Radiant Faces Beginnings...

I'm taking Effy Wild's Collaborative workshop called Radiant Faces, and I'm learning so much!  Each week, a different teacher shares their approach for creating a portrait; based on a unique character theme. 


Here are my versions of the first two lessons...

Jane Davenport had us create our inner "Nymph..."

 

In the second lesson we created our "inner child," with the guidance of Tam LaPorte.  I loved my dancing lessons as a child, and dreamed of being a ballerina, so here's how mine turned out...

There are nine different teachers total, and I'm so excited to learn from each one of them!

Another thing that is really cool about this class is that each week there is a part two, that shows how Effy approached the current week's lesson.  It's great to see how she interprets the lesson and makes it her own, since that is what I'm trying to do too.

If you want to learn more about the Radiant Faces workshop - click here.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I wish you a fabulous Thursday!

Trust Your Heart...

I've missed so much time blogging, it's hard to know where to start, now that I'm back.  Then I thought of what they say in the scrapbook world, when you are feeling behind and overwhelmed - I've heard it so many times:  Just start with where you are right now, and fill in the older stuff as you have time.   Sounds like good advice to me!  So that's what I'm going to do here.  I hope you like it!

This is my current journal - entitled "Trust your heart."  I made it as part of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's "Make your own Junque Journal" online workshop...

 This is the front cover...

 

 It's 8" x 10"

 

Here you can see a bit of the back cover as well...

I used retro-70's wallpaper for my endpapers...

 

Here are just a few of my fave inside pages, all ready to start filling up...

I've made journals with inside pages similar to this in the past; but I wanted to take the class to learn the binding method and cover style, which are brand new to me.  I have to tell you I am totally IN LOVE with them!  I can see making tons of journals in this method in the future - it's so much FUN!

I've already started filling the pages and I will be back to start showing you those in my next post.

If you want more info on Julie's class "Make Your Own Junque Journal," click here.  I highly recommend it!  I actually signed up for the Junque Journal bundle, which includes "30 days in your Junque Journal,"  which I'm now working on and having a blast!

Thanks so much for visiting, and for your comments!  It makes my day to know you were here!

Retirement, Vegas, and a New Phase of Life!

 October has been and continues to be a BIG month for me!

I'm officially retired!  My last day was October 10th.  Here's a pic of the beautiful cake from my retirement party at work...

 and this is my beautiful work team...

(Barb, Georgiann, me, Claire, Deeann, Mike (supvsr) and Amy).  I was so lucky to work with these awesome folks - I am going to miss them!

On October 14, Michael and I took off for Las Vegas on Honeymoon 8!

We had SO MUCH FUN!!!

The highlight was definitely the three shows we saw:
Rock of Ages


Donny and Marie Osmond


and
Michael Jackson "One"

They were all FANTASTIC and each one so different!!!

Here's a pic of us taken at the Donny and Marie show...

We are not drinkers, and we don't really gamble much, but we did TONS of walking; enjoyed the sunshine, the sparkle and glitz everywhere, and crammed as much fun into each day as we could.  It was SO AWESOME!!!

Now we're back and I'm still in recovery mode from all the excitement.  I'm sleeping a lot, and dreaming up lots of creative projects...

I'm so excited to be back here sharing with you!  As I figure out this journey of having more time for art, I plan to blog regularly along the way.  I hope you will visit often!

New One Little Word Challenge - Thankful

Hi friends!  It's the 15th of the month again and that means it's time for the new One Little Word challenge!  This month the word is...

THANKFUL

Here's what I came up with in my art journal...

October is always a great month for me - I love the changing colors of the leaves and the cool, crisp weather - just right for busting out cozy sweaters and hot tea. It's also the month that Michael and I got married, and this year we will celebrate our 7th anniversary! 

This year I have one more thing to be thankful for in October, - that I had the opportunity to  work for 35 years with an employer that was good to me, that I worked with people that I respect and admire, that I had a job that felt meaningful, and now - that I am able to retire and make art on a full time basis.  I feel very lucky!

So - what does the word "thankful" mean to you?  Come on over and play along with us at One Little Word!  Click here to go to the challenge!

Thanks so much for visiting me!  I will be back to blogging regularly on November 1st!  Stay tuned!