A New Year...A New Happiness Project

As I was reflecting on my very full and very colourful Happiness Project pages my mind was drifting to the New Year and how I would continue my practice of writing down one thing each day in my journal that makes me happy.

For 2017 I have decided that I am going to use one of my calendar layouts I designed for the Artsy Journal.  These calendars will be printed on parchment paper (one of my favourites) and will be back to back...no Notes pages on the back.

I wanted something different to inspire me and to expand my creativity so I have decided to use water colour as my means to add colour.

I love the airiness of watercolour...the light, muted tones and soft washes.  It is very peaceful to me.

I am going to go ahead and colour in my blocks a few months in advance and then write on top of the dried colour.  

In future posts I will talk about the watercolour I use, palette, affects on paper, my wash technique.

I am excited about this year's project...I hope you will join me and try it out.

Sheila

Gratitude Journal - For The Love of Paper

As many of you know I have a true love of paper.  Texture, weight, colour, finish, pattern there are so many papers for so many uses..  It seems I am always on the hunt for just the right paper for the task at hand.

Today I'm talking about the paper I use for dividers in my Gratitude Journals...it actually is more of a cover stock weight as opposed to paper...60lb give or take.  You want something heavy enough but not too thick as to take up much room.

Just like fabric or wool, patterned paper is just as endless.  There are themes upon themes of co-ordinating collections to droole over.  I equate choosing these lovelies to choosing fabric for quilting...you have to remember, you're not wearing it...go wild!

'The Gardener" has a Spring feel to it with butterflies and leaves but any of the papers may be changed out for a colour of your choice.  I like to combine different collections though the co-ordinating papers are wonderfully complimentary. 

You can keep to a particular colour theme such as 'The Fashionista' (my word description)

But if you're anything like me your colour pallet changes throughout the year, depending what you're working on and the season.  'The Romantic' is perfect for an Engagement, Wedding, Love or Romantic Journal.

The other fabulous thing about these papers is that they are double sided which means you actually are getting a whole new set of dividers to switch to…just flip them over.

These are just a minute sampling of the vast collection of papers available.  You may have a favourite colour scheme or theme…I can try to find it for you and create a unique look special to you.  

I hand pick, cut and fashion these dividers myself. . . no machines, just little ol' me trimming with scissors.  The punched cut outs are done with my Levenger Leverage Punch. . . a great tool.  The dividers can also be fashioned for a three-hole binder and in the Spring I will offer a larger version of the Journal. . . make sure you stop back in.

That's all for now,  take care and we'll talk soon.

Sheila

Journaling Your Gratitude - Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

These are a few pages from my Gratitude Journal.

We have been hearing a great deal about Gratitude over the last 10 years or so and I agree, it is very important and brings an abundance of positive into our lives. . . that is how I began my journal journey.

A few months ago a dear friend of mine, Michelle Casey at Collage Your World, wrote about the importance of Gratitude and it hit me (well more like slapped me), wake up, this is something you need in your life and it has changed my attitude ten fold.

I kept it simple, for me it has to be do-able, I write five short sentences each day listing things I am grateful for.  I keep my book (I call it a book as it houses many other lists for my life) handy. . . where I drink my first coffee by the front window and reflect.

I'm a list keeper, it helps keep it all in perspective as my mind tends to jump everywhere all the time.

I started with this 3-ring binder format as I wanted to be able to take my papers out to doodle, colour and stick but the binder isn't always the most user friendly.

After doing a great deal of research I have found a better system . . . the Levenger or Arc system.  With these rings you can fold your paper right to the back and work on your page or even better these pages are removable and reposition-able. . . I like that a lot.

I find beautiful papers to make unique dividers and I have created insert pages just for your daily Gratitude.

I will be talking about pens, paper, new inserts in future posts so pop back to check or even better join the e-mail list

I have a real passion for paper . . . really nice paper and pens, drawing and fountain. . . I'll let you know what I find.

Talk to you soon,

S.

Winged Lovelies

I'm always looking for new art forms to try, this was one I found a few years ago - Scherenschnitte is the Art of intricate cut paper. Many people cut the paper with small sewing scissors and such but I found an x-acto knife is more easily controled and works best for me. It's actually a lot of fun (but then again I absolutly love detail) cutting out shapes then revealing an intricate image that resembles lace. Many of these are designs are meant for framing but I love to put them on a shade, illuminating them brings in a whole new dimension.

Whenever you try a new technique of any kind it's only beneficial to you as an Artist, you learn new ways to incorporate it into your own work and to give said work a new life. You've got to keep trying on different hats, odd ones, tall ones even hats that are a little strange, that's the only way you'll know which one fits you. Tell me, which hat do you like?