Playing with paper artist app

This is a cool app i found under my advanced edit on my camera on my galaxy 3 phone. It's pretty fun to play with. This pic is of my DiL and my grandpup, Scarlett.

Packing is not fun!

Now the Clean Up ... spent the day packing art supplies for our move. Now I have to clean off my desk so I can make some art. LOL  ... 1 hour later ... now onto some fun stuff ...

Second picture is getting caught up on my journal I keep during the year ... trying to remember special times and also the ordinary ones. Sometimes I go back through facebook to remember dates. I also have a box I drop receipts, wine labels, movie tickets, etc. into and add these to the pages along with computer printed pics from my phone. I have been doing this for almost 4 years now. I have always kept a diary of sorts since I was 11. I have read through some of them while packing and found that I have wanted to do the Bed & Breakfast thing for over 20 years.

It really is amazing to look back over your life.

Finished Altered Book

Here are pictures of my most recent altered book. I had a lot of fun creating the pages. This one was made it to sell on Etsy or give as a gift this Christmas.  I used a college text book, and then cut pages out and glued pages together. I used some of the pages as part of the book. Then I used scrapbook paper, paint, stamps, envelopes and magazine images. It has room for someone to add their own journaling or pictures and to embellish pages. 

100 Follower Drawing Winner!!!!!

Carol Fosdick, is the winner of my 100 follower drawing!!! I messaged her on facebook as I could not figure out how to send a message through the blog system, go figure ... lol.

I hope it is the right Carol Fosdick. I found her Pinterest page and she looks like she would be a follow of mine :)

Here are the pictures of the altered book I made as a journal to be embellished by the owner of it. I simply used scrapbook paper and some wasbi tape in spots. Included a few stationary envelopes for secrets to be kept. I really love the way it turned out, hope Carol does too!

Where have I been

A little bit of everywhere ...
Kayaking, hiking, Ireland, Paris, North Carolina, and kayaking some more. And we will head to North Dakota sometime soon. Then we get busy and ready to move to Maine. Dreams do come true and I will keep everyone up to date as things unfold. I'll have time and the desire to create art in the midst of it all. And I will post pics. A drawing of my followers will happen today and the winner will get an altered book art journal I am finishing in the next day or so.

Hello followers ... I am still alive!

I am so glad a blog stays put even if you neglect it for months on end... We are getting ready to sell our farm in Ohio and start living a dream... My husband is retired and we are going to be looking in Maine for a Bed & Breakfast type of situation. My dream is to be able to hold a combination of art camp and outdoor adventure style 4 day long vacations. For the most part for women. I love mixed media art and teaching others how easy it is to journal through altered books. I also love the outdoors, kayaking, hiking, backpacking are my favorites. I do not want a real fancy place but want it to be large enough to allow for 10 to 12 participants during each event. Now for your help. I have looked at what is out there and need your feedback on some of the big elements I need to iron out in my head so we know what to look for and what we can afford. Price? Camps run from 800.00 to about 1400.00 for lodging, meals and all art supplies to make projects and learn new techniques, and most important meet new friends and have fun. What price are comfortable with for a 4 day vacation that does not include your travel expenses. Ideally how many participants do you want to share your time with? Would you want healthy food options for all meals or for some? Decadent desserts important to you? Would outdoor activities be a nice break from doing art? Possibly kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing? Would you be willing to share a room, with how many people? Would you consider Maine to be a destination women would love to come to? Would an afternoon sailing on a windjammer and then a lobster dinner be a good extra activity? What months would you be most likely to choose to take a vacation apart from your family or loved ones? I want to do at least 4 events a year and possible up to 8. Thanks again for your feedback and any ideas you want to share. I may not respond to all, but will try.

It appears blogging is only getting harder on my old desktop that I feel so comfortable with. I visited an amazing blog this morning and wanted to add it to my interesting sites list, but alas I cannot not. So I will post her link here: http://mylifeonebitatatime.blogspot.com/ Susie is giving away a super beautiful gift and another one of Christmas Memories today. I loved reading everyone's comments. Sorry I have not been around of late. Life is super busy and time is tight. I will be doing a giveaway after the first of the year, as I have over 100 followers and promised I would do this. It's amazing to me that I crept over that threshold and didn't even realize it. This little blog used to be something I cherished and visited so often to post. I will have to re-evaluate my life as I always do at the end of the year and find sometime, somewhere to bring this back into my life. As I do miss it and my interactions with all of you. Have the best Holiday Season and we'll get together soon!

New art journal pages

Created these pages to remember my weekend in May with my sisters & mom.

May Backpacking Trip in VA on AT

Found a Great Little Company for Smoothies

Wanted to let you all know about a great small company based in Oregon. They make an awesome product. I love them because I can have a smoothie while out on the trail backpacking now!!

I really missed having my smoothie on my last backpacking trip and was determined to find a way to take them with me. I found a heavy packaged 4 oz smoothie that did not need refrigerated, but I knew this was not going to work for my desire to be as light weight as I can be. So I kept looking.
I found the Sherwood Valley Juice Company's website and a great offer of free shipping to give them a try. So I sent away for their trial offer and the small little packages were at my house in just a few days. I tried them and was so happy to know I had my "smoothie fix" for the trail! They are not a replacement for what I fix myself every morning, but they do help out when I am on the go and need to get my fix on the road or trail. And they are very economical to boot!
So I urge you to give them a try and tell them I sent you!

Sherwood Valley Juice Company blends fruit and vegetable powders into delicious, nutrient rich single serving meals. These whole-food instant smoothie blends are freeze dried and dehydrated at low temperatures; this means your smoothie is alive with raw, plant based, whole food nutrition. Simply add one of these blends to your water bottle or blender and 15 seconds later enjoy your smoothie anyplace, anytime.
FREE SAMPLE OFFER: http://www.sherwoodvalleyjuice.com/shop/category/special-offers/4-pouch-sample-box-1-2-oz

First Retreat

I have completed my first retreat and am so happy!!!!

The group of women were so inspiring and we had a great time.
Click on the title of this post to find out about my next retreat.

Here's a slide show.

Women's Spring Retreat

RETREAT IN FULL

How about a "just before spring" retreat? We would begin at 3:00pm Friday March 16 and the retreat would end at noon on Sunday, March 18th. We will plan dinner time for once everyone let's me know when they can arrive. So taking Friday off isn't necessary.


The place I have scouted out is a cabin just outside Rushville, so it's about 30 to 40 minutes from Columbus. They offer the whole cabin for rent. This includes use of the kitchen, indoor pool, hot tub, rec room and their Netflix account. One TV is 3D. There is also a fire pit. http://cabinatthecrossroads.blogspot.com/p/amenities.html

We would learn together about healthy eating, exercise and do some mixed media art projects too. They have about a 2 miles of hiking trails that goes through the property. Plenty of time to just chill and get to know each other better. There are sleeping arrangements for 11. The cost is $195.00 for the weekend. This includes all food. Bring your own beverages if more than soda, coffee and tea are wanted.

We will cook together some and some will be prepared ahead. Mixed media art projects, such as collage and recycled materials to make a "Smash" type journal will be included in the cost. Of course we would have some kind of decadent dessert one night.

A deposit of $65.00 is needed by January 15th. Then another payment of $65.00 by Feb 12th. The last payment of $65.00 would be due by March 4th.

Please email Deb to arrange payments and to ask any questions.

A New Year's Thought

Dear Extraordinary Person,

As the year draws to a close, beautiful friend, please remember that you get to decide what heads into the next year with you and what doesn't. It would be worth some of your precious minutes to sit down and really think about the baggage that you have been carrying around that you just don't need anymore....and then decide that it is not invited to come with you into the next year...and that it will no longer be a part of how you view yourself, your possibilities, your commitments, the way you spend your time, and what you have to give in the world.

We often are taught to collect, collect, collect, gather, gather, gather, hoard, hoard, hoard...that we never even consider the possibility of starting over with a clean emotional slate by letting EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF BRAIN BAGGAGE GO and starting over with fresh hope, fresh faith, an open mind and endless possibilities. Some things that would be wonderful to leave behind are shame, blame, specific expectations, outdated beliefs, outdated identities and a scarcity mentality. It would be wonderful to let go of grudges, fears and beliefs that make us feel stuck.

When we decide to spend our time on loving others, and feeling loved...there is no room or time for feeling angry or for being worried about unkind things others may think of us. When we decide to spend our time working towards the life that our heart is yearning for....there is no room or time to think about things from the past that have been holding us back.

So please decide, amazing person.......YOU GET TO DECIDE!!! Decide what you will focus on, what you will think about, where you will spend your time and how you will think about everything and everyone around you. This could be the best year of your life! Make it so.

You are filled with endless possibilities!

from Your Daily Truth by Brave Girl's Club

My Hiking Journal

I have created an album on photobucket of my latest art journaling. It is about hiking and being outdoors this past year. I have more pages started and hope to finish them soon. I wish there was more time to do everything I love. But I am doing the best I can with the hours in each day to enjoy each and every one. Hope you are too.
Here is a link to my slideshow

The Happiness Project

I have borrowed this book from the library and am just starting it, but it seems like it goes hand in hand with my life the last 12 months. I have been really working on my happiness day to day. It seems like the more I take care of myself and those closest to me, the happier we all are. I am not saying I am responsible for the happiness around me, but it is contagious. So if you want to learn more about this project click on the title to this post and check out her website. There is a cool toolbox for creating your own happiness project.
Lot's of things in the works right now for getting art back into my schedule. More on this soon. Thanks for stopping by . . . only 7 more followers and I'll draw from everyone and send out a nice little prezzy!

I have started a Meetup group

I created a Meetup group for getting together with other women who are mixed media artists or who want to learn more about this type of art. Our first meetup is scheduled for Nov. 5th. I haven't found a meeting spot yet, but am working on it. I am going to provide workshops for those interested in learning and kits for those who do not want to invest in supplies. We have 4 members as of today. So if you live in Central Ohio and want to join us, we can be found by clicking on the title of this post.

90 Followers woo hoo!!

I posted a while back that I would have a drawing of my followers once I reached 100. Only 10 more to go. I want to make something awesome . . . any suggestions??? Take a look through my older posts and if anything looks interesting let me know.

I took my first spinning class today. It was HARD!! But fun. A new goal for the month, to stand for a whole class by the end of the month. I did get my cardio in, just need a stronger core. I am so glad it is Friday!! Can't wait to relax for a few hours at the pool this weekend. I love summer! Hopefully we can pick another couple of buckets of blackberries this weekend too. Hate the stickers but love the berries in my smoothies.

I'll try to post Sunday some new art. 

My Dad's ROD Journal

I made a slideshow of some of the pages in the ROD journal I am making for my Dad. (Click on title of post to get to slideshow) I'm keeping it pretty simple. I do want to embellish a bit more. But it's a guy's journal so I don't want to go over board. I'm making it with the same purpose in mind as I made my mom's. For him to write about his life & memories. It will be a treasured keepsake.

Thanks for looking  . . . now I'm off to the gym :-)

Update: This "not buying anything except gas" is HARD!! I forgot my flip flops at home so now I have to wear my gym shoes all day at work. Any other day I would have run to the dollar store and bought flip flops, ugh!! I did my first Pilates work out today. It wasn't real hard but I can already feel my body responding to the fact that I have given it a very different work out . . . so this is good . . . I think??

I have scheduled time off in September to hike the AT for a long weekend. I am so excited. My oldest son, Chris, is coming with me. I hope to get to the summit of Mount Rogers in VA. So all this extra training will help me I am sure and makes any discomfort so worth it, when I get to top. :-)

OK now it's time to work . . .

My New Art Studio

Here's my new sunny art room . . . well part of it.

I LOVE IT!!

I'm working on a type of ROD journal for my Dad to journal about his life. I will take some pics soon.

I plan to post a picture and how I am doing on my journey of consuming less this month . . . in all ways!!

My August Self Challenge

For the month of August I am challenging myself to not buy anything except gas. I have to pay my bills too. My DH pays for the groceries so this is something I can do, if I put my mind to it and have self control.

I am also going to move my fitness journey to the next level by using a personal trainer for the month. Provided by my DH for my birthday this month.

I am planning on organizing my new art studio and making some awesome new art too.

So I will be kept busy and do not think I will miss shopping in the least. And once I get down a few more sizes I can have lots of fun buying new clothes. I have been doing my best to take in what I have so I can continue to wear what I have.

I will be posting my new art and about how my self challenge is going all through the month . . . So come back and see me in August!!
The picture is a close of my art desk in my new sunny art room. More pics to come  . . .