Sketch & Wash {art supplies}

The charcoal pencil.
It has been one of my go to supplies for a long time now.
I love the shadow effect I can get out of it to pop a subject up to the eye.
The depth it can create with its contrast.
The way it can finish a piece when used along the edges.

Recently I started playing with a water soluble graphite pencil.
{General's Sketch & Wash}
That charcoal pencil might want to be wary.
Lighter in value, but gives a nice smooth and delicate shadow.
It moves about the page easier.

Same, but different.
Both fun to use.
 

Project Life 2014 {the book}

I still haven't finish Project Life 2013,

but an unfinished project has never stopped me from moving on to the next one before,

so here I go.

 

I decided this year I would change things up a bit.

I'm still using my own handmade journal without the pockets/page protectors,

but this time instead of a PL core kit I will be receiving Studio Calico's monthly Project Life kit.

I'm interested to see if it makes a difference with time management.

 

 

As I said, I'm housing 2014 in a book I put together.

This is a yearbook I picked up, I think early last fall, at an antique mall.

{I've gone back to the yearbook plan after all.}

 

 

First I set about making the signatures and sewing them in.

That took some brain power.

The plan was to used the diamond x binding stitch Mary Ann taught in her Ticket to Venice class.

I quickly realized that it wasn't going to work, because I had five signatures and my spine just didn't have the width to handle that many holes in one line and create a good looking stitch.

So with some finagling, and a whole lot of juggling, I came up with this.

 

 

When I got to the cover I found myself flabbergasted.

It's orange.

Not a coral,

{oh, how I love the color coral}

but tomato orange.  Wait...  I picked that out??  I don't do orange.

What was I going to do with that??

Well once again my need to buy things solely because they are pretty and not because I have an actual need for them came in handy.

I cut the cover off a Rifle Paper Co. journal, glued it down and added some letter stickers to it.

Perfect.  And evidently I can do tomato orange.

 

 

Inside for the intro page I used a combination of Kaisercraft, Studio Calico and My Mind's Eye from my paper stash, a bit of washi tape and a photo of the #noblesthree.

 

 

Now to get myself on a printing schedule, because setting aside a chunk of time to print out photos is what slows me down the most.

 

Are you documenting 2014?

 



December Daily 2013

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a lovely week last week

and all of my fellow Americans a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I had hoped to get by here last week, but obviously it didn't happen.

 

 

So if you remember, a couple of weeks ago I started preparing for December Daily.

Not long after that post I stayed up till 3 o'clock in the morning putting my journal together.

I just didn't want to stop.

 

 

You might not know this about me, but I covet velvet.

Velvet anything.

Especially old velvet.

It just so happened that while putting my book together this bit of old, blue, velvet ribbon was sitting on my worktable.  I had thought to use it on another project, but while putting my signatures together I noticed how beautifully it went with the Basic Grey Fuitcake paper.

Ooh.  Makes me a bit giddy, that ribbon does.

 

 

Also I wanted to try binding my book block into the spine this way.

Even though I reinforced my spine well, I still had to do some repairs afterward.

{and looks like I need to on the inside now}

That's how it goes when you use a book that's around 90 years old.

But man, I think it was worth it to showcase that blue velvet.

 

 

Though I've started the intro pages of this year's book, I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to tackle the inside pages.  I'm pretty sure these two aren't finished.

However, I really need to keep this project as simple as I can.

The first year I did a December Daily {2010} it was more in a traditional scrapbook style.

In 2011 I went full on grungy art journal.

Last year I had started to go the same route, but it just didn't feel right and ended up turning towards a more clean and doodly style than grungy.

At the moment I'm feeling a combination of both of those, however, there are some traditional scrapbook techniques that I might try to incorporate into my style.

{whatever that might be...}

 

 

Last week I finished up a current art piece I was working on and have decided to not start the next as I had intended to, but instead designate the month of December to only December Daily {this year's and past,} as well as, catching up and finishing Project Life.

Crossing my fingers I can do it!

 



The Weekend Worktable

I had intentions of spending the whole weekend playing in the studio,

but I ended up with only a few hours play.

 

But I made some useful time of it.

Remember all those journals I said were sitting open on my worktable?

Well I got to a couple of them.

 

The Spellbook

Although October is over and I had thought to put it away until next year,

it's still out.

I might keep it out until the end of November and hope a few more "spells" get added.

 

Journal No.10

Where gesso and white pen become a still life.

I'm enjoying the simplicity here.

 

Journal No.1

It got a start.

Maybe I'll get some evening time to finished it up this week.

 

Journal No.3

The Autumn Journal

Nothing... but I can see it so very clearly.

I need to get it down before it fades.

 

So, what did you do this weekend?

 



Call Me Crazy

It's that time of year again.

Time to start thinking about December Daily.

And I've already done more than start thinkin', y'all.

 

 

I've gone ahead and picked my paper from my

Basic Gray Christmas hoard

and purchased a vintage book to house it all in.

Now normally by this point I haven't even finish last year's book,

but this year I've upped the ante.

 

 

I have not only

not finished last year's December Daily,

but I haven't finished 2011's either.

Yep, that's right.

 

 

And that's not even the all of it.

I am really livin' on the edge,

because not only have I picked my paper and found my book for this year,

 

 

but I am ready for next year too.

 

Seriously people....

what's wrong with me?

 



The Process {Inside an Art Journal}

It started simply

by smearing around some leftover paint on a couple of blank pages.

 

A few weeks later I was given a card by a couple of very sweet young ladies

while out walking the dog.

It just so happened that the colors worked well with the paint I had smeared.

 

 

Two days later it was time to begin.

Ephemera gathered.

Glued down.

"And the little children sang"

was penned next.

 

 

After that I found out that Dawn had NaNoJouMo promts happening here.

I like prompts.

And also the song lyrics worked really well with the page.

Added.

Flowers finished.  Swirlies drawn in white and drippy bits across the top of the right side.

I am loving the drippy doodle right now.

 

 

Over on the left side;

Doodle.  Make a hot mess.  Try to fix it and make a bigger mess.

Cover it up with gesso.

 

 

This time, fix it for real.

Add a little color here; a little contrast there; a few pen lines.

Edge it all in charcoal and add the finish date.

One week from the start date.

 

 

Remind myself that Rome wasn't built in a day either.

 



Old Dogs In Crystal Balls

It's been just over a year since I lost my beloved Lucy.

At the time I had my Autumn Journal sitting out on my worktable.

A few weeks after saying goodbye, this came out.

A memorial of a sort.

 

 

Black and white with a touch of red.

She only wore red collars.

The color popped so prettily against her fur.

 

 

A little fella who just happens to make me think of dogs.

 

 

A "crystal ball,"

because as Dorothy saw Auntie Em, I just wanted to see her one more time.

 

 

Broken hearts and tearful stars

and the words of Mary Oliver...

"What would the world be like without music or rivers

or the green and tender grass?

What would this world be like without dogs?"

 

Really now, what would this world be like?

Probably shouldn't ask that question of cat people, huh?

 



Journals, Journals, Journals

A few weeks ago I decided to pull out all of my journals and number them in the order in which they were created.

 

So I dug them all out.  Looked at them.  And revised my plan.

{Also, I'm pretty sure there are some I missed in a cabinet I didn't check.}

I altered my plan from numbering all the journals to just the ones that have been specifically used for only random play.

It seems I have quite a few journals that are themed or I've been using for certain projects/prompts or I'm using very specific mediums in.

So everything that has been only used for a special project, theme, memory keeping, doodling or drawing got set aside.

That left me with seven.

 

Seven got numbered.

And not a single one of those seven is complete and full.

As I was putting them all back the shelf I decided to keep No.1 out.

And actually finish it.

Then a few days later I was working on a special project

{Hello big dreams.  I'm back to working towards you.}

and I had some left over paint that I didn't want to go to waste, so I pulled out another of the numbered journals to deposit it in.

 

Then one day it felt like autumn outside and so I went and got my Autumn journal,

because I haven't touched it since last autumn.

And now, as I sit here at my worktable writing this, I count six open journals;

a spellbook, a doodle journal, a December Daily and art journals numbers 1, 3 and 7. 

 

It seems pulling forgotten journals off shelves to number is a pretty productive idea.

  



A Love Letter

Dear Water Soluble Wax Pastels,

I remember when we met a few years ago.  We had some good times together.  And I also remember it was my fault our relationship came to a standstill.  I know I set you aside for other art supplies after a while. 

I am sorry for that, very sorry. 

But today I am grateful.  So grateful you were there for me in that moment of distress. 

 

 

It was background horror.  I knew it would be a lovely butterfly waltz with those Crayola markers, but it went too far, too fast.  And when I was at my greatest despair, ready to throw it all away, it was you who was there for me.  You, like a knight in shining armor coming to my rescue upon your snowy white steed. 

 

 

I don't know that I can ever repay you; you know how fickle I can be when it comes to art supplies such as yourself.  But please remember, my dearest water soluble wax pastels, though it may seem like I have forgotten you at times, eventually I will return to you.

All my love,

Alisa

The Pink and Green Palette...

with accents of white, bluish-gray and brown.

 

This is how it started;

in my pattern book.

 

 

Green ombre with drippies of pink and coral.

 

And from there paper fabric was created.

 

 

{little known fact: wolfhounds like paper fabric just as much as they do regular fabric}

 

Continuing down this track,

 

 

a hexagon flower was sewn together.

 

Soon after, part of the paper fabric was cut into triangles to create this lovely little sun-catcher number.

 

 

I'm pretty sure there is still more exploring to do within this

pink and green palette.

 

Stay tuned.

 

 



Doodle Camp

Happy Friday!

 

Today I want to share the other summer class I'm taking...

Doodle Camp 2013

taught by Dawn DeVries Sokol.

The "camp" was a week long and is now over, but because of other obligations

and such I'm only on about day 3.

Slow going as usual for me, but I'm really only working on it a few evenings a week.

 

 

If you remember, I took a doodle class from Dawn at Handmade U back in April.

Y'all, I love Dawn's classes.

There is no stress, it's easy-going... just overall freeing.

Robin took this class too and recently posted about it

and really, she said it best...

"There is something about Dawn's prompts that feel like permission rather than assignments to me."

Very true.

 

 

Like I said, I'm only about 2 or 3 days into it.

So far I've made my journal and doodled my cover and completed the first prompt.

I'm taking it slow and steady

and enjoying every moment of it.

 



A Journal of Typography

I made a journal awhile ago.

 

 

And I shared a glimpse of it back in June.

I love this thing!

First off, this old day book is a fantastic and odd size of about 6"x15".

It's tall and skinny.

 

 

I thought it would be the perfect place for me to practice my hand lettering.

I sewed in four signatures of watercolor paper

and then got started on the intro page.

 

 

I added only a thin strip of paper to the inside cover, instead of covering the whole thing with paper.

There was something I found very pleasing about the original inside cover.

Maybe the contrast of the original paper color and the bright white of the watercolor paper.

I happened to have an antique sheet music cover page sitting on my desk next to me when I started to draw and found myself inspired by its graphics.

They made everything so pretty back then.

 

To say I am happy with my new place to practice lettering

is an understatement.

I'm pleased as punch.

 



The Splendid Book for Girls

I received the most splendid package in the mail recently.

A package from one of the sweetest artists, bloggers, people I know;

Monica Sabolla Gruppo of The White Bench.

I was so surprised when I opened the box and found this...

a journal cover she had created.

 

 

She used an old book as the base...

The Splendid Book for Girls.

At first I was reluctant to punch holes into the spine for binding,

but I finally did, as the only thing that felt right was to keep the book whole.

 

 

It truly could not be anymore perfect;

the heart {she was supposed to just be sending me some heart shaped rocks, which are amazing in their own right!},the postcard from Scotland she chose to collage onto it, the colors used, the butterflies and the words.

Oh the words.  The message the chose for me... well...

 

 

But the most wonderful and amazing thing about it is, Monica went out of her way for no reason at all other than the kindness and love in her heart to create this piece of art for me.

Life is such a beautiful place to be.

 

 

 

 

What I Did With My Patterns

Remember those patterns I made for

MAM's SEWN class?

 

 

I made a pattern book with some of them.

A book to paint more patterns in.

Although,

I have yet to paint any patterns in it,

because I've been too busy caressing it.

I love it so.

Terrible, wonky free motion stitching and all.

 

What have you been doing?

And Then This Happened

So I was going to blog last week,

but then I finally got around to making this...

 

and then this happened...

 

Then before I knew it,

I had picked this up...

 

and this started happening...

and then it was Monday.

There was also lots of celebrating.
Celebrating of the boy
and then the SIL
and then the Farmboy.

It was a pretty good week.
I hope yours was too?