the marketing manager from Strathmore Artist Papers contacted me. She said she saw some of my journal pages in the book "1000 Artist Journal Pages" and would I be interested in sending her some high resolution photos that she could print up and use at a trade show where they were going to show off a brand new product. She liked my pages and wanted to use some of MY PAGES?! I was excited, oh yeah.
A couple of weeks later, she sent me these:
Can you believe it? The books come in different sizes and types. I got 90 lb and 140lb Watercolor paper and 100 lb drawing paper and 100 lb bristol paper. They are strong sturdy papers and are so cool! Here are some details (click to enlarge):
I really like them! They are bea-u-ti-ful! I think they are just now hitting the shelves so you can go get some.
Then I found this interesting package of stencils at the art store. It has ten 12x12 thick plastic sheets with the shapes already cut out and ready to use. The shapes are very different from the stencils I have seen before.
I also found this:
Dura-Lar matte film. It is thicker than acetate and matte of course, so I can draw my pattern on with pencil and it will stay. Then I can cut the pattern out with an exacto knife and it will make great stencils.
I found this new book on journaling and I am really liking it.
And then Traci Bunkers' new book came out and it is full of great ideas.
So I got inspired again and have been working in my in-progress journals.
I like the idea of a theme and I made this one a couple of months ago. It's my "heart journal".
I used stencils and spray paint to make the covers, a template to cut out each page and I bound it with my rubicoil machine and a huge coil. This book is about 1-1/2 inches thick and I used Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper.
I've been drawing in it, painting in it, using airbrush, ink and fancy tapes and pens, adding collage, my own stickers and other people's too, found bits and mementos, cutouts from magazines, patterns, pattern swatches, and I have added foldouts.
and then I got a used TP roll and a leftover wrapping paper roll and some sticky backed foam and made these two rolling stamps:
I already had this one that I made in a class I took at the SF Center for the Book a couple of years ago.
and then I got busy.
and then I was in my closet and this was there so I used it!
Isn't that nice? I love it! I am crazy about it! I am going to try that shoe with paint next.
And then I heard about zentangles.
I am inspired by this video. And there are many more. Follow that link!
My kids are drawing these now. I guess everything rubs off on them. I get so excited and then I'm pushing it under their noses, saying "Look what I found." "Look what I did." and the next thing I see is a pattern on my Mother's Day card or on a piece of paper left on the coffee table. It's interesting to get that kind of feedback.
Well then I noticed that something wasn't complete and so I filled a portion of the design in using a sparkly black sakura gel pen:
Much better!
The next day I saw this on a truck and followed it until my car was along side it at the light and I could safely take a photo.
Well, this weekend Kelly Kilmer is coming back to the SF Bay area and is teaching for three days at a friend's house. She'll be there this Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd and I'm going to go on Saturday for sure. I always enjoy spending a day with Kelly and letting myself be guided. She's got lots of ideas to share. Her books are gorgeous and she's fun to talk to. Anyone want to come with me? Class starts at 10 am.
