Ole-Talk

Exploration

Remember the journal that I made with handmade papers that I got at the RISD store, well I have finally found the perfect thing to use it for.  My playbook for the latest Shimelle class that I am doing.  It is called Explore.  I'll be posting from time to time about what I am doing in the class but for starters here is my book all embellished for the class.

I really hope to keep up with this one as I am loving the prompts that we have received thus far plus I think my play book will really help me.

 

New Inspiration

I don't know if I have mentioned on here that I recently changed jobs and I am now at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum (RISD Museum) doing fundraising for them.  It is absolutely inspiring to be surrounded by art and creativity evey day of the week.  It also just so happens that the RISD Store is just across the street from my office and with it being the store for an art school it is filled with lots of wonderful stuff for the paper crafter in me as well.  Today I made a trip over there to see if they had the extra large Moleskine Sketch book and although they did not  have it - by the way it is the one thing that it seems eveyone asks for and they have not yet received from Molskein - I did not leave the store empty handed.  I snagged these awesome handmade sheets of paper (they are are at least 30x20) that I have plans to turn into a journal or two and a pack of blank greeting cards that are made from Bamboo and Cotton.  I had to leave before I spent my entire pay cheque in there but I know I will be back often.

I cannot wait to play with my new stuff this weekend.

Oh did I mention that I also get a discount as a staff member! 

Look What Came in the Mail Today

I have wanted to do the Sketchbook Project since I first learnt about it a couple of years ago and I finally got my butt in gear and signed up for the 2012 tour.  The theme I chose for my book is "Fill me with stories".  I have till January of next year to get it completed and mail it back. Now to  come up with some ideas and fill my book. 

Lessons Learnt

A weekend of lessons:

• Anything can be accomplished if you have the correct tools and supplies
• I would rather play with paint and ink than do laundry
• You can never have too many popsicle sticks (smile)

• Time waits for no man...or woman
• Take the time to fold and put my laundry away as soon as it is out of the dryer or it will sit in the basket for days
• Art jounaling requires lots of patience...it is literally like watching paint dry
• Gesso covers all mistakes
• The internet is like a blackhole...once you are on you can't escape

Playing with Paint and Ink

I am getting more comfortable with my art journaling and I am really starting to let go and just go with the flow.  I love being able to combine different mediums into one artistic page.

Latest for Learn Something New with Shimelle!

Click for large image

This is Not my Life

Lessons leant on September 1st:

I am learning to embrace the perfection in the imperfection that is art journaling.

I am Going Back to School

Today was the first day of class for me.  Yep I have gone back to school.   But before you think I have lost my marbles let me clarify that it is fun school.  I am doing Shimelle's class Learn Something New Every Day. For the month of September Shimelle "encourages [us] to observe the world around you and learn from your daily experiences and surroundings".  The great thing about this class is that it has so many options on how you can do this - paper scrapbook, digital scrapbook, just blog, journal in a note book, etc. 

I decided to finally take the plunge and do an art journal.  So far I have prepped my journal (this involved lots of masking tape and gesso) and done my cover page (see below) and the background for my first page.  My plan is to do the everyday stuff in my art journal and also share here on my blog as often as I can - I am hoping for daily but we all know about the best laid plans (smile).

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On another note, the winners of the Blog Hop over at It Takes All Kinds have been announced.  Head on over to see if you were a winner and thanks for all who left comments, started to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and subscribed to the feed.

Style File

I took part in Vee's recent online class - Style Files and here is the mini book that I made. It was so much fun as I got to play with ink and paint.  Click on image to see more details of each page.