art junk girl

New Moleskine~

watercolor moleskine, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

I bought a watercolour moleskine to start out the year. It's a bit to big for me (I'm used to the smaller one's), but I'm filling up the pages with practice sketching and such. This year I've also started to actually 'write down' the first quote I see in a day. It's funny how you start doing something like this and you start seeing them everywhere! I didn't know there were quotes on the side of starbucks coffee, but there you go! This one is from a google quote gadget. I loved it. Have you started a new journal this year? Have a great day friends.
xo lia

True Colors~

Dear Friends,
Have I shared this with you? Sorry if it's a repeat...I haven't "advertised" that I have a youtube too much...but now you know...lol..anyway, I am doing major de-thugging at home, but will be back in the next few days with lots of pics.
xoxo lia
p.s. this is dedicated to my kids, esp. my son Rich. xo

Yes, I can ARt!

journaljunk, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

Dear Friends,
Thank you SO much for your kind words of encouragement in the last post. I was overwhelmed with your heartfelt insights and kind
encouragement. Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone in this journey. Thank you for understanding my bumps and bruises along the way. I am looking forward to what this new year will bring. I am happy to be sharing my progress and explorations with you this year. I hope you will share yours as well. Let's art it up in 2009! xoxo lia

Growing Pains...

Dear Friends~
I think I'm going through a "growing pain" phase. Yes, as much as I like to keep my art endeavors fun and fancy-free, I still hit a bump in the road from time to time. I go through that whole, "I'm not a real artist", "real artists would never take me seriously", "I should have gone to art school so I'd have a special skill/clue/knowledge", etc, etc.

Now, please understand that I am posting this here with the understanding that I know these are all lies/traps and part of growing. BUT, these feelings still find there way into my pea brain and subsequently reek havock on my creative process. It's like I go completely blank and forget how or what to do.

This usually happens when, 1) I'm going through a stressful time at home, 2) I take a break from creating, 3) I look at too many artist's work that are established, polished, lovely, etc. (The ones I want to be like when I grow up!)

Ok, so, yesterday, it occurred to me that I must be going through a growing pain again. Something inside is telling me to stretch. Lately I've been sketching and doing things in which I feel like I am a fish out of water. I painted on a collaged canvas, I sketched, I used a new journal to make character's in. I looked at all of it and thought, this is CRAP! And you know what? It is. But that is OK, because I am growing. I am learning. I am stretching. It's like exercising while being "out of shape". It takes time to built up stamina, skill, etc. You have to make lots of mistakes. You have to make ugly stuff to find what you like to make that is beautiful.

So. Today, I will show you the good, the bad, and the ugly. Then I will go back to square one and commit to getting out of my comfort zone at least as long as I can stand it.

This is where I'm at right now. I am just being totally honest with y'all. I look forward to where this stretch and emo-ego-centered diatribe will take me to. I must use it to grow and not to get down on myself. I know there is lots more art to be made and that I will never know where it's going to take me until I commit to exploring it. My plan right now is to "do it anyway".

Talk soon my friends. xo lia

more from my mini-book

Dear Friends~
I finally got a chance to work in my mini-book last night. Today I want to share some of the pages with you, as well as the inspiration behind it. I am excited about exploring book-making this year, ie. making my own blank books, journals. I've always been intrigued by them because of the possibilities. You can choose your own materials, theme, use up papers you have, etc.

Mini-book Crafts and Inspirational links~ (Proceed with caution...this may lead to hours of inspiration filled web browsing. If you have time, get a cup of tea, if not, don't forget to turn off the stove, or pick up your kids, or....don't say I didn't warn you!!)

1. The above Mini-Book was inspired by a tutorial by Tracie Lyn Huskamp that I saw in the fabulous book, The Creative Entrepreneur by Lisa Sonora Beam. I was also very inspired by seeing a plethora of lovely little hand made books by another amazing artist, Carol Parks, also in the book. She has different books for different projects she works on.
2. MaryAnn's Itty-Bitty Book's: My Bestest buddy MaryAnn started making what she calls,
"Itty-bitty" books last year after finding a small binding machine at a Thrift store. Soon after,The Itty-Bitty Book Club was born and itty-bitty maddness ensued! I've participated in a few of the books made and trust me, they are SO lovely and fun to do! Please check out MaryAnn's Blog here for more info and inspiration!

3. Just this morning I saw a Martha Stewart Craft of the day link about making a mini-felt book!

Ok,so, I think that's the skinny on the mini-books inspiration. Have a great week friends! xo lia