brave new journal

          

(Pitt pens, watercolor pencils, vintage pattern & labels, dotted masking tape)

Late this afternoon I had just enough time to do a quick intro page in my new moleskine journal.  Sitting in the sun on the front porch with Bogie, my sweet puppy, I tried to hurry and finish before the approaching rain.  But Bogie needed a short walk before the rain, too, and before we could run back to the porch, the rain pounded down on us in sudden drenching sheets. Some of the water splats blown in on my journal left open on the porch became opportunities for a little creative cover-up.  :)

Hope you like the message to "brave something" and "find your heart."
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have faith in yourself

In my Doodling Ink class at Rachel's Handmade U in Omaha this past weekend, we played a card game that acted as a doodling prompt.  So I thought I'd pick one of the words as a prompt, too, and doodle-write a page to go with it.  Today I chose the word "faith" as my prompt.  (This was the word you picked, Paige. :)

Although I'll still be adding color and more doodles, here it is in its first stage.  I'm thinking I'll make this Strathmore notebook into a series of reminders to myself -- for whenever I need them.  Like today, when I'm working toward another deadline (not complaining; I'm super happy to have these deadlines).

Have faith in yourself and your ability to be your best you!

off to doodle in omaha

Time to finish packing for my "Doodle Ink" class at Handmade U in Omaha this weekend. I'm excited and more than a little nervous to be teaching my first doodling class. Even after all the other project classes I've taught, it's a whole different ball game trying to translate something you do kind of naturally into a technique you lay out in thoughtful steps. Wish me luck, please!


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getting in the island mood

This island pace here on St Maarten may be slower, but our days have been full and I've barely had time for photos. Of course, I'm spending lots of time with this little lovely, my 5-month-old granddaughter Eliää, and her daddy.


Today was spa day for my daughter-in-law at the Christian Dior spa in the lobby of their apartment building. Afterwards, she enjoyed sunning with her spa partner Jackie while Eliää and I waved down at them from our balcony.


Some more views from the apartment's balcony overlooking the glorious ocean:








And here's the balcony chair where I'll sit doodling for my April class and other projects while listening to the waves tumbling in. Can I really call this a working vacation? Well, tomorrow morning at 6 am, Eliää and I will watch from the sidelines while her parents run, swim and bike in the island's triathlon. That's work, right?


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sending off some journal pages

Down to last-minute packing for my winter visit with my middle son's family in St Maarten. While there, I hope to share more photos of beautiful island scenery again this year. Meanwhile, we're having odd winter weather here in Virginia, with temperatures today in the 60's. But that can't last, can it?

Before heading off, I mailed both my book and my first guest pages for a round robin book swap that includes 11 talented ladies. My super-organized first swap buddy obligingly mailed me her book early so I could finish her pages in time.


For my book, my "Tales of a Creative Life" covers are made of fun upholstery fabric swatches picked up at JournalFest buddy Michelle Geller's favorite Good Will shop during my visit with her in Portland. She knows where all the best places are to find vintage goodies. I'm hoping the heavier brown textured leather, leftover from another of my book projects, will help protect the softer fabric as my book travels the country. I think the book feels so nice to hold.

Sign-in pages inside my journal, with doodles and watercolor.

My first guest pages were asked to be in a soft neutral and pink palette,

so I opted to draw these two delicate sketches for her theme,

using faces I found on Pinterest for my reference.
I drew and lightly shaded the two faces with pencil,
then added just a bit of watercolor for contour and warmth.

Off to finish packing! Mustn't forget my camera and doodling supplies!
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doodling class in april

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I know, it's a tough life ...

lately I've been spending more and more time just doodling!

But really, I do have a good reason.

In April, Rachel Velder McGough will host her Second Semester of Handmade U near Omaha, and I'm so excited

to be teaching a fun doodling class during the weekend!

This intimate retreat held April 19-22 will take place

in Minglewood Lodge, where classes and meals will be held

and the majority of those attending will stay.

So cozy!

Registration for the event has just opened on

Rachel's blog.

On the Friday, my journaling buddy Michelle Geller will be teaching

a full-day bookmaking class called Stitched and Stashed.

In the morning we'll stitch our journals together,

using Michelle's fresh take on the Coptic binding technique.

During the afternoon, we'll add to our journals

with papers and ephemera from her wonderful stash and our own.

The next morning, in my doodling class called Doodle Ink,

we'll make a small sampler book and then practice the fine art of doodling!

More than just a mindless gesture, doodling in art journaling

can be a joyful form of stylistic drawing.

Starting with my tips about tools and process,

we'll approach doodling as a a serious but playful addition to one's pages,

including lettering, borders and frames, and stylized birds and flowers.

It will be all hands on!

In the afternoon, Rachel will teach her prize-ribbon class,

using her fantastic ribbons brought back from France!

I hope you're coming!

Please say yes!

p.s. By the way, I doodled this "Yes!" in response to another invitation

to participate in more doodle fun!

Hope to be able to tell you more soon.

rest, recover, resume

--Spanish proverb.

Do you, like me, occasionally need a reminder to sit still for a few minutes so you can settle your heart and appreciate the beauty around you?

our hearts are full

This weekend we remembered and repledged ourselves to live both with our history and for our future. Our hearts are full of sorrow and hope. At the top of my wish list is a visit to the beautiful memorial pools at the regenerated Twin Towers site, where state-of-the-art engineered waterfalls cry for us as we face our depths. And today we have the incredible gift of starting fresh, choosing again to build beauty.

These simple sketches were made using these magic tools here, which I just found this morning on a past post on Geninne's blog. With a little exploration, I quickly found the line options and color wheel but not yet the eraser. :) You, too, can take a moment to brighten your morning!


Note: The linked Mr. Doob tool page may look blank at first, but you'll see the short but sweet tool bar at the top. Just click on things and play around with it like I did. :)
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summer afternoon

Lovely quote from Henry James.

Hand scripted for Amy Powers' Inspired Ideas summer ezine.

Sharing these summer afternoons with our beautiful new grandbaby.

in the flower garden

Stopping by to say hello --

we've had lots of rain here lately,

but today brought such lovely sunshine and

happily a chance to work in the garden among the flowers.

Now I'm ready for a shower and a lazy afternoon nap.

Hope you have sunshine or rain, whichever you need.

(still doodling with my Copic markers -- wait till you see what's up!)