I promise...this is the last one!

Journal Page Garden (Click it to make it larger).

OK.  I promise this is the last journal page.  But I did want you to see one totally complete with all of my thoughts filled in!  :)  This is why its so wonderful to have pages prepped and ready to go.

Which I copied the basics from a page that Shelly had in her book.

I modeled my page after one that Shelly had in her book.  But as you can see from the first pic, well, my got a little out of hand.  LOL.  But again, so nice and handy to come in, grab a prepped page and journal all my thoughts and tid-bits from gardening class that morning.  I added a few of the vintage people and loads and loads of more color.  I wanted it to look like an Alice in Wonderland Fairy type garden.

Here's to me finding something new to work on tomorrow!  :)

-c

Hats! Here's to Juggling them!

Beautiful Velvet Pumpkins are the first thing you see when you walk in the door.

I'm willing to bet that like most of you, I juggle "hats" several times during any given week. One hat, the pretty pink one, is daughter, the fancy embellished one is my creative hat, and my sweetest red hat is wife. Add in my work hat, its a shabby turquoise bowler with a Doves Nest on it, my gardening hat, is of course, green (but probably more brown than green), and for good fun add my coaching hat (right now its black - LOL.) My  Paper Cowgirl Hat, which is a Cowgirl hat of course, is probably glittered. Well, that's ALLOT of hats to keep in the air.

The "other" Cindy (the owner) did this gorgeous wagon full of pumpkins.

All of this is my yappy way of saying, "I've been merchandising most of the week". Yep, I've worn that Turquoise Bowler and kept the others in the air as best as possible. . And I thought you might like to see some of the cool things that the store has gotten in. I was hoping that thinking Fall, would make it feel like Fall, but no such luck. Its still HOT.

I love nests all year round, not just in Spring.  And LOVED these new signs we got in.

More pumpkins.  White, Expresso and Platinum.

Are they not fab?

Great pillows and garden statures and cages all in neutral tones, remind me of Fall.

Bags of Old Book Page Shred and Metals Nests for the garden.

Browns and Gray

Heavenly smelling candles in the shape of wee birds.  Berries for Fall.

I had fun adding "scary" words to our new Chalkboard wall. 

Fab glass votives make a great statement.

Damask pumpkins, crows and moss make an elegant Halloween display.

Bat's in her Belfrey.  :)

Loads of great new cookbooks! 

 

And wonderful jars and display pieces.  CB did these great displays pictured here, and below.

LOVED this new Santos we got in.

Beautiful heavy frames and Mercury votives are gorgeous for Fall.  Change a few elements and they are perfect for Christmas as well.

There you have it. Here's to wearing many hats, and being a Jill of all Trades. Its my life and I love it.

-c

What a difference a Class makes!

As you can see from the previous post, yep, what a difference a class makes!

Now, I'm not trying to make my blog, "all journal pages, all the time", but I just had to show you the tremendous difference a class really did make.  Learning new tools, like Gesso and Golden paints, learning some basics on composition, balance, seeing what others in the class are doing, getting opinions, it all makes an amazing change in my artwork. And I could not be happier.

I was so honored to have  Shelly Massey come literally, "right back to Texas", after just having taught here at Paper Cowgirl in June.  This time we held an intense two day workshop on the basics of journaling from actually creating a book, to creating backgrounds, pages, lettering, comp, color and more.  (Check out the PC Blog for more class info and pics). 

Tickled, I'm positively tickled with the way my pages are now progressing.  Just being able to immerse myself in the creativity of it all for two days was total bliss, as my friend Melissa kept saying.  There is much to be said about hanging with like minded peeps.  I know I will be on a creative high for the next several days.  Yep, what a diff a day made!

-c

PS and the bonus, time with friends...a Chick Flick, a huge plate of nacho's, an adult beverage and just some great gal yapping, it really was a super fun weekend!

Journal Pages

Prisma Pencils, Vintage image and black ink

Prisma Pencil

Image by my friend Ruthe, right hand side, prism pencil and ink

Prisma Pencils and black ink

Prisma Pencil, vintage images, Copics, tape, ink

Of all the movies I ever saw, funny how this ONE thing of Tom Hanks always stuck in my mind.  LOL.  Thought it was great for my page to jot down my favorite wine finds.  :)

Journal pages are all that I want to work on lately.  Funny how I go in spurts on that.  LOADS of projects piling up and yet, all I want to do is journal.  Silly.  But keeps me in and outta the heat, as its way cool in the Studio...even the cats scream to go into that room, it really is the coolest place in the house!  Hope you are staying cool...hopefully some rain will happen here on Friday. 

And speaking of journals...if you follow Paper Cowgirl, just FYI registration for Shells class is closing on the 14th.  She will be doing a fabulous two day workshop on creating Journal pages.  Her's puts mine to shame.  :)  

-c

Kitschy, Kitschy, Cute!

My Wreath

I was so happy with the way it turned out.

I'm so proud of my little kitschy Christmas Wreath that I made in Jenner's class on Saturday.  Loads of fun to glitter and glue (I'm not really a big glitter girl) when I don't have to worry about the mess or cats walking through it all.  This just reminded me of my childhood, it had that whole 60's kitsch feel to it. 

Judy, Jennifer (teacher) and Judy's Sister

Jennifer is one of my Paper Cowgirl teachers, and it was very amusing to be on the "other side" of the class room for a change. We were the boisterous table for sure, what with "Paula" and "Sister's fighting" going on. Great fun though.  I always like being a part of the trouble making table.  :)

Jennifer's Class Sample

Jenn's class sample was so cute!

So much vintage goodies to play with.

And new sparklies too!

She had loads of things for us to "play with". Lots of sparkly new and loads of vintage (which of course I had TO drop one and break it). And sitting next to Phyllis Ann, she always shares her supplies, she gave me the coolest flocked vintage bell. And then I had to copy her by glittering it. As I said, loads of fun.

I can hardly wait to decorate and mix my cute wreath in with all little houses and other kitschy Christmas. Just thinking of it makes me feel a little "frosty".  Which is great for a 108 degree day.  Hope you are staying cool. 

-c