Showers of...

We are finishing up November with showers.  Showers of rain and showers of snow.  Kinda makes for messes and messier driving!

Work is progressing on our new approach.  They are working in all kinds of showers!  THE 'man' assures me they will 'fix' up the yard.

The weekly memories have been recorded.  This will be a great blessing when I flip through the pages in the future.

I added two more signatures to a journal I had made at the beginning of the year.

I stiffened up the spine with a piece of book board after I added the extras.  It fills the spine better.  I also gessoed everything. 

This journal will reveal my archetypes.  There are seven main traits and 3 secondary.  So my seven signatures, totaling 60 pages should do it.   I will have lots of room to explore all my possibilities.

The pages are an assortment of papers but they are all neutral, ranging from white to black and include textured papers.  The inside covers have a feather motif which works well for me as a mystic and a story teller.

I watched one of the last videos on the Wunderlust website,  Funky Journaling and was very inspired by Joanna Grant.   Lots of ideas for Art 101 as well!

 Then this morning I got positively pumped by watching Cheryl Arkison on The Quilt Show talk about Improvisational Quilting.  I met Cheryl through a virtual red hat blog, mind you she had pink status so she was a princess.  I stayed in her home during a retreat she and Meredith co-hosted for some of us.  And she lead me down the blogging path.  This link is good for one week!  HIGHLY recommend it!  Thanks, Cheryl! 

Showers of blessings is how I interpret this weather!  :)

some summing

The focus was definitely mixed media this past week.

I took a quick visit to the scrapbook store and I have some theme elements for this year's planner/journal.  The first bit seemed dark and forced so I lightened things up and brought in more of my own stuff.   It has taken a bit to get it organized and there are a few more project additions in the next couple of weeks but I'm thinking this is gonna be good! :)

The mixed media class is wonderful.  One reason it appealed was the once a month product tutorial and I learned lots about brushes.  Then the first teacher showed how to use brushes with more effect and her project is something I am definitely going to do.  I 'copied' the work of  the gal who issues the monthly challenges and I'll put them in the big binder.  I decided that I needed to expand my challenge journal which is where I'll be doing my own thing.  I'll be doing the word that best describes me- for next week.  I can't say enough good things about this year long class.  The quality is remarkable and I already feel that I have got my money's worth!

I decided to incorporate different kinds of papers in a homemade journal.  I got paper from the scrapbook store suitable for mixed media and searched for a good tutorial to improve my less than professional bookmaking skills.

The better tools certainly help and I feel this is not quite ideal but certainly an improvement. 
  

I made 5 signatures and I redid the spine as I thought it might not be big enough.  I may have gone a bit too big but I think I'll be adding lots of texture and layers to the pages so it'll definitely be getting fatter. 

The grand kiddies and I had a great time painting the cardboard casa!   Creamy crayola makers had lots of juiciness when a wet paint brush was applied to them.

The decor day began with an old look and now the challenge begins to redefine the new 'happy' look.

I did not get  any fabric related work done.  I found my old ufo busting list and it needs revising.  Perhaps I can focus on fabrics next week but I'm doing some humming as I continue to embrace this KISSable new year!