Limited supply journaling ... and ezine

I've been working in my art journal a lot the past few weeks. When I go on vacation, I like to pack lightly when it comes to my art supplies, believe it or not! I love the challenge of finding things to work with each day. I made these pages with my trusty glue stick and bag of pens, pencils and markers plus random freebie newspapers, magazines, foil gum wrappers and craft paint from the thrift shop. As much as I love my collection of papers and supplies at home in my studio, I find it rather liberating and relaxing to use whatever I have on hand or find on a given day; I don't waste time looking for the "perfect" element. It's a great exercise!

I created the background with crayons, thick markers and a little cheap paint.

This page used a lot of pieces from a freebie newspaper and vacation guide.

I used mostly crayons and a big white poster paint marker on this one. I was inspired by a beach bag I saw that day.

This page had the animals already on it ... I just gave them pattern and colors. Then I tore some images from a freebie newspaper, glued it on and continued the pattern onto the journal page with marker and crayons.

I recently started Teresa McFayden's "A Journal of Interest" e-zine http://www.paperbellastudio.com/category_8/ezines.htm Even though the original session has ended, I've been reading at least one entry each day. Beautiful ideas, very inspirational. If you're into art journaling, I recommend it!

Mosaic wow!

When it rains at the beach, everyone goes to the paint-your-own-pottery place. So that's what my son and I did on Monday and we had a blast!

At the checkout counter, they had 5 wonderful mosaic panels that were made with a slew of things ... pieces that got broken, mug handles, "oops"es from the kiln, a glue stick, safety scissors and even an old watercolor set! I love this wall! I really, really, really want to do something like this. I don't know that I can commit to doing it directly on a wall (plus what would happen if I ever move?) ... but I guess I could start with a plywood panel ... hmmm ... guess I should've taken those tacky mugs in the free box at the thrift store the other day ...

Great finds!

My son and I were driving along and stumbled upon a *wonderful* junk shop ... hot, dusty, dark, scary (as my nieces would say!) Just the kind I like! I had just enough time to zip through and pick up a few treasures ... like a box of these paper parking meter covers! I'm starting to post some of my finds to the store already.

I have a soft spot for old buildings ... I wonder who lived there, what their lives were like. And I'd love to be able to peek inside and see what they left behind! I came across this on a quiet road in Georgia. (The power line kinda ruins it ... but I didn't notice it until now!)

Snowmen in August

I made these little snowmen recently for a magazine submission. I couldn't decide if I wanted to submit something for this challenge, and went back and forth about it. I had so much going on at the time they were due, but I had the idea (which is half the battle, don't you think?) and decided I wouldn't be happy with myself if I didn't at least try. But the deadline for the acceptance notification has come and gone with no word (shucks!), so I thought it would be OK to share them now. I'm still glad I made the effort.

They were created with fusion paper (made with paper napkins, paper towels, hand painted paper, glitter), then sewn and embellished with vintage costume jewelry and strips of old sweater and old silk sari. The faces were painted on with gesso and magic marker.

I'm at the beach (yay!) but even these little guys won't melt here.