Almost at the end of this project. This week I've done a different take on the prompt from the blog for Life Documented 2017 HERE :
Prompt: Make an envelope or envelopes
Technique: Print on them, gelli them, collage them, paint them
and combined it with a response to a lesson by Effy Wild.
Rather than make an envelope, I've made use of an envelope! I am always looking for ways to include more stitch in my work, so decided to stitch some small leaves with my machine - I have gone over the lines twice and tried out a couple of different designs.
Then I roughly tore around them. This is fairly easy to do since the stitching perforates the paper. The enclosed leaves worked much better than the swirls.
Effy had a tutorial recently about using photos to focus on what feeds your Soul to get you through her Northern Hemisphere Winter, or my Long Hot Summer. She started with a black background and used black and white photos. If you've seen my spreads in this journal lately, you'll know I'm all about colour! I wanted to start with a base colour with enough depth to add gold highlights later, and to complement the colours in my photographs. Summer holidays are on their way - my boys have finished school this week and I only have another 5 days to go. Can't wait!
I need the following to make my Summer holidays perfect : Water - drink lots of it, swim in it, walk beside it to recharge
Holidays means I have time to create - and I make sure I do that A LOT
Connection - I love to share my creativity with you here on the blog and in my various class FB groups
I want to have lots of outings with both friends and family - dinners, barbecues, wine, just hanging out together
but alone time is also important to me
In my previous post, I shared links for finding a Word of the Year. I don't think I'm done with SHINE yet - all of these things enable me to do that
I am really happy with my completed spread. The lesson was a fun reflection on what makes me happy in Summer ♥
You can see all my posts about this project HERE and my Flickr album HERE.
How's December going for you? Thought I'd share some Free stuff in case you need a bit of creative escape time - I know I do!!
Jen Morris has shared some prompts with the specific intention of savouring December instead of rushing forward to the new year: "to take some time each day to slow down, be present and feel grateful for the things around you. It’s to really sink into the moment, to find the stillness and savour what is left of the year."
Read more about her wonderful idea HERE.
Effy Wild has generously created a FREE workshop for members of her network "To see us through" : comfort and support over the long winter months (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere) or something to do indoors and out of the blazing heat (if you live in the Southern Hemisphere).
Sign up HERE. This will give you a taste of Effy's style of teaching - includes a couple of tutorials "Book of Days" style, as well as prompts for December and looking forward to 2018.
Susannah Conway has released her annual end-of-year FREE offerings : Go HERE for Unravel your Year
and you can sign up to find your word for 2018 HERE - 5 inspiring emails over 5 days
Not free, but on early-bird price of US$26 until Dec 31 - sign up for Ali Edwards' One Little Word 2018 class HERE. Get a feel for this class by seeing what I did with the prompts this year HERE.
I also did a post last month about projects for December which included some other FREE ideas HERE.
This time of year can be overwhelming, but it can also be special and exciting as we look forward to a holiday break and a chance to think about new possibilities. I hope you find lots to be joyful about this month xo
PS. I have a link to a list of Cheap and Free online art classes top right of my blog (or just go HERE) which I will be updating again in January. Please let me know if there is anything that you know of that I might need to add to that.
During term time I'm a part-time school librarian, and I have wonderful students who help me at break times. Bookmarks seem a fitting end-of-year thank you gift. For the last couple of years I've done them on watercolour paper - it gives them a good weight and they last very well. 2015 :
2016 :
This year I decided to start with Dylusions sprays through stencils :
Then I cut them up to decide what each needed in the way of stamps or serviette images - most of my librarians are girls, but I need to leave some more graphic for boys as well
I sprayed them all with workable fixative to seal the sprays since they continue to be watersoluble long after being dry....hope they don't put them to the test of getting them wet! Then I punched holes in the end and added lovely fibres. Here's a selection of the main themes. Click on the photo to see them larger.
And here they are all together.
Was so fun to see all their happy faces as they received them ♥
