Day 39 - Logo Challenge

We've moved on from mold remediation and repiping to starting to put the bathrooms back together.  The limestone in the shower was damaged by water, so it has to be ripped out and with it, the floor.  I usually get excited about decorating and picking out finishes.  I have to admit though that this time, it just doesn't seem as much fun.  I've decided not to do natural stone again.  It's very beautiful but requires maintenance I just don't want to spend money on.  I opted to go with a nice porcelain tile that looks like stone.  

I'm behind on my Documented Life Project, so I'm working at my own speed….slow. This is my take on Kim's logo challenge for Beyond Layers.

Peace.

Disaster Strikes!!

Oh, friends, I've been absent because we have been dealing with a slab leak.  The past two weeks have simply been crazy.  The insurance company dragged their feet and as a result we had a mold issue which has been remedied.  However, I have one bathroom which has to be completely redone and the other bathroom that backs up to it has some restoration that needs to be done as well.  We have been living at a nearby hotel until we have a usable bathroom.  The two dogs have been so good through all of this.

In desperation I looked back in my journal and found this to post.  I don't believe I had posted it prior.  This is one of the first daily journaling attempts to get me started with journaling again.  

I got away from it because I thought I just didn't have the time to do it and my photo editing.  I'm convinced though that even ten minutes per day makes a difference.  This is an example of that 10 minutes.

I will be posting again really soon….just have to finish up with contractors, insurance companies etc.

Peace!

Meet Marilyn

For our Documented Life Project week 2 challenge, we are asked to incorporate a "selfie",  either a photo, a drawing or a painted/collaged representation of our very own self.

While I don't exactly look like this, it's a fair representation for several reasons.  I have always said "It's all about big gold(silver) hoop earrings and red toenails". Of course, you can't see the red toenails here, but I assure you they're there!  Also my hair looks like this frequently, or to me, it looks like this!!  I drew this on a piece of old ledger paper with a black Stabilo All pencil.

Happy Days!

Documented Life Project 2014 Week 1

I joined Documented Life Project just to insure that I continue to journal, hopefully daily, but at least weekly (for this project).

Five wonderful artists have a blog fittingly called "Art to the 5th". and they are responsible for beginning this project.  When you go to the Documented Life Project, you will see links for their blogs.

The first week's challenge is to draw, paint or photograph and incorporate our front door into our Documented Life planner.

We've had a red front door for as long as I can remember.  When I told my husband I wanted to paint it a different color, he said I could paint it any color I wished as long as it was RED!  I think I'll keep it red since the Asians think of it as a symbol of prosperity.  Standing in the doorway are my daughter-in-law and my two precious grands.  They made this picture their Christmas card last year.

I used the word "joy" as they are all such a joy to me.

Perhaps that should be my word for the month, year?  I haven't really decided on one yet.  I thought I was  going to do "calm", but discovering one of the 5 artists has claimed it, I thought I would come up with something else.  I mean there's such a dearth of words, don't you think??

  

Photoshop Technique

I'm way behind on my Photoshop Artistry workshop, but just have needed to do some nitty gritty get the hands dirty art.  Today, though, I practiced on a technique Sebastian calls "pasting in".  I scanned an image of my hand painted fabric art piece and then embedded my selfie.  I added a stroke outline and used the pencil in PS to doodle in and around the selfie. 

I also played with this image of Starbucks with its unusual signage.  Sebastian has suggested we look for things that are out of character or incongruent.  I think this qualifies.

Stencil Madness

That's it…..I have gone mad for stencils.  I'm working in my journals pretty much every day now.  I also love, love, love Tim Holtz' new Radiant Paints.  They are so different from other acrylic paints.  They react with water, but when they are dry, they are permanent.  You can not feel them on the page as you can with other paints.  And they wash up really well!!

In my larger journal I did these.

Henna Women

The stencil girl is unfinished.  I cut out my own stencil/mask and per Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's instructions I covered her with packing tape front and back before cutting her out.  Now I can use her over and over and just wipe her off.  I do like tips like that.  They make our art life so much easier.

 Paper Doll

and finally this background was stenciled before I did the collage on it.

In my "Bits and Pieces" journal I did a couple pages.

So you can see I've gone a bit mad for stencils, but they are so much fun.

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's.  I'm happy to have the holidays behind us and move on to 2014.  I think it will be a fascinating year.  I plan to fill my year with art.  How about you?