Magnificent Monday

The sun is shining brightly and all appears to be right in my world. It seems like a really long time since I've posted to my blog - like maybe my last post was last year :-)

In this new year, I've joined two very different journal projects and have combined them into one. I am not sure how long that is going to last, but for now I am enjoying it. I have a link to each of them in the sidebar on the right - The Sketchbook Challenge (which I shall refer to as SC) and Milliande Art Journal January 2011 (which I shall refer to as MAJ). I have been a fan of Milliande's for a very long time. She has lots of wonderful, creative videos on YouTube as well as a wonderful community site online.

Here is my first day's contribution:

The SC theme for January is "highly prized". I read that while enjoying my first mug of coffee so I began this page by drawing my coffee in my favorite cup and then I felt a bit guilty for thinking of coffee first, but I was in the moment. I was thinking about the things that I prize highly and trying to think how to incorporate them on this page while reading the blogs to which I subscribe and found myself reading the one on Milliande's blog which contained the first video of the month for MAJ. Her video which you can watch/download here was all about patterning and zebras. That might explain the rest of this page.

The hubster and I went up to the Maple Street Mall in Mason to set up a small booth which includes a a cabinet he made for my handmade journals and as we were setting up I sold the small travel journal that was listed on my Handmade Books page. I was thrilled. The booth looks great and focuses on my handmade journals and the hubster's custom signs. I should have taken my camera so I could share a picture with you. I will take one next time I am up at the mall.

When we got home I watched the second day's video for MAJ in which she did a mandala with three zebras and then cut it apart to use on a page spread. I am not sure yet that I am going to be making collages in this book, but who knows??? For my second day, I did a two page spread featuring a bit of doodling and the oldest two of my three grandgirls.

I used the light box that my friend, Nancy, loaned to me to get a quick likeness of the girls on the right. It felt like cheating, but I really wanted it to look like them and my drawing of them freehand is still not always successful. I am planning to do some sketching of them later in this journal and then I will not care so much if they can tell it is them. They will, of course, be asking to see my journal next time I see them. They are my biggest fans and give me lots of praise and encouragement. You know that my next page (today) will have a picture of Little Miss 3 on it. I didn't forget her. As a matter of fact, I have the cutest picture of her from ballet class.

I wish I could somehow slow down this year so I could keep her 3 for a long time.

Today I have to run errands - the recycle bins are overflowing, we are out of water, milk, oj, eggs and salad fixings. I have a flannel shirt that the hubster got me for Christmas that is too small to take back and trade for a larger one. Office Max is having a "take 20% off everything you can fit in this bag" sale and I may stop there for some lined paper and printer inks. 

I have a date with the treadmill later this afternoon. I've added a page to keep track of my mileage and so far in just two days have jogged/walked more than 5 miles. I decided that posting my mileage would help me to keep those dates with that machine.

I saw a great tut on making a journal at The Sketchbook Challenge website and am going to try to make one with lined paper to take to Florida in February in which to document our trip. I will share it with you when I have it made. I am already thinking of ways to switch up the stitching to make it more my own.

If I am going to get to all the things I have planned for today done, I'd better get on my way. I hope you are all well and happy and having a great 2011 so far.

xoxo