An ATC Swap

A week or so ago I traded an ATC with Terri. I received the amazing little jewel on the top here. Terri has a real sense of color anf form that I just love! I sent her one that was similar to one on the bottom. I always seem to get on these creative 'bandwagons' just a bit late but kismet struck and an a new ATC swap was announced today on Creative Souls. Stacy Alexander has graciously agreed to host this swap - and has invited anyone who is interested to join in. It only requires that you produce 4 ATC's and get them to her by March 15th. You will receive 3 back - she is holding an extra one from each person's pack because there are always peole who say they will and then they won't kind of thing. That way everyone will get a full set - even if someone reneges. If you want to participate contact Stacy . I am posting the guidelines below! Stacy will email you with the information about where to send your ATC's. Hope that you will consider joing in this fun.

Please send four ATC's on time to arrive by March 31, to: Cards will not be accepted after March 31. You will receive three in return. I will hold back one, because with every swap I have hosted, there have been people who have signed up to participate who don't send in their cards, or send them in late, so I want to make sure everyone gets cards. If any are left over, they will be distributed randomly outside of the swap, done in kindness for inspiration as appropriate. (Last time, I gave some to an artist who was dying of a serious illness. Things like that.) If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them for you. The important thing is to have a good time while you make your cards and don't stress!

This is another of those things that I wish I would have known about at the get go. What a wonderful idea this was. To send out blank journals round robin style (in quilting that's what we call this kind of thing!). Here is a blurb about this cool book/DVD for those of you , like me, who would love to have been able to participate in such a cool project.
1000 Journals on DVD!

In the summer of 2000, a San Francisco artist who calls himself Someguy sent 1000 blank journals into the world. The instructions stamped into each journal were simple: add anything you like, then pass it on to a friend or stranger. Three years later, one journal, Journal 526, returned to him, full. What happened to the other 999 journals? This film tells their stories.

Filmmaker and Creative Souls member Andrea Kreuzhage traveled around the world in search of journals and their keepers. She says:
1000 blank journals are passed from hand to hand on a random, serendipitous course, slowly turning into graffiti walls, confessionals and museums where every contributor is an artist. The 1000 Journals Project prompted an avalanche of requests to take part in something no single person could achieve alone: To possess and consume isn't the goal. This is all about creating and sharing.

The people we interviewed talk about their individual experiences with the journals: from "the fear of the white page," the challenge to find one's voice and express it creatively, reactions to provocative journal entries, to the realization that what's created in the journals isn't anyone's to keep. At the beginning of the film, Someguy poses the question: what happens to our creativity as we grow older? When we open the pages of the journals, we can't help but be inspired…

The 1000 Journals Project encouraged thousands of people to start their own communal projects, and so will our film. The 1000 Journals Project inspires to draw, write, make collages, ask and answer questions, and gives people an opportunity to see and experience what other people, the world over, created. Our film will help keep this dialog alive, and will give many more an opportunity to see inside these journals, to hear these voices, and to experience this unique, collaborative exchange.

Finally, after a year on the world-wide festival circuit, the DVD of this magic and inspiring film is available, loaded with extras, subtitles, commentary, and more. It includes a reversible cover so you can add your own artwork. You can get the DVD on Amazon.com. Visit 1000journalsfilm.com for images, videos, reviews, and information about upcoming screenings and events.

Mixed Media with painting and drawing and collaging was something that I never, in a thousand years, would have thought I would be interested in. Adding visual elements was a natural though since I have journaled for many years. Now I find that I spend a lot of time considering visualing journaling and all of the amazing things that this allows me to incorporate into my journals. I tend to follow where the muse leads me and right now I seem to be following down the merry lane of visual journaling - all the while planning my next large quilt projects - one art quilt and one "traditional" bed quilt!

What In The Heck Have I Been Doing All This Time?!

"Cerebration is the enemy of originality in art."
Martin Ritt

These 3 eagles (can you find all three?)
is what greeted me when I stepped outside this morning

Rather then my Sunday chapter notes for The Artist's Way I thought that I would try to answer my own question: What have I been doing? Where have I been? (The next chapter update for the Artist's Way will return tomorrow.)

There are times when I feel as though I have accomplished nothing. When painful days run together I get so darn frustrated because I just wnat to be painting,drawing, knitting, quilting, - all of the things that bring joy to my life. Thankfully, when I stop for a minute & think about it I realize that I have, in fact, been producing - just not as fast as I generally like to!

Here is a peek at my desk - all of the accouterments of art are there - just waiting for me to sit down and play!

I love fingerless gloves. I wear them all of the time - generally indoors and outdoors in the Winter because my hands get so cold. For Christmas last year I made about a dozen pairs of a simple pattern - and it is one of the few things that I have gifted people with that everyone seemed to enjoy using. That always makes me feel good to get feed back! I found this pattern on Knitty and fell in love with it. It is called "Fetching" and is designed and graciously shared by Cheryl Niamuth from Vancouver, BC - just across the road from me. I love this pattern and my first pair was made from Jo Sharp worsted in 'Lichen' - Oh! Do I love this yarn. I want more and more of it! I just started a pair in Lion Brand WoolEase in 'Lemon Grass'. Thus far I think it will work well. I am on the look-out for a pair of fingerless gloves in a more lacey pattern now.

This is the pair of socks I am working on using Conjoined Creations Flat Feet yarn with their 'Ladder Socks' pattern. The pre knitted pieces are really wonderful to work with. Much tidier than working with skeins of yarn. I like the pattern - just a bit of added texture than the sock pattern I usually use. I am hooked on the pre knitted pieces too. KnitPicks has aome preknitted sock blanks and a started set of dyes that is on my list of must purchase items. I am waiting for another thing from them to get something else back into stock and then I can give dyeing my own blanks a try!

Next up is one of the several silk pen rolls I have been making. This one is for a wonderful lady who sold me a pen that I had been lusting for at a more than very fair price. It is a Pelikan M400 honey tortoise & it has become my most favorite pen. It's nice to lust for a pen and then, when you actually get it, it performs as well as you hoped it would. Oh so beautiful & Oh so smooth. I cannot believe that I have found a pen that eclipses the love I have for my Bexley. I wanted to make this for her as a heartfelt thank you for selling me the pen at such a low price. I will be shipping it off to it's new Austrailian home on Wednesday.

The inside of the roll is Dupioni silk and the outside is from vintage kimono silks from AH!Kimono.

Yesterday's Wildlife

I had planned to write about some new projects today but decided that a few of the photos I took yesterday might be more entertaining. This is the 'gal' that I suspect might be sharing a den with the black fox that I have posted about previously. They seem to always be together in the back fields and it is the seasons for kits. Isn't that one beautiful fox?!

This is how feeding time begins. The sky begins to fill with winged ones - yesterday there were about a dozen eagles, some turkey vultures and un-countable crows. They arrive from every direction when the dinner bell sounds (actually they seem to have become accustomed to the sound of the car).

The eagles like to perch in the tops of trees.

Here are three eagles beginning the swoop down for some food.
Tomorrow, I will return to my regularly scheduled 'programming'!

Progress Along The Way: Week 6

" I'd rather have roses on my table than damonds on my neck."
Emma Goldman

What, you may ask, does a Pileated Woodpecker & Chapter 6 of the Artist's Way have in common? Not much really, but this week's chapter is entitled "Recovering A Sense Of Abundance". Part of the abundant life I live is being surrounded by the wildlife I treasure. This photo, obviously, was taken when the days were more salubrious, but the Pileateds are still around at this time of the year munching on the special Woodpecker Blend food that we provide for them. Woodpeckers, and other birds too of course, comprise portions of my 'Artist's Dates' - I love to just sit and listen to the birds sing & watch their antics at the food bars! But I digress.....

Right under the heading for this Chapter the books says "...This week you tackle a major creative block - money..." Wow how true is that?! I wanted so much to study art when I was young. My father thought that this was a bad idea and he managed to instill in me a great fear of poverty when he disinherited me for my wayward ways! I always needed my money for 'serious' things like rent, food& bills. Buying art supplies & jumping off the "I want to make art" 'cliff' was always just a bit too scary. I grew up amongst some of the luminaries of the art world in New York's village scene. I noticed how many of the artists needed to schmooze galleries and benefactors in order to squeak by. I always knew that I was not a schmoozer - and so I decided early on that I probably could not make art for a living.

Ms.Cameron writes: "...Nobody's going to pay me to be more creative.....We are awfully sure about that. Most of us harbor a secret belief that work has to be work and not play, and that anything that we really want to do- like write, act, dance (paint, draw,quilt) - must be considered frivilous and be placed a distant second (to paying bills etc). This is not true...." She goes on to say:" What we really want to do is what we were really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us,doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do really feels like play to us...."

I know for myself that my day job, which I am, truly, grateful to have and which pays for the health insurance that I need, leaves me feeling rather useless, un-necessary, unfulfilled and barren of creativity. My sewing and art work gets me into the flow that I love so much. Being in that 'flow' is the best "drug" around - and best of all it is free. To access this wonder drug all we must do is that which we love to do, the things that fulfill us and make us whole. There is, at least in my mind,a dichotomy in that I must work - at least half time- in order to be covered by my health insurance. Who wants to get older and have no coverage? Not me. Of course I have always had money issues. Although my father wanted me to marry "the banker's son next door" I always knew that this sort of man would not be appealing to me. I was brought up to appreciate wealth, but never accumulated any for myself. I wanted a genteel rural life, not a crazed urban existence. Here I am - living near the sea & surrounded by wildlife. Happy & content with a man who supports my art(s) and loves me . We certainly are not wealthy, and although I wish at times I had money to buy my quilting machine, or more art supplies or whatever, I am at peace most of the time. It's my sense of abundance discovered.

The chapter tasks included some questions that I think are quite revealing, and I thought that I would list them here for you to consider:
1. People with money are_________________________
2. Money makes people__________________________
3. I'd have more money if_________________________
4. My Dad thought money was______________________
5. My Mom always thought money would_______________
6. In my family, money caused______________________
7. Money Equals_______________________________
8. If I had money, I'd___________________________
9. If I could afford it , I'd ___________________________
10. If I had some money, I'd___________________________
11. I'm afraid that if I had money I would _________________
12. Money is____________________________________
13. Money causes:________________________________
14. Having money is not ____________________________
15. In order to have more money, I'd need to __________________
16. When I have money, I usually __________________________
17. I think money____________________________________
18. If I weren't so cheap I'd ____________________________
19. People think money_______________________________
20. Being broke tells me__________________________________

I am continuing to enjoy going through this book. Honestly, writing about the chapter every week has really helped me too since writing about it allows me to distill the things that 'spoke' to me the loudest from the week's work. I hope that you will consider answering those questions yourself. It's quite interesting to work through them, walk away from the answers for a week or so and then return to read them again. Have any of the answers changed?

I am also interested in how many of you out there in blog land have worked your way through this book? Your thought?

Happy SUNday - or MONday to some of you I imagine !

Valentine WIshes

This was DH's "card" to me. I think it touched me more than any purchased card could have. Of course it was accompanied by a whopping sized bouquet that included my favorite sunflowers and stargazer lilies! On our first date, DH brought me the largest bouquet I had (or have) ever seen - two armloads full of glorious blooms that took me almost an hour to arrange !

My wish for you all is that you mean the world to someone special - you're all special to me for taking the time to read my ramblings!

ps: thanks also to author Heather Cortez for expressing the sentiment
and to muttscomics.com for the drawing!

Life In An Esterita Austin Class

The ridgeline & brooding sky that greeted us as we arrived for our first day of class

You know the old beginning "...it was a dark and cloudy day...", well something along those lines anyway! Such was last Friday - the day on which our Esterita Austin journey began. Esterita offered two classes, a one day class called "Painting For Illusion" & a two day class called "Creating The Illusion of Depth". Naturally, my thinking is that if one day is good then three days is better and so I embarked on a colorful quilting journey last Friday, 6th February. I was so engaged in the process that, unfortunately, I neglected to take photos of the two day class project - although I may be able to add a photo or two of the class pattern that we used for the class at a later date.

The class venue was excellent. It is right on water in a veritably new building that is owned & operated by one of our local Indian tribes. There was actually room enough to have one table per student - and as someone who invariable spreads all of her stuff all over the place, this was really a boon! Fidalgo Island Quilters is a fabulous organization. Known for offering classes by well know teachers & for always having something interesting going on. It the most active guild I have ever been pleased to belong to. The dues are such a bargain for all of the wonderful opportunities that exist within this talented group! The FIQ folks are also truly remarkable women;gracious, friendly & supportive - it's just a pleasure to be around these gals! If I lived closer I would love to be able to be more involved with them - and that says a lot for a non-joiner type like I can be!

The one day class was perfection in a nutshell - just enough to make one realize that there really was something special about this technique - do-able for those who had no experience with fabric & paint and yet complicated enough to engage the most experienced of quilter's/artist's as well. Esterita provided a photograph of a still life that she had composed - a simple matter of a cup & saucer & two small pitchers. Piles of batiks brightened the room and scissors and Exacto cutters started clacking away. The key to Esterita's technique is to use fabric to it's very best advantage & then to add paint to make it even more perfect - painting adds the 'pop' factor in this technique. You just have to see it to believe it!
When Saturday rolled around I was still feeling a bit 'pie-eyed' from day one but I was eager to begin the next journey. The photo that we used for the 2 day class was piece filled &, at first glance, a challenge. I generally paint pieces of fabric to applique onto a quilt. Esterita uses ready made fabric that she enhances in order to make the pieces work. I had to re-shuffle my thinking a bit. At the end of day one I realized that I should concentrate on finishing only a portion of the piece.Choosing the best pieces of a batik print to use was a more daunting challenge than I had thought it would be! That being said it is also really a very engaging process - more like fitting the pieces of a puzzle together. Very enjoyable - and it could even become a bit addicting.

I should mention that when I attend a class I just about never anticiapte finishing the piece that I make - or using it - for anything other than a learning tool. I like to make sure that I understand the process being presented & I never worry about whether or not I finish the piece or not. I like to take what I have learned & store it away in my memory bank (what's left of it !) and use it in way that speaks to me & my own work. I have developed that thinking because I used to get so dang frustrated when I could not "keep up" in a class & then would become stressed because of it. Now I have no stress to compete or complete - as long as I understand the techniques that are presented - I am a happy student!

Sunday brought refinement and more experimentation. Unfortunately, those of us (there were 5) who traveled to the class from our island home, had to leave much too early in order to make a suitable ferry back. The Winter ferry sailing schedule is limited to begin with & one needs to get in line at least an hour before sailing time for the 1 to 1.5 hour journey home. Esterita is one of those teachers that I love to work with because she is one of the most 'student concerned' teachers I have met; circulating through the room constantly to make certain that everyone is comfortable with the technoque & gets the attention & guidance that they need. Some teachers use time to work on a small project of their own - not Esterita! She is all about her students - really a most excellent, gifted teacher! Anyone who considers hiring her to teach will not be disapointed. I want very mcuh to take a portraiture workshop with her - that class is almost tailor made to suit me I think! Thanks to Fidalgo Island Quilters for offering this class ,and to Esterita for developing her fabulous techniques & for her enthusiasm for her students! It was a really memorable few days & I also must thank my friend Janet for enabling me to have a great off island jaunt! We also enjoyed some retail therapy time - and that was lots of fun!

This is the beach right near to the door to the class room area

Here is another view of the beach to the right of the door

This, however, is the view directly across from the beach - an oil refinery.

That's Mount Baker shining beautifully in the background. It's very difficult for me to reconcile these two very different views. My friend Janet noticed an oil slick on the waters of the small cove that we drove by on the way into the hall area - that's the difficult thing and, when I notice all of the wonderful wildlife in the area I think of how fragile & precious they really are. The dichotomy between these two very different views is, to my way of thinking, a very good argument for development of wind & other alternate energy solutions. We simply cannot afford to endanger our wildlife.

On another note, I am finding that fibromyalgia & the attendant chronic fatigue (as well as the pesky degenerative disc issues) have truly impacted the way I am able enjoy class time. I need far more rest than anyone should have to require. Without it, I am useless as an engaged student. Thanks to Janet, I was able to stay in a lovely place with all of the comforts of home. It was a blessing too that both of us enjoy retiring early -but, even with this environment it becomes difficult for me. I get so darn tired so easily. I feel as though a part of my life has been stolen from me at exactly the time in my life when I should be able to enjoy doing all of the things that I worked too much to enjoy earlier in life. At the same time that I am grateful that this is 'all' that I have, I also pray that research will find a 'cure' that will return my energy & pain free life to me. I also pray that doctors will become more understanding of those of us who truly do suffer from this dispiriting disorder. I want so much to travel more before I pass and yet now I wonder how I will mange to do that! That's my pity party for the eon - thanks for getting this far! I brought this up in part to explain why I am also more lax lately about regular blogging. The spirit is always willing by the body sometimes says "no"!

This Month's Beautiful Silks from AH! Kimono

Look what arrived in the mail! This month's personally chosen selection from Ah!Kimono. I always smile when I open the envelope - Cheri's choices are always perfect for me! Cheri will be at SewExpo in Puyallup, Washington at the end of the month - and hopefully some of you will be able to get there to say "hi" and see the beautiful silks she has to offer! Check into her monthly clubs too - they really are a great, fiscally responsible little treat that will always please you!

In other news - I will be away through Sunday. I am going to be enjoying two classes from Esterita Austin. Hopefully, I will have lots of great information and photos to share with you all when I get home.

Have a wonderful rest of your week and a great, relaxing, creative weekend!

Hooded Scarf Finally FInished!

I finally finished the hooded scarf that I began some time ago. I rally am not much of a hat wearer but there are times when it is raining - or snowing - that I wanted something to throw over my head. Preferably something other than a hat! I found this great hooded scarf pattern on D Made's blog. I was glad to be able to do a bit of cable knitting - although I decided that I preferred to not run the cabling all the way round the hood - so I just continued the ridges over that area. Maybe the next one I make will sport the cables all of the way around. I also am not too much on heavy fringes or pompoms. The pattern did not call for anything at the tip of the hood but I thought it needed just a little something and so I added this 3/4" pompom there. I like it! The scarf ends too, I thought, needed just a bit of fringe and so I made it a short 3.5 inches long. The yarn is from KnitPicks - I like it quite a bit, softer than I thought it would be and an exceptional value I think. All in all I am quite happy with this hooded scarf and think that it will seve my purpose very well!

Blogging Addiction? And Here I Thought I Had Cut Back!

I had thought that I was focusing a bit more on life lately - and blogging a bit less. When I saw this little quiz on someone else's blog - of course I had to give it try..... ratz! Looks like I am still rather addicted to blogs and blogging....there are worse things though!


67%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Fox Love

Since I have had a surprising number of questions about the photos that recently accompanied a blog post I thought that I would fill in a bit of information about one of my favorite mammals. Red Fox, vulpes, vulpes. They are amazing. Highly intelligent, beautiful, resourceful and adaptable. Since we are fortunate to able able to live in a rural environment ,we have been able to follow some of the denning pairs for some years & have observed that 'red" fox are often not red. We dubbed the pair above "Dagwood" & "Blondie'. As they have grown they have retain ed much of theie initial, 'childhood' coloring - not having the black 'socks' that are generally prevalent in truly red - red fox. The photos that were in a recent post is a black variation that we called, creatively enough, "Blackie". He has grown accoustomed to the sound of my husband's car & runs along in the grass nearby as a greeting eveyr day when he hears it coming. "Blackie" is a beauty with a silvery 'mask' and a beautiful bushy tail replete with a lush white tip. Fox can, of course, be dangerous, and they can assuredly carry disease. Caution is generally a good idea with wild animals, but we have been fortunate to be able to become 'friend's' with some of these magnificant little creatures. I think that they are more catlike than doglike - I truly admire them and enjoy being able to observe them in their environment.

The following information is from the National Geographic

"....Red foxes live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. The red fox's resourcefulness has earned it a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small game—but their diet can be as flexible as their home habitat. Foxes will eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms. If living among humans, foxes will opportunistically dine on garbage and pet food.

Like a cat's, the fox's thick tail aids its balance, but it has other uses as well. A fox uses its tail (or "brush") as a warm cover in cold weather and as a signal flag to communicate with other foxes.

Foxes also signal each other by making scent posts—urinating on trees or rocks to announce their presence.

In winter, foxes meet to mate. The vixen (female) typically gives birth to a litter of 2 to 12 pups. At birth, red foxes are actually brown or gray. A new red coat usually grows in by the end of the first month, but some red foxes are golden, reddish-brown, silver, or even black. Both parents care for their young through the summer before they are able to strike out on their own in the fall....."

Progress Along The Way: Week 5: Recovering A Sense Of Possibility

Recovering A Sense Of Possibility. Thus begins this week's chapter of The Artist's Way. I don't think that I have ever lacked a sense of possibility, although for most of life it seemed that the possibilities that I could envision had to be put on hold for more practical considerations - like paying bills. Maybe that was not the best thing to do, but I recall it being the only thing that I could consider doing at the time! My parents - mostly my Father, never supported the things that I wantd to do - study art or archaeology. Because of this however, I decided to not mention the things that I was doing or learning to themand, because I never mentioned the things I was learning - I never thought that I could not learn them! Makes sense right?! Ignorance can, in fact, be some kind of bliss! If I am not told that I can't do something than I always figure that I can.

There were some salient sub-topics in this week's chapter of the book; "limits" being one them. The pith of the topic is that, rather expecting the whole enchilada when we 'pray', wish or visualize something, we might consider being receptive to achieving ,or receiving, a part of the plan. Julia Cameron's analogy is apt:".. pray that we catch the bus, then run as fast as you can...". Makes perfect sense. My favorite quote in this chapter may well be "...we must learn to let the flow manifest itself where it will - not where we will it...".

Another well entitled sub chapter is "The Virtue Trap" .. maybe they all are -- traps that is!! The gist of this is that we often neglect what we, as artist's need in favor of promulgating the virtuous self that we are wont to present to the world. She even used the most perfect example possible - for me at least! That being, without enough time alone - one tends to resent anything & everything that one must do or has committed to do.... well, at least this is how I interpreted this part of the chapter anyway!! I know that I simply must have time alone - it has been a personality trait ever since I have memory of my self. I get rather irritable and wretched when I stretch myself too thin. I have learned this lesson and carve out time to be alone because of it. It took DH some time to realize that I was not rejecting him - but rather 'gathering' myself when I retreat.

It is odd to me that one of things that I have found I am enjoying the most about this book is something that I thought I would, indeed, dislike the most; the thought provoking questions that accompany the end of each chapter. I am even committed enough to write the answers in the book, albeit in pencil! I am not sure that I have been finding the things that I am supposed to be discovering thus far in the book's journey, but I am enjoying the journey - and this ,I believe, is perhaps the best lesson of all.

Namaste.

Quick! Pick Up The Book That Is Closest To You Right Now!

This is one of friend's that I got to photograph this week-
he's grown into a fine looking young boy (or maybe a beautiful girl!)

I had probelms getting links to work today which is why I added the actual blog name below. Sorry for the inconvenience - it's either me or blogger!

I am, in general, not much of 'join in' kind of gal, but this one, posted on Judy Sall's, (tiedyejudy.blogspot.com) blog got me. Judy got the idea from Michelle's blog, (textiletraveler.blogspot.com) and before that I don't have a clue though surely it has been around before. I picked up a book that was on the floor near me and this is the fifth sentence on the page:

"...there is nothing on your life of significant value that you didn't risk to get..."

Ohhhhh... probably true since I have always been somewhat of a risk taker - though that is less & less evident as I get older - which I am not terribly happy about. The simple directions are right below - so give it a try and maybe give yourself come shivers! If you are wondering where I have been - I've had a bug that has left me with little ambition to do anything other than sit and stare aimlessly into space!


Closest book to you How to play: * Grab the book nearest you. Right now. * Turn to page 56. * Find the fifth sentence. * Post that sentence along with these instructions in a note in your BLOG. * Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual... Use the CLOSEST

Milliande's Art Jornal Background Hints

I found this link on Pentamento's blog and thought it was such a good, idea inspiring little tutorial that I would share it too. Check out Milliande's website too - lots to see there!

Progress Along The Way: Week 4: Impasse?

Chapter Four of "The Artist's Way" started off well enough. The title of the chapter is "Recovering a Sense of Integrity". I like to think of myself as a person of honesty & integrity, but there is always room for improvement. I thought it an interesting question though when the discussion turned to ' when you say "it's okay" & you want to say something else - what does that mean? I always dislike it when people say, with tears practically streaming down their cheeks, "I'm just fine". Yeah! Right - sure you are! The discussion is mainly about 'self' and being true to yourself. I like that. I especially liked explanation of the the Sanskrit word "kriya" which, it is said, means spirtual emergency or surrender. This part of the chapter was worth all of the reading thus far. Fascinating stuff - the mind and what it can do! I progressed to "Buried Dreams, an Exercise" and, rather smugly, did the written exercise. So far, so good. Uh oh! The next sub-chapter is entitled "Reading Deprivation". No! No way, no how, is this ever going to happen! Is this a deal breaker? I understood the thought behind this - that when you are not spending time reading you are open to do other things - like knitting, drawing, mending, re-wiring an old lamp - you get the drift. There is no way though that this is happening in my neck of the woods. I have gone to sleep only after reading for all of my many years and this sub chapter is not about to change that. I think I manage to do enough other things to re-connect with myself that I am not going to feel any guilt about not following along with this exercise! I finished the 'tasks' at the end of the lesson and did the weekly 'check-in' and will continue on without an ounce of guilt over skipping the reading ban - maybe if I was, in fact, in a class room setting I might play along a bit nicer with this - but sleep & reading are too enmeshed together in me that I doubt I would be very good at carrying through with that ban on the book!

I have been making pen rolls this week too. Safe places to put beloved writing instruments. The black is the area that the pens are slipped into - it actually has small 2 inch 'bays' to hold the pens. I use the full width of kimono silks and so, generally, there is enough space for 6 pens to snuggle in. The black fabric is lined with wool felt. The black and white patterned silk is the outside fabric and the red dupioni is the lining - I'll take some better photos soon. This one is about to go to a new home and it is one of my favorites so far. I do use some think batting in between the outside fabric and the lining - it helps to stabilize the silks and also adds a bit of padding.

One of things that I had really wanted to do once again when our cat population had dwindled down was to once again feed my small feathered friends. Now that we are down to two well aged felines I have been able to put out feeders once again. My spouse feeds the 'mighty' birds every day - the hawks and the eagles - and I am now able to feed the small birds. They are so happy for the additional fuel at this cold time of year. I can watch them for hours. Each species seems to have a time of day that they prefer for grazing. Right now we have juncos, chickadees, house wrens, nuthatches & rufous sides towhees , among others. The juncos are more comfortable it seems, to feed on the ground and so I put a generous amount of seed on a protected stump and a large flat rock for them. They seem to swarm earlier in the mornings andlater at night than the others. I just ordered a wood pecker feeder. We have a lot of them around here and I think that they will enjoy peanuts.

When Art Meets Journal The Result Is Perfection And It Is Called A "Rag & Bone"

Who would think that something as simple as a journal would elicit an "Oh WoW!!" as I opened the box? This journal/notebook did! This is a one-of-a-kind, totally handmade journal from Rag & Bone Bindery. The company makes a wonderful array of journals, photo binders, guest books (weddingd,showers etc),address books, brag books, growth charts for children - well, you get the drift. This company has special occasions and everyday ramblings covered - heehee. That's the thing with Rag & Bone - their covers. They offer an amazing variety of cover fabrics for your journal or notebook. This fabric is a new pattern called 'Pomegrante' - there are also some dupioni fabrics that I have my eye on for a future journal! The paper is heavy weight: I used fountain pens, water colors, Sharpies, pencils & acrylic paints and I found the paper is almost "bullet proof as far as no bleed-through. I am planning to use this journal for mix media explorations because the paper is so hefty that I think it will take that kind of treatment easily. Even the paper is hand cut for these little beauties !

Rag & Bone is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Here is what the company has to say about themselves:

" Rag & Bone Bindery creates Photo Albums, Journals, Guest Books, Baby Books, and other fine bindings distinguished by their craftsmanship and enduring beauty.We've been creating handbound books since 1991 in our Rhode Island based Bookbinding Studios.

"Made By Hands" Skilled artisans handle every aspect of the production process from start to finish, resulting in quality, archival, well constructed books.Our Books, Albums & Journals can be found in fine Gift Shops, Stationery Stores, Photo Studios and Galleries across America.

Not A Faceless Corporation As a studio, we're dedicated to the fine art of Bookbinding, paper arts, book arts and journaling. We enjoy what we do and take pride in producing well bound books at an appropriate cost. Please browse our site to find out more about our products, who we are, what we do and where we work. "

Have at a look at their great web site - I doubt that you will be able to resist ordering a beautiful, extraordinarily well made journal of your own!

A New Creative Tool From Exaclair: DecoPatch Meets An Exacompta Basics Sketch Book

My journal craze. The newest Exacompta Sketch Book is second from the top

It has happened. I have succumbed. I am a journal junkie. Granted I do write in my journal everyday & I have even found new reasons to require more journals. I use one for books I am currently reading- as a convenient place to write down words I want to look up, concepts that interest me or quotations that seem pithy or useful. I use another journal to take notes for things that I want to write blog posts about, and yet another notebook is used to record daily things - hum drum lists and what not. Karen Doherty from Exaclair has helped me along the the way. She has become one of my suppliers of my mood adulterant of choice - journals & sketchbooks! Most recently she sent me an Exacompta Basics Sketch Book to 'play' with along with some of Exaclair's newest product called DecoPatch. The DecoPatch papers are beautiful, just a bit heavier than regular tissue paper, and they make covering things - lots of things - just plain fun to do. Karen included a variety of papers, a jar of DecoPatch satin finish/glue & a DecoPatch brush to complete the the fun filled bounty box. I was beginning to salivate just thinking about the things I could cover with these fun, happy papers! The most likely candidate was lying right there - the Exacompta Sketch Book.

The Exacompta Basics Sketch book comes in two sizes, 5.5" X 8.25" (the size of a Moleskein) or 4"X5.5". There are 100 sheets/200 pages in the book. The creamy paper is similar to laid paper - slightly textured on one side & smooth on the other. It's beautiful to draw on and is also just about impervious to bleed-through. I have used watercolors, various fountain pen inks (more on this in another post), colored pens, & Sharpie xtra fines. The Sharpies bled through just ever so slightly - and that is amazing for any paper! The cover is black hard board - pretty plain all in all.

Not a lot of product branding on the covers. A nice colored book mark is also included.

Here's is the selection of DecoPatch papers, glue & the handy little brush

Here is the same Exacompta journal after I played with the Decoatch paper! Using the DecoPatch was easy & it was lot's of fun. I enjoyed combining papers, designs & colors but a project would look just as well using a single paper because each paper has variety & color variations in the pattern You could decorate boxes, journals - well, even chairs or dressers with this stuff! It's a great new product from Exaclair - you should give some a try - and will be happily surprised at how much fun it is to work/play with!

The 'new' journal - opened up.

Here's a look at the smooth, creamy pages about to be doodled on. It's a pleasure to draw on this paper - now I want to try one of the ruled 'Basics' journals (I think they also have 100 sheets/200 pages). This large size is most similar to the size of the ruled Moleskein journal that I use for daily ramblings. For some reason it is the size I have become most comfortable with. Anything smaller is too small and another larger seems too large. I may have found a perfect alternative! I love my Moleskein journal but the paper is too thin to support my favorite fountain pens or colored pens without a lot of bleed through to the back side of the paper - so this "Exacompta Basics' may be the answer I have been looking for with it's nearly "bullet-proof" paper. Were I to grade this Exacompta Basics Sketch Book I would give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars! The ruled journal mught even garner 5 stars - we'll have to wait and see!