Journal 52 : Week 18

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.
#18 : Deeper Inspired by thoughts of how I can ground myself in times of hard change and uncertainty. Thinking about roots of a tree being supportive and holding what is seen upright; digging into my inner strength and remembering all the gifts I have to support me through. Began with black paper since I have been feeling some darkness lately and then stenciled around an upside down tree mask to get the feeling of roots. 

I'm happy to have included the heart for hope. This is a good reflection of where I am today.

Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE 

Journal Jam 6 with Lettering tutorials

Effy Wild is sharing a weekly Journal Jam live session (her Canadian Monday afternoon, my NZ Tuesday morning). She's shifted to the Vimeo platform to make it more easily accessible, and even though I had to miss the live last week, it's available to play HERE or on her YouTube channel HERE. #6 is a special edition of creating a deck for the journal jam prompts and a lesson in lettering fonts (starts at 23:37 on that replay). 

She also provided prompts for Journal Jam 6 so we could create a spread in our journal and then add some lettering. 
Square I don't usually start dark

Mix your own colour 

Use a stencil Began with lavender which was not a happy choice but I've been watching Flora Bowley's together apart sessions (free for 48 hours after the live) on occasion as well and she is a great reminder that you can always cover things so added some white. Not convinced I can turn this into something I like, but it is early days

Blue I used Phtahlo Blue : drop, spray, drip....still not liking this at all.

Swirl I left this for a couple of days because I am totally uninspired and find this ugly, but today I know I need to make a bold move - I want a focal and think I will add a face or silhouette with a swirl of hair. 

So much happier! Maybe some glaze?....

Write a phrase that is meaningful to you This spread was about taking control and being intentional. 

A good chance to share some lettering tips: Use different pens, Letter stamps with staz-on ink, and of course you can print on other paper and then glue it down if you're not confident to letter directly on your page. You can paint background paper or use gelli prints for this, use old calendars or scrapbook papers or stamp on tissue for a disappearing look. See all my posts that I've labelled Lettering HERE and workshops with Joanne Sharpe HERE. This is a screen shot of the fonts Effy demonstrates in this video : 

The one down the side is sharing overlapping writing which she learned from Dina Wakley

Scribble I have just recently watched a video from Dina about Asemic writing which takes that overlapping writing idea even further and I can't wait to practice it. Dina's video includes ideas of what to write and where to write it.

Asemic writing is marks that have the appearance of text but have no semantic value = it looks like words, but you can't interpret them. I like how it looks artistically and have always wanted to do this. It's also a way of hiding your feelings but getting them on the page. Dina's key tips are the exaggeration of ascenders and descenders and contracting all spaces. Practice. Go quickly. Below = Dina asemic writing out of heads. Cool eh?

See her Pinterest board - apparently it's a new trend in calligraphy. 
I'm happy with mine

Add a feather I didn't feel the need to add this last prompt. I cannot believe that at lunchtime today I was looking at this spread with disappointment at the colour choices and mess I'd made

and now she's done and I really love this spread and am grateful for the journey.

Maybe you'll join us for Journal Jam next week HERE? I will be having to watch it after since she has rescheduled for 12noon EST = 4am NZ Time. Oh well. 

Creating a book a month : May stitching roll

Creating a book in April has been quite time intensive and June's will be somewhat similar, so I thought I'd try something completely different for May. I'm returning to my snippet hand roll stitching project which I introduced in March. I have made almost no progress but adore the idea. Follow this link to find out more about Anne Brooke's stitch project with tutorials on YouTube.

I'm going to follow the monthly prompts for ideas and if I need further inspiration I could try incorporating these stitched meditations from my blogging friend Nancy and Quilting Arts Magazine October/November 2019

Here's the gatherings of this project from March : 

And what I'm starting with today : 

When I have so many ideas of things to do it's useful for me to have a monthly focus for this project. Be fun to share where this takes me AND I am hoping that this means more time for play in May and sharing some different discoveries with you.
Anne has also just launched a couple of new online workshops available at reduced prices. I adore her work. 
Collage Box HERE

Stitched Collage Home HERE

Wishing you creative joy in May