Toxic

I have come to the conclusion that I can't allow toxic people in my life anymore. I simply can't take it anymore and I have learned I do not deserve it. I will be cordial & civil because I have to, but the door to my soul will shut on these people.

On a lighter note, my husband and kids bought me "Life Book 2013" for Hanukkah. Ok, I bought it but it's the thought that counts!

First journal

I went through my very first journal the other night. My first entry is dated June 2009. I used a Moleskine and it actually ended up falling apart. The binding completely separated & this was what prompted me to learn to bind my own journals. I like looking back at what I created. Here is the cover & a few pages.

Mantra

I have come to realize that sometimes I really do matter more. In certain situations, I have to remind myself that my needs & emotional well being take precedence.

Background is on deli paper with my Gelli plate. The lettering is with the Molotow markers I just got. I like them & the colors are vibrant, however they were REALLY expensive to get here from Quebec.

Thanks

Still stuffed from our Thanksgiving feast with great friends! Hope you had a great celebration. I have much to be thankful for this year! Most importantly, my health. I journaled about the rest that makes me happy & appreciative.

Catalyst tools & giveaway

I discovered Catalyst tools this summer and have used the wedge and brush tool a lot in my playtime with my Gelli plate. I love that they can be used in lots of different ways, and every time I go into Blick, I stare at the various wedges deciding which one I want next. I bought a few of their paint brushes to try, but no more wedges. Yet.

Head over to Gelli Arts and enter their giveaway. 13 people will each win a set of 3 wedges and they also have 6x6 plates to give away too. How awesome is that!?!?!?!  In the demonstration video they posted today, they are using the new giant gelli plat (18x24). I'd really like to try one of those!!

Good luck! Let me know if you win.

Gelli

I am 1 week post-op. everything went well. They removed the tumor from my liver laparoscopically but had to also remove my gallbladder.

I finally went into my studio for a little playtime with the gelli plate.

Urban Notebook

I'm headed in for surgery today. I can't sleep, so I thought I'd write a little. I'm scared. I'm nervous. I've reassured my kids I have great doctors who will take great care of me. Gia is very scared & there have been lots of tears. I know I'm doing the right thing though. I need this tumor out! I can't live with a dark cloud hanging over me, worrying that it might break off & cause me to bleed. I'm going to have to stay overnight in the ICU or transplant ward. Heading to Northwestern in an hour and a half.

To keep myself busy the other day, I worked on my journal for the class Dawn Sokol is running right now. I had fun adding even more layers & using cardboard boxes for the pages! It's bound and ready to go. What do you think?

Graffiti

Playing around with graffiti style on my new covers for a new journal for The Urban Notebook class by Dawn Sokol. I love the texture but think the covers just look messy. I like the colors & fell in love with the paint cannon. Gotta get more of them!

Life Book

I am SO excited about Life Book 2013 and I wish it would start right now. I didn't do it last year and I regret it. But, this year, the lineup of instructors is amazing! I love many of the teachers and after watching Tam's video showing her completed book, I am inspired.  Check out Dion Dior's blog too, as she is offering a chance to win a spot in Life Book 2013! How cool is that?!?!?!

Gellin'

Had fun playing this morning with my Gelli plate & deli wrap. Going to collage with these beauties in my art journal next!

Past

I just haven't been up to any creating. I've been dealing with an incidental medical finding. I had back surgery almost a year and a half ago. Since I've still been having pain, the neurosurgeon ordered an MRI. A tumor was found on my liver. I was terrified of what it was. Formally, I've been diagnosed with a giant hemangioma. It's congenital & the growth is exacerbated by steroids & birth control pills. Well, I've been on the pill since I was 19! I saw a liver transplant surgeon who will operate next month to remove it. Since it is dangling off a lobe of my liver, it could break off or twist. If this happened, I would hemorrhage to death before anyone could help me. I want this abnormality removed, but I am scared.

I have experienced many emotions, but have been disappointed by some of my oldest friends. This is what emerged when I finished this page today.

Silks

Playtime today with Luminarte Silks. The colors of these mica infused acrylic paints are fabulous! They are like little jewels! The beautiful shimmer can't be seen in the pictures, but it is there. I wasn't sure about them, but I really loved using them in my art journal and can't wait to play with them some more.

Gelli prints

Playtime with my Gelli plate! Lots of fun and now I need to figure out what to do with them.

Play

So even though my kids started school 7 days ago, they are off today as the teachers have an inservice day already. Really??? Why??? As a former elementary teacher I am amazed but not completely surprised. So much for trying to get a routine going! Also found out my 5th grader has "fun Friday" each week at the end of the day. For 20 min. They can bring their iTouch or DS or something & play. Seriously? That's more than an hour of instructional time lost. Hey, here's an idea! How about the kids play board games. Or they make up their own board games. Better yet, get them outside playing!!!!! Ridiculous I say.

Here's a play page of paint, marker, collage & watercolor.

Clean Color

I found these cool Zig pens at Hobby Lobby yesterday and played around with them. They work like watercolor, but in brush form. The colors are vibrant and the ink is waterbase. I like them but I don't know if I love them. They aren't refillable & I think I'd rather fill my waterbrush with ink using a pipette.

Ink brush

I found this great brush-pen pre filled with black ink at Target in the school supplies section! I've been playing around a little in my sketchbook. My kids go back to school next Thursday & I'm hoping to have time to myself. However, a new puppy is going to keep me busy!

Gelli print

I finally got a chance to play with the gel printing plate by Gelli Arts. It's really cool & can't wait to play around with it more! Pulling the ghost print is cool too because you get a distressed look. But, my ghost prints had a big white smear in the middle where I put the white paint. Gotta figure that out. Also, I need to get heavy body paint. The thinner stuff dries too quickly & I am definitely going to get a brayer that is only for printing!

Bracelet

I am loving my new bracelet. I found 2 great bead shops out here & have decided to get back into jewelry design. This week, I discovered how much I miss it! In fact, I think I am going to re-establish my business & do the show/shop circuit again. I might even open an Etsy shop. Etsy didn't exist when I was in business 20 years ago. I'm feeling very inspired & motivated to create!!!

This is what I made yesterday!!! I'm going to finish it today & show what it is & how it came out. I'm loving it!

New toys!

So I've been staying at my mom's house this month so my kids can go to camp. They are having the best time! This is the second year we've done this. They are going to the same camp I went to as a child. I even worked there as a counselor!

We got a puppy two weeks ago and she is fantastic! I forgot how much work is involved with a baby!! On top of this, I had an emergency root canal & have had some complications. I have been pretty sick.

I haven't created anything in a loooooong time, but I did go to Dick Blick to buy some new toys. I can't wait to play!!!! Have you used any of these yet?

New baby

I am pooped! Yesterday, we adopted our new baby girl Lola. She is 8 weeks old and weighs 3 lbs. In May, there was a huge rescue at a commercial dog auction in OH. Lola's mom was one of the 40 Havanese rescued and she delivered her three babies in foster care. We adopted her through HALO, the same organization who saved Max. They are fantastic! Max isn't sure of her.

Jet Pens

I LOVE Jet Pens! This is a great site to check out if you love pens & desk accessories. I have always had a thing for pens & markers. I remember in middle school getting my assignment notebook every fall & begging my mom for the Mr. Sketch fiddlesticks markers. I would hook them on the cover, in rainbow order, and add stickers and mechanical pencils. I would doodle in these notebooks and I treasured the markers!

Anyway, Jet Pens is a site I check out often. They sent me this cute little elephant breakable eraser to write about.

I asked my daughter her thoughts since she collects these erasers. She thought it was cute and added it would have been better with more parts. The thing with these erasers us that they "break" apart and you can mix the pieces up and create something new. I took the unicorn head and attached it to the elephant body --- a uniphant! Or an elecorn!

I LOVE the Uniball Signo white pen they sell. I buy them by the boxes!
The Latte pens come in great cord and the tips are micro mini for great detail and doodling!

My other favorite purchase from Jet Pens is this awesome pen/pencil case by Dr. Ion. It holds a mass amount!