Close Ups

Realize that I had not yet posted these pages from last month. The sketchbook theme for Feb was close ups, and I immediately thought of close ups of the alphabet and butterfly wings - both of which are wonderfully abstract shapes. Ink and watercolors. I used pearlescent watercolors on the alphabet page which has a fun metallic sheen that is hard to capture with a photo.

Finding your muse

For all you creative souls out there, Alisa Burke has posted a free mini-class.
You can find it here.

Travel prep

If you know me at all, then you know that the first thing I've been working on for my upcoming trip is the list of books I'm taking along. Well, that and my snack list. I've got Turkey specific books, plus about 75 other books from my TBR list loaded onto my nookie. And I've got several audio books on my iPod. I'm taking along a small personal library, and it all fits in such little space. Love that.

Now, how to get the Chatty Cathy's to shut up? Here are some good things to consider:
The Misanthrope’s Guide to Reading While Traveling (or How to Be Left Alone)

Journaling with kids [Part 1]

I love journaling with my nieces and nephews, and do so every chance I get.

For my Dec 2011 visit with my nieces, I made simple 6x6 journals to take along. I folded 6 pages of 6x12 cheapo watercolor paper into one signature, cut wall paper for a soft cover, and stitched the whole thing together with a simple pamphlet stitch. The kids and I made time every day during my visit to play in our journals. Ink, watercolors, markers, glue sticks, collage, etc. Such fun.

Here is the journal that Bella created:

Angry Seas

So, we are expecting temps to be almost 70F in the Boston area today, which gets me thinking about sailing season. A friend send me a link to a video, and I gotta tell you, I think I got sea sick sitting on my couch. Just to be clear - I do not go out sailing in seas like this.

You can see the video here.

Recent Reads

23. Culture Shock! Turkey
New author #15. Read this one in preparation for an upcoming trip and found it interesting. These guides are not travel guides per se, they describe local customs and etiquette. So, I now know, in case it comes up to give a woman an odd number of flowers, and not to take wine as a hostess gift. See what I mean?

24. Gardens of Water
New author #16. I listened to the audio version of the book and really liked it. The story is set in the environs of Istanbul after a devastating earthquake. We follow the story of how a Kurdish family and an American one intersect, and how both are changed in ways they could not have imagined. The novel explores the tensions of holding on to traditions in a changing world, the effect of outsiders, political/ethnic tensions, the strain that growing up creates between a father and his daughter, the struggle of a girl to find her self-worth in a society that does not encourage self-expression. It is not an easy story, and I found myself shaking my head much of the time, but I liked how the story explores major themes in the particulars of these characters.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 16. (Have decided that there is no need to continue tracking this one. Check and check.)
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0 (Currently reading Bleak House)

Custom Labels Tutorial

While making a new travel journal for my upcoming trip to Turkey, I decided to create labels with the names of the places I will be visiting. This is a fun and easy way to play with basic office supplies, and I thought I'd make a quick video to show how I do this.

The power of introverts

Susan Cain has a book out that is on my TBR list.
To see her TED talk on the topic click here.

Recent Movies

I love movies. Always have. But not so much the ones that Hollywood makes these days. Guess I am not in the 15-25 year old demographic they are wooing. And I know I'm an old foggie, but does anyone else miss those huge old-style movie theaters? The ones with balcony seating? Anyways here are some movies I've seen recently on a much, much tinnier screen.

1. Warrior
This is one of the better movies I have seen lately. The story of a broken, dysfunctional family, and how a father and his sons navigate the wreckage of their relationships. I would not consider this a sports movie, though much of the action centers on MMA (mixed martial arts). While I found myself cringing during the fight scenes, I loved how the movie explores physical damage versus emotional/psychological damage, and how the former heals faster and cleaner.

2. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
No. No. No. This is what I kept saying - aloud - throughout this movie. I loved, loved the book. A beautiful and heartbreaking story that the movie version made boring. Sigh.

3. Water for Elephants
I loved this book as well. Such a wonderful read. The movie was not great, but at least it was not boring. The vampire dude should stick to vampire roles - though I do not like him in those either. The star of the show other than Rosie, the elephant, is Christoph Waltz who plays the ringleader. His acting is luminous.

Paper Love

Hello. My name is Elizabeth. And I am a paperholic.

I love paper. Always have. And even though I love the ease of doing things electronically, I still collect paper. I have paper coming out the wazoo. I might even be considered a paper hoarder. I simply cannot walk past pretty paper. I put a moratorium on all new paper purchases a couple of years ago (though I do fall off the wagon now and again), and am slowly making my way through my stash.

Maybe you are like me, and find some paper simply too good to use. Umm, what are we saving it for? My mantra is: I can always get more. I can always get more. Last week I finally went through my entire stash of 9x12 cheapo watercolor paper (gasp!). I must admit to a twinge of withdrawal symptoms, but I have several pads of larger size paper still waiting for me, so it is not like I am bereft of paper. Though am wondering if I have enough for the post-apocalyptic world .... I digress.

I am currently surrounded by stacks of paper. Not hidden away, but out in the open. Why? Because we have finalized our travel plans, and heading to Turkey in a couple of weeks. I am vibrating with excitement. Remember my over-excited post? Well, have been rather excitable lately.

In preparation for the trip am making a new travel journal - so much fun to create - and have dived into my paper stash looking for candidates who want to go to Turkey with me.

Thanks for checking in. Stay tuned for further updates.

Happy Leap Year Day

Isn't is so much fun to have an extra day this year? A whole extra 24 hours. How wonderful.

It is snowing out here in the Boston area. I feel like I'm in a snow globe that has been gently shaken. Lovely.

To watch an an interesting interview where Elizabeth Gilbert talks about creativity, click here. I am marinating on the idea that learning to say no to things we really, really want to do is a part of learning how to take care of ourselves.

Journal video

Decided to make a video to share my current journal and a fun new project I'm working on. (Double click on the video to watch in full screen mode).

You can find the Remains of the Day class info here.

Recent Reads

19. The Magicians
New author #12. This book has been described as a "Harry Potter for adults". Yes, it has more adult content - there is booze and sex, but it is not nearly as good as the Potter books. Not even close. There is no magic to the writing, and I found all the characters rather annoying. Yes, there are some clever scenes, but as a whole found it an OK read and will not be rushing to read the sequel.

20. A Wrinkle in Time
It is the 50th anniversary of this book, and so many people I know love it, so decided to give it a read. I have read the author before - love her journals, so was looking forward to seeing how she wrote fiction. I liked the book. I did not find it an amazing read, but then again, it was written for the tastes of young adults half a century ago. There is a strong Christian theme to the story - did not expect that, and when I asked friends who read the book as kids, they did not remember that aspect of the story. Will probably read the other books in the series, though not any time soon.

21. The Odds
New author #13. This is a slim book that packs quite a punch. A couple on the brink of financial and emotional disaster come back to Niagara Falls for a Valentine's Day blowout. The story gently explores the highs and lows of a long term marriage.

22. Sew Wild
New author #14. This is a fun book that explores ways to dye and print fabric to use in creative projects. I especially like the no measuring, no pattern philosophy.

Bleak House
Our Bleak House read-along kicked off last weekend. A group of friends are reading it in installments and getting together to discuss the book. Loving it so far.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 14. (Well, exceeded my goal and it is only Feb.)
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0 (Currently reading Bleak House)

Tan Le: My immigration story

I believe in the power of capturing and sharing stories.
Click here to hear a powerful one.

ebooks vs DTBs

I love books. Everything about them. And not just the worlds they open up to me. I love the tactile things too - the smell of ink, the paper texture, the font style, the book size, the heft, the way they feel in my hands. I could go on and on.

And yet, I am now an avid ebook fan. Yes, I miss all the tactile goodies, and yes, ereaders are far from perfect, but ebooks are the future. Will they ever completely replace DTBs (dead tree books)? I think not. But look at what has happened to the music industry. It is only a matter of time.

I am a bi-reader (I might have just coined a new term!): I read both ebooks and DTBs. My device of choice is a nook. I am a believer in open/standard formats, and proprietary formats make me itch. But that is a story for a different time.

In the meanwhile, I am saddened by the extinction of a very special species - the indie bookstore. They are on the endangered list. When will there be postal stamps with images of our fave ones? It is interesting that Barnes and Noble - the brick and mortar Goliath that has been responsible for much of this extinction also looks to be in trouble now. OK, OK. I do think that Amazon is guiltier. But still.

Check out this interesting NYT article.

Fabric Love

I've been wanting a sewing machine for a awhile. Oh, you think I'm going to make me a sun dress or two do you? I hate to disappoint, but I'm still in recovery from a home ec. class I had as a wee one. The mean ol' teacher would look disapprovingly at my stitches and make me take them out and do it again. And again. And again. I do believe that at one point my Mom took pity on me and did some of my homework. I hated every minute of it.

So, imagine my surprise when I started thinking about getting a sewing machine several months ago. When making my travel journals, I tend to create pockets and attach ephemera, and I use staples, brads, etc. Sometimes I hand stitch. But after taking the Remains of the Day class by Mary Ann Moss, an entire new world opened up to me. Who knew one could have so much fun with needle and thread?

I started investigating machines, and then realized that Babes has an old, and I mean ancient, museum quality, Singer that her Mom used. I mean this baby was probably used in the depression era. It sure is weighty enough to hold down the house during a dust storm at any rate. Brought it up. Cleaned it up and after several hours of experimentation and lots of head scratching, I got it working. And it has sounded like a Chinese sweatshop over here ever since. I did not realize just how many projects I've had stacked up just waiting for such a moment.

I will post a pic of the machine one of these days - maybe when it goes on a coffee break. It is much to busy to pose at the moment. In the meantime, I am immersed in delightful words like bobbins and notions. I walk down aisles and fabrics call to me. I just might make a sundress one of these days.

Ann Patchett on The Colbert Report

Go indie book stores. Go. Love this.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Happy Mardi Gras

Had a day-long play date with my nephews. It is wonderful being an Aunt. I get all the perks without any of the work.

Wonderful that today is Mardi Gras. We pulled out the masks and beads and had a ball. It is now dinner time, and the wonderful smells of etouffee wafts over from the kitchen. This is how we celebrate Mardi Gras. Hope you had a fun one too.

Journal Page

Here is a simple page I created to celebrate my 5K. I found this fun image online (kokopellitattoodesign) and decided to make the page a simple black and white one. Added some red with marker to capture some of the pain.

Time sure does fly. It feels like such a long time ago, and it was only a couple of weeks back. Where the heck does the time go?

Artist journals

I love getting insight into how people use their journals.

Click on the link to see this video: Guillermo Del Toro speaking about the notebooks he kept that became his film, “Pan’s Labyrinth”

Over-excited

I've often heard parents say things like this about their kids: they are over-tired, over-stimulated, etc.

Well, I am over-excited. We have a trip in the works and I am vibrating with excitement. Reading guide books. Pouring over maps. Thinking there is so much to do, I might just have to move there. Making a new travel journal. Thinking about what art supplies to take along. The list goes on.

So naturally was up around 2 am last night. Wide awake. No going back to sleep no way wide awake. Decided to get up and write about some of that excitement. Let it slowly leak out of me, so that I can get back to being excited and not over-excited.

So while I feel rather jet lagged today, I am excited.

Recent Reads

15. Fables & Reflections
This is book #6 in the Sandman series, and is a fun romp. I did not love it like I have others in the series, but it is an interesting read non-the-less.

16. Making Journals by Hand
I dip into this delightful book every couple of years or so, especially when I'm planning my next big trip and looking for inspiration. Love everything about this book.

17. The Cellist of Sarajevo
New author #10. This is what my book club is reading this month. The book has been on my radar for a while, but was not on my TBR list. It is not an easy book to read - I actually had nightmares one night. The novel explores the siege of Sarajevo told from the particular stories of four residents. I think the author does a brilliant thing in not telling us the ethnic/religious backgrounds of the four people - we are not able to rely on easy prejudices, and have to do the work to really evaluate each person as an individual - not as a representative of a group. The philosophical questions throughout the book are explored in an open manner - we left to draw our own conclusions. This is a book that is going to stay with me for awhile.

18. The Lover's Dictionary
New author #11. I picked this up to read for Valentine Day week, and am I every so glad that I did. I loved it. It reads like wonderfully written, intimate journal entries. There are sections that simply took my breath away. I'd advise resisting the urge to read straight through. I dipped in a little at a time, and made the book last the entire week. Lovely.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 11.
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0

What are you reading?

Journal Page

This was a fun page to create. Started out with a page that already had a purple acrylic background. Added more paint with stencils and drips. Used the negative of the image on this page as a stencil for the women. Journaling with a white pen completed my page.

Food for thought

How to ensure the health of future generations? Here are two really great talks to get you thinking:

The Toxic Baby?

What we learn before we are born

Nieces

While working on my Vegas journal, am missing my nieces. They are smart and funny and adorable and playful and fun to be around.

Bound for Vegas Travel Journal - Sneak Peek #3

I'm in the midst of making a new travel journal - so every flat surface is covered with scraps and paint and clippings and images and thread, oh my. Am going to have to get to the bottom of that soon. Will be nice to see my table again.

In the meanwhile, decided that I really should finish up my last travel journal, so started adding ephemera and notes. I want to add some photos as well, so need to get some printed - on my list this week.

In the meanwhile, here is a sneak peek of a page. Gesso, glue, ink, watercolors.

Recent Reads

12. Mercy
This book is a fast read, and not nearly as good as some of her other works. There are multiple stories, and like her other books both sides of a moral issue are discussed in a court case. How do you define love? Would you kill a loved one if they asked you to? Do you love enough? Or is that even love? Can two people love equally? How would you measure love? Can it be measured? Good food for thought.

13. After the Apocalypse
New author #8. I'm not a big short story fan, but was intrigued by reviews of this book. These are not the typical post apocalyptic style stories. Yes, there is some disaster, but that is not the story. These stories explore individual lives in the aftermath. Quite interesting.

14. Lamberto, Lamberto, Lamberto
New author #9. Supposedly the author is beloved in his native Italy, so thought I'd check it out. This is fable is a modern take on the search for eternal life. Cute.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 9.
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0

Journal Page

I found the image of this woman in my stash and thought that I'd use it to create positive and negative shapes to play with. Here is what I did with the positive shape. I already had the yellow acrylic wash on the page, which made the rest of the colors an easy decision. The page came together rather quickly. Collage items, ink and makers.

The warm colors remind me of spring - which it almost feels like in these parts (the northeast US). We are into February with no snow and none on the forecast! Guess that might be a positive side effect of global warming then? In any case I am loving it.

Dickens @ 200

Happy 200th birthday Mr. Dickens.

There have been many celebrations leading up to the event. A fave place to stop by is Charles Dickens at 200. Check it out.

Journal Page

I started out with a page that already had the background pasted down. I had done this weeks ago - using up a leftover scrap from a different project. While flipping through my inspiration boards, was captivated by "Woman in White Turban" by Charles Sebree and decided to use that image as my starting point.

The music sheet had already been painted with red acrylic paint and a thin layer of gesso. In order to further cover up the background, I mixed my craft acrylics with a touch of gesso for even greater opacity. I quite like how this page turned out.

DFL (-1)

Now if you know me, you know that I am not a runner. Have never understood that "high" runners talk about when they go out for an "easy 5 mile" run. Walk a 5K? Sure. No problemo.

So, why, oh why, have I decided that one of my goals this year is to run a 5K?

I started with the couch to 5K plan on Jan 2. Imagine my shock when I learned that I can actually walk faster than I can run. Huh? Gather this is true of all beginner runners. My 3 times a week training sessions have been on plan and going really well. So of course, I decided to throw a wrench on the entire plan by signing up for a 5K this past weekend. Never mind that my training so far had been indoors on a treadmill. Need I mention that there was no incline involved?

Yes it was true that I had not completed my final weeks of the training program, but the event I signed up for was a charity event - a fun 5K run/walk that benefited a local theater company. I would not be deterred.

To get ready for actually running outdoors, I had 2 practice training runs outdoors the week leading up to the event. On the first one I thought I was dying - could running outside be so very different from a treadmill? Discouraged, I came home to take stock. Turns out that I have no way to gauge my pace when outside. Unlike being on a treadmill, there are no big red numbers in front of me telling me how fast I am running. Turns out I was running about a mile and a half faster pace than I had been training. Aha. I can correct for that. My second (and final training run before the 5K) my right calf seized up and I painfully hobbled home. The lesson there was not to play a long game of racquetball and expect not to pay the price.

Never-the-less, I showed up early on Sunday morning, Babes in tow to boost my morale. It was cold. I mean below freezing cold. Believe the temp at the start was 29 deg F. But all that nervous excitement kept me from feeling the icy winds in my lungs.

I had 3 goals for the race:
1. Finish.
2. Run as much as possible.
3. 50 minutes or less.

Notice, that "have fun" was not a goal. A bit of fore-shadowing...

Started out fine. The jack rabbits were soon out of sight, but I the mighty tortoise would not be daunted. Onward. Then about a mile in my calf (yes the same one) seized up. Stretched it out and limped along painfully for a while. Would I be like some others around me and be a DNF? I think not. I could feel the Kenyan in me.

The results? Not only did I finish, I finished in 47:47:81. A personal best for me. I dug deep at the end and was not DFL. If only the Patriots had dug deep last night as well - but that is another story.

So, today I am feeling quite accomplished. Nursing along sore and leaden legs. Scanning the race blogs. Looking for my next 5K race.

Doodling #3

Happy February! Hope this year has been swell so far.

Here is the final of my three doodling pages for the Jan Sketchbook Challenge. I was playing with the idea of stained glass. Ink and watercolors.

Doodling #2

Here is doodle page number two for The Sketchbook Challenge this month. The pink acrylic wash was already on the page. The doodles were done in ink and colored with markers. I found doing this page quite meditative.

You gotta check this out.

If you been reading my blog for a while, you know that I am a huge TED fan, so imagine my delight when I found this animation of one of my fave talks. Thanks to Les H for the link.

Ira Glass on the Creative Process

I am always inspired by Ali Edwards. Saw this on her blog and love it so much, I wanted to share. So, so true.

Amazon Book Boycott

Okay, you might have noticed that all my books are no longer linked to Amazon.com but to Goodreads instead. Why you ask? Well I just read (how did I miss this?) that Amazon ran this special back in December:

This week Amazon.com announced that customers who go into bricks-and-mortar stores on Saturday, December 10, use the company’s smartphone price check app on select products, and then purchase that product from Amazon will receive a discount of up to $5.

Creative sales? Creative marketing? I just call it slimy. So no longer am I linking to them for books and will not buy any more books from them. Am putting that money into my local indie store instead.

Recent Reads

9. The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt
New author # 7. This is an unusual and delightful book. I love looking through scrapbooks, and this one tells the story of Frankie Pratt, a girl from New Hampshire who leaves home, travels, comes into her own, and returns home to find that what she is seeking has been there all along. Love all the vintage ephemera used to tell the story. A fun read.

10. The White Queen
This is the first book in The Cousins' War series. This is the first novel I have read about The War of the Roses - I am much more a fan of the Tudor period. This is full out Plantagenet warfare - cousin against cousin, brother against brother. The story is told from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner who becomes the Queen of England. Quite enjoyed learning more about this period, but the writing does not hold up as well as her other books. That said, I will be reading the other books in this series.

11. A Game of You
This is graphic novel is #5 in the Sandman series, and I think it might just be my fave one so far. As usual I love the story and the graphics and even the fonts used. The story explores the breakdown between the dreaming and "real" worlds. What happens when you can easily shift from one to the other? How do you tell which one you are in? Love this book.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 7.
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0

Maurice Sendak on The Colbert Report

How cool is this?
Part 1:


Part 2:

Journal Page

I like owls. There is something about those big eyes. And that they can turn their heads exorcist style. So cool.

Saw a pic somewhere of these felted owls as tree ornaments. Love the idea. A simple page using ink and markers.

Recent Reads

6. Print Workshop
New author #5. If you are an absolute beginner, this might be a good book to start with. It was too low level for me and while I liked some of the prints, was not really inspired by what I saw.

7. The Informationist
New author #6. I did not like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and did not continue to read the other 2 books in the trilogy. Since all the reviews I read linked these two books, I should have skipped this one. There are similarities between the books - the main character is an abused, traumatized young woman who solves a mystery. I did like the setting of this book - I don't often read thrillers set in West Africa, but that was about the only thing I liked. A fast read that kinda read like a video game - lots of action and slaughter. Not sure that I'll be reading the next in the series.

8. Aya of Yop City
This graphic novel is the #2 book in the Aya series. The story continues from where the last book ends, and the father of the baby is resolved. Like book #1, I enjoyed following the lives of Aya and her friends and am looking forward to seeing how the cliff hanger at the end of the book is resolved.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 6.
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0

Bound for Vegas Travel Journal - Sneak Peek #2

It feels like winter in these parts, and I have started thinking about warm waters. Here is another sneak peak at my most recent travel journal.
Sketching gives me a chance to stare at fellow travelers.

Recent Reads

4. Divergent
New author #4. This young adult (YA) book as gotten rave reviews and I needed a quick read - a palate cleanser if you will - so dived in. Dystopian novels seem to be all the rage, both in adult and YA fiction lately. Wonder why. At any rate, I read this book in a day. Stayed up late to finish it. Tris is not as kick-ass as Katniss (Hunger Games), but you gotta root for a girl protagonist amidst all the boy centered books. The next book in the trilogy will be released this spring and is on my TBR list. If you're looking for a fun, fast read, check this one out.

5. Faith
I do not know why it took me so long to read this book. I heard the author speak at the BBF this year and I decided to bump the book higher on my TBR list, and am I delighted I did. I was braced for some tough stuff - the story is set around the Catholic Priest sex scandals in Boston. Like all great stories, the grander themes are explored using specific people - in this case an accused priest and his family. The story takes us into the lives of a family, dysfunctional in their own particular way, and we explore how things end up the way they do. Beautifully told. Loved every moment of reading it.

I'm delighted to have read 3 wonderful books in a row. Looking at my TBR pile to see what I'm going to dive into next. Are you reading anything good?

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 4.
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0

Journal Page

I find it interesting how the subconscious works. I started this page by slapping some paint down and drawing circles. Looking at it a couple of days later I see hints of my emotional state. There were several things going on that were making me crazy and I wanted it to stop. My journal page perfectly captures that.

I used fluid acrylics - they work surprising well with masks and stencils.

Atheism 2.0

I am always inspired by books that Alain de Botton writes, so was delighted to see his TED talk. I could not agree more.
You can see his talk here.

Stop internet censorship!

If you are in the US, please help stop this bill.
Thanks!

The Senate is poised to vote on a bill that would end the internet as we know it.

If it passes, the "Protect IP Act" (and its companion bill in the House, "SOPA") could put people in jail for uploading a video to YouTube and would severely limit our right to free speech.

This bill has been rushed through Congress because big corporate interests like Comcast, Pfizer, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have spent millions of dollars lobbying for this censoring legislation.

I told my senators to protect our free and open internet and oppose the Protect IP Act. You should do the same. You can sign the petition at the link below.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/internet_censorship/?r_by=-4970988-DkCbXAx&rc=paste1

Recent Reads

1. The Assassini
I can never resist a Vatican thriller. There are so many skeletons buried in their closets, and the more I learn about the history the more shocked I am. Well, this fun read is a fictional story about the intrigues in the Church as the Pope nears his death. This is an old school thriller - one that moves slowly. Not a wham bam thank you ma'am kind of a thriller, and I enjoyed losing myself in this world for a while. This is the first book I have read by this author and I would read more of his work.

2. The Emperor of All Maladies
This book won the Pulitzer and I tend to be skeptical of prize winners, but it is my book club selection for the month, so I dived in. I've read 137 books in the last 12 months and this one is the best of the lot. Finally a book written for adults! The book covers cancer in various ways: the historical, the political, the scientific, the medical, the personal, the victories, the failures, the hope and the deaths. It reads like a thriller and I loved every minute of it. First book by the author, and I can only hope that he continues to write.

3. Aya
I love graphic novels, especially ones with alternative perspectives. I quite liked this coming of age story set in the Ivory Coast. Growing up in Kenya, I learned all the typical things about the Ivory Coast - history, exports, geography, etc, but nothing about actual people on the ground. So I found this snapshot of a girl and her community interesting. This is the first book I've read by the author and I certainly read more of her work.

2012 reading goals:
Authors new to me = 12. YTD = 3.
2 books by Charles Dickens. YTD = 0

What are you reading?

World Book Night

Love, love, love this idea.
I just signed up as a giver. Let me know if you sign up too.

World Book Night

We need 50,000 book-loving volunteers to fan out across America on April 23, 2012! Just take 20 free copies of a book to a location in your community, and you just might change someone's life.

The goal is to give books to new readers, to encourage reading, to share your passion for a great book. The entire publishing, bookstore, library, author, printing, and paper community is behind this effort with donated services and time. And with a million free World Book Night paperbacks!

The first World Book Night was held in the UK last year, and it was such a big success that it's spreading around the world! Please volunteer to be a book giver in the U.S. Sign up now to be a book giver. Read more about World Book Night on this site, from the free book list to the FAQs.

Doodling

The sketchbook theme this month is Doodles. I don't often doodle. But had fun with this one. There is something meditative about line and color with no outcome in mind.

I decided to doodle over a double spread, so total size is 9x12 inches, which my scanner does not like, but you get the idea. This page was done with ink and watercolors.

It's the playoffs baby!

This weekend is all about football in our house. 2 games yesterday. 2 today. And what an incredible pair of games last night.

First up, the New Orleans Saints against the San Francisco 49ers. I was rooting for the Saints, and the first half did not look good. Everyone seemed to come alive in the 4th quarter. How the heck the Saints maintained such a close game with 5 turnovers is beyond me. The last 5 minutes or so of the game I was on my feet. Thought the Saints had it. Then no, they didn't. Then yes, they did. Then no, they didn't. They lost. What a game.

I barely had time to weep and shake off the stress. By the time the first game was over, the 2nd was already in progress. New England Patriots against Colorado Broncos. Home game for the Pats. Way below freezing temps - 6 degrees F. Brrr. What a game. Our defense seems to have changed overnight and sacked Tebow more times that I can recall. Pats all the way. A blow out. Sweet.

Now for the 2 games tonight. Need to remember to breathe.

Teenage Scientists

It warms my heart to watch kids, especially girls, get passionate about science.
To see the award winning young scientists click here.

Bound for Vegas Travel Journal - Sneak Peek

I know that you are probably wondering about the status of my Vegas travel journal. I loved the portability of the 6x6 inch size and got a chance to play in it daily. I still need to complete some of the pages, but here is a sneak peek to keep you going.

I woke up late one night to the sound of heavy rain. There is something magical about desert rain. Seems more special than rain back home for some reason. Love that clean, crisp air a heavy rain leaves behind. This page was created with ink, watercolor pencils, and a watercolor brush. Simple supplies that travel well.

Jan 18 Art Play Date

I'm organizing an art journaling get together on Wed Jan 18 at 7pm at The Java Room in Chelmsford, MA.

http://www.thejavaroom.com/index.htm

Bring along your current/recent journals for a show and tell.

Please RSVP by Tue, so I know to expect you.

Come out and play.

Journaling with kids

I made little 6x6 journals for my nieces, and we had art journaling sessions every day during my visit in December.

The girls love to paint, color, stick things in, and write in their journals. They loved the pockets I had made in my journal, so showed them how to do the same with security envelopes, and they had such fun making their own.

Their cousin, Neeya, was visiting for the holidays and sadly told me that they "had no journals in Michigan", and that she wanted to journal too. Love that.

I'll post videos of their completed journals when I get a chance.

You can see more pics from our journal time here.

Wildcard Weekend

It is the most wonderful time of the year. Wildcard weekend baby.

Of the 4 games on this weekend, there are 2 I really care about. Our house was divided during the Lions vs Saints game last night. Babes had on her new Lions Honolulu Blue shirt, and I kept singing: Oh when the Saints. Go marching in. Oh when the Saints go marching in ......

Such a fantastic game. The Lions could have won it. A good fight. Love that.

Recent Reads

Here are my final books of 2011:

135. Traveling with Pomegranates
I really wanted to like this mother/daughter travel log, but could not get into it. Finally abandoned it about 3/4 of the way through.

136. Nightwoods
This slim book is a wonderful read. The writing is cinematic - I can almost taste and smell the surroundings. The story of wounded people who find a home together. Simply lovely.

I've in the midst of several books that will make it to my 2012 list. So based on the numbers, I read 135 books last year. Less than some years. More than others. I've read about people who shy away from "thick" books so as to boost their count. Who are they doing this for I wonder?

2012 is the 200th birthday celebration of Charles Dickens. See more here. In celebration, I plan to read a couple of his books that are on my TBR list. In particular, will start with Bleak House. Other than that my plan is to read 12 authors new to me and to continue to immerse myself in great reads. Happy reading.

Happy New Year

There is something delicious about a new year. You know that feeling when you are out for a walk or snow-shoe, and there is a pristine snow covered field in front of you? Just waiting for your footprints? It's kinda like that.

And it is resolution time. You might now that I gave up on resolutions several years back. Instead I pick a word that captures my intention for the year. Last year my word was EXPLORE. And I can honestly say that I have learned and grown and explored terrains that were new to me. Physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, artistically, spiritually, geographically. Love that.

My word this year is LIGHT. Here are some definitions that sing to me:

• Something that makes things visible or affords illumination
• Luminous, radiant energy
• Luminary
• Spiritual illumination or awareness; enlightenment
• Mental insight; understanding
• Lighthouse
• Lightly; to travel light
• Of little weight; not heavy
• With no load or cargo carried; no baggage

May 2012 be the best one yet.

50 miles? Check.

I know you've just been on the edge of your seat waiting to see if I got in my 50 miles for this month. I gotta admit I was tempted to simply skip it. Had various things to take care of today and a fun date with my nephews. But I knew that it would bug me, and that is no way to start a new year. So, am happy (and quite pleased with myself) to report that I got in 50.56 miles. Yes, my legs are sore, but am so happy - think I mentioned that already.

To celebrate, I decided to chart my miles this year. If you recall, my goal was to walk 50 miles each month, and I squeaked that in some months. My grand total for 2011 is 714 miles. What an accomplishment to see it laid out like this. Little steps add up over time.

Happy 2012. May it be the best year yet.

Final push

One of the goals I've had this year was to commit to getting in at least 50 miles of walking every month. Some months are great and I am way over. Other months it comes down to the wire, and this is such a time.

I woke up this morning with 7.74 miles to go to meet my target of 50 and 2 days left in the month. I was too lazy to get bundled up and go out for a cold morning walk, so jumped on the treadmill instead. You know me you know my passion for books, and was I ever delighted to find an On Point podcast with the Best Books of 2011 waiting for me to listen to. Most of the books are already on my TBR pile. I've read a couple on the list, and was introduced to some new ones to add to my towering TBR list. You can see the On Point list here.

Okay 5.14 miles to go. Will I make it?

Recent Reads

131. Sandman Vol 3: Dream Country
I do believe this is my fave book in the series so far. Delightful.

132. Sandman Vol 4: Season of Mists
I am slowly making my way through this series. Slowly, because I do not want the series to end. Fun read.

133. The Defector
This is No. 9 in the Gabriel Allon series, and I'd suggest skipping it. It is boring, repetitive and lacks a cohesive story. Too bad really, as I have quite enjoyed the others in the series. Am keeping my fingers crossed that the next one in the series is better.

134. The Ice Limit
What are the odds that I would read two horrible books back to back? On a trip no less? I simply do not understand the rave reviews about this book. It is poorly written, lacks a strong story line and a thriller it certainly is not. Why did I finish it? The rave reviews gave me hope of something better around the corner. Did not happen. Skip it.

Happy Holidays

As much I love traveling, there is something wonderful about being back home.

This page was done in ink and markers. I saw this image in a mag somewhere, but cannot recall where. Let me know if you do so I can credit the creator.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a new year filled with love, laughter and adventure.

Happy Solstice

It is the longest night of the year in these parts. The desert winds are howling outside my window as I write this. The sun is not up yet, and it does not seem like it will ever rise again. I can see how humans started offering sacrifices to the sun god. As a species we are not comfortable in the dark.

I am loving journaling sessions with my nieces. We spent a part of every day playing in our journals. Love that.

This page was done in ink and watercolors.

Night on the Strip

Vegas at night makes up for her sins of the day.

You can tell there is a recession on. This has to be the first time ever in all my trips to Vegas were I've not been annoyed by traffic and jostling crowds on the strip.

Random musings

From the road:

• Vegas is a fab place to watch sporting events. Found my way to the South Point casino for some fab football. So fun to watch great games with fans. And not just fans, but fans with money on the line. Having the Pats shut down Tebow on his home turf? Sweet. And boy, oh boy, did you catch that Lions game? Think I've got whiplash from watching several games at once. Oh, and did I mention the $2 drinks? Second hand smoke is on the house. All in all a wonderful way to watch football.

• So the Vegas Barnes and Noble, on Maryland Ave, has full time security. Asked around and learned that it not just for the holiday season - no stampedes at a book store I guess - he is there all year round. The store even has their special editions and multi-pack books (like the Harry Potter series) behind the cash registers. Kinda like cigs in a liquor store. So, I've been having fun imagining book thieves at work.

• Loving reconnecting with my brother and his family. There is something wonderful about kids around 8 and 9 years old. They are all there. Little people. We have the most fascinating conversations.

• What is it about women getting all dolled up for an event or dinner out, when the men they are with wear jeans? I heard once that women really dress for each other, not men. Have been thinking about that as I watch couple after couple who do this. This does not apply to European couples.

• While we are on couples, what is the deal with dressing up and paying for dinner at a high end restaurant only to sit across from each other and gaze deeply ..... into your smart phone? I say stay at home, order pizza and save the money for new apps.
  

• Vegas at night is worth all the drabness and depressing sights of the city in the day light. Think of Vegas as a vampire. Sunlight is not good for it.
  

Journal Page

Greetings from Vegas my pretties. Am jet lagged and hungry at strange hours, but loving getting to hang with my nieces. Today is the last school day before they break for a 2 week holiday so am looking forward to some fun days ahead.

I did a quick sketch of the house across from the bus stop the other day. What was I doing there? Waiting for my nephews who had early dismissal. Background acrylic wash was already on the page. Quick pen sketch. I still need to work on perspective. Not there yet.

Journal Page

I was inspired by this Geo Paper project, and decided to try it. I did not have Sumi ink, so used watered down black acrylics. I found painting this quite meditative.

I fly tomorrow and am looking forward to seeing similar landscapes outside my window.

Journal Page

I'm not always in the mood to draw what is in front of me, so while I was waiting for people to arrive decided to try "automatic drawings" ala Comfortable Shoes Studio. You can see her fun videos here.

Here are my faces. Quick and fun to sketch. Added watercolors when I got home.

Bound for Vegas Travel Journal (pre-trip)

One of the things I do to prepare for a trip is make a new travel journal. I decided to make this one 6x6 inches as I really love the portability of that size.

As usual I try to recycle as much as possible when I make a journal. The covers are cardboard covered with wall paper samples on the outside and scraps of wrapping paper on the inside. I used a piece of furniture swatch for the spine. The inside is made up of cheapo watercolor paper colored with cheapo acrylic paint, and vellum paper that I had bought ages ago. Also recycled a couple of envelopes I got in the mail. Decided to add photos to this journal, so started with some photos from my visit this time last year. Added stamping, collage material, stickers and labels. All bound with an easy pamphlet stitch and I'm good to go.

You can see a quick video of the journal pre-trip here.
You can see all my videos here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Journal Page

I've reintroduced my body back to the gym a week and a half ago, and oh can I tell that I have been a stranger to the gym for too long. There is much groaning as my sore and aching muscles adjust, but I feel great.

This page gave my brain a workout too. The idea is to draw the face/vase line on the left side (I am right handed), and the draw the right side as a mirror object. My brain stuttered several times. A great way to engage both left and right brains. Give it a try.

Spring 2011 Travel Journal

I love travel journals. Making them. Filling them. Seeing how other people do them. The possibilities are endless. Quite fun.

I had made a travel journal for a 2 week trip this spring and filled it up, but did not make a video because I had to figure out a way to hide personal pages. I spent some time marinating on the issue. I could simply remove the pages. I could put them into envelopes, or cover them in some way. My eureka moment happened when it occurred to me that I could simply fold the pages in half - easy enough to do since I used a ring bound book. This way the pages are in the right place in the journal, but still I have a measure of privacy. Viola!

The fun thing about a ring bound book, is that the pages can be re-ordered at any time and I don't have to use all the pages I start out with - so no leftover pages at the end. On this journal I did not add any of my photos - something I will explore with my next one.

You can see a quick video of the completed journal here.
You can read about how I created the journal and see the "before" video here.

Hillary rocks

To see why, click here.

Stories

I have always loved stories and story tellers, and I found a new story teller today. You can see her here.

Strathmore Online Classes

I quite enjoyed the three classes that Strathmore hosted earlier this year. Looks like they are doing it again for 2012. You can sign up here.

Recent Reads

129. The Relic
Have read good reviews about the Pendergast series, so decided to dive in with the first book, and found it a thrilling ride indeed. Reminded me a bit of Crichton's early work. Every time I see an exhibit in a museum, anywhere in the world, I am reminded of how much of the stuff was stolen and/or plundered. How can displaying mummies be anything other than grave-robbery? And yet, I appreciate the privilege that museums afford me. This story is about the "curse" of moving things to places they do not belong.

130. The Last Council
This much anticipated book #4 of the Amulet series does not disappoint. Emily and her friends find that there is no help to be found in Cielis. As a matter of fact, a competition (kinda like the Hunger Games) is about to ensue. My nieces (7 and 8) love this series, and I just bought the first book in the series for my nephew (9). Cannot wait for the next installment.

131. Sandman Vol 2: The Doll's House
I am slowly making my way though this series. It is a fun ride and the illustrations are fab. Have the next two books on my nightstand.

132. Best American Comics 2011
I find anthologies tough to read - there are some stories are that incredible and others that are so-so. This collection is no different - a mixed bag. What I really appreciated though was the chance to be exposed to artists that I had never heard of. There is value in that.

Art Journal Flip #2

To see a quick video of my recently completed art journal, click here.

For this journal, I decided to try a different size, and made a 6x6 inch book. It took a bit of getting used to, as I don't usually create on square pages. I love the portability of this size and will make journals like this again.

This handmade journal is so easy to make and uses recycled stuff. The covers are leftover illustration board, the spine is a fabric sample swatch, and the cover image is a junk mail postcard. I used cheapo watercolor paper for my signatures and bound the book together with a simple long stitch. As always, I feel quite fond of my filled journal and was reluctant to put it down to start a new one. Books become friends don't they?

You can see my other videos here.

Journal Page

I'm starting to get excited about my trip to Vegas to visit my nieces, my brother and his wife. Have not seem them since May, and we have 10 days to do nothing but play and reconnect. I have, of course, created a travel journal for the trip and plan on having journaling sessions with my nieces as we usually do. Will try to post a "before" journal video before I head out.

This page captures 10 things right now. Acyrlics, ink, makers.

Inspiration

As someone who has sat through more boring Power Point presentations than I care to recall, I love this idea. To see what inspired me today, click here.

Imaginary Animals #5

Halloween is a fave holiday in our house. There is something magical about being whatever you choose to be for a night. Most people think it is all about the candy - but I think it is the chance to dress up and be someone else.

What do you want to be for Halloween? A superhero. A vampire. A mermaid. The options are endless and much more interesting than the answer to that age old question: What do you want to be when you grow up? Vampire never seems to be an acceptable answer for that one!

This is one of my final pages for the imaginary animals series. Pen and marker. Love how an old, almost out of ink marker created that texture on the box.

Imaginary Animals #4

The thing about imaginary animals, is that once you start you cannot stop. There are so many fun possibilities. The inspiration for this one came from a bike part - of all things. Ink and markers.

Imaginary Animals #3

This all started with a magnifying glass. Why did I have it out? I was trying to read the teeny tiny writing on the nib of my fountain pen.

It looked like an eye. So traced around it and then added whatever seemed to fit. Ink and markers. Ah, the lusciousness of markers. Had forgotten about that.