Confessions . . . .

Way back at the beginning of March I was bought 12,  yes 12, Ranger Tim Holz water brushes for my birthday - I think there was some collusion going on between a certain hubster and the one and only Dyan Reaveley! There was a plan to fill them straight away with Dylusions ink  and get colouring.

The confession is that its taken me til now to fill them ......... but ......... ooooooooooh they are amazing! The gorgeous inky colours just flow so easily and smooooothly.  

All I've done so far is stroke them and colour things in! Very therapeutic - as I cant really post a 'more chilled out' picture of me here they are:

My second confession involves another of my lovely friends the fabulous Dina Wakley. At the beginning of March I did a 3 day course with her creating a masterpiece of mixed media entitled 'Poetry in Motion.'

I loved, loved, loved creating it and being taught by Dina but on the eve of my parents' golden wedding celebrations I couldn't make what I had planned for them as a keep sake work ...... so I undertook some further alterations and recycling of the project.

(I have already asked for forgiveness before you ask!)

Here's what it morphed in to...

The pics are a bit naff as they were taken in a rush on my phone before it was given away but I loved it and they loved it.  Once more I thank you Dina for your inspiration and am glad all that positive energy was passed on to make more ;o)

That's it, confession time over.

I'm going back to play with my inks.

xXx

Constipated!

Not literally it has to be said . . . . .  that would be too much information!

You know when you are desperate to be creative but all sorts of obstacles get in your way? That's been me for the last few weeks - I am glad of my 366 journal each day so I do something!

Today I had a look back over early journals, the art isn't at all complex but 'art journalling' has always been just that to me - spilling something that is going on inside on to the paper.

I feel this today as I am aware of sadness in folks I care muchly about - I know I can't fix stuff but maybe wishing I could helps in someway?

One of my many mantras (I think that might contradict the idea of a mantra but never mind!) is from Helen Oxenbury's book 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt.'  I learnt the text of the book off by heart when my girlies were little but have learnt it by life since.

When faced with an obstacle or difficult situation or even just a big pile of work the only way through it is through it so face the fear and get on with it.

It helps when you have folks who believe in you and affirm you along the way - why not take the time to tell one person today that you believe in them - and yes, that person can be YOU!  

 

So now I need to get through my constipation and go and get on with it don't I?!

Have a great week folks, thank you for stopping by.

xXx

You are loved more than you know . . . .

At last I've made it out of the rabbit hole. As predicted March was a 'march' but on reflection was a brilliant month filled with brilliant events and opportunities ;o)

This is how my 366 journal page finished up looking

The month started with the fabulously talented Dina Wakley coming over to Art from the Heart to teach an amazing multimedia class - I loved the process of creating and learnt lots of new skills and techniques including wet rubbing and dry brushing - lol!

March finished with my parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary  - I'd say that's an amazing achievement and we had a fab weekend of celebrations with them.

Here's the card I made them

As for April  - well with all the above frivolity I have had no time to play until today: Good Friday

I wanted to remember what the day was all about (other than a welcome bank holiday)  so this morning watched the Mel Gibson film 'The Passion of the Christ' 

Having sobbed buckets at the horror of the torture and the realisation of God's love for mankind (and lil old me) I set to on April's journal page

I've missed journalling as I've been so busy .... so .... this is a spilling of how I am feeling today, but hey, that's what Art Journalling is all about is it not?

I used my newly learnt techniques of wet rubbing and dry brushing through  the new Crafter's workshop 'Cursive writing' and 'Ledger' stencils and Dylusions 'Chequered dots' stencil to create the background and used Dylusions 'Write between the lines' stamps for the tags.

So remember .....

YOU are loved more than you know !

Have a great Easter weekend

xXx

Down the rabbit hole!

Phew, I've done it at last!

For a couple of days my status on FB had to be 'I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date' as I had wanted to be ready and prepared for March and have my pages completed to link to Kate Crane's 366 Journal Challenge. I didn't quite make it but I'm secretly quite pleased to be ready for March 2nd!

March is always a busy month but this one seems like its gonna be extra busy and over in a flash as there are so many significant events in it.  I want to enjoy them all and not just rush from one to the next which is so often the way for me. So my real challenge for March is to enjoy what each day has to offer and not be 'marching on' to the next one ;o)

So here it is . . . .

and just to prove I do fill in the diary parts here is February all finished . . . . 

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you might be kind enough to leave

xXx

Freaky !

I've been busy busy working so was very pleased to see I'd future proofed myself way back in December by booking a Friday off to play at artsy stuff (note to self - make sure I do that again soon).

So it started on Friday with a fabulous class at Art from the Heart taught by the lovely Kate Crane using Dylusions spray inks, Dylusions stamps and Dylusions stencils and Stampotique stamps and finished today when I finished them off with some stitching and mounting to make greetings cards. I am not so sure who will appreciate being on the receiving end of them as they are not quite 'love and best wishes' but I looooooove them.

Here they are.....

I've deliberately left the board blank on this one so it can be personalised for whoever gets it

This one is another 'note to self'

Think this little fella is fab

Busy bee

and

I've got a few people in mind for this one ;o)

Thank you for stopping by

 Feel free to let me know what you think ;o) 

xXx

No! Why?

Having asked those closest to me (including myself) what my mantra would be it would probably be 'No! Why?' 'cos I usually have to understand and agree with something before I do it - my hubs tells me I will die by a gun shot wound to the back of my head  . . . . cos he'll say 'Duck' and I'll say 'No why?!' and that'll be me!

So today I spent time at one of my favourite hiding places Art from the Heart on an art journalling class. The challenge set by Dyan was to use the fabulous new dylusions ink-sprays, the latest range of dylusions rubber-stamps, specifically to make hair out of one of the stamps, and to use a quote which said 'Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll understand, involve me and I'll remember.'

I didn't say 'No! Why?' I just adapted it to suit and this is the end result....

Most of my class mates produced something bright and pink and gorgeous, I must be pinked out for now with my 366 calander challenge page for February!

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has looked at my blog and for the lovely comments so far - I can't quite believe it ;o)

xXx

Lost and found!

Well I started February having lost my phone whilst doing the grocery shopping - not a nice feeling. I knew it was in my pocket at the start of the shop so thought it had been pinched  . . .

Thankfully it showed up in the produce department - I daredn't ask if it was with the apples!?! I am grateful to have it back, that there are honest folks out there and for those who held me together whilst I found it!

I've done my background page for Kate Crane's 2012 366 challenge, I'm guessing that it will evolve as I go back to it each day but here's how it is now . . .

I am struggling to think of a mantra for February, it's a bit too pink for me to think of anything but love as a theme. Mebs I should have thought this through a bit better before I started?

xXx