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Hey there ! I’m happy you liked the first edition of this new blogposts serie. You know how much sharing is something I love doing. In this second edition, I am sharing about the current Art Journal I am using, the use of stencils everywhere, and more.

The Dylusions Art Journal, by Dyan Reaveley for Rangers

I discovered Dyan a few years back, as we were both in the same Art Journal Round Robin group (not the best experience but grew a lot from it however). I then noticed she had a pretty big shop in the UK and became a customer. At this time, Dyan was selling ink sprays and paints exclusive to her brand, and I quickly fell in love with them (some of these sprays are now available under the big brand Ranger, but not the paint. Maybe in the future, who knows…).

Recently, she released a beautiful art journal (still under the wings of Ranger.

Here is their «technical» description of it:

• Ideal with Dylusions Ink Sprays, Stencils and Stamps
• Sturdy cover, elastic closing and string-tie envelope included
• 64 pages of unlined white matte cardstock
• Sturdy cover, elastic closing and string-tie envelope included
• Cover measures 11 13/16″ x 9″; book pages measure 11 3/8″ x 8 1/4″

And it really does take spray (heavily applied) very well !!
It is quite thick though, so it may take a while to finish filling. But that is a good thing for me, who tend to work in several supports at the same time, as my friend Melissa told me when I showed it to her «you have to commit to it !», this is why I put that word on my front cover, as a reminder to actually finish what I start.

Stencils from The Crafter’s Workshop

It is not a secret that I absolutely love stencils. In my art journal, as in my paintings. AND now in cards I create too. Everywhere.

My go-to brand is The Crafter’s Workshop. They have original, fun, symbolic even stencils that I can use for my background (because this is the most use I have of it, but this is just me, though. Backgrounds are AS important as what is coming on top of it).

Each stencil comes in both 6×6″ and 12×12″. Which is perfect for both art journaling and paintings.

I love using them with different media: spray ink/paints obviously, but also with paint and a make up sponge, with an ink pad and a mak up sponge, with PanPastels… and more.

They have artists designing some of the lines, and of course my favorite ones are created by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.

Stabilo «All» Pencil

This is my «go-to» pencil when I create. I use the black all.the.time. 

These pencils are watersoluble, so I use the black to outline and then shade with my acrylic paint.

I recently bought the brown pencil for my faces and I am hooked.

As a Mixed Media artist, I always am on the look out to find the tools that will work on all kind of textures, on all kind of surfaces. And this pencil is the only one that does that job for me.

Silk Paints by Luminarte

I discovered this paints online but tried them only a few months ago, when I attended a workshop with Finnabair in my local scrapbook store. She used plenty of Luminarte products (their pigments, the Silk glazes etc). 

You probably have heard about the H2O watercolor cakes, that are highly shimmery and loved in the art community.

These are glazes, which means they are partly transparent and are not opaque colors.

I am still playing with it, and I know there are a lot of possible uses for it that I don’t know.

I may take one of the classes from Jodi Ohl or Dion Dior to learn how to better use them. But for now, I love them for their bright shimmer and gorgeous colors.

NOTE: this is not a sponsored blogpost; however, if I have an affiliate account with one of the products I share, I use the affiliate link to it. Also, this only states my point of view.

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Hello !

My heart is heavy for the family in Connecticut after this terrible shooting (I won’t start now about the gun policy in the US, this is not the place to do so). I hope that you won’t wait for a tragedy like that to hug and show love to your friends and family. Life is short (cliché, I know), so hug them when you want, not only when something reminds you that anything can happen (it is totally okay to hug tight your kids today, I will too).

This week, I am thankful for:

• Not being hurt (nor my husband or the other guy) after our car accident last Monday. Car is broken, we may have to pay more next year for our car insurance, but no one was hurt (just very sore and shocked). And the girls were not with us, which was a chance as it’s the back of the car that was hit.
• Our neighbors, taking care of the girls while we were dealing with all the paperwork.
• Kris Carr’s new book «Crazy Sexy Kitchen». Lots of possibilities, a way of cooking totally different from what I do, from what I know. But I feel it is what we need right now.
• Hope. I am sometimes feeling like it won’t get better. But it will. There is always Hope. Always.
• Good communication with my Golden Customer who ordered two custom paintings to me. Talking with her about the «behind» the paintings helps a lot lot.
• 9 years of unconditional love with my Husband.
• Having a health insurance that pays for my meds.
• The schoolbus driver that takes care of our girls. Her kindness.
• The group of ladies from Mindy’s class «Paint your story» on facebook.

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post):
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Hello dear Souls !

I tend to love December for one specific reason: it is the month (with September, my birth month) when I introspect about the year coming to an end. What was amazing, unexpected, loved. What was a challenge, an issue, a mistake.

And I decided to share a bit of them with you 🙂

For this first edition, I wanted to talk about online classes.
I decided last year that in 2012, I will be way more careful in the classes I would get involved in, in my choices. Not wanting to spend money on classes that I thought were for me and then, never watch a single video of it.

«Paint you story» and «Neat stuff» by Mindy Lacefield (aka Tim’s Sally)

I remember being waiting for «Paint Your Story» to be announced. I knew that Mindy’s class would be what I was needing at the moment, that it would help me to go deeper in my own style without becoming her (no wonder how much I love her art, but I still want to be me).

Her style is recognizable. You see it, you know it is from her. And usually, I instantly fall in love with it because it speaks to my Soul, to my deeper core. She is a maker of magic.

And what is very important to know is that once you sign up, you also will be part of an amazing community of artists. There is Ning, and Facebook where we all connect. We share our art from the workshops. We talk about our doubts. We seek for support, knowing we will receive kindness and understanding. The classes are now available at self-pace. But the community around it is still strong. I met

And a while after, she announced her she will also be doing an art journal class, «Neat stuff» in which she would demonstrate her way of doing a more realistic face. I was sold…

And I still do bind the journal the way she shows it at the beginning of the class, for me if I want a quick, small and easy journal. And for my daughter Koala who is a drawing machine (lol).

I think these two classes were the most life-altering for me, as an artist and as a human bean, this year. And I don’t regret any penny spent on it.

Can’t wait to finally meet Mindy next June in Port Townsend !

«LifeBook 2012» by Tamara Laporte (aka Willowing)

This is a year long journaling and healing oriented classe, in which Tam has gathered lots of teachers to share their techniques and healing with us every single week.

And at the end of the year (so for the current edition, last week or this week I don’t remember), Tam shared her way to bind all of our pages into a journal.

I love that all the videos are downloadable because I often run behind, so I download everything when it is available, I classified it by months’ folders on my computer, and I can watch the videos and read the pdf-s whenever I am ready for it.

Tam succeeded in gathering a very diverse line up of teachers.

I know you may be afraid of not being able to follow, and I did have that fear. However, as I said: you can download all the content, and go at your own pace.

There are already more that 700 people registered for next year’s LifeBook (I will be one of them), that will begin in a few weeks (you can still sign up if it has already started, don’t worry). The teachers line up is out of this world, just to name a few: Christy Tomlinson, Mindy Lacefield, Jane Davenport, Aimee Myers Dolich (from Artsyville), Dawn Devris Sokol, Shiloh Sophie McCloud, Dion Dior and more more more.

Tam has several options you can choose from when you decide to sign up, here is what she says:

There are 4 different packages to sign up to! 🙂 I am offering several packages which include 1 or 2 more of my courses for a reduced price, yay! These are the packages on offer:

1. Basic package (Life Book 2013 only) – £60 GBP (approx $99 USD) for the whole year)
2. Premium package (LB2013 + 1 course of Tam’s) – £75 GBP (approx $120 USD)
3. Rainbow package (LB2013 + 2 courses of Tam’s) – £85 (approx $137 USD)
4. Life Book Extreme (LB2013 + all of Tam’s lesson from LB2012) – £95 GBP (approx $153 USD)
5. Super Art Party Bonanza! (LB2013 + all of Tam’s lesson from LB2012 + 2 of Tam’s art courses) – £120 GBP (approx $190 USD)

Installment plans are also be available.

It is really a good opportunity to commit to your art journal, to learn from so many different artists (that all have their style, their take on art and on healing).

«Artsy Bangles» by Christy Tomlinson

I have a love for bracelets. If you’ve watched some of my {Painting In Motion} videos, you can often spot the many bracelets I wear on my right wrist (I wear my big cuff watch on my left one, so no place for anything).

I love to alternate everything that is «me»: some simple gem bracelets (currently: my favorite gem, Labradorite, Quartz, Landscape Jasper and Cornaline). A cuff I bought on Etsy, and other kind of bracelets.

Artsy Bangles is a class Christy did with her daughter Allie. They teach us about 25 different styles of bracelets.

There are very surprising bracelets (like repurposing a plastic bottle for example), some I already knew, some that were totally unknown to me.

It is a «mini» workshop. And I guess it is still available to work at your own pace. Christy had a kit available to purchase, that was a really good addition (sometimes, I just don’t want to run around to find what is needed, honestly).

«21 Secrets» from Connie Hozvicka (Dirty Footprints Studio)

I was honored to be one of the 21 teachers on this third edition of 21 Secrets.

If you are not familiar with it, it is a virtual playground focused on art journaling. Techniques, healing, fun were honored.

This session is coming to an end, but you can sign up for the 2013 one, that has a real good line up of teachers as well (if you like Kate Crane, this will be her first online class ! I have been waiting for it, personally. My friend Danielle Daniel will be teaching there too). The classes themselves won’t be announced before January though but I am sure it will be diverse and amazing. I signed up for it every year, and never was disappointed by the content.

The teachers pour their heart into it, and you can totally feel it in their lesson.

I also love the community that builds around it.

Next, I will talk to you about what made my life easier in 2012 😉

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Hello dear Souls !

I have noticed that recently, lots of people have their mood in their socks. I do (did) too, to be honest with you.
I blamed the grey weather, the very heavy rain that started pouring, my health. But I have also realized that this Gratitude Friday ritual is exactly what I need. It helps me see the blessing in disguise. The Love all around, in me and outside.
So I really hope it will have the same effect on you, if you decide to take a moment to reflect on all the good happening in your life, and to thank for it.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Synchronicity (talked about my brother T. twice this week and then he calls me).
• My husband really loved his birthday gifts and small celebration, I managed to keep the gifts a surprise. I am also thankful for my neighbor who helped a lot by buying it for me and bringing it for me at home (I don’t drive yet…). And for my parents-in-law who participated.
• New music discovers (today: Emeli Sandé).
• The power of art. Even if I am currently in a creative hole (again) I know it is temporary.
• Knowing it will all be okay. It hard at times, being a mom. But it will get easier. And better. My heart sometimes aches but is still so full of love for these two girls I gave birth too. They are a blessing for this World.
• My new printer/scanner. Can’t wait to find the right paper and change all my prints for the better.
• New creative ideas, there is a LOT I want to try. Some things you would not think I like, but I do. I will experiment. I know my style is evolving. Again.
• The date I have with my husband tonight. Just the two of us. Three hours without the girls (it’s organized by their school). Can’t go to a movie, but will go to a restaurant.
• Explanations. Friendships reconnecting.
• Our beautiful first real Christmas tree.
• Custom paintings (you can see a bit of them in the pictures at the end of this blogpost. They’re the last two). I did two that are shipping today to their owner. And began two new yesterday. (I am still building the page where you can learn all the infos and contact me).
• Getting back on track with what I eat. And sticking to it. Already seeing results, after only a week. I am confident that I can succeed in my weight loss goal.
• The desire to write again. I have Truths that need to be shared. I may have found how. More about it later.

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post):
[linkme]

Hi !

I found out that I have prints around that were never listed in my shop (can you believe that ?!). It is a good thing I decided to make the inventory of what I got and to cross this list with what was in Inner Worlds.
So I am listing them, they will be better in new homes 🙂

«Autumn». 8×10 print available here

Autumn is a very warm Nixie.
She loves taking care of others.
She appreciates making her close friends and relatives happy, no matter what.

Autumn knows that a happy heart is a happy soul.

She is kind, compassionate, loving, devoted.

You can purchase 8×10 prints of her right here.

In other news, I am changing my prints. Until now and since I’ve started selling prints of my artworks, I was using a extern prints provider. My prints are real good archival photo like items. And I love them.
However, because of the end of the year madness, it takes more time to get my prints. I hate this kind of situation.

Soooo after talking with my husband (who is the bestest husband ever *well, he would be if he would do amazing birthday surprises but still*), we decided to finally get me a professional wide scanner+printer. I’ve been thinking about it for months, but decided against it until now.

He got me one, thanks to a good sale on the Best Buy website… and one week later, I received this beauty:

I have not bought the paper yet, but I am experimenting with regular paper first.

Soon, my prints will be made on beautiful lustre paper, with a white border for a better framing.

I will be having a print sale soon, in order to try to sell out my actual stock and redo them all with the new printer.

So excited !!!