Art Junk Girl~

Family "heirlooms", a full house, and a clean studio?

Dear Friends~
My dining room table is still cleared off....art junk is almost all moved to my downstairs studio. Next week, I intend to do a "walk-through" and take pics of my little nook for you all to see. I love sharing my space and recording it here as well. After the "crash", I realized that having this blog is a way of keeping a record of all these photos as well as the journalling. It's also made me see, once again, how I have a hard time merging my art with my family doings (at least sharing them online). I do this mostly to protect their privacy, but in doing so, I didn't have all my family pics backed up on flickr. I have a pro account, so I could have done that...anyhow, I've learned my lesson and I'm backing things up like a crazy person hence forth. To clarify, I didn't lose all my family photos, but I did lose a large amount of them. I take a gagillion pics of my kids, although you would not know that by looking at my blog... Anyhow, I got sidetracked here....I wanted to share this beautiful piece above that my Mom gave me several years ago. "She" is named "Andrea" (the inscription is underneath) and she is handpainted. I don't bring her "out" of the china cabinet often as I fear that my lacrosse playing son, (aka. "don't throw that ball in this house) will somehow cross paths with her. So, last night, I put her back in the china cabinet...which means YES, my SON is home!!!!!!!
There is really so much I'd like to share on this blog...for there is so much that inspires me, just around my house alone. I am hoping to do more of that this summer. I have lots of little projects under wraps right now, but you will be the first to see/hear of them as they are completed. One of the biggies is working on my kids books this summer. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I've wanted to do this so much and that I have a hard time "arting" up their photos and including them in my work. I recently purchased a lovely book that is going to help me do that. "The Art of Personal Imagery: Expressing Your Life Through Collage
by Corey Moortgat". So far, I've been devouring every page, words of advice, teaching and treasure that this book has. I cannot say enough about it..only that I am kicking myself for not buying it sooner! Sometimes the thing we need to read the most is the one we avoid. Ok, so that's my speal for today. lol. love you all. Have a great weekend everyone! I have a full house once again. Here are my oldest babies, my greatest inspiration. xoxo lia

Ok, so, my work disappeared in an instant...

Yup, my Mac crashed 20 minutes before the "live" blogtalkradio show this past week. Yup, it just went kaput. No warning, no bells, no whistles, nada. I was getting ready to log into blogtalk when it started to slow down and make noises like an airplane taking off...So, I did what I've always been taught to do, I rebooted. Well, let's just say my little mac world never came back. I got the dreaded "gray-blue" screen, more airplane take-off sounds and no sight of a years worth of photos, work, slideshows, etc. etc. nothing. I knew it was a done deal. I just had that feeling. Here's the really bad part: I didn't, no, I didn't have all my photos backed up. While I had the "important" events double backed up (my son's matriculation, other ceremonial stuff, holidays, etc.), my day to day pics, you know the one's...they are gone. vanished. in an instant. I know this for sure as I got the "confirmation call" this morning. The only way to get the data off is to do a manual-take apart of the drive ($1500). Now, my mac is under warranty, so they will replace it, but what about all those memories, all those photos of my day to day mundane stuff? It's gone. Nothing to show for it except a pile of rubble.
So, as you can imagine, I've been totally out of sorts. I feel so shaken. Mostly because I realized in an instant how everything and anything can be wiped away in a second. It's also made me realize how nothing material can every truly be sustained. I feverishly record our day to day with photos, montages, etc. I'm left thinking how many hours I wasted...all for not. Is it real or is it memorex? I don't know. I have to sort that all out. In the meantime, I need a backup plan.
Be back soon. xo lia

you saw it here first...

you saw it here first..., originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

it's official....my dining room table is cleared off...news at 11.

studio update soon.

L.

Gettin' personal~A new beginning~

Yesterday I went on a stroll down memory lane. I went and visited my artjunk archives, aka my first blog when I "met" Mar and my other blog sistas, where I shared snippets of my life. I had previously kept this archived blog "private", but decided to open it back up. The reason I had locked it is that it had some "more personal" things on it, like, some of my poetry, and self-portait tuesday photos. I felt to exposed as more people frequented my blog than the 'original 5". When I started this typepad blog, I decided to keep it strictly art for many reasons, not just personal. It is my own little place to come talk about what I do for me and how it helps me be a happier person.
So, with all this said, after talking to Mar this weekend, I decided to make my blog more reflective of my life as a whole, not just the art. Now, this doesn't mean I'll be sharin' stuff that is a downer, for I don't like to go "there" alot. But we all have our down times.
So, without further ado, I will strive to be more open about my day to day hence forth. Perhaps once a week we'll have some "personal chat time"..lol.
My 3 personal bits for today are that:
1. I got my hair cut short this month. I haven't had short hair for over a decade and maybe 1 year total of my life. I am still not used to it.
2. I don't like my pic taken alot..hmmm...I will have to dig up the photo Mar took with my hand in front. lol.
3. I really, like, really, want to lose 10 lbs. by June 1. Considering that my body does not consume alot of calories at it is, and that I am over 40 (just a little over), this is pretty hard. I'll share more on that soon.
p.s. the link to my archives is www.artjunkarchives.blogspot.com .

Ok, hope you will still want to come back...lol..I am going to try to be more brave in my life, and my art.
xoxo lia

Oh-My-Mary-Ann!!!!!!!

MaryAnn couldn't wait to find "the carousel" and there she goes!

Dear Friends~
I am just now "coming to" from a weekend filled with laughter, friendship and love. I got to meet one of my first "blog sista's", MaryAnn (aka FollowYourBliss), aka soul sister, *in person*. Although we had talked and kept in touch by phone, email, and our blogs for over 2 years, we hadn't met "face to face". I felt I knew MaryAnn anyway...I knew her heart from what she shared and how she shared it on her blog, I knew her fun sense of humor and laughter from long chats on the phone, and I knew of her family by the way she spoke of them, especially her husband (aka tea party man ....I have never let him live down a photo in which he, uh, well, was very funny for Mary Ann's online Tea Party) on her flickr and blog. If anyone could throw a Tea Party online, it's MaryAnn, because she does everything with love, laughter, and a very special touch.

Several months ago we planned the visit so that she could see the CherryBlossoms in DC, where she lived while attending grad school, back in her "single days". I can't adequately, in one post, share all the "funnies" that ensued during out fabulous fun-filled weekend together, but I can say that I felt that I'd known her all my life! I was in awe of how our love for creativity and bargain huntin' for vintage treasure had somehow brought us together in the same "blog circles" and thus, grew a friendship as fruitful as the CherryBlossoms we saw on Sunday.
I can't say enough about how I feel recharged creatively after sharing our ideas, dreams and goals this past weekend. We both intend to "follow our creative bliss" and how much richer it is when you have a soul sister to share it with!
Thank you MaryAnn for flyin' all the way here from "cheeseland" to see me. I am doing "my homework", aka studio stuff that we discussed. I am so thankful for your wisdom and creativity, love and laughter, thank you for sharing yourself with me and our awesome creative blogville neighborhood. xoxoxo lia

Field of dreams...

Good Morning My Friends!

I'm having a pretty good mornin'. For one, I got to see my two college "babies" this weekend, and that always gives me a boost, and two, I got to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
I live on the east coast, a place where you never really know what the weather will decide to do. It can be freezing one day and summery weather the next. This complicates the morning dress routine. My daughters always ask me what the weather will be. My answer is always the same, "it's still winter, it's cold, wear your jacket".... I would say that it is generally pretty mild as far as blizzards and such go, but it can make up for it with it's humidity in the summer. That is why I looove the early spring and fall here. The air is very crisp and refreshing as the humidity has not set in, yet.
Yesterday, I spent the whole day outside. I just stood and looked around at nature and wondered how we can ever really be at a loss for inspiration. I also thought about the fact that I really do not get outside enough every day (other than jumpin' in and outta the car!)
With the advent of the internet, I've enjoyed being able to see pictures of dreamy places at the click of a button, especially since I don't get to travel much. But, I wonder how all the eye candy sometimes lures me away from being in the great outdoors enough, and just taking a break from all the technological distractions of our world.
Well, yesterday, as I stood outside and felt the fresh air brush against my skin, saw how the light shadowed over the stadium I was in, heard the music playing softly in the background, I had a swirl of creative ideas come to me. I felt so energized. I think I've forgotten to take time to smell the roses. The "real" roses. The world around me. I hope to take time this year to just be inspired by what is around me. I want to find a way to do this regularly.
So, that is what is on my mind today. Thinking, dreaming and noting how truly beautiful the world is and how it's just waiting for me to discover it, touch it, and work it into my art and life so I can enjoy it again and again. Well, I just wanted to share my thoughts on this with you today. Have a wonderful week my friends. xo lia

Happy November~

full journal spread complete, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I'm still on a blog break friends, but I'm still posting my art up regularly on my flickr site. Clicking on the above photo will take you straight there!
I will also be updating my square blog with the remainder of my 1000 squares. I have about 200 to go to meet my goal!!
Other than that, I'm just workin' in my journal, working my way around and visiting blogs (wow, it's fun being a lurker...why didn't anyone tell me? hee).
Oh, and remember to change your clocks tonight...I always forget....and don't ask me which way, because I'll tell you the wrong thing....lol.
Ok, later. xo Lia

filling the well and finding home~

Dear Friends~
I know I've been quiet the last week or so. I've been quite busy with the fam, quick trips as well as my mother's return. da da. But, I've also come to a point where I really feel I need a time to rest, relax and "fill the well" again. "Filling the well" is a term coined by Julia Cameron, author of The Artists Way (one of two instrumental books on my creative journey). I was introduced to this book by a blog led by the wonderfully talented, gracious (and newly married!) Leah of Creative Everyday. She gathered and nutured this wonderful group a few years back. This helped me grow my wings and fly. The words of this book have been etched in my brain, and in my heart, as they resonated with me so much. I seriously don't think I would have worked through my fears and continued to give myself "permission" to art had I not read this book and met this supportive group of women online. So, where was I?
Oh, yes, "filling the well"...well, there comes a time, where you give and give, til you are empty....then it is time to fill the well. I really just need some time to clear my mind. Have no committments....breathe. I want to just fill the well with beauty and not spill out a single bit of it...not yet anyway....just save it up...chew on it....ponder it....savor it.....dream about it.....hug it...cradle it....baby it....Time to go back to that little place I call home. If only in my mind. xo Lia

p.s. I've been wanting to say all this for two weeks or more.....this is my one thing brave for today. Thanks Jessie.

Friday to Do List

Changes~

Dear Friends~
I've come to the conclusion (as of late) that I don't deal with that change thing too well...you know, the break from the usual routine. All of the sudden, I feel like the earth has moved from under me and there is a change of scenery all around. I found out this week that the world is not going to slow down and wait for me to catch up. Yeah, I know, I'm a little slow and no one told me. It does not listen when I say, "I need a minute to catch up...figure things out, take my time..". Yeah, I kinda thought I had control of my own little corner of the world...safely tucked in suburbia, raisin' kids, doing the mundane, not bothering anyone and minding my own business....well, minutes turn into hours, and hours into days...and, well, you know the rest. The kids do this thing called, "getting older". I told them to stop growing so fast, but did they listen? Nooooo.. And guess what?

On top of all that...letting my babies go out into the world alone and all...I return to a person I don't recognize in the mirror. This person has started to grow white hair at her temples. I dont know who the heck she is...is she my mother? no, she is ME. Yikes. So, I guess it's time for me to do that "adjust" kind of thing that I resist so much. Such a nasty, nasty thing.

So, I finally wrestled with my resistant mind and did a few journal pages yesterday. It's time for me to re-focus and get my groove back. Time for a change in my usual art routine to coincide with the change in my life routine....and certainly time to do something about those "white hairs"....I have some hair dye somewhere around here and I know how to use it.
Peace out, talk soon, the soon to be "new improved" version of the old Art junk Girl.
xo Lia

the big college drop off day....and a break...

proud momma!
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Dear Friends~
I'll be back when the lump in my throat is gone....I dropped off my one and only son today...and I thought the school bus was hard when he was young...sheesh. It's not going to be the same around here and I have to figure out how to adjust, I kinda, sorta am not prepared for this as my son and I are very close and he is such a big part of my daily joy. I'll find my way, but in the meantime, I'm takin' a little break here. If I owe you an email, please be patient with me right now.
talk soon, xo Lia

The "happy" camper....

The "happy" camper....
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

She's baaaaaack....
I'm thrilled to be back home after a week of camp. Wow, I love my life, my little art world, and squares.

Sincerely,
ArtJunkGirl

p.s. did anyone miss me besides Hanna, Nance and Kira?????? Lol. xo

I'm over my head!!!

Dear Friends~
I'm over my head in crafty endeavors...of my own making, of course. I'm in the middle of completing bird book skinney pages (in which I'm kinda blocked as I haven't worked with "birds", much less skinney one's...lol).
But anyhow, I will be out of blog town for the next week as we are doing the camp thing, etc. and I don't know how much internet access I will have. Art Junk will resume it's regularly scheduled artsy antics in a week or so. Actually, I should say, "talking about" my antics...I'll still be carrying along lots of little projects and scraps to work on....
In the meantime, my daughters are now dying paper towels (a la traci bautista style).

Yeah, it's cute, but look at the mess they left on the deck...ok, they are still cute. Anyhow, I'm off
to do some art on myself (no, I don't draw on myself), but I do need to cover some, ahem, grey hairs.
yikes. Grey isn't a color, right? I don't like it even if it is. It's probably the only color I don't like....so anyhow, off I go to clean myself and my house up and get packing. Will miss reporting to my compadres on all my craft crimes and obsessions. peace out. now, go make a mess...lol...xo Lia

rainy day activity for kids

rainy day activity for kids
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Dear Friends~
Here is one of the jars my daughters decoupaged while I worked in my art journal. It was a great activity and I already had the paints and newspaper out, so why not make another mess. :) My oldest asked me if she could use an empty jar I had under the sink (ok, so I'm hoarding some jars for my studio)...anyhow, of course I said yes! I didn't have glass paint so I instructed her to decoupage newspaper strips on the jar and then put it outside to dry (which takes 2.2 seconds where I live)! She then painted the polka dots (thought that was cute). I have since added a ribbon I had to the top rim and I'm using it to hold my "special" brushes. What's best is that this activity kept them occupied for a good 2 hours. lol. They are only going to camp for a week this summer and guess who is going with them? I'm going to be teaching the "arts and craft" class. So off I go to "plan" some creative activities. If you've taught camp or have kids at home and want to give me some ideas, please do so in the comments or by email! So, where was I? Oh yeah, to my compadres that have been following my studio "re-do", I must confess that I have done zilch-o in the way of working on it...I've been playing with kids, making a big art mess in the family room and generally getting sidetracked by whatever new thing strikes my fancy. Well, have a great day all and go ahead and do something fun and crafty ok? I don't wanna be the only one with the laundry pile...xo Lia

this weeks doing's...

Lots of stuff happenin' here in art junk land. As I mentioned earlier this week, my son started his STP (summer transition program at college, and thus I had the weepy's all week). Thanks for all the hugs and kind wishes friends, it really helped console me! Wow, what an adjustment this will be. I did, however, catch up on loads of stuff...including bottoming out his laundry since there wasn't a constant "add on". I've continued to "declutter" like a crazy person and my hub. has indeed followed suit and worked on "his areas, aka garage and shed (insert Tim Allen pounding chest here). Anyhow, I've done a little of this and a little of that all week. Nothing is done yet though!
The absolute highlight of my week was meeting up with Hope (of Paper Relics fame), and I had the most delightful time ever! She is so cute! I brought my inchies to show her, and she immediately wanted to make some. Well, I just so happened to have my "inchie" on the go kit in my bag (a plastic hello kitty box.lol), so we were well equipped.
Well, Hope started making them like nobody's business! She was designing and cutting and putting on her detailed touches. It was amazing. Here's a pic of her first one! We were all giddy and such and I told her I had never made inchies in public. lol. Hope is so generous, she then gave me one of the squares she made, and then another since it went with the first. She didn't want to separate the brother and sister that were in the picture she had cut apart to get two images. If you do collage or art with vintage photos, you will understand. :)

So, that was super fun and I had a break from home and cleaning and entertaining kids. My other diversions this week included going to the library and pool with my girls. I also worked in my art journal a bit, (but not as much as I would have liked!).. Here is a pic of a spread I'm workin' on.
In other art related news, I was very excited to order and receive my first Teesha Moore Zine after seeing it on Hanna's site, where she gave it rave reviews. WEll, let me tell you, it did not disappoint, and it definitely gave me alot of food for thought and inspiration for my visual journalling. I was infact very touched by many of the thoughts expressed in the zine and found it a very refreshing. It actually answered some questions I had on journal intentions and outcomes.

So, as far as the studio re-do, I am still pluggin' away! I've been looking at my inspiration file (notebook with page protectors filled with magazine faves) that I've saved over time. Things are coming together, but I still have loads of work to do on the basement side of things as I've moved many things down there. Here's just a peak...keep in mind it's a storage room and I would be horrified to show you the walls right now, think insulation and pipes....but I'm "pretending" that I've rented studio space in a small new york warehouse. I'm gonna make it all artsy and stuff. stay tuned. I found this little pillow in the kids toy box and decided to hang on studio door for now..lol

Trust me, it wouldn't be safe, my stuff is everywhere! he he..
So that's my major update, oh, and yes, I have more inchies to share but I haven't had time to take photos this week. I hope to have some good pics to show you of my studio progress this week. I relaxed a bit this week and had some time to check up on and visit blogs so that has been loads of fun. Thanks to everyone who reads my blog. I appreciate you visiting, even if you don't comment, I hope you are inspired in some way from my little corner of the blog-iverse. xo Lia