Blogs I Like

I just got a new laptop, a Macbook Pro, so I am transferring my "favorites" over to my "bookmarks."  This process requires that I examine every blog I have placed in my favorites to reevaluate its worthiness of being bookmarked. Here is a list of the ones I truly enjoy reading.

Daisy Yellow is the first art journaling blog I discovered.  The author, Tammy, has great "Art Journaling 101" posts as well as lots of ideas for ICAD (Index Card a Day) projects.

Alisa Burke's Redefine Creativity blog is, of course, a favorite.  As I have written in previous posts, I am kind of an Alisa stalker although I do consider myself in recovery since I got to hang out with her at CREATE in California.  No need for Alisa to be afraid.

I recently discovered Donna Downey's Simply Me blog.  I love her Wednesday videos where she shows exactly how she creates her art journaling pages.  Her colors are so bright and invigorating. Her painting style and her video narrations seem to invite you to be her friend.  Heck, she uses pages from romance novels in her collages and I just love that.

Hanna Anderson writes a blog called iHanna filled with art and other creative ideas.

I also follow Alice Bradley's Finslippy blog.  I can't remember how I originally discovered her.  She is a mother and author who writes very cleverly about life's trials and tribulations, including her battle with depression.

I have to include my BFF's favorite blog Elvie Studio by Lori Vliegen. She is a very creative mixed media artist who also has an online lettering class that I am required to take (per my BFF's instructions).  It's on my list of things to do.

If you have blogs that you would like to share, please post a comment.  Enjoy your future reading!
-christina

The Most Expensive Pencil Case

For those of us who spend quite a bit of money on art supplies, it makes sense to have nice storage containers in which to keep them.  Plus it's fun to shop for pretty boxes, bags, jars and buckets.  I recently decided I wanted to learn to sew my own zippered bags to hold art supplies and I wanted to use some fabric that I had collected.

The fabric I chose was designed by a friend, Jennifer Heynen, who is the owner of Jangles Beads.  She isn't exactly a close friend of mine, but she is very good friends with my BFF.  She is, therefore, my friend by association.  I'm not sure that she knows that.  Be sure to check out her blog and online store.

My new pencil case

It was a lot of work to sew this little bag, since I don't have experience with sewing zippers.  My sister helped me and her friend, a master seamstress, also helped.  It took about 5 hours over 2 days to complete.  Adding up my time and the fabulous, although expensive, polka dot zipper ($4 from Joann's Fabrics) this is probably the most expensive pencil case ever made.  And I love it!

-christina

Paint Chip Art

Playing with paint chips is really fun.  I can‘t walk through a hardware store without a long pause in front of the paint chip display.  I am like a moth to a flame.  The colors mesmerize me and my imagination immediately begins painting walls all throughout my home.  Admittedly, I have pilfered more than my fair share of paint chips and I like to use them to make art.

Cards that my friend and I made from paint chips

I have used a similar technique to make cards, one that I learned from a book that my BFF owns (my Best Friend Forever).  I painted watercolor blobs on a piece of paper, then cut the paper into one inch squares to decorate the card.  These look terrific in a vellum envelope.  Paint chips would work for this project as well.

Lastly, my daughter and I made paint chip art for her apartment.  We copied an idea we found on Pinterest.

Pinterest idea for paint chip art

 Creating paint chip art is a great activity for a rainy day or (like this summer) a ridiculously hot day.  And it’s cheap!

-christina

 

Artist's Way Update

I am beginning week 4 of The Artist’s Way, although I think I have been doing the program for more than 3 weeks.  I must have extended one of the weeks.  I suppose going slowly is not against the rules.

I have diligently executed my morning pages every day. I am having difficulty with the artist dates (only completed 2 out of 3) and the daily 20 minute walks (not enough to count).  I am trying not to chastise myself about this, but rather encourage growth and improvement.

This morning I was reading chapter 4 and came across this quote from Chekhov that describes where I am right now.

“If you want to work on your art, work on your life.”

That is my journey.

-christina