"Stitch Sampler" Fabric Journal (Running Stitch & Alphabet)

Hi, Everyone,

Hand stitching is a beautiful art form.  It will go by the wayside if we don't practice it.

Since I love fabric journals, I decided to create a "Stitch Sampler" showcasing one stitch per page.  I created my own designs for the "Running Stitch" and "Alphabet" pages below.  Since variegated embroidery threads are my favourite, I am using them to create this artful keepsake on aida cloth.  Below are the finished first and last page of my Stitch Sampler.

Creating even a tiny bit each and every day gives me happiness.  I love seeing how the piece evolves over time.  This Stitch Sampler Fabric Journal will bring me joy for years to come.

Have fun creating!

Art Journal Page "Gypsy Soul"

Hi, Everyone,

A Gypsy Soul . . . is someone who is always in need of change or adventure . . . someone seeking the best in any situation . . . who is very passionate and inspired by everything around them . . . is not defined by others . . . always changing and adapting.

The same can be said about Art Journalling.  Creating a page just because you like the texture (adhesive drywall tape and gesso) and adding pleasing colours to the background (teal and paynes gray) makes me happy.  Circles are ever moving.  I cut out 2 different sized circles: 1 from old sheet music and the other from an old book, then glued them on top of each other to create a flower.  Pink Gaffer Tape and Black Washi tape add lines of colour flowing across the page linking a VW Bus.  Add black honeycomb die-cuts and Gaffer Tape numbers, then tie everything together by writing and drawing circles with a FineLine Applicator.

I like the way it turned out.  Always remember to leave a little "white space" so your eye can travel across the pages.

There is beautiful writing on the back of the small flip page.  It is 7 Gypsy packaging.

Look before you toss.  You never know what great embellishments your packaging can make.

Have fun creating!

Art Journal Page - Joyful

Hi, Everyone,

Yesterday was a painting day.  I created an Art Journal Page called "Joyful".
Have a look!

Below is the handmade book I created a few months ago to paint in.  This "Joyful" page is the first completed page in the book.  I absolutely Love how the signatures lay flat when creating in it.

As you know, one of my favourite textures is adhesive Drywall Tape which I buy at Home Depot.

It has a slight stick, is repositionable, and provides fantastic texture.  As always, I paint white Gesso over the Drywall Tape so my paint absorbs equally on the tape and the page.

For the background colour I layered the following paints from bottom to top:

"Light Magenta" Golden heavy body paint

"Magenta" Dina Wakley heavy body paint then

"Quinacridone Magenta" Golden fluid acrylic paint.

I wet my brush with water to blend the colours so there are no harsh lines.

This is a closeup of the painted Burlap circles on the page.

I Love how the texture of the Burlap mirrors the texture of the Drywall Tape.

They really work well together.

I cut out various sizes of Burlap circles and glued them to the page with Heavy Gel Medium (I like to use Heavy Gel Medium because there is less moisture on the page).

To paint the circles I layered the following paints from the outside inward:

"Teal" Golden fluid acrylic paint

"Paynes Gray" Golden fluid acrylic paint then

"Black" Bombay India Ink from a dropper.

I Love how banging your book on the table gives you drippage.

Then to finish off the page with script writing I used my Fineline Applicator filled with Black Bolden fluid acrylic paint and Fluid Medium.

I'm very happy with how the page turned out.

It is entitled "Joyful" because I like the quote from Jonathan Lockwood Hule:

"You don't have the power to make like fair, 

but you do have the power to make life joyful."

Remember . . .

do what you love, love what you do, and make the time to actually do it . . . or life will pass you by.

Have fun creating!

Pages 1 & 2 from "An Embroiderers Ledger"

Hi, Everyone,

It's no secret that I love embroidery and with that, combining paper and embroidery makes me even happier.

Recently I discovered Karen Ruane's blog and stumbled upon a 2012 on-line class of hers entitled "An Embroiderers Ledger" and purchased it.  Thank God I did because now for the life of me I cannot relocate that class.  I have e-mailed her asking for the link so I can share it with you.

Below is a double page spread, with two flip up pages.  This is the beginning of my Embroiderers Ledger.  I am using a large sketchbook so the pages are quite thin unfortunately.  I have to be quite gentle with the stitching and will be gluing the back to back pages together to hide the stitching on the back of the pages.  I love how it turned out.  Have a look!

These pages use the Spiderweb stitch, Seed stitch, Running stitch, and French Knot.

The paints I've used are Golden Brand shades of gold, pinks and greys; and Dina Wakley's magenta.

Karen Ruane's class teaches you how to take a patterned paper/fabric, pull out colours and shapes, and create a working ledger of ideas for future projects.

Like so many other artists, I have many Journals on the go; each one of them having it's own theme.

Do what you love, love what you, and Make Time to actually do it.

That is how I make my own happiness.

Have fun creating!

Art Journal Page - Nourish

Hi, Everyone,

Today I was getting Art Journaling withdrawal.  That had to be rectified immediately, so I decided to continue with my Donna Downey 2015 Inspiration Wednesday classes.  Below is my creation from the March 18, 2015 class.  I like the way it turned out.

Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints are my absolute favourite because they are translucent.  Look at how the Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold (the orangish colour) fades from intense to subtle, giving the illusion of many blended colours, when it is only one colour. Amazing!

I highly recommend taking Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday Classes on-line.  For the $35 some odd dollars you pay (plus the ridiculous US Dollar conversion rate) it is well worth the money.  You get 25 videos, 25supply lists, and many photos of each page for 25 awesome journal pages.  You need to purchase all the supplies yourself, and I found Delta Arts have the best prices in town.  You get what you pay for, and Golden products by far will give you stunning results.

Do what you love, love what you do, and above all . . . make the time to do it.  You will be a happier person for it.

Have fun creating!

Altered Wooden Panel - Prima and Tim Holtz Collide!

Hi, Everyone,

It's been a while since I created an altered art piece. Using Prima and Tim Holtz products how can you go wrong?

I was asked to decorate one of Prima's new Vintage Wall Decor Bases by Daryl from Treasured Memories.  They are made of wood and already painted white.  You can see the finished artwork up close at Treasured Memories.

To add color to the background, I chose to use the Vaseline resist technique.  I rubbed Vaseline along the edges and natural cracks of the wood base.  Then I mixed Golden Teal and Cobalt Turquoise Fluid Acrylic Paint with Liquitex Glazing Medium and painted the entire surface and sides of the base.  I let it sit for about 2 minutes then used a baby wipe to wipe off the surface.  The paint over the Vaseline was wiped off to reveal the white background and the remaining teal paint stayed on.  It provides a beautiful weathered look to the board.

I used the weathered planks page from Prima's French Riviera collection, cut out then tore some planks and glued them to the base with Heavy Gel Medium.  You can't tell from this photo, but I ruled a 3x4" chunky canvas to the base as well.  I Love to Collage so I layered drywall tape, honey combs, stitched watercolour paper, a wooden ruler, metal embellishments to the base using Heavy Gel Medium.  I absolutely love Daryl's Dark Edge Tags that he creates and prints exclusively for Treasured Memories.  You will not find those anywhere else.  Oh, look at the bottom of the tag . . . I've glued an old rusted pen nib to the bottom of the squid!

Instead of stamping directly on an altered project, I like to stamp on tissue then attach it with Fluid Matte Medium.  That way, the image is always perfect . . . yes it's the OCD coming out . . . and it does look beautiful.  This time however the stamping was done for me because I tore some of Tim Holtz' Tissue Wrap.

Can you see the dangly bits?  I used an upholstery nail to attach a chain and a glass dome which has a "Le Rai Original" fabric label wrapped around a tiny spool and a decorated pin.  Adding to the nautical theme is blue ribbon intertwined with wire, glass beads & fish netting.  I hand make my own photo slides (this time adding a wire embellishment) and inserted one of the Tim Holtz photo booth images of a sailor.

The rusted stars and keyhole are new Prima products which always look good on altered projects.




Remember . . . always make time to do the things that make you happy.  You will be a happier person for it.  You don't have the time . . . you make the time.  Schedule it in your calendar, that's what successful people do.

Have fun creating!

"48 Weeks" - My Art Journal Pages of Week 2

Hi, Everyone,

Because I have sooooooo many projects I want to do, I am mixing them up so I don't get bored of the same style or technique.

Today I am showing you my Art Journal Pages of Week 2 from Donna Downey's on-line class I purchased 2 years ago entitled "48 Weeks" (I have 46 more layouts to go).
Have a look, it turned out beautiful!

Freehand drawing and finger painting. . . it was really fun.

Have a look at my signature writing going sideways up the page.  I intend to do it on every piece of art I create.  I love script writing that much.  For that I use a Fineline Applicator.  Two actually, one bottle filled with black and another filled with white.  The proportions that I use in the Fineline Applicator are 1/2 Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint and 1/2  Golden Fluid Matte Medium.  One bottle has a mixture of black paint, the other has a mixture of white paint.  The black paint is for outlining and pushing things into the background.  The white paint is for pulling things into the foreground.  By doing this, you create depth to your artwork.

I absolutely Love the colours below.  They are all Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints:

Yellow Ochre, Green Gold, Quinacridone Magenta, Teal, Phthalo Green, and Paynes Gray.

These are my favourite colours to combine at the moment, and it just to happens to be the main colour palette for today's pages.

Below is the advertising pamphlets for Donna Downey's "48 Weeks" which she graciously autographed for me at the live class I took of hers a year ago.

You can go to Donna Downey's YouTube Channel to view her advertisement for this on-line class.  The finished ArtBook is truly breathtaking. 

Remember. . . do what you love. . . love what you do. . . and make time to actually do what you love.

Have fun creating!