September and October Review

As shared in my mid-September post, I delayed my monthly review for September and combined it with October since I had a trip away at the beginning of our school holidays. We were so lucky to have a wonderful holiday in Rarotonga - highly recommended.

Unfortunately, since we've been home, stress has stolen my mojo and I am feeling frustrated with myself but unable to feel inspired enough to create very much. I am so thankful to have my weekly project that I am managing to keep up with. #52cards2024 : to create a card that reflects the past week (ending Sunday). I must include stitch, the colour turquoise and a word. 

These were my September cards :

Week 39 = 3/4 way through the year so here's everything that far. 

And now to October : starting with Raro inspiration of course 💙

I post details about the inspiration for these on my Facebook Artist's page and Instagram.

I also had to make a few cards for birthdays in October. I decided to go back to the backgrounds that I had created in August 

and ended up these 5

I had the opportunity to teach a lovely group last month with a day-long mixed-media class. I taught my Star Book class as well as Tag projects, including how to make master sheets and Zines. These were my samples and inspiration for them

This was the master sheet I demonstrated and the week's card that came out of it. 

And these were their star books. It was a really fun and successful day.

Looking ahead to what's next, I haven't signed up for Fodder School 4 so I have more options for what to do when my creativity revives...and it always does 💜

Some free online inspiration coming up with another Zen textile-arts-focused retreat

The classes aren't available for long, but I am looking forward to watching Brooke Henry create this removable hand stitched notebook cover.

And of course there'll be December Daily-ish book projects coming up - will share those as I find out what's happening this year. 

When I am really stressed, I love to watch good movies and read good books. These were my favourite 3 books last month.

I hope I have more to share next time. 

FREE online art inspirations

Hi everyone - half way through September already. I just wanted to let you know that I have 2 weeks of school term left and then 2 weeks of holidays with a trip away for me so I will be combining September and October reviews at the end of October. In the meantime, there is always a flurry at this time of year of free events promoting year-long workshops.

A warning that these free events can be overwhelming with a heap of wonderful artists presenting offerings over a very short time. Just take a breath and pick a couple of artists that inspire you to learn from them. It is a good way to try out some options in case you are looking for a year-long experience but they will cost of course.

No free options for these ones but to put in the mix if you are considering something for next year : Wanderlust 2025 (begins January 2025) and Fodder School 4 (begins October 1 2024). I have participated in both in previous years - leave a comment if you want further thoughts or use my labels or search box to explore. Please note there is still a Fodder School Challenge event but it is no longer free, and it runs for a limited time. It is included with the Fodder School 4 purchase so don't sign up for both! 

Tam of Willowing is no longer doing Life Book. Instead she is doing A Year of Light and the free taster event is 16-24 September - sign up HERE.

Introducing GPS Kickoff! A free workshop for beginner gel plate users. Also a taster and starts 16 September. All the info HERE. Find out more about the main event at Drew Steinbrecher's Instagram. 

There's also Sketchbook Revival 2024 - sign up for the free event HERE. This workshop runs from September 23rd - October 7th, and remains available free until 19th October. You can also pay to join the main event.

And just because it's been recently uploaded, I wanted to share this cool technique on Youtube combining paper and stitch from Francisca Nunes - Paper netting. 

Hope something there to spark inspiration for you.

August Review

August was a very busy month for me personally with seven birthdays, a trip to Wellington to watch the All Blacks and catch up with extended family, and at work our school library celebrated the NZ Children's Book Awards and our own library Book Week which included competitions, a school lit quiz and dress up day (I am the pirate)

I also gave a talk to a local quilt guild about my mixed media work which was a fun remembering of projects.  

As a result of all of that, there's not much to share, but I have managed to create cards and get some new supplies. I am very happy that I am still going with my weekly challenge, even though I had to catch up on doing 3 cards in a week this month! #52cards2024 : to create a card that reflects the past week (ending Sunday). I must include stitch, the colour turquoise and a word. 

These are my August cards. 

Note that the first three were made within a week (over half way through the month!) cos I was so busy. As a result the first 2 are very simple - Week 31 : Choose was a mounting of a tag I had already made and Week 32 : Exhale features a paper cutout from Ellen Giggenbach (a Wellington artist I love). Week 33 : Inspire was in turn inspired by the birthday card I made for my friend below, and my beautiful magnolia tree in full flower. Week 34 was actually created in the correct week and features one of my new art foamies that arrived. And Week 35 (last week) included Daffodil day - today is following through with the promise of Spring weather. I share these cards as they are created on my Facebook Artist's page and Instagram.

Last month's tutor in Fodder School 3 was Alison Bomber and while I didn't want to create houses this month, I did enjoy her lesson on backgrounds : 

These master sheet backgrounds will be very useful for another set of all occasion cards. I have managed this one so far for my friend's birthday - and you can probably see its influence on my Inspire card above

And this pair were for my niece and her daughter using some leftover backgrounds and previously created fodder.

I did a bit of thinking over August and have decided to not continue with Fodder School 4. One of the reasons is that while working full time it is a big commitment every month and when other things come up, like Junk Journal July for example, I just don't feel like I can do that as well. 

You can do anything...but you can't do everything!

One idea I'm excited about is that if I have nothing else on in a month I could go and do a previous lesson from Fodder School 1,2 or 3. Life-time access is wonderful. 

I did get some new supplies this month. When we were in Wellington, I had to go to Petone and buy some beautiful paper cut outs and washi tape from Ellen Giggenbach's shop (see one in Week 32 card above). I need more of her washi but this was the only design left in store that week

I was gifted money for both my birthday and my mixed media talk so I purchased stencils and art foamies stamps from America - designs from Megan Quinlan. Unfortunately the exchange rate and postage are both terrible so I think this will be my last such purchase for a while.

Plenty here to keep me entertained and excited to get back into art journaling. I was also gifted this amazing large stamp from a friend - hardly used as you can see. I am going to have such fun using it. 

Fav free inspiration this month is Angela Kennedy - a friend alerted me to her free online tutorial about paper dolls - worth a look for a different way to do faces

and she also has a curated free Facebook page called Ephemera for Artists - lots of wonderful imagery for your art journaling. 

I'm sure you've heard that Tam from Willowing has retired her collaborative year-long Life Book offering, but in its place is A Year of Light. She has a free taster event in September so here's the link for that in case you missed it. Runs 16-24 September. Might see you there...

September is our Spring month so I'm looking forward to extended daylight hours and more of a chance to get into my studio, as well as a couple of weekend breaks away with girlfriends to Raumati and Otaki - both to include lots of laughter, stories, walks on the beach and creativity. I've just realised this post has been quite full of creativity after feeling like I didn't have much to share. That's why I love to do these review posts 💜 Chat soon friends.