March review

March is the start of the Autumn months here although I am in complete denial as I post this that Summer is on its way out. So far we have been blessed by gorgeous sunny days and cooler nights for sleeping and I've only had to put on an extra layer in the evening a couple of times so far. Often we have lovely weather through April school holidays, so cross everything for me...

I decided I'd create another batch of cards to see me through the next few months. I had some leftover background card which I was able to trim to size and then I made a variety of watercolour florals. 

I ended up with 2 sets of 6 cards and some leftover stems to keep for future inspiration. 

JIYA Journal - still making slow progress in here.

Love how pages evolve and I don't know how they will turn out when I set them up...

This patterned plastic flap turned out to be a fun way to 'disguise' some of my writing about stuff I wanted to note but not dwell on. 

This journal will probably see me through the end of Autumn but not sure if I will create another after that or move to something else. 

I decided to Create a Book a Month this year. I didn't quite get my February book completed for my last review so if you haven't already seen it on my FB or Insta here it is :

I also did a flip through on Youtube : 

Sadly I haven't made a book in March. As well as the late finish of my February book, my mother-in-law went into care this month and I've been doing a secret stitchy project that has an April deadline.

Pleased to say this project is complete - I just can't share til after it is gifted.

I also had to prepare for a couple of Be Brave art sessions at school (2 hour sessions with 20 students learning something different out of their comfort zone). I will teach them how to collage master sheets and then use these to create a zine from a single piece of paper, and make tags, bookmarks and cards. These were my gatherings for our meet and greet session last week. I will share the results of the class next month.

Brooke Henry hosted her Free BB Bash for the second half of this month and I had thought I would use her lessons for a book but I was just too busy. Instead I've decided to join her offering of BB Bash Beyond which is US$29 and gives lifetime access to all the prompts plus fun bonus content. Brooke is so generous in her sharing of creative lessons, this also makes me feel good that I am supporting her as a working artist. 

For April, I'm hopeful I'll get to play with Brooke's lessons, and there are quite a few other options for free play and inspiration.

Francesca Nunes has a free week of exploring creative ways to print on paper and fabric : March 31-April 4. Sign up here. 

Jack Ravi and Jane Chipp have an #artfulmemorieschallenge. Click on that hashtag for responses to previous challenges, and go here for the list for April 2025 prompts.  

The invitation is to respond to these prompts (each is a tiny, poetic biography… the start of a story waiting to be told) using found photographs. You can use your own photographs, or download free images on their website. 

I also found this free class this month : Tina Walker shared her #5waysjournal finished HERE on Insta.The base for each page was created through the 20 techniques she shares in her free online workshop. 

The workshop features how to use her and your favorite mixed media supplies to create wonderful bases and backgrounds for your art journals and junk journals and how to bind all of your pages together in a flexible and fun way. You can sign up here. 

So much goodness available. You can't do everything but aren't we lucky to have so much on offer? You can see me posting during the month as projects happen on my Instagram and Facebook Artist's page.

February Review

My blog is called "All of Me" so while I want these reviews to celebrate my creativity, I also want to be real about life. February has been both very tough and also full of joy. On the joyful front, both our sons have found their loves and we have celebrated an engagement and a baby shower. The tough stuff is stressful and exhausting but we can do hard things if we celebrate the good, support each other, and give ourselves grace to accept help and take breaks when we need to without feeling guilty. I am grateful that in February I read some great books, had some lovely catch ups with friends, enjoyed swims and sunshine and long daylight hours. I'm back at work for Term 1 at school which is busy and exhausting but also very rewarding. And I managed to create art this month. I made a 50th birthday card for a friend : 

My JIYA Journal isn't anywhere near a daily journaling practice yet, but I have made progress. These are some favourite spreads from the month.

I'm still enjoying the yellow base (see how it started here) and it will serve me well as we approach Autumn.

I've embarked on a monthly challenge this year : Creating a Book a Month. January was an Accordian Junk Journal. My February book was inspired by Autumn Moon's Circle Journal (sorry you can no longer sign up for this class). I managed to have several fun sessions making papers 

and I've cut them into the circle shapes 

and started to put them together 

but I'll have to share the finished book in my next review...Hopefully there'll also be a March book to share then. 

Brooke Henry is once more hosting her BB Bash later this month : a FREE 14-day interactive experience filled with live calls, prompts, and hands-on art-making. Sign up HERE. March 16-29, 2025. Loved this last year. She says it's for mixed media artists, beginners, and creatives who want to let go of perfection, embrace play, and explore new techniques.

If you are interested in participating in the 100 Day project see my January review post and check out more from Roben-Marie Smith about getting ready.  I'm loving her posts on Instagram about #100daysofembellishbits

I will continue to post as art happens on my Instagram and Facebook Artist's page. I hope that March treats us all kindly and that we can find joy in our days.