So go explore

I really couldn’t wait to starting using my newly prepped journal. I grabbed it an opened it randomly to a page and applied some gesso.

See…a very random selection. In fact, I don’t ever start from the front of a journal. Something about doing that intimidates me. It’s as if I feel like that first page is going to set the tone for the whole book. This is way less pressure.

The background may look familiar to some of you as I did a painting a while back using the same technique.

Once I got the background colors down and dried, I felt like writing. Not my usual thing but you have to go with it when it strikes.

” The road of our lives is paved with so many possibilities. Things unimaginable to us. We make choices. Turns. Detours. What is around the next corner? It could be a brick wall or it could be the greatest opportunity you will ever find. You will never know unless you put one foot in front of the other. Be open to new things, experiences and people. Not all of them will be good but they will shape you into a better person if you let them. Either by learning from your mistakes or by teaching you how incredible you were meant to be. So go explore….”

Wowsers…I usually don’t get deep with my journals but when the mood strikes I must give in and go with it.

I’m linking up with Inspire me Monday this week.

Art | Blog

art journal, Gypsy journal

1 Comment

halleday

201502/05

Inspired by Pinterest

As I’ve said many many times…I spend a lot of time on Pinterest. I’m often inspired by the images I see. I’m not one to completely copycat but tweak the design a little for my own use. Sometimes it’s color combos that make me run downstairs to create. Other times it’s the curve of a line, interesting texture or a simple splat of ink that has my mind whirling.

Before a stomach bug took me out of commission for a couple of days, I was inspired by this image and my new found ~~interest~~ obsession in weaving, to create this card.

Actually I made a couple cards since I had strips cut.

The cards in turn inspired me to create this journal page.

The Yogi tea tag was a serendipitous find in my stash.

Would you like to be inspired too? You could always

Art | Blog | Crafts

art journal, greeting card, Pinterest, polka dot journal

2 Comments

halleday

201502/01

Another Journal complete

I pried myself away from weaving long enough to create a decorative cover for my completed journal.

I’ve been calling this my white journal since the dust jacket was white.

Just painting the outside white seemed a little too boring for me especially when you look at all the lovely colors peeking out from the edge.

Wrinkled and wonky pages…love them!!

Art | Blog

art journal, journal, white journal

4 Comments

halleday

201501/19

Roll with it

I discovered that using cardboard chunks as pages in my new journal has opened up a freedom in creativity that I hadn’t realized I was stifling.

I think perhaps it is due to the fact that if I totally stink it or wreck the page in some way…I can easily be trashed without ripping out pages.

Take this page for example. Is it my best most fantastic work? Nope. but I worked in a very intuitive way. Just letting it flow onto the page. Whatever struck my mood at the time. Refreshing my mind.

Art | Blog

art journal, polka dot journal

2 Comments

halleday

201501/13

T Tuesday: New journal edition

Brrr…it’s a chilly one here in MN!

Good thing I have a big mug of tea!

Since I recently finished a journal I decided it was time to start a loose leaf journal. This is something I’ve wanted to do for some time but it always got put on the back burner.

I bought this small 3 -ring binder at Target from the clearance rack sometime last year. I loved the orange and polka dots.

I had added some old tip-ins…extras from long ago swaps. And there it sat…unloved…unused…until yesterday.

I grabbed a chunk of cereal box and created the first page of my polka dot journal.

I just love the words of wisdom from Yogi tea!

I’m off to run errands in the cold. I’ll be bringing a big travel mug of tea to help keep me warm. When I return I’ll be visiting the T stands for Tuesday blogs hosted by Elizabeth.

What are you doing today?

Art | Blog

art journal, polka dot journal, T Tuesday

13 Comments

halleday

201501/07

It’s a cold day in H E double hockey sticks

Is that just a Minnesota thing? I’d have to assume the H E double hockey sticks part of it anyway. But it IS cold today. So cold, they closed school. I haven’t been out of the house since Saturday when I stocked up at the grocery store.

I’ve been crafting, cleaning and reading.

I completed the last pages in my journal which happened to be the last page of the book and the first.

I didn’t plan it that way…it just happened. All that’s left is to remove the library plastic and alter the covers.

I’m also working on completing my 2014 art calendar project. Here’s a little sneak peek.

And I couldn’t leave you today without showing my reinbeers…

I made them for my neighbor whose b-day happens to be New Year’s Eve. This is a crummy photo but I snapped it quick before we left. He told me they were too cute to drink.