Journal Me This......

So, ever since I took a journal lecture from Teesha Moore at the Carson RSC in July, I have been steadily working on my first one. Now my style is not my own....technically. I have pretty much followed her techniques step by step. Her images and writing and layouts are just so amazing, and I am trying, I guess, to kind of find my own way via her way. I named this journal "A Year in Faith and Art" and I spend alot of time journaling during worship at church, or listening to worship music. I still journal everday stuff, the process of designing and finishing my art studio, and normal stuff. But it has definitely helped me start to find my own journal style. I am going to Art and Soul Retreat in No. CA next April, and will be taking a 3 day journal class. I am so excited.

Zentangle What???

"Zentangle is an easy to learn and relaxing method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. "

This is what the Zentangle website says about this art form. I don't know how new it is or how much my personal sense of well being will be affected, however..............I LOVE IT!! I took an online class with the originators of this art form, and via webcam and conferencing, learned a couple of simple techniques. That was 3 hours ago and I just finished what was started in class. Intricate, detailed, hypnotic and, well, just super fun. I ordered the kit and am excited to go a little deeper into this style.

Kelly Clarkson - Up to the mountain (Idol gives back)

Up to The Mountain

Ok, I freely admit it........I am a huge American Idol Fan. I watch it every season, I pick my favorites and I vote every week. Ok, that being said, the best performances of any season, to me, was the Idol Gives Back Concert. Especially the duet with Kelly Clarkson and Jeff Beck. When I heard the song that night, I was moved. And I have continued to be moved every time I listen to it. Which is every day, because it is on my worship playlist on my Ipod. I wanted to share it with anyone who hasn't heard it. It is amazing.

Welcome to Studio 13 - For Reals!

So special thanks to my hubby, for working endlessly to help me put this together. This is my computer desk, with the coolest lamp ever!! Next is the super organized shelving from IKEA, with every bin labeled. The upper wall cabinets hold art books, ATC binders, photo albums, specialty papers and software. The photos are over the computer desk and are of my boy helping paint the room with Daddy, and his first day of school. Then there is the work desk, where hopefully my Muse will meet me everytime I sit down. The wall hanging has some photos, my charm bracelet from "Muses" charm swap, and pages from my Art Journal.

So needless to say I am extremely happy, extremely exhausted, and feel right at home here.

Last Skinny page

This is page 5 of the skinny book pages. Since I will be copying and embellishing the copies, I will make 5 of each(plus one for our lovely host Chrysti), and keep the originals.

Ok maybe this one is my favorite, titled "Nesting Creativity" I do like a good bird theme!

Skinny Pages 3 and 4

These are pages 3 and 4 of the skinny book. "A Year in Faith and Art" is my favorite, and the second one says "under the fairy tree"

Finally flooring

So finally got the flooring down. Wow, for waiting for three weeks for this tile, and it was done in two hours. We just need to finish the carpet edges and base moulding. and clean all of our sticky grimy fingerprints of the white!! I am so excited, now the furniture and organization begins.

Hopefully by next weekend I will be Officially in my new studio!!

Skinny Book Pages

These are the first two originals in a skinny book swap I am in. I am using techniques from Chrysti Hydeck, in her Cloth Paper Scissors article. I absolutely loved every step of this techniques. If you have not made backgrounds like Chrysti's, try it. You are in for a treat.

Am I Smarter than a First Grader????-Reposted from September 2007

Well, let's see. My five year old son was put up into the 1-3 grade class at his Montessori school. He was an early reader, so they decided to see how he did with the upper grades. So besides whining because there was more homework, he was doing ok.

Last week I went to pick him up from school, and we went into his class to get his homework out of his cubby. There was the phonics workbook, and a worksheet that looked like it has not been finished. When I looked close I saw that it was subtraction of three digit numbers. You know, like 824 - 411 =? I figured another older kid must have accidentally put his worksheet into Connor's cubby. There is no way my just turned 5 year old could possible be doing this level of work. Everyone always puts their names on the papers, so I looked to see who's cubby this should go into. I said "Connor, this isn't your work, where is Hto's cubby?" That was the name that was in the upper left corner of the paper, right above the first problem, where kids always put their name. (Now wait for it, this is the funny part) I kid you not, he rolled his eyes at me and said "MOM" "That is not "Hto", that stands for hundreds, tens and ones, you know, for subtraction" So I ask the question again? Am I smarter than a First Grader???? ummmmmm