Two new spreads! So much fun just putting together a collage. It's theraputic. The purple page is not yet done, but I need to leave it for a while before continuing. I like doing that in fact. I will leave pages and jump around filling in as I want.

Getting ready for our trip! We are taking the kids on a Disney cruise. I've heard nothing but great things and I'm hoping to actually be able to sit in the sun and read. We are all looking forward to exploring the Mayan ruins in Cozumel and getting some sun!

be messy!

Kids are back in school today! Time to get back to some type of routine. I had time to play yesterday. I wish I could just loosen up and be more messy. Whatever I create ends up looking too neat! I know I need to just let go, but I'm not sure how to do it. I love the soft, grungy, messy look and am trying to get there. Any ideas or suggestions???? I've also learned I suck at making noses.

blizzard 2011, strathmore journal class

So here we are after the 3rd biggest blizzard in Chicago's history! School was cancelled yesterday and today, so the kids are having fun but I'm going a little stir crazy. The amount of snow is crazy and the wind that blew it all around made the drifts ridiculously high.

Check this out!

It's been hard to get in any good journaling time b/c my daughter and her friends want to use my good supplies while I work.

Here is my finished page from the first visual journal class with Pam Carriker over at Strathmore. It was lots of fun and I decided I really like oil pastels!

New journal

Here is the cover of my new journal. It's filled with yummy paper. Not Fabrianno, which is my favorite. I can't remember what I used. I will have to find out later! Last week I bought some oil pastels and acrylic paint by Acryla. I've been playing a little. Watched Vicky Christina Barcelona the other day and fell in love!!!! Penelope Cruz is gorgeous and so is her husband - just yummy. On top of it, I want to drop everything and go live in a small artsy town in Spain or Italy. Even my kids would love it. Maybe one day, when my husband and I are old and he wants to go back to pottery! Follow your passion. Passion is life!

Annual Book Quiz

THE ANNUAL BOOK QUIZ from Daisy Yellow Blog

Respond in the comments or on your blog, leave a link and I'll link to ya!

1. What is on your reading list for 2011? I can't list them all!,
2. What was the best fiction book you read in 2010? I loved a lot!!! These is My Words,19 Minutes, Wuthering Heights, The Last Time I Was Me, The Help, 1000 Journal Pages, Creative Wildfire, Brave on the Rocks.... and many more!
3. What b ook was the biggest let down in 2010? The Elegance of the Hedgehog
4. Do you remember the first short story you wrote as a kid? What was it about? In 3rd grade I wrote a story that I made into a book, binding an all! I should have known that my love in creating the book was a doorway to walk into! Anyway, the story was about a town of miniature people that were swallowed up by a giant and their escape plan. (kind of creepy now that I think of it!)
5. Do you keep track of the books you read? Just started to on Facebook
6. How many books are on your TO READ list? I don't know. Every time I go into B&N or browse Amazon I find more I want to read. As part of a book club, we have our 8 already picked out for the year, but I always read more than that b/c there are just so many out there!!!
7. Where is your favorite reading spot? in bed or at the pool on vacation
8. How many books (fiction + non-fiction) did you read in 2010? no clue. I wasn't keeping track!
9. Do you read more than one book at once? yes
10. Do you read more fiction or non-fiction? novels are more non-fiction

I'm back!

Finally, I am back!!! I didn't go anywhere really, I think I just vacated mentally. The last two months have been crazy busy and fun! I meant to blog and post, but life just took over. Tons of eating, partying, and seeing friends!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and am wishing you a Happy New Year. We had a wonderful time with family and friends.

Here are some recent pages. I'm excited b/c I'm just about finished with this journal and need to stitch up my new one. I'm going to try a new watercolor paper even though I LOVE Fabriano Artistico. Take a peek here....