Monday, February 22, 2010
Today's teeny technique
..cos it's in the details...


Hey journally friends!

Challenge yourself to do something different in your next journal entry... this one is so small but it's fun to make intentional accents on your page backgrounds.


Simple circular marks (profound huh? hehe)

All you need is:

  • White or coloured acrylic paint or gesso. I used gesso in this example.
  • Something circular with a hollow center. I suggest NOT an Easter egg :) - the lid of my glue bottle worked dandy.
  • A sponge

Sponge paint directly onto the circular edge of your chosen item. I apply it fairly generously because I like the goopy look. Press onto your page background prior to writing and allow to dry. That's it!

Yes it's simple. Yes you know how to do it. But have you done it in your journal recently??

A stamped circle accent on a page background
Tips
  • Vary your circle sizes
  • Vary your paint colours
  • Test first on a scrap of paper if you like
  • Wash your sponge straight away - acrylic and gesso once dry will ruin your sponge if not removed.
Journal page from 12th February - featuring white circles!

About this page

I was fortunate to go see my friend Monique Rhodes play at Artworks Theatre on Waiheke Island just recently. I hadn't seen her play live before and WOWS! I knew she was a talented singer but I was completely blown away. She recently produced the Merry Christmas Baby Plunket benefit album featuring the talent of Shona Lang, Opshop, Jordan Luck, Hollie Smith, Annie Crummer (and herself!)... and was nominated for the 2010 New Zealander of the Year Award - how cool is that.

The night was fantastic, clear evening, fitting venue, good chit chat and laughs (hi Lara!). More than once I was moved by Monique's strong yet soulful performance. I especially liked the inspiration for 'Blue Skies' where she spoke of how the sky is always blue above the clouds (stresses of life) ... an insightful reminder on rainy days. She was touring with Jane Siberry and I'm ashamed to say I wasn't familiar with well all I can say was I felt like I was part of something really special. Jane's narrative expression was intimate, intuitive and profound.

Monique:



and Jane:



I will let you know next time Monique is touring here!
~Kathleen... makin white circles :)

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Sunday, February 21, 2010
Post-trip Journal Pages
A business card, bumper sticker, journaling and spaces left (and pencil notes) left for photos


Hi friends!

I'm back in New Zealand actually I've been back two weeks already. Time goes so fast back at work and in every day routine!

I thought I would share with you what my journal pages look like post-trip. They aren't pretty but the bones are there...


Glued down serviette, business card, tickets , clothing tag and journaling. Again photos left for photos.



I get a lot of questions about how my pages come together and there are some past blog posts that talk about a general page process. Here and here.

While travelling my journal pages come together a little differently:
  • I don't get my photos printed while I am away so I guesstimate space needed. This can be tricky. Sometimes I will look at my camera and see what photos I took and then space out exact spots, other times (especially if I took a lot of photos in one location) I will leave half or whole pages free. I like the challenge of working with the space I've got - sometimes I will not have allowed enough space so I have to get creative with foldout extra pages glued in, flaps and insertions. Other times I allow too much space and which is also fine because then I can add extra research, quotes or found images from books/internet and larger embellishments/designs such as rub-ons to add to the space.
  • I like to write as much as I can at the time so it is fresh in my mind. Also a great way to spend my time waiting for transportation, on planes etc.
  • Sticking cut up brochures, postcards and ticket stubs into your journal as you holiday/travel allows you to cull the memorabilia you collect. For example I was able to cut up the Mystery Spot brochure for the bits I wanted and then throw the rest away knowing it wasn't needed - less to carry!

A couple of quick sketches, a souvenir and journaling - there's a method to this madness! :)


Lessons for me (in regards to journaling!) from this latest trip:
  • Next time I will leave the additional embellishments at home - I didn't have the time or inclination to do anything more than cut, stick, draw and write. On a more static holidays in the past I have used the embellishments/tapes/ribbons.
  • On this trip where I made extra effort to stick items as I went I didn't need daily plastic bags for bits. One bag held the rest of the memorabilia and it wasn't that much as most was already included into my journal. Daily bags have come out though at home to sort that small additional items and my photos.

Now I am going through the process of going back and gluing/attaching in the photographs and adding additional journalling, information and items as needed. Also the fun part of prettying the pages up with items that make me happy!

So you don't all think I'm superwomen keeping up the whole time - there ARE some days that are just plain blank. Those dates I either didn't have items to stick in or I didn't have the time to work out space and write there and then. But there are not that many so playing catch up isn't too daunting. Just remember - work on today first, then go back and fill in the gaps.


Any tips that you have found work well for journalling while travelling? I would love to hear them!

Oh and here is a pic of that crazzzzy hotcake (pancake) mentioned in my last post - check out its size in relation to the coffee cup!!

I thought I was safe ordering the 'half size' serve!

tata for now!
~Kathleen

PS: Post for Kim :)

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
On my work desk today
Happy New Year arty friends!

Technology doesn't seem to want to work with me lately but looks like I can upload pics again to my blog and fingers crossed the problems with our work website will be resolved soon!

Quote from today's journal page:
"Currently at Eastern Beach, an incredibly stunning day. I don't think the sky could be bluer or the sun brighter."
This weather has been amazing. I love that I get to record it all in my journal. While laying about on the beach I did a wee watercolour of a broken shell in front of me. Bliss.

Small watercolour sketch in today's journal entry.

And on my desk tonight I'm working on a class that I hope to sneak in at NZ Scrapbook before my trip away next week. This is a Product Preview event by the way - so uses all new product from 7Gypsies. Boy I am digging the tray! Stay tuned for more info on that event.

This is going to be a birthday reminder tray - in process.


So many things on my mind for 2010. Lots of hopes and personal goals as usual. 2009's focus was travel and happily that is overlapping into 2010. I find having an intention/focus really helps me stay on track with where I want to be. That's not to say I don't wander from time to time but it does help me regroup when needed. 2010 is art. So many of my art goals are unrealised, recent times some of the art I love to do has been pushed aside by other things. Having art as a focus for the year for me doesn't mean pushing it as a top priority but instead being conscious of making time to create, learn, experiment and record.

Exciting art includes sketching more (pure joy!), journal art (lurrrve), art while I travel (which I do anyways but yum!), art with my kids (both spend a lot of time creating so good to do together), art supports my business (I get to teach more), art to give away (I love making personalised gifts/cards for my friends) .. even just organizing my studio is fun. I have bigger art goals too but more on that at another time :)


Scotland August 2009 - The Highlands even! Scotland made a huge impression on me.

If you haven't set a focus for the year I would whole heart-idly recommend it. 2009's travel year included: lots of short trips within New Zealand - Thames, Coromandle, Taupo, Rotorua, Waihi and Wellington, trip to Melbourne and 5 1/2 weeks in San Fransisco, Florida, England, Scotland and Wales! Next week is 3 1/2 weeks - San Fransisco, Arizona, Vegas, LA and Chicago. The focus carries over ... I hope to add Melbourne, Bali, Adeliade and New York also for 2010... how will I pay for this all? Perhaps by doing lots of art!


Create your life :)

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Sunday, October 4, 2009
Journal Page - Complete
Hi all!
In my last post I was showing how simple it is to build a journal page by working piece by piece and filling it up.
I meant to take more progress pics but got carried away and next thing my page was complete!

I missed writing on Wed & Thur so they were written in on Friday. Friday was done in two parts - some in the afternoon and some at the end of the evening. So as you can see if you don't let too many days pass it is easy to keep up to date.

The page:
Monday 28th Sept - Friday 2nd Oct

  • Photo added that I had allowed space for with very thin cardstock mat
  • A note I wrote myself and attached so I could lift it up and read both sides.
  • Photos of my workdesk.
  • A quote I cut out of a scrapbook catalog
  • Business card from restaurant
  • Photo of daughter
  • Journaling! with colour changes each time I write.

Today's Tip:
Use an image you like as a colour swatch guide

For a cohesive (settled feeling) to your page try to limit and be thoughtful with your colour selections. My background wash always jump starts the way the page colours are going to go. From there I often will choose a image I have on hand such as a picture I like from a magazine, or a rub-on that works with those background colours. I like to then use that image as a colour swatch for the rest of the page.

The fun thing about this technique is it often gets you out of your comfort zone of favourite colour combinations and because its a image you like it is not so drastically removed from your preferences.

In short, a pleasing picture that you like often has a great colour scheme. Stick to that scheme and your golden!

~Kathleen

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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Journal page progression 30th Sept
Hi all!
I thought I would post a few progress photos of how my journal pages come together. When I show my journals, sometimes people get a bit overawed by the busy-ness of them all which is then followed by a kind exclamation "I couldnt do that". Let me assure you, if you want to keep art journals like this - you CAN!

Three simple tricks.
  1. Start at the top
  2. Include stuff that interests you
  3. Fill in the gaps
Easy peasy!

That third trick is a funny one as I have no aversion to empty space. My artwork and scrapbook pages show that. But in my journal art, my preference is: More is More! A full to bursting page is interesting, compelling and it takes less emphasis off the writing (this will come up in future posts) My journals tend to be pretty public (ya think?..lol) and if viewers are distracted by sketches, photos, memrobilia they are less likely to witness the inner workings of my brain! Plus I love how exciting an overflowing page looks.

Journal page progress
So... If you look at a previous post Monday's entry looked like this:

The date coloured and glued in, a paragraph and a rub-on.

Yesterday's (Tuesday) : The date, a recipe (recommended!!!) cut out including its picture from a magazine/website, snippets from an article I was reading cut out and glued in, a stamped image of a bird over the text, number stickers added to the recipe to create interest.

Today: The date coloured and glued in (I like keeping to the same format at the moment, though that may change). And since its only 5pm that's as far as I've got!

TIP:
I have a photo I may want to add once its developed. I know the sizes I like to print so to work my writing around I keep cards or old photos handy to work as placeholders as I write.


In this photo the red card is just sitting there so I know how much space to leave. Sometimes I make decorative placeholders and attach them with ribbon to the spine of my journal so I always have a placeholder card on hand. Plus they look cool if its a funky image or photo.

Ok that's my page in progress so far. Its now 5.06pm I have stuff from my day to write and a class to teach! Catch you later :)

~Kathleen

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Scroungers Hot Rod Blowout
Journal Pages from Sunday 29th March:

Journal spread


My morning at the Scroungers Hot Rod meet, Rosebank Road was set to the soundtrack of crackling country music and car exhaust. A good morning too - sketching, taking photos and looking at the hundred (s?) of cars with Dad. Apparently if you hang around till 3pm they start up all the cars and you can feel the air pulse.

I especially liked the girls in 50's garb and had hoped to catch their beauty contest, but the starting time came and went without any indication that it would start soon. The girls looked fantastic, so 'Marilyn' and playing the style in their personalities. Chatting with a couple of girls it seems some adopt this look in every day wear. I did buy myself a very gorgeous spider brooch and was very tempted by some cateye glasses! I love it when people capture an identity and go at it no holds barred regardless of the current norm.

"Collaged bumpers, shiny chrome, pounding exhausts, hot sun, polished and proud."

Details about the page:
  • Pre-washed coloured backgrounds
  • Photos and business cards
  • Pen sketch
  • Flip addition
  • Stitched trim, eyelets and specialty paper
Flip photo additions allow for extra photos and notes without adding extra pages. Fold out photo extension is held closed with a swiveling page flip and paper fastener.


Featured Technique - method for adding trim:

Adding decorative trim can be tricky to get it to lie flat and neat.

Trim can't be stitched directly onto the page unless you mind messy stitching on the back of your page (not usually ideal) and difficult to get your machine close to the spiral binding. Gluing can work with light trims but with heavier trims it can be difficult to hold in place and get a tidy result.

  1. To attach trim neatly to a page first create a pattern with a scrap of cardstock. Cut exactly how you wish it to lie and slightly narrower than the trim so it can't be seen when attached.
  2. Adhere double sided tape to the back of the pattern.
  3. Using your sewing machine, stitch the trim onto the pattern following its shape.
  4. Peel off the double sided backing of the tape (it will tear through the stitching) and attach the trim/pattern/adhesive combo to your page. Simple and neat!


Links:

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Friday, April 17, 2009
Jimmy Barnes lurrrve
Jimmy Barnes Concert - Journal Pages

Continuing my Journal Pages from Saturday 14th March...

The Jimmy Barnes Concert at Villa Maria (Manukau) rates up there as just one of those really great experiences. If you ever meet me in real life, hit me up for my Jimmy story...lol I am a complete hooligan! Anyways the whole thing had quite a marked impact on me. Fantastic.


About the page:
  • Pre-washed backgrounds. The kinda crackle shapes in the colour is caused by laying wax paper onto the pages and closing the book while it dries. Its key to use lots of water for this so the colour moves.
  • Photos from the concert with my fav machine stitching.
  • Fold out photo/magazine picture - spine binding is a piece of fabric from when I altered the top I was wearing. (before the concert not during!)
  • Signatures are James Reid from The Feelers and Billy TK Jr. Yeah I have some underlying groupie tendencies.
By the way, SO worth buying premium tickets - check out how close we were - right in the front row.... so cool and love the photo of the great crowd!

HUGS JIMMY!!!! hehee.. ok perhaps the groupie tendencies are not so underlying.

Must include music in this post:
(not from the concert I was at but more recent than his music vids).





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Friday, March 20, 2009
Giant Pumpkins and whitebait fritters
Journal pages for Saturday 14th March (am) ...

Kumeu Show - fold out sits in neat


Last Saturday was a fantastic day. Started the morning out at the Kumeu Show. This was always a highlight for us local Kumeu kids. Attendance, exhibits and even animals seemed down in numbers on previous years. Though my friend Sharon went on Sunday and apparently it was much busier.

I spent the morning wandering the exhibits, photographing and took some time sketching the giant pumpkins (always a popular exhibit) and in my quest for new I tried Scottish shortbread and whitebait fritters. At some point I'm sure I have had whitebait but can't remember specifically - they were doing a roaring trade by the way.

Three tiered fold out

About the page:
  • Pre-washed backgrounds
  • Sketches using Sepia Micron 01 , a little black Micron 01 and watercolour
  • Fold out page page made with handmade paper with photos machine stitched onto it. The stitching makes a natural fold line.
Wood chopping is always a popular event. The Whitebait fritter sandwich was good!

Pumpkin sketch

Sketch Tip: Sketch JUST UNTIL you have captured what you want.

It is so easy to over work a sketch. Fiddling, working and reworking can lose the dynamics of sketching from life.

Usually there is something specific that catches your interest in a scene, it's what stopped you and made you take notice. It might be an interesting composition, subject, colours, light reflections, shadows, texture detail.. any number of things.

What caught my eye in this scene: Dimply bum shapes (hehe), light reflections, interesting subject and rich orange colour.
Recording all of those things was achieved by focusing my attention on the front pumpkins. This also solved some perspective problems for me too by giving my composition a foreground. By putting more emphasis (detail and working) on the front pumpkins it visually places them forward where I couldn't rely on perspective techniques of reducing size/angle as some of the rear pumpkins were larger and my slightly high veiw point.

So my tip for today is: sketch just enough without the pressure of completing every last detail and enjoy satisfying result of capturing your inspiration on paper.

~ Kathleen
PS: I'm looking forward to posting the rest of March 14th. That day totally ROCKED!

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Takapuna Beach Cafe and Market
Life happens faster than my artwork! Journal pages for Sunday 8th March...

As previously mentioned, I'm winding my way through Metro Magazine's Top 50 Cafes. Man, cafes WANT to get on that list, such great exposure... I wonder how many other nutty people like me plan to visit them all??

Takapuna Beach Cafe was the supreme winner so I figured I might as well start there. Wow! Is this a cafe or a restaurant with a cafe label? Coffee was great (a given for any cafe on that list) but the food - oh my. I had granola 'bix' which hardly describes what was served... I'm talking Brazil nuts, honey, poached stone fruit and big wide coconut peels. Heaps of staff and quick service, I'm glad I went early - the place was packed!

After that, I needed a good walk. Takapuna Market is on every Sunday Morning so I wandered up. I'm not sure there are many places you can buy antique glassware, Ben10 watches and a jar of tadpoles all at once.


These kind of locations are great for image collecting for future artwork and inspiration. The range of items, colour, combinations and groupings is huge.

Tip for photographing for future art inspiration: Get close and look for collections.

Use your viewfinder to crop away unnecessary backgrounds. Get close and ask yourself what is it that I wish to capture with this photograph. Make sure that element or idea is the main focus without any distracting items that dilute its emphasis.
Example: Light reflecting off a table of apples. Cropped to include only the apples, photographed low to get the light hitting the surface.

Repeated shapes, items of similar types make striking imagery. Look for colour combinations and textures that catch your eye.
Example: Buckets of waterlilies. The colours of these were clear and sharp, also the spiky shaped petals seemed almost plastic like. I haven't seen waterlilies grouped like this before - a must photo!
If you wish to photograph someones stand, or items on someones stand its just courtesy to ask first.

This journal spread:
Left page - Prewashed background, magazine cutting photograph which folds out, business card, turquoise pearl embellishments.
Right page - Sewing machine stitched photos including a fold out flap of photos stitched onto copper fabric mesh and a tassel to complete.

My favourite buy of the day was a red tipped sunflower...hmm and the piece of fresh raspberry fudge! What's your fav market buy?

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Pluto, pizza and elephant backsides - Journal page
Hi all,
There is so much happening in Auckland at the moment. Its like the last available month of decent weather has multiple activities all over town available to the willing.

Last week I went to ZooMusic. I'm a bit of a fan of Pluto (this won't be the last you hear me mention them...lol) and they were the featured band along with Mint Chicks. So I decided to turn the experience into a bit of an excursion. Turned up at the Zoo a bit early and set about taking photos and doing some sketches.

Sketching animals is super fun! I am going to buy myself a years Friends of the Zoo pass so I can go whenever I like and practice. I would have liked to have finished sketching the elephant, except when a elephant walks away there is no convincing him otherwise ;) What to do? Sketch of his backside as he walks away!

TIP For sketching animals: Visualise the animal in the form of joined basic shapes. Rough those shapes in first to get proportion and position right and then add detail and defining lines.

In the examples from my book, the Rhino is essentially a large rectangle with a smaller rectangle on a 45degree angle (the head).
The flamingos are ovals - or even better, eggs. Eggs are dimensional rather than flat so seeing them that way makes it easier to show their form with shadow and highlight.
The elephant, a combination of rectangles and squares. Even his backside is a square with the corners chopped off.

Try it, it's easier than you think!


This journal spread:
Left side - Pre-washed background, animals sketches, photos and notes, piece of bark tied to the page.
Center insert - Zoo Music advertising eyeleted and attached to the spine.
Right side - Pre-washed background, notes, a sketch of the harsh late afternoon shadows from the line of people waiting to get in, photos of the band and photo of late night dinner at GPK.

Note: Bombay Pizza from GPK is the best - Indian spiced chicken, red onions, cashews (!), mango chutney, yoghurt, coriander and....banana. Fantastic surprising combo of flavours.

By the way, I stayed for a bit of the Mint Chicks but really Pluto is where its at. Music must accompany this post! ....





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Monday, March 16, 2009
Achieving goals & experimenting with style - Journal pages
More journal pages... No space untouched and jamming as much in as I can! The days here include friendly strangers, experimenting with style and achieving goals, plus a bunch of working, teaching and new jars of Vegemite. All good things!


The pic of the gal (bottom left) is from Metro Magazine - cute outfit which I set about duplicating. First time I have done this and it was fun to find pieces and making a look work on me. Try it!

I also set myself about 6 goals for the month. I got closer on all (progress) and when I could see I wasn't going to make it with them all, I kept working at them all but focused on making sure I achieved ONE. Encouraged by the achievement I made more goals for this month, 12 actually - this time using the same ratio I expect to achieve two then add one for improvement!

I get that I could just set 3 goals and achieve 3 of 3 but I want progress in all these areas, I feel like this way I acknowledge them, define then and make a plan for achievement. Even if the reality of the time line is longer than I hope for. Also if I was aiming for perfection, then perhaps I would be inclined to set goals that didn't truly challenge - and if its not a challenge, is it really a worthwhile goal? and instead just a task?

I have lots of ideas on goal setting, I'd love to hear yours.
In goal making and achieving, what works for you?

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Morning sketch - Journal page
This is the view looking west across the harbour estuary at the Manuka Road boat ramp. Interestingly there is a sign there referring to it as Hells Creeks - I never knew that. I pre-wash paints across my journal pages so it was quite delightful to find the highlight in the middle was in a complimentary spot of my sketch! Actually find that happens all the time. Makes me love pre-washed backgrounds even more.

~Kathleen

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Monday, March 2, 2009
Speedway sketches and Onion Johnny
Speedway sketches and Raspberry parfeit!

Hi all,
A couple more journal pages to share. I keep toying with the idea of back dating them to a date that relates to the journal page dates but since some of the pages are being finished now and visitors of my blog who stop by and don't use a Bloglines type notifier will miss those updates. This messes with my desire to organize! all good :)

These are a couple of pages from January. I had fun sketching at the Speedway. I'm quite sure I would have been the only person more interested in having her pen in hand than who was leading! I have another Speedway journal page which is full of photos and collected memorabilia. This visit I wanted to work on my sketching skills and capture the action!

Things I learnt about sketching at the Speedway (!!)
  • Even though it is moving so fast you DO get repeated shapes and images. For example I got about 6-8 short opportunities to sketch the flag dude in the same position so I could re-visit that sketch each time.
  • The fast pace makes you sketch fast! I think that comes across in the bottom sketch where I was trying to capture the movement of the vehicles.
  • Its kinda tricky to draw cars without them looking 'toy' like. Not really sure what the solution is to that.
  • It gets dark sketching at speedway! Dark = equals hard to see = equals no more sketching!
  • Just like you get covered in dirt and dust watching, so does your journal. Worth considering. Personally I just consider it part of my journals life cycle. Micron 005 pens don't really like the dirt.
Next time I want to try to improve drawing the vehicles and sketch some of the crowd. ooh and check out the photo of my kids with the flag guy. He's my fav! Western Springs are really great at making it a family night. If you ask, the flag guy will let kids wave the white flag while cars are in between races.


So Speedway was Wednesday 28th, the right-hand side journal spread is about Friday 30th. Dinner at a very nice Italian restaurant in Mission Bay. We then went for a bit of a drive before dessert at our fav Onion Johnny resturant in Takapuna. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before but its worth saying again - the rasberry parfeit is the best!! hehe


Little fold out photo of the cyclists

Friday night in the resturant area of Takapuna they closed off streets for cycle speed races! Who would have thought? We stopped and watched for a bit. Running them in a busy area is a great way to get additional spectators.

~ Kathleen

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Monday, February 16, 2009
Mussels and Blueberries! Journal page
23rd and 24th January 2009

Delectable delights on these pages. My neighbour dropped over a big bag of fresh mussels! Now I've never really been one for shellfish but given how absolutely tastey these turned out to be, I had obvously never really tried. Wish I could have been able to capture the smell of the sea they bought in with them.

Right hand side shows a pen and watersoluable pencil sketch of a punnet of blueberries. Tricky subject with its harsh reflections and distorted effects. Very yum!

~ Kathleen

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Be as you wish to seem - Journal Page
Wednesday 21st & Thursday 22nd January 2009

I really enjoyed working on these two pages. For me they are the right combination of writing, sketching and photos.

I am very much a person who sets goals and tries to keep the mindset of taking action towards them (not always easy!). A book I am re-reading and will probably continue to read over is The Success Principles by Jack Canfield probably best known for his bestselling Chicken Soup books and contribution to The Secret. From his book he has a very easy formula for recognizing and creating a Purpose statement that pretty much fits one paragraph. I believe everyone has a purpose, and once you can clarify it I find it makes such a difference in giving a sense of direction!

So anyways, the left hand side of the page is my Purpose statement (not readable for the net), a quote printed out onto patterned paper and a pen/watercolor sketch I drew that morning. That sketch was slightly challenging in that the hot sun was causing it to wilt before my eyes so therefore its shape and shadows were changing on me!

Right hand page is photos of icecreams on a hot afternoon, my daughter losing her tooth at Denny's and the tooth in question held onto the page with mesh - there is also a little note asking the tooth fairy if I can keep the tooth for my journal... fortunately the tooth fairy was more than happy to oblige!

~ Kathleen

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Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunflower watercolour, event - Journal pages

Sunflower ready to go in the bin for sure - made for an interesting watercolour study. Journal page for the day mainly about an event class in my store. Great turnout and alot of fun!

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New journal - first page!

Christened this first page with lots of walnut ink!
Some text from page: Came across these fantastic sketches on the Urban Sketchers Blog. Love the drama in the lighting and the RED midtones and free sketching style. Nice touches with the wee bit of lemon and turquoise. Could learn alot from these.


The artist is Stephen Gardner, I've since been subscribing to his Blog and its great! Check it out :)

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Crusade 26 - Scent of the Season

Hi all!
This is my first participation in Michelle Ward's very cool crusade challenges. It was actually due last month (oops!) but been fiddling around with this blog, so anyways here is my journal page result.

The challenge was to journal on the theme "Scent of the season".. choose a scent, christmas scent reminders, whatever comes to mind. I started off thinking of the pine tree smell of a christmas tree. and I really had planned to get a fresh one this year.. but ended up sticking with my artificial tree so that went by the wayside.

Another suggestion of Michelle's was to select a scent and wear it, have it in your home and embrace that as your scent of the season.. being in budget mode, I didnt buy a scent to embrace and my current ones werent grabbing me. But! I am in decluttering mode! And I had been hanging on to this lovely Kenzo fragrance bottle that I recently finished. I adore this purfume! So I took it's photo, happily honored it in my journal and then threw it away! yay I made art and got rid of something I didnt need.

Fragrance spread - Kenzo Orient is spicy and woody. Besides, the black, red, silver, orient packaging... its gotta smell good! hehee

The image printed on the rice paper(?) is part of the packaging for the fragrance. It comes inside the box and still faintly smells of the purfume. Almost worth buying this fragrance for that alone.

Thanks for the challenge Michelle! By the way I have taken to noting fragrance much more in my journal. Smell of anti-mosquito spray while camping, the smell of mussels as I remove their shells (what a job!), spritzing honey room spray at a tourist shop... all good things.

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Thursday, January 8, 2009
Bolero Restaurant - Journal page
After our day at the beach my kids and I headed out for dinner. We enjoyed it immensely! As always I take a card - for the journal of course!



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Browns Bay Beach picnic - Journal pages

Browns Bay Beach picnic with my friends and kids. Check out that amazing bright sky - its been like that all week! Fingers crossed it will stay like that for the weekend!


Check out the scones - I NEVER bake..lol. Last week I had resistance to heading to the supermarket and found I had the ingredients for scones. It had been years since I last made scones. Honestly I expected hard lumps to come out of the oven but they were a hit! So when we decided to get together for a picnic I knew just what to bring and these ones were even better. Something tells me there will be more scones to come! :)

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Monday, January 5, 2009
Sex And The City - journal page

Text from page: I made a yummy dinner, red wine, watch Sex and the City (movie) and did art journals. As in what I said in a text to Sharon "Addictive and indulgent feeling!"

Simple things really are the best sometimes aren't they? By the way, I thought the movie was a little weak story-wise. But I enjoyed it just the same!

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Monday, December 1, 2008
A Journal to-do list & Speedway!
Ever find that the more art you make the more art you WANT to make. Thank goodness these ideas come. Of course that means though I am never caught up! lol


Left hand page is the beginnings of a list of different journals I would like to make. Some I am starting, some I may never.

Right hand page is a pic from a Birthday Party class I taught and then Speedway with the kids. After my first enjoyable speedway experience, Les and I decided to take the kids. I loved Oliver's words as we left "That was AMAZING! There were some really big crashes!" Behind those glasses (to protect from the dust) my kids had eyes like golf balls watching it all.

Lift up tab reveals more photos - front side has journaling commentary about the day.

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