Books on My Wishlist So Far for 2012*

*I'll be forthright in saying that I won't be buying most of these books. They're on my wishlist and I definitely want to see them before I buy any of them.

Anything with the title of "Artist's Books" usually draws me in. I'm hoping that this is a title to add to my shelves:
I love Alena's work so I'm looking forward to seeing what this book will offer:
The exhibit is at LACMA and I plan on seeing it but it would also be nice to have a copy of the exhibit catalog:
I agree with a lot of what Austin Kleon says and his site is one of my favorites. I'm looking forward to seeing this book:
Joan Schulze is one of my favorite artists and this book has been on my wishlist for awhile. I have all of her earlier books and it will only be a matter of time before I buy this one.
Susannah's blogs is one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to reading this:
I have all of Sabrina's books (except her self published books-*someday*- and am hoping that this one won't disappoint)
This one looks cool:
We are huge Svankmajer fans in this household. It is on both my list and my husband's list of Must Buy Books in 2012:
I've seen this and I want it. It will be mine eventually (insert evil laughter here). If I had the dough, I would consider buying this edition. I "visit" it at the store every time I go (Book Soup.)
Lynda Barry! Lynda Barry! Lynda Barry! Need I say more?
The blog is interesting. I'd like to see how the book is, too:
Her photographs are haunting and they definitely stay with you. A must on my list:
The Altered Page is one of the BEST blogs out there. I can't wait for this book!
I'm a BIG fan of Cindy's zines. I'm looking forward to this collection:




This is another book that I "visit" when I see it in the store. I don't know if I "need" it but I do like parts of it (the parts that look like journal pages!):
I've seen this book several times and the interviews look interesting. Again, not sure if I will ever actually buy it but I do like looking at it:
What books are on your wishlist for 2012?

27 January 2012 Journal Page

I enjoyed playing with the white space as well as the different text forms on this page. I also love how the focal image is looking at the page above (yesterday's post.) Sorry for the short postings this week as I am in CLEAN HOUSE mode before my Mom and cousin arrive Monday. Eek! Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I am trying to set and accomplish one big goal (like cleaning) a day so I also have time to work in my art journal and do other things that keep me sane and happy (it's a balance between work and play!) Everything will get done in due time. I hope!

24 January 2012 Journal Page

One of my favorite things to do with rub-ons is to color them in using gel pens (Sakura glaze or souffle or Pilot's lattes.) Not only does it look cool but more importantly, it's very meditative and gives me time to process my thoughts and feelings as I work on a page.

26 January 2012 Journal Page

Had a great day teaching. Big thanks to my students (and friends) for being so patient with me (still coughing.) Now I'm home watching the Oscars and the streets of Hollywood are fairly quiet (it's like Christmas here.) Journaling as I watch. I hope that your weekend was a good one!

23 January 2012 Journal Page

You can't see it that well unless you look close but there are lots of layers here. My journaling is done with one of the (heart!!!) Zig Cocoiro pens in blue-gray. I also stamped and layered with washi tape. (You can also stamp on the washi tape, or any tape, with Staz-on. Just go slow and don't rock it as it will slide on tape.) Teaching Journal This! at Stampin from the Heart tomorrow. Can't wait! It's a small but great group!

Wanderlust a.k.a. The Flippy Book Journal

I finished the last page in this journal last night. I've been working in this journal and showing it to you here since mid December. It has traveled to MA, NY, NO CA, and AZ with me. The pages fold out, up and down. The pages that flip up, out, and down are not sewn or taped in. It's all in the folding of the paper. I taught this class for the first time a few weeks ago in Fremont, CA. They loved it! I'm looking forward to teaching it again soon. It was one of my favorite journals to work in. I'll be showing you the rest of the pages here and will also eventually add a slide show. Right now, I'm multi-tasking. I'm prepping for my Journal This! class in Sunday at Stampin from the Heart. I'm also thinking about the new journal I need to make while I clean my living room/art area as my Mom and cousin are coming to visit a week from Monday! I hope that whatever you're doing, it's good. Have a great weekend!

More New Pens from JetPens

Last month I wrote that JetPens sent me a coupon code to order $25 worth of pens every month from January through April. Let's just say that their little idea is costing me money and getting me addicted to some new pens! I think they knew that in advance.

This month I ordered more than $25 worth of items. In fact, I ordered twice. The first batch of goodies I ordered was:

Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pen - 12 Color Set -I thought that it would be fun to order a new batch of markers to color with. They are $25 and honestly, I don't like them. At all. They bleed. Not only do they bleed through my heavy cardstock that I use but when I use them with other pens, they don't get along very well. I'm disappointed but I am VERY happy that I could use the JetPens gift certificate on it as opposed to my own money. Would I recommend these? No. Sorry!

The rest of the order was $57 worth of my own money and I LOVE everything else that I ordered:

IL Felt Bag-in-Bag - Mustard Yellow -I usually carry large purses and I can never find anything in them. I saw this divider and instantly saw potential in all of the little dividers and pockets. When the order arrived, this was the first thing I took out of the package. I opened it up, cleaned out my purse and placed it in the bottom. Voila, it fit perfectly! Now I have everything stored where I can find it. I also like the color (it's available in other colors). I'm one happy camper.

I ordered three more of the Kuretake Zig Letter CocoIro pens. I. love. these. pens. I wrote about them before here. I've changed my mind, though, from what I said previously about them. I WILL be buying them in every color. I love them. They are a nice fine tip point. They're not great for coloring a lot of area but for writing and drawing, they are amazing. Everyone whom I've let try mine has loved them. The colors that I ordered in this batch were:

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Refill-Super Fine-Blue Black

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Refill-Super Fine-Sunset Orange

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Refill-Super Fine-Red

Folks have said that you can use the refills by themselves as they come with their own caps. However, I am a bit leery of just throwing them in my bag so that they possibly could get squished and leak (having had pens do this in the past, I don't want a repeat performance.) So, I opted to order the pen bodies/cases for each refill. I do wish that the bodies matched the colors of the ink better. That's really my only complaint about the pens. I don't mind that the bottom of the pen sticks out past the holder (though a few folks, including my husband, found this rather confusing when they first went to use the pen.)

The pen bodies I ordered were:

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Strawberry Red

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Starry Night Gray with Glitter

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Orange

About a week after receiving the above order, I placed another order (again with my own money) for more of the Kuretake Zig CocoIro Pens. I spent $27.71 and ordered:

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Refill-Superfine Sepia

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Refill-Cool Gray

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Refill-Brush Type Black

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Chestnut Brown

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Snowy White

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Real Black

Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen Body-Ocean Blue

and for Tristan:

Iwako Zoo Novelty Eraser-Horse

The only pen in the batch that I don't love is the brush type black. I have been spoiled by the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, which I love and adore! Once you have used the best, you won't want to use anything else!

I'm now missing:

Super Fine-Blood Red

Super Fine-Cobalt Blue

Super Fine-Dark Green

Super Fine-Mint Green

Super Fine-Royal Blue

I'd also really like to try their roller ball pen. It might be a nice pen to have in my purse.

As you can see, when I fall in love with a pen, I fall hard.

No one has paid me for the above review (as I mentioned before JetPens has sent me a $25 gift certificate to be used once a month from January through April. Once the order hits about $25, it comes out of my pocket. I have spent about $85 of my own money this month on the pens that I am recommending in this post.) I only recommend pens and products that I LOVE. I do not work for any company or anyone other than MY STUDENTS!

Yes, I will eventually add the Kuretake Zig CocoIro pens to my list of favorite pens. I'm trying to find out if there are even more colors than what JetPens has listed. Obsessed much? (Yup.)

I asked this question last month and I thought I'd ask it again this month, for March are there any pens or product ($25 or under) from JetPens that you'd like to see me review?

And in case you're wondering, I'm not ordering anything else (unless I absolutely run out of something for class) for awhile as I am saving for this and my credit card needs a serious break.

February and March 2012 Workshops

February

26^th Stampin From the Heart L.A. Journal This! 12:30-4:30 310-391-0466

Journal This!

Let’s put the journal back into art journaling. This is a collage class but it’s also about how to write, where to write and what to write. Pretty pictures are nice to create but let’s put some meaning and written words onto our journal pages. This class is designed to nurture and encourage you in the art of art journaling. I guarantee that there will be plenty of collage AND written prompts! You will walk out with several completed pages and your head will be brimming full of new ideas and possibilities!

Supply list: journal (or the instructor will have paper for you to work on), scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes) or a few of your favorite glue sticks

*****

March

2^nd Stampin From the Heart L.A. Journal This! 11:30-3:30 310-391-0466

Journal This!

Let’s put the journal back into art journaling. This is a collage class but it’s also about how to write, where to write and what to write. Pretty pictures are nice to create but let’s put some meaning and written words onto our journal pages. This class is designed to nurture and encourage you in the art of art journaling. I guarantee that there will be plenty of collage AND written prompts! You will walk out with several completed pages and your head will be brimming full of new ideas and possibilities!

Supply list: journal (or the instructor will have paper for you to work on), scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes) or a few of your favorite glue sticks

*****

*****

4^th Simi Valley Journal This! Workshops to be held at a private studio (information will be sent when you sign up for the workshop) Class time is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Journal This!

Let’s put the journal back into art journaling. This is a collage class but it’s also about how to write, where to write and what to write. Pretty pictures are nice to create but let’s put some meaning and written words onto our journal pages. This class is designed to nurture and encourage you in the art of art journaling. I guarantee that there will be plenty of collage AND written prompts! You will walk out with several completed pages and your head will be brimming full of new ideas and possibilities!

Supply list: journal (or the instructor will have paper for you to work on), scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes) or a few of your favorite glue sticks

To sign up, please click here or email me at EGorey99@sbcglobal.net for more info!

Once you sign up for the Simi Valley workshop, I will email you the address, directions and any other important information.

*****

9^th Zinnia So Pasadena Beautiful Life 11:30-3:30

A Beautiful Life Journal

What do you get when you combine paper, ribbon, glue and a little special somethin’ something? A soft covered (but extremely durable), quickly stitched and totally made by your own hands journal! You will learn not only how to create your own Beautiful Life Journal but you will discover how to successfully blend color, texture and imagery together onto the pages of your book. You’ll create luscious layers that combine rich, personal imagery with colorful, textured bits of paper ephemera. I’ll dig deep into my bag of tricks for this class, unearthing and sharing what I know to be the key to creating unique, personal journal pages that you will love!

Supply list: Scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes), a few of your favorite glue sticks, bottle of tacky glue

*****

24^th Zinnia So Pasadena Sanctuary 11-3

Sanctuary Journal

Work big, work fast (but not too fast) and work across the fold in this book created and bound by you! We’ll start by assembling this journal with a new and unique stitch! We’ll spread out across the page, creating luscious two page spreads learning new collage techniques as we work. Combine a multitude of ephemera and your own style to create uniquely blended, layered and richly colored, personal journal pages.

Supply list: Scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes), a few of your favorite glue sticks

*****

25^th Stampin From the Heart L.A. Fundamentals of Texture 12:30-4:30

FUNdamentals of Texture

Who says that you can only use paint to create texture? In this class you will create a multitude of backgrounds (sans paint) while exploring hands on various texture techniques. Be prepared to layer, learn and have fun in this with a variety of mediums. The possibilities are endless and I will teach you everything I know while putting the FUN in the fundamentals of texture!

Supply list: journal (or the instructor will have paper for you to work on), scissors, small selection of favorite collage ephemera, bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of waxed paper, roll of paper towels, permanent black inkpad, container to hold water, 1" brushes to glue (I like chip or bristle brushes), a few of your favorite glue sticks

I hope to see YOU there!