vintage lockers

there are only two blank pages left in my pottery barn journal, 

and i'm chomping at the bit to get them filled!!  

today, i couldn't resist adding a set of vintage lockers to my wish list......

they have that special creamy white, time-worn, weathered look that can only be accomplished with years of exposure to sun and sea air (or maybe a few days with very experienced faux painter!),  and there's all kinds of room inside to store secret stuff.

but what i really went crazy for are these stenciled numbers......i just love simple little details like that, and these chunky numbers make me want to label everything in my house! 

 but for now, i'm off to sink myself into my catalogs and choose something pottery-barn-special to add to my last blank journal page !!  woo hoo!!

{materials:  koi watercolor, derwent inktense pencils, micron pens, 

graphite pencils, uniball signo white gel pen}

embroidered pillows

i took some time to do a little window shopping in my favorite PB catalogs, and when i spied these pillows, i immediately knew they would be the next entry in my pottery barn journal.  i've always had a real soft spot for satin-stitching and french knots......and i don't think a girl could ever have too many embroidered pillows!  they're the perfect thing to surround yourself with as you're lounging on the couch......with your feet up on the coffee table......while you're watching your favorite movie......and eating a chocolate bar.....or two...... :)))

i hope you have a relaxing surrounded-by-embroidered-pillows kind of weekend!!



{journal page created using koi watercolor, derwent watercolor pencils,
waterbrush, micron pens, pencil}

inspiration monday

i've recently discovered that every once in a while, inspiration comes along and strikes in the form of two different projects......at the same time!  my first inspiration-strike has been in the form of my pottery barn journal.   here's another double-page spread (so much fun filling in all those boxes!!)......i think that having something monogrammed in your favorite thread color must be the ultimate-luxury-wish-list item, don't you?!

inspiration has really helped me stay the course with filling these journal pages.....

and i only have three more pages to go and my journal will be finished!

and as for the second project, well, inspiration hasn't quite worked out all the mechanical kinks yet.....but i sure have been working hard on it!  i'm hoping that the stars will all be in alignment very soon, because i'm just beside myself with excitement to tell you about it!

{p.s.  thank you SO much for all the sweet comments you've left here!

please accept my apologies for taking so long to visit your blogs!}

{pottery barn journal pages were created using koi watercolor, watercolor brush,
watercolor pencils, micron pen, and pencils}

color me orange

i love orange.  i really do.  i even did an entire journal devoted to the color orange.
but i can't quite decide if i'm so in love with all that orange on this particular pottery-barn-journal page.  it seems to me the pendants are kind of lost.....and maybe even hiding.....in that sea of orange.  not to mention those really cool contrepoids (i looked it up and that's french for "counterweight"......magnifique!).  for some reason i get a little excited and heavy-handed when it comes to orange.  but i guess that's one of the great things about journals......it's all experimental.  some pages just turn out better than others.
and some pages could be a lot less......orange.  :))

{supplies:  koi watercolor.....mostly orange, micron pen, pencil}

i've been framed

  i couldn't resist adding these frames to my pottery barn wish list!
  i can already see snippets-of-artwork and photos-of-happy-faces in all those mat openings!
and now i'm off to find the perfect gallery wall to hang all these solid-hardwood beauties!

{supplies:  koi watercolor, waterbrush, micron pen, pencil}

inspiration monday

 here's an easy way to create a journal page using a simple stencil that you already have, or one you've cut yourself!   the first thing to do is trace your stencil shape onto your paper using a pencil.  (i've used three different index cards that have a different size of rectangle cut out of each, and then i traced them into a grid-pattern on my page.  you can use any size, shape or combination of different shapes, etc......the sky's the limit!)

now take your stencil and move it around on top of a favorite image until you find something that's pleasing to your eye.  (my image here is a page from a pottery barn catalog, but anything will work!)  now draw the cropped image onto a corresponding shape on your paper.

then use watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, or whatever your favorite medium to add some color to your drawing.  (i've used watercolor, and then added details with a micron pen).

now just fill in all of your shapes using your image and your stencil,
 and you have a finished journal page!


{this page in my pottery barn journal was completed using koi watercolors, 
watercolor pencils, waterbrush, micron pens, graphite pencil, and cut stencils}

from start to finish

i love watching a journal page come to life.
 it doesn't look like too much when you begin.....

but add a little micron pen,

along with lots of burnt umber, payne's grey, and yellow ochre watercolor

(and some more micron, because you can never really have too much micron),

and before you know it, you've got a finished journal page that's filled with yummy
assorted hardware......pottery-barn-style!


{this two-page spread in my pottery barn journal 
was created using koi watercolors, waterbrush, micron pen, graphite pencils}

inspiration monday

you're going to think i'm crazy (or, maybe you already do.....heehee)......but i've made another blank sketch journal.  eeeek!  but hey, it will look great with all the other blank sketch journals i've made......and haven't filled with artwork.....yet.  my problem is that i get ideas for "themed" journals, then i make the journal, and then i only complete half the pages, because by that time i have a new idea for another "themed" journal.  and the wheel goes 'round and 'round!  but this time i did something a little smarter......i put a small amount of pages inside this journal so now i have a better chance of filling it up (said with a hopeful tone in voice....)!

{journal cover}

and i've chosen a "theme" that always, always inspires me......pottery barn!  

since i always seem to have my nose in one of their yummy catalogs......

it was easy to come up with inspiration for what to sketch on the pages!

(wouldn't you just love to have an entire room filled with these fabulous sicily jugs?!)

and something about these colorful market umbrellas just screams
"happy.....party.....come-on-and-sit-outside-and-eat-some-chocolate"!

think about what you love and what makes you really happy
(like new journals, pottery barn, sicily jugs, party umbrellas and chocolate!)......
and you're bound to find inspiration, too!!

***

{i made this journal using fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper  

and this technique by teesha moore, although mine is smaller at 5.25"x 7". 

journal cover and pages created with koi watercolor, derwent inktense pencils, 

graphite pencils, and micron pens}

daisy daisy

i just love daisies, don't you?
they're about the happiest little springtime message i can think of.  and daisies are my mom's favorite flower.....that makes me really happy too.
 i arranged a few in a cut, scooped-out lemon and then placed it down into my favorite little creamer pitcher.  i saw the idea on this pottery barn video......

oooh, daisies and pottery barn......super springtime happiness!!

window shopping

still having a ball playing with my pottery barn catalog!  so many fabulous things in there that are on my wish list......but right now, this is the next best thing!

i'll be away from blogland for the next few days.....going to take some time away with my little dutch sweetie and  do some "real life" window shopping (but i'll have my credit card with me just in case of emergency!! heehee).  see you on monday!

journal page finished using watercolor, micron pen, and a 4B pencil.

click on image for better view

inspiration monday

i just love it when the day is winding down, the dishes are done, i have a chance to sit down and flip through some pages of my favorite pottery barn catalog...and inspiration strikes!  while i really like the cabinet, this "quote board" is actually what caught my eye!  it's 12 panels, most likely painted with chalkboard paint, placed next to each other to make one large panel, and finished with this wonderful thought written in white chalk:

into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work, hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest, prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.  put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkle of play, and a cupful of good humor.

thanks for the inspiration, pottery barn!

click on image (catalog, february 2009) for larger view.  click here for a great online image at potterybarn.com.