The box

I have been doing watercolours lately,nothing to serious,just relaxing and journling,Ive finished some little hand made books and just reflected about the way my life is going.

I have decided to add an entry from a blog I have at myspace and it goes as follows....

The thought for the day is....The box of life,mm strange I hear you say and it is indeed a strange concept but bare with me...a while ago I made a little box,it is just a cardboard box with sting and stuff stuck to it,it isnt very pretty or special but it does have words written on it,they say this...Life is like a box,there is only so much that you can fit into it...What will you fill your box of life with....Will your box of life be filled with the foul stench of rotten things...Will your box of life be clean and orderly or full of surprises...Will your box of life be filled with the aroma of spices and nature..Ask yourself..what will you fill your box of life with...
I took the lid of this little box and filled it with colourful things,bright and happy things,why..well to remind me to make the most of the life I have been given,to enjoy all its wonders and wonderful people and things,to look around and to appreciate all that I have and be gratefull that I have been given a life to live..

So why dont you make a little box and fill it with the things that inspire you to live fully and well,it may just be a feather,a stone,a piece of paper with a single word on it,whatever just do it and keep in sight,it may just surprise you at how often it reminds you to live a better life.

Tool of the week is...inktense watercolor pencils
Favey color this week...mmm I think green
Favey book this week is...what women want

Hint of the week is...keep a visual journal,fill it with your heart and soul,return to it every day and put your energy there for you to use another day,let it all loose there and let it be your place of release and refuge,make it dark,make it colorful,make it sad,make it joyful,make it naughty but make it you!

Mole skins and watercolors!!!!!!!!!

Well it is my birthday today,not something I like to think about much but I did receive some pretty awesome gifts from my loved ones,so that made up for all the used years that Ive spent so far.

I am now the proud owner of the most wonderful watercolor moleskin visual journal thanx to my my lovely big sweet son,it is just amazing and I cant wait to fill its beautiful pages with all the things that I love,I will use ink,watercolor,colored pencils,coffee stains,photos and what ever I can muster up to express myself,how exciting!!!

I also was given a 72 pencil box of Inktense watercolor pencils,these pencils are awesome,Ive been using them now for quite a while,they are very vibrant and are just magic to work with,If you are a journaler or painter and you havent used these pencils then you need to give them a try,they are fantastic.

My brother gave me some Cotamn pan watercolors to keep in my bag along with a pocket sized notebook journal and some postcard watercolor paper,I really appreciated these as my travel pack needed topping up pretty badly,so I am ready to paint where ever I am.

My hubby purchased two books for me,the Decorated Journal by Gwen Diehn and Pretty Little Things by Sally Jean Alexander,they are just two awesome and inspiring books to own and I love that he gave them to me,they are just beautiful and filled with such inspiration and eye candy so if you don't have them in your personal library then you must get them for yourself..

I have been journaling quite a bit lately,not actually doing to much professional work as Ive been in hospital and have been concentrating on recovering from the surgery but I'm well again and will get ready for the seaside festival next month,wooohooo I love this event...

I have made some pretty little boxes to sell on Etsy and some tiny ring boxes as well,they are awesome,I love the ring boxes best of all,wood,sand and little faces,so cute and strange.

Well I have much to do and lots to update so until next time be happy,kind and brave!

Favey color this week is...pink ..and green.
Favey artist this week is ... Borrimini bear you can see her awesome sketch books at flickr.. be sure to check out her work it is so inspiring...to see her work follow the link at the side that says here is Borromini bear!
Favey book is... The Decorated Journal by Gwen Diehn
Favey art tool this week is... my new visual journal...

Favey quote this week is ...The mark of a man is how he treats a man that is of no possible use to him.

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Visual Journaling!

Well its been a couple of weeks since my last blog,I have been in hospital and out again,I had taken up residence on the couch while I recovered and rather than moan and groan and I did moan and groan a bit,I decided to journal.

I set up our rather large coffee table with paints,inks,pens,color pencils, journals and went for it,I would do a couple of pages and lay down,rest and get back up to do more,it worked out well and I managed to do a great many designs for future art works,so I am actually quite impressed with my motivation considering I was in quite a bit of pain in the first four days but I am now recovering rapidly and cant wait to hit he studio and get cracking on some dolls and canvases.

I purchased some new journals,I have so many already but I wanted to have a journal for future art designs,a journal for day to day reflection,a journal for my doll designs as my others are filling up again and a journal for what I see around me,the trouble is that I have too many and space is running out but I can live with that.

My favey tools for journaling are watercolors in a pan,watercolor pencils,indian ink and nib pen,gel pens,,stamps,various sized ink liner pens and colored pencils,I use different sized journals and prefer the spiral bound ones as you can lay them flat while you work,Windsor and newton spiral journals a re great and cost effective as well.

I find that journaling is a great way to losen up,you dont have to be too precise or detailed,you needn't be perfect,you just get it all down quickly and loosely so that you have a concept to work from later,I so recommend journaling every day to stay loose and honest in your work,jouranls are also great reference books to go back over later for ideas and such,I use mine all the time.

If you get chance pop over to Flickr and check out the moleskin groups,you will be inspired in a mighty way I promise!

Also check out a incredible artist Len Cowgill his work will truly inspire you!
You will find Lens link at the side of my blog with some of my favey people..

Favey color this week is...argghhh ..green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Favey art tool this week is..gel pens and markers..great for journals.

Favey book is Altered books,collaborative journals,and other adventures in book making by Holly Harrison.

Favey quote this week is..they may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel. by Carl W Buechner