1001 Journals and more...

Finally completed some pages in the journal I got a few weeks ago from the 1001 journals project. I think I'll play around with it a little more over the weekend and then send it off to the next person in line...I've been a bit of a journal hog, keeping it way longer than 2 weeks! But I wanted to complete at least several pages before sending it off. I love this project! I love the idea of a journal changing hands across the country or the world, from stranger to stranger. Awesome.

Below is the start of the third series...I'll add some collage and then scribbles and finally journal some random thoughts.

Been working on more trades for Artfest, too! Below is one of a series of tags I've made...not sure how into mermaids I am, but since the theme is sea monsters this year, I'm just going with the whole ocean/sea/sea creature thing.

I've also made envelopes and stuffed them full of octopus and sea creature images and stickers. And I still want to put together packs of 3-D goodies like shells, starfish and a message-in-a-teeny-tiny-bottle charm. That is in addition to the 25+ charms I have yet to complete! I can't stop, it's too much fun!


Yesterday Maya and I played hooky and I took her to the Children's Discovery Museum and then we had pizza for lunch. It was nice spending the day together just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Most of the time we spend together is in the same room but we're doing different things (she's playing, I'm on the computer) or the car running errands. It's still fun, but it's not that kind of Quality Time with the capital Q. I was so emotional the other night just thinking about where in the heck did the last 6 years go??? She's not my little baby anymore!

It makes me happy to see her grow and change, but I miss that little baby I used to hold or the little 2 year old that used to poke around in the garden and bring me snails. Ok, she still does that, and probably still will for a few more years. But I often wonder/worry if I've spent enough time with her, if she feels loved enough, if we did enough captial Q quality kinds of things together. It's just what a mother worries about, I guess. I know the answer is YES, I'm doing fine and she feels loved. But when in doubt, call your kid in sick and take them out to frolic in the park or just draw on the sidewalk with chalk or collect bugs in the backyard.

Today we made sun prints in the front yard with special sun print paper and things from nature (and a few bath toys!). Maya climbed the plum tree and then we went for a walk around the block, picking flowers from neighbors' gardens (shhh!). We stumbled across this little guy along they way (Maya said, "oh, look mom! it totally goes with your theme this week!" she knows I'm preparing for Artfest!):


I think it's a good sign. ;)

Artfest is in the Air!

These are some of the trades for Artfest I've been working on...little shrink plastic charms mixed with beads and funky fiber in an array of ocean colors. (I was originally inspired by an article on shrink plastic charms in Somerset Workshop by Lisa Guerin). The theme this year is sea monsters! I've adapted it slightly to include mermaids and the faces I think look a lot like jelly fish with long tendrils flowing down.

This little one has a curly seahorse tail and butterfly wings. A sweet little monster!

This is a closeup of the face that reminds me of a jellyfish...you gotta see the flowy tendrils for the full effect. ;)

Only 23 more days until ARTFEST!!! :)

Moss

Entry #2 for the Paper Whimsy quotes challenge. The prompts are poems by poet Hilda Conkling (when she was a child). They are very whimsical and dreamy and sweet little poems. I plan to make a book out of all of the collages and give it to Maya. We'll see what next week's challenge brings!

Rain drops, Blue Girl and Middle of the Night Musings...

Not much to say today...just listening the the pitter patter of rain rolling off my roof and crackle splattering onto the ground below. Something about falling rain that also kind of sounds like bacon frying. Every notice? Ok, maybe it's just me. ;) Just wanted to share a little blue girl I collaged for a challenge on the Paper Whimsy forum. I like to join in on swaps and challenges every so often just to keep those creative sparks going.

I know I need to do more free-flow "no expectations or goals" kind of creating. I know then and only then will I find my true art voice. But in the meantime, it is still fun to be prompted and given homework to jump start my art. (Oh, bad 80s song is coming to mind...be gone!)

I cannot believe that Artfest is only a month away. And then Convenzione. And then Teesha and Tracy Moore's journaling weekend (on my due date!! I'm totally tempting fate here...I envision going into labor just as the last stitch is made in my journal and the last little bits have been collage onto the pages!) And then the little one will be here. (!) Anxiety and denial has officially turned into joy and anticipation! I'm ready (or as ready as I can be). It will be different, for sure. How will I make art and breastfeed and change diapers and get Maya to school on time and...? It will all come together.