First spread in my new altered art journal

I shared my new art journal yesterday and as promised, today I'm sharing my first spread inspired by the Opening Ceremonies lesson from Effy Wild (Book of Days 2019) and my word of the year. I began with a photo taken earlier this month. I chose it because it's not staged, just me enjoying life and how I am as I start the year. I printed it on some nice 'white linen' 160gsm card through my printer - I like the texture better than plain printer paper. I didn't start with a colour scheme in mind but LOVE this pink tapa tape so began with that

and then had to choose an envelope to fit in the gap - nice textured creamy white and I'm heading for a very pretty colour scheme. Problem - the narrow pink washi is very sticky and keeps tearing...use your good stuff before it starts not working properly! I managed to tape where I needed to on the envelope, and all the bits I had to tear off I just popped in the background - they'll give texture and show through subsequent layers - or not - doesn't really matter cos they might as well be there as in the bin!

And when I closed the photo flap I decided I just have to keep those words ♥

I put some clear gesso over those and then started with my paint. Trying a different colour scheme....Design Seeds is great for new colour combination inspirations

Although the white tapa stencil improves this I am really not loving it so far...at least it's a nice light background. Let's see if my lovely new stencil can improve things

Yep - instant improvement! Contrast of darker colour as well as loving the patterning

- more to be done yet though. I decided I'd tidy my table while I thought about next steps and realised that I can't see any of that gorgeous tapa tape here. Once that vibrant colour was added back I started to love this and decided to add some simple stitching to the flap for some added texture. Feeling very happy about the direction of this spread now....

You can click on any photo to see it larger. White dots add light (SHINE) and make me happy

If you read my post about my word, you'll know that I'm keeping with Shine (this is my third year) with an emphasis on Ease. Inside my envelope I've tucked a printable of my SHINE focus words and how I will invite in Ease this year (taken from my blog post) : 

Found words appear often in my work - these are from a large print dictionary

I love the dark print on white background and I'm pleased to share my finished spread

A different colour scheme for me, and a lovely way to start my new journal and my year.

My Word for 2019 and introducing my new art journal

While I've followed the practice of choosing a word of the year for about 10 years now, I wasn't looking for a new word this year. I've had SHINE for the last 2 years and I think it's with me for life ♥ but while watching Effy Wild's first live broadcast for 2019, she mentioned the word EASE and my heart answered. This year I am looking for lightness, self-care and compassion. I want to slow down and practice gratitude for what I already have. I love Kiala Givehand's recent blogpost where she explains about a Depth year for 2019 - going Deeper, not Wider. It really resonates with me and supports my intention of inviting Ease. You can read it HERE. 
In my past practice I've focused on a word for each letter of Shine and this year I'm really excited by my change of focus words

My Word for 2019 is SHINE with a focus on EASE

S = Self-care 
Stitch and make Art - 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
Reflection = improvements to habits
Nurture body and Soul
I = Inner Work
Affirmations
Self-care and self-compassion
Continue to explore my intuition and inner wisdom via Tarot and Oracle cards
Reflection 
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
Going deeper, not wider - finding value in what I already have 

And the day after I'd decided all that, Victoria Erickson (huge fan here) posted this poem ♥

I began the year with gratitude and ease - read about my family holiday in Hawaii HERE. Now I'm ready to begin 2019 with a new art journal. I loved working in my previous altered book so much, I decided to go with another recycled old book. Trying to use what I already have, I looked in my stash and had 2 choices 

I love the cover design of the Girls' Treasury without alteration but it's just too small for me this year. The book that I've chosen is still quite a bit smaller than my previous journal but it's good to be stretched in different ways, and if I do as many stitching projects as I intend to this year, it will be great to spend less time filling smaller pages in my art journal! 

The new pages measure 7 1/4" x 9 3/4" (18.5cm x 24.5cm) and they are old-fashioned thick ♥

Given my previous journal ended up bulging, I've already taken out some signatures. There's a mix of glue and stitched signatures. In places, I clipped the stitching and lifted a folio of 3 folded sheets out before taping over the seam left

I have pulled out 6 signatures of 3 folios each = a total of 72 pages. In my book I still have 82 pages so I've removed about half. 

That stack of signatures is ready to be turned into another journal in the future ♥

I have left the damaged top of the spine at this stage (you can see the exposed glued signatures) in case I need to split the spine and rebind as I did in my last journal. 

I usually save doing my cover art until I complete the journal. See details of my previous journal cover completed HERE. 

My new journal will contain my art from Effy's Book of Days 2019 (which is a collaborative this year) and may contain some interpretations also from A Year of Rumi, although I have a different project in mind for that class : Klimt in the Garden with Rumi. Despite my initial trepidation about beginning a new journal of such different dimensions, after preparing it all I couldn't wait to get started. 

My first art journal spread is inspired by the Opening Ceremonies lesson from Effy Wild focused on our word of the year. This post would be huge if I went on to share the full story of my first spread so check back for that tomorrow...

Hawaiian Holiday review and Traveling Art ♥

This week we returned from a family holiday of 11 nights in Hawaii! Can't quite believe I can write that ♥ Our eldest has just finished high school and we don't know what the future looks like so we're making the most of this time together...it could be our last big trip as the 4 of us. I went anticipating lots of amazing experiences but also hoping for some transportable art time... I tend to overpack art supplies when I am traveling within New Zealand so I tried to keep my supplies limited 

Before we left I created a gelli journal inspired by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's online class so I had a journal of backgrounds to doodle on and took my Inner work journal to write in (note the perfect Hawaiian cover - a lovely coincidence cos our holiday wasn't booked when I purchased it ♥)

No idea what to expect in terms of realistic art time or shopping for art supplies....here's what happened. First part of our stay was in Maui - we had a balcony that was perfect for morning coffee...and art journaling

afternoon wine...and art journaling

journaling of any kind at any time really ♥ 

I shared base pages in my Gelli journal HERE. Maui was very relaxed and I actually managed to complete 3 pages in my journal whilst away! These are the base pages and the finished : 

I've left the inside front cover at this stage. 

Lots of metallic pens on the above - lots going on but couldn't stop!

As far as art supplies go, I was very disappointed with what was available. (Please don't advise me now about where I should have gone!!) Only purchased the following in Maui from Ben Franklin Crafts 

- lovely stencils that helped me with my page above and I can't wait to try that really large one. The pens and ink pad were cheaper than NZ, but I had been hoping to see Jane Davenport supplies and Art Foamies by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and many more stencil designs but alas it wasn't to be....
Once we got to Honolulu for the second stage of our holiday, we spent a lot more time out in the city at night, and I only kept up with my written journaling. I purchased the Southern Hemisphere PDF Planner for a Magical 2019 to print and use weekly, and it was good for brief notes of what we did each day

I really like how there's space on the page for me to print out 3 photos of highlights of each week although it was hard to choose for this fortnight! Then I wrote more detailed notes and was thrilled I kept this up daily. 

Now for the inspiration - the hotel in Maui was a resort - lots of palm trees 

and I especially loved the architectural and furniture patterning which I photographed for future art inspiration :

Loved the pineapple details in our room

In Honolulu our hotel was much more modern and inner city - they did have this very cool tiled floor in the bathroom - this way up they look like pansies

And I can't finish this post without a few favourite photos of me loving every moment of my Hawaii experience

Don't forget it's the middle of winter in Hawaii and perfect temperatures for us - blue skies and 28 degrees every day and it only rained at night

 

On our last night I purchased this calendar for my studio - a reminder of my Hawaii experience and to remember the good things in life. The beach has always been my happy place ♥ 

I have begun 2019 so grateful for the opportunity to travel with my family and soak in so many new experiences, but also with renewed love and gratitude for the beautiful land which I call home...and now I'm going to work in my new altered journal. Sharing tomorrow ♥