« April 2006 | Main | June 2006 »
post. happy memorial weekend-
i uploaded a new photo album of my boys (see here) skiing this weekend. it was great to see them having so much fun. they've grown up on this lake... family and memories. simplistic; important elements in life that matter.
for the moment. i have to focus on a lot of other things right now- and it's hard to keep up on it all ;-) be back later
this journal. 
the last page is complete, and the closure created and attached -which is made of 2 garter snaps. i dyed them a melon color. <don't you just love the different options that you get with dye??> they are attached to the journal with beeswax. i left enough slack to be able to un-do the snaps and it doesn't effect the stability of their placement. these are real garter snaps (fabric) that i got from junkyard art.
here are 2 visuals of the final page in the journal. 
i re-worked this page. the focus is standing firm; place, time and success. i secured the pocketwatch 'guts' in place with packing tape. i heated it a bit to make the tape curl and hug the metal. >photo glare/apology. i used hks sticker letters to say <still standing>, then covered the page with a layer of beeswax. when the beeswax was still warm/pliable, i used my stylus tool and wrote in the wax <focused, i will be always>. i covered the words with white acrylic, then wiped the excess off. to get some of the excess paint off of the beeswax i used fingernail polish remover. i love the effect of this technique with the end result= texture and dimension. > to be honest, i battled with this page. a lot. i love the photo, but i've re-worked this page about 3 times because i just wasn't happy with the designs that i was coming up with fitting the photo. i also battled with this because it was the final page in my journal, AND- you know how you start off strong, and want to finish the same way ?! i just felt like i had to give this photo justice. this weekend i was faced with a personal 'moment' that gave this page an opportunity. happy to say the 'moment' was part of a process, the moment was short, and all is good. back to the photo..... the photo is of me, approx 4yrs, and i was sporting the part with baseball hat and glove in place, and positioned in a firm stance! i wasn't moving! that's been my position most of my life. no different now. so the visual of this photo, the message in the page "still standing, focused i will be always" fits. so, happy i've finished my journal loving the last page as much as the rest of the journal. that's rare for me. usually by the time i wrap up a project, i feel like i'm out of creative energy by the end and have to battle. this journal was different. probably because it reflects the meaning and passion i put into it. good for the soul and heart kinda stuff ;-) -i'm happy that i actually started ----- finished a journal in a short time, but a little bummed that it's done! which means, i will probably add more elements here/there randomly! it's an obsession
this journal has been a great personal journey for me. about me. my family of 4. my past-present-future. < i wanted to also say that i appreciate all of the blog comments and personal emails i've gotten on each of my journal page 'postings' i've put here. i'm humbled at how many people were inspired by this> some of the feedback i got was heart-tugging..wowed by it all. thank you. genuine/ xo
SHE created this fabulous header for me! thanks kim, i'm loving it! and it is very much 'me'. i was inspired to have my blog header re-worked when i saw em's
not much to say today, but go check out this new site; it's one of my fav sources ;-). check back often, she posts new items randomly. and have a happy mom's day!
for some sick reason, it's easier to blog surf and catch up, then to pick up the phone! i'm guilty of this. lately, with family, work and simply- daily life, i haven't been able to do the blog thing. priorities. my guys have been doing a lot of hunting lately, so i've been able to catch up on some artwork, and finally my blog.
i'm now doing home instructionals, and the draw is amazing! last weekend i held my second, and by mid-class the girls were asking 'when's the next instructional, and what are we doing'.. i love that! i love inspiring others, and being inspired by what they do with concepts/techniques that i show them. i'd show you the project we did in that instructional, but it's also a book project that i worked up, so i'll have to save that one for later ;-) i can show you this month's, and it's this fun photo frame! i'm killing so many hardback books lately! ...well, maybe i should simply say 'giving new life to'... ? sounds better. the frame 'shell' is the cover/back of a hardback book. i cut out my open area with an xacto knife; accomodating a larger photo on the right, and the left side holds 3- 2x3" micro slides. the 2 covers are attached with eyelets and heavy-gage wire. the covers are a collaboration of textured elements; modeling paste, canvas, acrylics, tape. the colored 'fingerprints' were inspired by my SHE calender. i also randomly added some charms;metal ephemera.amazingly, it does stand by itself! the photos are of my niece, Aly. the photos are actually a year old, but i've yet to actually work with them, & i love them!! she's so beautiful and sassy.
life is good. hoping for a no-rain week; we're saturated
