happy places

what is it about finishing a journal that makes you feel like you've just conquered the world?!
i put the last few touches on the back cover of my "elvie journal",  and i'm happy all over
with a super feeling of accomplishment (even if it did take me almost a year! :)))!

             

here's a little cover-to-cover peek inside!

(you can watch it in larger format here!)

thanks for sharing this little art adventure with me! 

i hope you find yourself in lots of happy places this weekend!  

xo

{materials for the back cover:  elvie journal, derwent inktense pencils, koi watercolor, 

pitt artist pens, uniball signo white pen,  and a 4B pencil}

inspiration monday

happy new year, bloggy sweeties!!

my first project of 2013 is to finish

a project from last year.....my elvie journal!

so, first......all those miscellaneous art supplies i love so much

 fit perfectly on that last blank page.....

then.....how about some inspiration on that little flap in 

the front of the journal.....

and a quick list of materials on the back flap
(because i'll forget if i don't write it down, guaranteed!).

now all that's left to finish is the back cover, so i'm off to get busy!
but before i go, here's a little resolution i plan to follow this year.....heeheehee  :))




{this artwork was created in my elvie journal using pitt artist pens,
derwent inktense pencils, koi watercolor, white uniball signo pen, 4B pencil}

inspiration monday

it's been way too long since i've added anything to my elvie journal,
so i decided it was high time to put some ink on this page!

inspiration is everywhere.....
even in your stack of unfinished projects!



{this was created in my elvie journal using pitt pens, derwent inktense pencils,
derwent watercolor pencils, 3B graphite pencil}

inspiration monday

i've discovered that inspiration loves a good party.....

especially when all your favorite art supplies are on the guest list.

because once "everyone" gets together......

and starts to mix and mingle.......

fun things start to happen.

and before you know it,  inspiration is single-handedly
responsible for an all-out artfest!  woo hoo!



{this was created in my elvie journal using pan pastels,
pitt pens, 4B graphite pencil, uniball signo white gel pen}

inspiration monday

when you have a few minutes to sit down and be creative,
do you find you always grab those same scrumptious art supplies that
make you really happy?

do you reach for that certain something because
of all the little details that are so well-thought-out.......

or because of all of those colorful choices that are waiting to be made?

or how about those yummy accessories that make
our creative lives so much easier?

or maybe we reach for our little art friends because
they offer us a big dose of fabulous inspiration each and every time......
guaranteed!


{another page created in my elvie catalog using koi watercolors,
pitt pens, waterbrush, 4B graphite pencil}

nib party

when it comes right down to it,  i guess that calligraphy nib holders
really aren't that exciting..... 

even though they all have a special purpose and claim to fame.

but when you pick and choose and pair them up with your favorite nib, 

the party really gets started.....and i'm talking
a table filled with a wild assortment of belgian chocolates
and big bowls of potato chips kind of party!  :))

{this page was created in my elvie catalog using pitt artist pens, koi watercolor,

derwent watercolor pencils, waterbrush, 4B graphite pencil}
you can read more about the "calligraphy nibs" page here!

inspiration monday

sometimes inspiration is as close as your favorite tools!
:))


{these pages were created in my elvie catalog using micron pens,
pitt pens, koi watercolor, derwent watercolor pencils, 2B and 4B pencils}

happy houndstooth

when it came time to start drawing in my new catalog, i knew exactly what my first entry would be......my houndstooth reading glasses!  they are they first thing i look for when i walk into my studio, and they're the last thing i put down when i leave.  on my list of happy-art-stuff, they rank numero uno because when it comes to creating, they see so much better than i ever could......

and they really are an art-girl's best friend!!

{this catalog page was created using micron pens, 

derwent watercolor pencils, koi watercolor, 3B graphite pencil.}

inspiration monday

i must admit that when i put the final details on the last page of my pottery barn journal, i was sad to see it end.  i thought about maybe creating "pottery barn, the sequel", but since that never seems to be a good idea with other things (like movies!), i quickly talked myself out of it.
i really love working in a "themed" journal, so i was inspired for a new idea.  the size of my other journal worked out great, so i created another one just like it using the same format as the pottery barn journal.  once i got the pages torn, folded and sewn together......

 i started to design the cover, using this as my reference,
but changing things around a bit.

then i grabbed my microns and started sketching everything in.

and after i painted everything and
added some little details here and there.....

along with a little title......

i have my very own catalog full of blank pages just
waiting for some pen and paint sketches of my favorite happy-art-stuff
that's in my very own studio!
ooooh......how much fun is this gonna be?!


{supplies:  fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper, white waxed linen thread, 
koi watercolor, micron pens, derwent watercolor pencils, inktense pencils, 3B pencil}