Magic

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 23rd is Magic!

Remembering a road trip up north to see the snow. Fresh snow was clinging in huge piles upon the branches. I grew up in snow country and have never seen anything like this. It was truly MAGIC!

I used a bit of sparkly Stickles and some puff fabric paint for the snow. 

Thanks to all who visit along this fun journey, with Kasia's Advent Calendar.
I will be back in January as I will be participating in Wanderlust for all of 2010. Check out all her classes here.

Follow Your Intuition

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 22nd is Follow your Intuition!

Well, I did just that. I started with a really pretty page with lovely origami papers and pastel paints. Then, I added some very pretty pink and blue flowers. I wish I had taken a photo at this point as it was really lovely. Then, I saw individual flowers and circled them in black. I noticed that they looked like eye glasses, so I went from there. The sentiment was added and I kept working on the page and it got unglier and uglier until I was ready to walk away. (Should have taken a picture of that too!) So, I grabbed some Gesso and thought I'd add just a touch when everything kind of melted away. So, I grabbed a baby wipe and found that the words had remained. And, that made me find the page I love.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gift

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 21st is Gift!

The storms of life have been dumping on me, but I do have the gift of an umbrella. As long as I don't let it flip inside out, I can weather all storms.

Thanks for your visit.

Sounds to Remember

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 18th is Sounds!

When my oldest was a child, I used to make him close his eyes and memorize all the sounds, smells, for future memories. I had read that prisoners of war that had these memories to hold on to survived where others could not. A place to escape. I've learned that one does not have to be a prisoner of war to need to escape to better times and better places.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tying Up Loose Ends

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 17th is Tying up Loose Ends!

Played with stencils and Distress Oxide sprays. Pulled out some pens and worked on the idea that came from the heavy string that I had glued down. Start from the beginning, follow the path that is laid out for you, deal with the bumps of life, and skid into a peaceful and satisfied end.

Enjoy your own journey as I have mine!

No One Is Watching - Or Listening

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 16th is What would you do if no one was watching?

I used to play the guitar for hours on end. I got a degree in in. I gave lessons. Then, my life exploded and it was gone. I couldn't bare to even look at it. If I could, I would love to recapture the joy and love I had for the way it made me feel. And, I would sing out all of my feelings like I used to. But only if no one was watching....or listening.

Thanks for your visit!

Where Are You

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 15th is Where Are You.

I'm where I always am...in front of my computer with piles of things to do on the screen, in my planner, on sticky notes and such. Since I can't seem to remember anything without prompts, I just have to live this way. And, since I just take on way too much, I really have to live this way!

Maybe I should just stop doing all these groups, classes, blog commitments, and such and just relax? No, never, unless I have given up.

At least I have my coffee :) 

Thanks for the visit. (I realize I can write whatever I want here since no one really ever visits, LOL!)

Light

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 15th is Light.

This prompt reminded me of a time when I asked my then 4 year old what he wanted to be when he grew up. He told me he wanted to be a light! When, confused I showed him the outdoor light and asked if that's what he meant, he told me that's exactly what he meant, LOL! But, he grew up to be a very creative and talented glass blower, so maybe he saw those glowing flames in his future.

Thanks for your visit!

Found Words

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 14th is Found Words.

I have done this before and quite forgotten about it. It is a super way to allow your inner thoughts to emerge. I went to Amazon books and picked one out quite randomly, The Seasons of the Storm by Sapkowski and French as the title appealed to me. I then opened up a page, again at random, and printed. It really says something I am feeling right now, dealing with some bad juju.

Thanks for the visit!

Just say "Yes"!

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 13th is Say Yes.

I really couldn't find anything to say yes to. I'm confident enough to say yes, but still reluctant to say no. So, I am going to say yes to saying no more often! I'm trying to back off of so many commitments. It just has gotten out of hand and I run out of time to do anything "fun"! So, no to all the requests of my time and efforts. No to all the "must do's". ......Well, maybe some :) 
Paints, stamps. Peel off letters, gel pen. Got a bit carried away with my Nuvo drops :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Moon Pull

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 13th is Full Moon.

I have a relationship with the moon. Sometimes I actually feel frightened by its hold on me. Interesting prompt to deal with.

The background is black gesso with Distress Oxides and white paint spatters. The self-portrait and journaling were done with a white gel pen, then gone over with grey Distress Oxides. The moon is bead gel.

Thanks for your visit!

The Smells of Christmas

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 12th is The Smells of Christmas.

Write Something That No One Else Will Read

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 10th is Write something that no one else will read!

This was a good one for me. I do keep a journal but sometimes I just don't write what I really feel since I know one day someone might read it and feel hurt. This allowed me to really vent. It felt good.

Thanks for stopping by!

Breathe

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 9th is Breathe!

 Perfect to remember as I rushed my hubby to the emergency room today. Kidney stones, poor thing. Not a good day. So, breathe!

Thanks for stopping by!

Do What You Want Now!

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 8th is Snowflake!

 I found the poem that Kasia mentioned so fitting. Life can rush through our fingers as we chase tomorrow.

I found an excuse to pull out my Memory Keepers typewriter and went hunting for a piece of textured paper and this snowflake paper almost jumped into my hand! I simply mimicked the pattern to complete the background. I didn't want to add additional text as I think this speaks for itself.

Nice of you to visit!

Tea Time

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 7th is Tea!

 One evening, one of my sons said quietly, "I wish we had a teapot to have tea together." This son never asked for anything, and just wishing to put a smile on his face, I dropped everything and he, his little brother, and I walked to the mall. I can still remember his excitement is seeing this particular small white tea pot and exclaiming that it was the one. I don't even remember making the tea, just the joy in his happiness in finding just the right pot for us to share with.

He probably doesn't even remember it, but it brought tears to my eyes when I saw the prompt and remembered this precious boy as a young child. I wanted nothing but to protect him from life.

Thanks for your visit!

White on White

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 6th is White on White!

White glass beads, paper tree and clouds, a bit of white string, some Nuvo glitter drops, a bit of Stabillo black pencil with water, and a sentiment.

Thanks for your visit!

Sticks and Stones

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 5th is to use things from our walk to add texture to our page!

I wasn't able to take a walk yesterday, but I did go out this morning into the yard and selected some items to play with. Then, I started to wonder if I couldn't find a way to actually add them to the page instead of using them for texturing tools. Out came some matt gel medium, which you can see is still drying (the white will be clear when it is dry).

 I have no idea if covering these things will preserve them, or if they will decay and fall off. Doesn't matter, it was fun to do.

One of the items is a small white stone. I was told these were "lucky" stones when I was a child and collected a huge pile of them and promptly became very ill. I have avoided them my whole life since. Here's to pushing my luck!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Visit From the Treat Fairy

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 4th is take a walk!

Easier said than done for some. Today just happens to be a day when the ravages of getting older hit and a walk was not possible. However, I do have all kinds of interesting things that I can see from my windows.

Hubby loves to feet the birds and I think they are sometimes amazed at the food appearing just when their bellies are empty! He always puts a few seeds on top of the wall and those seem more delicious than the ones scattered on the ground.

Thanks for stopping by!

Allow

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 3rd is Allow!

This troubled me for a bit as I have reached an age where I have "allowed" most of the things that may have been issues when I was young. The things that I probably should allow, I know I never will so why give myself permission to do things that I'll not follow through on. (For example, I allow myself to let my house get out of control! Ha, it may happen, but not because I allowed it!)

So, I thought long and hard about what seems to be an issue that I try to ignore. And, that is guilt over spending on myself. Each time I buy another craft item, the guilt hits. I go to the usual justifications. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't gamble, I don't get my nails done. I cut my own hair, I clean my own house, I do all the yardwork. But, do I need to justify it at all? I'm financially responsible, have saved enough for that nursing home in the future, have paid my bills on time since day one. I need to stop feeling guilty for doing for myself. Agreed?

I also "allowed" myself to add purple to my color mix. Why not, I'm allowed, LOL! The  letters are foam ones that I have had in my stash for years and years. The butterfly is a foam stamp that I found on clearance yesterday, and yes, felt guilty at spending money on something truly not needed :) 

Thanks for the visit!

Pollyanna Attitude

Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar for December 2nd is to recall a childhood fairy tale (or, in my case a book) that still speaks to you today and reread it.

When I was way past the time to be read to, my mom started reading me Pollyanna. It was so special as my mom worked and seldom had time for just me. Each night, she would curl up in her red plaid chair upstairs where it was warm, and read this magical book to me. I really took the idea of trying to find good in all things to heart. My mom must have know that life would be harsh and that this would help me get through. I have learned that no matter how hard life kicks you, you MUST get up and move forward. I am going to enjoy rereading this book that I purchased from Amazon free for my iPad/Kindle app.

Pocket Page for Postcard

Since the Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent Copper Plate Gold was on the "shopping" list, I played with adding it to different pages. Then, I pulled out my dip pen to write with it here.

Cover Completed

Tub With Supplies

The journal is made with the Sizzix Eileen Hull Travel Journal. 

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you'll join in on the fun if you haven't yet. I find myself spending a lot of hours on this as I am truly inspired.

December Postcard to Myself

I have neglected my art journals for way too long. Life has a way of filling in the hours. So, I have joined in with Everything Art for Kasia's Advent Calendar to get me back into the groove. I also signed up for a class, Wanderlust 2010,  to continue through the new year.

The first prompt is to create a postcard (mine is 5 1/2" x 3 1/2") with our wishes for December. I used some torn origami papers and finally broke into the old dictionary I had gotten at a Savers a long time ago for my base layer topped with gesso. Then, I played with some of the chosen paints and colors from my "use only these" tub. (We are to use a limited pallet and materials for this to keep selection easy.) I grabbed the sentiment words from Tim Holtz idea-ology Chitchat to match what I wrote on the back of my postcard.

I do love reading comments, so if you have the time I so appreciate it! See you tomorrow!