Workshops at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, AZ

On Thursday, I'll be heading to Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale. I can't wait!!!! I am teaching the following classes:

Fri, Feb 6th:
Wisdom Book Fri p.m. class-
Valentine Tree Book
Saturday, Feb 7th:
Memento Book
followed by:
p.m. class: Altered Photos Revisited:
Sunday, Feb 8th:
Soul Journeys: A Deck of Cards
Remember, art classes make GREAT gifts for YOU or a friend (be it Valentine's Day, a birthday or a random thank you for being such a good friend day!). Treat yourself well in 2009. Slow down. Stop and ponder. Breathe. And, damnit, make art.

To sign up for workshops, please contact Debbie at The Frenzy Stamper. If you have questions on any of the classes, drop me an email at Egorey99@sbcglobal.net

Thanks!
Kelly

I'll show you mine if...

I spent most of yesterday working on my online class stuff, prepping for my classes next weekend at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, prepping for my class tomorrow at the Art Bar..I also started taking out some of my toys from my journal bag.

Here's the bag I'm using now. I bought it at Artful Living in Ojai last year. I LOVE it. Here's what I've got in it: a rag for smooshing and gluing, scissors, bone folder, metal ruler, pens, journal, paper, stickers, collage ephemera... I started this page last night but didn't have time to finish it. It's on a file folder I found in one of my ephemera bags..I love the idea of another page...
Yay! 1000 Journals Film arrived yesterday. Tristan and I started watching it LATE last night and got about 1/2 way through. It is EXCELLENT. OMG the title sequence alone is just worth it. I LOVE THE LAYERS. I LOVE the stories!!!!!! You NEED to see this film. You NEED the book. I probably won't be able to watch the rest until Sunday afternoon. I've got a busy day lined up with "to do lists".

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Oops with google messing up today!

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I hope our friends in Australia are ok...Very troubling news.

oh the things that make me happy...

David, Tristan, Family, Friends, Art, Journals, Books, Used bookstores, Old Libraries, Nature, Trees, Rain, Snow, Fur footed friends, a well loved paint brush, a favorite pen, children laughing, a stranger walking down the street singing, a letter that someone held in their hands decades ago that now you are holding in your hands...

things that make me happy...Maira Kalman makes me happy. How I love Maira. Please come out with a new book soon! At least for now we have her other books and this.

Hope, hope, hope and the good that people work for makes me happy. Peace.

Movies like this that speak truth and bring things out to light that others try to shove down, hide and destroy.

Journal pages that sing from the heart.

The promise of a lovely book...

Finally, FIX IT shops and that some really still do exist. Yesterday I had my cell phone fixed in about 5 minutes from this shop on Melrose. I am so happy. The landfill is happy as it's quite full and doesn't need my cell phone in it. The only one not happy is Verizon 'cause I ain't renewing my contract just to get a phone! We need more fix it shops. Tristan is happy because he loves how my phone is a "fusion" of two phones: mine which was pink and someone else's which was grey. How cool is that?

journal page from January 28

Last night I was able to create two pages in my journal. I've already showed you the one on the left, here's the new page:here's the two page spread:
I'll share the other one with you tomorrow!
*****
Mercury in MY boy's chocolate syrup??? Guess what just went into the trash.

OK, this is ridiculous

The Postmaster General wants to cut back on mail delivery?? WTF? Seriously? NO. (My Mother works for the PO and I do not want to see her affected or other WORKERS affected *OR* my Mail affected!)...AND they are raising RATES AGAIN and they just raised rate.

Domino magazine says bye bye. (Damnit, it wasn't bad enough that Home Companion and Blueprint folded).

ONE GOOD THING-
The 1000 Journals film is now on DVD! Woo hoo. Mine is coming in the mail by Friday.

One more teaser...

This is my journal that I'm working in now. Well, actually, not *now*. Now I am sick-again! I spent today and yesterday sleeping or working in my class journal. I am done. I did all of the February prompts and I love this journal and the inside pages!! What memories it holds within its pages.

Here is the last teaser. I promise. This is the journal I made for the February A Prompt A Day online class I'm teaching. I constructed a journal using an old hardcover kids' book that was falling apart. I covered the front with fabric. I sewed new pages in. I will teach the techniques starting February 1st in the online class of what I did to the pages. I slathered, swiped and layered in acrylics. I used things I had on hand. I layered collage ephemera-yes, paper treasures. I wrote and poured out onto the page. You, too, will do this in class...you will use your own voice. You will learn new techniques. You will be nurtured and encouraged to make art daily. You will learn to love your journal. You will learn that anyone can keep a journal. It's not hard. You will see what others did in their own journals. You will see how no one's pages look alike.

I look forward to time with my own journal daily. 28 days in February 2009. 28 days to journal. 28 days to learn techniques, three techniques a day: paint, collage, journaling. 84 in all. 84 techniques that can be applied to any mixed media art. Yes, I'm tempting. Yes, I'm teasing. I'm a firm believer that everyone is an artist in some way, shape or form. Pick up your journal. Start. Today. Start for you. Start now. Join us, it's easy.

somewhat of a closer look...

I ordered my matboard for next weekend's classes at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale! I still have to go buy and pour paint. Gotta pick up paper, too. It's always a mental checklist of things to do when I travel and teach. I'm really looking forward to it!

One can never have too many journals...

I thought I'd share this with you:
Yes, my journals all double stacked (there are journals behind journals).
And to think I "cleaned" this up. LOL, I wonder what Mom will say when she comes to visit next week.Here is a teaser for my February 2009 A Prompt A Day class.
You can find more information regarding the online class HERE. To sign up you can click the paypal button to your right (please specify if you are signing up for January or February). Thanks!

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My friend, Jeane, is having a contest over at her blog. While you're there, check out her etsy shop. I LOVE her jewelry. It's so cool!!!!!!

I know where she got her talent from...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with talent in this family!

Journal page from Jan 23rd...A friend and I trekked to two fabulous stores yesterday:

Zinnia in So Pasadena (Always a favorite!) where I picked up the newest Artful Blogging, Where Women Create and Apronology, along with some other goodies!!!

Gilding the Lily in Fullerton-a first for both of us! We had a great time and both of us found some very fun goodies!!!!

On the way home we hit the Fullerton library sale. Holy moly, I've never seen a library sale like it. The volunteers all had candy striper uniforms on, too!

All in all, it was a very fun day!!!!

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There is still room for sign ups in my January and February A Prompt a Day classes. You can find more information HERE. New prompts start February 1st!

THanks!

January 22, 2009

Fifth blog post-of the day-this one's funny-Taylor, this one's for you!

HA HA HA HA HA HA MY husband just told me HE doesn't buy a lot of books.

ha ha ha hah ah ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

We have 11 bookcases that line the walls of our apartment. TWO are mine!

HA HA HA HA HA HA....I am rolling on the floor seriously laughing my ass off. I won't mention the BOXES of books he has OR the HUGE bookshelf that spans one wall that contains nothing but COMIC BOOKS and MAGAZINES.

Funny Farm, here I come! Pissing contest, I win (LOL).

These are all HIS shelves (and yes, all that hand cream is mine)...the doll is mine...the Salazar print is mine... ;)
Even DUPLICATES of some books! The M. Ciment Kubrick book-one of them-he practically ripped out of my hands at the first Comic Con I went to with him! *love you, honey*
2666 is one of his latest acquisitions.
He has a talent for juggling books. I, on the other hand, can really only read one fiction or non fiction book at a time. I tend to devour my books, reading at every opportunity that arises. He can be reading volumes at a time and over decades and still remember what he read.

I'm off to finish teasing him.

6 Billion Others

I swear, this is the last blog post of the day. I HAD To share it.

I found the link via ParisDailyPhoto (thanks Eric!).

6 Billion Others.

Check it out.

Seriously.

Go. Now.

THIRD post of the day: Anyone else ever have a printer that took them over twelve hours to set up?!??!

and this isn't the first time!
Hubby picked out a new printer. It's an HP L7780. I read reviews (average rating less than 2 stars) from average joes like us...I read good review from the "pros".
Long story short:
Printer arrived yesterday at 4 p.m. Hubby spent 12 hours not only throwing his hip out lifting the damn thing and giving me instructions from the floor, but TWELVE HOURS putting it together and trying to make it work. Last night at midnight he tried to turn it off. Nope. It froze. After I bitched that the blue light was glowing and I couldn't sleep (plus I did not want the dang thing on all night) he unplugged it. Woke up this morning and he spent another 4 hours. Meanwhile I'm online looking up review after review reading multiple cases of people who are trying to use a wireless router having major problems. *sigh*
IT'S A FIRMWARE PROBLEM.
Hubby had to go to the HP site and download the firmware. So far, it's working. It was the only damn thing that would get it to work.
HP STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTS AND FIX THIS MACHINE. The reviews I've read go back to 2007!
There's a whole BLOG devoted to the problems that this machine has.
I'm going to test it this weekend by printing out my handouts for AZ.
Wireless routers + printers=pain in the ass. Wireless routers + printers + "we didn't warn you"=MAJOR pain in the ass
Oy frickin' Vey!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Two posts in one day!??! Yup...but had to share-
My day *totally* has been made.Tara Jane ONeil whose work I frickin' LOVE has a second book out. How did this happen?!?!? What rock am I living under!?!??! Make sure you check her website out.
I just ordered her second book from here. I bought her first book, Who Takes a Feather, years YEARS ago (or so it seems) at Hi De Ho Comics in Santa Monica. I about had a fit when I saw it. LOVE it. You can buy it here.

Finding your voice

You know what I get tired of in this little community?

Games.

Pedestals.

Pissing contests.

Judgment.

Come on.

Seriously.

Get off your fucking pedestal. Don't put your art on a fucking pedestal. Don't put artists on pedestals. Stop being so damn judgmental. It's a fucking journal page. Seriously.

This isn't to anyone in particular, btw. It's to *anyone* and *everyone* who has ever had any doubt-self imposed or thrust upon them by others. I was going to say something yesterday but needed time to soak it all in.

What do you use a journal for?

It's YOUR safe place. It can be a place to:
document
record
vent
rave
gush
play
experiment
get it out and onto the page
create
dream
-seriously all those cute little word stamps (dream, believe, create) totally apply to art journals.

Your art journal is for *you*. Who really and honestly gives a shit if someone else doesn't think it's "good enough". HELLO? IT'S A JOURNAL. It's not hanging in the fucking Louvre.

It's

a

JOURNAL.

It ain't the Mona Fucking Lisa.

I highly doubt that Da Vinci sat down and worried if what he was putting in his books was "good enough". Seriously.

I had someone email me and tell me that a page the other day "just wasn't me" (uh, it was a simple page and it said what *I* wanted it to say). Uh, okay. I've had someone email me in the past saying that my shit looked like everyone else's shit (fuck you, I don't think so). Uh, okay. I've had people say absolute stupid STUPID shit to me that they would never want said to them nor would they say it to anyone else. I just stand there with my mouth open thinking "Really? REALLY? Did that person REALLY just say that?" Yup. Yes, they did.

I'm not tooting my own horn (or anyone else's horn here). I'm not just talking about MY experiences here 'cause I KNOW others have had 'em too. I'm just saying that a journal is your place to sit and expressive yourself-in whatever means you want, however you want, whenever you want (though I am a firm believer in daily journaling). It is *not* meant to be judged.

It has nothing NOTHING to do with how GOOD ANYONE is.

If I want to cut out an image, slap it down and write a few words around it and call it a page. If it says what I want it to say, it's a page. I don't need someone to email me and tell me that "it's someone else's image", it's not "original", it's not "you". If it friggin' says what I want it to say and I'm DONE WITH IT, I'm moving on. I want YOU to do the same thing as a journal keeper. As a journal artist.

Open up the page. Paint. Collage. Write. Do whatever makes you happy. Push the envelope. Try. Fail. Try again. Push push push. Play play play. Use your book to express YOU. Move on when you need to move on.

Stop looking at the shit in the magazines and comparing your work to it. It's NOT you. YOU are you. Seriously. You want your work to look like YOU made it. Not like someone else made it.

Someone tells you you're not "good enough". Screw 'em. Do a page about it and move on. You've got a journal to fill. You've got pages to play with. You have things to record. You have moments and thoughts and ideas to spill out.

Worried about what's gonna happen when you croak? Why? We all go through shit-good times and bad times. It's that sappy saying called a roller coaster of life. It's true though-up, down, we all ride it. People say "Oh, I don't want my kids to read this when I die." WHY? So they'll find out that Mom (or Dad) was a real, honest, unique person?? That Mom or Dad fucked up every now and then. That good things and bad things happen-TO ALL OF US. We share one common thing: we're all human. Get over it. Write it in your journal. Someone reads it and gets pissed. Screw them-your journal is YOUR book. Not theirs. If they read it, that's THEIR problem. NOT YOURS.

It's your book.

It's for you.

Don't ever forget that.

Go make something and don't look back.

Heading to Frenzy Stamper in AZ *very* soon

Is it really almost February already!?!? WOW!
I am VERY excited about teaching at THE ONE AND ONLY, Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, AZ.
I'm teaching FIVE workshops starting February 6th through the 8th. The samples are IN the store and you can also see them online here and here. I LOVE teaching at Frenzy Stamper. It's one of my most favorite stores on the entire planet. There is still room in the classes so if you're interested in, sign up now!!!!! Debbie is heading to CHA and Alice is holding down the fort (see the blog post for more info). Hope to see YOU THERE!

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Laurel's blog post today on rock, paper, scissors just totally cracked me up.
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Hoping that it keeps raining today. I love the rain. I'm not a big fan of anything over 80 degrees (I blame hubby for living in So CA, the land of the heat). It always feels like a huge treat when it rains here. Move me up north to OR or WA, anywhere where there is real weather.
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I'm still reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and for the most part, loving every page of it.
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Can I just tell you-again-that I love Aaron McGruder?

January 19, 2009 journal pages

The Art Unraveled website is UP and OPEN. Lots of yummy classes are posted there (some really good ones, too, by some chick named Kilmer). I'd like to take some
classes this year and am having a hard time making up my mind!!! Hey, lotsa links in that last sentence, eh? LOL!!!!

January 19th journal pages

I actually started the bird one the other day but finished it last night. I did about 4 pages last night. I swear I was twitching for lack of having worked on my own personal work for a few days.

Would you believe that I just finished compiling the handout for my January A Prompt A Day class? Everything was already completed, typed up, etc... but I needed to still compile all of the prompts and a photo of each page into one big handout.

Um, the handout is 62 pages long.

Since there are 31 days in January and each day there is a Painting, Collage and Journaling prompt, there are 93 prompts total. I'll be emailing these to group members starting today.

I'm VERY excited about the February A Prompt A Day class. January has been AWESOME. Seriously. I always think the best thing about teaching is giving people an idea and they take it and make it their own. I Love love love giving my students the same idea (paint the page or collage the page this way) and they all make their pages unique even if they are using the same colors!! Woo hoo!!!

I also love how the group is composed of such a variety of people from a vast variety of lands...ahh, I LOVE IT. Some never used acrylics before this class while others have been painting for years. Some have never made a journal page before while others have been keeping a journal for a very long time. It's a very sharing, giving group. It's a VERY talented group. I love it-it really is art from the heart which is what I'm always after!

I am VERY excited to be teaching at Art Unraveled again this year. I will be doing a blog post about it when the site goes LIVE.
*****
UNICEF report: Half a million women in underdeveloped countries die each year in childbirth.
4 million children die before their 28th day. "What is more tragic is that about 80 percent of maternal deaths could be prevented if the women had access to basic healthcare and maternity services."

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A Citizen's Oath of Office

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This Land Really Is Made For You and Me

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Pete Seeger and Co singing "This Land is Your Land" with ALL of Guthrie's lyrics intact!

A Prompt A Day: Online Mixed Media Art Journaling classes for February

A Prompt A Day: Online Mixed Media Art Journaling classes

For $25 each month, you will receive a prompt a day. I've set up a special page just for the group! Starting Feb 1st through Feb 28th, I will post (to the site, open to students only) a prompt of the day. The prompt is actually three prompts:

Painting

Collage

Journaling

Each prompt will contain a supply list and detailed instructions on how to make at least ONE journal page a day. I will also demonstrate how I followed the prompt by showing pictures of my own page a day along with the prompt. These prompts can be used not only for art journaling but also for other mixed media art: canvas, altered books, ATCs, boxes, books, etc... It's actually THREE prompts a day rolled into ONE journal page.

Each paid student (for that month) will receive a file of the whole month's worth of class documents (photos and instructions). This file will be posted on the group's site before the end of the month. I can also email it to you if there are problems.

The idea of this project is to inspire you to create something daily! It's like taking a class with me but receiving one prompt a day!

You don't need a lot to do this. If you've been following my blog, you have an idea of the work that I do. If you've taken a class with me, you know my style! I like to give my students an idea to make a page and then I love seeing how everyone translates that idea to make it their own!

This is a new venture for both my regular students and brand new students!! It's open to everyone from beginner to advanced.

Basic supplies are:
A Journal or paper
PVA bookbinding adhesive OR Gel Medium (I like Soft Gel Gloss) or even a glue stick (I like coccoina, avery, scotch-anything labeled permanent). In my journal, at home, a glue stick is my adhesive of choice!
Acrylics-my basic colors are Hansa Yellow Medium (or Azo yellow medium), Quinacridone Magenta, Phthalo Blue, Titanium White, Paynes Grey, Titan Buff and Burnt Sienna-with these colors you can make any color (I like Nova Color but whatever your favorite brand is, will do.)
Gloss or polymer Medium (mix 50/50 with your paints to "extend" them and make them last longer. Do not buy what they label extender as that extends the drying time)
1" chip or bristle brushes
a few favorite pens-mine are: Sakura gelly roll glaze, Sakura Souffle, Latte and sweets pens, Zig Vellum and Writer pens, Faber Castell Pitt Pens (brush stroke, black), Sharpie Poster Paint pens (water based), Micron pens, uniball signo...you do not need all of these! Just a pen that will write on paint and paper!
water container
waxed paper
paper towels or old rags
bone folder
scissors
metal ruler
Paper ephemera-collage papers for background and focal, images

Also, please note, I do not want you to have to go buy anything for the class. Use what you have. If you do not have these specific colors of paint, use what is in front of you: Yellow, Red, Blue, etc.. You will get a different look but I really want to stress using what you already own and what's in your studio (or closet, or art bag or wherever you work from!)

I am a firm believer in using the art journal as a tool. It's a place where not only you can express yourself, but you can also form your ideas for various projects and let them develop onto the page. 99.9% of my artwork is done in art journal form.

You will be able to upload your own photos of the pages that YOU create from the prompts. There is a discussion forum where you can ask questions and talk to other group members.

I am always available to answer your questions and to help!

The prompts and ideas I give lend themselves to a variety of media: canvas, atcs, art journal pages, artist books, cards, altered art and MORE.

This is all NEW material. Even if you've taken every single one of my 300+ mixed media classes, this is something new. You will get new ideas and techniques!

I do not show the journal pages from the online class on this blog. The material you are getting in the class is fresh and new. Exclusive to students.

Each month has NEW and DIFFERENT techniques then the previous ones. The classes are geared towards ALL levels of experience: Beginner to Advanced. Use the prompts to inspire you to make art daily in some form OR work at your own pace and make art when you can.

The prompts are not at all related to the month posted. They stand on their own.

Interested? Use the button below! Questions? Drop me an email at EGorey99@sbcglobal.net

Sign ups start NOW. Class starts February 1st. I do not pro-rate classes. They are on a month by month basis only beginning the first of each month (at $25 a month). You can sign up for the month of February any time before the end of February (please note: if you sign up late in February and you want to start a new month, please note that with your payment and I will not log you in for February but for the month you request). You do not have to do exercises on a daily basis either. You can log in and do the exercises at your own leisure. It's also your choice if you lurk on the site or actively participate. Remember, at the end of the month you will receive a file (posted on the group site before the end of the month for you) of the whole month's prompts, techniques and photos of my samples to print out and save (please play nice and do not share. Please only use for personal use. :) Thanks.)

No refunds after February 1st for the month of February. Thanks.

Once you've signed up, I will personally send you an invite to join the group. You have to sign into the group (using your own information: email address and create a password, etc..). It's up to you, if you lurk and stay anonymous or if you want to fully participate.

ALSO: There will be a FREE give a way. ONE lucky person per month will receive either a handmade journal made by me OR one of my collage packs (these are of my choosing). The value of the journal is $40. The value of the collage pack is $45. The winner is chosen on the last day of the month. ONE winner per month. Winner randomly selected.

Please note if you are signing up for January OR February, or both!-Thanks!