Art Junk Girl~

drawing tales and babblings~

Dear Friends~
So, the drawing obsession continues, in true art junk fashion....because, after all, I can't do anything artsy/crafty in moderation. So, with the exception of spending time doing the "necessaries", I've been pretty much reading everything and anything I can get my hands on regarding drawing/sketching/illustrating/etc. etc. I have even recruited a few companions along the way, although one of them is off at camp right now, so I don't have her help. You see, a child just see's all the things we don't. Our cluttered minds make things so complicated. My youngest comes along and says, "mom, see, you have to erase the practice line's now." I look and say, "oh". Ok. I can do this. Yes. I learned to draw when I was young. My father taught me to draw faces, etc and I would fill many sketchbooks (and school notebooks) with them.

Did I forget to draw? Is drawing hard? Yes and no. I think that anything new and unfamiliar is a challenge. I believe that without practice, we forget even those things we've already learned. I truly, truly believe that we can all draw, do art, be creative. I've had people say to me, "I don't have a creative bone in my body". I wonder who told them that or when they convinced themselves of that. I think we are creative beings. There is something we all do well, and we just have to apply those concepts to the new or unfamiliar thing we want to pursue. Now, I can tell you right now that there is a large dose of patience that must be added to the mix. Especially where I am concerned! The difference between a ten year old and a 40 year old learning/re-learning to draw is that the 40 year old has 40 years of societal messages saying, "you can't, your too old, it's not perfect, draw inside the lines, edit, edit, edit, it's bad, go do your dishes and stop this nonsense." At least this 40-ahem-something one does. After all, I was told to put my art aside by someone near and dear because "artist's didn't make any money". Now, this particular someone, I know now, only did it because she thought it was best for me, but it happened none the less. Several years later I've found myself taking up where I left off. Now I have only myself to blame for not continuing on my artistic path.
So, I digress. I think I was getting to a point, but I suppose I got off tangent. I think my point is that when you want to create something and there is a yearning inside you to do it, tell the critic to go away and go on your merry way exploring and learning. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to make you a gagillionaire. It just has to be something you retreat to in this crazy-busy world where you give yourself permission to create. No one is stopping you. Only you, of course. Sometimes we make excuses that we "don't have time", etc. etc. but it's really only ourselves resisting the unfamiliar or perhaps, the inevitable mistakes we will make along the way. So, I suppose I've made a little recipe for creative success. It doesn't include "the right supplies", for whatever you have around the house will do for now. It only requires you to sit down and start. Add some patience, some perseverence and some positive self-talk. It's not always easy, but it can be very rewarding. It will overflow into other aspects of your life. At least this has been the case with me. So, enough talk, let's go make something! xo lia

P.S. Here's another great illustration/artist linkI found this weekend~
Carla Sonheim's Blog (drawing challenge post). What a great idea!

still in the drawing room...

I worked on a few more sketches last night, experimenting with both watercolor crayons and acrylic paints. I think I like acrylic paints better, although watercolor crayons are super easy and I have to admit, it's fun adding water and watching the instant transformation. Today I will try out some the watercolor pencils I have as well. Here are a few of my experiments...
Today I'm off to the library to get more sketching books, most likely from the kids section. Oh, and we need food. Yes, food is important. Can't forget that...

more soon, Lia

In the Drawing Room....

Dear Friends~

Aside from the usual creative chaos, I've been spending some time here and there practicing the art of drawing. In the past I haven't been too interested, but all of the sudden I've been "drawn" to it. Lol. Anyway, a kind reader sent me a link a while back that I finally checked out called, Drawspace. It's a really good site. Chalk full of drawing lessons, step-by-step, easy to follow. I have yet to explore all it has to offer, but so far I am very pleased. I am sketching in a larger moleskine sketchbook.
I've also tried to further challenge myself by joining in on my friend Andrea's illustration challenge called FaunaFolk. I like it because you can pick from a list of animals and then a few whimsy words. So, here is my practice thus far for the new challenge,
So, if you are interested in drawing as well, check both of these sites out! Oh, and my fave, fave, illustrators/artists which have really made me want to learn to draw are AliJ and Emily Martin of the Black Apple. I would eventually love to make my own "characters", particularly the storybook variety. I know (and have been told by a few that I need to start with fruit!) Of course, I skip a bit ahead. But I'm learning to be more patient and may be going back to square one soon. Speaking of squares, I've been working on some squares for a mail trade. Here they sit on the top of my sketchbook. Talk about Art Add. lol. Ok, that's my bit for now. I have a few more things to share soon, including more mail art, so stay tuned. Don't worry if you don't know what mail art is, I'll explain in a future post. talk soon friends. xo lia

got cereal boxes?

got cereal boxes?, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

One of my latest obsessions: making postcards. I just can't throw a good cereal box away.

I know. It's a problem...

So, I've been walking over to the paper cutter. Ahem, still in my jammies here..lol..I cut them into either 4 x6 inches for postcards or 3.5 x 2.5 for ATC's. I place them in a holding box after cutting. Then I grab a few when I am cleaning up my "scrap table". I start randomly gluing down scraps. So much fun! JJ painted a bunch yesterday and she will be sending them out to relatives this summer.

I love doing mailart in the summer! I'm excited about participating in the summer postcard swap over at HulaSeventy (one of my very FAVE people and blogs!!) For some postcard eyecandy, check out her postcards from last year!

Have a great week my friends. I'll be back soon with more art junk! xo lia

p.s. Yes, I wait until the cereal boxes are empty. lol. Doesn't take very long with my son.

It's all about the bling right now...

marie "bling", originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Well, sort of. You see, things are very crazy at my home right now and I've been informed that I am behind on my flickr group "homework"...hmmm....wonder who that could be? Anyhow, I've been sortin' through lots of bling as I continue to go through my boxes in the never-ending "art junk studio move". I must admit that I feel like it's Christmas when I open up a "secret stash" box and go through it. You see, I'm a junker from way back, so many of the little bits I have are from my childhood. My Mom staked out estate sales at "o-dark thirty" in the morning with us in tow. Trust me, you don't want to see people that early in the morning...especially when you are at a young, impressionable age. I remember that the biggest kick my sissy and I got was when we saw a man with shorts and mismatched socks...(a sure oversight on his part as he looked rather dapper otherwise). We assumed he rushed there to be first in line as he didn't want to "miss out" on the good stuff.
Back in my day (and I know many of yours also), my Mom went estate and garage sale-ing because she had to! She wanted to decorate our home on a budget. We could not afford new. Of course, since then, estate sale's have booned into a completely different type of venue...a hunt for nostalgic treasures and collections, artists/decorators seeking "bling" for their work, and of course, people like my mother who still make their house a home with a large dose of creativity and a small dose of change.
So as I continue to "dig out" of art junk central, I will continue to reminesce down memory lane. I just love where it takes me...back to when I was a girl watching my Mom build a world of majesty and fantasy in our little home on devon court.

Thanks for the memories Mom.

xo lia

paper scrap quilts...with squares, of course..

Dear Friends~
As I mentioned before, I've been thinking about all the things I want to try this year and making lots of lists...like I ever will get to half of them. One thing I've learned for sure is that I'm on a journey. It's hard to move on to something when one thing can fascinate you for hours..Speaking of squares, one of the things I've been doing with leftovers fro my square project is taking the square punched backgrounds and making them into postcard quilts. Here are a few I did the other night. This is a very relaxing activity for me when I sit and watch movies at night with my hub, or if he's watching "the game, any game" and I'm sittin' with him. I love using up these bits to make these.

These are super fun and easy to make. First you just punch out squares from whatever scraps you have leftover as well as your fave catalogs or junk mail. It's fun to randomly stick them together and see what emerges! As I've said before, if you are interested in collage, it's good to keep a shoebox to put things in that appeal to you as you come across them. Then when you are ready to sit down, you have collage fodder you like, all in one place. Now, I gotta tell you, when you are a paper-a-holic, it's major league difficult to throw away paper...at least for me it is, but I will tell you some of my favorite things to save.
~Catalogs with vibrant colors.
~photocopied poetry (sometimes papers from my kids homework)
~maps from brochures while travelling
~older copies of my fave magazines
~vintage magazine covers (these are usually vibrant in color and a bit sturdier that the pages)
~movie tickets (yes, I've used these for square backgrounds and in regular collages)

So, as you can see, nothing is really off-limits, but it is good to access the sturdiness factor when working on small pieces.


I decided to experiment with ink on one of these (the lower right one). I really love using ink, but it takes some getting used to...but it does have a way of spicing up the ordinary. Well, off I go to work on those lists...be back soon! Hope you'll try making some square postcard quilts. xo lia

Let's Create in 2008...

I've been runnin' around like crazy lately.....trying to do this and that, checking things off "the list", you know the deal! Anyhow, I have so much I want to share on my blog....new art cards I've made and journal pages, but have not had a chance to settle down calmly and get back into my routines.

I am SO jazzed about having a whole new beginning this year, in living creatively (everyday) and looking at life with new possibility. I have been doin' lots of thinking of where I've been, where I'm going and what I want to do this year~and how I can infuse creativity into everything I do. Everything I see and do has a potential to make it's way into my art. I work intuitively. I love to just let go and create. I need to create or I get really, really cranky! I pull all my special boxes of ephemera and pens close to me at night and start to cut and paste. It's like my own little comfort zone. A place to go to unwind, dream, and relax. When I made this card, I was thinking about how Art and creativity gives us the ability and opportunity to look at life anew and in some ways, create miracles.
One of my resolutions, (which I will post soon), is to simply embrace my creativity every day. Sounds easy, right? well, it isn't always easy. I sometimes struggle with the freedom and youthful playfulness that being creative lends itself too...like I need to be more "serious" and adult like, etc. etc. (I've spoken of this before). Well, I've decided this year is a year that I will step out and embrace my creative self, all parts of myself. I don't know if I'm making sense here, but this is where I am at right now, ready to take a leap, ready to be myself, ready to show my true colors, ready to get my ART on! Hope you'll join me....xo Lia

Creative Goals and dreams for 2008~

I have been SO inspired by SARK as of late. I mean, of course I would love an author who has published most of her books in the shape of a square...lol....but anyhoo, during my blog break, I had been "filling my creative well" by reading books and generally nurturing my creative soul. Her books certainly hit the mark. AFter devouring the few books I had around here, I decided to purchase her new book entitled, "Make Your Creative Dreams Real" and I've been devouring it for the last two months. She inspires me SO much. In fact, when I first picked up one of her books after being particularly burnt out and weary, I turned right to one of her colorful handwritten quotes reading, "You are enough. You have enough. You do enough." Gulp. Like, how did she know what I was thinking? I was definitely at a place where I was feeling guilty about indulging in my creative passions, wondering if I was giving enough to other areas in my life, wondering if I was a "good enough" everything: mom, wife, etc. Why oh Why am I so hard on myself. I do not know, but I will tell you, when I read that quote, I felt as if an old friend took my hand and gently and lovingly reassured me, leaving my doubtful voices to bite the dust.
So, as per usual, I am babbling on in artjunk style (which must mean I am back to my old self). But, what I wanted to write about today is that after reading a few chapters over coffee this morning, I was inspired to make creative goal charts for 2008. I worked on them all morning. I then made some and copied them on cardstock for my daughters.

(you are more than welcome to print this out).

I got the idea from a chart SARK has in the book on Creative Goals. So here they are. What are your Creative Goals for 2008? I hope you are inspired to follow them. We all need to support each other and follow our dreams. One of my very favorite and most reassuring quotes from this book reads, " Your creative dreams need YOU to make them real."
So true.
xo Lia

pom-pom's anyone?

pom-pom garland for itty-bitty tree, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Ok, so I made my first pom-pom garland for a little tree I put in my daughter's room before she arrived home for winter break. Oh...she loved it. Sometimes the simplest things bring some joy, color and fun into your day! Anyhoo...I art "junked" it up a bit with leftover beads from the girls "bead bin"...you know the one....it's the bin you immediately grab to house the 10,000 piece bead kits they get for birthday presents from people who have not a clue what this means to a mother of 4 trying to keep her house in some semblance of order....I literally hear the sounds of beads tinkling across the floor even when I say, "wait, don't open that yet, let me get 'the bin'"....Oops, too late, tinkle, tinkle, down they go into the vents and what not. Oh, what to do, what to do...it's all good right? Ok, well, I certainly got off on a tangent this morning. Anyhoo, I already have a "special order" from my daughter's best friend whom wants one for her room too. tee hee. So, in between shopping and decorating...I will be making pom-pom garlands and whatever else I can think of. The simplest things amuse me. Yes. But that is what life is all about if you ask me. Off I go now. Be back soon! xo Lia

have art junk, will travel...

Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your comments! Oh MY! I didn't mean to lead everyone to think I was throwing in my glue stick! I guess that's how it came across, but it's so nice to hear your support and encouragement. I've decided to make friends with my mess and look at it all as part of what I do...as following my passion....as being who I am...not that my art defines me or makes me who I am...it's more what is in my heart. I've lived on a constant pendulum of resisting my creative self...it's time for me to not be afraid of what I'm seeing and what people will think...I just need to keep just being me. Anyhow...thanks for listening. It's amazing how many of you out there totally identify. I've been using this "down time" or this "creative reflection" time to do lots and lots of reading about Artists, both living and not. I'm simply fascinated in reading the similariites (and that even the most famous, accomplished & talented suffer from such doubts, fears, etc)...and this is across the board in all creative endeavors, whether it be writing, acting, singing, what have you. So many times, we can become our own worst enemy..but I hold this quote always close to my heart when I get afraid of what will happen next...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
~Marianne Williamson

So, I leave with this thought today as I pack my messenger bag and hit the road for a weekend away. I will be toting my artjunk or "mess" if you will as I've come to look at it as really being my security blanket...as really being home. my home. my words. my colors. my heart. Have a great weekend friends. xo lia

The pictures you "WON't" see in an issue of "Artful Blogging" Magazine....

A table that looks like this......

Yes, this is what the kitchen table looked like after a flurry of swap project activity, jewelry, paperdolls, etc.. It is now cleaned up (I'm happy to report)....but I have the pictures to remind me...lol....

And, what about this one....

Like, HELLoooO, look at the feet.....I, like, stood up on a chair to get a picture standing over the charms (literally). WEll, the camera does not lie, folks. Can you say pedicure? Do I know what one is you say?....yeah, I think it's time....sheesh....I look like the sasquatch in those shoes.....not to mention the fact that I could have tripped off the chair, hit my head and not been able to blog or make art for days....oh, the sacrifices I make.....(insert olympia dukakis sigh here).

Ok, well, I gots to scooot (obviously)....Country Living called and they want to come for a photo shoot (just kidding). Lol. But seriously. I should go get the family room cleaned up and squared away. Oh, I think I just made a funny. he he...talk soon friends. xo Lia

Zine-a-fied!

First and foremost, I stumbled upon the announcement of a new zine that one of my favorite Artist's, Sarah Fishburn is publishing along with Angela Cartwright. What a powerhouse of talent there! Whoo. I immediately rushed to the cart. LOL....but don't tell Bruno (aka my husband)...but I just can't miss this one. It's my birthday tomorrow, so an early present for me. You understand, right?

I am also looking forward to receiving the premiere issue of Kira's Zine. It's called Page by Page. Here is the link to see if their are still copies available.

In the meantime, Teesha Moore's Zine's are keeping me occupied until the said zine's are pulled out of my mailbox, covered with my arm's and rushed into my home for immediate consumption.
Peace out for now,
:) Lia

p.s. Here's a recent page from my "gluebook" journal.

Potluck Post

I have loads to journal/blog about today because I'm behind in updating y'all on my creative meaderings. I'm having so much fun that I must admit that I don't like to stop and take pics...but then, as they say, it's even more fun and meaningful when you have someone to share it with! I just love this creative blog community. Especially when I feel that the non-crafty, non-artsy segment of our population just doesn't "get" us. I feel we "get" each other! There is also so much inspiration around that it keeps us all busy and happy and surrounded by lots of great color and cheer. So, where was I? Oh, yeah.

Welcome to Art Junk's potluck post.

For Appetizers~ Swap's I'm currently participating in~
1. Out of the Blue Mail Party. Read more about how to play by clicking on the link. It's simply a swap in which you tag a few artists and exchange mail art with them and the person who "tags" you. Then they tag two people and so on. I got tagged by the talented Deb Silva. Here is what I sent off to her this week....no peeky Deb...LOL. Hopefully you have it by now.

I also finished my piece for my good friend, Mendy yesterday (in between working on the doll quilt).

Another appetizer in my creative buffet this summer is the Blue and Orange Swap hosted by Jeannine P. through Swap-Bot. I'm so excited about doing this swap and have started collecting for it. I also can't wait to hit the antique mall soon ( I go every summer). Did I already say I'm excited about summer this week? I love this swap because now I see these colors everywhere and am thinking of what I will select for it. Jeannine has also really inspired me as of late with her delving into and taking on the Crafter's Companion book. I see that she is as talented in sewing as she is as a fine Artist! Go Jeannine!

Now, for the Main Course, I'll be working on two collaborative projects. One is a Charm swap hosted by Angela (geminangelart) and another is a Skinney Bird book hosted by Amy Smith in which I will be making 20 original pages. I had the great pleasure of meeting both Amy and Jeannine (above) at Art and Soul. They are both lovely and talented ladies! For the book, I'm picking out my "ingredients"...the images, paint color, etc. I'll start cookin' on that soon.
I'm also knocking around ideas for making my charms. I loved doing the charm swap with Ruth Rae. The bracelet turned out beautifully and the the way Ruth packed everything was divine! Talk about talent, she (get this), sewed a book page and wax paper and made a beautiful, durable enveleope! She is the queen of sewing paper. Check out her beautiful feature in the current Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine.

Now, for my favorite course, Dessert....(which I'm having before dinner). I'm currently working on the dolly quilt I mentioned yesterday. Here's a picture of my 4 completed squares. The amount of time it took for me to make these and the ensuing debacle is JUST too much to cover in this post, but it suffices to say, I enjoyed the challenge.. now I will have to look up tutorials on how to bind and finish it! STay tuned. Hope you liked the Pot luck today. :) LK

Here I go again...painting, round 2

So, with the encouragement of many of you, I decided to take another stab at the canvas! I got an idea on what I wanted to do and it helped that I found canvas on sale for 2/5 dollars at michaels yesterday! Like I needed to go to the craft store...but I went with my youngest and she got a few things to. I spent a half hour in the paint isle reading labels and looking at different brands. I've come to the conclusion that an overabundance of choices makes it hard to just get started these days. Anyhow, here is the big reveal...it's not done yet, but this is what I did yesterday.....I dare to say I kinda like it. I collaged the face and shoulders from a cut out vintage mag (enlarged and copied first). Thanks to friends that told me to combine some collage in my painting-thank you, it really got me thinking of new things to do (besides flowers, although I will do those again too). I'm liking this more now......I will share more later, but I've got to get movin' out of here this morning. Oh, and I also did an art journal page...this is what happens when my husband leaves for a day...I would say it was productive, hmm...but I didn't bottom out the laundry. ok, gtg. more later...xo Lia p.s. I used the magazine/gesso technique gleaned from Bernie Berlin's new ATC book. I've decided my fave technique in this book, but it has lots of wonderful one's it it. I was inspired to try the technique after seeing Shari's work on flickr. Thanks Shari! I love what you are doing with this technique...finally got out and got the book. :)

Thoughts on Painting 101

OK, I slept on it tonight. Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I think I may still try to play with this and see where it goes....perhaps start smaller on watercolor paper? I did one smaller one and I like it better. I really want/need to learn how to paint. I mean, paint like I know what I'm doing. One thing I know is that in all the paint books I have, the instructions showed that step one is to actually "draw/sketch/outline" the thing you want to paint. Well, I kinda like skipping that part! Then I don't like it because it's murky and too blendy, blendy and not all neat and tidy with a place for everything and everything in it's place. So, as in other things, I will try to make myself do this part first and see what happens. I just wish that I could just have 5 years worth of paint lessons, etc. dumped into my brain and I can just stand there and stroke paint on a canvas with that "not a care in the world" look. Oh, and the other thing I was disappointed about was that I didn't get much paint on my hands, so I couldn't do the "artist, hands turned over and cupped gently to show the evidence of paint splotches and painting nirvana". Ah...but I digress. I'm always wrestling between my artsy and my compulsive, keep everything neat, ocd, self.
I checked your comments this morning and thank you all SO much. Thank you to Heather (who is a 'real one' artist/painter) as my kids would say, who took the time to give me advice and encouragement to keep going. You all rock so much and I really, really appreciate you all and wish I could write each of you a long letter and give you a hug (and a picture of my hands with paint all over them..lol). Ok, well hope you all have a great week! Will our kids go back to school already? People are calling me....off I go....back tomorrow with more art junk.

Oh, and by the way, I did this little marilyn collage last night. I'm still on the marilyn theme...and guess what else. I kind made a goal this weekend, besides the painting, but I am kinda still thinking it through...I kinda, wanna....I can't say.....I have research to do....I'll be writing some of you....I know I usually tell you all everything here, but I think I need to nurse this idea a bit longer. It's something for all of you though, a way to share my art with you-other than blogging. Ok, I said too much...take care. Thanks again everyone, you all rock!!!! xoxoxox Lia

New Year's in the Making...

I want to make a "log cabin pillow". Not just any log cabin pillow. No. I blog, and therefore, I know too much. Mine eyes has seen the likes of talented artists blogs, such as that of Lisa Congdon's, A Bird in the Hand. Now, just to give you an idea on how slow I am to being "in the know", I'd been blogging for almost a year and had not come across her blog. But I do remember the day it happened. It was crisp and cool outside, the birdies were singing and there, on my screen, (as I wiped it clean) sat the picture of what I though was equal to sewing and collaging nirvana: The "log cabin pillow" and other magnificent collages (with squares I must add...)So, I digress. Next step, I did a search for a "tutorial on log cabin pillows". (This is how I start to learn most of what I do, with a good tutorial, prefably lots of pictures for this brain which has been damaged from years of exposure to household cleansers.) Anyhoo, I found one! And guess what? It referenced Lisa Congdon's pillow! How could I get so lucky? And the title was "long cabin-ish" pillow, which I thought was funny because "ish" is a verb in our house. Furthermore, Dacia Ray's Tutorial had all these cool pics of sketches and such, loved that....Bless her and all the artists who made and share their tutorials online), otherwise, women like me who have been sentenced to "house arrest" (ie. laundry, cleaning, cooking, taking care of people who refer to them as "mom") can have access to learning how to make such deliciously perfect and prettiful pillows at 2 a.m. in the morning. And these are NOT grandma pillows, oh no! sorry, grams, but I just love the little boy scout patch numbers in there, reminds me of my boy when he was young, and I'm all for recycling those little bits I can't possibly throw away for fear I will traumatize them for life. I won't even go into the fact that the fabrics used are unique and vintagey and not cookie cutter. you can do your own thing, and y'all know how I love collage and puttin' together all kinds of colors and patterns. So, creative new years resolution #1 will be to make the log cabin pillow (a la artjunkgrl style). I will most likely make it while "normal" people are sleeping, but I have a tutorial, a cabinet of saved up vintage scraps, and a strong desire to create. ~ Another resolution is to complete an altered book for my daughter who graduated from HS this year. I have collected lots of things for this book, now it's time I finish it! I am going to alter this record book album. My inspiration for this is from Charlotte Lyons. You can check out her blog here. I think I will need some help/advice...Lilia? Yes, I must ask Lilia for ideas on organizing the book. That's on the list. ~ This year I also want to do something I've been putting off. Uploading and sharing some of my vintage photo collection with the collage images group on flickr. I am lazy about scanning, etc, but it's time to get these out of the drawer and share with others who have also shared their wonderful photos. ~ I also want to repaint, collage, alter, whatever this dresser that ended up in the garage when I did my room redo this year. I didn't get around to it, but everytime I pull in the garage I look at it and think that I want to do it! It really would be quite useful in my studio. Esp. for fabric that I will be using more of this year. So, I guess this is what I had on my mind in the past months. I hope to get to some or all of these this year. If I do, you know that YOU will be the first to know as I will post on my blog about whatever I'm workin' on. Now I'm off to pack for a quick trip, hope to post more soon and hear some of your resolutions! xxoo Lia

Looking back on 2006 and Goals for 2007

People are still here. I have not had time for art, no, wait, I don't believe in "not having time" for art...I really have not had energy to devote to some of my projects as we've been running about town, trying to fit in visits in and out of the house. My Mom is also back from my sisters and she requires Lots of attention, both needed and guilted. It's been so nice to have family home though, and parents (who are gettin older but fun to see interacting with the young one's). There's been lots of eating, (pass the chocolate)..watching movies, sleeping in, doorbells ringing and lots of shouting for those hard of hearing, BOTH young and old if you get my drift. Since I haven't been able to actually do alot of art (other than a few of the squares I've been using any down time to just organize and puruse through my growing paper supply, I also used "pajama" time to organize digital photo images I want to use in future work. I figure now is a good time to stock up, sort and inventory things I need so that that they are ready when I have time and energy to spread it all out and go to work in my own little creative world. So I guess I can say that if I'm not arting or crafting, I'm plotting my next art and/or craft project! Looking back on my digital library from this year I see how full the year truly was. I'm thankful for my husband and family. I know I can do anything with them by my side. I'm looking forward to 2007, we will have another graduation, more trips, I'm sure more trials, but I'm hopeful that things will all turn out well in the end as they did this year My blogging year has been a fabulous one! I loved participating in all the groups most, especially flickr. It was fun sharing friday finds, trying new techniques at Try it Tuesdays, Sharing, creating, posting, creating some more, meeting others, visiting fabulous blogs, seeing artists personalities & heart through their creations. I'm now working on a list of art goals for 2007. There are lots of things I want to try and skills I want to improve. What are your art goals and dreams for this coming year? My husband tells me that I make lists that are too long to accomplish. I make them long anyway. That's just how I do it. I figure I eventually get to some or all of something. Writing something down commits me to it, it also reminds me. I hope to share my list soon. In the meantime, here's my 1 x 1" square collection. Aren't they cute. Oh, for the love of the square! Hope you try to make some too in 2007. p.s. my husband told my mother in law, "lia makes squares", she looked at him like, what? I told her it was kind of a long story. Oh well, now I'm the wife who makes squares, but I'm happy, right! that's what's important! be back soon! ~Lia

trying out a new technique~

trying out a new technique~ (armchairgypsy's!)
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

oh me, oh my. I think I am addicted to this technique! more on that in a sec, but first I wanted to thank you all for your comments on the last post. It felt so good to get all my internal "art junk" out in the open. your comments really helped me see things in a new light, especially Lisa, she had many wise points that I will take to heart. She also made me laugh..."baseball mit...lol", if you have a chance, take a look at her comment in the previous post. I also coincidently read a reading from my tried and true Simple Abundance: A daybook of comfort and Joy, which said that we often (as women) tend to not count what we do everyday as opposed to what we don't do. In other words, we don't give ourselves credit for our accomplishment. the reading suggested keeping a list of what we get done to give us confidence. Looking back on this day alone I can see that I do discount alot of the things I do. I worked on art today but I also went and got my mom, took her to bank, brought her over to see my kids, picked up some things that my mom wanted me to mail to my cousin, packed up the box, mailed stuff at the post office, had coffee with a friend, asked my mom to make dinner (that was an easy part....lol), drove her back home, tidied up the dailies, picked up some cascade that I ran out of, put in two loads of laundry, folded my daughters laundry and put away in her basket, looked up tickets for my mom online to go to my sissy's, talked to my sis, my daughter in college, called and left a happy bday message for a friend, answered emails, left some comments, listened to my daughter when she wanted to give me a "presentation" of her report, took pictures of her pilgim project when she asked me so that she can show to her sis that comes tomorrow, sat with my son when he asked me too b/c his shoulder got injured and he wanted to asked me to check it, and tried out the new technique above! deep breath. ok, so there it is... Now, where was I? Ok, the technique: this is what I love about this technique. you can find it in somerset studios May/June 2006 issue. It's author is Jeannine Peregrine which I have become acquainted with online and think she is an awesome artist and very kind person.
2. I love vintage photos and painting them white in the background somehow softens there often harsh/serious tone.
3. I love that you can "invent' the background by sketching.
4. I love that I can practice my sketching again.
5. I haven't even embarked upon the collage aspect of this, the sky is the limit.
6. I am doing an atc swap for the AAO group and I'm glad that I am challenging myself to try something new.
Ok, so that is a long, long post. probably broke my blog record for long posts so I can add that to my list for today!
HUGS everyone and thanks for visiting me. I appreciate hearing from you. xxoo Lia

"The Graduate" collage on book cover by artjunkgrl

"The Graduate" collage on book cover by artjunkgrl, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I have had the idea to do "the graduate" theme with this vintage photo I recently acquired. I didn't have any flat canvas today, so I used a bookcover from a vintage book I got in the salvage pile of a thrift store. It worked as a great canvas. I liked working on this better than the stretched canvas. I'm still on the graduate theme...thinking of my daughter away at college. I love you Ria!

I will try to post what materials I used if people like and want to know. leave a comment if you do.

Ok, collage therapy time over and now I need to go get ready for kids coming home!!! xxoo Lia