The Documented Life Journal 2015

I've decided to take on The Documented Life Journal project this year. I loved watching the planners last year but was late to the party and didn't ever jump on board. So I purchased a small Diana Wakely Dyelusions journal and have been waiting for my first challenge. 

First things first, make the cover something wonderful that you can't stop touching. 

I've been tossing around ideas, procrastinating, playing with Gelli prints, until finally I went for it. I could not be more pleased with myself. 

First, I took all of the mess I had created on my dining room table and got myself resit used in my studio corner. 

I've been working here all week. It was a much bigger wreck by the time I finally had enough . 

I picked through some of the papers I Gelli printed to draw a few images on. 

Finally I grasped loosely, with my fingers, and started to layer in color. I always gravitate to the same palette so it was natural to keep that palette for my cover. It's what makes me happy. A little finger painting, used my small Gelli plate, s brush, until it was ready. 

The I decoupaged on my chosen images. I decided to use gel medium, but mine is kind of old and dried up, and I didn't use enough so it didn't go on well and I had to play with it. It's resulted in a wrinkled bubbled mess, but after a little toying with it and layering on some color it's fine. Over the year it will get a beating anyhow so why start with perfection. 

I continued to layer on texture, color, accents, and finally a stamp. I also used a few embellishments from swaps and here you are! 

I'm so do pleased with my result and can't wait to open up and start dealing with those blank pages.

Studio time

I am just dying for more studio time. But it's been very hard to find time during this busy season and on top of that I managed to completely trash my studio. I have a really hard time working in a big mess.

Our life has been in a big upheaval lately, so not only have I not had the time but the clutter had piled up, mentally and figuratively. When I have a mess in my house it's completely reflective of my state of mind. I need art therapy more than anything right now. 

This past weekend I did a little bit of entertaining.  Having a party is the best excuse to give yourself the time to clean house. I threw my 3rd Annual Favorite things party. So much fun. 

I had a dozen wonderful friends over to share my home and have some fun. It was amazing to have light and laughter back in my house again.  I feel like I'm ready to start fresh with this new year. And now my space is perfectly ready for winter break studio time. 4 more days! 

I can't wait!

Before:

After:

Snaps from the Favorite Things party :

My goodies; Legend Brown Ale, Twist Style earrings, Barefoot sparkling moscato, Andes mints, homemade chili lime almonds and sparkly earrings, waxed linen thread, and a Handmade Charlotte embroidery kit. We also had an ornament swap, and I got the fabulous sparkly peacock!

ATC Postcard Fun

I've been making loads of postcards and ATCs lately. I love the immediacy of it. Quick instant gratification art. So fun, but I really must get back to journal and prints. 

I've been pulling back from doing so many swaps, however I'm posting ATC's on Instagram for swap and sending postcards out to the International Union of Mail Artists. That should sasiate my addiction enough so I can focus on other artwork as well. I love swapping but it can be so all-consuming. 

Here are a few pieces I made and posted recently.

If you'd ever like to swap with me, do send me a message! 

Reciprocating Mail Art Binge

I have so much mail going out this week! Good thing I'm stocked up on stamps. 

I received such an overwhelming abundance of mail art for my workshops! I created many samples for the class too, which were to be used for reciprocating mail, but now to put it all together. 
Once I'm caught up I'll need to get the journals out! If only there were more hours in the day. 

I am so addicted to mail art. It's so much fun. This binge has given me such a surge of creative energy. I'm loving making collaged postcards. 

Keep a look out in your mailbox! You may be getting something special from yours truly!

Amazing Mail Art

Well, summer is over and I've been back in school for some time. 
I have an amazing student teacher and am having a great start to the school year. This has fortunately left me with lots of mental space to keep up with my art!
I had a busy summer that went way too fast but I managed to have a wonderfully creative time with some different Mail Art groups throughout the few months break. The challenges and Mail Art swaps really ignited my artistic fires. I am addicted.

I have been asked by my county art supervisor to lead our Artist Educator Team building project this year.  Guess what I want to do? You guessed it! Mail Art!

 Each year the art teachers in my county do some sort of Team building activity for professional development. As our profession is art, we do some sort of collaborative art project. In the past there have been collaborative art groups, last year an altered book swap, and this year I was asked to lead the project. All of them are optional, but I love participating. 

This year our county launched new core values, one of which is Relationships. So based on this core concept I am proposing a Mail Art Swap, to build our relationships with our peers. 

My county is large, and as art teachers there is only one, if not only a few teachers in your subject at each school. It is very isolating. We get together as a county, and we hold conferences, but with the advent of social media, art teachers are getting less and less engaged with one another. Many teachers have retired, many new teachers have been hired and we are now in a situation where we no longer have connections to one another within our county. So mail art is my proposal as a vehicle to get to know one another again, with a monthly swap through out the year, as well as some swaps through a Facebook group.

I will present my workshop with part lecture, part demonstration, and part hands on activity, and it will be presented to 4 groups of teachers - so I do it 4 times. I have been completely obsessed with it. I cannot stop making samples and thinking about it. I have presented at conferences many times over, but people pick to come to your conference workshop. These guys have to come to my presentation! Pressure. I want to make it fun!

I wanted to bring samples from other mail artists, so I reached out to see if anyone would be willing to send me any inspirational mail art. I thought it would be awesome if I had happy mail to open at the workshop!  I have been collecting samples, the items I have been sent and examples I have made myself already, so I had some examples, but like I said, I want it to be awesome. I need lots of awesome examples! 

Well let me tell you, these mail art folks rock and they have answered the call!  People have sent me the most inspirational and diverse happy mail envies, ATCs, twinchies, rolos, postcards.... It's been incredible! Once I open the stash Monday I will share. I have so much mail to reciprocate! It's just awesome.

Look at this!

These workshops go down at our annual staff development meeting Oct 13th at the Virginia Museum if Fine Arts. I'm so excited!! I can't wait to show off all that I have been working on and all the goodies my new friends have sent.

What would you like to see in a mail art workshop? 

I have made loads of resources to share, so do let me know if you would like a link for my presentation and handouts.

Camping Art Studio

Hoping to get a little creative rest while on our short weekend camping trip. I set up a little studio space for outdoor creating. My boy even joined me with a little clay from a camp activity. 

I'm making some little ATCs to leave in a Geocache we hope to find. It will be our first geocaching adventure. 

I'm hoping those who find the treasures will come here and comment! 

Finally Summer

Finally, nearly one week into summer break, after many long weeks away from having time for my art, I reunited with my journals on the dock at the Chesapeake Bay. 

Pure heaven. Promises of new work to come!