art junk girl

"follow your dreams" journal page

summer journal pages, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

"Go Confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."

Henry David Thoreau

p.s. I love this quote. My daughter, "Ria" gave me a card with this quote a few years ago in which she outlined how to "reach for my dreams". It hangs on my inspiration board.

Have a great day friends. xo lia

"Artist's" that *really* inspire me~

Every once in a while, I am asked where I get my inspiration. I would like to share this with all of you today. The long and the short of it is that I am inspired by memories of childhood and nostalgic images pertaining to that time. As far as tangible things (the here and now), I am inspired by both the simplest and most complicated. The good, the bad, the ugly. Sometimes I'm drawn to what is thought of as ugly, sad, unwanted, and in need of love. Sometimes I can see so much beauty in what at first glance may seem like something one would rather ignore.
I am often drawn to vivid color, delicious words, phrases, quotes, and humor. Sometimes it's a song I hear (or ensuing message), often it is something that an elderly person has twirled and weaved words about. A realization, a discovery in ordinary life and time. Oh, how I love to hear stories from elderly folks. Have you ever walked up to an elderly person, sitting, almost "comatose" like in their wheelchair, waiting for their guardian or child to come out from the store, or bathroom or what not? They look as if they are in a trance, but try to strike a conversation up with them and you will literally see them come alive and animated, almost like a puppet on a string. Their eyes will come alive and they will talk as long as you will sit and listen. First it will be about their beloved, and then the good part: their feelings, perceptions, wonderful words (free of political correctness, free of the 'fear of being judged', just honest, pure, real words). I remember when my mother was in nursing/rehab after her accident a few years ago. I will never forget how sad I felt to see elderly people pushed and pulled aside, hidden, and ignored. Sure a few "good men and women" were there for them, but most were abandoned in their room, writhing in pain, ignored and abandoned.
I don't know how I got off on this tangent, for I was going to speak of many artists whose work also inspires me a great deal...but I suppose I just did. Everyone is a creative being. Everyone has a light. Everyone has the power and ability to inspire. I am thankful to those who have inspired me. I am thankful that I have learned, especially from my late father, to find this inspiration in the most unpredictable places. After all, you cannot tell a book by it's cover, you gotta stick around long enough to see what lies inside.
xoxoxo lia

new collage, "night".

"A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great idea will keep you awake during the night."

~Marilyn Vos Savant

(image, of course, of the lovely Marilyn Monroe).

work table...works in progress

work table...work in progress, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Dear Friends~
Things have been a bit crazy here at home. I haven't had time to get out the paints, so I've been up late cutting paper! I plan to list some cards and such, most likely fall themed, etc. in my shop in the next week or so. It's been so long since I put anything there. BTW, I'm cutting circles now too, for magnets...after seeing this fantastic and fabulous tutorial over at one of my FAVE blogs, angry chicken.
Hope you are having a good weekend! xoxo lia

halloween swap prep begins...

halloween swap prep begins..., originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

made some postcards today with magazine paper. I needed some halloween color inspiration! I'm starting to put together my swap pkg. for Lilia's Vintage Halloween swap!

Items used:
-square puncher
-magazines/catalogs (I fold magazine paper, sometimes twice for a clean cut. Otherwise, it will get stuck on some thinner magazines).
-a piece of cardstock (sometimes I use the one's that fall out of the magazine to attach squares, then glue paper on other side with writing).
-gluestick.

Fun and easy way to whip up a postcard/invite or card!
more soon, xo lia