Leann's Imaginarium

2012-01-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

This is a book I created for the sketchbook project. It was rather ironic that the title I chose had very little personal meaning when I picked it last October. In August of 2011 I had a foot surgery that went terribly wrong. My big toe reacted to a topical antibiotic used in and on me before stitching me up. In the short of it my reaction was equivalent to a 3rd degree chemical burn. The necrosis went down to the bones. I have been fighting for the last five months to keep that toe alive and get the bone covered. I have been going through weekly skin graft therapy every Wednesday at the hospital. A few months into this I strummed up enough courage and energy to sit in bed and create. I stumbled upon a project I had set aside. The title "Stitches& Folds" could not have held more meaning for my present situation. Art works in mysterious ways. Art Saves my soul from the darkness it could be wallowing in at this moment. It gives me light to move forward in hopes of some day being able to walk and lead the active life I once had.
I hope you enjoy.
Leann

="226" />

out of touch

2011-12-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

I am currently on hiatus with an injury. I will certainly find time to post some pics in the next couple of weeks. I have been working and venting frustrations so lot's of new work to come.
Hope everyone has a happy holiday and a happy New Year!
-Leann

The Good fortune book!

2011-10-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to say the LaGrange Art League decided to return my "Good Fortune" book. I thought the book was going to be auctioned off for proceeds to go to the League. Many participants were concerned with letting their work go, so the League decided against the auction. It is a lovely book and I am so very proud of everyone who participated. I am additional grateful to have it back, because the book holds a lot of meaning to me.

When the unexpected get's in the way........

2011-09-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

SO, What's the reason I have been absent, you ask?.................

What a ride the last month and a half has been. I went in for a bunionectomy on Aug 3rd. My silly self thought all would go well, I guess because I am in good health and 37 years young. I wasn't even having reconstructive surgery....meaning no pins or screws...... No Hardware, as they call it.

I am currently a mess. I have had daily wound care for 45 days straight. I am now into day 48, and hope this will be the last chapter.

What we believe happened was an allergic reaction to the antibiotic used to flush the wound.

There wasn't Oxygen being fed to my toe, by day 5 necrosis started to set in. It has been awful. Daily debridement, soaking, cleansing, scrubbing. I have a hole in my toe the size of a quarter with exposed, bone. tendon and joint.

I had surgery on Friday September 16th. I got a "power wash" of a cleaning. A hefty debridement of tissue and bone, and a graft was placed in the wound- like a cupcake liner if you can imagine that. I now have to stay pretty in-active. Recovery time is estimated to be 12 weeks. There is a lot of throbbing, so I need to keep my leg elevated.

I started a new foot book - stay tuned for that. It will probably be loaded with emotion when It's done. So I am expecting that it will be an interesting piece. I believe it is visible to the onlooker when raw emotion is poured onto a piece of artwork. We'll have to see.

Thanks for checking in and all the nice thoughts.

~Leann

GOOD FORTUNE......

2011-07-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

Finally the good Fortune book is COMPLETE! This was an artist collaborative put on by the LaGrange Art League. The title of the project is "Make Your Mark". I am grateful for all the artists that contributed their work, and the enthusiasm everyone brought to this project. All artists are credited below. The only requirement for this project was to use a fortune from a cookie.

Enjoy.

The background of this project is very personal to me. My Dad was diagnosed in early April 2008 with terminal Pancreatic Cancer. One night in June that year we had Chinese food, as we always did on Fridays while growing up. At the end of the meal I asked my dad if he wanted a cookie? He was to tired and said "why don't you pick me a good one."

we all took fortunes, opened and ate them. We left two for my Dad. While cat napping I opened a cookie.......It was empty.

I opened the second cookie, it too was empty. When my Dad woke he asked "if it was a good one?"

I said "yes, you'll Have good health always." Which is actually the fortune I opened for myself.

He said "I sure hope so."

I always felt a bit guilty about fibbing. I KNOW it was a good fib......a loving fib. Guilt has gotten me non the less. That was the last time I ate Chinese food with my Dad. He passed in July 2008, after a 12 week fight.

So this book is for him, and all the others that need good fortune passed their way. May life, love, and wellness be with you today, tomorrow, and always.

Be kind.

Life is to short not to be.

Bursting with personality this book really turned out nice. Thanks for all the hard work.

All these pages were done by me. They are the beginning of the book. An artist statement and reason for this theme is in the envelope on the left. The right has hand made paper and a little three dimensional pop-up.

Table of contents and the year is written on the tag on the right.

This was a quick fill in page.
Jules Smith
Quick fill in by me.

This was created by me. I started it back in October and finished it last week. feels great to get this all done.

Embrace your feminine side.

I love the retro art.

By me.

I did this as well. Another quick simple fill in.
Carol McAdams

Cynthia powell. Don't miss the three dimensional paper pulp sculpture of a dragon fly in white.....

it is a nice touch.

Melissa d'Ouville
Tom Heie

Evey d'Ouville
Mary Hicks....

I did this as a fill in page.

Linda d'Ouville

Carol Sebian
Tawana....

Tawana

Trine Pettigrew

Tawana, and Loren Crane are the artists that created the next three pages.

I created this page.

This is the last page. There were quite a few left so I created a niche and out the tag wings, heart, and clock handle inside of it.
This is the back cover showing how t read the lines on a palm.

This little stinker was trying to get in my pics.

Steam Punk!

2011-07-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

So what is SteamPunk you ask??????

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.^[1] Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne.

This is a book created by my Local Round Robin. I came up with an idea to work on and finish an entire book in one month. A brand new Round Robin concept & experience for this group. Generally we all have our own books and pass books to each person each month. Then in 10 months you have a complete book. This time we did it a little different.

Since it was my idea we got to do my book first. I picked Steam Punk as my theme. All participants are thinking up their own themes. Some are interested in having a steam punk inspired book as well.

The idea for this book was a hand made book with removable pages. I used any type of cardboard I had in my recycling bin. Mostly cereal boxes, beer packs(as above) or Capri Sun boxes to create the book. I sanded off the logo, type, color, and print with a sanding block. I then gesso-ed the pages once they were cut to size. I then hole punched for my ring binding. Each page is a unique shape and has a unique edge. The F stands for front. So all the holes will line up in the end.

I then passed a page to each of the round robin participants and brought imagery, gears, embellishments and hardware to sift through. Each gal took what they wanted and used it as a jumping off point to start their pages. I thought this would be a nice way to a have a bit of cohesiveness in this book. We had one month to complete our page and at the following meeting my book was finished. We will complete 10 books over the next 10 months. Each participant thinking of their theme and book. Completing each one in one month. It is serendipitous (as this group always seems to be) that each of the pages color scheme flowed nicely into the next. Making it very easy to piece the book back together.

Here is the cover of the steam punk book. Layered with image and transparencies. I also used ribbon and frayed fabric to give it nice texture. There is a crow tag and some embellishments that dangle off the front. A black and orange heart, and the letter L out of a half sphere. The gears and pointed clock hands move to make it a little interactive.
Here is close up of the layers and gears on the front cover.
This is the back of the front cover. I used gear masks ( Tim Holtz) with a make up sponge. I sponged stayz-on over the mask and layered papers to give the page more movement. The images were a steam punk design that I reconstructed. I had the foil gear lace laying around and it added a bit of shimmer to this page. This is Carols front page. Black and white. Layered with image, stamps and metal. It works well following my page that was so dark.
This page is sprayed with shimmer spray to create the masked gears. The other ephemera was Steam punk designed. Carol added staples to the leg- boot to give the buckles more dimension.

This page was a small one. Measured only 4" x 4". Karen used sewing notions and an antique bra strap along the bottom in pink. Some images were steam punk designed others came from a sears catalog. Snaps, hook and eye closures give it some dimension and texture.
The backside of the little page is on the left. Showing the catalog page of the ladies in Summer Union Suits. The page on the right was produced by Carol M. I love the eye ball.
Such a lovely touch to put a person in the eye. I purchased the little metal gear pieces from Home depot. They come in a million sizes, shapes, and colors.
This is the full page with trimmed edges. I prepped the page with those edges so it would look more like a mechanical gear or something close. I like the edge giving you a preview of what is coming up next. I think the flying fish are fantastic!
This was the back side. This pink and brown stripe flowed nicely into Rhonda piece.
These pages are hand drawn by Rhonda. She virtually never layers collage as we all do. She is a very talented artist. These are balloons and blimps to go with the steam punk style.

This page was made by Amy. I like her color scheme. She also used antique sewing notions that she had from her mother and grandmother. This page flows nicely from the previous pink page into the moss green page. It was nice how this worked out.
This next page was done by Christy, it has a little pocket to put tags in. it adds nice dimension to the page. It's also fun to remove things from your pages and find little treasures tucked away.

I made the original page and cut outs on the edge. I used an exacto blade and eye-balled the shape Christy layered a moss green natural textured paper on top. Christy used images, sewing notions, doors, and tags on her page.

This brown page was made by Nancy. She is the queen of transfers. These are contact or packing tape transfers. The base of the page is natural color tissue paper. The transfers are layered on top to give the page nice depth.

Anything is a canvas

2011-04-18T14:06:00.001-07:00

I apologized to a very good friend for not getting their wedding gift out to them. We were unable to make it to their destination wedding and lacked mailing a check with the RSVP. Which I should always do because then I flake. I ran into the happy couple at a party and apologized profusely, said it was on my mind and I'd get it out to them. Very deviously my friend said he didn't mind....." especially if it was hand made.......???"

Hmmmm I thought. Well that's harder than writing a check. Being an altered artist I have always worked small. I decided to go big and see what came of it and I LOVE IT! The photo really doesn't do justice to the colors but you get the idea. They are much brighter and citrus -y

in person. At this party He had mentioned secretly that they had a honeymoon baby on the way. How exciting! The egg, #3, and and tiny miracles all reference that.

It was made from a piece of cardboard that came to me in shipping. The cardboard is about and inch thick. Two pieces with some paces between. I thought it would make a great light weight canvas.

The first photo you can see the gold

the second photo you can see the color better

the third is their fortune.

Thanks and leave a comment so I know you stopped in to check it out.

truth cards - fat book

2011-03-20T16:42:00.001-07:00

These are truth cards for a truth card exchange. They are being made into a 4x4 inch fat book. I am pretty excited to send them off. I did the front and back side to the 4x4 card, and added a tag. The front says "embrace the unexpected miracles". The back says "enjoy yourself, you are a wonderful being". The tag has a birds nest on it which say "you are safe within your nest" and has my artist info on the back. I think they're lovely and hope the recipients enjoy getting them.

little book of inspiration

2011-03-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I finally had some time to work on a few things that I have been putting off for a while. This little book I made is for a friend. She is a new altered addict. I made her this book as a bit of inspiration. I left a couple pages blank in the back and sent along some odds and ends to help her along with altering. She is a dear old friend that I have known for 20 years. I have found it very exciting to share my altered addiction with her.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks.

Took a bit of a Hiatus

2011-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hello SR sisters and other Blog friends,

I have been on a bit of a hiatus for the past couple months. I have been taking an on-line course through the Brave Girls Club. It is some what of an inner reflective course. I originally took the course because of the art, but have since realized it was so much more. It has helped me to be OK with my stay at home Mom status. I think I am enough. For now I need not search out anything to consume my time or space with.....my hands are full with two very spirited little ones. That is OK.

This is the hardest job I have ever had. Even though some days I'd love to walk, I try to see the blessings before me. Knowing that I am OK. That we are all OK. Everyone has a story. We all fall off our path at one time or another, having the courage to put those steps in motion to find ones path again and restore faith in oneself is a necessary thing to do every once in a while. A soul is never broken beyond repair. One just needs to spend some time restoring it. Taking the time to find the things that are right in front of us. knowing that we are all we can be, and it is OK for now. Time is always moving, things are always changing, we are only human and we are enough.

I had a rough go in 2008 and it has stunted me a bit. My father was diagnosed terminally ill the day before I birthed my second child. We were in the midst of a huge house remodel and living in it for the previous 9 months. My father passed away 12 weeks after his diagnosis. I also had some friends and family that let me down when I needed them most. My world crumbled below me. Still getting over all of it nearly two years later. I have forgiven but still have fences up. Still learning to be OK with my Dad taken from me so rapidly.

This course was an eye opener. I am worth it, and I am going to be OK anyway.

I have a series of truth cards, a book and time line posted here for your viewing. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks.

A series of truth cards. Most of these have been made with cereal boxes. Acrylic paint, sharpie poster paint pen, stamps, and ink. These make me happy. Love how quick they are to make.

This is my opening page & Soul House.

The yellow spread is my strong & weak self spread.

The pink spread is she did it anyway. Despite all the characteristics she can still move forward.

I still have week five, six, and seven to do. I got behind but will continue to get back on track.

This is the cover for my time line - My one precious life. I used a tree as my symbol for life. I thought it was a good representation as a time line. I used paint, card stock, cereal box, and vintage ephemera.

Project 52 Grand Finale! 2010

2010-12-31T11:03:00.001-08:00

Well doesn't this say it all!!!!

PROJECT 52 COMPLETE!

As crazy as this year has been I have still found time to meet my goal and to meet my obligation to myself.

I have found that

Setting this goal was a challenge. I actually did not know if I could see this through to the end. There were weeks I doubted myself. At that point I sucked it up.

Did a couple prompts that were easy and not as detailed, but still held meaning. Still got me through my week. Even if I couldn't spend a few hours on them. I hope you have enjoyed following this journey with me. I have enjoyed having you along for the ride. I might even have something in store for 2011.

Many Thanks,

Leann

In the beginning there were these daunting white pages,

in the end myy narrow Strathmore water color pages really made a nice book.

Solid paper for gluing, sanding, painting, writing etc.

This is the cover. I love this Suzy Homemaker holding up my project 52. I find it fitting. As we hold it all together on the outside. We all have frustrations, emotions, fears, and many other feelings of worth or less than that run through our veins daily. The crazy part is that they can change that fast, or from week to week. This is my version of me. What I saw, felt or was going through in this year of my life.

New Years is a reflection. I got engaged to the man I have been with for 17 years. In 2011 we will be married 10 years. We also had our first born on this particular evening. Arriving at 2:36 on New Years day. It is a huge day of reflection for me. A start, a beginning, and the path that falls below my feet and leads me on my way every day.

Many thanks for joining me and seeing this through to the end.

I appreciate all the support.

May 2011 bring good health, Happiness, and prosperity to you and yours.

This is the back cover.

Made of the same Strathmore water color paper I used for the entire book.

There was a crease in the page as a fold out but I decided I wanted a larger back cover. I reinforced the other side which you will see later in this post to make a solid back cover.

A little back ground on what this was to accomplish.

Prompt # 52

SUCCESS!

We all doubt ourselves from time to time. Thinking we are not strong enough to see something through to the end. Whether it be a class, a degree, a relationship,

a promise, an endeavor, a goal,

a life.

Seeing this project through to the end was an aw inspiring accomplishment. I am so very proud of this accomplishment. At times when I doubted myself - I found the courage to tell myself I can make time for this. I can show the good people of my art world that I can keep my word.

Much Success to you on your projects in the New Year!

The second page is the title page. This is a star with my info.....

and the dates of this project.

The 52 was a transfer from a Bloomi's catalog. In all honesty this was THE easiest transfer I have ever done. I used hot water and when I returned to do the rubbing - the back had already detached itself from the numbers. I did a hand drawing as I nearly always do on the floral shaped paper note card.

This is the third and fourth page. It is a CD envelope with 2 pieces inside. One is the history of this and making stuff. The other is in reference to My 52 weeks of prompts. I was unsure about where this project would lead. If even I would accomplish what I set out to do?

I made this page today. It is a beautiful thing to look back on good times and bad and see what came out of ones soul over the course of year. A great time for reflection. The beginning and the end.

These are Outside covers of the finished book. I Did a coptic stitch around ribbon. This was a last minute decision. The book became fatter towards the end with embellishments so I needed to rebind it and figure out covers. I used 2 of the same pages that were at the end of the book in an unused signature. I replaced them as the back and front cover.

Project 52

2010-12-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

WEEK #51

Endurance -

We all need a little extra to endure the Holidays. It's like a Marathon around here. That is what I get for having a new Years day baby. We are about mid way through all of our Holiday festivities and birthday stuff.

For page 51- I started with a base of yellow water color. Then I journaled about the necessity of endurance in black gel pen, orange, and sparkly green. I do love my gel pens. I added a bird and two tags. I added a little blue butterfly from my plethora of images to the small tag. The larger tag is a bingo card that was cut down with pinking scissors. I used marker to color in the tag so the 51 stood out. I added ribbon to my tags but decided not to attach permanently. I have a paper clip hold the tags in place.

Stay tuned for #52 - coming in the next week. I am in hopes of having the covers done as well....

Thanks for stopping in & Hope you had Happy Holidays!

Cheers

Project 52

2010-12-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Week 49-

Patience , it seems so hard some times to find it?

How does one lengthen their wick?

week 50- Be nice to yourself.

Sometimes it is so hard to do. We beat ourselves up over so much. When ironically if you put someone else in the same situation you would actually have compassion for that person. Perhaps you'd tell that person not to worry, it's just a phase. We just always seem so critical of ourselves to do everything right. Tod o it faster and better and be happy about it. Just a reminder as we are nearing the New Year.

Project 52

2010-11-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

This is the boarder that I have broken down and photographed piece by piece.

Follow along below to build a boarder. Intermix any colors you like and change up your shapes once you get the hang of it.

This is a photo of the beginning. Just simple dots around the boarder with a Dottariffic marker. It has two size tips which helps to make many different size dots. This is one of my favorite products for polka dotting.

next I outlined each dot with a tear drop of brown ink. I then outlined the dots with a ring of red and black as well.

Basic brown tear drop shapes around the red dots. I then linked them together around the boarder.

In the next picture (sorry about the quality) I added faint diamonds between all the tear drops with a black gel pen.

This image is using an red marker to color in the diamond shapes and make stripes. In the open space I added the blue stripes and outlined the curvy edge.

I then added a double loop adjoining the edge of the diamond to the edge of the tear drop, and added blue lines to it.

here is a close up of my shapes. I added a blue to the mix coloring in basic shapes.

final touches.

outlining the boarder with a white pen.

Adding my prayer banner style with the "Let Go" letters. Also adding a bit of color to the background of each letter flag.

Project 52

2010-11-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

Oh have I been a busy bird!

Nov 19th I hosted an artisan party with 7 vendors. The turn out was better than expected...... 60 girls showed up - Dang! a great time was had by all.

Then less than 7 days later We hosted 28 for Thanksgiving. The 99" island sure did come in handy for our buffet. I have still managed to keep up with my project 52 in the process.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I am so very Thankful for my family, friends, and my art community. Without all the help, love, and support none would be worth while. That's me in the front smiling at the camera. So happy everything is out and servin' it up with everything cooked to perfection.

#45Anticipation took center stage.

I wrote a bunch of stuff on the stage in light blue with cryptic handwriting - Pretty much illegible, and I'm OK with that.

Holidays. Some really have issues with Holidays. Even the thought of them brings on such anxiety it is unbearable for some. Be brave and be a delight to those around you. You are amazing and should be shared, cared for and loved.

#46

Age is just a number. you are only as old as you feel. I started a work out regimen in August. I have lost 11 pounds to date and feel great. It takes motivation everyday but seeing results is a great thing. I don't have a goal in mind or size. I just wanted something to do for me everyday. It makes me feel good. It wasn't my birthday and I'm not 46. The prompt just came to me out of the blue.

#47 Flourish

I love the look of flourishes - wispy and elegant. It's also a metaphor for finding ones way. Growing out of the old and into the new in reference to the year.

Here is the book open with pages exposed. I am happy how it is developing into it's own entity. It is interesting how once it is finished it will be a blip in time. A whole year of my life sectioned into 52 weeks of events that made me ponder a thought.....a moment......an event.....a feeling.....an emotion. It has been an interesting project and it's strange to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Here is the next page at it's start. I thought it would be good to do a doodle page and show start to finish. This is the very beginning. I Placed my number in the corner with a marker. I always choose a different spot to put the number. that way there is always movement on the page from the previous page. The base is water color of lavender and pink.

Project 52 (40-43)

2010-11-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Project 52

# 40 Burden - all the things that burden us. We all have lists. It is part of life, write it away and be done with it.

#41 A cross road - We have all been in a place in which we had to make hard decisions. Sometimes we feel the the repercussions of it for a while after making one. Self doubt or our own unsureness can enter into our minds and then the what if's start popping up. This post is about knowing yourself. In your heart of hearts you know what is best for your being. Hard choices are a part of path and our personal journey. Embrace them.

#42 Random - I highlighted color that was already on the page. When I did this it looked random to me. Like two individuals colliding and sparking a bond. We float like ameba's in this world colliding with others throughout our lifetime. I love the randomness of it all.

#43 Branch out - on these limbs are little encouraging thoughts. How to move forward when something has rocked your world. Like a tree you start off not knowing exactly where you'll end up. You just continue to grow. As you grow taller and the more sturdy your branches become the deeper your roots grow. The foundation of your being is where you are planted. Like any tree if a big storm comes through it may rip your roots apart and you may tumble. The great thing about this is the ability to start over. The little seed you plant that begins to create a new foundation for one to grow upon.

project 52 -week 27-39

2010-09-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

finally caught up and one week ahead actually!

I did a midsection of four fold outs in very simple hand drawn fonts. I like the way they turned out, but it caught me up as well.

27. Breathe

28. may your wings take you where you need to go

29. the eye is a window into ones soul

30. Laughter heals

31. Balance your world in the palm of your hand (sorry it's a bit blury)

32. Do you have a seed to sew?

33. Strength

34. Energy

35. Peace

36. Joy

37. Live simple

38. Tru Love

39. Trust

a window into the green eye

2010-09-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Or something like that!

I have an on going project as it always seems that I do. This particular group meets once a month. Last year we did a typical Round Robin. This time around we have chosen to keep our own books and a different person hosts a prompt each month. At first I thought it was going to be verbal or written - much to my liking we decided to use image. This way all 10 of us get the same image and we meet the following month to see what has been done with them. It has been an interesting project with some serendipitous moments. Sometimes a few of us come up with similar ideas. other times it is incredible how many ideas have come from the same image. here is a look into mine. I have green eyes so I put one of the prompts in the window as you might be seeing through my eyes. I have yet to title the book but was thinking along those lines.

the first prompt we decided we would all bring an item. we all had the same 10 items to work with. I used these eyeball party glasses for the cover.

I did the opposite side covered in yellow pages eye and optometry listings.
I did the magic pineapple page, because i just didn't know what else to do with the pineapple.

Tiki drink umbrellas, Garden sculpture, Fairies, music sheets, and paper dolls have been host to the theme. it is hard to make the book cohesive because of all the different things that come to mind from the prompts, but I like how it is coming out none the less.

Next months prompt was mine.

I still have yet to complete it. I used sticky note flags in different colors and a paper petal envelope. i'll post once that's done.

As for project 52 - still on it's way....Just finished up a few spreads and have yet to take pictures and post. that seems to be my biggest challenge.

taking the photos and uploading. I really dread that part.

Thanks for stopping in.

Stats! How cool.

2010-09-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe another month has nearly passed. Trying to find the inspiration......I guess I am in a funk. My world has gone gray or something? Well I was browsing through blog spot and realized they changed the format a bit. They added a stats header....How cool is that!?

I checked it out and it gives you stats about who viewed your page. No names or personal info - just which countries and what time of day some one came in and took a peek. I have been on a bit of a hiatus because of having the kids home. Starting tomorrow I will actually have 4.5 hrs free a week. How exciting! I plan to try and get some work done in that time and post some new pics.

Thanks for checking in.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I do appreciate constructive criticism.

-Leann

A new project

2010-08-17T10:08:00.001-07:00

A new endeavor. This is a project that I am doing in collaboration with many other artists. The Brooklyn Library is hosting and looks pretty cool. The sketchbooks are going to hit different cities on tour so check out if they'll be near you at http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

I am hoping to make the tour stop in Chicago. How exciting!

Project 52

2010-08-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

Here are weeks 12, 13, 14, &15.

Prompts:

A little giggle is good for the soul.

Fishtailing out of control.

Live in the direction of your rays.

Spin.

I feel Spin needs a bit more umf! Needs to have some pop or shine, glitz, and some journaling. My apologies for some blurry images. My camera is going a bit wonky....some are crystal clear others are blurred. I took them all at the same time, same exposure, and same place. So not quite sure why the fickleness? Perhaps I have different objects on the page that appear smaller or larger, closer or farther ....and it's having an issue focusing them. That's my best guess.

More from Project 52

2010-08-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

More prompts:

Ribbons

Did you have a lifeline?

What makes you bloom?

Move along.

Summer fun!

Most of these prompts were done with tape, markers, sharpie paint pens, Gel pens, stamps and ephemera. All paper is water color with an initial water base of multi color to start. I am enjoying watching this project come together. The book is getting rather bulky but that is the wonder of watching the project develop. I never quite know what inspiration will come out of each prompt or image. I have a number of word prompts written down to give me the ease of plugging along at this project.

Thanks so very much for stopping in and continuing with me on this journey. Much appreciation for your patience if you have been following this project from the get go.

The following two posts are also new so check them out and let me know what you think of my altered items.

Enjoy!

new work

2010-08-09T14:52:00.001-07:00

Gosh it's been a while.

Finding the time in the summer is super difficult to sit inside and work on the computer. When I took on project 52 as a way to make me blog....I had no idea how much life would get in the way. I am still working - just finding it hard to take pics(because the camera was lost for so long) as well as blog. In the process of catch up. I am about 4 entries behind in Project 52. Not to hard to blast that out considering the pages are all different dimensions and are inspiring.

My prompts were:

Hanging by a Thread

What color is hard to work with your magic?

Home

What color is you Aura?

Bingo!

Summer fun!

2010-07-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

I am back from my Brief Summer hiatus. My little Man hid the camera on me. I assumed it would eventually turn up but didn't. I finally sucked it up and bought a new one and sure enough the other original one we had turned up in the basement in a cooler no less? Bizarre how things get moved around and show up in the most unlikely places.

Needless to say I have a back log of work to post so I am starting with a piece that I really enjoyed creating. I love pushing the envelope.....a pun there is totally intended.

Here is a piece that is in progress. It is a fold out book made of envelopes. It was constructed by overlapping the adhesive flaps so it could fold out into many little pockets. It is a treasure to discover all the goodies as it is unfolded.

I still have to do the covers, back and some sort of latch.
Hope you enjoy!

Hi

Altered books

2010-04-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

These 2 books I have been working on are for a round robin we are just finishing up. it has been in process for 10 months and has been a wonderful experience. A couple people had to bow out because of family stuff, but I guess that is to be expected. Nobody knows what twists will turn in ones life over a 10 month period. This round robin was a mailer. 10 gals in 10 different states. they were all wonderful to work with. I have my book that I will eventually shoot pics of and post, but no time now.

One of the books is titled "altered intuitions".

I used a lot of color and flowers to represent the motion that goes on in ones head when something is unsettling. My message was that time heals everything. Lead with your heart, listen to your mind and believe in what the soul knows.

The second spread is for "Music to my ears"

I did the sound of Spring chirping in the trees.

Love that!

So happy that Spring has arrived!!!!

Enjoy,

Leann

PS- stay posted, I am still working on project 52, the nice weather has slowed down my downloading. The work is done. The pics have yet to be posted.

Spring in my step!

2010-03-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Well Bloggers! Spring is beginning to pop here close to Chi-town and I have become a slacker! I am fully aware of it! I have been working - just not spending the extra hours blogging about my progress. Still check in here and there. Project 52 is still a go.....I am just finding with a 5 yr old and 2 yr old "part Monkey" of a boy I can't get as much done.

When they want out- we go out. That is a done deal.

Here is a pic of the two that take me away from my blogging chores. These two devious little characters have been puddle jumping, mud slinging, hiking, singing, bike riding, Hula hooping and
and just plainly enjoying their youth, and the beginning of the 4 months that we will have nice here in the Midwest.

Here are the other pieces I have been working on. This pic is a shrine of Frida. I love Frida. This was a spread I did for a round robin I am in. This book is entitled Interesting woman, with a thread of purple. this is what i came up with.

the wings are scrapbook paper with beaded gel medium over the top and colored pencil to give it texture. I used gold stickles to outline the wings.

i used embroidery floss to make the tag the wings are holding. i used super tacky tape and then embossed over the top to give it a leathery look. Same with the doors, with the exception that i used blue embossing powder instead of brown.

I used buttons for the doors and a lovely piece of purple paper that Dawn sent me in her unloading.

The next two spreads are project 52 - #10 & #11

#10 - is a huge clock. I masked off the area and used a sponge to apply the ink. It gave it a washed look. I wrote over the top what time means to me. This was a rushed spread. "Not a lot of time" should have been my theme. ;-)

#11 - is top secret. Everyone has a secret they hold near and dear. Those things you could never tell a soul. Like those Leopard print shoes really make your blood pump, or you are really prod of yourself.....or how about the crush you have on the UPS guy.....you know those little secrets you never do a thing about. You just feel special knowing that they are there and they are yours, and your only. Well this spread is top secret. Let yourself know a little something that you sometimes forget. Give yourself a little love that nobody else has to know about.

that's all for now. It's 61 today so I need to go outside and play.

Thanks for stopping bye,

Leann

Project 52 - weeks 8 & 9

2010-03-03T04:50:00.001-08:00

Week 8 - Hide & seek

What have you created to hide behind?

Your Hair?

Your shades?

your body?

Your body art?

Your skinny?

Your weight?

your muscle?

your mouth?

your emotion?

your suit?

Your scars?

Some times people create barriers so people can't get in. This is a way of protecting ourselves, completely unaware that we create these exteriors. We are also unaware that if we seek the truth, we would find this out.

If you come out of hiding and seek the truth would it open a door you have been waiting on......

I did a bunch of inchies with Red acrylic spread over them so they look like film strips - They remind me of a Dark room with red light on.

Week 9 features nine lives.

If you had nine lives which number would you be on?

How much time would you have left in this one?

For me this one has just started. I am probably on my 4th.

I don't necessarily think one has to have a near death experience to move through one of their lives. I believe that it is all experience. Some life altering thing must happen to have you move on to the next.

It's all about new beginnings. if you were given 9 which one would you be on?

I created this image starting with the water colored base.

I then added some acrylic shine medium and a smaller piece of Japanese rice paper. On top of that I added green acrylic paint dots. I did this by using a piece of card stock with holes in it. I pushed the green acrylic paint through the holes with a putty knife.

I then added the hour glass image. I cut that out of a magazine and painted the glass black.

Added the white sand falling through the hour glass with white gel pen.

I liked how it turned out.

Hope you enjoy it.

Project 52 - week #7

2010-02-22T08:06:00.000-08:00

Project52 week #7

This weeks prompt is:

If you had wings, Where would your wings take you?

Another time, Another place?

Future, past, present, location?

To see some one who has passed on, to see some one who has not yet arrived?

I jotted all my journaling under the prompt to conceal it a bit. Most all of it has to do with seeing my father one last time. this week has been hard? Not quite sure why? he has been gone now 19 months but just seems so strange to me. My brain says let it all go in a logical way, but my heart just holds on. My wings would take me to a place where I could hear his voice one last time. I could see his smile and hear him laugh at his own joke. Hear how he used to close the door and jingle his keys. those little sounds i heard for 34 years of my life are priceless to me.

The tag is cut in half and reads only half of the saying Lucky No. seven.

Having wings for a day would be lucky, but the half tag represents Half that created me being gone. On the back of the tag wings is written over a personal message of my loss.

I miss him dearly and this was what this prompt was about for me. If I could, I'd borrow some angels wings just for a moment I would transport myself to him.

I will do prompt 8 over the red and Black on the right side of the spread. the right set of wings will be incorporated into that.

This next spread is one I did for the Round Robin I am in. This was for an alphabet book. I did the letter L, and Valentin's day gave me some inspiration. Love, Live, Laugh, learn. All very important elements to get me through day to day.

Project 52 - week #6

2010-02-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's day! This weeks prompt has to do with the Game of Love. It is a spinner love game with six positions.....representing the 6th week.

Although I am lucky in love, some are not as fortunate. I have a few wonderful girlfriends that claim they might have "broken pickers". This weeks prompt is for them.

The Game of Love:

#1 : Tru Love

#2 : Happily ever after

#3 : Forever chasing Love

#4 : Love is Alien to me ( like the alien love God?)

#5 : Brief Passionate love

#6 : Love is a 4 letter word

When my Husband played he spun "Love is alien to me" Totally not fitting for him, but we had a good laugh. He really liked the quality of my spinner.

I felt I could run the risk of a non traditional Valentine in my own book.

I am doing a more traditional Valentine for the letter "L" in an alphabet book for a round robin.

I'll post that when it is finished. That needs to be in the mail Monday so I gotta get crackin'.

Have a wonderful Week!

Project 52 - week #5

2010-02-06T09:54:00.000-08:00

It would make sense that my daughter Evey (our New Years Eve-Y) would insist on being in this post. She felt she needed to represent because this weeks number is 5. She turned 5 on January 1st this year. She thinks my art work is AMAZING, and clearly my biggest fan. She gives me the courage to do what I do best. She is also learning many skills at a very early age which I think is wonderful. She often tells me that Preschool art is so boring. We have way better supplies at home!

Enough about my little munchkin.............

This weeks entry

is a play on last weeks "CATCH".

This week is

Release........and grow where you are planted.

I used paint markers, sharpies, fabric, vintage ribbon, brads, eye lits, Safety pin, note cards, book pages, ink and stamps.

The middle section is a match book style card, which I concealed small tags inside. They read Interior peace of mind. The colors and textures are made of ink, masks, and stamps they create nice layers.

The clock on the front side of the match book - which is actually the backside is representative of the time it takes for change. For some it is so very easy.....for others it takes years to let things go. Once one comes to an agreement with themselves acknowledging that letting something go, actually makes room for something else to come your way.......... It's all in a matter of time.

Person, Place or thing.....we all have skins we can shed.

The button brads and pins are holding the back card in place. there is a vintage ribbon holding together the matchbook, a vintage pin with the word findings etched into it hold the round tag with bird feet to the ribbon bow.

Project 52 - week #4

2010-01-31T12:47:00.000-08:00

This weeks prompt is catch!

At times we are caged birds hanging in the midst of something. We need to acknowledge that we need not be these domesticated birds that are all caught up. Instead why don't we give ourselves the chance to take flight.

On the right side written in blue very small.......it reads " Find what you get caught up in......"

The tree is layered ink, gel pen, marker and sharpies.

The bird cages are a really cool vellum that i had located that is transparent. I love that they are hot pink.

The 4 birds are representative of my immediate loves. the three other caged birds I live with.

have fun.

Project 52 - Week # 3

2010-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

Week Three and getting my Groove on!

Be your biggest cheerleader and find some spirit to scream about.

SPIRIT....Where to find it?

Your breath, your being......Looking for it, feeling it, and finding it? Where do we start? So many of us don't even notice it is missing?

So many of us get lost in the thick of it..........IT, WHAT IS " IT "?

" IT "- I have figured out is only time. Although it feels at if it never stands still and we have a ton of it. That is not particularly true. At some point our time will be up, being present in the "NOW" is what will get us through. Finding yourself and your being is where we'll find the strength.

So in this, find your Spirit, The Soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides.

You will soar.

Project 52 - 2nd spread

2010-01-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

Page # 2-

This prompt is labeled MOTION.

Much needed in everyones life not to just stand still or stagnate. Motion is needed in everything. The Earth never stops spinning, water constantly has a current. Unless there is no life force in the being there is constant motion. In this I have decided......

Motion, Movement, Momentum.....they are all much needed for me to fulfill this project. Week two in color.

The writing is a bit doodled over but reads -

" What is Today Will Not Be Tomorrow."

Meaning- Success is only granted by those that are seekers.

One must move towards it's goal, for the goal will not fall into ones lap otherwise.

Round Robin page

2010-01-15T07:15:00.001-08:00

Here is a spread I did for a "Nature"book that is part of a national Round Robin that I have compiled through my yahoo groups. It is a really interesting project. 8 gals total. Each in a different state....we mail book once a month. There is a separate blog for that if interested.

http://www.littlebrownrobin.blogspot.com

(lets see if that link works....I am so bad at that!)

(Totally computer challenged I tell ya!)

Love the way it turned out.

The flowers are .....

1. Base is a rub on.

2. Second and third layer is book pages cut out with deckle scissors and edged with ink. I also crinkled the pages into tiny balls first. Then re-flattened them out to create the 3D effect.

3. Fourth layer is buttons.

Fifth layer is little jewels
4. I drew in the stems with my favorite fine line plum sharpie.

The butterfly is 3D.

1. First layer I cut out and glued down.

2. Second layer I cut out and only glued down the body and lifted the wings.

Background is ink rubbed on straight from the pad.

Project 52

2010-01-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

Project 52 is getting some color.

Here is my mission statement for the project.

All too often we walk through life with out being present. In 2010 I am making an effort to merge my art with my being. To find purpose and feeling in life and in all that I do.

I started this piece after I centered myself. I spent a half hour of me time doing yoga and finding my light, I then took ten minutes of meditation to just be, I then started doodling. This is a piece that honors the paisley. I love all things pink and gravitate to jewel tones. I also find anything Indonesian inspiring. My work varies as you can see in past posts, just having fun enjoying the process.

I am not necessarily a religious person, but this year I vow to be more spiritual. Find my spirit and let it sing, fine tune my being and listen to my body and mind. We all shut ourselves off to us. We are to busy.....work, family, kids. This year I am limiting my unnecessary obligations in life and giving the extra time where I need it most.

My opening page to project 52 is a mission statement tucked into an envelope to remind me what the object of this all is.

My doodle is plum fine line sharpie. I highlighted the doodles in a turquoise blue pen.

My statement is "Live today with a purpose". A reminder to walk through it with strength and dedication so nothing passes me by.

Hopefully you will find this project inspiring and join me in making "Me" time for yourself as well. Sit, ponder and enjoy dwelling on the fine things in life while centering your energy and creating an opening in your mind, alter, paint, or journal from your light.

If not for hours on end.....make ten minutes a week. You will be all the more empowered from it.

Enjoy,

Leann

2010-01-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Project Fifty-two is well on it's way.

Here is a photo of the paper I used. I have yet to construct the book by sewing it all together but that will be my next goal. This project is to devote time to create one section of this book each week. The first couple prompts are constructing the book itself.

Here is the paper in it's folding stage. This was long narrow Strathmore watercolor paper. I folded each piece in a different way so there are small and large pages, and there are pieces that fold in and out. Making for an interesting book to start. There are no rules. Just a little me time to focus on centering myself through my work on a weekly basis.

Please join me in doing the prompts and work, or just check in on my progress and let me know what you think. Thanks.

Project Fifty-two

2010-01-11T06:10:00.001-08:00

Here is the paper folded ready for binding. I used water color in yellow, peach, violet, and green. The colors are vibrant and citrus-y just the way I like them. I left some of the perforated edges because I liked the unrefined look of it.

Project Fifty-two - New Beginnings!

2010-01-05T06:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Wow, 2010!

What does it have in store for us all?

I believe a New decade deserves new intentions. Over the Christmas break I watched Julie and Julia. I found it inspirational to set out on a quest to accomplish something so grand.

My recipe for life is art at this point. In the midst of raising very small children, I cannot take on an immense undertaking as a daily project would have on my time, but I decided a weekly project and prompt was just the thing.

So on my new and enlightening path in 2010, I bring you.......

PROJECT: Fifty-Two

Weekly journaling and altered pages with a purpose to come every Sunday. Please feel free to join in on the prompts and leave me feed back. I thought this would be an interesting mission if I could get some people to join me. The great thing is it is absolutely free!

Week 1 - Mission statement.

LOTS OF NEW PICTURES!!

2009-11-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks for visiting! I have much work that needed posting. I am involved in a couple projects, here is a brief description.

The yellow book - bee hive - a play on words.

The mexico book - Frida & Day of the dead

The Red book - Hand pocket, and zetangle in reds & pink

Simple pleasures book - Dancing
Stenographers book- Coffee break and juke box

Fairy tale book - Go ask Alice

Just amazing!

2009-10-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

I found this link on a website - these are seriously amazing!
Huge wooden Marionette's to honor the 20Th anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down.
Check them out, they are inspiring.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/10/theberlinreunion.html

Where has the summer gone?

2009-08-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well Hi all.....who knows if anyone even stops in anymore. I have had some issues with making an allotted amount of time to get this written. I have been busy with a round robin that I am currently in, and i have now decided to start up a new one.

The new Round Robin is a group of people whom I have contacted through the yahoo groups that I am involved in. How fun can't wait to start it up....Mid September.

I have forgotten to take photos of the Round Robin I am currently in. I'll have to do that next month. I did an Alice in Wonderland that I had worked on for so long it didn't pop in my eyes any more. BUT, when the ladies saw it......I got many ooh and ahhhhs. So I guess it didn't lose it's impact. I just stared at it for too long.

Soul Journal pages

2009-04-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

The title of these 2 pages are - permission slip and lost and found pages. Behind the tags I wrote what I had lost and what I found in the process. I posted these to the soul journal site.

These are black and white doodles. I find these to be cathartic. I get into the zone and work it from start to finish. Sometimes they take me a couple hours to create. Providing me with some relaxing me time.

This is ink and gold paint pen, with red shimmer paint pen on top.

My mendala....made with colored pencils.

This was song of the year - by ColdPlay. It holds much signifigance for me. Sometimes I think My Dad speaks to me through music. This song has played in the most interesting of situations. I new it would win song of the year....for some odd reason. I guess It just had to, because it went through so much with me.

I used a really funky rainbow pencil that I bought for my daughter to create the colorful mix of letters.

This is my defining words page. I have many defining words.

This was a page I was just playing with. A reflection of where I am today.

This is my release and receive page. Like my lost and found, I needed to release to receive. It is very cathartic to expell some emotion into the pages of a journal. Instead of holding onto it, It gives the emotion a place to rest - In which you could always go back and acknowledge it existed. It does not have to take space in your head or heart. Let it go and open a door to filling your space with the positive in your life.

This is my dream weaver.....amongst my unlikely threads all my dreams are held near and dear. What is a life well led if one does not follow their heart and their dreams.

Wings & things

2009-04-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

My first 2 completed spreads. these were suppose to be about Composition and Design elements. Flow, balance, pattern, opposition, contrast, and repetition. For this book I wanted to use warm tones, and the subject matter is wings and things....hence the title. I generally gravitate to hot colors.....pretty much exclusively reds. Perhaps in the future I will venture out into a sea of blue. I have tried but there is always an element of red in there some where. At least I am totally aware of it. Some how the red makes me feel alive. I decorate in my home the same way. I always accent in red, persimmons, or orange. You wouldn't believe that it would work, but some how it does.

I love polka dots...they make me happy.

These are some wings that I scrafitoed(sp?)

I'm not sure that word is correct. I scratched the paint off before it was dry. It was a pretty thick layer of acrylic paint. The base color is sepia, so it shows nicely through the vanilla that is the top layer.

This is a color wheel I made from magazine images.
This is my first page. I used a pretty scrapbook paper and accented in a lime green.

Fog Magic - Altered book

2009-04-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

This is an Altered book I have been working on. The title of the book is Fog magic which is ironically close to going through the grieving process. Into the fog you go....knowing some day you will make it out th other end. It is also going into the fog that is a remeberance that it is unknown where you are headed because you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. When one makes it through the fog it is quite magical to find that you are in a totally different place than you ponce were when you atrted the journey.

This is kind of a scary picture but I love her any way. I love how there is a machine spitting out a paper copy of a heart. It is exactly how one feels when your heart breaks. It is some what outside of yourself.

It's all one can do to get up and function. This page was made months ago. I am doing much better, although I am coming up on the one year annivesary of the start of everything.

She was a queen. Untouchable. A pillar of strength. It is not all that it seems. If only one could look on the inside. Ride in her shoes for a day. Perhaps she is not always as strong as she may appear.....and that if OK.

Japanese inspiration

2009-04-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

These two are fun. I don't know what the signifigance is, but I really like this one and the baby Karate boy. Too fun.

My husband was in Japan this last week and took some photos he thought I would like.

I love the black and white, size variation of Japanese writing and the repetition.

A more distant photo than the previous showing the entire dislay at the market. I think It is a great photo.

These are drawing of what I would believe to be men that are the wisest in the culture. Hence the large head. I could be wrong. if anyone knows please fill me in. I do not know enough about the culture but love the art work.

TIME

2009-04-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Gosh ~It's been a month since I last blogged in. How time flies. I have actually been working on a lot of new projects and have not posted anything at this point. If any one checks in I just want you to know I'm on it. I'll be back soon to post some new pics.

CIRCUS, CIRCUS

2009-02-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

Journal page. Made with Sharpie paint pens, acrylic paint, and stamps.

Red acrylic wash.

Image transfer on book page.

Tora the tarot girl was made with plack and silver paint pens on blue acrylic.

This page was made with brown acrylic wash.

a book page. Silver duct taping that was etched and used stayz on. As well as

Sharpie paint pens in pink, black and silver .

Vintage clown and hand print over hand print journaled all over.

Acrylic paint pink, blue and cream with Sharpie super fine paint pen.

Image vaselined then painted with acrylic.

Used Sharpie paint pens to create the pink doodles.

vintage image doodled over, stamps, stickers, and acrylic paint.

This is my favorite page......I just love the motion and the people sailing through the air.

Oh, he floats through the air with the greatest of ease,

This daring young man on the flying trapeze;

George Leybourne

Circus, Circus

2009-02-25T09:15:00.001-08:00

Well I have finally managed to complete most pages of an altered book I have been working on. I still feel it is not complete, but getting there. I have not yet worked on the outside of the book either, so I still have the covers to attend to.
I will post my images very soon.

A Blast from the Past

2009-02-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I sit and ponder (for the all of 3 seconds alone I have from my 4yr old daughter and 10 month old son) ......................how exactly have I become who I am?

Have I changed through the years into some one?
Could people whom I haven't seen in a while recognize me?

Not an unrecognizable outside self, but my inside self?

Recently I have discovered that some times you have to let people go. They served a purpose for a great long while.....but now it's different. It's a sad occurance to say the least in my mind, but my heart feels so much fuller.

It is completely opposite of what I would have thought. Hanging on is leaving me with an emptyness. As I've started to aknowledge the letting go I begin to feel the wholeness of it all again. It's an interesting concept to say the least, and quite opposite of what I would think to be my path. But I am me and I embrace all gifts and glory that come along with bright eyes and a positive outlook on life.

I'd like to think that everyone can continually grow. Mind, Body, & spirit.....and when you stop learning, exploring and discovering you stop growing.

Have I stopped growing?

Recently a very dear soul whom I crossed paths with many, many years ago has sparked a light in my life again. He reminded me of the person I once was, a part of me that I had forgotten.

He read a small note I had written to him 15 years ago. Something he had recently come across shuffling around a bunch of old stuff.
so to quote myself

" My desire for existence is what will be............All that I make it. "
written April 11, 1994

and to answer my question. Have I changed through out the years?
I clearly have not changed a bit!

Life - it's all about the journey, not a destination.

chilly chill chill

2009-01-14T14:42:00.001-08:00

Today is Chinese New Year. The Year of the Earth Ox. This is a calm and focused animal. According to the Chinese calender good things are in store for me. I am expecting great things.....or at least hoping for less turbulent waters this year. Things have some what calmed for me.

I said in my New Years resolution that there would be time made for me. Time to breathe.
Some how I'm not finding time to fit it all in. The last few weeks I've been doing yoga regularly and breathing to center myself, but have found less time to work and journal.
What I really need to do is make my studio a bit livelier. It's a hum drum gray basement at the moment and could really use some jazzing up, so it feels some life.

well until next time.....still in the deep freeze in Chicago.

A Map & Field Guide into the Heart of the Butchers Daughter.

2009-01-08T11:51:00.000-08:00

I described this book to some of my soul sisters.

It is a book that I've been working on through my greiving process.

As I wrote in my previous entry I've been dealing with the loss of my Father.

This is a picture of him when he was a toddler.

I devoted this book to my emotion.

I poured my heart into it, I cried and sobbed over every entry.

Losing a parent sucks.

Best description for that.

Now Imagine....

My Dad was diagnosed the day

before my son Dylan was born.

As cells of a new little

life were forming.

Evil Cells of Cancer inside of my father were forming as well.

I am now working through excepting this.

On my Fathers Birthday he found out that his body was riddled with Cancer.

The following Day he was supposed to retire. He was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer 3-6 months to live.

It's uncanny how this picture of Dad looks like Dylan.

The one thing I hold near and dear

is an amazing gift I inherited from my Dad. My beautiful Green eyes.

Sorry this is a bit dark. A lot of deep emotion went into it.

As well, each page has ink mixed with tears.

I mean that quite literally.

Most books have a color or an image that is repeated. This is a much more eclectic book. It is more just a raw outpouring of emotion. A place to house those feelings that I could not hold inside of myself. A place of safe haven to come back to and witness what I went through. I figured this was a good was to process what I was going through.

New Year - New Me!

2009-01-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

January 2009 is a new beginning.
I lost my father to Cancer 5 months ago and the new year is significant beginning for me. I vow to uphold my resolutions this year.

1. Put myself first, then the husband, kids, chores, and all other necessary things.
2. Make time for work and play
3. Walk through this Journey with my head held high.
4. Take time to breathe, it's all to often I forget to slow it down.
5. Use my artwork as an outlet. Make time for it weekly as a meditation and realease of positive or negative emotions.
6. Make time for centering myself and yoga....if not daily, a few times a week.

Here's to a happier healthier New me in the New Year.

Brand New Blogger

2008-12-02T20:33:00.000-08:00

These are a couple pictures from my doodle sampler page.

Created on water color paper with a sharpie.

The subject and journaling is all based on a moment in time.

Expressing that one needs to soar above being a caged bird.

Time goes all too fast.

Appreciating every moment is now something I challenge myself to practice on a daily basis.

Not being consumed with yesterday or intrigued with tomorrow.

All we really have is this moment in time.

So here I am .

wondering where exactly to start.

I guess that's the way it always is....the ever intimidatiting

Big blank white page.

So I start.....

with much encouragement from my soul sisters

I have decided to start this Blog.

A place in which I can display

my work
as a collective whole.

An entity of me.

My Imaginarium.