A Few More Backgrounds & International Fake Journal Month

Its been a busy week so I haven't much to show today.  The following are some backgrounds I have been with making with ColorWash and  Stencils.  I found a new set of cut paper that make great stencils. So I took them for a test drive.  My next online class is going to cover using these tools so I have been putting them to the test in all sorts of ways. Here are just a few of the samples.

I did manage to do a journal page yesterday. It was another one of those dreary days that have me fighting off a little depression. First I stamped the bird, its from a Martha Stewart stamp set. I colored it with water color crayons. I added chalk to the background. Next it was sprayed with hair spray to set the chalk. Then I could use the gel pen on top. It was a fun little page and I felt better after having made it.  I just love how art journaling can do that for you.


International Fake Journal Month
I just learned about this a few minutes ago and it sounds like it could really be a blast to do.  Its starts tomorrow so there isn't much prep time.  I am also not sure if I have the time to do it but the idea is intriguing.   So what is it all about? This is taken right from their site.  "Basically it’s a free pass to put anything in a journal that you might not otherwise put in. At least that’s one way to see it. From April first to April 30, you are encouraged to keep a fake journal different from and outside of your regular visual journal."    If you ever wanted an alter ego here is a place to play with that idea.  Check out the site here for more details.

Wishcasting Wednesday How do you wish to be brave

For this week Jamie asks us How do you wish to be brave?  Well that is a good question for sure and so fitting for me lately.  I feel lots of change and also the old inner critic rearing its head, trying to hold me back.

Ever since I attended the Right Brainers in Business Summit my life had really changed.  I feel the creativity ideas coming to me like gang busters.  I am part of an awesome community of woman on the RBBP ning site.  Its a group that is sharing such wonderful information and helping and supporting one another. I really do feel blessed.

In the past few weeks, my online class went live, I created a mailing list and a newsletter, started developing a second class, posted my first interview on my blog, was interviewed by another blogger, put items in my etsy store and began work on an ebook.  With all that you wouldn't think I would need any bravery but alas not the truth, Sometimes it seems the more you do the louder that inner critic comes along and tries to sabotage you. I want to be brave in all aspects of my business and my life.  I second guess myself far to often.  I want the bravery and confidence to go forward with my dreams. For too many years I have gone forward two steps and then back three. I want that to end. I want to stop thinking about what everyone else is doing and just follow my own path with confidence. I am willing to let go of who I think I should be to become who I was meant to me. I know that person is so much more than I can imagine. I want to be brave enough to really dream BIG.

To see what other wishcasters are doing or to do some wishing yourself go here

An Interview with the Queen of Arts

I had been planning on doing some interviews on this blog even before Violette asked me. That experience really made me start putting that idea in motion.  So here is an interview with my friend The Queen of Arts.

We all know you as the The Queen of Arts, the title of your blog. Can you tell me how that name came about?

When I was thinking about starting a blog and looking for a blog name, the phrase “Queen of Arts” came to me. I was just starting to call myself an “artist”, I was teaching some art classes at a local paper craft store and the name just fit with who I am. “The Queen of Arts” was to be my kind of quirky, super arty on-line personality! I like it when people make a mistake, and call me “Queen of Hearts” sometimes too. I am all about the LOVE !

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What is a typical day like for

you?

Well, I live in New Hampshire in a cozy yellow house with my husband, David and my furry kids, Chica, the yellow lab and Azzy and Boo, my two male cats. Life is pretty simple around here. I am lucky enough to not have to work outside of the home right now and spend my time delving into my Artist Self. David and I don’t have children so we get to spoil ourselves with space and time in our house. I am so grateful to have a nice bright studio, all to myself, full of arty toys and my laptop! That is where I spend a lot of my days, playing, creating art, bopping to tunes, blogging and even paint rocks !

How do you express your creativity? What are you the most

passionate about?

My most important artistic activity would have to be my art journal. I started my visual art journal back when I was going through a difficult time with depression and it became an important part of my healing and well-being. And it continues to be so. When I am “playing” in my journal, I have learned to let go of the inner critic. I am creating for no one but myself. I am allowed to make ugly art (and believe me sometimes I do!) and express whatever I want to express. Very little of my art expression is actually negative. I seem to get into a meditation kind of mode, where I can refocus from negative thoughts in my head to the positive and love-filled person I want to be. I often say that journaling, getting lost in the color, words, textures and tools, is my cheapest and best form of therapy. I know it is good for my Soul !

You’re also known as the Rock Fairy? Could you tell us the story of how that happened? How has it changed your life?

The story of how I became the Rock Fairy has been share a few times on my blog. It goes like this :

“ Not so long ago, I was lost in a place of real isolation and loneliness. On a day of desperation, I asked for help from the Universe. I said "Look, I am drowning here. I don't know what I am doing on this planet. Please help me. Tell me what to do."

The unexpected answer came in the form of a video called "girls who rock"(this video is no longer available) on a blog called The Dancing Mermaid.  The video by McCabe showed a wonderful summer creativity camp she had organized for young girls. It showed the girls painting these gorgeous brightly colored rocks with words of inspiration and connection for one another. After I watched the video a couple of times and cried at its magic and beauty, and told McCabe how incredible I thought she was through a comment on her blog, I was pushed by everything in me to paint some rocks of my own. I actually had a bucket of smooth stones from the beach under my desk waiting for such a project.

The painting of the rocks was one of those experiences when you feel like something, someone else, is working through you. The words and phrases just came pouring out. It still feels that way to this day when I sit down to paint the Rock My World rocks.

Once I had a pile of these lovely rocks, all varnished and full of love, the question came "What do I do with them now ?" The answer came quickly "Go and give them away. Get out of your own head. Do something for someone else." That was the day that the Rock Fairy was born.

I walked to the park and started leaving the rocks on benches. The thing that was filling me up with each rock I left was the thought that my little act of leaving that rock behind was like giving kindness and love to someone else...without expectations, without a need to be recognized, just giving and connecting to someone at a heart level. The giving of that little extra bit of love was filling me back up in return - it was making me feel like I had a purpose in this life. My purpose is to connect to others in love and kindness. I have shared many stories here of how these little bits of love have allowed me to connect to people from all over. They have allowed me to know that I am not alone and that we are all in this together. Those rocks have really made my world better in more ways than I could ever describe to you...”

The actual title “Rock Fairy” was given to me my dear blog pal, Michelle Ward,  who called me that when she read about the Rock My Work Project on the blog. The nickname has kind of stuck after over two years of giving away these rocks of love. I now also sell the rocks through my etsy shop and in Patti Digh’s online store, and some of the proceeds go to giving big batches out for free to some great people who help me spread the Rock My World love.

I know that spirituality is a big part of your life, How do you think this is reflected in your art, in your daily life?

About the same time I discovered that art was essential to my life, I also discovered the life mantra that I have now chosen to do my very best to live my life by. That mantra is “Love is the answer to every question.”

That mantra comes through in most of my art, the symbols of hearts, words and quotes about love, angels and angel wings, and also the quest to real find self-love.

It is also how I choose things in my life. I try and ask myself “How can love be applied here?” or “Is this decision based in love or fear?” Coming back to LOVE has made my life so much better, my relationships with others better, and improved how I feel about myself too! For me, Love is what the world needs more of, in every situation, and I have kind of made it one of my main purposes in life to surround myself with it, to radiate it and to share it wherever I can. Love is the answer. This I know.

I know you have attended Art retreats like Squam. How do you think they have affected your growth as an Artist?

I have been luck enough to attend the Squam Art Workshops in Holderness, NH as well as a week-long workshop with Anne Bagby and Lynne Perella. Last year I spent a week in Cape Cod with a group of fellow artist women friends. This winter, I was invited to Florida to meet some fellow photographers and artists in the flesh for the first time in Seaside/Watercolor. I have made a commitment to do something to support my artistic growth and my artistic well-being at least every two years. I raise the funds for these art adventures through selling my art, with some of the proceeds from selling my Rock My World rocks, and with selling my more crafty types pieces at craft fairs now and then.

I think it is wonderful to spend time with like-minded women and with other artists who share themselves and their techniques and knowledge so generously. I also really value my artist friends in my on-line community as well. I have received so much support, encouragement and understanding from teachers, other participants and friends along the way that have made me a strong and more motivated artist. Artists really do have such a special community and retreats, classes and blogging really are a great way to feel a part of that community.

I know you have great support for your art from your husband David. How important has that been to you?

David is my best friend, and my greatest cheerleader. He always wants to see me happy and fulfilled. He reads my blog every day, “knows” my blog friends, and supports my desire to be an artist and to be a part of the on-line artist community as well. He encourages me to take chances, to go out and meet new blog and art friends, and basically gives this Queen the wings she need to fly. It means a lot to me to have him in my corner, supporting me, encouraging me and loving me through my life. I am a very blessed wife.

Do you ever get creatively blocked? Would you share what you’ve done to move beyond those blocks?

I think that being blocked occasionally or slowing down is all a part of the creative life. The ebbs and flows get scary for artists because we fear losing that ability to express ourselves. But I think it will always return in some form.

Since I am often more about the process of creating rather than the end product, these blocks don’t bother me so much anymore. But when I do feel the juices are kind of stagnant, I will tend to turn back to basic artful playing. Slapping paint on the page, taking out stencils and stamps and making my own “painted papers, that will end up in later collage pieces. Or I may read the latest mixed media art book out on the shelves and try out some techniques from another artist. So far, I have to say, that the blocks don’t last long for me. Maybe because I have learned that creating just feels so damn good, in whatever form it takes !

Do you have anything else you’d like to share? Where can people find you?

I would like to thank you, Kate, for your friendship and your encouragement. And for letting me share a little bit more about myself here. You are a wonderful member of the blog community that I love so much.

People can come and hang out with this Rock Fairy, Queen of Arts Chickie at my blog Queen-of-Arts.blogspot.com   

Big Love, Beautiful Ones.

Greeting Cards for Etsy

I was going to take a shot of what has been the kaos on my table but on second thought this is sort of neat.  Its the other side of the room that is a disaster.  I decided to put more cards on my etsy site.  I forgot how labor intensive it all is. I mulled on through and got them all made, photographed and uploaded now.  You can check them out here

Now I need to spend the rest of the day in the studio cleaning it up. I haven't done any painting in awhile and I feel the need but alas the mess must be taken care of first.

Sunday Sketches

Today instead of sketching a girl I decided to do a zentangle. I have not done one in a long time, I forgot how long they can take. This one has an sort of an odd shape.

That is until I turn the paper, now I think its a zen- egg. I have no idea why the paper looks green, the paper is white, oh well such is life.  To see what other sketchers are doing head over to Sophia's blog Blue Chair Diary.

Embracing Life

If you missed my interview yesterday over at Violette's blog you can check it out here. It was so much being interviewed by a wonderful artist, she asked great questions. In fact I have been planning to do some interviews of my own. I think doing things a little differently on the blog is always good.

These are some pages I did using ColorWash sprays, but I did these a little bit different from the last group I shared. These are in my altered book journal and first I put down some gesso and then colored the page with InkTense pencils, then I added the sprays and the lots of stamping. I think this page really relates to all I have been doing lately. Embracing all that I can be sounds a little like a commercial or something but that is how it feels. I seem to be in a flow lately and its really exciting to see what's next.

This was hard to photograph since there are so many levels of color. I really loved the background. An interesting thing about this surface is when I used the white gel pens the ink soaked into the page. I tried several layers and the ink still disappeared. I don't know if I should have sealed the page first or what. Have you ever had this happen?

This last page started with the flower picture. I just grabbed the picture and then built around it. It appears to be another craving for Spring page. I made a stamping mistake so I just covered up with a sticker.  Its great when you have that option.

Have you heard about Sparkles, the e-course Jamie Ridler is putting on. You can find out the details here Its a course to sparkle your creativity in just 5 minutes a day. Now we all have five minutes.  If you sign up today there are some awesome prizes begin given away. I just know one of them has my name on it.

Wishcasting Wednesday - How do you wish to sparkle

Its Wishcasting Wednesday and today Jamie asks us How do you wish to sparkle? As some of you may know Jamie has this awesome e-course starting soon called Sparkles hence the topic of todays wish.  Oh what fun.  I do wish to sparkle in all ways imaginable.  Today I actually do have a sparkle day.  If you head on over to Violette"s blog located here you will find an interview with yours truly.  Yes the Queen of Creativity was invited to say a few words over on her friends blog.  I hope you will take the time to check it out.

Now that is one way to sparkle, but I wish to do so not only in my business and creative life but in my personal life too. In the ways I dress and present myself to the world. I wish to be out there, to shine in every way possible.

To check out what other wishers are doing, go here   To see more about the Sparkles e course go here  There is also a chance to win some great prized if you sign up by the 24th.

A bit of fun

I saw this on Kelly's Blog  and it looked like fun.

Check out this fun Life List found on Dawn DeVries Sokol's blog, D'Blogala... You bold the ones you've done. 

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band (under coersion from my Dad who had a Country band!)

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland 

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo 

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris 

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch Knitting, painting, drawing...

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables (carrots! Did you know that if you put too many seeds in one hole the carrots grow and twist together?!? LOL

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 

20. Slept on an overnight train 

21. Had a pillow fight 

22. Hitch hiked (unfortunately with my eldest sister! SCARY!)

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon 

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (gorgeous!)

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community 

36. Taught yourself a new language 

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelos David

41. Sung karaoke  

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted 

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (I have been there I just didn't wait in line to go to the top)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater (saw "Blue Lagoon" 

55. Been in a movie 

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check 

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - for my daughter.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 

71. Eaten Caviar 

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book (Published in one book )

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car 

83. Walked in Jerusalem  

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (prepared)

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life 

90. Sat on a jury 

91. Met someone famous Laurie Metcalf, from Roseanne, I actually fixed her spinning wheel.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one 

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake  (more like wading)

97. Been involved in a law suit 

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day Many times! 

Postcards for iHanna's Swap

These are the postcards I made for iHanna's international postcard swap. You can find out about the swap on her site.  

All the backgrounds were made with Tim Holtz Adirondak Color Wash sprays.  These sprays are actually a water based dye and are fun to work with.  On thiscard I just added some bird stickers.

On this one I started with the face stamp, drew the body and added chalk on the cheeks and the shirt.

Here I used one of the collage elements I got from Zorana, her birds are always a great embellishment.

This one has stamping in white and black and was in homage to the Japanese people.

After creating the background. I used a stencil and  some colorwash spray.  I then outlined the  flowers in white. I loved how it just made them pop.

Here I used my mendhi stencil and some golden fluid paint. I use a stencil brush to get the paint into all those tiny spaces.

In this one I used a stencil and used some colorwash spray.  I then painted over the flowers with twinkling H2o's and then outlined the  flowers in white. You can't see it very well in the photo but the flowers have a shimmery look to them.

I just added  a picture of the Mona Lisa, that was an actual post card itself and then added some charcoal  and oil pastel, and words.  It was fun making these cards.  

So what did you do over the weekend?

Sunday Sketches

I am a little late getting my sketch uploaded.  Didn't sleep last night so I slept in and didn't go to church where I usually do my sketching. I whipped this one out this evening.  First try at a profile. To see what other participants are sketching go here

The Winners Are....

The winner of Pam Carriker's  book Art at the Speed of Life is Sophie. Sophie I have your address so I'll be sending the book out as soon as I can get it packaged up.

The winner of the spot in my class Mixed Media 101 is Lisa. Lisa I will be sending you class information shortly. Winners were picked by random number generator.   Thanks to all of you who participated. Now back to the regularly scheduled blog.

I made this page yesterday. First I tried out the dauber caps that I had recently bought on some folk art paints to make the ATC. Just a little stamping on top and I was done.  I had picked up a scrapbook paper pad on the Far East just the other day and used one of the papers from it. I stamped bamboo and asian coins on top and added some Japanese fabric tape on the edge. After adding a little journaling I call it done.

I did some playing yesterday. I was trying the technique  I talked about in a this post. I tried it on 3 papers and it never turned out exactly as I planned. I still got interesting papers.  I am using the Colorwash Sprays and not the inks she used in the video. That may be part of the problem, I will probably play some more with the technique cause I think its so cool.

I cut my papers into post card sizes.  I think they will make great backgrounds. I am doing the postcard swap with iHanna again this year.    It is pretty cool to receive arty post cards from all over the world. You make 10 of them which may sound like a lot but once you get started they are so much fun you won't want to stop. These are the postcards I got last year, and the ones I made. You can find out more and sign up here .

Using Citrasolv

Remember when I talked about using Nevr Dull in this post. Well this video uses CitraSolv which is a cleaning agent.  Its a different but similar technique. I had tried it before with little success. After watching this I realize that I didn't wait long enough for results. Diana has some fascinating results.

Contests results will be coming later this morning, so check back.

Ravens on a Bench

I took a walk on the greenbelt and came across this bench. A few years ago a number of artists designed these benches for around the river. They have a rattlesnake, an appaloosa horse and some geese and a fish.  Since I love ravens and crows so much you know this has to be my favorite.

From a distance they really look like real ravens. The problem is they are made out of thin metal.  I figure some kid is going to break it off before long.  I wanted pictures before that happened.



Here you can see where they put a mosaic on the bench to look like the birds shadow.  I thought it was pretty cool.  I was going to come back and take pictures of all the benches to add to this post but the weather has not been cooperating.  We have rain forecast for the rest of the week so those pictures will have to wait.

Here is the journal page I did today. Sometimes the sadness of Japan just gets to me. I turn to art at those times and try to work my way through it and out to the light.

Art supply goodness

This year for my birthday I asked for money for art supplies.  There were things I wanted that I had to buy online so this is what I got. It doesn't look like much but I had to order from three separate places which meant paying for shipping 3 times, I hate that. These were items I really wanted so I was willing to put up with the shipping.

Gel pens, I really love the Uniball Signo Broad Gel pens.  They come in tons of colors but I really like the black and white















Ahh some golden fluids, may favorites.  The cobalt and raw umber are refills but the others are new colors for me.  I do have the Manganese blue and Indian Yellow Hue in their heavy bodied versions. They are both fab colors so I wanted them in the fluid versions too. The Burnt umber light is a new brown to try.

These are dauber caps, the screw on to craft paint bottles. This way you can use your own favorite colors or mix new ones.  Ranger sells their paint with the caps already there but I want to make some of my own with goldens and folk art paints.

I wanted to try some of the new Strathmore journals.  Since I have 2 of the Canson Mixed media ones I went for a watercolor journal.  The interesting thing is that the cover is paper that you just tear off. The real cover is thick and is a brown alligator like surface.  It was shiny so it didn't photograph well. I am looking forward to trying this out.

Don't forget to enter my give away. I am giving away a space in my online class and Pam Carriker's Book Art at the Speed of life.  You can enter at this post

Jamie Ridler

You know how much I just love Jamie Ridler. I found this interview with her. It is pretty engaging and awesome. I know you will love it.

Reconnecting

You remember when I talked about this project that Phoenix Peacock is doing,  Go to this post for the beginning of the story.

For my second part of the project I decided to call this friend I had not talked to in twenty years.  I was very nervous, I mean what if she was no longer alive. That would be pretty heartbreaking.  So I got the nerve to call and I got an answering machine.  Figures in this world of technology. Several days later she called me back and got my machine. We were playing phone tag. She left me this long message and it was so wonderful to hear her voice, the memories kept flooding back in.  I called again and caught her at home, at last success.

It was like old times, we talked of the old days and where we were in our lives today.  It was so rewarding that I can not even begin to express it.  We've reconnected and we will stay connected. Sadly she does not have a computer so we'll need to keep in touch the old fashioned way, by letter and phone. After letting this relationship slide once I don't want to let it go again.  I am so grateful to Phoenix Peacock and her project.  If I had not taken part none of this would even have happened.  You really never know where you're art is going to take you.

On this page, I decorated the background with chalk. I searched through my old photos to find some of Vonda and Wes.  That is the two of them at my wedding almost 26 years ago.  Then a pic of Vonda  showing off her new cowboy boots.  She was always the most fun. I threw in the british phone booth because of the distance between us. Its been closed now and I feel so blessed.

Have you lost touch with someone in your life? Maybe its time to reconnect. It is not too late, pick up the phone and give them a call.

Sunday Sketches

My sketch for this Sunday. Keeping the people of Japan in my thoughts today.  To see more sketchers go here

This is the most fabulous story

I found this on Beth Revis's blog.  She is a YA author that wrote Across the Universe which is fantastic by the way.  I don't know if you read Young Adult novels but for me lately that is where all the good books seem to be.  Anyways I loved this video, it is really all about looking for those possibilities in life and following them. Then there is the power of the Internet to connect people.  It sort of like being in the movie Amelie too. Just amazing.

A little inspiration

I found this on my friend Nic' s blog and she was right it is so worth watching.

Also I am guest posting today on my daughters blog here

Time for a Giveaway

Its time for a give away and I have a great one this time. So what are we celebrating, well first awhile ago I put on my blog a counter for page views. I really don't know if these counters mean anything at all but I had noticed I had about 8,000 views. I never remember my blogiversary so I thought when I get to 10,000 views I will go and have a give away. Well that amount passed too so now I had better get going. There will be 2 prizes this time, the first is

Yes I am giving away a copy of Pam Carriker's book Art at the Speed of Life. It has art and essays from eighteen different artists. I am sure one of you will love to win this.

and the second prize is a free class, yes you get to enroll in Mixed Media 101 free of charge. That is a $40.00 value.   You can find out about this class here 

So what do you need to do to enter this give away:

1. Become a follower and leave a comment and you get one entry. To increase your chances there are more ways to get your name in the prize basket.

Optional Addition entries:
+1 Follow me on Twitter @katespins
+1 Become A facebook fan here
+1 If you blog or tweet about my giveaway.
+1 Subscribe to my newsletter by using the form in my sidebar
+1 Subscribe to my videos on Youtube
+1 Subscribe to my videos on Vimeo

+1 if you are a member of my network, you can join my network here 

Make sure to tell me how many entries in the comments and let me know of a way to reach you.

So that is a possibility of 8 chances to win the each of the prizes. If you win the free class and you have already signed up for my class then you will receive a refund.

Oh I haven't said when I am gong to pick a winner. You can enter until midnight Friday March 18th.  I will pick the winners on the morning of March 19 and post it here.

New plans New ideas

It might be because I have been attending the Right Brainers in Business Summit, or reading the Creative Entrepreneur and the Art of Non-Conformity.  Lots of new ideas are floating around in this head of mine, so I have decided to take one of them and go for it.  If you will look on my sidebar  you will see a blue box that asks you if you want to sign up to receive my newsletter.  You may be thinking, what newsletter, when did Kate start a newsletter.  No you have not been sleeping, I haven't had a newsletter till now. So next you may wonder what is she going to have a newsletter about. Well creativity of course, she is the Queen you know.

So I am setting up a mailing list first.  Currently the Newsletter is in the planning stages.  There will be a section on creative tips for the studio, updates on future workshops I will be teaching, a Creative corner where I will share creative sites found on the net, my thoughts on the creative process and so much more. Plans are for the first newsletter to come out the first week in April.  This will come out once a month so you do not have to worry about getting inundated with emails from me. So if you are interested please sign up in the side bar.

Wishcasting Wednesday - What gifts do you wish to share

Today the lovely Jamie Ridler asks us today: What gifts do you wish to share.  Well Jamie usually asks the questions that seem so appropriate to one life in any given week. For me this week  I find it especially fitting. What gifts do I wish to share, for me its the love of art journaling, mixed media art and creativity in general, because I believe everyone is creative.

Let me take you back to October. I enrolled In Tamara Laporte's free class on Art and Healing.  During one of the exercises I  was focused on the phrase "the world needs your gifts" and did a journal page on it. Now this is something I have always known but this time I did something about it.

Do you remember few years back when all these artists started having their own social networks and offering online classes.  I thought that would be so cool to do.  I never acted on it, either due to fear or motivation.  After doing the page in Tam's class I said why not, the world needs my gifts.  So I opened a network on Ning. I was instantly busy so I didn't put that much effort in it at first.  I offered a space for people to congregate and challenges to get them exited and I promised future classes.

Well the future classes seemed to get farther and farther into the future as fear reared its ugly head. All those statements like who will sign up for a class with you, can you even teach, with all the other classes out there why even bother, you have no name recognition how are people going to find you, maybe you should just close your network and give up.  It didn't help matters when another blogger who was inspired by choice, started her own network and it seems oh so successful.

Staying with the vision is hard sometimes. You wonder, if I put all the effort out there and what if no one shows up.  I couldn't help thinking about Oprah when she made the movie Beloved an no one came to see it. Somehow I managed to shut down all the talk, to stick to the idea that the world does indeed need my gifts.  I learned all about iMovie and Vimeo and how to set up a class on Ning and how to work with paypal and more. I've put my little baby out there and now I have to trust that the Universe will send to me all those who need my gifts.

My class starts March 21 and I am so looking forward to sharing with all those wonderful souls who show up. Mixed Media 101 is just the beginning, I have ideas for a second class and maybe a third. Yes the world does need my gifts.

To see what other wishcrafters are wishing today, go here

A Completed Journal

Today I had some quality time in the studio. I managed to do a few more pages to finish my manilla folder journal. Here are the results.

I thought for this page I would play with some more things I have not used in some time.  I pulled out my pan pastels and fabric tape and pieces of walpaper.  It was fun layering this all together

I just got these henna stencils  and was interested in trying them out. I had this background already painted, so it seemed a fitting match.  After adding the stencils I added this ATC I made a couple years ago. It seemed to fit the theme of the page.

This page started out with black gesso, then I layered several layers of chalk pastel, on top. Then I stamped words and scrolls in black.  The bird was stamped with metallic ink and then I stamped words over the bird. Then I made up a little story about her.

I started this page by painting black gesso on the page. I cut strips from a calendar and glued them down.  Then I added the image and words.  I got some new white gel pens in the mail yesterday and oh it is awesome when they really work.

In this page I used this awesome paper my sister had given me.  Its hand made and the texture is really neat. The image is one I love, and I have used it before. I layered it over some black card stock before glueing it down. It feels so great to have this journal finished. Now I am ready to move on to some new paintings.

Since I am getting questions in the comments:   The white gel pens I get are Uniball Signo Broad.  There are 2 kinds broad and fine and the fine doesn't work so well. I get them from jet pens.com. Here is the link to the pen. You'll notice they come in all sorts of colors.  I always get some black too, I like how well think ink flows. The other thing about gels pens is sometimes its all those layers of paint and such that make them difficult to use. Before tossing old pens, see if they work on another surface, like smooth paper.

Also I got my henna stencils from Traci Bunker and she has a video on using them at her site here. The stencils are available here