Jane Austen movies at the library...

for free - which is best of all.  We don't have cable and dropped Netflix because most the movies are so lousy we were having trouble finding stuff to rent. 

Last week I rented the 1981 BBC production of Sense and Sensibility at the library.  I found it thoroughly enjoyable.  While I love looking at the pretty clothes, I don't think they would be much fun to wear.

Have you checked your library lately for good movies? 

Click on picture to enbiggum (the colors are outstanding)

The Empress Eugenie Surrounded by her Ladies in Waiting, 1855

Franz Xavier Winterhalter 1805-1873

I've Been Away

Be sure and visit Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage to see "buckets" of transformations.

Transformation Thursday and a thank you...

Our household suffered another shock two weeks ago when our older doggie, Sophie died.  She was preceded in death just six weeks earlier by her best friend Elle - our other little doggie.  We placed Elle's ashes in Sophie's little casket and they were buried together in our herb garden.   Sophie was my husband's special little girl and, since he lost his son the day after Thanksgiving, it has been very hard on him. With just the two kitties in the house it is very quiet. 

Please know that even though I wasn't posting, all of your wonderful blogs were still on my reading list every day and managed to bring some sunshine and fun into my life during this difficult time and I thank you.

Read Sophie's story

During this time I decided it was time to do some major work on my daily schedule starting with getting back to doing my morning pages and prayer time first thing in the morning.  My morning pages journal is just an ordinary spiral notebook although the cover is made of nice vinyl.  Was it pretty?  Ummmm, not so much.

A few months ago I found my wallpaper sample books in the back of my hubby's office closet.  Oh boy - talk about beautiful paper!  I wouldn't put 90% on my walls (lots of shiny metallic), but it's perfect for journal covers. So a few weeks ago I started on transforming my journal.

The front was done with solid paper first, then the corners,  the flowers (cut from a piece of wallpaper), and finally the trim was added.  I used a brush to apply Mod Podge.  (I love Mod Podge)

 Next I did the back the same way.

The last step was to cover the inside of the front and back covers and add the paper over the spine.  A pretty silk ribbon became a page marker.

Isn't that much prettier??  I don't hide it my basket anymore, but instead keep it handy on the buffet in the dining room where I do my morning pages and my prayers.

Some other journals to inspire:

Kelly Kilmer - Artist and Instructor

Teesha's Circus Journal in Pictures - too cool!

Daisy Yellow has mega info on art and journaling

Art Journals

Art Journaling

I think art journals are so much fun. One of my inspiration journals I started years ago was really a form of art journal.  To me it was just a fun book where I could cut and  paste, decorate with colored pens or crayons, and write a few things.  Now I've come to find out it's some sort of big deal art form. That means I can now obsess whether mine is "good enough."  Aren't we silly creatures sometimes???

If you keep a notebook filled with decorating ideas and inspiration, you're already doing a form of art journaling. Some of the decorating notebooks I've run across are "works of art" (not to be too obvious!)

I think art journals would be a wonderful project to start with children.  Just think - every rainy day when the kids whine, "I'm gored bored", you can look over and say, "Let's work on our art journals." 

One of my favorite sites for inspiration is Kelly Kilmer.  Kelly is both a very accomplished artist and a busy instructor.  In addition to her blog she has her artist's website where you can check out where she may be having a workshop. 

Isn't this page beautiful?  

And if that isn't enough she also has "A Prompt a Day" online classes. I'm planning on signing up for November.  Her site is also a wealth of great links to places selling great pens at super low prices, and links to her favorite paint sources.

Check out her finished Prompt a Day Journals from January to October....Wowzaa!

Another fun and inspirational site is Aimeslee at   Paper Paisleys.  I've exchange some emails with Aismeslee and she is just delightful and full to bursting with creativity.  Aimeslee not only does art journaling but all sorts of paper projects.  I don't think she's ever met a piece of paper she didn't love.  Here's what Aimeslee says about herself:  "paper hoarder... art supply collector... paper craft hobby artist... I pretend I'm an artist and make pretty things..."

Aimeslee's  journal page from her post Bad Hair Day, Life, and Art School Update.

Now that you've seen some really gorgeous stuff  let's take a look at mine.  No laughing allowed!!!


My cover: 

This is an art book I had laying around. Did I mention my love for notebooks? I have a whole box full. It's an obsession!

This is a page that I gesso'ed (big mistake), then tried to use water color (another big mistake - I HATE working in water color- what was I thinking?)  By the time I got to the lettering, I was soooooooooooooooo out of the mood.  I also couldn't find my glue gun and on and on. But I had fun and  guess what? I know what day I harvested the lavender this year and my book smells divine!!

More on Art Journal's:



Aislings Art Journals:  How to create and keep an art journal (this site is chock full of fun stuff!)
Teesha Moore:  Teesha's Circus Teesha is another well known artist and journaler