Journal Pages

Hello fellow creatives. I am trying to journal again daily, as I have been doing other things and hadn't made that a priority lately. What a difference it has made almost like taking steps backwards. I pushed through this page and yesterdays feeling pretty frustrated. I must of done her face about five times.

This evening I worked on some pages that I think were feeling less forced and more at ease for me mentally if that makes sense. I guess what I am trying to say is it flowed better and  the results ended up much better too. I'll be sharing those pages later.

Although she has a party hat on she isn't altogether a happy gal. I wouldn't be either if I had to get made over five times!  lol Oh, well it has been one of those weeks I am glad it is almost over and ready for the weekend! So I am making a wish for a good weekend and better week ahead! And am wishing you the same! Happy Paint Party Friday!

If you want to visit other creative folks drawing, painting and creating just visit the link for Paint Party Friday in the resource page here and join in with everyone if you like.

Angel Journal Pages

I have been toiling with all kinds of things going through my mind. Too many technical things. I have been em erst in computer goings on. I am taking an online class and it requires my time. The benefits will out weigh the work. I am still contemplating bigger changes for the blog which I plan on tackling later in March. But not being able to do my art the last few weeks is getting to me. I have spread myself too thin especially when you add the mom job in. (I still have a 7yr old at home.) Motherhood is divine, but with that said it is time consuming no matter what age your children are. This is one of the last paintings I did prior to my older children coming to visit. I painted it on my journal pages. If I could ask my spiritual guide or angel to come help me now I would. Not because it is an emergency but just to help me clear my head, not to compare myself, not to worry as much, to help me breath and bring clarity to my direction. I know a lot of people are experiencing trying times and I am grateful to be where I am today. I truly believe that if you clear your mind and ask for help there is a higher power to help us along.
What helps you clear your anxieties? How many hats are you wearing in one day? Do you give yourself time to nurture your mind? art? body? Does making a schedule for yourself from working at home help you? Or do you slip things in, getting done around everything else?

Sometimes we are like an angel with one wing, and we necessarily need the other wing of a similar angel to keep flying.
-- M. K. Soni

If we wish to attune with our angels and spiritual helpers, we must first learn to love ourselves unconditionally. Margaret Neylon

Breaking Free

Breaking Free~
Taking time to smell the flowers~

Absence makes the heart grow fonder! It does for me any way~ I am usually filled with a routine and a some what quieter space around here which enables me to create and blog. But with having a big family and a chance to have all my kids come visit I had to jump at the chance! My daughter from NYC came to LA for a wedding. I mentioned to her she would be only 4 hrs away and wasn't there a chance she could meet up with us. When I found out she could I asked my other children from 4 hrs north in CA. if they wanted to come down. So we were all together for the first time in almost 2yrs! The next time will be in July for my second youngest daughters wedding. So you understand as with everything there comes a time when you just have to "stop and smell the flowers" so to speak! Big dinners, scrabble games, movies and outings to various sights around the county! Lots of things on the to do list of fun only touched upon, my how time flies!!
I have posted two journal pages I did on reflecting on breaking free! Simplifying, finding focus, creativity, art, blogging and planning. Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and have faith all will be ok, letting time and focus set you right on course with the universe!
My written thoughts are covered by circles and the circles have words inside to focus on. The second page is a balloon with air escaping representing of letting go, setting free to breath in new air and focus~
Next time I break free, I promise to try and let you know in advance!
What have you done lately to break free? What helps you recharge yourself? Does being spontaneous or changing things up help your creativity? What helps you have faith? Have you ever taken a risk to lead you somewhere better? I would love to hear what your thoughts are!

Faith is raising the sail of our little boat until it is caught up in the soft winds above and picks up speed, not from anything within itself, but from the vast resources of the universe around us. ~W. Ralph Ward

"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." Anthony Robbins

Thoughts

Sometimes thoughts go whirling around in my head getting in the way of my creating. Not that all my thoughts are distracting or negative. Some thoughts and ideas are just too many all at once and to focus on creating a single piece of artwork causing a distraction from accomplishing anything at all. I did these journal pages to set free some of my thoughts and allow myself the freedom to move forward. I am coming to the conclusion that you can have too many ideas and directions you want to have going on all at once which makes you stumble a bit over yourself. I think I need to focus only on a few specific things to really want to be successful with myself and my personal and art goals.
Have you ever wanted to try so many things you never seemed to get good at any one specific thing? Do you ever have so many ideas that they almost distract you from accomplishing anything? Are you someone who does everything for everyone else and then are exhausted when you sit down to focus on creating? Have you had negative thoughts keep you from creating?
Just get out your art journal and let those thoughts flow and set you free. Get your paints, pens or pencils and reset your internal compass. Don't let your thoughts get in the way!

How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress. ~Niels Bohr

Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain. ~Carl G. Jung

Unlock - Journal pages

Unlock the path to a good nights sleep~

I wrote a letter to my sleep. Why is she eluding me? Could it be that that past few years have been filled with big changes? Death, birth of a grandchild, career changes,wanting to move, aging.....full of motion leaving my brain no time to slow down at night when it is quite. All the feeling from my heart and soul pouring in. Things I am not wanting to deal with in the day, or feelings put aside that I to try and release so I can move on.

Here is the letter I wrote to my sleep:
There was a time when I laid down and sleep was my friend. It wrapped its arms around me and held me tight until the dawns light. Why now do you escape me? No longer at my side. Toss me and turn me ~ I am no longer heard. I call you and the time ticks and hours go by. Why have you abandoned me and made me cry?

Have you ever had sleep problems? Occasionally or often? How has it made you feel? Did it take you a long time to get over it? What do you do at night to relax your mind and body to get a good nights rest? Do share your thoughts with me and consider doing a journal page about your body and sleeping~ Post a link in your comment if you do a journal page.

It appears that every man's insomnia is as different from his neighbour's as are their daytime hopes and aspirations. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Phyical Body Spiritual Body Journal Pages and Thoughts

Body~ Constantly changing, constantly in motion. I have a love hate relationship with mine as I am sure a lot of us do. As women being bombarded with media. Loving the images yet comparing it to ourselves. I have seen half a life of change right before my eyes. Ah youth we start out so pure and nature has us running out doors, playing and keeping fit without even realizing we are nurturing our bodies and souls. Adolescence has our bodies developing and we change into young adulthood. As women our journey is so vast whether we have children and reel from the changes that does to our bodies. Also depending on when we have those children in young adulthood or in the middle of our lives. Then coming of passage when we step into the challenge of fighting natures path. To slow us down, to feel what we have done to our bodies over time. I am only trickling on the edge of finding out what is to come. But one thing I have found out is if we don't take the time to care for ourselves spiritually and physically it has a great affect on our daily lives. Spiritual Body~ I am trying to open my mind to being more positive, continue learning, be open to accepting where I am and open to where I want to go. Finding that connection of mind and body. When you are taking care of both you are truly at one with yourself. I am opening my hands to accept the challenge of living a more fuller life by connecting my mind and body and exercising them both equally in 2010.
I am participating in Creative Everyday 2010. I have Leah's logo and link on my sidebar. For January she has a prompt befitting the new year "BODY". I am challenging myself this year to make changes necessary for a healthier me although this prompt is for January I am sure you will see more journal pages around the subject. If you would like to participate go visit her site.
Let me know what challenges you have faced now or in the past. How did you overcome those challenges? What pushed you not to settle? What caused you to look in the mirror and say now is the time to love yourself better? What made you want to be a healthier you?

Affirmation's

These are journal pages I did about me. It has been awhile since I did these two pages and I feel I need to do some new pages with affirmations on them. I am constantly battling which direction to go in and how I feel about myself and my art work. I need to re clarify my goals for myself personally and professionally. It has been almost one year since I left my job and started a new path for myself which has been centered around my love of art. The quotes below have a lot of meaning to me. I hope they inspire you to follow your dreams.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus

Every artist was first an amateur. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true. Leon J. Suenes

Looking for Inspiration

Vintage Journal Page~
Today I am Looking for Inspiration~






















This second journal page was inspired by the techniques of Pam Carriker.

Vintage bibs ~ Wonderful color inspiration.

Taking a moment to put down the paintbrush and deciding what female image to use for my painting I am working on. I don't think I want to use the image from the class I am taking.
I want to find a female image that is unique to my painting. I am learning some new techniques and can't wait to show you the final painting.

Wow! Can I create I mess when looking for that special something!
Guess you know what I'll be doing after I am done today.....

The inevitable clean up! Maybe I should find a file system for my images? Or is searching half the fun?

Lulu's Cherry Pie

I am sometimes influenced by media.

This journal page was inspired by the movie the "Waitress" 2007.

I learned how to make pies and bake from my
grandma.

I love the feeling of creating things with your hands and enjoying them after they are done. Whether it be art or food.

So if you want to see the most delicious cherry pie pictures and get a scrumptious recipe just follow the link to Smitten Kitchen. Then come back and tell me what you think!

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/06/sweet-cherry-pie/

Happy Easter!

Cupcakes, Flowers, Dying Easter Eggs and a journal page background for what happens when all the sugar wears off! Happy Easter Everyone!

Inspired by a magazine ad
I created the backgrounds in my art journal. I have three journals going at once. One just collage, one acrylic and collage and this one a variation of many types. This allows me to let things dry. I do sometimes however use a blow dryer to speed things up and stay working on the same journal book. I have about 10 pages to go to complete this book! I can't wait to start on the next one! There are several visual journal classes via online. If interested leave me a comment and I will email you some information! Stampington Magazine has a publication dedicated to Journals. http://www.stampington.com/html/art_journaling_w09.html
This is published a few times a year and is great for inspiration. Just don't get too overwhelmed when you start your own. Create your own style. Experiment and most of all have fun!

Zen moment

1-09 journal background completed
Originally uploaded by Msartist Theresa Huse

Who needs a Zen Day?! Sometimes my mind goes a million miles a minute. No matter how much I have to do and even when I am slowing down. I have to remind myself to relax. Just relax. There are a few things that we can do to slow down and savor a moment. For me listening to birds or wind chimes blowing in the winds are just a few favorite sounds that are soothing. Sitting in the shade having a quite moment. Sipping coffee in the morning while reading. Creating art. Stretching and feeling your body move just a little smoother. But a real Zen moment would be taking a total time out shutting off your thoughts, taking a moment of peace from it all! We need to do this daily to rejuvenate ourselves. I made this page to remind me to take the time to do the things I need for me!! To take that moment and stop!! Have a true Zen moment You can do it too!!If you need a little help in that area a new place I found was....
Zen Habits- zenhabits.net/2008/07/the-beginners-guide-to-zen-habits-a-guided-tour/Take a visit, then take your minute or more!! Your mind will thank you!!~ Lets go have a Zen moment~