currently: ten things
Monday, February 17, 2014 at 5:00AM 
1. Feeling Happy that I have found a way to make my daily life pretty. Making appointments and keeping track of schedules for a family of seven isn't always FUN, but now it is at least artistic. Documenting my Life has taken on a whole new meaning. I can't wait to grab my planner and make the next note. Pulling it out at the Dentist is sure to be a showstopper. Read more about it here.
2. Making Lots of Lists. With a recent move, the launch of a new project, a big family, and my own artistic efforts I am always making lots of notes. I used to use post it notes. They were everywhere. My desk and worktable often looked like the attack of the Skittles. The problem was this- I liked making the notes. I liked lining them up and looking at them, and I especially loved counting them... but I never had that awesome feeling of making great headway. Checking things off feels good. When I completed a task before I just crumpled the paper up and tossed it in the basket. No more. Now I am making lists. Pretty lists. Now I have the luxury of physically checking said task off and feeling good about it. Of course I do all of this in my planner. ONE MORE reason to pick it up everyday!
3. Sending Mail Art. Having connected with so many wonderful and talented people lately has sent my heart soaring. I have been overwhelmed and amazed and wholly grateful for all of the positive and uplifting comments I am fortunate to read each day. Thank you all for the love. It does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. It makes me smile in the biggest way.
4. Pausing to relish the Clean. I am a tidy person. Okay, so that is an understatement. Most days my family wishes I would take a chill pill, but order is my thing. I need, I like it, I have to have it. So when I get on a serious roll in the studio I often have to leave my stool to attend to my real life. You know- the family, the carlines, the cooking, the errands, all that stuff. No matter how much it might make my skin itch to leave those messes in the studio, I have too. I am in the middle of big things.I can't, realistically, and believe me I have tried, clean it ALL up EACH AND EVERY SINGLE TIME. So I walk away, feeling irritated and try to forget about it- which I do. Life takes over. But going back in is hard. I work better with a clean slate, so every few days I just have too. I have to pack it all up and pretend like I am done and start over. Yeah. I know. But it is how I operate, and so looking at a clean studio makes me sigh and feel happy and ready to do great things.
5. Wrapping things up for Etsy. I love this job. My mom always said when I was little I wanted to grow up to be a professional gift wrapper. What an awesome job that would be. I wish.
6. Making lots of collages. I am in that mood. When I get in that mood I stockpile things. Collages, sheets of hand written journaling, gelli prints. I like to be able to reach for things as I need them and not have to stop and branch off on a "side project" every time. It helps. One whole day of stockpiling these things means weeks of uninterrupted creating time!
7. Collaborating with the talented Lorraine Bell. When this girl does something, she does it right! She is amazing and so when the opportunity arose for me to join in with her on a little something, something- well I couldn't say no. There is some pretty cool stuff in these bags and they are yours for the taking in just a few days! Check back soon!
8. Stitching up some more fabric tags. These are my favorite little additions to projects right now and so of course I had to stitch some up for my fellow Art Fivers! Stitching is a great way to add dimension and texture to all of your projects. I even love to stitch on paper and have shared a little video tutorial here!
9. Trying New Things. For all of the artsy things I have done and tried in my life, I can honestly say I have never been much of a "drawer." I have tried but I just never seem to get it. I don't feel like I have the steady hand required for fine art- but recently I heard something said, and it triggered me into trying. This is what happened on day 1. I have a feeling there will have to many, many more days of practice to get the hang of this.
10. Loving these Painter's Paint Pens. (and no they don't pay me to say this-I really do just love them!) I picked one up to try it out and was hooked. I have been looking for more colors ever since. I go through the black and white ones like crazy, but the colors are awesome too. Opaque - just like I like them. And the pens actually work well too - I haven't had any clogging or issues with them yet, and I have been using them for months now!
Reader Comments (4)
Loving the list of ten! I was thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you pull your life together each day. My children are grown and living their own lives, so there is just hubby and I at home. Deep into getting my mail art goodies out, he came to remind me of brunch plans. I actually found myself feeling slightly resentful that I had to leave that world to join "real life". I too, enjoy a tidy, organized life and have been using lists since I was a child. My documented life planner is perfect for this. One of the members asked if anyone was actually using theirs as a planner or if they were saving it as a "best book". Ohhhh...now I use it for one of my "actual" daily planners. You are so inspiring to me. I love looking at my past pages and remembering the work I put into them. Sometimes I even share!
I love all the colors you use, and enjoyed your list.
Do the Painters Pens bleed through the Moleskin journal?
I would love to use them for DLP.
Thanks!
oh thank you so much sweet Lynn. There are so many days that I just want to hole myself up in that studio and ignore carline and grocery shopping and every other chore on my list, so don't feel bad! I am glad you are using your planner too! I can not imagine ever using an ordinary, plain agenda again- this makes our daily lives so pretty! Big Hugs! xo
Hi Victoria! Thank you so much! The paint pens will bleed through if you color in heavily with them, yes. I use them in a sketchy quick way and they don't bleed too much. I have learned to use the "ghost print" that bleeds through on the other side as a springboard for creating on that side. I stamped something the other day with staZ on ink and and it bled through. Rather than panicking I just colored it in and love it. I will write in my schedules around it! I also love to use the paper mate ink joy ink pens in all colors for the calendar side of my planner. They do not bleed and add a touch of color! Good Luck - I hope this helps!