Saturday, April 21, 2018

Mixed Media Art Journal

Mixed Media Art Journal Quote
Image 1: "Making Art" page in my Art Journal

I have been thinking and reading about creativity over the last couple of years, and I have started collecting quotes for creative people (artists!) (me!) as well.  I have also taken several Mixed Media and Scrap booking classes over the years.  All of this culminated in not one but two art journals that I have created in 2017 and started filling with quotes, many about creativity.   


Mixed Media Art Journal Cover
Image 2: Small Mixed Media Art Journal Cover

This journal is currently my favorite.  What is fun about this creation is the small size (5 x 7 inches) and the ultimate flexibility of the pages.  I can add, remove, and move pages around easily so there is no stress about which quote goes first, and what pages I want to use.


Art Journal page Vision
Image 3: "Vision quote" page in my Art Journal

I use this journal as a testing ground for ideas, and it features samples from various classes.  I'm not using extravagant calligraphy on the pages, because I know I can do that "later" in the better journal, so I'm just having fun recording the quotes I like.



Art Journal Page
Image 4: "To be an Artist" page in my Art Journal

I write quotes on post-its as I find them, and then transfer them to pages on artsy days with more time. The hand writing might be fast and primitive, but book has now become one I cherish because these quotes speak to me.


In future posts I plan on sharing pages and quotes, as I get the pages and lettering finished.  If you have the time, let me know what you think, and if you know of any art journal specific blog parties.


(I created this journal in Stayce DeWid's "Art Anthology Mixed Media Class".  Other papers were created in a class taught by Dyan Reaveley)



Click on the images to see them enlarged.
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If you enjoyed this post might also like:
Spring Album
Spring Gift Tags
Mixed Media 2
Mixed Media 3
Autumn Wreath
Oak Leaf Print
Rock Window
Mosaics
Glass Flowers 2
Glass Flowers 1
Fused Glass
Glass Leaf
Mosaics
Bunny Mosaic
Mosaic Birds
Mosaic Cross
Heart Window

Button Pumpkin
Batik Star Quilt
Batik Sqr Quilt
Circle Quilt
heart quilt
Heart Quilt Top



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I am linking up to these parties:
Art Journal Journey: Dec 2019 Words and Numbers (Entry 17 of 135.)
Lakeshoredrive: Bouquet of Talent Sa 6p 294 (Entry 58 of 163.)
Little Farmstead: Sundays Home Sa 7p (Entry 64 of 246.)
Eclectic Redbarn: Happiness is Homemade (Entry 8 of 268.)
Maison de Cinq: Sundays Home (Entry 64 of 246.)
Darling Diaries: Good Morning Mon 166 (Entry 25 of 67.)
Silver Pennies: Sundays Party 260 (Entry 64 of 157.)
Rustic Refined: Dishing it and Diggin it 197 (Entry 28 of 230.)
Jembellish: A-Round-Tuit 411 (Entry 1 of 194.)
Dwellings: Amaze me Monday Sun 5p 261 (Entry 46 of 117.)
IShould: Inspiration Mon Sun 5p (Entry x of 384.)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Mon 329 (Entry 36 of 205.)
TumbleContessa: Whatd-do-weekend 269 (Entry 64 of 116.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 420 (Entry 1 of 238.)
Good Random Fun: Good Random Fun (Entry 14 of 42.)
Intelligent domestications: Merry Monday 201 (Entry 166 of 299.)  
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a 482 (Entry 15x of 66.)
Maria Elena: Tue at Our Home 254 (Entry 35 of 162.)  
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Monday 4p 213 (Entry 6 of 266.)
Cedarhill Farmhouse: The Scoop Mon 5pm 323 (Entry 11 of 445.)
Snapcreativity: Show and Tell Mon 7pm 316 (Entry 95 of 333.)
How to Home: Project Inspired Mon 7pm 270 (Entry 138 of 213.)
Gingersnapcrafts: Wow me Wednesday 338 (Entry 4? of x)
Interior frugalista: Talk of the Town Tu 6p 120 (Entry 19 of 132.)
21Rosemarylane: Share Your Style 167 (Entry 48 of 282.)
Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wed 352 (Entry 136 of 191.)
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 384 (Entry 70 of 310.)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur 322 (Entry 50 of 169.) 
Imparting Grace: Grace at Home 296 9:30A Th (Entry 142 of 181.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm Party 130 (Entry 36 of 49.)
Celebrate: Celebrate Story 125 (Entry 85 of 122.)
* Designthusiasm: Style Showcase 26 (Entry ?)
Katherines corner: Thurs favorite things Th 6a (Entry 12 of 215)
My husband: Beautifully Made 8 (Entry 43b of 52.)  
French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 43 of 189.) *
Grandmas House: Wed Party 84 (Entry 116b of 122b.)
Life as we know it Th 3pm 282 (Entry 154 of 223.)
Charm of home: Home Sweet Home 366 (Entry 26 of 110.)
Fromgardners: Handmade Hangout Th 5pm 204 (Entry 53 of 206.)
Funky Junk: DIY projects 426 (Entry 6 of 30.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 401 (Entry 9 of 19.)
Tatertots and jello: Best Friday Features (Entry 290 of 322.)
Happy Nester: Spring home decor (Entry 33 of 45.)
VA Sweetpea: Best of the weekend 121 (Entry 135 of 184.)
Art-Journal-Journey: Words and numbers (Entry 17 of 135.)

319364




Friday, February 9, 2018

Valentines Hutch Version 2

Valentine china hutch in Welsh Dresser cabinet
Valentines Day Hutch

Happy Valentines Day!  I arrange my welsh dresser seasonally, and today I am sharing my Valentine's display.  I changed from my Christmas arrangement by replacing the Christmas green glassware with pinks, and adding pitchers and tumblers.

Valentine Vintage pitcher
Vintage pink glass pitcher and tumblers

I have been collecting vintage pitchers, tumblers and depression glassware over the years when the price is right, so I have a variety of glassware to substitute in.

Valentine Vintage pitcher
Vintage tumbler, otagiri birds and unlabeled plate

It's funny to me that many of the items in this hutch are recent acquisitions from 2017 - the red striped plates I bought at an estate sale in November, and the white heart place settings ("Love Story" manufactured by Mikasa) were a Jan 2018 find!

Valentine Vintage pitcher
Vintage white glass pitcher and glass tumblers, contemporary plates, Mikasa teacup

It was a fast arrangement, and I'm sure it could be improved upon, but I'm happy to share it today anyway.  I last shared a Valentines hutch arrangement in 2011, even though I've made a different Valentine's arrangement almost every year since.  I want the results to be better before I post, so I don't end up posting.  Recently, I've been reading books on creativity.  One great book I read, which I highly recommend, Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic" had this inspirational quote. 


"Done is better than good"
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
 


Another quote I found (in the book "Art and Fear")...

"The perfect is the enemy of the good" 
Ansel Adams




I encourage those of you who are slowed or paralyzed by imperfections in their results to be kind to yourself and create and share.  There are so many steps that can slow one down - the idea, the plan, the execution, the photography of the result, and the writing and posting.  Be gentle to yourself and create and share, and don't worry if the result is not "perfect"!  


Click on the images to see them enlarged!


I blog for fun and my blog is ad free.  Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time!  Anonymous comments and comments months/years later are welcome!

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hutch display
Click here to see my China Collection!

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If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

China Cabinet
hutch display
Hutch Treasure
Halloween
Thanksgiving
christmas china hutch
Christmas 1
christmas china hutch
Christmas 2
hutch display
Blue-Wht Hutch
Valentine 1
Valentine 2
St Pats Hutch
Spring Hutch 1
Easter Hutch
Easter Hutch 2
hutch display
July Hutch 1
hutch display
July Hutch 2




Flow Blue China




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I am linking to these parties:
Jan Olson: My funny Valentine (Entry 71) A Valentines projects only party

Pieced Pastimes: Saturday Sparks 258 (Entry 71 of 259.)
Marcela Cavaglieri: Finde Frugal 202 (Entry 11 of 37.)
How Sweet: Pink Saturday (Entry 29 of 53.)
Ms Toodygooshoes: Best of the weekend (Entry 131 of 232.)
Bernideens: Tea Time (Entry 16 of ?)
Lakeshoredrive: Bouquet of Talent Sa 6p 284 (Entry 79 of 218.)
Little Farmstead: Sundays Home Sa 7p (Entry 27 of 267.)
Darling Diaries: Good Morning Mon 157 (Entry 28 of 81.)
Silver Pennies: Sundays Party 255 (Entry 89 of 200.)
Designthusiasm: Style-Showcase 16 (Entry x of 119.) Decor only
Rustic Refined: Dishing it and Diggin it 187 (Entry 26 of 251.) 
Jembellish: A-Round-Tuit 401 (Entry 41 of ?)
Dwellings: Amaze me Monday Sun 5p 252 (Entry 44 of 141.)
IShould: Inspiration Mon Sun 5p (Entry 109 of 413.) 
TumbleContessa: Whatd-do-weekend 259 (Entry 85 of 150.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a 472 (Entry 28x of 88.)
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 393 (Entry 44 of 67??)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 411 (Entry 10 of 221.)
Good Random Fun: Good Random Fun 44 (Entry 14 of 43.) 
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Monday 2p 203 (Entry 77 of 275.) 
Cedarhill Farmhouse: The Scoop Mon 5pm 313  (Entry 36 of 461.) 
Snapcreativity: Show and Tell Mon 7pm 306 (Entry 7 of ?)
Cupcakes: Project Inspired Mon 7pm 261 (Entry 3 of 217.)
Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Mon 242 (Entry 110 of 151.)
Maria Elena: Tue at Our Home 244 (Entry 126 of 171.)
Gingersnapcrafts: Wow me Wednesday 338 (Entry 1x of 247.)
DIY dreamer: Let's Share 299 (Entry 160 of 323.)
Interior frugalista: Talk of the Town Tu 6p 110 (Entry 74 of 130.) 
Lets add Sprinkles: Keep in touch Tu 4pm 7 (Entry 3 of 19.)
21Rosemarylane: Share Your Style 157 (Entry 236 of 336.)

Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 375 (Entry 39 of 376.)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur 312 (Entry 1 of 152.)

Imparting Grace: Grace at Home 286 9:30A Th (Entry 36 of 164.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm Party 119 (Entry 45 of 53.)
Celebrate: Celebrate Story 115  (Entry 77 of 132.)

Katherines corner: Thurs favorite things Th 6a  (Entry 82 of 290.)
Life as we know it Th 4pm 272 (Entry 138 of ?exp.)
Grandmas House: Wed Party 74 (Entry 145 of ?)
Ducks In a Row: Wonderful Wed 264 (Entry 12 of 293.)
Mythriftyhouse: Waste Not Wednesday 90 (Entry x of 205.)
French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 17 of 193.) *
A Glimpse Inside: Handmade Hangout Th 191 (Entry 8 of 215.
)
Fromgardners2bergers: Handmade Hangout Th 4pm 193 (Entry 8 of 215.)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Mon 318 (Entry 225 of 225.)
Happy Nester: Friday Friends (Entry 7x of 27.)

313975

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Finished Valentine Heart Quilt

February!  I love Valentines Day and it's colors - bright reds and pinks to distract me from the reality of winter outside - the cold, the bare trees, the often gray skies, and the dormant landscape waiting for spring.  This year there is rarely any snow to make the outside pretty.  It's a great time of year for getting cozy inside, and creating and completing projects.  

Valentine heart quilt by Jeanne Selep Imaging
Image 1: Finished Valentine Heart Quilt


In the spirit of completing projects, in January 2018, my Valentines Heart quilt was finally completed!  I created the top probably a decade ago and displayed the pieced top in a frame for several years.   


Valentine heart quilt by Jeanne Selep Imaging
Image 2: Quilting Detail


I love the fabrics I used in each of the scrappy hearts and backgrounds, but the quilt top kept calling to me to be reworked and quilted.  

I decided to stitch down each heart with a tight machine zigzag stitch using gold metallic thread.  After that, I free-hand long arm quilted the top as an exercise in getting better at long arm quilting.  And just last month, a friend sewed the red binding on after finding out binding was a real road block for me.  


Valentine heart quilt by Jeanne Selep Imaging
Image 3: Valentine Heart Quilt Detail


I guess one message to those with un-quilted tops (or other unfinished projects) is heaps of encouragement - projects can be finished years later when skills catch up with the vision for the project.  Enjoy making quilt tops you love, and perhaps you will finish them later.  **CREATE**!  



"Art is never finished, only abandoned" - Leonardo da Vinci
(of course, he didn't say that in English...) 





Valentine heart quilt top by Jeanne Selep Imaging
Image 4: Heart Quilt Top before reworking and quilting


I hope the bright and saturated colors brightens your day.
Blogs are a great way to document progress. I featured the quilt top in a 2011 post here, and I find it amazing that it took 7 years to get it completed!


Valentine heart quilt by Jeanne Selep Imaging
Image 5: Heart Quilt Top before reworking and quilting detail




Click on the images to see them enlarged.


I blog for fun and my blog is ad free.  Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time!  Anonymous comments and  comments months/years later are welcome!


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If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy:

Batik Stars
Batik Quilt
Circle Quilt
flower mirror
Flower Mirror
Glass Flowers 2
Rock Window
Heart Window
Spring Hutch
Valent Hutch 3
Valent Hutch 2
Valent Hutch 1
Mosaic Hearts
Valentine Ball
Button Heart
Button Love
Spring Mini-Album
Mixed Media 1

Vintage Lace
Valentine Shelf

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I am linking to these parties:
Jan Olson: My funny Valentine (Entry 45) A Valentines projects only party

Classical Home: Homemaking Party Th 6xa (Entry 64 of 64.)
Lakeshoredrive: Bouquet of Talent Sa 6p 283 (Entry 43 of 190.)
Maison de Cinq: Sundays Home Sa 7p (Entry 5 of 260.)
Darling Diaries: Good Morning Mon 156 (Entry 24 of 65.)
Silver Pennies: Sundays Party 254 (Entry 107 of 177.)
Rustic Refined: Dishing it and Diggin it 186 (Entry 4 of 258.)
Jembellish: A-Round-Tuit 400 (Entry 35 of 200.) I was featured!
Dwellings: Amaze me Monday Sun 5p 251 (Entry 9 of 116.)
IShould: Inspiration Mon Sun 5p (Entry 191 of x.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a 457 (Entry 21x of 84x.) *
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues (Entry 10 of 69.)
Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Mon 241 (Entry 97 of 149.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 410 (Entry 22 of 252.)
Good Random Fun: Good Random Fun 44 (Entry 16 of 42.)
Ruby Tuesday: Ruby Tuesday (Entry 2 of 14.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Monday 202 (Entry 48 of 310.) 
Cedarhill Farmhouse: The Scoop Mon 5pm 312 (Entry 60 of 460.)
Maria Elena: Tue at Our Home 243 (Entry 39 of 179.)
Mersad Photography: Through My Lens 131 (Entry 40 of 51.) 
Snapcreativity: Show and Tell Mon 7pm 305 (Entry 8 of 312.)
Cupcakes: Project Inspired Mon 7pm 260 (Entry 2 of 243.)
21Rosemarylane: Share Your Style 156 (Entry 256 of 342.)
Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wed 341 (67 of 192)
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 374 (Entry 160 of 367.)
Gingersnapcrafts: Wow me Wednesday 337 (Entry x)

DIY dreamer: Let's Share 298 (Entry 187 of 315.)
Jan Olson: Share your Cup of Tea Thur 283 (Entry 50 of 156)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur 311 (Entry 137 of 169)
Imparting Grace: Grace at Home 285 9:30A Th (Entry 144 of 178)
My Thrift Addiction: Vintage Charm 119 (Entry 14 of 51) no food
Celebrate: Celebrate Story 114 (Entry 77 of 134.)
Lets add Sprinkles: Keep in touch 6 (Entry 20 of 22)
French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 149 of 198) *
A Glimpse Inside: Handmade Hangout Th 190 (Entry 192 of 222) *
Fromgardners: Handmade Hangout Th 5pm 192 (Entry 192 of 222)
Katherines corner: Thurs favorite things Th 6a  (Entry 220 of 290.)
Marcela Cavaglieri: Finde Frugal 202 (Entry 12 of 37)
Life as we know it Th 271 (Entry 172 of 220)
Grandmas House: Wed Party 73 (Entry 182 of 185r)
Ducks In a Row: Wonderful Wed 263 (Entry 6 of 329.)
Pieced Pastimes: Saturday Sparks 258 (Entry 42 of 243)
Mythriftyhouse: Waste Not Wednesday 89 (Entry x)
Interiorfrugalista: Talk of the Town 110 (Entry 90)
Clairejustineoxox: Creative-mondays (Entry 138 of 138) also fashion
Eclectic Redbarn: Happiness is Homemade (Entry 230 of 268) *
Happy Nester: Friday Friends (Entry 7)

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