Journal Pages

This page explores the reasons that I want to keep a visual journal. The Japanese visuals highlight the journal's use as a meditative practice. One can be in the moment and lose themselves in the process of creating.

The word "zygote" became the writing theme for this page. For the page below, I transfered a childhood photo and used the Soul Collage mantra "I am the one who..." as the writing prompt speaking from an eight year old point of view.

Visual journaling stretches my imagination and writing skills. I admire other journalers like Judy Wise and Donna Bauermiller. Check out Donna's Braille journal article in the Mar/Apr 2008 issue of Somerset Studios. I like Fran Meneley's Oaxaca journals that she posted recently on her blog. Dawn Sokol has Art Journal Fridays- weekly prompts to get the creative juices flowing.

Sketch a Box

Members of our sketching group put together a box of odds & ends to sketch. Each week we trade boxes. We could sketch one or two things or all items in the box. Here are my sketches. It's fun to see the different drawings and interpretations of the contents in each box.

This week, it was all about sketching spring flowers.

Sewing & Stitchery Expo Puyallup, WA

I attended the Sewing & Stitchery Expo and learned about a whole new world of fabric, notions, patterns, quilts, sewing machines and embroidery. Susan Gower from Barrington, RI had the Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods booth with embellishment eye-candy in all colors of the rainbow.

Reet's Rags To Stitches from Miranda, CA had great patterns and wonderful items made from hand-dyed felt. I liked the funky dolls.

One of the seminars was on Serendipity Quilts with Marci Baker. She demonstrated how to select contrasting fabrics, fussy cut, stack and wack and make the kaleidoscope quilt blocks. Who knew there would be a whole new vocabulary.

Tammie Bowser showed her photo mosaic quilts that reminded me of Chuck Close paintings. All in all it was two days of fun- meeting women passionate about quilting and sewing, trying out dream sewing and felting machines, getting a full body scan for perfect fitting patterns and discoving new products.

It's sunny and it feels like spring!

A few of weeks ago, I drew these narcissus bulbs growing fast but missed seeing them in full bloom. On my walk today, flowers appeared everywhere.

With the sun out, the bulbs in the ground are blooming. I love the sunny color of the crocus . . .


the the sweet fragrance of the daphne by the front door

and the primroses. Did you see the snow moon lunar eclipse last night and the bright moon early this morning? Check out Michele's eclipse photos. What a blessing it is to witness these events and the renaissance of spring!

Monoprint Rubbings

I wanted to change the appearance of this camouflage-like fabric.
I took a letter texture plate used for polymer clay and did a rubbing with Caran d'Ache Neocolor II watersoluble wax pastels. The effect appears very subtle. If I'd used a more contrasting color, the letters would show up more.

For this rubbing, I used Shiva Artist's Paintstiks- an oil-based fabric paint. It's very messy and harder to rub the lines on the fabric from the texture plate. I like the pastel colors. This sets with heat and becomes permanent.

Mail Art Received Today

What a pleasant surprise to receive this envelope in the mail today all the way from Texas.

Lynn sent one of her journal pages from our PLAY Retreat in Port Townsend. It's wonderful to make new friends and share our artwork. Thank you, Lynn

Happy Valentine's Day