June

Wow I got a new camera and I am having fun. I don't have a lot of time but I am managing it much better. I am learning how to take pictures in a new way with this digital stuff. It makes me a better photographer.

Joy on a rainy day

Pages from altered book.

Altered book from Juliana Coles class

Spring

It's finally warm enough to say it's spring here. It is even sunny and I worked in my garden. I finally made the cover to my new Visual journal. I am pretty happy with it. I did a little hand sewing and added charms. I am trying to figure out how to do video's on my camera so I can put them on my blog. The techno stuff is moving so fast and I am trying to keep up at least a little.

I just finished Juliana Coles altered book class. Well really its still in process but the work that you do with her is on going...not really a beginning or an ending. As always very moving and dynamic. If you have checked her sites yet, click on her name. Its really worth the trip. Traci Bunkers too. Traci just published her first book!

When you work with mixed-media the way you organize your supplies should really be in tune with what inspires you. As I am creating a new art space in my house I am learning that I don't want everything put away. I want to see the colors, inks,papers and stuff! I found out by listening to myself. I have looked at all the magazines with great ideas some I liked some I didn't. But when I really thought about it I knew that I wanted to see my inspirations not have them buried in some drawer. I'm really happy about the changes, it's exciting and opens the creativity door even wider.

Namaste

Journal pages

Just a few pages from one of my journals. I am taking a online class from Juliana Coles. It's really fun actually. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I was afraid that it would lack the personal side doing it online. But happily I was wrong about that. I encourage everyone to check out her site. She also has some videos on Utube. There are some really fun journaling ideas on Utube I like to get new ideas. It's very sunny today here in the great Northwest my fruit trees are starting to bloom and it feels warm. Since I can really only appreciate it between jobs I try to be aware and let it fill me with warmth and the hope of the summer to come...yea that lasts about a minute and I am buzzing down the road. But I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and this time it's not a train!

Phoenix rising

I am back. I loaded some samples of my mail art that I have been working on. I got a new camera and I am not afaid to use it!
I have been working with Juliana Coles retreat books they are amazing. If you are into Visual Journaling and and gaining self confidence they are worth it. I am in her yahoo group and we have been trading mail art. It's really fun actually getting snail mail.

There is a very nice article on the last page of the new Somerset Studio about when we share with others artwork or journal art that is close to our hearts, it can become healing for others. It's like giving away our medicine. What you create will help someone. That is an encouragement for me to put into form a struggle or illumination that I am experiencing. It doesn't come easy for all people to create but still they have those same feelings. If they can see how to work it out through art and visual journaling it may give them the courage to try.

Check out Traci Bunkers work. A great many are finding there way to visual journaling. I think we should be positive and supportive of each other. Leave your critic out and you may feel the medicine at work within you

gretchen