It's been absolute ages since I've actually blogged. I did post about 2 months or so ago when I did a few blog posts about my adventures with Flat Susan. (It's a grown up version of Flat Stanley) You can check out her blog at http://flatsusan.blogspot.co.uk Flat Susan was created by one of my online art friends Anita "Neet" Hickson, who resides in the UK.
Prior to that I was blogging at least weekly while participating in WOYWW over at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com where I had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful, talented and welcoming group of artist and crafters. Then I fell into a funk, and didn't do much art work or blogging. Life also got busy with homeschooling my youngest daughter Bridget, and her Irish dancing. (which I will save for a future post).
I have started getting into a routine of trying spending at least 10 minutes a day doing some sort of Art. Even if I only sort through my piles of stuff. So Seeing Effy's April Blog-Along, I've made a commitment to myself to try and jump back into creating and posting.
I've become somewhat overwhelmed by scattered thoughts. I have several projects I'd like to finish, I belong to a few online Art classes, Lifebook 2014, 48 Weeks with Donna Downey, The Documented Life Project, and Soul Restoration over at Brave Girls, all of which I've fallen behind in, and when I attempt to do one and or the other I find myself so overwhelmed I get anxious and stressed out at which point everyone within a 15 ft radius runs and hides. I find this is defeating the whole purpose of doing Art. So I am going back to basics. I'm going to go back to square one and try and organize my thought, and my supplies, which have taken over practically every nook and cranny of my already small house. Wish me luck with that!!! I really only got started in my journey with Art about 2 yrs ago as a way to deal with chronic pain. I went into it with a very defined definition of what I thought an artist was. Well I have most certainly learned you can not define Artist by any one definition. I have found I do lean more toward mixed media. I love to grunge up most things I create. As with most of the stuff I create, I love using recycled or re purposed materials. One of my favorite things to make is Art Journals, I actually enjoy making the art journals more than I do filling them with art. I recently bought my first sewing machine which has been really fun incorporating into some of my handmade things. Though it's one more thing I'm adding to my chaos. Plus Donna Downey studios is 5 miles from my house, and I stop in at least once a week and buy more stuff….I really need an intervention!!!
Well I will leave it at that for today, now that I'm super excited for this blog-along, like the energizer bunny, I could keep going and going, but alas I have 29 more days to fill y'all in on my life. I'm excited to get to know some new peeps, and check out some new blogs, and some new Pinterest boards. (another thing I could use an intervention for) Ta Ta for now….
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| Some of my handmade journals |
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| Cover to a Gelli Print Journal |
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| Binding with some of my handmade beads |
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| Signatures with some of the prints |
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| A tag thrown in |
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| Fabric thrown in |
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| A bag with a tag |
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| Back cover |
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| From Effy's Wildly Inspired Episode #3 (I did this on an 11x14 canvas for my son Jake) |
HUGS,
Kimmie
Hi Kimmie! I figured if you popped over to see me, I should pop over to see you! I love making journals, too. Thank goodness I like to work in them, although sometimes it really can be more fun making them! I love the ones you've shown here. The leather one with the spine facing the camera looks amazing. I also love the one with all of the handmade beads on it. They are so different from each other but I love them both. And Gelli printing ROCKS!!! We would so totally have a blast together! It's a good thing I don't live so close to Donna Downey's studio. I'd need an intervention, too...right after I declared bankruptcy!
ReplyDeleteRaine
I'm so happy you popped by. Yes, the leather journal, it was an antique book cover I sewed 3 signatures of Fabriano Artistico 140 lb paper into, with tags, and postcards, mixed into the signatures. I then used antique beads to embellish the top of the spine. I LOVED that journal, I had a friend who doesn't even own a paint brush fall in love with it, she fought me for months over it. So I gave it to her for Christmas. I wasn't 100% sold on the idea, but the sheer joy in her face made it worth it. I haven't quite got the total Gelli experience. I've used my plate 3-4 x"s. I wish I had someone to play with so I could fully understand and enoy using my Gelly. How far away do you live? I'm in NC.
DeleteHi Kimmie, I said I would and so I have. I love how you are so involved with so many projects and truly understand the overwhelm. I too am a member of Jennibellie's group and notice she touches upon overwhelm with the inspiration station. To add to this list of ever growing things to look at I just wondered whether you'd heard of Mrs Brimbles. If you like things like filofaxes/diaries etc she's great to get you organised and it's all videos so easy to follow. Personally for me I'm a list girl and I write it all out and tick it off as I go. I look forward to reading more from you. Best Wishes Helena
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you dropped by my blog and left a comment. That led me here and, after reading your post and comment above, I am blown away by what we have in common. I'm in Life Book 2014 and The Documented Life Project. I was born and raised in NC, but live in southeastern Virginia now. I, too, just found art as an outlet about 2 years ago as a way of dealing with chronic pain (as well as mental illness). I believe that our paths were meant to cross - (Thanks, Effy!)
ReplyDeleteI can't even express how jealous I am over your proximity to Donna's studio. She indirectly inspired me to start making youtube videos, so I just want to squeeze her (and maybe smack her, cause that's some frustrating work, youtubing.. hahah). Someday!!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how the days just slip away, isn't it? I'll wake up in the morning all (sleepily) charged up and ready to go and then, before I know it, it's midnight, and I don't even know what I did all day.
Your journals are beautiful! I love making them, too. Probably more than I love journaling. ;)