Life's Unexpected Gifts

Louise Kirby's journal from our small group Sisterhood of the Traveling Art Journals arrived today in the mail. I must say that Helen Lindton's maple leaf is even more impressive in person. I immediately got inspired by the feathers I found in my yard earlier today. I felt so good to just flow. I included three quotes that I love. I will let it rest until tomorrow when it will be revisited to see if I am happy enough to send it home. I think the book needs a bookmark so I am off to create one.

I also think it is pretty incredible how small the world can be. I participated in Shannon Ganshorn's International Mixed Media Postcard Swap where you make 10 postcards and receive 10 postcards. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I got a small envelope made from an old calendar not only filled with a wonderful postcard but Australian postage stamps and paper. Next I got an even bigger surprise. The package was from Pam Parker who just happens to be Louise Kirby's mom! I love it!

Learning to Embrace Layers

 I am so thankful for artists who allow me to continue to grow and learn with the opportunities these artists provide. This is especially true of the two artists I participate with in the Sisterhood of the Travelling Art Journal. When Helen Lindton's journal with the theme of "Icons" arrived again I knew that I needed to give this Australian American icons. Please know that I am not overly patriotic. It just seemed fitting. For me, it was a chance to play with layers and have a little fun. Hopefully Helen will be pleased.

Pushing the limits of layers is something that I want to continue to explore. What are you doing to push your limits?

Gratitude Friday and a Travelling Journal

 Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed. I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful, I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's why I made works of art. - Felix Gonzales-Torres

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Art Journals is having another round. I was so excited to receive Helen Lindton's journal because I had an idea for her "Icons" themed journal--Uncle Sam. Helen is from Australia so I thought this was perfect. Why not give give her an American icon? I didn't like the first background I created so I scrapped it and started over. Once I got going it came together quickly and I was having fun. It felt so good to be in a creative groove. I think the warmer temperatures today had a much needed positive effect on me. I put a short history of Uncle Sam in the envelope I created. I even learned some things I didn't know too.  Since it is a fold out page, I am still thinking about what to do with the other side of the page. Thoughts?

Nolwenn Petitbois does Gratitude Friday on her blog.  I remember Christine Castro's "Good Things" journal entries. More than twenty years ago, I started my "affirmation" (affirming good things) journal where each night before I go to sleep I write down at least five good things that happened that day. It changed my life. I love the idea of actually sharing and hopefully getting other people to do the same. Just think of all the positive energy we could put out there. I think I will start more of an art journal just for my Gratitude Fridays. I don't think Christine will mind.

So here is my list from this week:

1. Nathaniel going to Pensy's for me and picking up salt free lemon pepper.
2. Tyler singing with me. I know he is not even three months old but when I sing, he sings! It is so incredible.
3. The followers on my blog. Can't live without you and your kindness.
4. All the artists who share their art and lives with me- Sisterhood of the Travelling Art Journals, heARTist Trading Cards, Crossing the Line: Artists at Work, and Postmark'd Art.
5. Sunshine
6. Johnny at Trader Joe's for the daffodils and telling me that I had "good karma." All I did was wait patiently while he took over and bagged my groceries. I'm good at it! It's like a puzzle.
7. My new camera
8. The light box now installed in the basement
9. Encouraging words
10. Tom who may not get what I do but never stands in my way and never complains that I use the laundry room for clay
11. The female crow who continues to visit me
12. Watching the expression on the little boy next door when his mom read him my chalk message for him on the sidewalk in front of his house. Priceless.
13. The wonderful people at my Dominick's store. I love them! They make my grocery shopping experience a joy.
14. Moroccan stew
15. Changing the stories in my head
16. A clean sink
17. An organized closet
18. The battered women's shelter resale shop for taking my donations and helping me have fewer unneeded things
19. Michele Bilyeu
20. Nina-Marie Sayre and her Off the Wall Fridays

Thoughts on Words and Art Journals

I am a lover of words especially in my artwork. When my art journal was returned from the first round of our exchange, I realized how different my approach is to an art journal. I use mine to record not just images/art, but words, quotes, thoughts, lists, clippings from magazines, etc. Please don't misunderstand, I sincerely believe there is not right or wrong way to create an art journal. I think of the writing in my journal to be art.

In mine, you will find "sy did glad" which is Danish for sew yourself happy. Which happens to be Lone Schaadt's blog/website name. Isn't it wonderful in every way?

Then there are words that people use that are regional or family words, etc.  "Comeapart" is one of them. Spoken by Jane Burch Cochran and said in her wonderful Kentucky accent and used to describe someone not coping well. Haven't we all had moments of "comeapart."

I am thrilled with the pages that have been created by my partners in this journey-- Helen Lindton and Louise Kirby.

 Helen took on the challenge to improve her drawing. She makes amazing cloth dolls. She also included a quote in my journal so she picked up my love of quotes! "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."

Louise also included words- "Encourage each other to bloom."

I can't wait for the next round. I keep dreaming of things I would like to do in their journals and can't wait to see what they do in mine! I am so glad I took advantage of this opportunity. I haven't done a round robin exchange in a long time.

I have had very mixed experiences with round robins. One of my favorites was a cloth doll exchange even with the disappearance of my handmade book that accompanied it. One of my least favorites was a collage exchange. I kept it in a closet for years until one day I recycled it. Still didn't regret the experience.  Do you like to collaborate?

Louise's Journal and Reflections on Life

 Louise Kirby's theme for her journal is "nature studies." We were suppose to right about ourselves so I created a little book (first image) which I added to the beginning of her journal. Next I worked on a few pages. I decided not to finish anything (a recommendation of the organizer of the journal exchange). However, I loved the idea of creating something that connected to another page of the journal. I also wanted to play with words and finally after making lots and lots of lists decided on "grow" and "flow." This was so much fun and just what I needed. Jan's death has shook me up more than I realized. I keep thinking about all the things I wanted to share with her and didn't have the chance. When these things happen, I always look at them as a wake-up call. It makes me reflect on whether or not I am living authentically, doing all that I can to fulfill my potential, both for myself and for the world, am I having enough fun. These were my thoughts as I worked on Louise's journal. Hope she enjoys the pages as much as I enjoyed creating them. And while this is not Friday, Nina-Marie Sayre kindly gives us until Sunday to share in her Off the Wall Fridays challenge. Also if you want to see more of the journals, check out our blog The Sisterhood of the Traveling Journals. My journal is on its way and I can't wait to see it!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Art Journal Adventures

Today Louise Kirby's incredible journal arrived in the mail. She is part of the Journal Swap through Milliande's Ning Group. It's exciting to me to have two Australian artists, Helen Lindton is the other person, sharing this journey. We have actually started a blog called The Sisterhood of the Traveling Art Journal to document the journey and artistic process of our journals. They have certainly set a pretty high bar.  Louise has chosen a nature theme and I can't wait to get started! Being in these kinds of exchanges always helps me to grow as a person and an artist. It also helps me overcome those "I'm not good enough moments." Now I have to decide to I do feathers, crows, nests, trees...