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Hi guys !

I am taking a few minutes from watching my daughters play outside with the other kids on that wonderful last day of Spring Break to let you know I’ve added a bunch of new original Nixies in the shop.

I wish it would get easier for me to list them, I am always so afraid of not pricing them right. But I go with my gut and I hope this is right.

I love them all, but I create them not only for me, but to inspire people as well. I hope you’ll like their stories, and will relate to their stories (you can read them on their page in the shop).

Here they are:

«Breathe» is created on a 6×8” cradled wood panel.

She is all about taking the time to introspect and to remember this simple automatic thing we all do without even thinking about it: breathing.

Breathing to center herself, to ground her in the Present moment and what it has to offer, to slow down on the craziness everyday life is.

Letting everything flow, not being

This painting can be purchased here (and you’ll have more info about it as well): Breathe.

Prints will also be available.

All the following Nixies have been created on 8×10” (±20x25cm) canvas board. They are all currently for sale at $69+shipping.

Kowana is the caregiver.

She teaches you to take care of yourself.

She is very tender, very kind. There definitely is something about her that makes me want a hug.

Asha was my first brown skin Nixie, and I guess this is partly why I cherish her so much, still now.

She is from where it’s warm all year long. She is what they call a priestess. She knows her way with Nature, with animal and everything that is living. She hears them whisper to her.

She is the healer.

This painting, as the others, is meant to be discovered with your fingers running on it, not only with your eyes.

Bethanny is the sweetness behind the strength. She is an hidden softy.

She’s the one you can rely on to find solutions.

Hope is the light in the darkest moments.

She makes conscious choices about how she wants to feel on a constant basis, and her happiness is contagious.

Each Nixie has more info in the shop, I hope you like them

Hey there ! I know it’s been a few weeks since my last Project Life Monday blogpost. I am «behind» in my album and so I had nothing to share with you yet. But that’s okay. I learn along the way not to feel any guilt for not doing it every single week. Sometimes, I just have nothing to record. I am also learning that it is ok not to complete two pages a week, and that the most important is to have photos and journaling now and then.

I touch up almost all our photos before printing them (this is when I tell myself «girl, you really need to learn more about using your DSLR camera !»). I love using actions, and lately I’ve been using RadLab.
I always loved playing in Photoshop. Always. You may not know, but you can also do your Project Life digitally, with the digital versions of the products you would use in a real album, now via ACdigitals.com (American Crafts and Becky Higgins partnered officially a few months ago).

I am sharing the two pages I’ve done so far, so you can have an idea. I really had fun making them. And yes, I will write my journaling by hand because I truly believe in the power of handwriting. I will use one of my Precision Pen by American Crafts (I’ll share with you the final result).
For these two pages, I focused on the photos I took on Koala’s birthday.

For now, here are the pro-s and con-s I see for using digital Project Life over in-my-hands Project Life:

On the + side:

• It is fast. I use the clipping mask option in Photoshop so my photos go perfectly in the spots.
• I can still print it at Costco (or elsewhere) and put it in our album so it does not stay on my computer.
• It is cheaper.
• I can still add embellishments on the page once printed.
• Becky Higgins’ products seem to be available digitally before being available for real.

On the – side:

• I love playing with products I can touch, it takes this pleasure off.
• It seems more boring on the long term
• I can’t add any memorabilia

It seems like there are more positive points; however, the two negative ones are big for me and could be enough for me.

I think that for the moments when I feel way behind, where weeks go by without anything put in the album, going for the digital version would help take some of the pressure of getting it done off. Because it is faster to have a page finished digitally than it is with the actual products. This is why I think I am going to do both, without really caring of when I do which. Just going with my own flow. As long as our memories our documented, I think that it does not really matter eventually if I did the spread on Photoshop or with actual kits.

Do you do digital memory keeping ?? I would love your input 🙂

I used the Midnidght digital kit, designed by Liz Tamanaha and the digital template of the Design A page. As it’s the newest release, the Midnight edition is on sale during all this week (until Sunday), just thought you may wanna know. I also used Photoshop CS6.

I am so happy to share with you a painting video this week, instead of an Art journaling one.

I need to be honest (with you, with me): I’ve not been painting much lately… a few strokes here and there but I have not actually finished any painting in what seems like forever. Yes, it does bother me; but I think also that this is part of my creative learning curve.

I want to make a living from what I do. I don’t want it to be a hobby. Inspiring people through art is what I feel called to do. There is more to it, I am unveiling it little by little but that is a whole other story I’ll spare you for now. I need to stop feeling guilty about making money from it, this is one of my hugest block right now.

Ok, back to this week painting. I titled it «The Plunge» (and this is where you see that English is actually not my mother-tongue language, impossible for me to know if we say «take» or «make» the plunge… argh ! frustration…).
You’ll see that for the major party of the process, the canvas was not oriented the way it ended. I turned it to make my shading life easier and then… lightbulb moment (ploooop): it was how it was meant to be ! Love it.

During my last wood panel hoarding sessions (I buy especially when it’s on sale, either at Opus our local art supply store, or on Dick Blick), I purchased more square canvases *especially 6×6″ and 8×8″*, so this is what I pulled out.
You may know by now how much I enjoy using wood instead of canvas, because of all I put on it, I am not afraid of piercing it or dealing with a wiggly surface.

Everything came together quite easily, and it felt so good to be back.

This painting is about this first step we need to take toward what we desire. The rush before this first step. Just do it.

Stamp carving has been a lot on my mind lately. I usually enjoy the process, and have carved what has became my go-to symbolic stamps, like this bulleye one.

!!! The painting is for sale, contact me if interested.
Prints will soon be added to the shop (later today).

Enjoy !

Here is what I used:

What does not appear on the list above: Perfect Pearls, Hero Arts stamp set «Sundrifter» for Studio Calico, tissue paper from pattern (the thing to make clothes), Glitter Glam by Tattered Angels

I love birthdays. My Mom always made mine somehow special. It does not mean plenty of presents to unwrap, but a reminder I was loved and wanted. This is how I want my daughters to feel in their birthdays.
I wish I was a crafty Mom that would decorate the entire home, but I am not (someday maybe) and that is totally okay I guess.

Koala appreciates, when she wakes up on her birthday morning, to be greeted by a lot of boundary wishes from us, and to choose what we will eat and activities.

This morning, the 3 of us woke up earlier, got busy making crêpes in the kitchen, wrapped the last gifts, and waited for her.
It felt good.

6 years ago, we were still living in Toulouse (France).
Koala was already special while in my womb, I cannot explain how or why but it was such a different experience than for Grenouille (who is special to me as well, in other ways).
So much changed in six years…

Koala is funny, quirky, gracious, passionate, loving, caring, angry at times, she knows what she wants and goes for it.

She still is our baby.

(Today also marks my half-birthday ! Ahah)

(Tired, but happy)

This week was quite an easy process. This is crazy amazing when I succeed in shutting my mind for a while and just go with the flow.

This Art Journaling spread is busier than what I usually do, and like, but eh… I’m loving it anyway !

I am still working my way in my Dylusions Journal. It is getting fat and colorful from the inside (the elastic closure was a nice addition for sure).

I simply used what I love the most: sprays, stencils, paint and stamps. I also used some Sharpie paint markers and oil pastels (if you want, I can create a list of the supplies I used). I did not go crazy fancy, and quite stayed in my comfort zone. I did what makes me happy I guess…

I told you I was obsessed with geometric shapes, you can spot a small triangle clutter at the bottom of the page, for who knows what reason it resonated with my message of following your Purpose.
And this hexagon stamp by Hero Arts for Studio Calico. Always.

«Follow the Whispers» is something that is at the core of what I do. Intuitive creations. Following what comes, letting the images that emerge do their thing, just being the hand in all of this. I am just the messenger, from the Universe (or whatever you call It) to you who read this and discover what I do.
It took me time to accept all that, but right now, I am just in full acceptance mode 🙂

Texture my love… it’s everywhere. From the leftover hearts from our Valentine’s day cards session to the beautiful arrows made with a stencil and gel medium. I am in Texture heaven !!

Purpose. Infinite. Direction. Commitment.

Here is the video, I hope you’ll enjoy: