Happy Valentine's Day

This year finds me with a little extra time on my hands, and I was able to use it to spread the love.

Our daughters received these valentines, made from a shrunken (oops) and then felted sweater made of Alpaca wool.  The handwork was so relaxing as I sat by the fire.

One group of us girlfriends calls ourselves the Fireflys (it's a long story which involves candles, tissue paper and flying embers).  Anyhow, for them I drew and then watercolor painted little glowing guys.  They were very fun.  Likely never to be repeated.  Ha.

A few others received some layered collages of stamps and painting, similar to what appears in my art journaling.

There is a big part of me that misses creativity in my normally full-to-overflowing life.  What a gift to sit and putter with some paint.  Yet I also have a tendency to become a bit self focused in the creative process, often due to just wanting to experiment and not worry about the results... so this month I challenged myself to make wee pieces of art with others in mind.  Mail art.

Spread some love today!  xoxo

The Art Cave

Hi ho, hi ho...it's back to work we go. After EIGHTEEN glorious days off in a row, I returned to work today. Refreshed. Can't quite say "ready" as I'd prefer someone to pay me to be at home, but refreshed nonetheless.

And I had accomplished something. Something amazing.

During my break I created an Art Cave.

It is the room I've craved since being a grown up. A room of my own filled with meaningful mementos, hand crafted items, colored lights, art supplies and art books. It's overflowing with happiness. It's a tiny 9 by 10 room in the lower level, but it has a lovely French paned door to the hallway and an attached 10 by 10 closet full of floor to ceiling shelving. It has a high wood beamed ceiling, and is painted a sand color. Not that you can see much of the walls. They are artfully covered.

I love my cave.

It's chilly, but a space heater keeps me toasty, as does an afghan made by a friend. Two deteriorating redword quilts are on the quilt rack, hand stitched by my great grandmother, "Gram." A wildly colorful afghan covers the futon - crocheted by my mom Juanita. Some fine crochetwork in cotton (tatting kind of look) by my Oma is also on the quilt rack. And so are numerous quilts in process ... pieced by me. Kid sculptures are on the shelves. Hand made cards, crewel embroidery, favorite words...all on the wall. The shelves hold beloved books on art journaling. The quilting library is extensive, so that's in the walk in closet. My Bernina sewing machine is set up, and its table has a big pop up leaf on which I write and create. Truly...I love this little nook. grace space.

One evening Emily and I made cards together in there. One evening Sweet Sue and I cut the covers off of oversized children's books and began altering them with collage. (ooooo!) The point is that I have this huge creative urge and now I have a room in which to get messy. Actually, mostly the closet will be messy. I try to tidy the room each evening.

I've been obsessed with books on Art Journaling. I have scoured Amazon online, and thoroughly perused the supplies at Barnes & Noble and at Borders. A Borders giftcard from our son allowed a few to come home with me. And two library visits have yielded quite a stack. Last night I found a really coveted one at Half Price Books. I'm well stocked for inspiration.

And now, just now, I signed up for "Art Journal Every Day" HERE. I'm not thoroughly convinced that I should pledge anything "every day," but her requirement is ten minutes a day. That's certainly do-able. I'll have to be creative in my photography for it though (it links to this blog) because my journal is very private. I doodle and paint on my actual journal...that might have to be supplemented with some less private pages...

So, anyhow, in addition to the *occasional* devotional thought, and the *occasional* day in the life kinda blog, now there will be an *occasional* very amateur piece of scribbling.

Fun fun fun. Work began today, and class begins again on Thursday. But I can find ten minutes a day, right? Right?

PS Did I mention the music? My son jams on his electric guitar in the next room. Like right now. It's a rockin' down here!