Tell Your Story - Journal Page - May 11, 2010 - Dream Homes

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Dream Homes... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

says: Dream Home(s)...
NOW: little red brick farmstead w/lots of animals & gardens.

FUTURE? The Fowlerton *open porch * cupola * lots of light * (spiral) stairwell *pass through in kitchen * fireplace. Level 1 1,100 square feet. Level 2 1,075 square feet. * needs a bsmt!

funky shape, apothecary storage, funky lamps, art studio w/360 degree view, also: sauna, bees, workshop for Bill, 3 babies, hearth, posh rugs, spiral staircase, grow fruit & veg, raise chickens, a bath is a must have! RELAX! novel bar (for fun). A place to put down roots and grow a family.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other thoughts:
I'm living in my dream home! It is a cute red brick farmstead.

When I was looking through my old journals I had many pages of home furnishings and blueprints cut out already...

The Fowlerton house is one I had really dreamed about before getting married and finding the wonderful red brick place we currently live in. Follow this link to check out my blog post all about my red brick house!

I just really liked the funky shape of the Fowlerton and in turn all the odd shaped rooms. The house has so many windows that it would be a bright space for living in. There's a fire place which I love.

I miss having a wood stove / fire place... when we did have one, one of my favorite chores was splitting fire wood =) I'm actually kind of good at wielding an axe! I'm pretty good at starting a fire too... that is a skill worth learning, especially if you're cold. One could say you learn faster when there is need.

The front porch, of the Fowlerton, looked nice and seemed, to me, like it has the possibility of wrapping all the way around. I imagined our kids practicing tricycle on it and chasing each other around and around...

The part I really liked and would claim as my own, would be the cupola. With its 360 degree view! I really wanted a bright art studio and with the added height I could really see a ways off for inspiration. 

From there I could star gaze or prolong sun sets...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ingredients: variety of cut / torn magazine pages - some are over 10 years old, paper, pen, silver sharpie, staples, glue, ribbon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

xoxo, 

Blueberry Blonde

Tell Your Story - Journal Page - May 10, 2010 - My Thoughts Are Full

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

My Thoughts Are Full... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

says:
My thoughts are full of right now

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When I saw the title for today's theme, My Thoughts Are Full, I instantly thought of meditation.

Being present in the NOW.

Also keeping my AJ pages simple & uncluttered is a goal of mine. I feel I've succeeded in integrating form and reducing complexity to achieve minimalism for this page.

I was really lucky to find the meditating woman and blending her with an active woman helps to convey the idea of fleeting moments.  

Happiness comes from within. It's a state you can live in from moment to brief moment. Build meaningful social relationships to sustain you. Change is the only constant in this crazy world. Meditating can help focus you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ingredients: pen, random bits of paper, magazine pages, tissue papers, purple tulle, green lace, silver trim, heart shaped brad, mirror.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

xoxo,
Blueberry Blonde

Tell Your Story - Journal Page - May 9, 2010 - I Adore Animals

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I Adore Animals... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

It says: I adore animals! Dogs especially. Here are some random bits of dyed paper towel. I thought they kind of resembled a cat & two dogs. So, instead of making a journal from an existing book I did this... when I find the right book I will make one...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You're probably wondering what I mean by that odd journal entry....

I'm talking about this day's assignment, of making a journal from an existing book.

In all honesty I'm not that crazy about the idea.

I guess I just do not feel the need to destroy a book just to make a journal out of it.

I get it that the page is already 'started' for me and all I'd have to do is doodle and add thoughts. I even went to the good will looking for a book to destroy, as it were. I came close to getting one, but I just couldn't do it.

A magazine or catalog fine, but not a picture book. I think it may have something to do with the established brand or identity that already exists with the book. I even opened a few books and tried to imagine drawing on their pages...

Don't get me wrong, I do write in my text books and make little notes or even doodles. I've even gutted a book just for it's hard shell to make purses from... so I know I can do it. I choose not to.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you're interested. 

Click this link for my tutorial demonstrating how to make art from paper toweling - technique.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ingredients: acrylic paint, paper towel, netting, random bits of paper, pen & glue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

xoxo,

Blueberry Blonde

Tell Your Story - Journal Page - May 8, 2010 - Summer

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Summer... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

yellow and doodles and tape! oh, my!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I love color, don't get me wrong, but I hardly ever use or wear yellow... but it really works for a summer themed page. Plus I'm learning to get out of my comfort zone and expand my artistic horizions...


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I had to resist the urge to continue adding elements until the page was full... (I'm learning...)
I think I was successful in keeping elements and text to minimalism.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ingredients: Pens, papers, glue, star shaped hole punch.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How I made this:

First I doodled, then I irregularly tore and glued a piece of plain, yellow, paper near the bottom, then glued tissue paper over the whole page.

I added another piece of torn, yellow paper, this time legal pad paper over the previous torn page, slightly askew from the first.

I tore the face from a Dr.Pepper ad in Vogue. The girl in the swimsuit is from an Alloy catalog.

I hand made an envelope from gold gift wrapping paper and glued a map inside for the lining which also helps with stability/strength of wrapping paper. I have glued it open & in place, so the envelope does not close.

I used purple masking tape for the lettering and the stripes.

I used the same yellow, legal pad paper to write a two sided list of things to do this summer...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

xoxo,
Blueberry Blonde

Tell Your Story Journal Page - May 7, 2010 - Noted

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Noted... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Says: There are many good things in my life right now... I'm thankful that I am able to own a home with my husband; our health; that I can work with my hands making lots of art & fresh food! I'm lucky to have a craft room (that I am organizing...) Fresh eggs! Also I am growing my hair long; reconnecting with old friends & with my family.

Other random text says:
all the single ladies...
don't go to bed with a frown in your pocket...
make more art!
hello
oy! ooooh, sassy...
ooh I gotta get a pair of pajama-alls...
DANCE!
SING!
4 INSPIRATION...
I'm waiting....

(these are just various phrases that were floating through my home (30 Rock & John Stewart) or my mind (Madonna) at the time of making this page)
 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 

Ingredients: white doily, black paper, 3 kinds of lined paper, acrylic paint washes, glue, stamps, silver  leafing pen, regular pens in black & red
 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

xoxo,

Blueberry Blonde

 

PS: I am currently reorganizing my craft studio... here's a sneak peek of my beginning efforts. Can also be seen here on flickr.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tell Your Story Journal Page - May 6, 2010 - Visual Texture

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Visual Texture... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Visual Texture

For this AJ page I instantly went to my clothing catalogs that were set aside for recycling. Where else can I find a huge variety of color and texture?

I found one page of a model standing next to a wonderfully textured brick wall so I ripped it out and used the wall. I love brick. My house is brick!

Then I found the line up of blue jeans and had to include them!

While making this page I was listening to the soundtrack for a show called Misfits - which I love! love! love! (the show and the music) So, I included lyrics that were playing in the background: "There's no secret to living" and "Sun goes down temperature drops"

I also included a to do list for the day:

• Post to blog (done). 
• Reorganize craft room (mostly done). 
• Cut fabric (did some of that) 
• Put on a fake tattoo (glow in the dark no less! - see second photo)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My thoughts: This is my first attempt at this... so I used a similar format as the sample page. Plus I like clouds and raindrops... But after viewing other class members AJ pages I was very impressed with how everyone else interpreted this theme. I think there are many possibilities with this technique that I have not yet explored and will definitely try it again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ingredients: bits of various magazines, acrylic wash, marker, photos, song lyrics, a to do list for today... including images of Woodstock being hugged by Snoopy, Goonies Never Say Die, Grateful Dead, Hello Kitty "I Love Nerds", George Rodrigue's Blue Dog, various clothing and shoes, as well as a photo of me & Bill on our wedding day...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

xoxo,
Blueberry Blonde

Tell Your Story Journal Page - May 5, 2010 - My Thoughts On Being A Domestic Goddess

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

My Thoughts On Being A Domestic Goddess... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
says: My thoughts on being a domestic goddess (Hestia)
kind, open, nurturing... cooking brings great joy. Love being around others. Cozy furniture... Small homey touches to bring out my inner Earth Goddess. Warm color palette = lots of earth tones, russets & oranges. Sometimes I forget the world needs exploring & must call on Artemis to awaken sense of adventure...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ingredients: one Austrian rhinestone 1/2mm, orange acrylic paint, blue craft mesh, two sizes of yellow ric-rac, glue, deco fabric pen, a page from better homes & gardens, for the wall hanging (center) I used a decorative border from a note pad to cover the magazine text.

For the content of this page I took this quiz on ivillage so can you! ~ quiz.ivillage.com/home/tests/goddess.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

xoxo,
Blueberry Blond

Tell Your Story Journal Page - May 4, 2010 - A Closer Look

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

A Closer Look... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With this art journal page I'm taking A Closer Look at my best friend of 14 years & my husband of 7 years, Bill.One of the nicest guys I've ever met. He has a great sense of humor, an amazing sense of direction and really knows a lot about history. He's traveled to places like Canada, Italy, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Ireland & Spain. Someday we hope to travel together.

He's a pretty cool guy and he dresses really nice. Sometimes he shops on Ebay for nice suits and finds great stuff for good deals.When I go thrift store shopping I like to buy him brand name ties. Recently I found him a brand new, with tags, Brooks Brothers tie. He found a new Ralph Lauren purple label suit in his size! We use a garment steamer to freshen them up rather than dry cleaning. Combine steaming with hanging them on the line, for a day or so, it makes clothes smell better, too.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How I made this AJ page: I have lots of maps and old text books but didn't want to cut them up... so I scanned in the page I wanted to use. I printed the map directly onto watercolor paper. Then antiqued it with acrylic washes. I printed the text book page onto plain paper and gave it a blue wash (Bill's favorite color).


I used a yellow paint chip to hand write a poem Bill wrote me (with his permission). This photo is from our wedding day. The flowers in my bouquet were fresh cut from our garden the night before our wedding.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ingredients: printer, page from a chemistry text book, scrapbook paper, doily, drink umbrella, acrylic paint, magazine page, 'deco fabric' pens, marker, pen, stamp & ink, silver leaf pen, glue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!


xoxo,
Blueberry Blonde

Tell Your Story Journal Page - May 3, 2010 - When My Mind Wanders

"Tell Your Story"

I will be posting a journal page a day! While I'm taking an online class, through Red Velvet Art (RVA), called Tell Your Story. (registration is closed) It is a 6 week class so, I'll be posting one page a day to my blog for the six weeks.

This will be a visual journey of self reflection via mixed media collage and a personal challenge...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When My Mind Wanders... can also be viewed on flickr, along with comments from other class members...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Says: When my mind wanders my thoughts are fragmented. Silly. I desire to create. Nap, Dream. Play. Be.

Random phrases say: Miranda. This awesome skull. shadows author. shout out. July Winnie Cooper. a secret retro stewardesses day. hoodies history of Debbie. DIY actor. craft tip. fall auteur tigra. Harry up. fly girls. dark sparkly lady doo-wop coctail do.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I received this vintage-y fabric in the mail today via a fabric swap (I'll be blogging about the fabric swap soon) and right when I saw it knew that I'd use it in my AJ today!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I used a cover of BUST magazine for this entire page.
Back issues are here: www.bustboobtique.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&produ...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

More information on the creating of this work of art:

I used the cut up method for getting the randomized groups of text. I discovered this technique years ago when I read Minutes to Go by Brion Gysin (I looked for a link to a copy of this book, but can't find one to share with you, sorry). I have used the technique years ago and was inspired to use the technique for this project on the wanderings of the mind.

Briefly explained: I limited myself to using only text that appeared on the front cover of BUST magazine. I cut each word out. Put them in a container, and prior to pulling word or pinched a few words I'd shake it. Then arrange them on the page.

For more detailed information on the cut up method check out UBU Web and Wiki

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other elements: tape, silver pen, pen, glue, ric-rac, stamp

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I love the bright colors!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please look but don't copy.
All comments, thoughts and constructive criticisms welcome!

xoxo,
Blueberry Blonde