21 January 2013 Journal Page

We had a great time at WonderCon. It's always a bit difficult to get back to reality (whatever that may be) after attending a comic book convention. When you surround yourself with things you love: art, books, comics, film, etc... on a daily basis and then you enter a bubble where that world is alive and real, it's pretty hard to want to leave it. The real world seems more surreal afterwards. It's not something most folks would understand unless you love science fiction, fantasy, comics, film, art, etc... and it's a part of your world already.  We know that we're pretty lucky to be able to attend these conventions and that WonderCon is only a small taste of the big pie: San Diego Comic Con. Yes, we're already counting down and talking about it.  So today I'll try to acclimate back to my reality. I'll work in my journal, read some of the books that we bought, figure out where to put my two new dolls and later on watch something together that we'll all enjoy. "Imagination and fiction make up more than three quarters of our real life." Simone Weil

Waiting

David and I are in line for The Arena at WonderCon this morning. We are looking forward to seeing the Pacific Rim panel and later in the day, Steranko's panel. Tristan is (yet again) in search of a Finn hat from the Adventure Time panel. Having a good time. Here's what it looks like from my view on the floor this morning. I've made myself comfortable.

New Mini On the Go Journal Kit and the Winners of my Swatches Contest

I made a new journal that's lightweight, easy to carry and ready to go. I packed up a small, lightweight kit for the weekend and included some travel scissors, coccoina glue sticks, .35 rapidosketch pen, latte pens, Sharpie water based paint pens, a few rolls of tape that are almost at the end of the roll, stickers (a little glassine envelope full) and some cut out, carefully selected focal images and background papers. I'm all ready to rock and roll. 

If you're looking for some fun postings this weekend, I'll be posting over on Instagram as much as I can daily. You'll see where I am when you click over there Friday afternoon! I'm excited.

I've selected five names for those who signed up extra early for the Swatches class (thanks all!) I'm not closing registration at all and you can sign up or see more information here.

The grand prize winner of handmade journal (made by me and all ready for you to work in) is:

Janet Plant

The four additional runner up winners who will each win a seat in one of ANY of my online class of their choosing (except Swatches) are:

Kimberly Owen 
Michele Esser
Sandra Guderyon

Kathryn Walunas

*Winners were chose using Random Number Generator in order of sign-up (the first person to sign up was #1, etc...)

Thanks for signing up for the class. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone does!

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Closer Look at April 2013 Classes

 Here's a closer look at my April 2013 classes. The samples are in the store as well as online. Please don't wait too long to sign up if you're interested. If you have any questions, please email me! 

You can find out about my summer and other classes here.

-Thanks, Kelly
 

April

6^th Banana Rose Westlake Village Wanderlust

Wanderlust 

 
Looks can be deceiving. Create this surprisingly complex looking by quite easy journal with pages that flip and fold up and out. You’ve probably never seen anything like this before! The journal is also small enough to slip into your bag for on the go art journaling (I’ve worked in it on a plane, in a car, etc…) After we construct the journal, we will dive deep onto the pages spilling layers of color, texture, pattern, journaling and more. Walk out with your head spinning full of ideas and inspiration!

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

13th and14th Special Two Day class Personal Mythologies in Santa Barbara More info here

19th Stampin from the Heart L.A. Journal This

Let’s put the journal back in 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

 
 

28th  Stampin from the Heart L.A. My Interior Life

My Interior Life

A book bound by your own hand is a precious thing but what if it’s also a book that is full of your own visions, thoughts and musings? In this unique workshop, we will be diving onto the pages learning new collage techniques, pen work, layering ideas, journal prompts and how to explore our own personal process of putting ourselves onto paper. You will walk out of class with a bound journal with several completed pages along with techniques and inspiration to fill them all!

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) or a few of your favorite glue sticks

I hope to see YOU there!

20 January 2013 Page

One of the things that I loved about working in this journal, Joie de Vivre, was how much thought I had to put into it. There are a lot of cut out pages here and I was very conscious of where an image would go on a page where the cut out would show it peeking through.

One of the things that makes me crazy is when folks say that art is mindless, brainless or requires no thinking. Art making to me (especially art journaling because it's such inner work) is a very thoughtful process and experience. It's all about working in the now and unfolding onto the page. There are thoughts, decisions and actions that all need to be considered, processed and worked through. To say that making art is mindless is to completely miss the point.

"I mean, making art is about objectifying your experience of the world, transforming the flow of moments into something visual, or textual, or musical, whatever. Art creates a kind of commentary."

Barbara Kruger

19 January 2013 Journal Page

Some moments are easier than others. Trying to be gentle with myself and take things one moment at a time. One big thing that I've learned in the last year is not to stress about the little things ('cause in the end, they're all little things.) I take life moment by moment, do the best I can and what I can when I can. Setting daily goals has helped big time.

 A quick reminder about signing up for my Swatches class. I have uploaded the bookbinding handout, the original Swatches handout and some other information to the class site so far. All in all, you will receive over fifty pages of material for this class. The class is completely work at your own pace and you can find more information here.

19 January 2013 Journal Page

Had a great time teaching at Stampin From the Heart yesterday. I only had two classes booked in March and I really missed teaching my in person classes. It's frustrating as it's getting harder and harder to find places to teach at. I love online teaching, too, but there's something quite special about an in person class. 

I was just telling one of my friends that one of the things that I absolutely adore about teaching (both in person as well as online) is the chance to see people's pages blossom with their own unique selves. It's very interesting when you know someone to see their personality and their heart become exposed onto the page. Even with folks that you don't know, the more they share their pages   reveals something about them. It sounds weird but it's so true. I love seeing how the class exercises and techniques are translated by a wide variety of people. Each page is uniquely different and brims with the artist's own unique personality and take on the ideas. You start to know folks by their pages and it's quite a fascinating experience. I am extremely humble and grateful when I can see these pages unfold and come to life.

Here's to the start of a very good week!!

17 January 2013 Journal Page

Running to get ready for class. Hoping that your day is a good one wherever you may be and whatever you may be doing.

"Every heart that has beat strongly and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind." Robert Louis Stevenson

16 January 2013 Journal Page

There's a gap in the dates of this journal. During that time, I was working in my "A Beautiful Necessity" journal. I have a hard time bopping around from journal to journal so I tend to stay working in one book at a time. However, I was traveling and going to be walking a lot so I needed something that wasn't a heavy hardcover. While this is a small book, it was still too heavy (especially with everything else that I would be carrying.) I always find it fascinating how folks work. I tend to work page by page in one book at a time. I find it disconcerting if I bop around and don't work this way. I also date each and every page (along with the weather.) It's the only time in my life where things have to be. just. so. It's all about finding what works best for you.

Busy day today. Prepping for my Connections class at Stampin from the Heart tomorrow. Board and paper have to be cut. Handouts need to be printed. Also working on my new online class, Swatches. I scanned over 70 photos yesterday which now have to be put into handout form. Busy! Busy! No complaints here! Just busyness! :)

Blog Love:
Freud: A Letter to Your Shrink Kickstarter
Mail Me Art 2013
Michelle Smith's Studio Space
Sarah Ahearn Bellemare's Process Guide to Spring Flowers 
Major Typography Love
How to Love an Introvert
Inge Druckery: Teaching to See

Happy Weekend!

Gratitude

 

12 January 2013 Journal Page

I try to keep my social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) posts separate from my blog posts but this is something I wrote last night on Facebook that I have to repeat here because I really and truly mean every word. As the page above says, I always speak my truth.

Always extremely thankful for my students (both in person and online.) You guys are the ones who keep me going. You push me and challenge me. I am very lucky to do what I have been doing for sixteen years now. Yes, I work hard but without my students, I wouldn't be teaching. YOU are the ones that I am thankful for each and every day. I remember this in good times as well as the tough times. Thank you. ♥.

Publication Love (New Books, Magazines and a Contest Winner!)

Congrats to Trish Quilty who is the winner of Melody Nunez's An Altered Existence. Thanks to all who entered and to Melody for being so generous! I am really enjoying Melody's book!!

I have a few other goodies to share with you today. I teased you the other day about waiting for a new book to arrive. Well, it's here and I'm over the moon about it. Gestalten is one of my favorite publishers and when I heard about A Map of the World, my interest was piqued. The box arrived yesterday and I haven't stopped flipping through the pages since it arrived. It is truly stunning. You can see more of the book here.

Speaking of great publications, the new issues of Flow and Darling are due to hit the newsstands in early April. I ordered Flow and I'm debating between ordering Darling as a subscription vs buying it from one of my favorite indie bookstores, Skylight in Los Feliz. Either way, I'll be holding it in my hands soon.  

Here's my current wishlist on Amazon. What books are on yours?

27 December 2012 Journal Page

Huge thanks to everyone who has signed up or expressed an interest in my new online class, Swatches! I've been working on revising this as an online class for sometime now and I'm eager to see what folks do with the ideas. 

A quick reminder that I'm teaching my Connections class this Sunday at Stampin from the Heart. I'm looking forward to it! Catch it while you can. More info here. The sample is online as well as in the store.

I hope to have another new book to tell you about this week. I'm stalking the mailman. 

Blog Love:
Anahata Katkin posts about Francoise de Felice
How to Find your True Velocity
Ernst Lubitsch is one of my most favorite directors (thanks, David, for turning me onto "our movie", Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner 18 years ago) and Peter Bogdanovich is talking about Lubitsch here

Swatches: Little Paper Books Revised and Revisited

I'm very excited to announce a class that folks have been asking me to teach online for several years now, Swatches: Little Paper Books Revised and Revisited.

In 2008 I started making these little paper journal booklets from scrap papers. I took them everywhere I went, working on them every chance I could get. I made tons of them not only in classes while I was demo-ing but also at home and on the road for friends and customers who wanted them as well as for myself! They were extremely popular. To this day, I still have folks emailing me about them and asking to take the class. Swatches were what got me started in the style that I am working in now. My style has changed immensely since then but the heart of those little paper books still beats deep within. 

I will not be offering this class as an in person class again. This will solely be a revised online class from now on.

If you have taken this class in person you need to know that this is a NEW revised class with new material. You will be receiving:

• The 2008 original seven page handout

• Step by step illustrated Instructions and photos in a thirteen page handout for making the new revised book (bookbinding and construction)

• 30 NEW worksheets with ALL NEW sample page ideas, ALL NEW collage templates (30), journal prompts (30), mixed media ideas and much, much more.
•   That equals FIFTY pages of handouts!

Once a week for one month (30 days!), you will receive a seven page handout that contains seven sample pages, seven collage templates, seven journal prompts and a variety of mixed media tips, tricks, techniques and ideas. *This is a DRY class (no painting with acrylics only with paper!)*

Please note that even though you are receiving this information weekly, this is a work at your own pace class! 
 

A slideshow of the original Swatches: Little Paper Books (I made TONS of these):

F.A.Q.

How much does the class cost?

 $25

What will I be learning?

Bookbinding (two different stitches), collage, composition, design, color, art journaling, different ways to approach your pages, mixed media techniques and so much more. I try to make ALL of my pages offer a wide variety of fundamental techniques and ideas that can be translated beyond art journaling. These techniques can be adapted to ANY form of self expression. 

Are there photos?
   Yes, there are photos of my sample pages. You will also have the opportunity to upload and share (if you wish) your own sample pages.

How is the class set up?

We are going to be using a closed, private yahoo group to access the class materials. There you will also be able to interact with each other as well as post photos, ask questions, etc. You are free to email me at ANY time with questions, etc...

Optional: For the first month of the class there will also be a private facebook group where we will have four live, scheduled chats.

Is there a handout?

YES! I am a firm believer in handouts. Every week for one month, you will receive a seven page handout (for you to download, save and print out) that contains collage, journal and mixed media ideas. In the end you will receive over thirty worksheets chock full of NEW ideas and inspiration!  There are step by step instructions, tons of information, photos and more. There are also (new!) collage templates for you to use if you wish! You will also be receiving the original Swatches handout (four pages long and written in 2008.)

What's the supply list?

I really want you to use stuff that you already have on hand. Please do not go out and buy anything for this class. For the pages, you need

• glue (a glue stick, gel medium, whatever adhesive you usually use for paper)
• favorite markers and pens
• scissors
• an old rag or paper towel for burnishing the images
• a gluing surface (like an old catalog) 
• collage ephemera: photos, print outs, handmade paper, decorative paper, old magazines, catalogs or books for the collage part of the class (basically you are looking for anything that YOU would use to create a collage.) 
• You may also want to have decorative and paper tape, rubber stamps, ink pads (I like Staz-On), stickers, etc... but that is completely up to you!

For the bookbinding part of the class (this is optional if you want to work in a ready made journal) you need: 

• an awl
• wide eyed tapestry needle
• a piece of waxed linen thread
• heavy cardstock (or something to use as the pages) 
• heavy cardstock for the cover (cardboard box, recycled envelope, etc... I'll have more ideas for this in the class) to make the revised journal. 

To make the older Swatches you will need:

• awl
• needle
• waxed linen thread
• any "junk" papers that you can find (old book pages, bills, notes, etc...)

I work full time, can I take this class at any time?
  Yes! This is a work at your own pace class. You can sign up at any point. You will have full access to the class. I am always available to answer and respond to questions.

When does the class start? 

Friday, April 5th.

THIS IS A WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE CLASS so even though you will be receiving weekly handouts for thirty days, you can still access and work entirely at your own pace! Within 24 hours of your sign-up, you will receive information from me on how to access the class. If you do not receive this information after twenty four hours, please email me at EGorey99@sbcglobal.net

How much does it cost?
 

$25

Please note there are no refunds once you receive the course materials.

Please also respect the amount of time, effort and work it took me to create this material. You can download, save and print out (or read it on your ipad, kindle, etc.) for personal use. I'm a one woman (very small) business and I work very hard at what I do. I strive to offer the best material possible. I'm always excited about what I teach and I hope that you get the most out of my classes. This helps to support my work and makes me able to offer more classes and come up new ideas!

If you teach children, feel free to work on the exercises with them! I don't mind people who teach kids using these ideas in classes! Get 'em started and hooked on art young is my motto!

Can I give the class as a gift?

Sure! If you email me or include a note with your payment, I will email the file to whomever you'd like.

Who is this class geared towards?

Everyone! I strive to make my classes accessible for beginners to advanced students. I have been working in and teaching this medium for over 15 years now and I learn something new with every workshop.

When is the best time to take this workshop?

When I came up with the idea for this class, I wanted to make it accessible for folks to work in their journal ANYWHERE at ANYTIME. I worked in this journal as I taught and traveled. The size, weight and portability, along with the limited amount of supplies you need make this the perfect journal for life on the go or close to home. It's small enough that you can put it in your purse with a glue stick and a pen. I love sticking my collage ephemera, a couple of pens and a glue stick in a baggie with the journal. I'm all about portability and ease!

This class does not close! You can sign-up and take the workshop ANY time and work at your own pace! Once you've signed up for Swatches: Little Paper Books Revised and Revisited, you are in the workshop!

How do I sign up?

Click the paypal button below or email me at EGorey99@sbcglobal.net more more info!

Book Love and a Contest

 

 David and I went to LACMA last Tuesday to see Man's Favorite Sport (directed by Howard Hawks and starring Rock Hudson.) It was a fun afternoon date that ended with a trip to Johnny Rockets for milkshakes and a quick pop in at The Grove where I immediately got into trouble. Anthropologie had two of the books that I've had on my wishlist for sometime now on sale (more than half off.) I picked up Creative Display (I have Creative Walls and LOVE it) and Sibella Court's The Life of a Bowerbird. At Barnes and Noble, I picked up Mollie Makes Home. I've seen Mollie Makes but have never loved it enough to buy an issue before. I couldn't pass this one up with the studio shots.

Speaking of magazines, the next issue of Darling is due out any moment now. 

I've saved the best for last! Artist Extraordinaire Melody Nunez has a new book out called An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories from the Past. It's self published and she wants to give YOU a copy! 

I am enjoying what I've read so far and the altered photos that are at the start of each chapter are super cool. I'm looking forward to reading more of it. The chapter that caught my eye right away was called "An Inherited Trait" about a daughter coming to grips with her Mother's odd traits of collecting fabric and notions. It's something that I think most of us can identify with (collecting art supplies.) 

Visit Melody's website here. You can pick up a copy of her book here or here.

If you'd like to win a copy, please leave a comment with your name and some way to contact you. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday, March 20th.

Happy Reading!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

22 December 2012 Journal Page

 Thinking of my Dad on one of his favorite holidays. This weekend has been hard. Dad always went to Savannah, GA this weekend for the big parade. He was one of the "Boys from Boston" (as they called themselves.) He'd call me at least once a day from down there and let me know how things were going. He would count down the days until his trip (he was a big fan of counting down to things that were important to him. He was counting down to our summer trip last year.)

My sister's son, Jack and His Bapa, Jack Smith

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I hope that you are having a good weekend and a great Saint Patrick's Day. I hope that you're not getting pinched (unless you want to be! LOL) 



and because I don't want to leave you with tears in your eyes, one of my other favorite songs (and I love the video for the shots of Boston as well)

and for the hell of it,

Slainte!

Tristan at Erin and Marc's wedding 2006

Favorite White Pens

21 December 2012 Journal Page

I left the page above as is with the white smudge marks (from using a Uniball signo on the page next to it) on it to talk about white pens.

My favorite white pens in order are:

 

Sakura Glaze #850 (not to be confused with the transparent white capped pen which is actually a clear pen number #800) and Sakura Souffle #950- As I've mentioned before, Glaze is a Gloss finish while the Souffle pens are a matte finish. However, with their white pens, it is very hard to see the difference between them. They are both an opaque white when dry. In my opinion, either the Glaze or Souffle white are the best white pen on the market. They dry (somewhat) fast. They're opaque. They write on a variety of surfaces (dried painted pages, slick magazine pages, tape, transparencies, even glass.) As long as you keep them capped and stored flat, they will last you a long time (you can take that little plastic goober off of the tip and discard it.) If the ink starts to go towards the other end of the pen, don't be afraid to give it a few good, hard shakes. Both pens write clear but dry an opaque white.

 

Update September 2013: Molotow One4All Water Based Paint Markers-I LOVE these markers! They make a GREAT opaque white available in (my favorite) extra fine tip point. You can also change the tips (they're available in different sizes) as well as refill the pens! These also will write on a variety of surfaces (paper, dried painted pages, slick magazine pages, tape, transparencies.)
(Tip: to clean out the tips when they get crusty, rinse them under hot water or use nail polish remover.)

Sharpie Paint Pen (water based)-These pens come in a variety of different colors and tip sizes. You have to shake them (always with the cap on, especially if it's new) and pump the tip a few times on scrap paper to get the ink flowing. The problem with the white pen is that over time the white ink tends to separate and no amount of shaking or storing it flat will get it to its former opaque glory again.  It is a nice, opaque white pen while it lasts. I tend to buy them one at a time and not in bulk.
These also will write on a variety of surfaces (paper, dried painted pages, slick magazine pages, tape, transparencies.)

Similar to the Sharpie Water based Paint Pens are the Uni Posca Pens (it's the same ink.)

 

Pilot Latte Pens- It's a gel pen that's very similar to the Sakura Glaze and Souffle pens. The difference is the colors and the fact that the pens as well as the tip sizes are TINY. I can't tell you how much I LOVE these pens. I have mine kept in their own special case and I don't leave home without them. The white both writes clear and dries white. If stored correctly (flat and capped) they last a LONG time. The pen will write clear but dry to an opaque white.

To see the colors of the Lattes, click here.

Update September 2013: These pens have been (sadly) discontinued. 

Uniball Signo white gel pen- I started using these several years ago when they first came to the U.S. I loved how vibrant and crisp the pens were and cheap, too. About $2 a pen. I recommended them to everyone I came across. They were a great pen. I recommend buying the Japanese version of the pen (with the Japanese characters sold by Jetpens and Kinokuniya) and NOT the American version as the U.S. version of the pen dries out/runs out/stops working very very quickly while the Japanese version will last you until it's out of ink. Also, they are NOT permanent (see the white smudge marks on the page above? I used a white uniball signo on the page across from it and it smudged onto the page.) It is a nice opaque white but it's not permanent nor can you paint or use any wet mediums on top of it. Once Sakura came out with white pens in the glaze and souffle, I tended to lean towards those instead.

Similar to the Sharpie Water based Paint Pens are the Uni Posca Pens (it's the same ink.)
 

Remember, always store your pens FLAT and keep the caps on them when you're not using them. 

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Jetpens. I'm not receiving any compensation (in any form) for linking to them. I am just a happy customer who has been ordering from them for years. Another favorite source for pens (somewhat local to me) is Kinokuniya in Downtown Los Angeles (it's a chain across the U.S.) 

If you find this post helpful, you may like my post on my favorite pens which can be found here. 

What are your favorite white pens? 

A Favorite Glue Tip

20 December 2012 Journal Page

One quick little tip for those of you who love glue sticks as much as I do. Some glue sticks often have more glue in them once it seems like they're empty. In the photo above, my 40 gram Coccoina glue stick has more glue that can be scraped with a folded piece of heavy paper (or even a plastic knife, Popsicle stick, etc...) I'll have another glue stick nearby (one that's been used a bit.) The trick is to take the somewhat used glue stick and twist the end so that the glue is now below the line of the top of the container. Fill in the space with the glue from the almost dead glue stick. All I do is scoop it out from the dead glue stick using the folded piece of cardstock and smoosh it into the somewhat used glue stick. I do this until there's nothing left in the dead glue stick. Smooth and flatten out the glue as you fill it up. You'll notice that this glue seems to be a lot stickier than the rest of the glue. That's okay. It's still quite usable.

My favorite glue sticks of choice are: Coccoina, Tombo (permanent), Scotch (permanent), Avery (permanent). Anything labeled permanent is usually fair game. Coccoina is my favorite (a great source for it is here). I love the 40 gram size as it lasts a longggg time. Smells good, too.

On Blogging and Google Reader

20 December 2012 Journal Page

 The blog world is in an uproar that Google Reader is going away. I'm not happy about it and it seems that I'm not alone (there's a petition that's been started here.)

I have over four hundred blogs in my Google Reader. I've been using it for years and I'm used to it. I can read it when I'm on the go or when I'm lazy and would rather lie in bed and skim my blogs than turn on the laptop. It's easy to use and user friendly. It's been a part of my daily life for several years now and I'm sad that Google wants to shut it down. I know that there are alternatives but that means more work. Call me lazy or unwilling to change but if it ain't broke, why is there a need to make it go away?

Some folks keep saying that "blogs are dead." I don't find that to be the case at all. Blogs are where you find the human touch that's missing from facebook, tumblr, twitter, etc... From blogs, you get more of an insight into the person behind the blog banner (at least, I find that to be the case with the many blogs that I read.) I often find that when a favorite blogger doesn't post, I start to wonder if they're okay and what's going on. Like a newspaper, I read my blogs seven days a week. Sure, I have some blogs that I just look at the photos but there are several that I enjoy reading and clicking their links and seeing what they are sharing with us. I appreciate them even when I'm just quietly lurking (though I do comment occasionally to let them know that their posts are read and appreciated.)

I had someone (whom I had just met) recently tell me that I was very different in person than I am on my blog. I was shocked. I still don't understand what she meant and I'm kicking myself for not asking her. I always try to be honest and open in my blog (just like I am in real life.) I go for the "what you see is what you get" aspect. You see me both in person and on my blog in all of my imperfections, goofiness and blunt honesty. You might miss seeing the clumsy me on my blog, but it's there. Trust me. 

I share on my blog because I'm after that connection that we're all out to find. I find that I often ignore facebook and twitter but nary a day goes by when I don't read my blogs. 

I also LOVE posting on my blog. I like sharing my pages. I post my pages (ALL of them) to encourage others that if I can do it, so can you (I LOVE it when others are encouraged and post links to their own blog pages that may have been inspired by something that I have posted.) Teaching is a very important part of my life and while I try to post about my classes often (as it is an integral part of my life), my blog is not just an advertisement for the classes that I have to offer. I share me on the blog: what's going on in my life be it traveling to a class or something heavier. I always enjoy sharing what I find with you in my travels (be it books or art supplies or even a favorite film.) I don't censor my journal pages at all nor do I censor my blog posts. What you see is what you get. Ask me a question and I'll answer it as best as I can. I don't have all of the answers (I'm always still looking and digging deep) but I know (or at least I think I do) what works best for me.

I know that I love blogging and reading blogs and I really hope that they're not going away any time soon. Thanks for reading this and for being a part of my journey.

Special Two Day Workshop in Santa Barbara, CA

I'm very happy to announce that I will be teaching a special two day class, Personal Mythologies, at a studio in Santa Barbara the weekend of April 13th and 14th. This is a rare chance for a weekend of art journaling in lovely and inspiring Santa Barbara.

Class time is Saturday, April 13th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 14th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be tons of techniques, ideas, and lots of inspiration!

You may send someone else in your place if you are unable to attend the workshop, or you will receive a kit for the class. You can either pay via paypal (see button below) or send a check or money order. Once you've signed up for the workshop, you will be sent the address and directions to the workshop location. If you have ANY questions you can email me at Egorey99@sbcglobal.net  I will also give you my cell phone number so you contact me.

Personal Mythologies

Every time we crack open a journal, we are telling our own unique story.

In this very special two day workshop, you will learn not only how to create your very own personal journal made by your own hands but also how to express yourself fully and in the moment upon the pages of your newly bound book. 

You will work in your journal both days. I will be teaching you a variety of techniques, ideas and prompts to use in your journal. You will have lots of instructional time but also between each idea, I allow for guided play time, but I do teach both days. The second day is not a play day.

Expect to learn: bookbinding and constructing a personal journal, choosing a journal that fits you, making a journal your own, mixed media collage, composition, design, pen work, layering, journaling, self expression (how do I say what I want to say), making a page work and much, much more.

Be prepared to walk out with a new journal, several pages completed, a detailed handout and your head (and heart) bursting with inspiration, new ideas, possibilities and the knowledge that you can successfully express yourself in journal form! You will love this journal and this experience!

Supply list: A hardcover book (6 x 9" or smaller) to use as the journal (note, we will be tearing pages out of our books and sharing some of our pages in class). I will have some books for you to use, but in case you have a book you’d really like to use, please bring it. 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

If you want to bring food to share in a communal meal, that would be lovely. I will have some munchies to nibble on as you work!

I hope to see you there!

15 December 2012 Journal Page

One of the things that you'll notice on my pages is that I love to layer my writing. On this page here, I wrote a lot about sadness and layered on top of the writing with a blue Sakura Souffle pen using a Coffee Break Design stencil. 

It takes a lot of patience and practice to work with some gel pens and stencils but it's one of my favorite things to do. If the pen bleeds, I let it dry and then outline it with a finer point pen in a different color. It then looks like I did it on purpose. 

 I like using stencils with pens a lot more than I do with paint or sprays. I find it to be very meditative. It really slows you down and I love it.

15 December 2012 Journal Page

I've updated my workshop blog with some new class information for Stampin from the Heart in L.A. I don't know what I'm teaching yet there but at least the dates are up!

I'm a bit off today but trying to find my way and get a few more things checked off of my To Do List. I know that I'm not the only one feeling out of sorts today. Days like this call for a little bit of quiet, reflective me time even if it's only in ten minute bursts of art making.  

Blog Love:
Seth has a new book coming out soon. I'm excited!!!!  (Comics Seth not Altered Page Seth.)
Family friendly St. Patrick's Day ideas
Michelle is always so open and honest in her posts. Her artwork is divine, too.
I love this post especially for this sentence :“I am constantly unfolding into the person I’ve always been.”

“Far better to live your own path imperfectly than to live another’s perfectly.” -Bhagavad Gita