handmade book – Katie Jeanne Wood

Morning pages are back

I started doing my morning pages practice again a few days ago kinda by accident. I was making some charcoal ink to put in my ink well, and then I got messing around in my art journal with it..which led me to remember when I used to do this early morning practice daily. I was wondering why I stopped doing it. What got in the way of me starting the day off doing what I love?

My art journal
is a handmade hedgehog
that I made a few years ago.

I’ve been grabbing my morning coffee, and mindlessly working on the computer first thing very day. I read & reply to email, write future blog posts, work on photos in PS, schedule Twitter posts, and list my artwork.

This tedious work takes up my entire day – most every day. I can never seem to get caught up. I often wish I spent nearly as much time creating art as I do with the office work end of things..ooooh, if only.

I’m going to try to keep the morning pages practice going this time around. Maybe not every single day or else!! lol but at least a few days a week. I’m much happier waking up to paint rather than getting up to do yet more, never ending computer work. I need that slow, quiet “me” time to create just for myself..I don’t know when I’ll ever get this through my thick head. hahaha!!

******

The 25% off floral paintings sale is still going on in my Etsy shop, but will be ending very soon. I added some abstracts to the mix, so there are plenty to choose from. Get this deal while you can!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Buddhist winter retreat handmade book part 2

You can see part one here or the book in its entirety here.

This page has some of that play sign in it that I wrote about a last week. I think it’s my favorite page in this book. I need to make some more abstracts with these colors this year.

The texture of these pages are kinda cool..I coated them with Dorland’s wax to keep them from sticking together. So, the feel is smooth and waxy, but the glitter makes it rough to the touch.

I’m working on another handmade book this month, so I’ll be showing that to you as soon as it’s finished. All I can say is it’s a weird little thing already, and it sorta started where this back cover left off. haha!

Art journaling & making handmade books

After taking the past couple months off from painting, it felt good to be sitting at the art table again. Most of my paint pots were empty, so I had the pleasure of mixing new colors, which was a fun way to kick things off.

The Beautiful Winter
handmade book

I want to spend January (and maybe beyond?) messing around in my art journals. I don’t know what it is about winter, but it makes me want to art journal and create tiny handmade books more than any other time of year. Both of these little books I made in years past.

Checkmate
Handmade book

I’ve decided I don’t have enough of these little books in my collection, so I’m thinking of challenging myself this year to make at least one new handmade book & fill it each month. I have started one already for this month.

Buddhist winter retreat
handmade book

I created a page a day in this new little book while on a virtual 10 day winter retreat over the break. I’ll let you peek inside soon.

I just want to mention that my huge clearance sale is still ongoing in my Etsy shop. Some paintings have been marked down 75%. I’m trying to make room for the new paintings coming this year. I also have a ton of paintings in my eBay store at really cheap prices and/or low starting bids.

What I’m watching: My Octopus Teacher on Netflix – now I know what all the fuss has been about. Such a lovely documentary.

Imposters on Netflix – I literally screamed when I saw this on my screen. SEASON 2!!! I highly recommend watching this one if you like lots of drama, twists, turns, and surprises. You’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat, if you’re anything like me, at all. lol Sooooo good!!! I’m going to re-watch season 1 before watching season 2, just to refresh my memory. It’s been a minute.

What I’m Reading: Beware of online sellers who want to text you – I knew there was a good reason to never give out my real phone number to strangers.

PINK art journal page – a realized wish

Wayback Wednesday
Art journal page from 2002
A Realized Wish

I still have this book, and it smells of beeswax, which I used to put down thickly on my art journal pages back then to keep the pages from sticking. I mostly use Dorland’s wax now, which doesn’t need heating..you can rub some on your page or painting with a paper towel or use a palette knife, and it doesn’t yellow. If you use a paper towel, be sure to wear gloves. Dorland’s wax is tacky, and doesn’t wash off your hands easily. I don’t like the feel of it on my skin, and you probably won’t either.

sold
Handmade
little pink bunny book
with a sideways heart
from 2008

Beeswax smells great, but it needs to be melted, and spread about the paper/canvas with a little craft iron. The beeswax I have is yellow, and it tints my artwork the second I put it down. I guess you can buy white beeswax, but if I remember correctly, that also yellows. Don’t quote me on that. It’s been a long time since I’ve used it.

You can use either wax in your work as a finishing layer (if you don’t have or want to varnish) or to keep art journal pages from sticking. If you’re going for an old rustic look, beeswax works great. If you want a non-yellowing look, then I suggest using Dorland’s.

The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.
― Kiran Desai

Handmade accordion book made out of free art material – Daily painting day 199 & 200

Handmade accordion book
daily painting: 365 day art project
Day 199

Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I’d like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.

Ruth Ann Minner

Handmade accordion book
daily painting: 365 day art project
Day 200

I’m always on the lookout for free art material. Trash that most people throw away, I salvage, and turn it into something worth keeping. I made this book with a pamphlet that came in the box with the new mouse I bought for my computer. I’m also in the process of making a mini book with something else that came in the box, which I’ll show you sometime soon.

What I did for fun: LÜSCHER COLOR DIAGNOSTICS to see what my favorite colors said about my personality. It’s a bit dated, and the results are on the negative side, imo, but it literally only took two seconds to do, so..eh.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: