Happy New Year

This is my vision board I made last night. I was having a hard time finding images I liked or a focus but more joy seemed like something I would love to have. I also loved the idea of that writing nook and just chose images that pleased me. Things I want in the new year like better eating, a healthier body, time in nature, walks with my dog, more time for play and plenty of quiet time. I think its going to be a great year.

I haven't chosen a word yet but I think I will do another post on that.

As to whether this is the end of the decade or not I guess it depends on what year you start with. If you start with the year 2000 then it is the end of a decade it you start with 2001 then it will not until until next year. Not a big deal anyways.

More end of the year musings

I know some of you get The Notes from the Universe in your mailbox I discovered that Mike Dooley now has a social site. The link to join is here If you don't receive the
notes then go here to sign up. It is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

One of the cool thing on the TUT site is an online vision board maker. Its full of fantastic images and you can upload your own too. What a great tool. Speaking of vision boards, today is the perfect day tohttp://twitter.com/leah_art/status/7238494938 do one. Today is just full of extra energies that make it more powerful.

* Its the end of the year
* Its the end of a decade
* There is a full Blue moon
* There is a lunar eclipse
* The moon is moving into Cancer which has strong feminine energy.

Now tell me do you need any more reasons to work on a vision board for 2010 today? You can join in at tut.com or do one the old fashioned way, with magazines and glue and poster board. Being the overachiever I am I will probably do both just because I can.

Another fun thing to do on the last day of the year is to do something you love to do and really want more time for in the new year. So I am about to take my dog out for a walk and then I will do some painting in the studio. We all want more time for creative pursuits so I will end the year doing them and start the new year tomorrow by doing the same. How will you spend the last day of the year?

A year in review

I have been thinking about the coming year and wondering what kind of year its going to be. I want to choose a word to focus on and have had difficulty choosing one. I am not sure why. To know where we want to go I really do think it is important to see where we have been. So I took a little tour of my blog to see what I did this past year and these are the highlights.

January
A new kitty came into our lives.
I joined in on the 12 Habits of Highly Creative Women book blogging group.
I participated in Art journal January with Misty Mawn.
Took a photography class.

February
I finished weaving a shawl.
I participated in One World One Heart, my painting went all the way to Israel.
I met my muse Zoe.
I interviewed author Jill Badonsky.
I painted a face on fabric.

March
I took a journaling class with Kelly Kilmer and did a journal page every day for the month.
I made ATC's out of cereal boxes.
I made Tree Flags using watercolor crayons.
I learned the coptic stitch and made a journal using it.

April
Took a stenciling class with spray paint with Mary Ann Moss.
I finished a woven shawl.
I had surgery on my hand.
I participated in a matchbox shrines swap.

May
I took Julie Prichard's Layer Love class.
I took a trip to Yellowstone.
I interviewed the artist Violette.
I went a wool trek to Utah.
I got a new lens for my camera

June
I participated in the Wreck this journal book blogging group
I wrote a guest post on Meet your Muse's blog
I hired a professional coach to work with me.

July
I started a new blog and became the Queen of Creativity
I decided to write a book on creativity
I was featured on Jamie Ridler's website

August
I participated in a magic wand and inspirational cards swap.
I ordered my very own moo cards with my art on them
I took Stitched and Stencil class with Mary Ann Moss
I made three aprons
I rediscovered cross-stitch and finished some projects
I traveled to some out of the way spots in Idaho

Sept
I did the Artist Way with an online group.
I joined the blogging book group on the Joy Diet. Did a weekly collage on the different chapters
I collaged a clipboard
I participated in National project the Aha Moment
I took Mystele's Gut Art Class

October
I visited the Laurence Rockefeller Preserve.
I celebrated my 24th wedding anniversary.
I got a new computer a Mac this time.
I participated in my first GPS Street Team challenge.
I took a Point and Shoot journaling class with LK Ludwig.

November
I participated an won Nanowrimo.
100th post giveaway.
I took Painted Layers class with Misty Mawn.
I painted a landscape.
I made Teesha Moore's journal out of 1 sheet of paper.

December
I made Star Garland.
I participated in the Create and pass journal project at Art from the Heart.
I made 3 dimensional snowflakes.
I drew a Zentangle.

I am amazed at all the things I did last year, You may also find it interesting if you take a little tour of your blog too. It may help you decide where you want to go next.

Some of my gifts

Here I am trying out my new trekking poles. Dave and I took Flynn out for a walk so I got to try them out. I thought I would be waiting to use them when we go hiking in the summer, but now I realize how valuable they could be in winter too.

















My sister Marianne was in Italy this summer and her gifts came from there. This Paisley shawl is one of them although it is more gold and purple than the picture shows. She also sent the bracelet and key chain below.














I was gifted with jewelry from several people. The beaded bracelet was made by my friend Kate and the fused glass pieces by my sister Peggy.

















This quilt was done by my friend Celeste, Its here own design and was stitched entirely by hand. It is only her second piece, take a look at the beautiful quilting.













This journal or portfolio cover was also made by my sister Peggy, its just beautiful. I am not sure how I will use it yet, it will hold a legal size pad so some sort of notebook will live in it someday.

















My daughter gave me this book, which I have been wanting. Its part of a series I talked about before.

What are your favorite gifts this year?

Art Journaling is out

I found this at the store and its a wonderful issue full of great ideas. I have been wanting to get some of those Pan Pastels that Pam Carriker is always talking about but haven't done so yet. The first time I attempted they were out of stock and the second time I thought do I really need these, they are pretty expensive so I talked myself out of them. Maybe I will get a set soon because I really want to try them.

















I pulled out my moleskine journal and took a pencil drawing I had done previously and added regular soft pastels to it, painted the background and then added words.

















This page I just played with color. I painted the page with the same colors as the previous one but tried to make it lighter when I mixed the paint. Then I added some white gesso over it to tone the color down even more. I liked how these images blended well with the colors.

















This is an exercise from the class with Misty. I had an extreme amount of difficulty coming up with the right shade for the skin tone and then to try and remake that mix was virtually impossible. I either need to make bigger amounts or figure a way to duplicate what I am trying to do. This face has a zillion colors buried underneath it. I finally got tired of working on it. Although the class is over with I am still doing the exercises.

Oh if you are interested in painting faces Misty is teaching another class, this one is on strictly on faces where the one I took was on backgrounds and collage too. Information on the class is here She is a wonderful teacher so the class will be great. I won't be taking it since I have decided to take a break from classes.

Christmas Eve

I woke up this morning to gently falling snow and all the trees in my yard all frosty and pretty. It really looked like Christmas once more. I spent the morning in the kitchen making apple pie and lemon bars and then headed out into the frenzy of last minute shopping. I was out early so it wasn't too bad.












Trees do look especially beautiful with some added snow to them.












I like the look of these two trees one virtually dead and the other full of life and both look beautiful all covered in frosty white. I just love mornings like this.

Its just about time to be putting Christmas Eve Dinner on the table so I would like to wishing you all a wonderful Christmas or whatever holiday that you celebrate at this time of year. Have a wonderful time with your family.

A few snowflakes

I have been making snowflakes with my Cricut machine. I bought one of the limited edition cartridges the other day. It makes all sorts of snowflakes, both two and three dimensional. I made a series of them and then hung them in my house. They seem to twirl on their own and are kind of fun. I poke holes in the top and strung them with fishing line.












I love how these are all really pretty.












This one has birds cut into it.












This one has bunnies featured.












There are angels in this one.












Here are trees to delight you.












and even snowmen. The cartridge has a whole group of designs that are really fun to cut.















This is a cross stitched piece I finished in October, I finally managed to turn it into a wall hanging and put it up. Its been so satisfying working on these little decorations and getting them put up. I like to have something new each year. It makes the decorating more interesting and I do have fun making them.

A tote bag and some pages

Now that I have given this gift I can show you. I took a face I painted on fabric with Neocolor II watercolor crayons and I made a tote bag from it. I love how it turned out and the recipient was quite happy with it too!

















I have been playing in the paper bag art journal and finished up a couple of pages. It felt good to be working in a playful mode again. Here I have used black gesso and I really liked the way this image looked on black, the colors are pretty true.

















This one began with just the pink spray painting and evolved into talking about the faces we put on everyday. It is so interesting how pages evolve.

















This page started with excess paint from other projects and then the images with the legs, I kinda like the way they look like ribs. The girl is an image I have used before and probably will again. I really like it.

Its great to be doing Art again. Sometimes just taking a few minutes a day to be creative really makes a difference in your entire day.