My Bluebirds . . .

Caran d'Ache Watercolor Crayons

"There's a bluebird on your windowsill,

There's a rainbow in your sky,

There are happy thoughts, your heart to fill,

Near enough to make you cry."

--Elizabeth Clark

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 49)

"Believe"

6 x 6 Chunky Canvas

I don't think I've ever done this before. Created something just for me, that is. This is my first; a tiny little canvas that reminds me to Believe. Believe in my dreams, believe in perfect timing and most importantly, to believe in myself. . . . 

"Dreams do come true if you keep believing in yourself. Anything is possible." 

-- Jennifer Capriati

Thank you for your visit! I believe I have to find a place to hang this now . . . . 

See you at the Party!

Kristin xo

Happy Valentine's Day!

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

-- Charles M. Schultz

Kristin xo

SPA: My Heart Belongs to You

"Hopelessly Devoted To You"

4 x 6 Postcard

(Image from Retro Cafe Art)

Playing along with Sunday Postcard Art and the very cool Valentine's theme, "My Heart Belongs to You"  . . . .

Thank you for taking the time to visit! I wish for you a day full of love, roses and plenty of chocolate! 

Kristin xo

2 Girls, 2 Journals, 1 Week . . .

"Journaling One Week"

Watercolor and Wallpaper Journal

I laughed out loud when I saw it. I was reading our friend Daniele's blog a few weeks ago when I saw a gorgeous photo she posted of a latte resting on top of the newest issue of Stampington's Art Journaling. She mentioned that she'd just been on an "alone date" and was thrilled with her coffee and new source of inspiration. Ironically, I got out of the house that day too and did the same thing! A latte and the latest Art Journaling was the way I too choose to spend a few moments alone . . . .

Well, one thing led to another and we got to talking. We discussed how although we've both done journal entries before, that at least for me, it never really included the journaling part. We wanted to give this style of art a real try, but agreed that we needed to come up with something that could be completed in a reasonable amount of time. That idea lead to what you see here: the journal entries of two girls - who's lives are filled with art and kids - completed in just one week.

The concept was to spend just an hour a day working on what would become seven journal pages. If you're laughing now, it's because you already know what I didn't: that we would both end up spending every spare moment on it, pouring our hearts and souls into what has become a true reflection of our innermost thoughts, if only for one week.

Here's what I came up with:

To see the beautiful (ok, fabulous and moving) pages Daniele created, please check hers out here.

Thank you for your visit! I so appreciate your time . . . .

Linking to PPF and Just Journals. Thank you Kristin, Eva and Marcia Beckett!


Kristin xo

Works in Progress . . .

"Silly Boys" (Detail)

I've been Arting a lot lately, but you wouldn't know it by looking here. I have something up my sleeve that I hope to have completed in time to share with you next week . . . . Meanwhile, I wanted to sneak in a few detail shots of the WIP's here.

Handmade papers

"Afraid to Jump" (Detail)

(Image from Retro Cafe Art)

"She wanted to be a Star" (Detail)

Thank you for your time & Happy Arting to you,

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 46)

"Just do You"

8 x 10 Altered FedEx folder

I was rummaging through my box of unfinished projects (yes, a whole box. Please tell me I'm not alone in this ;) this morning when I came across a colorful background I began nearly two years ago in a class with Traci Bautista. It was created on the back of a FedEx folder using several handmade papers that we cut and collaged to the front. I love the way she suggests and works with recycled materials as a substrate and I had so much fun playing with her tools and mark-making materials to create the handmade papers you see here. Having said that, I put it in "The Box" as soon as I got home and haven't thought about it since. . . .

Until now. When all of the sudden I saw it again and realized that it could be a perfect base for the "funky" face I've been wanting to paint for a while now. I scanned it so that you could view it in it's original form and went to work. Wanna see what I came up with?

Original background created in Traci's class

Varied eyes and one earring (pierced through the folder) that reads, "Wise"

Stars cut from handmade paper (from my stash) and outlined with crayons

Finished with decorative trim on the bottom and (pink!) wire for hanging

Isn't she quirky? Thank you for the base Traci - and for the colorful lesson - you are such an inspiration!

And thank you to Eva & Kristin for hosting such a great Paint Party.

See you there,

Kristin xo