Back Again...

I am back here again.  I have learned how to link this blog to another blog that I have started on Wordpress.  I am going to try to work on both and see what platform seems to work best for me.  Looks like Blogspot has made some changes to make all this a little easier so we'll see.  I so much want to blog regularly but it is difficult given all the stuff in which I am involved in my life.  I also want to participate in more on-line journaling classes and do more of my own journaling and post about it, too.

I have been doing a lot of Pintrest viewing lately and I have found a few other artists that I really like.  One in particular speaks to me.  She is here: http://visualblessings.blogspot.com.  Her journaling references her relationship with God and she is very visual with how she portrays that in her journals.  I was so blessed to find her blog.

I have, of course, purchased yet again more "washi" tape.  I put it in quotes because I don't really consider all the decorative tape that places like Michael's and Scotch Brand make real Washi tape.  It is fun and decorative but definitely not the real thing.  Here are a couple of pages from my daily journal that show the different tapes that I have purchased recently.  One really is a page of Japanese Washi tape and the others are knockoffs.  I also bought some Christmas patterns at Michael's yesterday (all for 40% off through today!) that I'll post later.  Don't know why I bought so many Christmas patterns but they were all lovely and they WERE 40% off!  LOL!

I really like using the decorative tape in my journals.  Here are some pages that I have prepped for journaling on another day.  I really like the first one where I added the paint AFTER I had tipped the tape over the page edge.  I was able to match the paint colors and it tickled me to be able to do that.  LOL!

 Hopefully I'll get the Christmas tape posted soon.  Sorry to be gone for so long.  Maybe I really can make this a habit of at least once per week if I really try!

Rejuvenated!

I've been working to finish up my Moleskin Journal that from the first entry looks like I first started in 2006--almost 6 years ago.  It has a lot of memories in it of all types.  I will start a new one when this one is finally retired.  I have other journals of all types of paper and purposes but I always seem to come back to this one.  I am a writer at heart and my Moleskin is the perfect surface for this.  I don't always add any art or backgrounds or anything else.  I often use it for notetakeing at church and art conferences I attend.  I love the feel of it and have made it mine.  What do you do most of your journaling in if you keep a journal?

I am also trying to use some of my Japanese Washi tapes that I love so much.  They are colorful and fairly thin so they don't add too much thickness to the pages.  They are paper tapes that are very versitile and often transparent.  Here are some of mine:

Here's a little tip.  You can store your Washi tape in those 12x12 scrapbook paper keepers that often go on sale at Micheal's and other places.  They are the perfect depth and I am able to store all but one column of those shown above in one container.  But, since they will continue to make Washi tape, looks like I should go ahead and start another one.  I already have one row to put in it!  If you get the clear storage box you can see all the pretty colors and patterns through the lid.

Black and White

I have been taking Steve Sonheim's class Photo Silly Advanced.  It has been a lot of fun.  I have learned a lot and have learned to take some photos from a different vantage point.  One of those new view points is going back to basic black and white.  It is so simple yet so powerful.  I may post some more later but thought I'd leave you with this one today.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

― Robert Frost

Valentine's Day

I know it is a bit late for posting but as often as I post on this blog I guess I get them up when I can.  Sorry for the blurred words but somethings just aren't meant for the whole world to read!

Closure!

I finally finished my first Zentangle that I started with my friend Taylor last summer!  I know she is probably wondering if I ever would.  I finally finished it over New Years but just now got around to photographing it.  Here it is Taylor!  I hope to finish some in the future a little faster!  :-)

I almost forgot.  I DID finish another one.  It is monochrome (seemes I haven't gotten out of the Valentine's Day mood yet) but the patterns are pretty cool.

 Hope you are having a fine, arty day today!  Go do some Zentanlges and relax.