PLAY

continued...

Commit...

I've been wanting to start a new art journal for some time now. I've done several over the years in fits and spurts. Not finishing any of them, but enjoy the process of beginning one and all the expectations that one has. Maybe that's the problem right there, I have too many expectations for my art journal, other than to just PLAY and experiment and have fun with it! Needless to say I've begun a new one and appropriately called it Artsy Mama. I hope to have it kind of like my blog, but in tangible, touchy feely form. Something I can get my hands dirty with and feel the textures of. I was super inspired by the journals of Roben-Marie Smith in the latest issue of Somerset Studios magazine. Loved her article too on fearless creating.So I began my cover. I used a picture of a carousel in a children's playground in Paris. I thought it was fitting, whimsy, quirky with a bit of a retro vibe to it.
Here's where the commitment comes in. Emily is going to be posting an art journal prompt each week on her blog and her first word is COMMIT. Showing up is half the battle! Another commitment I'd like to make that will probably prove to be very difficult, but hopefully will stretch me to try new things is to not buy any *new* art products this year (except adhesive). I can still go to my beloved estate sales or art scrap stores, but no more shiny new scrapbook paper or embellishments for me. I've been binging on scrapbook paper lately. The new line of Basic Grey two scoops paper. The gorgeous pads of K&Co. that are on clearance at Michael's. After reading an article in the local paper yesterday on the Compact, it really got me thinking. This is a pledge to go a year without buying anything new! Wow, that's pretty bold. I'm ready to take a smaller step with my art supplies. Wish me luck!
Here's just a playful page playing around with some paint techniques I've been learning in Emily's online class Got Paint? The picture is of me at Silver Bella in my bliss. The gorgeous postcard is by Heather Bullard of PresentPast. It was so much fun to paint on, sand off and stamp stars over.
One thing I love about keeping an art journal is using up some of the gorgeous little homemade tags and other goodies that I get in the mail. This wonderful sewn tag was a little thank you from Lilia for an order from her etsy shop. I love to highlight these bits of delight in my journals to truly appreciate them.
Best of all, Chloe gave her stamp of approval of my new endeavor:)

Winter pink...

It sounds like everyone is having fun getting started on their swap goodies for the Valentine's supplies swap. You all should have received your partners. I'm having a blast putting away the holiday decor and spreading happy, bright winter cheer all around my home. Here are a few bits of my world today...Some goodies displayed together from the 12 Days Swap. Donna made the Joy sign and bootie is from Tia. The ATC cards are from Marilyn.
This frame was also from the 12 Days Swap from Holly. I put a recent family picture in it.
I started gathering things together for my boxes for the swap I'm hosting. I had no idea how much pink/red/heart things I had!! There have been a few questions regarding box size. If you want to do a smaller box that is twice as tall and do two layers of cups, that is fine. Or bigger cups and put twice as much in the cups. You don't have to have exactly 20 cups. That is just a suggestion for approximately the amount of items that should be included. How you do that is up to you. Be creative!


Of course I had an estate sale run. I found this neat vintage postcard album that I'm going to use for the 365 Days project. So cool!
Also found this gorgeous apron with the most amazing colors. It reminds me of a May Basket. Just an FYI I will be mosting a May Basket swap again this year! I'm even thinking of maybe doing an Easter Basket swap as well. So for those that didn't get in the Valentine's Swap there's many more to come!Found this Wendy Addison wire basket on clearance at Home Goods. The perfect spot to display the amazing vintage millinery bouquet I got from Ulla.

My pink parasol came out of hiding.

I have this wonderfully whimsical cookbook on display in my kitchen with all my pink goodies. The photography in this book is incredibly inspiring, the recipes look delicious and the writing about the authors memories of childhood are delightful. Here's a wonderful interview with the author, Tessa Kiros.
Ali encourages each of us to pick a word for the coming year. She compiled all the words from her blog readers here. Pretty spectacular! My word for 2008 year is AUTHENTIC. In verything I do or create I take a moment to make sure I'm doing it with an *authentic* heart. It's been fun so far and I've already been challenged:) You'll be hearing lots more about this and what it means to me soon. If you had to pick a word, what would it be? I'd love to hear!

All the swap partner emails went out, except those that are also having their daughter/granddaughters invovled. I'm pairing those up now and the emails will go out tomorrow (Sat.). If you did not get an email with the swap details, check your spam folder.

I do not have email addresses for:

Nicole

Susan

Helen

Carol

Please email me at artsy_mama@hotmail.com ASAP!

Valentine's Swap now closed!

Hi gang! Wow, what an overwhelming response to the For the LOVE of Supplies Swap! Thanks so much for your interest and enthusiasm. The swap is now CLOSED!!! If you are one of the first 100 comments on this post, consider yourself in. Or if you have emailed me personally. I have to close it at 100 participants for obvious reasons. It's a lot of people to keep track of. I want to make sure this swap is a fun and positive experience for everybody. Feel free to use the swap button above on your blog. It was created by Sandy. Thank you!

I will be sending out emails to everyone in the swap this weekend with your partner and detailed information on the swap. I will also be starting a flickr group to share pictures, so you will get an invitation for that. Finally, two important things. If you are in the swap and outside the US please email me ASAP with what country you are in. That way I can properly pair you up with another international player or someone who will ship overseas. Also, if you expressed interest in having a daughter/granddaughter participate as well, please email me privately her age and name so that I can pair her up with someone appropriate. Email me at artsy_mama@hotmail.com

That's it for now. Have a great weekend!

For the LOVE of supplies swap!

Last year I made these fun Valentine supply boxes full of pink and red goodies for my etsy shop. This year I thought that some of you may be interested in getting in on the fun of putting something similar together, so I thought I'd host a swap! Swap button by Sandy. Thank you!

You can either buy a box full of chocolates (give them to your partner or keep them for yourself) or take a look at Michael's for the "naked" Martha Stewart Valentine's box that will be coming out soon and decorate that. I saw an ad for it, but my local store doesn't have it in yet. Either way you go, I would suggest a large size box. You will also want to get some small little cups to hold the goodies. The swap entails filling 20 mini cups full of bits of Valentine's crafty goodies. Each filled with a different item. For example one cup with a bit of lace, one with some ribbon, one with a few buttons, etc. You take the chocolates out of the box and re-fill the box with the cups of goodies. This could be ribbon, flowers, fabric, lace, embellishments, beads, buttons or anything else you may think of that your partner would enjoy. I will take sign-ups for this swap until Sunday, January 6th (or the first 100 participants, whatever comes first!) and items MUST be mailed by February 1st. That way people will have a bit of time to use some of their fabulous new supplies for Valentine's crafts. Please leave a comment on this post if you know that you can make the send out date and want to participate. Make sure your email is included. International players are welcome, but please let me know if you're outside the US or if you're willing to ship outside the US in your comment, so I can pair you up appropriately. There is also one participant that would like to have her daughters involved. If you have a daughter that would like to do this as well, let me know in your comment. I'm looking for 3 girls. Thanks!

Hope you'll all join in the fun!

THIS SWAP IS NOW CLOSED!!!

Artsy Sisters...

I'm still really enjoying spending lots of time with my sister and her family. We got down and got crafty the other night and each of us made a Family album with our holiday photos.
Here is my album and a peek inside...

Here's Laura's album with gorgeous blues. It was really fun to craft together and chat.
We hope to do some more creating tonight during our New Year's celebration.Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve!!!

A Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Laura!We're still in festive-mode here. Today my dear sister, Laura is having a birthday! It's wonderful that her birthday is near Christmas-time (although she hates that) so that we can spend her birthday together. This morning she opened gifts and then we all went out to lunch. Fun! I also wanted to show you the shirt I got from Joe for Christmas. It's from Gypsyville and I absolutely love it!

Merry Christmas!

A very merry Christmas to you! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday full of love and laughter, peace and gratitude. Thanks again for all of you that stop by my little corner of cyber space so frequently. Your sweetness and generosity mean so much. Our 12 Days of Christmas wrapped up today with my gift (below). I hope the girls like it:) The 11th Day was from Martha. She wrapped her gift in a lovely fabric pocket. That really was a gift in itself. Then when you open it up, she made these amazing fabric wrist cuff that you can see many more of here. I absolutely love mine and it will match everything. Thanks so much! Hope your holidays continue to be filled with fun and festivities!

Thrifty Christmas...

Do you think that the fact that Christmas Eve is tomorrow is going to stop me from indulging in a bit of estate sale bliss this morning? OR the fact that it is 10 degrees outside, blustery and very, very icy? Do you think any of that would stop my insatiable hunger for a thrifty bargain?! Of course not!:) My payoff was a bag full of fun treasures (above and below) all for a couple of dollars. We are really near the end of our 12 Days of Christmas swap. The lovely and talented Jeanne gave us all a double gift. She made these wonderful soldered ornaments for each of us with our blog banner on them. How totally cool and unique!
Then she went and gave us all another fab gift of this gorgeous handmade shadowbox ornament. Absolutely lovely. Double thanks, Jeanne!
Marilyn Healey was Day 10 of our 12 Days Swap and she gifted us all with these striking earrings. What a fun gift. THANKS Marilyn!Ta da! Our Christmas cookies are done for another year. This afternoon we got together with my parents, my sister and her family for our annual family sugar cookie making festivities!!! It's always a highlight:) Here is Chloe showing off her beauty.If you're looking for some last minute gift tages these and these by Camilla Engman are absolutely adorable!! Hope your holiday plans are going well:)

Handmade Holidays....

The handmade holiday gifts just keep on comin'....LOVE IT! Above are some gifts that the kids made for us in school. Just the wrapping is gift enough. Can't wait to see what's inside:)
This pocket of Joy was given to me by the fabulous Cassondra (aka Citrus Faire). It's for holding all kinds of Christmas goodies. I'm going to fill it with the art work the kids have been bringing home. Thanks so much, dear Cassondra! Bought this on etsy from Marmee Crafts for Lowell's new room:) Amazing work she does.

These neat fabric button necklaces are from The Magpie's Nest etsy shop.The 12 Days of Christmas swap continues. I am continually amazed at the gifts that I am recieving from this fabulous group of artists. In case you are wondering, I am day 12...Christmas Day! Donna Layton had day 7. She made the joy piece above. Everything about it is absolutely stellar. She is a stickler for details. Amazing work, Donna! Day 8 was by the hostess with the mostess Heather Bluhm. She sewed all these amazing fabrics and adorable image onto an apron. Brilliant and beautiful. Thanks, Heather!

Of course Chloe had to model it:)

Christmas is really getting close now. Hope all of you that are traveling have safe journeys. My sister and her family fly in from San Diego tomorrow for two weeks. I can't wait!!!!

Happy Holidays!