle of what this card would look like was magical. 

I'll share in a separate post what I did with the rest of my papers. Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE

Book of Days : Resilient

So excited to have reached the last spread in my altered art journal! I introduced this journal in January last year, and this was how it looked in January this year. 

Decided that the best way to finish this book was with a Book of Days portrait lesson from Melanie Rivers in June called Resilient. She encouraged a loose and playful style.

I began with my face sketch on the right hand page, and felt I needed to honour myself as I end this journal. No curly hair for me at present and I am still making my peace with that. I also had to come up with something other than hair flowing to the facing page! This spread was a struggle in some ways and a healing in others. 

Pleased to have included Shine in my spread. And in a lovely flash of inspiration and closure, this last spread uses the same stencil from my first spread!

I finish with huge gratitude for my creative practice and this art journal which has helped me navigate the challenges of 2020 so far. 

Obviously this recycled book needs some work on the spine and I'd like to alter the cover in some way. I'll share that when it's done and looking forward to introducing you to my new art journal.

Find out more about the collaborative year-long class Book of Days 2020 HERE. Effy's currently working on what 2021 will look like and has said registration will open on November 15th. THIS LINK will take you to all the work I've ever done inspired by Book of Days through the years. 

Journal 52 : Week 38

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.
#38 : Intend. How perfect. My word for this year is to Shine with Intention. I've been doing my best in the face of Cancer and Covid, and this is a great reminder as we enter Spring and feelings of a fresh start, there's still a generous quarter of the year to go and I can re-focus on what's important and brings joy. Here's a quick revisit of my word : 

In 2020 I will SHINE with INTENTION

S = Self-care 
Stitch, make Art, read, listen to music - do what recharges me
Develop relationships - support others and accept support 
Believe in myself
Share - I'm an extrovert so this also recharges me
H = Healthy
Good eating + Gym habit = Energised
Be mindful
Rest
Nurture body and Soul
I = Intentional
Regularly spend time doing what I love
Reflection = improvements to habits
Be present
Align my actions with my dreams
Using Oracle/Tarot to strengthen my Intuition and Intention
N = Notice
Embrace joy - seek it out - sit with it
Practice gratitude and love
Be mindful
E = Ease
A gentle approach - self-compassion
Following the path that feels good for me
Letting go of the unrealistic expectations I wouldn't hold for others

Making space for silence 

Rest

At the beginning of this project, our first prompt was Heart and I included my words. 

This time I'm inspired by the colours of my latest art journal spread and a gorgeous Spring day

My journal spread is the last in my altered art journal. I decided to use a page originally removed from this book as my base so my card will also celebrate the end of the journal and include some extra lovely found words. Some pretty serviettes and sari ribbon = a Spring inspired card full of intention to Shine.

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE

Journal Jam : You got this

From March-May I created journal spreads with Effy Wild in her live online Journal Jam sessions. We were in lockdown and our time zones were compatible for a while. Journal Jam is where Effy draws a prompt from a special deck of cards, and you follow along in your journal. I take process photos of how I respond to the prompts and it's really interesting to see how pages develop. A few weeks ago, I just wanted to do some art without any idea of where I wanted to end up so played along with the recording for Journal Jam 15. Didn't realise then it would take me so long to finish. This is what Effy created using the prompts and following some impulses : first is the actual page, and the other is the facing page developed from using it as a paint palette.

I decided I will do the same and use my right hand page as my paint palette.

Overlapping circles. Roll the dice for colour (1. Red, 2. Blue, 3. Yellow, 4. Green, 5. Purple, 6. Orange) Ended up with too much paint on my right hand page so smooshed together - at least I have a layer of colour!

Gesso Priming the rest of my page. Put some on areas with a popsicle stick and then dragged with credit card. Not pretty but early days. 

Add a word Affirmation in silver letters on scrapbook paper torn and glued without too much thought to placement - just what feels good right now. This was the week that I'd started my last treatments - Radiotherapy for 15 days.

Add some tape Found an old piece of gelli-printed micropore tape which I've used up down the middle and some lovely watercolour look washi tape cos it looks painterly and nothing else appealed.

White pen Some Asemic writing - it includes the words "I can do hard things" so seemed appropriate to outline the found words "Don't be afraid" which I saw after I'd done the other writing! (outlined in white upper right page)

Cover something up I love stencils - will cover over some of the gesso. I want to add more purple to the page. Used the right page to put my paint on again, and then used baby wipe to clean stencil off on that side. Effy then added drips so I decided I'd like to do that too :Quinacradone Red transparent. Now I'm starting to love where this is going. Photo taken next day when all dry and in daylight. Then sat for a few days before I got back to the next prompt.

Metallics Yay! I think I'll use gold with another stencil. Then dabbed the excess around with my cosmetic sponge.

Use a colour you love I think I'm going to add some glazing like Effy did ie. a transparent layer so can see beneath. But this spread sat again for more than a week before I was able to act on that thought! And then it was a simple matter of more of that Quinacradone red blended with a baby wipe

Spirals Decided to add a stamp with micaceous iron oxide, so a bit grungy. Then I uploaded my photos and saw the face in the right hand page...this really inspired me and I completed the spread quite quickly.

Finishing this spread coincided with the last of my radiotherapy sessions yesterday. I'm finished with all the aggressive parts of my treatment and am now breast cancer free ♥ I need to look after myself and get plenty of rest while the radiation is still active in my body for the next 2 weeks. Then it's school holidays and I'm looking forward to some fun art play and sharing again with you more regularly. 

There's a list of all of the Journal Jam replays in Effy's Wilderhood FB group HERE. Check out my other Journal Jam spreads HERE.

Journal 52 : Week 37

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.
#37 : Patience As I shared yesterday, I wanted to complete 2 cards this weekend (last week's prompt being Release and this coming week Patience) so that I didn't feel like I was getting behind again. 

I didn't feel like my card was quite finished yesterday. The 4 hearts are a paper casting - great to use it at last

Today it was obvious what was needed....gold thread is always gorgeous to finish

I needed the messages of both cards this week. Read more about that in my previous post. 

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

Journal 52 : Week 36

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.

#36 : Release and #37 : Patience Inspired by my magnolia tree, using more of these papers, and lots in my head this week...

I'm reaching the end of my radiotherapy and I am tired. I have been managing all the usual things I do in a week, aside from going to bed earlier. My family are looking after me and trying to get me to rest this weekend. For me that involves Release (of my expectations) and Patience (things get done differently than I would). I wanted to do both cards today (last week and this coming week) so that I don't feel 'behind' again. I am grappling with things not being as I want, but not having the energy and motivation to be able to do anything about that at present. I need the messages of both these cards this week.  

Effy's Release card was inspired by Autumn and trees releasing their leaves. See her card and musings HERE. We are entering Spring in New Zealand, and my Magnolia is gorgeous and also wind-blown releasing petals to the ground.

I adore using sari ribbon and the small bird stencil was the perfect finish.

My second card has been an exercise in Patience...I don't think it's quite done so I'll share tomorrow.

Effy's been writing "Ten Things" again on her blog. I love her articulate writing style, and value her honesty. I often find her words resonate with me although our experiences are vastly different. Today this : 

VIII. The whole conversation about strength and how all that we experience ‘makes us strong’ and how sick I am of that story. The way I handle what I experience makes me strong. The experience itself doesn’t get any fucking credit. The way I do the work, the way I work to learn, grow, grapple, the way I do my level best to own and hold my own, the way I move through…that’s all me.

I am strong. I am resilient. I know how to Shine with Intention. I am ready to release the experience of months of dealing with breast cancer, and move forward being able to focus on other things. 

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

Journal 52 : Week 35

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.
#35 : Desire The colours of desire for me today are purple and red. Inspired my current work-in-progress in my art journal and one of my stitched embellishments

Used some gorgeous inky paper for the background and very happy with how this finished card feels layered and passionate. 

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE