Thoughtful Thursdays: Says Who?

It was the inability to tie myself down to only one type of artistic endeavor that led me to contemplate that all-important question... WHY? I think about it often. Do I get bored easily? Am I fickle? Are there just so many facets of my personality that I can't keep them all tied down? And why am I worrying about why?

Well, being around a lot of artists... I've been told that I should concentrate on one style or one medium if I ever want to be successful. And I get that. If people recognize your style, then you're going to be able to create some type of a following. But on the other hand, if I had stayed with the same category... I might still be doing photography or rubber stamping hand made cards! Oh the humanity. I never would have experimented with lots of other mediums and combined them all into my own style in this new discipline they call... Mixed Media!

And then I realized... I see art as a release of my emotions. And when people tell me I should only make one kind of art.... it's like telling me I'm not allowed to feel all those different feelings. But that's not going to happen (because I have a lot!). I had enough of holding back my feelings for this lifetime.... and they're all coming out... as a unique and significant array of artistic creations, thank-you-very-much!

Thoughtful Thursdays: Necessity!

One of my favorite quotes happens to be... Necessity is the Mother of invention. I love that one because it's so true, not only in life, but in art as well. So today's inspiration (okay, so it's a little stretch) is "art imitating life". Or is it "life initiating art"? I'll let you decide...

After years of using the internet for my website, blogging, shopping, yahoo groups, business forums, online classes, and the like... I got tired of trying to remember all my user names and passwords in my head... or looking for them on their little scrap pieces of paper scattered everywhere. So I made myself a Web Log!

I had this cool blank journal and it was the perfect size and shape. I painted it with Adirondack Paint Dabbers, swirled on a little bling with Stickles Glitter Glue and even added the vintage plastic index tabs, colorized with Adirondack Alcohol Inks!

Now everything is in one place... my pretty little pink book. No more searching... Yay!

Something Of Note...

Up on the lookout... what's there to see? Beyond the reeds... why it's a little birdie! I must say that once I embossed this Vintaj 3" x 3" metal blank using a Cuttlebug design, I knew exactly what I wanted it to be... a Field Notes journal! Of course adding a some flair with Vintaj embellishments and blanks.
I hand ripped paper from an old journal I had to create the pages for this book... using the Crop-a-Dile for both the paper and the thick metal cover! Gotta love that! 2-for-1.
The back cover I embossed using one of Tim Holtz' new Sizzix Embossing Folders. Even the reverse pattern on the inside back looks awesome! I lightly sanded this Distress-inked bird illustration to bring out the pattern and bring it all together. Fun!

Not Enough Memory...

Okay, so I finally did it. After years of using the internet for my website, blogging, shopping, yahoo groups, and the like... I got tired of trying to remember all my user names and passwords in my head... or looking for them on their little scrap pieces of paper scattered everywhere. So I made myself a Web Log!

I got this cool alterable journal from my friend Robin Beam and it was the perfect size and shape. I painted it with Adirondack Paint Dabbers, swirled on a little bling with Stickles Glitter Glue and even added the vintage plastic index tabs, colorized with Adirondack Alcohol Inks!