Archives

First version

Remember my desperate call for help a month ago ? I killed my big art journal and had no idea how to re-bind it. I want again to thank you all for helping me and giving me so many awesome ideas !

I realized that I really enjoy TOUCHING my pages. Some have some really nice texture, and I like running my finger on it.
I didn’t count exactly but the journal has more than 100 pages, so the idea of cutting paper, glueing it on every pages, doing new holes was overwhelming regarding the amount of time needed.

SO… the picture on your right is what my Journal was like most of its life. The inside of the spine was full of paint, I loved it like this. But what you don’t see well is that there is a clear cover on front and back. And because I manipulated it A LOT, the back one started to become weaker and weaker until the day it just fell off the journal.

After thinking about it during nearly a whole month, I decided to go for the binder option. It’s not pretty pretty, but I decorated the front cover (the most important to me, the rest can wait). The thing is I needed a big one (i chose a 2″ and smaller wouldn’t have suited the thickness of all the pages).
As the holes were almost all intact, it was the best option I think. But before trying this, I simply tried to put three rings. I didn’t like it. That’s where the binder came. And this is why i call this journal the “Journal version 1.3” (I’m geeky sometimes).

Here are a few pictures, i’m quite happy with it but it’s the only binder journal I want ;-). Click to enlarge the pictures:

I love books. About a lot of different subjects. I learn through reading, and I enjoy the art books full of tutorials.

I discovered an easy peasy technique in Claudine Hellmuth‘s book “Collage Discovery Workshop“: using plastic wrap to create a fun texture. It’s awesome when doing layers and layers for backgrounds.

I was on Youtube, looking for videos about Glimmer Mists (I just LOVE Glimmer Mists… and am always looking for new ways to use them in my artwork, things that are out of what we usually think). And found a video using the exact same technique found on Claudine’s book, but with the spray.

I tried, and here is what came out:

See how easy and quick it is ?

You have to be quite heavy when spraying the Glimmer Mists.
I used several colors, but you can use just one if you want.
It’s handy to already have the plastic wrap cut and ready to use before you start.
It can take time to dry, don’t be too impatient (yes, it’s hard. I know). But it also depends on the surface used; if it absorbs the Glimmer Mists fast or not.

If, as I do, you plan to add more layers OVER it, you have two options to avoid any smudging:

1. Heat dry (with your embossing gun) and then coat it with a hair spray (thank you so much Scrapacat for the tip).
2. Coat it with the Workable Fixative spray (by Krylon).

If you give it a try, I’d LOVE to see how it turns out. You’ll never get the same result twice (that’s part of the fun too).

I started to write my Morning Pages again, even if I usually don’t write them first thing in the morning (so how should I call these ? I should find it another name…) These 3 pages of free writing, without taking care of the meaning, of the form, of the potential mistakes helps me a lot to pull out thoughts off my head. And sometimes I cheat a little because I re-read despite the fact that Julia Cameron advises not to do so before a certain amount of time (7 weeks ? I have to check). I really do huge discoveries about myself, it brings stuff into focus; this exercice is really what I need currently and I’m glad I started it again (and don’t blame myself anymore when I miss a day).

My Morning Pages paired with today’s Connie‘s blogpost just made KABOOOOOOOOOOM in my mind.

Indeed, this week I noticed a pattern of thinking: why do I not share more my Art Journal pages ? And I finally understood why ! Here is partly what I wrote earlier this morning (it was in French so I translate):

My style is special because I am someone peculiar. I have my paradoxes. I am made of Darkness and of Light. Today, light predominates but it was not like this a few years ago; and sometimes Darkness takes over again. I drown into it, I’m like in a bubble filled with water, I move over the course of its flow but I stay grounded in the bottom.  Until the day the bubble bursts as if nothing happened, and so I see the Light again. It’s how I work. For a long time I fought and wanted to go against cuntercurrent of my life, chasing the Spleen and wanting absolutely to be somebody else. But it was vain because it’s not the best. It was like I was fighting against windmill during a major tempest…  I am affraid to let people see this dark side of  me, whereas it now coexist nearly perfectly with my luminous side; they’re in me side by side.

I longly hesitated before sharing these words with you but felt like it was something I had to do.

A lot of my pages are… weird. I love them mucho but because of the fear of being judged, of people thinking “she should be in a mental institute, she’s totally depressed”, I kept them all for myself and my very close circle. It’s now time for me to share who I am with the World, and not who I think people would like me to be. I don’t deny my paradoxes and my past anymore.

So I’ll try to overcome this fear and to share more of who I am via my art journal pages 🙂

Again. Okay I know, it should have been blogged last Monday but…. better late than never !

1. Zen Charm bracelet, by The Zen Muse, 2. DSCF0180, 3. THINE and THOU, TOGETHER, 4. 09_03_10, 5. The Art collector , 6. Tree Owl Necklace, by The Zen Muse, 7. you can fly, 8. Awake, 9. IMG_2120_Frm3-10J_Love_Web

Colourful Softness. Trees, Zen, Love.

Looking for these deep emotions living in me, I sort of everything, I enjoy every moment and every experience. Center myself to discover me and share better.

I also feel the strange urge to adorn my body with what vibrate in me. I’m currently working on my next tattoo; the ideas are getting more precise. I don’t know if I’ll get it for my birthday (September 20th) or after, the date is not that important even if turning 25 is kind of huge for me; I have some jewelery cravings too.

I know myself more and more better and it does not feel as bad as what I thought…

Good news Lovelies !!

For today (September 9th) only, Kelly Rae Roberts allows us to buy her Whole Shabang ebook (I talked about it there) for a reduced price: $99 instead of $140. It’s a really great deal so I thought I would share with you.

It’s 205 pages to help you understand and learn all you need to know to launch your creative business. Because it feels overwhelming, and stressful, it is much helpful to have access to all these informations in one place.

Click on the image to know more:

The one that is on sale is the last one. She also said : don’t worry you’ll see the normal price but you’ll pay $99.