Yesterday i visited my grandson’s Sam and Toby.  Baby Toby is still tiny and couldn’t participate however my daughter-in-law Kathryn and I  are still curious as to how the heck the glitter got into his diapers? .  Here’s Sam having fun painting the pre-cut cardboard fish I created for his fishpond. 

Sam can’t have all the fun – Meme gets to paint too! We used inexpensive folk art paints to BEA-U-tify our fish.

I found out before that it’s easier for little guys to paint with a toothbrush rather than a regular paint brush – toothbrushes have a more user-friendly grip. These look like good brushes a toddler could handle.

A little bit of paint and a lot of glitter is called for don’t you think?

And even more glitter – WE LOVE GLITTER!!!!! Glitter will stick to wet paint however sometimes we painted on a bit of mod podge for the glitter to adhere to in dry spots.

I created a Fish Parade after we finished painting the fish and the fishing rod.  The fishing rod was carved by Mr. G from a 1” x 1” x 24” piece of square wood since he couldn’t find a dowel in the garage – it’s nice to be creative isn’t it?  He drilled a small hole in the end of the fishing pole and tied a piece of fishing line on it.  At the end of the line he added a piece of copper wire which he shaped into a large hook.

Here are some of the fish we created.  I added grommets (eyelets) to the fish so we could place the hook in each without tearing the cardboard.  Another option is to put packing tape on the fish to strengthen them then punch a hole in each. The fish are about 7 inches long. I made skinny fish and fat fish just to mix things up a bit! You could make starfish and Octopus and sea anemone’s too!

And now it’s time to fish!  Hooray!  I think Sam caught a big one!  Good Job Sam! xo

The Sketchbook Challenge bloghop continues – hop on over to Susan Brubaker Knapp and Diana Trout’s blogs today to enter to win their fabulous prizes!

Have a great weekend!

Love, Violette xo

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Here is a mind map I’m working on right now for a possible e-book. But before i get into that I would like to congratulate Lori W from Art Camp for Women for winning the Mistyfuse giveaway.  Congrats Lori!  Could you please e-mail sue@suebleiweiss.com with the name of the prize you have won and your mailing address!  I would love to see what you create with your Mistyfuse winnings! 

Please click on the above “mistyfuse giveaway” link to follow the bloghop again and see where you can enter to win more goodies and read about the participating artist’s Sketchbook process.

Coaching Call for excavating dreams

Yesterday i had a coaching call with Ciel – if you’ll recall i shot a video of her a while back answering some questions on creativity.   I was feeling very blah and not inspired by anything – actually not being able to find my voice or what i was passionate about.  The funny thing is i WAS losing my voice which is rather hilarious when you think of what a perfect metaphor that is.  So Ciel had the onerous task of trying to extricate what i wanted to do – which was pretty much NOTHING and what i was passionate about – which i thought was NOTHING. She soldiered on as she really knows me well and somehow – (good grief i don’t know how she didn’t want to reach into the phone and slap me) she got me to say a couple of things that i wanted to do or was excited about. 

I mentioned that i had wanted to write an e-book for the longest time on what I WANTED to share without being censored by anybody. Don’t ask me how she did it but she pinned me to the wall and got me to say things i swear i didn’t say.  for example i said “Writing an e-book would be a piece of cake!”.  ACK!!!!!!!!  Did i say that?  Oh yes i did.  And so Ciel even managed to hone in more specifically – and magically i said i could write a page a day (250 words) for over 3 months to finish the book.  Good grief! So stay tuned folks on the progress of my e-book .

Do you have someone in your life who will hold you accountable to your dreams?  If you don’t have a friend or family member who will do this for you you can always hire a coach!  Please leave your answers in the comments below!

Have a wonderful weekend!  It’s the Canada Day long weekend here in Canada – I’ll be donning a special silly hat and celebrating! Happy Canada Day!

Love, Violette xo

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The Contest is NOW CLOSED – we have a WINNER – Lori W Congratulations!  Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Contest! 

The Sketchbook Challenge book

As you know last year i was part of the Sketchbook Challenge that was the brainchild of Sue Bleiweiss.  As a result of the popularity of the blog Sue decided to write a book by the same name and included the blog’s contributors.  I was very happy to be asked to be part of Sue’s book!  The book is beautifully laid out in sections.  My section is: Symbols.  As you all know I’m crazy about Mary (i have tons of Mary symbols in my home – a door, Mary Altars, Mary Statues, Mary cards, Mary earrings etc.  So it was natural for me to choose Mary as my subject. Here are some of the images used in the book:

Sketches i created before making the shrine. This is often how i work out my ideas.

Mary Shrine

Shrine detail

In celebration of the book’s release there is a bloghop happening with lots of great giveaways!  My giveaway today is Mistyfuse – 10 yards of it – $48 value!  Yay! For a chance to win please enter you name in the comments section.  I’ll be drawing a winner in 3 days on June 30!

Check out all of the fabulous prizes being given away on the blogs of the following contributors:

June 26: 
Jill Berry  http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/
From Joggles (www.joggles.com) a $25 gift certificate to Joggles.com
Sue Bleiweiss http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog
Prize:  From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  Three 10yd packages of Mistyfuse: a white, black and ultraviolet and a  BIG Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value $129!

 
June 27:
Violette   http://www.violette.ca/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!
Kathyanne White http://kathyanneart.blogspot.com/
From ArtPlantae Today (http://artplantaetoday.com/)  The book Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms by Alisa Golden Total retail value $19.95!

June 28:
Kathy Sperino http://finishinglinesbyksperino.blogspot.com/
From Sue Pelland Designs (http://suepellanddesigns.com/)  A Leaves Galore Grande size template (http://suepellanddesigns.com/shop/leaves-galore-norme-copy/), a Quilter’s Chalk Line (http://suepellanddesigns.com/shop/quilters-chalk-line/) and the pattern of their choice from my website with free shipping (Continental USA) to the winner.  Retail value $80.00!
Leslie Tucker Jenison  http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!

June 29:
Jamie Fingal http://jamiefingaldesigns.blogspot.com/
Prize: From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!
Lynn Krawczyk  http://fibraartysta.blogspot.com/
From Gelli Arts (http://www.gelliarts.com/) an 8” x 10” Gel Printing Plate (http://www.gelliarts.com/products/8-x-10-gel-printing-plate)  Total retail value $29.99!

July 2:
Jackie Bowcutt http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/
From The Thread Studio a package of machine embroidery threads:
http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/machine/vcoloursets/coloursets.htm  total retail value $18
Lyric Kinard http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!
and
From ProChemical and Dye http://prochemicalanddye.com/home.php  A $25 gift certificate to ProChemical and Dye

July 3:
Jane Davies http://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.com/
From Gelli Arts (http://www.gelliarts.com/) an 8” x 10” Gel Printing Plate (http://www.gelliarts.com/products/8-x-10-gel-printing-plate)  Total retail value $29.99!
Kim Rae Nugent http://kimraenugent.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!

July 5:
Carla Sonheim  www.carlasonheim.wordpress.com/
From Joggles (www.joggles.com) a $25 gift certificate to Joggles.com
Carol Sloan  www.carolbsloan.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!

July 6:
Susan Brubaker Knapp  http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!
Diana Trout http://www.dianatrout.typepad.com/ 
From The Artist Cellar  A complete set of Artist Cellar Stencils – that’s 28 stencils total!  http://artistcellar.com/stampstencil/stencilproduct.html  Total retail value $120!

July 9:
Tracie Lyn Huskamp  www.thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!
Judi Hurwitt  www.approachable-art.blogspot.com
From The Thread Studio a package of Flaked Gilding Leaf:
http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/exp/metallicflakes/text2.htm  Total retail value $20
and
From Blue Twig Studio:  A pad of Borden & Riley Bristol Plate
http://www.bluetwigstudio.com/shop/product/borden-riley-bristol-plate/  Total Retail value $11

July 10:
Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/
From The Artist Cellar  A complete set of Artist Cellar Stencils – that’s 28 stencils total!  http://artistcellar.com/stampstencil/stencilproduct.html  Total retail value $120!
and
From ArtPlantae Today (http://artplantaetoday.com/)  The book Botany for Artists (http://www.artplantaebooks.com/)  and one package of Plant Notes Bookmarks (http://www.artplantaebooks.com/plant-notes-bookmarks).  Total retail value $41!
Kelli Nina Perkins: http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/
From Mistyfuse (www.mistyfuse.com)  A 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet.  Total retail value: $48!
and
From ProChemical and Dye http://prochemicalanddye.com/home.php  A $25 gift certificate to ProChemical and Dye

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One of the Creative concerns that came up quite a bit when i posed the question “What is your biggest Creative Challenge”? on my blog was “lack of time”.  I thought i would deal with this dilemma today because seriously – where there is a will there is a way. The above set of Dream bugs were created yesterday while i waited at the Doctor’s office for over 15 minutes.  I added some final touches back at home.

Here’s a close up view.  I plan on using these doodles in my art journal pages but also perhaps give them out to students in my Teen Journal workshops.  As you can see i used similar designs on my Dream journal cover. You can do these up ahead of time while waiting in the Doctor’s or dentist’s office or while at your child’s/grandchild’s soccer practise. You can ALWAYS find time while “waiting” – just bring along a clipboard with some cardstock or your art journal/sketchbook with you and a pencil and pen. At the hairdresser you have 1/2 hour to wait for your “colour” to take – perfect time to sketch don’t you think?

The above tags will be used on the packaging for my Teen’s Dream Journal kits I’ll be giving out to each participant in the class. The Idea for the tag of inspiring words came from Pinterest – my packaging board. I found a tag in a similar shape used for packaging Asparagus of all things and was inspired to create the above tag!  I created the tag while listening to a webinar yesterday – see – i managed to find time oh YES I DID!

The Funky Girl Tag was created while i watched the TV show New Girl last night.  I drew and clipped and glued.  You should see the couch right now – just a wee bit messy with bits and pieces of papers all over it! The coloured bits of paper on the girl’s clothing were created with paint chips and the blue pleats are from the inside of a security envelope (really!). The girl’s heart and headband flower came from one of Mr. G’s  candy wrappers (he has a sweet tooth).

You might wonder why i like the show New Girl?  Well it’s quirky and there always seems to be a nice message at the end.  I loved the message last night about empowering teens and letting them shine!

Now i hope I have inspired you with a few ideas on how to better utilize your free time!

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You know how much i love coming up with ideas for everything?  Well i came up with 50 ways to Promote your Crafts and made it into an e-book.  I’m giving it away totally FREE to my newsletter subscribers (I’m sending the newsletter out late tonight).  If you would like to have a copy then please sign up for my newsletter here. I hope you like it – I had fun coming up with the ideas!  Popcorn head – just call me popcorn head .

The Whole Enchilada Contest

If you haven’t already done so please enter to win a prize in my Whole Enchilada – 7 Year Blogiversary Contest. There are 7 prizes, one for each year blogging to be given away to some lucky winners!

Wonderful Online Classes!

My fellow teacher Andrea Schroeder at 21 Secrets Art Journaling Playground is facilitating a new e-Course called Creative Magic: Give Your Inner Critic a New Job.  Check it out!  Judging from some of the responses from my question yesterday – your biggest creative challenge – one of them is dealing with a Nasty Inner Critic. 

Classes offered by two of the Sketchbook Challenge Artists

Diana Trout has a Rescue Book Journals Online Class starting tomorrow!  My friend took Diana’s class at Journalfest last year and really LOVED it – she said Diana is a wonderful teacher. There is nothing like recycling but also creating a book to journal in from scratch.  It’s very gratifying!

Carla Sonheim has a Junk Mail artist’s Book online Class starting on Nov. 28 and boy – does it ever sound like fun!  Carla was a very popular teacher last year at Journalfest. Here’s your chance to experience Carla’s magic while still in your jammies at home .

Oh and after clicking on the Sketchbook Challenge link do check out Carla’s November Challenge – Imaginary Animals!  Too much fun – can’t wait to get to work on that one!

Tomorrow I’ll post a bunch of photos from the photo-shoot i had a couple of weeks ago – it was a fun shoot and I’m very happy with the results.

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On Friday night I dressed up as a pirate – my friend Susan sewed us matching scarves and skirts!  Aren’t they cute?  Unfortunately Mr. G was away on business so he missed out on the merriment!  He does have a cool pirate costume though .

Alas poor Yorrick – I knew him well! Susan and i were wearing skull necklaces that lit up and flashed on and off!

Rob and Susan all dressed up for the Halloween party!  They LOVE dressing up!  It’s one of their great pleasures.

Harrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh……..Rob spent part of the evening talking to his trusty parrot!  He even had a name but i forgot it . When Rob was young he was a puppeteer. I guess it’s in your blood forever!

Yesterday my grandson Sam dressed up as a Panda bear (a cute costume made by his Mummy!) so all of the relatives could have a peek at his cuteness!

We headed out to my daughter-in-law Kathryn’s folks place. They had us carve pumpkins. Here the pumpkin carvers are hanging out behind their creations.  Eric (Kathryn’s Dad), yours truly, son Ryan and Sammy and daughter Jessica.  We had such fun!

Here Sammy is feeding my pumpkin back his innards as his amused Dad looks on.

After the pumpkin carving episode at my side of the family we headed over to Mr. G’s son’s place and carved this bevy of beauties.  The pumpkins patiently sat out on the porch for a photo opportunity while Mr. G’s grandson Leium stands guard behind them.

Check out the tiny pumpkin Mr. G carved with Leium.  He insisted on buying this tiny pumpkin but when we got it home it was partially rotten. So he cut off the rotten side (that’s where the tiny pumpkin rests) and carved a face on the top side.  After it was finished i suggested Mr. G put a carrot nose in the place of the stem so he did.  Isn’t it cute?

Happy Halloween everyone – I know not everyone celebrates but if you do have fun!

I just wanted to give you the heads up on Jill K. Berry’s book Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed Media Mapmaking.  Doesn’t it sound awesome?  I’m going to order it for sure.  Jill is one of the Sketchbook Challenge artists.  I remember sitting next to Jill me last year at Journalfest (it just finished) and she was mentioning her book – i was intrigued then and still am! I hope you check it out!

See you all tomorrow!

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