#arteveryday OR Finding time to create

Many people comment on how much I create. Sometimes I am surprised by that because I don't feel like I spend enough time and I don't have as many completed things to share as I would like! Keeping the blog going helps to motivate so I have something to post about and my monthly reviews remind me that I do more than I realise. Really my art practice is a combination of being able to leave things out in my studio (so blessed to have this space), of doing a little often...and I'm not much concerned with housework ;-) I work 25-30 hours a week and have school holidays off so that all helps, but I really believe that if you want to be creative you have to make that a priority. Read my original blog post about finding time to create HERE. I talk in quite a bit of detail about micro-movements = doing 15 minutes a day soon adds up. In this post in March, I shared how I went from background

to completed spread

in 7 days. Must try that again! 
The other thing that helps my art practice is taking a photo as a record to make sure I  #arteveryday. This gives me an incentive to have something to photograph and sometimes I pop some paint down on a background in the evening just to have done something - and that's a start for a new project. I began this practice back in November last year  and I am now Week 42! If you go to that November link you'll see micro-movements in action. My practice has evolved as I've got busier taking on more work hours and I recognise there are many different ways to be creative - Creating blogposts count, as does shopping for supplies, watching lessons, preparing for school quilt club, and sometimes it just doesn't happen....I thought I'd share a few examples of weeks here to hopefully inspire you. Not sharing holidays cos they're not a reflection of my usual busy. And if you want to see all my posts on this topic click on the label below this post. Click on any photo to see it larger.
Week 17 :

Week 35 :

Week 40 :

How can you fit more creativity into your week or into this weekend? Happy FriYAY

Any Occasion Cards

I love making cards and I haven't done a batch for a while. My go-to supplies are using serviettes, stencils, and sari ribbon with machine stitching. Mostly I finish with some found words. This first was recently made for a bereavement

I had a few birthdays that I wanted to make cards for recently and one of my friends had asked if I would ever make cards with my art on them. I have done this previously, so was happy to be reminded. I printed some of my faces onto photo paper and that gave me a few easy options. 

When I was preparing for my stencil class I had a wee play with spray and printing and got these bases made

Not long after I needed to make another birthday card : 

Unfortunately I'd forgotten how reactive to wet media the dylusions spray is. I think it looks okay now finished but you can see where it blended where I didn't intend when I initially glued down the serviette. The rest of the batch got a spray of workable fixative before I decided next steps.

As it turned out, I used stickers next. Aren't they pretty? And I still had some of my own art printed from before, so I decided I'd stick them down too. 

The butterfly addition was inspired by the other butterflies on the stenciled cards. The next night it was time to be inspired by gorgeous sari ribbon and my sewing machine

I decided that in fact these cards are ready to stash as ready for the next occasion. All they need are some found words to be finished.

I can add whimsy, or birthday greetings - these words are not glued down. I have yet to decide how they will be completed

I threaded my machine with different cotton, and the remaining faces got some sari ribbon and stitch treatment 

I really love how I now have a stash of cards that can still be personalised when I have a specific need.These hopefully will keep me going until I'm ready to make my Christmas batch

The rest of me in September and continuing inspiration

If you're interested in seeing the art I've completed this past month, scroll back through my previous posts. I am particularly pleased to see how my Klimt in the garden with Rumi art cards are shaping up to be a connected series. I have completed 12 cards so far this year with another 3 prompts to go. 

At my work our whole school had a dress up day to celebrate our Founder's Day 

and I couldn't resist this pose since I'm not usually a shussing librarian! ;-)

I had a wonderful relaxing weekend away to Raumati beach with a group of girlfriends - highly recommended

Inspiration has come in the form of new supplies : 
Who knew Mitre 10 had some cool stencils?!

Loving "40% off any item" vouchers (Left - Spotlight now have some Liquitex products. Right - Warehouse stationery - been looking for a good Red) 

and spending some of my gift card with careful consideration....I still have money left. Landscape colours look awfully like great skin and eye colours to me ♥

These gorgeous oracle cards were lovingly gifted to me : 

Find the artist's blog HERE and her FB page HERE.
FINALLY Tam's new book arrived at my house. Happy to report it is lovely both with regard to style development advice and also the art projects.

I've also been creatively inspired by watching some of the lessons in the FREE Life Book Summit for 2019 16-30 September. Access has been EXTENDED UNTIL 7 OCTOBER - I believe you can still sign up HERE.

I started my new Inner work journal this month. 

I am continuing to focus on intentions rather than a check list of 'to do'. This journal contains my written practice and is evolving as I do - often I find this business of "writing things out" either in response to prompts or tarot or oracle card pulls leads me to personal insights and clarity. I've been doing less writing lately, but I still do a daily journal record and am thinking about how that practice might look next year. I began with shopping for a new hard-covered book and was drawn to purchase the mandala stencil at the same time

Used a cosmetic sponge to put gesso through the stencil onto the cover (dab on and off then pounce)

and once dry I sprayed the entire front cover with a Matte Varnish to seal and protect. I love the simplicity of it.

Looking ahead to October : the first 2 weeks is school hols. YAY. I am going into work for limited hours on only a few days so hoping that I'll have more time to be creative.
I cannot wait to go to the World of Wearable Art show in Wellington to finish my holidays. 

Check out the award winners HERE. I am not looking at them all until I've been to the show. 
In other news, it's far too cold for October today - I want to be swapping my winter woollies out for spring blouses....everything crossed that's something I don't have to wait until November to enjoy! Wishing you warmth with plenty of creative time at your house this coming month.