Journal post - 01/8/12

My journal isn't particularly "arty" I guess. But it records and that's all that really matters. Day three of the 365 Project Part Deux and of course so far it's been easy.



Going to the cake shop today...

Project 365

It has been a super long time since I took the last photo for my 365 Photography Project - the one where you take a photo every day. I stopped because my friends stopped. I stopped because I'm a homebody, and it's difficult to document a day where nothing at all happens.

Looking back at the photos, I wish I'd kept going. Those random terrible photos on those days I'd spent doing nothing actually did bring back some memories. Not so terrible after all.

But how do I shake off that annoying feeling at the end of the night when I'm tired and realize I haven't taken a photo yet? I'm pretty sure I have weeks worth of photos of random crap at night. Is it just another potential source of project burnout?

...

Apart from the Project 365 blog, I've been inspired by a few things today!

Papirmasse: This looks soooo cool! I kind of want to sign up some day. Receive a collection of art prints through the mail for $5 a month.

Instagram Photostrips: A (somewhat unnecessary) tutorial on how to make photobooth-esque strips from your digital photos! Of COURSE I should be combining images onto one photo. More bang for your buck! The internet sure has a way of making me wish I had one of those newfangled phone things. Fun games, useful apps, photos you can actually transfer to a computer...

Foam stamps without carving: You can make a stamp just by writing with a pen? Good grief. I wonder if I could use a styrofoam egg carton? I think I have one...

journal post - 01/04/12

It's hard to resist the temptation to make new year's resolutions. Truthfully, there is nothing fantastic about beginning a new year. Nothing has happened between December 31 and January 1st that will magically change our lives forever. So what is with this new energy and determination? I made a to-do list yesterday, a combination of easy steps and huge undertakings.

I am procrastinating on the dental and auto front.



Anyway, this year I have resolved to be more productive! I know I know, vague resolutions rarely see any success. I'm not going to bother guilting myself into getting physically fit, since I know myself pretty well. (read: FAIL) But I can resolve to do the things I've been putting off:

- Get wisdom teeth removed
- Book my driving exam (eep!)
- Join an arts council
- Get back into bookkeeping (also figure out whether or not I should register as an artist)
- Definitely submit a portfolio for reals and for the first time ever...
- Enter more juried shows if I can find em and they aren't expensive
- Say "yes" to opportunities

...and so forth.



I should probably add "be more social" to that list, instead of just hiding away from everyone. It's easy to throw up my hands in defeat when everyone I know seems to be leaving town! Which is the weirdest thing ever, by the way.

Winter Rose Journal

I did a lot of cleaning on Christmas day and found a forgotten piece of bookboard! I took that and the last of the Strathmore paper and made a journal today.



I don't really know what I'm going to do with this one. The cover is a bit wrinkly and some of the pages inside have small tears along the edges. I also got a few metallic splodges here and there. Strangely, I still like it. It has character I guess.

Poppies

Available Here.



The start of this new year brings with it a load of responsibilites. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has ever said "pffff - it's a holiday week, I'll do all that stuff next year". And wouldn't you know it, tomorrow arrives eventually.



My cookie caper that changed to easy street just changed to crazy challenge this weekend, so I'm starting off the year well.

Journal Post - 12/30/11 - Year in Review

The scrappy journal isn't too bad... just a little fussy. I finally found refills for my calligraphy pens so I'm excited about that (not that I do calligraphy or anything...). I filled an entire written journal with this pen!







This year went by soooo quickly! I filled three journals this year :/

January: Was such a dark month, I wasn't even writing down the correct year (with stamps even, geez). I finally got small prints made and was so impressed by their beauty. I still have some of those ones, sadly.

February: I learned how to play Minecraft, haha. It continues to steal my evenings!

March: Darkness continued for a long time, actually. I met Nolwenn downtown! I badly chopped all of my hair off after a bad day. Japan also had a very bad day. I watched every Suzi Blu video I could find.

April: I made a video! As it turns out, I'm not very good at them. I visited my parents which put me in a rather foul mood. The Receiving Project did nothing to help...

May: Someone threw me a birthday party! There wasn't anyone there hardly, but it was a nice gesture.

June: Arts2011 happened! It was nice having an actual painting in a gallery (rather than just trading cards). I will definitely do it again next year.

July: Our stupid cat got sick just before a camping trip. But I really took a liking to journal-making.

August: 400 cupcakes at work.

September: Finished my book for the sketchbook project!

October: Sent out my first newsletter! I've been enjoying it ever since.


November: Took a driving lesson

December: Crafty Affaire was so amazing and the extra etsy sales after that were nice too! It was sooo worth the trouble and fuss to go and do that.

I'm hoping to improve each year as it comes. I need a little more drive and determination next year. What are your resolutions?

Step by Step - Jewels 2

I suppose my painting pattern is:

Colour blocks and highlights
More and more shadows

I think you would do it backwards when using an opaque medium like oils and acrylics.









So sparkly things are pretty challenging I guess! I couldn't get a consistent grey because I'm using colours, but it's probably more interesting that way.