A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk

new obsession

 

Current obsession: giant dots and stencil-y flowers. 3 pages left in my sketchbook. I did more doodling than sketching in it, but whatever. Who comes up with these categories anyway? It's all good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the big reveal

We're back home but I have lots of new journal pages fresh from vacation. Bizarrely, I forgot my journals at home but thankfully brought along my sketchbook which goes everywhere with me these days. Sitting alone in restaurants and the hotel lobby observing and doodling were some of my favorite times in Phoenix. I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a glance

 

Snugly tucked among the red rocks of Sedona is a little chapel. A quiet place full of mystery and beauty, stone and wood, glass and wax. Peace and inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proof that if you're willing to look, God can be found everywhere and that beauty, His own, is a hallmark of that presence. To be honest, though, as much as I loved the little Chapel of the Holy Cross, I personally found God so much more present and obvious among the rugged, awe-full mountains. Just climbing up their dusty red shelves felt sacred, holy, and full of wonder. Rather than feeling that I was climbing the mountain to reach God, it was as if my smallness and fragility were put into proper perspective among the terrible vastness of His creation. Some may disagree, but I don't mind being put in my place when I need it. Especially when that place is beside all this splendor. It doesn't make me feel less significant but decidedly more.

We head back home tomorrow. It's been a great time but I'm so excited to hug and kiss my own dirty, noisy little creations!

mountain retreat

 

John had a conference in Phoenix this week so I tagged along for a little R & R while he conferenced and a few good dinners on the town afterward. We started out with a jeep trip to Sedona. I can't  imagine a more perfect and inspiring beginning to our getaway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

friday

One sick kid coughing up a lung. One drama queen keeping things interesting. Drawing my own Spring in the kitchen sunlight. Watching the colors sink into the page. Longing to say goodbye to to the lingering snow. Yes, coats and scarves again. Friday Art Academy. Loving where I live. Dreaming of the weekend. New books and the promise of getting away somehow, if even for a minute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm on a Margaret Atwood kick. The Handmaid's Tale is one of my all time favorites. I've always wanted to read more by her but didn't get around to it until now. Finished up Alias Grace. Great story, slightly anticlimactic end. Just moved on from the past to the future with Oryx and Crake. Looking forward to a few tales of obsession and madness on the 3 for 2 table on the side. Happy weekending!

What are you looking forward to?

something new and some big news

 

This past Saturday was my sweetheart's 40th birthday. (I can still hardly believe either one of us could be anywhere close to...40. We've known each other since I was 16 and he was 19, and 40 was hardly something we could ever imagine ourselves.) Since he's pointed out to me repeatedly that I always make gifts for others but never for him, I knew exactly what this very special (and somewhat eerie) birthday called for: his own writing journal. And it had to be a surprise.

 

My husband doesn't draw or doodle but he does occasionally write out his thoughts, prayers and even songs he's written so I wanted something with lines but still handbound. I decided to use 3 Moleskine cahiers as the book's signatures and add painted covers with a sewn tab binding like my watercolor journal. The best of both worlds. And it turned out perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

The inside covers were collaged with tissue and paper napkins, a technique I haven't used in years but still love. Each 'signature' was covered back and front with doodles in gold pen--my favorite part!--and bits of poems were added here and there as future inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the middle spread of each cahier I handwrote favorite quotes for more inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

And now for something completely different.......

 

I have some exciting news! I have been asked to be one of teachers in the fabulous online journaling workshop 21 Secrets coming this Spring!

This art journal playground of sorts will consists of 21 artists each teaching on a unique aspect of their own processes, techniques or vision for art journaling. Seriously. 21 classes. 21 teachers. I can hardly wait! Eeek! See the full list of instructors and their bios here.

Registration begins Monday, March 14, 2011. More details coming soon!