Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Saturday, January 19, 2013

More Fun With My Art Jounrnal


Some of you may remember my butterfly pages.
Well, this one is done the same way,
only this time I used a circle.



I want to encourage you all to start journaling.


It is so relaxing.



It stirs up your creative juices.


And gives you so much freedom to go wild and try anything.
For years all I did was paint, and with the price of canvas and paint,
I always felt constricted to be careful and always do my best.
(not waste a canvas)

When you are creating on paper
and it's for your personal enjoyment . . .
you eliminate restriction.

I feel totally free when I journal .
I LOVE IT!!!



I've even thought that it would be fun
to collaborate with another sister,
and work on a book together.

She could write poems and I would illustrate.
Any takers out there?

Have a marvelous day,
and whatever you do, do it with a smile:)

Connie 


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38 comments:

  1. Oh Connie, if only I had the time! I've actually been out today and bought a spiral notebook with watercolour paper inside, some oil pastels and soft water colour pastels - they look like crayons. Now, all I need is the get up and go to get on with it. Do you use water colour paint as a background for your journals and colouring in? Do you think my purchases will be useful? I'm such a naive novice.
    Patricia x

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    1. Hi Patrica, I too purchased a new spiral notebook the other day. I wanted watercolor paper, but in our little town I could not find it, so mine is just heavy stretch paper. Because yours is water color paper, it should work beautifully with the products you purchased. I am so excited and I can not wait to see what you do. If you could see me . . . I am doing my happy dance. I love it when I can be an inspiration to another sister :)
      Have fun!
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  2. Connie, you are a girl after my own heart! My hubby works in a school, and they had old hardcovered books that were going in the trash. He grabbed them, and cut them into the shape of hearts on his bandsaw at school. I have been journaling in one of the heart books for the last five years. It is so thick that it will take me forever! I think I have about 100 pages done. You have inspired me to get the journal out today and do a few pages. I love your Paris page. Are they rubber stamped images on that page?

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    1. Hi Debbie, I am so excited that I could inspire you to get your journal back out and start journaling again.
      The pictures on those Paris pages were clip art and the night photo of the Eiffel Tower was one I took at the Paris casino in Vegas. My Steve had to go there for a business workshop and wives were invited . . . we are not gamblers, but the sightseeing was wonderful.
      I have been thinking about trying to cut a book on the band saw. Ask your husband if it cut easily and if he has any extra safety precautions to pass on. I worry about the pages wanting to slip or gum up. Please ask him . . . the last thing I want to do is go into a dangerous project, unaware of safety.
      I hope that you are having a lovely weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    2. Connie, my husband said it cut easily. You have to press down firmly on it while cutting. If you would like Joe to cut you a heart sometime, let me know.

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  3. I wish I had the talent for writing poems. It just isn't there. Your illustrations are so pretty.

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    1. Dear Beth, I'll just bet that you don't realize just how very talented you are. Ask some of your loved ones . . . what talents you process and then believe them when they tell you . . . how very amazing you are :)
      Our dear Lord creates beautifully . . . and he created you . . . beautiful, talented, and amazing :)
      Have a glorious day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  4. Wonderful journal entries, I love the possibilitarian page!!
    Have a great day.
    Always, Queenie

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    1. Hi Queenie, thanks so much for stopping by . . . I love your sweet visits.
      Connie :)

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  5. I would love to work with you if only I could write poems in english! Your drawings are beautiful, and writing with you would be an honour :). I bet you'll find someone out there who got the right skills. Have a marvelous Sunday!
    Maria

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    1. Hello Maria, Okay, it does sound fun, don't you think?
      I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  6. Oh this is so pretty! I WISH I was a good writer. I struggle writing my blog posts. This is so inspirational. Maybe I will give it a try. I just love your creativity!

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    1. Hi Sherry, thank you so much . . . all this praise . . . may just give me the big head.
      Please bring me back down if it starts too :)
      Have a marvelous weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  7. I'm also a possibilitarian. I couldn't agree more about journaling. How many women have seen me scribbling with pencil crayons in the coffee shop and, seeing my contentment, told me they will take it up again too. That makes me so happy. Your works here are an inspiration and your positive vibes are spreading!

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    1. Oh, Melanie . . . you are a gem.
      I love your zest for enjoying life, and thank you for the very sweet compliments.
      I am smiling and you are the reason.
      Have a wonderful day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  8. What a lovely journal it is a treasure Connie. I've thought about making one but I'm just to addicted to Photoshop and its fabulous instant gratification and no clean up.
    Have a great week and keep warm.

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    1. Dear Annie, I have played with Photoshop and it is a very complicated software. You create amazing art using it and I am so very impressed. If you lived close to me, I would be doing my best to talk you into private lessons. I believe that you have the talent to make that program jump through loops for you. The point you made about no messy clean-up is also a very valid point. What you are doing is awesome . . . YOU ROCK!
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  9. I am amazed almost to the point of stupefaction! Each page is gorgeous!!! You are a fantastic artist! I used to write poetry...do you want rhyming or not? You could give me a subject, then see if you liked what I write? NO problem if you don't like my style, you could just go on to the next person.

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    1. Dear Ginny . . . it does sound fun. If you would like to send me a poem, I could read it and see what my imagination comes up with. I would hope for something positive and up beat. Something that would touch a woman heart. I believe that as women we need to be strong for one another. Encourage each other to grow and to take pride in the fact that we are wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters. aunts, caregivers, teachers, etc. A book might me too ambitious but we can publish them on your posts. It might be a lot of fun, so if you want to try . . . so do I.
      Have a joyful day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  10. I am totally in love with this one. Oh, work and cleaning house sure do get in the way of creativity. We went out kayaking for several hours this morning (the sun was shining and it was in the 80's) which meant I had to clean when I got home. I still have to finish painting a cabinet so no time for art.

    You inspire me!

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    1. It sounds like you had a wonderful day. You know, my daughter was teaching kayaking at one time, but I have never been in one. I'm afraid that with my bad back, I might get in and then never get out, LOL. I have thought about giving it a try though. Are yours the kayaks that you crawl into or the ones where you sit on top?
      I'm delighted that you like my journal pages.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  11. Fantastic - very colourful & creative!!

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  12. OK, Connie...you have spurred me on! I started a journal similar to this one a long time ago and haven't worked in it for a long time. I am going to work in it tomorrow. Pinky swear. ;-)

    Your illustrations are just gorgeous, by the way. Love seeing your pages.

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    1. Oh Melanie, I am delighted to hear that you are getting your journal back out.
      I'm doing my happy dance:)
      Have fun.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  13. Your journal is fabulous! Very inspiring.

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    1. Hi Karen.
      I hope that this will be an inspiration to get you going again on your journal.
      Giddy-Up, young cowgirl and ride.
      Have a wonderful day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  14. Beautiful blog and gorgeous journal. Love how bright and cheery it is. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your lovely comment, Connie. I am now a friend. I joined today. Be happy, be well. Hugs, Gayle

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    1. Thanks so much for following . . . I love your collage work. I am sure that we will be mutual givers of inspiration. I'm looking forward to a wonderful new friendship.
      Have a marvelous day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  15. how beautiful! I particularly love the page with the sunflower! Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday.

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    1. Hello Andrea, thank you for the compliment and for the lovely visit.
      I hope that your day is filled with pure enjoyment.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  16. wow Connie, these are beautiful! Gorgeous colors.

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    1. Hi Becky . . . you're a peach . . . thank you :)
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  17. Believe or not Connie, I used to DOODLE all the time! Especially when I was younger. I had a teacher who once said...Doodlers are daydreamers (she didn't seem to like that) That hit a chord with me, because when I doodled with my pencil usually, I did daydream! But see, I believe that is an AWESOME thing to do....Doodling and daydreams! Hey, maybe, that's the beginning of a POEM! I'll have to think about that......have a wonderful and blessed week! LIFE IS GOOD! Roxie

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    1. Hi Roxie, your teacher was right . . . I am a day-dreamer, always have been and I do not intend on changing now. If fact, when I look back at all the times in my life that I have allowed others to make decisions for me . . . they ended up mostly being wrong. I think that if you are a day-dreamer, you should not be encouraged to change . . . God knew what He was creating, when he made each of us. That is why we are all so different. I also believe that we are all becoming more aware of how we need to embrace our differences. To many people have had God given talents that should have been nurtured, but were squashed because of family or popular believes. I'll just bet you that Leonardo da Vinci, Georgia O'Keeffe, Marie Curie, Einstein, and Newton were all day-dreamers.
      LIFE IS GOOD! Connie :)

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  18. That is gorgeous Connie. I think my journalling will be rather plainer!

    Lesley

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    1. Hi Lesley, I think that your journal will be perfect. I love looking at the journals of other bloggers, and some of them are amazingly awesome . . . but journals are personal, and if we get caught up in competing with all those awesome artist, our journal stops being personal . . . just do your own thing and it will be PERFECT!
      And, above all have fun doing it:)
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  19. You are so inspiring! And you have a load of talent. I like the idea of "doing your own thing". I'm going to cut loose and give this a try. Thank you!

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    1. Hi Tresa . . . all I can say is, "I'm Delighted To Hear That You Are Ready To Cut Loose . . . You are going to have a ball"!
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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