Sometimes I wonder if Miss A’s journal cover is going to stand up to every idea I have. So far, so good. I have caught her peeking at it a couple of times and she likes what she sees, so I am still chugging along. My latest thing is painting, stenciling and making collage of my favorite words into her book. I hope that when she gets older and doubts herself and people try to make her feel small, that she will pull out this book and know how valued and loved she is. I have been thinking about doing something similar for my sons, toughened (and in Nat’s case edgied) up of course.
Tag: inspiration.
Kaleidoscopes and waves.
I am a big fan of any form I may find stained glass in. windows, ceilings, lamps, whatever, I just love the stuff. This window is somewhere on Hyde Street in Burlington, Vermont. It reminds me of a kaleidoscope, which is one of the most awesome cheap toys in the universe (designsponge).
The Pacific Northwest, where I live, is an astoundingly beautiful place for hiking, but the next time I find myself in Northern Arizona, I will have to make time to see the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument (usinterior). It is located in the Colorado plateau. The Monument is 280,000 acres of remote and unspoiled cliffs and canyons, so I guess I’ll need a map. 🙂
Winter Art Journal, Part 1: Got Gesso?
A not so funny thing happened while I was working on this art journal for my daughter. My gesso would not open. It was stuck entirely shut (there was not much left in the container, but I had plans for it – maybe I’ll soak the whole thing in a bucket of warm water or something). I made do with an extra layer of paint, and I think it worked out. After I completed the first phase of the journal cover, I went and got more gesso for upcoming projects. I saw some clear gesso, which I had never seen before. It is definitely in the back of my mind. So many types of gesso to play with – white gesso, black gesso, colored gesso, clear gesso, heavy gesso, hard sandable gesso – so little time.
My daughter has a growing pile of sketch books. One of her favorite things to do, especially when she is feeling stressed, is to color or draw or make art. Around Christmas, I decided to take one of her old sketch books, add elements to encourage her, make a cute cover, and give it back to her. When she saw the first page I worked on, her entire face lit up with a huge smile, so I think I’m on the right track.
Meet Kara Tippetts
She is an author, mother of four and planter of a church with her husband. And a Stage 4 Cancer patient who chronicles her fight against hopelessness in her blog, Mundane Faithfulness. I like her blog because she shares her journey with humor, grace and honesty. She does so much to help others that I am inspired to do the best that I can with challenges that are truly meager in comparison.
TJs Things 