Thursday, August 1, 2013

August Blogalong - Day one - Let's Start with a Giveaway...!!!

Today is day one of the August Blogalong!  As I write this post, there are 81 people signed up over at Effy's for the blogalong, and I'm so excited to be one of them!  Talk about daily inspiration!   Welcome to friends, both old and new!





I will be here each day in August, with something to share - creative projects and process, organization tips, art journaling, project life, and whatever else comes up along the way!  I am looking forward to sharing this adventure with all of you!

I thought it appropriate to start the festivities with a giveaway of something that's been a major source of inspiration for me for almost a year now...


I'm giving away one spot in the current  

Book of Days Premium Art Journaling Program!

Book of Days Premium is described as an 18 week immersion in art journaling with soul PLUS a four week intensive in book binding and art journaling basics. Regular price is $99 but I believe in this program so much that I am going to pay for one of you to attend - free of charge! 

I would also like to add that Book of Days (BOD) is a great program whether you are brand new to art journaling or have been doing it for years. 

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, about one thing that inspires you, and you are entered!  The drawing will close on Sunday night at midnight, CST.  The winner will be announced on Monday, August 5th!

But, what if I am already a member of Book of Days, you ask?  I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU!  If you are already a member and you win the drawing, then you will receive a free seat in the next session of Book of Days!

I will leave you today with a few pics of pages that I have made as part of the Book of Days Program. These are just some random samples.  What Book of Days has done for me is provide me with a structure and continuous inspiration to maintain a regular journaling practice; while at the same time, allowing me the freedom to continue to develop my own personal style.  What more could you want in an art journaling program, right?






 Thanks so much for visiting, and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into my giveaway!

And also, be sure to  check out the other blogalong participants!

I will see you again tomorrow my friends!


63 comments:

Heather Goldsmith said...

Wow, you inspire me. Check out those pages. Would love to win the spot, but hoping just sharing it with others will get you plenty of new readers. ;-)

Michelle LaPoint Rydell said...

Thanks so much Heather!

Raine said...

I absolutely LOVE your pages! You have such a great sense of color and design.

dawn said...

Happy August Michelle!! Happy daily blogging!! I'm looking forward to seeing what you share with us! I remember these pages, they are amazing and gorgeous!

What an awesome giveaway Michelle, you are so generous and sweet. What inspires me is the way you want to learn more about your YOu and your style. I am amazed at all you do and the new things you jump in happily to learn about. I am inspired by your art, colors, thoughts and kind soul.
You truly are a gifted artist and have a generous heart. Thanks Michelle for sharing and inspiring us always!
Good luck with your blogging, HUGS!

JJ Meyer said...

Absolutely wonderful pages! What inspires me is color. Lots of color. Also raw truth and positive perspectives. Thank you for the opportunity to win! Blessings!

Dara Lynn said...

Always enjoy the whimsical, colorful, and insightful pages you share! One of THE best binding videos is from Effy...would love to move forward and evolve in my art journaling as I have seen in you :)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Wow wow wow!! These pages are all amazing Michelle!! I loveeeeeeeeee the colors and loveeeeeeeeee the way you journaled on the hair on the first one!!

Sharon Fritchman said...

You amaze me with your beautiful talent and your generous heart, Michelle! These pages ROCK, my friend!! Thank you for sharing them with us and for your cony
Tinned inspiration!!

Kelley said...

That is a wonderful giveaway!! You are so generous to sponsor someone into the fabulous world of art journaling; truly a gift that will keep on giving! I just enrolled a while ago, and am really enjoying it. I'm glad to have found a group that shares this new-found interest of mine.

Shine on!
Kelley

Dragon Lady Blue said...

What a great giveaway! I would love to win. What inspires me? My husband and son. My best female friends - The Dragon Ladies - strong women who are a force to be reckoned with! But lately I am very inspired by the passing of time. The calendar pages turning toward 50 years. My child no longer having a baby face. My parents leaving this earth. I need to find a voice for that passing of time.

Jane Wetzel said...

Wow! great giveaway! What inspires me? Love looking at all artist's work..acrylic paints inspire me...the changing of Seasons..your blog! lol Thanks for the chance to win!

Marcia Beckett said...

Wow, what an amazing and generous giveaway! YOU are an inspiration because of your gorgeous artwork, creative spirit and generous nature.

Anonymous said...

I am not going to lie, I so hope I win. Not sure what I will do if I can't take her class next year!
Effy's group the Glitterhood inspires me ... and of course, BOD. An amazing amazing process!

Emie58 said...

What a generous give-a-way!!! What inspires me is nature... especially colors and textures found in nature.
Hugs, Emie

APG Jamie said...

you are a blessing! and what a huge undertaking y'all are making with this post a day in August

xoxo

Mamá Osa said...

Wow those pages are great, and you're so generous for making this giveaway. This blogalong is going to be so much fun :)

Anonymous said...

Your pages are so pretty! Inspiration comes from looking at everyone's beautiful work!

Anonymous said...

I didn't mean to post anon, I can't remember my google password! I'm jenirae! ;) BTW, thank you for the chance to win!

Anne Gaal said...

Hi, Michelle! Thank you so much for your generous giveaway! I find that I am inspired by so many things lately. I am in a "sponge mode" where I am soaking up everything. I am especially moved by your art journal piece with the quote from Rumi: "Do not give your heart to anything else but to the love of those who are clear joy." How amazing would it be to be surrounded by clear joy people all the time? Wow! I've started collecting quotes, and this one is definitely being added to my collection! ♥

SisterMuse said...

Great giveaway! Thanks! Artists like you that share their knowledge and enthusiasm inspire me.

Juel said...

Music is what inspires me, reaches me to the core.

Tracy said...

What inspires me right now is the gratitude I feel for where I am in life. I have no right to be so blessed and loved and safe...but I am. Love is everywhere right now and I'm eternally grateful.

Melanie said...

What wonderful pages!

My niece inspires me. When she comes over for "craft time" and to watch her confidently and freely make art. I love the fact that she is comfortable enough to pull out her craft supplies at my house and just create what makes her happy.

CiNdYe said...

Your pages are beautiful, Shelley! Great use of color!

Anonymous said...

Fun giveaway, Michelle! Almost anything can inspire me, just depends on the moment. Your artwork and dedication to your art always does!

Natalia Uzhakina said...

Michelle, love your pages and your style!
I am inspired by Effy and her art simplicity with awesome projects!

iHanna said...

Oh such lovely journal pages, totally happy! Right now I'm inspired by being outside: the greens, the flowers, the sunshine, the feeling of summer...

Unknown said...

Wow how awesome I just love your pages of your art journal.

Lucy Ladham-Dyment said...

Thanks for this. I am trying to blog everyday but have missed lots of June and July.

Jacklyn Young said...

I love your journal pages - they are so varied and colorful! So many things inspire me. I am always inspired by the incredible art posted on the glitterhood and other places around the web. Just started reading Women Who Run with the Wolves, and wow, it is wonderfully inspiring to me!

Lura said...

hi effy, well its me, lura always behind and never enough time. but i am gonna do the blog along just have to make my blog and i have meetings today but will do it tonite. i would love to win a spot in the next session. thanks for your kindness always. xoxo lura

Cara said...

Holy moly, you are so generous to do this! What a fantastic way to honor and celebrate the class and Effy and everything you've done so far.

And yeah, I still want your handwriting. ;)

Linda R said...

Michelle, I don't know what to say - this is the most generous of giveaways! Bravery inspires me, the peeling of layers, the depth of the search for meaning and joy which is what BOD is really about. Our days - that's everything really, all the moments, all those thoughts, the newness of another day...I would be so blessed should I win this fabulous prize. Thank you.

Ashley said...

Seeing other people's work and excitement about art and creating are what inspire me!

Unknown said...

I love seeing your journal pages they are so beautiful and inspiring. I do get inspired by seeing other artist's work as well as by the world outside my door.

Michelle said...

Wow, Michelle, you are so generous. Your art inspires me so much especially for BOD. I'm so looking forward to your Blogalong!

Julia said...

Absolutely gorgeous creations, fab work and so inspiring! Thanks for this amazing giveaway!
Can't wait till tomorrow to read your blog post!
Hugs,
Julia

Anonymous said...

I have been so inspired by all the Ladies in Moonshine I have signed up for the next session just because I couldnt bear to say good bye and because it has been such a wonderful experiance for me. I have made the committment to really do all the painting and not just the exploration of myself. What a generous person you are. Love Love Love Laurie Sherwin

Debbie said...

Your art is so beautiful and inspiring! What a generous giveaway, too. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Lately I have been incredibly inspired by nature (the summer weather is fierce, but it brings out the beauty in SO much- everything from a dark stormy afternoon to the bright blue sky right after the storm clouds pass), watching my daughter create effortlessly and without self-consciousness (I'm working SO hard on that...) and seeing the bounty of amazing ideas and projects that other artits so generously share across the internet. I am so inpsired by their *passion*, and it makes me re-commit to my own creativity and want to keep going forward.

This is a lovely lovely thing you are doing. Your generosity inspires me, too!

Garnet Lese said...

I'm always inspired by other people's art, and their passion for life. I look at the pages you posted and they make me think of other things, my brain tangents off into outerspace! Thank you for sharing them, and thanks for the chance to win a spot in BOD!!

Yol said...

So beautiful! Your work inspires me in many wonderful ways. Thanks for sharing.

anne g-i said...

wow - a blog post a day! cool! a big undertaking! i get inspired by learning new techniques and enjoying the work of of other journal artists.

Cat Stegall said...

FUN! just an amazing gift to give a spot away!yeah !

Jacqlyn said...

Looks like n awesome give away. Fingers crossed!

Isabelle said...

You are so generous Heather! Inspiration is everywhere, the bloom of flower, the scent in the hair, the blue-green of my oldest daughter's eyes, the laughter of my younger daughter, other wonderful artists such as you, the gratitude to be alive and see and feel all the wonder that surrounds us....

Brenda said...

This sounds very exciting Michelle! I have been following your blog for a bit now because your pages intrigue me, there seems to be such an ease to how you journal and that is what I am looking for! These pages are what inspire me! People like you who tirelessly share your beautiful art work! I would be so thrilled to win a spot. Thank you so much for your generosity!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely awesome - not just the giveaway - but your pages!! I'm not sure if my biggest inspiration is the color or the fabulous impression of chaos I get from some of the pages!!! I can tell you that my journal for the next 30 days will DEFINITELY reflect more of the chaos in my life -- of all varieties!!! I hope I can live up to just a smidgen of your talent tho' - wow . . .

J'Etana de Gaia said...

I enjoyed seeing your beautiful art journal pages ("spreads"?). Perhaps I'll win your gift and do this myself sooner than later :) Thank you for the giveaway--so exciting!

michelle said...

Hey Shelley love seeing your fantastic work ! very inspiring ! really enjoying BOD so much talent and such a fab group. would love to win to do the next session ! anyhow hope you have a great weekend : )

Unknown said...

so inspiring! I love your art journal pages! My fingers and toes are crossed!

Unknown said...

Wow, what a great idea. I havent gone through BODs but Im sure it would be a great prize. Best of luck ladies and I love your pages Michelle.

Sandy said...

Beautiful journal pages. I love your style. Thanks for the contest.

Unknown said...

Michelle, I love your blog and started following you shortly after you posted about your mom's passing. It resonated with me as I lost my mom at an early age too (18). Your pages are so colorful and you try out so many different techniques that it inspires me to get my fingers inky, lol! What inspires me the most is color!! I would love to win this giveaway; I've been trying to start an art journal for a while and don't know what the roadblock is..? Perhaps part time constraint and part fear, I don't know. One of these days I will take that step and I know I will love it. Maybe this class is the push I need!

Salix said...

Oh I love everything I've seen from BOD but have never been able to afford it. What a generous giveaway. Fingers crossed and good luck to everyone else too :)

Rene (rhymes with Bean!) said...

Too many comments to even HOPE to win, but I need to tell you how glorious your style is! So much color and joy shows up on your pages and I've looked at them more than once.
Still a baby in the art journaling world. I think I've made two whole pages.

Unknown said...

Thank you for offering this awesome class! I am new to art journaling and blogging.

Michelle LaPoint Rydell said...

Thanks so much everyone for your kind words! It's wonderful to hear from all of you! Brenda K Cats, I am so sorry to hear that you have lost your mom too. I still miss her everyday, and I imagine that never goes away. Hugs to you, and I am so glad that you visit me. :)

Lori W said...

Love your stuff as always! Would love to win a spot! thanks for the chance to win!

Pam said...

gorgeous journal pages! Love how you use color.

Unknown said...

Something that always inspires me is the beauty in the detail of life. They are my Daily Diamonds!

OhSuz said...

Wow, Michelle, this giveaway is so wonderfully generous of you! I get so much inspiration from nature & from other artists; never fails to get my creative juices flowing. Thanks for the chance to win!

Michelle LaPoint Rydell said...

Thanks everyone for entering the giveaway! It is now closed. Winner will be announced in the Mon, Aug 5 post.