How Excitement

Well, I'm fully into this art journalling since starting the course I won with Juliana Coles. It's like a switch flipped and now I just want to draw and make art, again. There's something that excites the little kid in me when it comes to art. I can always remember the sheer joy of splashing paint around and seeing the way it stained the page. It's something I always treasure, yet forget to go back to until I'm prompted. Like winning the course. I was given a massive shove back towards art. It's like coming home.

So, whenever I come across something good I like to share. In my recent art journal adventures I've met Willowing, who is a lovely and generous artist living in the UK. I've been hanging out on her ning website, watching her youtube videos and enjoyiing her whimsy. She also sells art journal workshops, which look very cool, and DVDs. But right now you can join Willowing, otherwise known as Tam, as she gives a free online art journal course called The Heart of Art.

The course runs for four weeks, has videos to download and lots more fun to enjoy with other people from all over the world, but the best thing is, it's free. Of course, you may donate money to her for offering this course, but if you can't pay anything, please share with others about the free course. I've signed up. The course officially begins on October 18th, but there is a full description of the course and a supply list available to download once you join the group.

I'm sure it will be loads of fun. I hope to see some of my regular readers joining in and creating art, too.

Heather

Art Journal Fun

Since winning a lovely little prize from Creativity Classes on Extreme Journaling with Juliana Coles I've been getting into my art supplies, old and new. It was time to pull out the stuff I haven't used in ages and to build up my supplies with some fun new things. I added paint pens to my stash, those are fun. I also purchased some lovely washi masking tape from a place on etsy called washimatta. I only just ordered those, so I'll give you an update once they arrive.

While reading iHanna's blog today I noticed she had an entry on washi tape, too. It always pays to read the comments on blog entries. So I was pleased to find a link left by another crafty blogger, Julie K, on how to make your own faux washi tape, which I will be giving a go at some point, too.

Anyway, I've been filling pages in my art journal with gesso, getting them ready for the art I have yet to create. Also, I'm collecting things to stick in my journal, like menus from Fast Eddy's and whatever else appeals to me at the moment. I'll keep you updated on more about my adventures into art journals soon.

I had been waiting on approval to use some photos from other people, but this is my own photo taken just a little while ago, of my washi stash. I just can't wait to play.

Heather
Photo my own
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Hey, I Won!

How lucky can I get? I won the prize for yesterday's draw on Creativity Classes. I'm really rapt, too. The prize is a class with Juliana Coles called Field Notes: A Book of Reminders! It looks to be an exciting change of pace for me, as I've gotten out of touch with all my visual journalling habits. I'm sure this will be one way to excite those skills again. You can check out some of Juliana's artwork on her etsy store Me & Pete's Land of Enchantment Outpost.

Heather - photo used with permission from stock.xchng
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Cool Journal Course to Win

I've been entering the draw each day just lately to win cool creativity classes from the new website Creativity Classes. You should check out the classes on offer, but don't forget to enter in the draw for prizes, too. Looks like loads of fun.

Heather - Photo used with permission from stock.xchng
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Computer Problems

One of the reaasons I haven't been getting to my blogs is simply because I have a problem with my computer. It won't turn on, more specifically. While this is frustrating, it's been kind of nice in a way. I've been using my notepad type of computer to access the internet. I get to sit all cosy in here with hubby with the heater on. I don't have all my usual tools on this computer, so I haven't been getting to the things I normally do.

I have been writing in my journal a lot, though. Possibly since not having my computer active I've actually been writing even more in my journal. I just finished a nice big fat one from Smiggle. It was purple and had creamy blank pages. But I picked up a fun looking one with colourful stripes and flowers on it from a sale at Angus & Robertson recently. I started in that one today.

Hopefully, I can get my computer working soon and will then get back to regular blogging.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Stock.xchng

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Finding Quiet Time

One thing I find really difficult with my husband home all the time, is the ability to get a bit of quiet time in my own home. I often go to one of my favourite cafes to write in my journal, but what I really want is some place quiet I can do that here, at home, with no one else around. It seems to be asking the impossible.

For one thing, he likes noise going, even when he's studying. I prefer silence. He is pretty much always here, so just doing something without him there is not going to happen. I know I could insist on being alone, but I feel the need to explain myself. That just seems like a lot of trouble.

I have to make do with writing in public, but it's just annoying. I suppose all I'm doing is having a complain about it. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel a bit of solace in your own home is necessary.

Do any of my other readers cope with a similar problem? Please write about it in the comments section if you do. Perhaps you have some good tips for me.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Stock.xchng

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The Artist's Way, Again

Just recently I became tired of not having much direction as far as my writing goes. I'd been getting little signals that I should go back and do The Artist's Way again, but had every excuse happening. The more excuses I made the more I realised I needed to do it. So, last week, Monday morning I rose early and got stuck into those boring old morning pages. The weirdest thing was it felt like coming home.

There's something about doing the morning pages that brings a low hum of energy to my days. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed it. I've been doing the book, the 12 week course, but I'm feeling like some of the exercises are redundant. This will be the third time I've done this book. I'm trying to work out if all I needed was the morning pages or to slog through with the course again.

I'll keep you updated on what I end up doing, but please share your thoughts on doing the book or any other book to inspire your creativity.

Heather
Cover of The Artist's Way, photo no my own
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