Shabby Chic Art Journal – Nostalgia #1
Posted on | June 9, 2010 | 21 Comments
The past month or so, I’ve been working on creating more ‘junk’ journals in between my other projects. This week, I’ve gone full blast – working on the covers and taking over the dining table in the process. I grouped my signatures in themes and this one I just finished is the first of three in my Nostalgia series.
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| This journal has a magnetic enclosure and the cover is made of stiff, padded board enclosed in a satin-like fabric and burnt book pages under an embroidered organza. The satin-like fabric (which I’m not exactly sure what it is) is from a bedding collection I bought in Linens-n-Things when they were closing a few years ago. It’s very nice material but apparently not very comfortable for sleeping. So here I am repurposing it. |
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| I chose to bind my signatures to the cover using long cross-stitches. And I’m really happy with how it turned out. |
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| The journal has 60 pages and here’s a peek at what’s inside. |
I made two of this journal – one to keep and one to be enjoyed by someone special. (Of course, the pages won’t be exactly the same.) It is for sale on Etsy here. Sold!
Tags: altered art > art journal > handmade books > mixed media collage > stitched pages > upcycled projects
What You’re Doing Matters
Posted on | June 9, 2010 | No Comments
Powerful words from a brilliant author …
“What I would tell her if I knew what to say …
You are a miracle and I have to love you this fiercely. So that you can feel it even after you leave for school. Or even while you’re asleep. Or even after your childhood becomes a memory. You’ll forget all these when you grow up. But it’s ok. Being a mother means having your heart broken. And it means loving and losing and falling apart and coming back together. And it’s the best there is. And also sometimes the worst. Sometimes you won’t have anyone to talk to. Sometimes you’ll wonder if you’ve forgotten who you are. But you must always remember this:
| What you’re doing matters and you have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs. |
The truth is being a woman is a gift. Tenderness is a gift. Intimacy is a gift. And nurturing the good in this world is nothing short of a privilege. That’s why I have to love you this way. So I can give what I have to you. So that you can carry it in your body and pass it on. I’ve watched you sleep. I’ve kissed you a million times. And I know something that you don’t yet. You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day. And my greatest hope for you, sweet child, is that I can teach you how to write a good one.”
| - Katherine Center |
| {To my two lovely girls who changed my life forever.} |
Guest Blogging
Posted on | June 8, 2010 | 2 Comments
Hop over to Heavenly Savings to check out my first guest blog post – a tutorial on how to alter switch plates. Let me know what you think.
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Our Fairy Garden
Posted on | June 7, 2010 | 13 Comments
There’s this movie, Fairy Tale: A True Story, loosely based on an event that happened in England during World War I where two cousins discovered fairies in their garden and took pictures to prove they exist. After watching it with my family, I was inspired to create a fairy garden for Mica and Rinoa.
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| It sits on a large planter that I placed just outside our front porch so that every time Mica and Rinoa walk in and out the front door, they can see it. I originally used some Bratz furniture that Rinoa wasn’t using but the girls complained that the chair I used was too big for a fairy, so we replaced it with smaller furniture. Those tall, bright red-orange and pink flowers would have been the perfect height for the Bratz chair. Oh well. I also used some plants that won’t grow taller than 4 inches to keep up with the miniature theme. |
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| You gotta have cake! |
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| A well to get water when the fairies get thirsty. |
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| Some benches for fairy-size birds to perch on. |
Ok, so those furniture didn’t take in rain very well. The legs of the benches and table collapsed so I had to recall them so I can superglue them first. In the meanwhile, I put the original Bratz furniture back (mwahaha) …
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| This one is plastic so rain is not going to bother it. And I left the cake just in case some fairies visit while I mend the other furniture. |
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| So which one do you prefer, the Bratz chair or the smaller balsa wood furniture collection? |
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Rinoa: Why are we making a garden for fairies? I know fairies are not real. Am I right, Mommy?
Mommy: Well, we don’t know that for sure. I’ve never seen one but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. What I want is for you to learn to feed your im-ah-gi-nay-shun.
Rinoa: What does that mean?
Mommy: I want you to imagine there are fairies around. Now, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a resting place for them when they pass by our house?
Rinoa: {Eyes getting wide with excitement} Oh yeah! Well then it’s good that we have cake for them. {Then in her sassy voice} But Mommy, the cake is not real!
Mommy: Remember, we’re just using our im-ah-gi-nay-shun.
Rinoa: What will they drink when they get thirsty from eating the cake?
Mommy: They can get some water from the well.
Rinoa: But Mommy {in her sassy voice again}, there’s not even a hole in the well.
Mommy: {Sighs}
Rinoa: I know, I know, ‘use my im-ah-gi-nay-shun’. {Smiles}
Mommy: Remember, when you use your imagination, anything is possible. {Hugs}
What Would You Do?
Posted on | June 3, 2010 | 15 Comments
| “What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail?” |
That’s the question given to us in Kelly Rae’s Flying Lessons. For me, the specific question I struggled with for years was “What would I do if money was not a concern?” I’ve always been creative. I’ve always been entrepreneurial. But only when I stopped obsessing about money and started focusing on what I really wanted did I get an honest, unclouded answer.
But before I could answer the what, I had to understand the why – Why would I do what I want to do? What do I believe in? What tugs at the deepest core of my heart? What drives me to action?
And the answer I got from the depths of my soul is this – I believe that the only way to live life is with passion. Passion for oneself. Passion for family. Passion for work. Passion for the Earth.
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This is at the core of everything I do now. I know and encountered so many people devoid of passion – simply existing to pay the bills or to conform. I’ve been there – trapped in what others expected of me. Once I found the courage to break away from expectations and pursue what I really wanted to do (which was in itself a journey of self-discovery), I felt freer, more alive.
So what do I want to do? I want to make art. More importantly, I want to inspire. Inspire others to find their passion and pursue it. Inspire others to practice self-expression and self-exploration through creative endeavors – help them let go of the mental bonds that bind them.
“No matter where you are in life right now, no matter who you are, no matter how old you are – it is never too late to be who you are meant to be.” – Esther & Jerry Hicks
How will I do this? First and foremost by example. Then reflected through my blog, by publishing a book, through intimate creative workshops, and through my photography and artwork. These are my goals. (I’m keeping the specifics to myself for now.)
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Of course there are fears and apprehensions and anxieties. The mere act of posting about this is scary for me. There’s the “Who does she think she is?” or the “I’m not good enough.” And it paralyzes me at times. But I have to keep faith and believe in myself because if I don’t, no one is going to believe in me. I have to start with myself.
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So onward I go. Always moving forward, one step at a time.
“Eventually I discovered for myself the utterly simple prescription for creativity: be intensely yourself. Don’t try to be outstanding; don’t try to be a success; don’t try to do pictures for others to look at – just please yourself.”- Ralph Steiner
Wait. What about money? I still have to eat, right? And pay the bills. And support the family – although Troy is doing a pretty good job at this. And travel. And buy more art supplies – lol! Well, again, I keep faith. I know it will come. As long as I keep doing what I love doing. It also helps to have a very supportive husband. {Thanks.}
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And now I ask you, “What would you do if money was no concern or if you knew you wouldn’t fail?”
The Artistic Mother: Nameplates
Posted on | June 3, 2010 | 7 Comments
So many things happening in my life right now that I would love to share here – good things. The best part is I’m meeting a lot of kindred spirits. But I’m so overwhelmed at the moment that I need to take time to organize my thoughts.
In the meanwhile, I want to share another art project that my girls did. For fun, I recently joined the Artistic Mother’s Art Group based on Shona Cole’s book The Artistic Mother and hosted by Trudy Callan. I was flipping through the book when Mica and Rinoa saw this project and got excited. And there you go! We went to the store to buy some canvases and went to work. They did everything themselves, including choosing what papers and beads to use, except that Troy drilled the holes and I printed the photos.
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The M and R were painted with crackle paint which both girls thought was really cool! Although Rinoa said “How come Mica’s M is more cracked than my R?” And I said “Because she put more paint on hers.” “Ooooh!”
These will hang on the bedroom doors. They’re excited about the idea of seeing their faces every time they pass by the doors – lol!
Tags: altered art > art activities for kids > Mica > mixed media collage > Rinoa
Friday Art: Teesha Moore Inspired
Posted on | June 1, 2010 | 8 Comments
Artist Teesha Moore generously shared through YouTube her thought and work process in creating her distinctive art journals. After watching the videos (which are presented in order at the bottom of this post), I thought it would be a great Friday Art project for Mica and Rinoa to make their own ‘Teesha Moore Inspired’ art. Boy did they have fun – they definitely released their wacky sides!
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| “The Octopus-Racer Lady” by Mica Redington (13 years old) |
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| “Lady Dog” by Rinoa Redington (5 years old) |
Troy came home early from work, got envious, and decided to join us and make one for himself. He’s not done with his yet (just needs some journaling) but here’s what his work looks like:
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| “What Are You Looking At?” by Troy Redington |
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Here are Teesha Moore’s video tutorials, in chronological order from creating a 16-page journal to filling the journal with collage and journaling. Enjoy!
| Teesha Moore’s Amazing 16-page Journal (Part 1 of 2) |
| Teesha Moore’s Amazing 16-page Journal (Part 2 of 2) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Paint |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Collage (Part 1 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Collage (Part 2 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Collage (Part 3 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Collage (Part 4 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Pen Work (Part 1 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Pen Work (Part 2 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Pen Work (Part 3 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Pen Work (Part 4 of 4) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Lettering (Part 1 of 2) |
| Teesha Moore Journaling: Lettering (Part 2 of 2) |
Tags: art journal > art project for kids > Mica > mixed media collage > Rinoa > Troy > videos
How to Create Your Own Stencil Masks
Posted on | May 27, 2010 | 4 Comments
A mask is the negative of a stencil. It blocks certain areas from being painted so that the paint or whatever medium you’re using creates an outline of the image.
Catalogs and magazines are great sources for creating your own masks. Here’s how to make one:
- Leaf through your magazines and choose a photo/image that would make a great silhouette.
- Cover the front and back of the image with clear packaging tape so that you can reuse your mask.
- Carefully cut out the image from the page.
Voila! Your very own stencil mask!
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| Here are some masks that I made from a Victoria’s Secret catalog that I regularly get from the mail. When going for people silhouettes, remember that images with expressive arms and legs make the best masks. You can cut away parts of the image to create a better silhouette. For example, the first stencil mask above might work better if I cut out the part of her hair that’s showing on her left side so that I get the shape of her head. |
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| Here’s an example of how I applied the mask. I used the third one from the samples above. You can use a stencil adhesive to temporarily tack the mask on the surface where you’re applying the mask to make sure it won’t lift or move. Here, though, I just held it in place with my fingers and rubbed distressing ink around it with a foam applicator to create an outline. Because the image is protected with packaging tape, I just wiped it clean after I used it so I can use it again next time. |
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| This is actually the outside part of a security envelope from a bill I got in the mail. I’m using it in one of the junk journals I’m currently making. It was full of print so I decided to paint on it. |
Tags: altered art > art journal > mixed media techniques > stencil masks > stitched pages > tutorials
Conversations with Rinoa
Posted on | May 27, 2010 | No Comments
{Rinoa and I were in the bathroom one morning getting ourselves ready to start the day. The night before, Rinoa woke up crying and complaining that her ear hurt.}
Mommy: {Putting toothpaste on Rinoa’s toothbrush} How are you feeling? Does your ear still hurt?
Rinoa: {Getting ready to brush her teeth} No. I feel better.
Mommy: Good. I don’t like it when you’re in pain.
Rinoa: Well, I don’t want you to die.
{Rinoa has this fear of Troy and I dying and not being with us anymore. We’ve had several similar conversations about death before and, every time, I would make her understand that it is not something to be feared. But this particular morning, I strayed from my usual reply.}
Mommy: I’m not going to die!
Rinoa: You are when you’re old.
Mommy: I’m not THAT old!
Rinoa: But you WILL be.
Mommy: And so will you.
Rinoa: Yes, but I’m far from getting old.
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{Rinoa found a small black box in the drawer and was curious about it.}
Rinoa: Mommy, what’s in this box?
Mommy: A keychain.
Rinoa: Whose is it?
Mommy: It’s Daddy’s.
Rinoa: Where did he get it?
Mommy: He got it from -
Rinoa: Oh, I know! From China! I didn’t know Daddy went to China.
Mommy: Daddy didn’t go to China and {confused} why do you say it’s from China?
Rinoa: Because in the back it says ‘made in China’.
{Troy actually got it from Vegas.}
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| More pictures from Sunday afternoon. |
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Feels Like Summer
Posted on | May 24, 2010 | 5 Comments
| On this hot, humid Sunday, an afternoon of gardening became a ‘hose spraying’ party, leaving two girls {and a daddy} soaking wet! |
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© 2006-2010 Johwey Redington.
Please don't steal my text or images, it's disrespectful and you'll be subjet to karma! If you want to use any of the images, please email me for a written permission. Thank you.
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