Art Jar: Bloom

Week 13 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
encouraging us to
bloom.

I used the middle section of my notebook,
which uses an image from
Cloth Paper Scissors
on the outside.

There is a word definition
torn from an old dictionary
& printed text.

On the inside is paper from my typing manual,
to which I added some watered down
white Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer.

The postcard image is from
Paper Cloth Scissors.

There is Faber-Castell Watercolour pencil
around the edges.

The tag & printed quotation are from
Hot Off The Press.

Design tape is by Tim Holtz
& the library card image is from
Cloth Paper Scissors.

This is the last week of Eliza's online inspirations,
but this weekend, Kasia starts her
free Advent Journal event,
registration for which is open until
5th December 2018.

Art Jar: Make More Art

Week 12 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
encouraging us to
make more art.

I used a blend of DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Yellow Neon)
with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of mixed Distress Ink
(peeled paint, picket fence & mustard seed)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

The tag & quotation are from
Hot Off The Press.

There is a word definition
torn from an old dictionary
& printed text.

The bird & floral images are from
The Graphics Fairy.

Design tape is by Tim Holtz.

With just one week left of this online course,
my handmade journal is nearly full.

I have loved looking back
through it each week,
watching it grow & develop,
each page sparking memories
& filling me with inspiration.

Art Jar: Imperfect

Week 11 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
getting us to consider our thoughts about being
imperfect.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
splashes of Distress Ink
(broken china)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges & for shading.

This page has lettering from
Eliza's collage collection,
word definition torn from an old dictionary,
floral image from The Graphics Fairy,
printed text
design tape by Tim Holtz
& gingham ribbon.

 Beneath the floral image is a quotation
from  Richard Powell

"Wabi Sabi nurtures all
that is authentic
by acknowledging
three simple realities:
nothing lasts,
nothing is finished,
and nothing is perfect."

Next to the quote is a Tim Holtz Paper Doll.

It was imperfect because the machine cutting had
misaligned one of the girls legs,
so I made use of it on this page.

On this page, there is a tag by
Hot Off The Press,
a library index card image
from Cloth Paper Scissors
&  other pieces already mentioned.

Let's celebrate
the impossibility
of perfection.

After all,
what is perfection? 

Art Jar: Ordinary

Week ten of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
about celebrating the
ordinary.

"Celebrate the everyday,
the ordinary things
of daily life
&
enjoy every moment."

I used a blend of DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Yellow Neon)
with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of mixed Distress Ink
(peeled paint, picket fence & mustard seed)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

There is a Tim Holtz Paper Doll,
some Design Tape,
a tag from Hot Off The Press with some string,
a library card image from Cloth Paper Scissors,
a Bingo card image from Red Lead
& a plain black photo corner.

Art Jar: Rhythms

Week nine of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza about
rhythms.

The postcard image is from Cloth Paper Scissors.

There are Tim Holtz Paper Dolls
& design tape,
blue gingham ribbon
& a word definition,
torn from an old dictionary.

There is a quotation from BKS Iyengar.

A round tag & a quote by Stanley Horowitz
from Hot Off The Press.

Under the flower image from The Graphics Fairy,
are a few thoughts about this week's prompt.

My rhythms
need to be ordered.

My brain cannot
process chaos,
whether visual
or audio.

My rhythms
need to be calm,
not jarring

My rhythms need to be
elegantly balanced,
like a trained ballerina.

My rhythms need to
have meaning,
reason & purpose.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
splashes of Distress Ink
(broken china)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

Art Jar: Sacred Time

Week 8 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
about the importance of
sacred time.

The lady with the binocular
 & the flower image
are both from The Graphics Fairy.

The tag is from Hot Off The Press,
with typed quotes from Gary Eberle.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Pink Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
for the background,
with Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

The printed words & quotation
are also from Hot Off The Press.

There is also recycled packaging,
photo corners from Paperchase
& printed text.

On the reverse of the insert
I have typed my thoughts
on this week's prompt.

If you, like me,
believe that time itself is sacred,
then

"The secret
is not found
in finding time
to do what you love,
but in finding
the love
in all that you do."

Art Jar: Solitude

Pages in my handmade journal
made for week 7 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
using prompts & inspiration from Eliza
at Everything Art.

The theme this week was
Solitude.

The word
freedom
was cut out from
Pride & Prejudice.

The flower & the bird images
are from The Graphics Fairy.

There is a quotation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The library card is
from Paper Cloth Scissors.

It has some of my thoughts
typed on the reverse side.

I created my own story below with
words cut from
Pride & Prejudice.

The 1 image is from Shawn Petite,
& the 1 circle is cut
from a REDlead Bingo card.

I used a tag from Hot Off The Press,
blue gingham ribbon &
text torn from an old dictionary.

There is a Tim Holtz Paper Doll,
some of his Design Tape,
Distress Crayons
(walnut stain & peacock feathers)
& Remnant Rubs
(Elements).

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Yellow Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of Distress Inks
(picket fence & pine needles)
for the background.

I also used Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges & to add shading.

I am always astounded when I realise
the significance of the pieces
that I have intuitively chosen to use.

These two simple pages are full of personal meaning.

Art Jar: Sacred Space

Week six of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
about the importance of finding our own
sacred space.

I included one of my photographs from Instagram
with a quotation from Daniell Koepke.

The flower image from The Graphics Fairy,
together with a word definition from an old dictionary.

The image below is taken from a photograph
I took a couple of years ago,
which I use as my wallpaper on my iPhone & iPad.

Each time I see this image
it takes me back to the place
where the photograph was taken.

A constant reminder to pause & breathe.

The library card image is from Cloth Paper Scissors.

On the reverse side is a quotation by Ralph Waldo Emerson,
which is by Hot Off The Press,
together with the small tag on the previous page.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Pink Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
for the background.

I used Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges, to add my doodles
& my handwriting.

There is also Tim Holtz Design Tape,
recycled packaging,
photo corners from Paperchase
& printed text.

My sacred space
is the place
where I spend time
creating my art pieces.

This is my special place.

This is where I am me,
where I can just be,
nurturing my soul,
replenishing my spirit,
where I am.

Art Jar: Nurture

The fifth week of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
on how to
nurture
yourSelf.

The printed quotation & tags
are by Hot Off The Press.

The flower & the blue postmaster label
are images from The Graphics Fairy.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Yellow Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of Distress Inks
(picket fence & pine needles)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

There is Tim Holtz Design Tape,
hessian threads,
photo corners by Paperchase,
text torn from an old dictionary
& printed text.

Nurture Prompts

Art Jar: Unplug

The fourth week of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
to help us unplug for a few days
& get away from our digital world.

The printed words are by Hot Off The Press.

The fallen leaves gathered from my garden.

The library card & postcard images
are from Cloth Paper Scissors.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Pink Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of Distress Ink
(dusty concord)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

There is Tim Holtz Design Tape,
a Tim Holtz Paper Doll,
& printed text.

There is nothing quite
like an Autumn walk,
kicking the fallen leaves,
breathing in the fresh air,
listening to the birds,
watching the squirrels
& catching a glimpse
of a shy fox.

It is a chance
to breathe deeply,
to appreciate the slow
but steady pace of nature,
as the colours
of the trees change,
& red berries start to
appear on the shrubs.

I feel calmer.
I feel grateful.
I feel at peace.