January 26 Journal Page

Just one today, so far and it was done very early this morning (about 1:00 AM in fact). If it had been much earlier I could've counted it for yesterday!

I received another batch of early reviewers books in the mail today. I adore being a book reviewer!!!! It's a great way to feed my addiction to books and helps me keep my writing skills in shape. Sometimes I miss being a columnist, but then I remember the pressure of deadlines and realize I'm much happier without dealing with that!

I added another item to my ArtFire store. I wanted to get some more photographed today but it hasn't happened yet. Today was focused on updating my library catalog and rearranging books, again! Tomorrow will have to be photography day.

More snow in the forecast, as if we don't have enough already. My sister, who moved to Florida last October, texts me her beach report almost every day. And now our folks are down there visiting her so I get a beach report from them too! I am so jealous.

Hopeful Journal Page

My pages are reflecting the hope I hold in my heart for peace in the Middle East and the dreams of hope flowing through my own nation. With the Inauguration behind us I think most Americans are looking toward the future with hope in their hearts.

I never expected to be emotionally moved watching the Inauguration on television. Hell, I'm not the highly emotional type. I rarely get all worked up unless something major is going on in my life. So imagine my shock over the appearance of tears in my eyes. You could've knocked me over with a feather!

If my dad, the die-hard Republican, ever hears that I got all chocked up over a Democrat being sworn in as President he'll probably keel over. Either that or he'll assume I was all choked up because it WAS a Democrat and not a Republican.

January 19th Journal Pages--Gaza

The conflict in Gaza, in the Middle-East in general, has been on my mind a lot lately. There has been conflict in that part of the world for longer than any of us have been alive. WHY???? Why all the killing over land, religion, resources??? We are all human, we are all the same inside. Acceptance of each other's uniqueness is needed. NOW.

January 10th & 11th Journal Pages

These two pages are the ones I did for Jan. 10 & 11. I've had both focal images in my collage fodder bins for quite a while but hadn't decided how best to use them. The image on the left intrigued me because of the masks. The one on the right because of the bear standing up & wearing a veil. It's funny what catches your eye & prompts you to cut it out and save it for later use!

Yet More Journal Pages

Lots of journal pages being completed the past week. Over the weekend I painted a bunch of pages, then moved on to the collaging & journaling them. I've been creating art journals for as long as I can remember & really love how emotionally expressive they are.

More Journal Pages

Some more journal pages finished. The majority of the ones I've posted are from the A Prompt A Day group. Every day we're giving painting, collage & journal prompts to spark our creativity. I highly recommend the group, offered by Kelly Kilmer.

Because it is a paying group, an on-line course in reality, I won't share what the prompts are (it wouldn't be fair) but I don't mind sharing my completed pages!

New Journal Pages

Not feeling my best because of a slip and fall on the ice and the storms we've been having. Been busy working in my art journals though.

Another Journal Page

This page depicts some of the sadness I feel over the loss of my beloved Nana. She passed away in early Oct. 2008. We always loved sharing a cup of tea together so when I found the picture in a magazine of an elderly woman holding a cup of tea I knew I had to use it.

Many of the hearts seen in my recent work have to do with the pain in my own heart and the healing it is going through. Every time I make a page while thinking about all the emotional turmoil of the past 6 months (not just Nana passing over, but other things as well) my heart heals a bit. Eventually I know my art will help it heal completely.

Journal Pages

I didn't get a lot of art done today because I was cleaning up the mess a leaking dishwasher created, but I did manage to make a journal and finish up some pages I started last night.. I also went and picked out a new dishwasher to replace the ancient, 1971 model that conked out. I'm sure we'll notice a big difference in electric & water usage with the new Amana versus the dinosaur we've been using all these years!

A Few Journal Pages

Last night I managed to do 7 journal pages. I'd planned on doing 2, but once I got going I just kept at it for hours. A very satisfying feeling to get so much done in one evening!