Dat ta da daaaaa... Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbooks!

Introducing.... Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbooks! I'm diggin' this sisterhood name thing so I thought I'd keep the name going. I can't take all the credit for this project though, Stephanie Corder of Dragonfly Designs Studio wrote me after I posted the original Sisterhood of the Traveling Book and joining. She writes...

"I've been thinking about this all morning- I think it would be so cool if you/we got a group together to each donate a book to this cause, rotating through the group and each person ending with a different book than the one they originally sent out.."

 So here it is! Thanks Stephanie, I like this idea so much that I do want to try this. Now I'm not exactly sure what a Round Robin is, but I think it goes something like what we are going to do here.

We are going to have 10 open slots for this first time around. There may be more (projects) later and we'll get some more books going or maybe one of you may want to take it on. The reason why I'm picking 10 is because I'm planning on doing a theme on the calendar year.  12 months = 12 people (Stephanie is in already since it's half her idea! and then me, of course ; so that makes 12) The reason for this is so it will go around faster than just the one original book. There will be 12 floating out there!

 We will each need to purchase a new sketch book for this project and keep in mind we'll be mailing these, so keep size and weight in mind for mailing purposes. So I haven't thought of all the details yet, but we'll each be assigned a month (by me, drawing in the hat style again) and we'll start our sketchbooks with that month, even if it's out of order. Each person will take one spread (the two pages you open up to) and do what they will with it. We'll each have 1 month to work on it and then we'll pass it to the next sister. Like I said, it's still in the planning stage, but I thought that was the bones of it and whoever the first 10 people are, we can all come up with the plan together. By the time the project is over, a year will have gone by and we will each get back our original sketchbook and we'll have a wonderful piece of art and great memories to go with it. It will also bring all of us "Sisters" together and form a common bond... Sisterhood Artist.

I don't have any sisters so this is very appealing to me and I hope you all will embrace this project like the original Sisterhood... Of course we can only take 10 this time, so hurry and sign up if you think this is something you can commit to and enjoy. Like I said, maybe someone will be inspired to start another one if it fills up and more are wanting in. 

Let it begin!

Whose First for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book?

Who is the first to get the book Making Room for Art through our Sisterhood of the Traveling Book project??? Fist some teaser pictures of my little amigo here... hee hee. Today he got to pick the "winner" I hate to use the word winner, because we're all winners! If this goes as planned everyone who entered will have the chance to have the book sent to them. 

Selecting...

We have a winner...

Yay T over at Poppy Place! So it's going to Oregon. Now T hasn't been feeling very well lately so I hope this brightens her day. I know she'll have something great to contribute to the book. She is an accomplished photographer and painter among many other things.

I want to thank everyone for encouraging this idea of mine and playing along. I've had a little more time to think about how I hope this Sisterhood of the Traveling Book will work and I'd like to share it with you now. Here's what I hope will happen with the book and when you get the book, feel free to copy and paste this as a suggestion:

The Sister in possession of the book:

• Blog that you've got the book!!
• Read it, scan it or just pick out the parts you want to read
• Doodle along pages remembering that it will go to many others (hopefully) so leave some room 
• underline things you think are important or add writing or beg to differ... just add your thoughts or inspiration. You get the idea ;)
• Feel free (prodding here) to post anything you've added with snapshots or scans either in the process or after your done and please make sure email me, cause I am adding a tab to my blog just for this project and will post your pics here too. It doesn't have to be an elaborate post. 
• When your done with the book, please pick from one of the "Sisters" that have already indicated they want to participate. (This is a small change from original plan) I plan to send all the brightly colored tabs of paper with names on it, so this will be easy. This will save you time from having to host your own "giveaway" on your blog. You can announce who the next Sister is and get her address then. So I guess we all need to be following each other or you can get access to their blog from mine and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book post. 

So I guess the last person is the luckiest, because she will get to keep this beautiful and meaningful journal that just happens to include a book inside it from all these wonderful "sisters". I don't know what we'll do after that, do another one? We'll decide later.

So T, send me your mailing address Sistah! You are the first! (well I guess technically second, hee hee)

If anyone has any other ideas or suggestion, lets hear it. I mentioned that today I had an announcement and I do, but I'm going to post that in another post later today so it will be separate. I will tell you this: It will involve a limited number of people (10) and the first ten who sign up get to do it.

Bye for now Sistah's!!!

New Art Book is In + Another Teaser

Remember the giveaway I told you that I won from Jennifer Williams of Blueskyburn Creations? I got my book, Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed Media Artists, in the mail and it looks terrific. Thanks Jen! I haven't started reading it yet, but I've flipped through and it has great pictures and how to's, which I love. There are some step by step's that I find so helpful. I covers quite a few categories and I'm excited to dive in. I have actually never tried mixed media and this has definitely got me inspired to create something using this techniques! I've got a few pictures here to share with you.

The Contents Page

Getting Started

Encaustics!

Don't forget, if you haven't done so yet or didn't know about my latest giveaway "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book" please go here to read about it and sign up. You have until tomorrow (2/25/11) when I log on usually around 10 am CST to enter. It looks like there are quite a few of us excited about this giveaway, I know I can't hardly wait! 

Stay tuned for a new announcement besides the winner on Friday!! EEEEEE I can't wait!

Got Organization?

 

O.M.G. you have got to see this blog that I check on every now and then called Thrifty Decor Chick. I learned about her while watching a favorite design show... The Nate Bercus Show. She has got an "Organize It" party going on and all linky poo'd up or whatever that thing is called. I would love to add a linked up post, but you all know how organizationally challenged I am. I'll be taking notes though and have read some great ideas! But I've seen lots of great ideas on Hoarders on A&E too, the trick apparently is to actually follow the idea through... who knew? It's going on through Monday, 2/28/11, you should give it a looksey.

You should also join my giveaway I'm calling "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book"!!  A quick run down... win a book, read it, doodle in it or write something in it, have your own giveaway with it, post about it including pics if possible = Fun!

addition: Ok, I've been looking at more and more of these linky poo's over at Thrifty Decor Chick and these people are crazy obsessed! I mean if they had a peek into my house and the occasional picture of my messes I share I think I'd be stoned to death. Yep. There would be a lynch mob.

Can you believe how big these three are getting? Nothing is in focus because they are never still!

Book Giveaway! Sisterhood of the Traveling Book

 

I've so excited to talk about this little give away I'm offering today and I'll let the giveaway go until Thursday so I can mail it out Friday. It's not a huge deal or anything but I've been trying to purge lately and get rid of things that I don't use any more just to try to make my life a little simpler.  Hah!

I'm calling this giveaway "Sisterhood of the Traveling Book"... so here we have a book called "Making room for making art" "A thoughtful and practical guide to bringing the pleasure of artistic expression back into your life." By Sally Warner. It has pictures (black and white) and is an easy read. It has 208 pages not including the appendixes and notes.

Here's what Sally has written on the back:
"I hope that this book will help break through some of the isolation every artist faces by exploring how we as artists discover our art, how we continue to discover it, and how we keep making that art, in spite of everything. Artist momentum can be regained and vision sustained."

So no fancy rules, you don't even have to follow me, but just like OWOH, please have a blog. Just comment here that you indeed want the book and have intentions of reading it. You don't need to pour your heart out here, just post something. I plan to use a random generator so it doesn't care how much you need it or want it right now.  I do ask for one thing though... pay it forward with this book. Have your own giveaway with this very book when you're done with it. This book is interesting but not something that you need for reference and I don't have the desire to read it again and I think most who read it will agree. I got out of it what I needed, so it's ready to inspire someone else :)

I will probably write a tiny bit in it and doodle or send along a doodle with it, I think it would be cool if everyone who receives this book included a little piece of themselves with it, that is a piece of their art. Nothing extravagant. Just a note of encouragement or a favorite quote, poem, maybe a tiny sketch or something like that. Insert a loose page if you need or want. Try not to disfigure the book or tear pages out of it or paint over the writing. I want people to be able to read it. But the blank area is up for grabs! Please know this book is geared towards artists and re-kindling your muse so to speak, so if you don't create any "art" you might not find this book interesting. But you don't have to be a painter or illustrator to get something out of this book, just a creative type and a want to poke the muse bear. If you just want to say "hey Jaime this is a great idea, but I don't want the book" please don't. I love to read your comments but to keep it easier for me to pick the winner don't post here. Feel free to email me with your comment or leave that comment on another post.  :)

As I write this, it just came to me that how neat it would be to track the book. Maybe whoever gets the book could let the previous owners know with an email? I don't know, some may not like that but I think it's kinda cool. I'll include my info and I want to be contacted if you decide to go to the trouble.

Like that movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Where four best girlfriends hatch a plan to stay connected with one another as their lives start off in different directions: they pass around a pair of secondhand jeans that fits each of their bodies perfectly. Ok, so this isn't a pair of jeans but the concept is kinda the same. We pass this book onto one another along with a thought, doodle, whatever... alright I may be reaching here. Do what you want, if you want to leave your email or blog in the book for others to contact you do it, if you don't want that then don't. There. Easy peasy. I hope people will do this, I wish that I could see the book as it goes through all the creative people and I hope that I will see it in your blogs and webpages. Kinda like when you take a picture of your sketch book and post it, same thing. If I am contacted with additions to the book I plan to add a tab to my blog linking to each and every post and hopeful add pictures of some of the stuff that's been added. I am so excited to think what this could turn into!!! So please don't rain on my parade. ;)

This has turned out waaaayy longer than I intended, I'm sorry. This is world wide giveaway, but please know it's written in English. :)

Let it begin.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

I should say winners cause I decided to give away 3 more items because of all the sweet comments I've gotten. So with no further adu...

First prize is a 8x10 matted montage of my photography and short poem by my partner Gale Woolems as part of our GeeJayCreations shop called Listen to your Heart.

First prize winner is... Rebecca of Rebecca's Rainbow Kisses

Second prize is the Celestial Series note card set you've already seen.

Second prize winner is... Marfi of Incipient Wings

Third prize is a handy and pretty little peel off scratch pad called Leopard Jungle, all digital art by me and painstakingly hand cut and glued by none other than yours truly. Notice these are not for sale on my Etsy Shop because they're such a pain in the you know what. (I really want to say pain in the ass, but I'm afraid I'll offend someone. oops.) I have some left over and may list them though. I have many different designs. And yeah, these pictures suck. It photographed them at night with a puny little lightbulb. It... what am I typing? It puts the lotion on the skin... we'll see who gets that movie quote and a favorite line of mine cause I'm kinda twisted like that.

Third prize winner is... Sharon at My Story Art

Finally, a fourth prize is another handy dandy and pretty little peel off scratch pad with a drawing of mine called Man in the Moon for which I also have a blank inside Thank You note card with the same design in my shop. Notice the prize is just for the pad, sorry 'bout your luck.

Fourth and final prize winner is... Regi from Southern OOAKS

Congratulations to all the winners! I really hope you use and enjoy your gifts. If they're not your thing, please feel free to re-gift it with no hard feelings ;) Cause I'm easy like Sunday Morning.

Now my little pretties... tune in later cause as soon as I hear back from all these super duper lucky people and get their goodies mailed off I'm having another little giveaway. Let's plan for Monday, k?

Don't forget if you are a winner, I need to hear back from you with your address no later than Friday night at midnight (my time - central) or again... sorry 'bout your luck and I'll be sending your goods to somebody else on Saturday.

You are worth the time

I had to share this in case you are like me and have not seen it yet. This moved me to tears as it rings so true to my life and I know so many others. Let it give us courage and strength to continue to create through life's adversaries and nay sayers. Enjoy...

Thank you, Jan Phillips (creator). If you go to her website, she is giving a free downloadable book called The ARt of Original Thinking - The Making of a Thought Leader.

My Funny Valentine and a Giveaway Teaser

My husband didn't forget me on Valentine's Day like he has in the past. I've now grown smart to remind him by point blank asking him if he's got me a card yet a few days before. But the flower was a surprise. I had told him to not get me flowers because they cost a lot of money and though I love them, they just don't fit in the budget right now. While this kinda looks like he bought this single stem at a gas station, I'm not complaining. It is beautiful none the less. I made him a peach pie and it is almost gone, so I guess he liked it.

I had Asher try to contribute to his Valentine's for classmates and teachers but his attention span was won out by a video game so I ended up doing most but he did make this for his teacher.

all him! I just folded it.

inside with his signature and his drawn hearts (I helped a tiny bit with the hearts)

I'm so proud! But then when I picked him up from Pre-School he told me he had forgotten to even get any of the Valentine's out of his backpack!!!! Jeeeesh. Well, I look like the big loser mom who doesn't do anything now don't I? I told him a few times "your valentine's are in the bag" and I even showed it to him before I dropped him off! His response was I forgot. How could he forget as he was happily scooping up all of the Valentine's for himself???? Good grief.

In other and in the category of fantastic news.... I've won a give away at Jen's art blog Trial and Error! I am so excited! It is an art book called Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed Media Artists by Ann Baldwin. I'll post more about it when I receive the package. Jennifer Williams is the owner of Blueskysunburn Creations, and her blog touches on what’s happening in the studio, upcoming shows, book reviews, movies, family life and more. I've been reading her blog for a while now and she is a great artist and as a plus, she's had a lot of giveaways. I'm so happy to have won one :)


OWOH is almost over. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. I have met so many great people and am now following quite a few new blogs. Which reminds me... Welcome! to any new friends I've got now reading this! I'm not sure how I'll keep up with everything, but it's going to be fun to try. I am so revived creatively from seeing all the talent out there. I'm also loving all the tutorials out there. I'm always amazed at how so many are willing to share their techniques and ideas. Just a bunch of giving and sharing people. 


So in keeping with that sharing spirit I will be announcing another giveaway of my own after the door prize giveaways for OWOH which is February 17th (Just this Thursday!). Stay tuned to learn more about it :)

I love getting packages!!

I love getting packages and mail especially when they are surprises, but even when I know what's coming like this box of books I treated myself to!!! It's so great to get something in the mailbox that's not a bill! haha... anyway look at these!

So fun! I've started to read one of them. It's hard right now, because I am still reading through all the wonderful OWOH posts. So mostly just here and there. Anytime I get a free moment I'm responding to a comment and reading another blog, it really is a lot of fun but time is running out!

Speaking of time, I'm losing a little today because my poor little man is going to the doctor. We had a birthday bash to go to this past weekend and had loads of fun. But for those of you with kids, you know that at this time of year it's a snot fest. So, yep, he's contracted something... and it's snotty. He's going to the doctor mainly because he's got another earache. Can't have my Tweedle (that's one of my nicknames for him) hurting.

I wonder if the doctor will notice that I'm growing Mt. Fuji on my chin?

Have a great day friends!

Oh My Lucky Stars!

My lucky friendship stars are shining brightly down on me! My good friend Sandra over at Under The Sun With Me has sent me the sweetest Valentine's package! I say my lucky stars because I feel so lucky to be friends with Sandra and so many of you out there in blog land. Even though we may never meet in person, my life has been enriched and sweetened with your friendship. Sandra has also lost her dear mother and we cry together but also rejoice in knowing we will both see them again. She has a great blog, a great eye and is very creative. I've many many times wished I had the ability to "beam" myself over there in San Diego to attend her shows with her. Oh well, I'll just have to settle for reading all about it on her blog. Also, she picks out some of the greatest music to read her posts by. One of my favorites happen to be playing now, which is Into the Mystic by Van Morrison.

Now to show you all the goodies!!

Here is the pretty packaging...

pretty packaging that Lightning had to check out

The chocolates were promptly gobbled down. OOOO they were sooo creamy and yummy!

how appropriate was the little saying!

ain't that the truth!

Then a sweet little Valentine Card...

I love dragonflies!! This one has some bling! Even better!! (she really knows me!)

Part of what was inside... a sweet friendship magnet!

How adorable are these little stuffed lovey's??? She handmade them! They are so sweet! I happen to love crows and who doesn't love hearts? Their little feet are made of spools.

Here's where I put the dragonfly, right on my desk so he can watch me surf.

I haven't decided where to put my little heart yet, but the crow will watch over the birds outside and the kitchen.

Sandra, you have no idea how you've probably outdone my husband for Valentine's Day!

I really have to thank Sandra for her kindness and friendship. Thanks sistah! This just made my day to open up the mailbox to find that box! Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside :)

Aren't friends the best?!

Happy Convo Today!

Doesn't it just make your day to open up your email and discover a message that something you've made has been included in a treasury from Etsy or a collection from Artfire? It does mine and it did today! Looky! I got into a treasury today called For The Love of Pets from currator CraftbusPlus on Etsy, she has a shop chocked full of stamps and all kinds of goodies to make fun stuff with. Mine is the White Cat Valentine. For those of you who may have seen this before, I remade it into a greeting card (it was a postcard) and I took off the "I hate your guts" line and added a cute inside line. Not everyone has my sense of humor, oh well that's okay... haha :P

I was also in a Collection on Artfire a little while back. That's what they call their treasuries. Same concept though. I've tried making treasuries before and failed. I need to get back on there and give it another try. I want to get in on the fun! In the meantime here is the Artfire Collection called On The Wings of Angels by the currator ByNanasHands on Artfire who makes a variety of things including toys, tote bags, eReader covers and a bunch of other neat things. Mine is the Sad Angel illustration note card set.

Thanks for looking! If you feel like it click on the link and take a closer peek!
Later tater...

Is there a Blog-oholic Anonymous?

So you all know I'm a night owl. But that doesn't mean I get to sleep in until noon (I wish!). So... while I should be sleeping like baby kitties...

shhh...

I look more like poor Zoey, who has to share her bed with the bed hogs... and who doesn't get as much sleep as she should. Notice her blood shot eyes.. poor thing, here baby, I've got some Visine I'll share.

I'm up reading blogs! I can't help myself... I just can't stop. I've got a neck and back ache out of this world and my derrière is throbbing from sitting in my broken chair. Yes, I said broken. Probably from all the crap I eat and plop on this cheap chair. It also gets my sciatic nerve going and I still wont' stop. I put my son to bed and tell myself... ok tonight I'm really tired, I'll just spend 30 minutes online puttering around and go to bed or maybe catch up on Medium. But no... 3 hours later and here I am. Literally, 3 hours later. I think I might have a problem. "hi, I'm Jaime and I'm a blog-oholic." Say it now... *Hi Jaime*

I may be getting a little slap happy. I'm running on low sleep. I'm probably backlogged by 8 hours or so this week alone. I know I'm not alone out here! Gimmee a shout out!

Also, if you commented on my blog from the OWOH post and I still haven't gotten back to you yet please hang on. I'm still going and you know I practically leave a book on everyone's blog. oyi. If you are a new follower, I promise I'll be by to your blog soon and reciprocate! Not just to do that, but because if you care enough to see what's going on in my life, I want to know what's going on in yours! Cause that's how I roll... haha (I don't know where that came from) I think I need some chocolate.

Owwwww... my aching neck

Thunder massaging Zoey

My neck, my back, my neck and my back.

Ok, that's funny for those of you that don't know it. I can't remember what movie it's from but my husband and I crack up on each other with that line. Although it doesn't get me the massages I'd like anymore.  pfttt.

But truly, that's what is hurting at the moment as I read all these fantastic blogs from OWOH. Here it is 1:46 am again and I'm still reading these posts. If I haven't gotten to yours yet, please be patient. I am answering each one individually, and you all know I got a lotta hot air.

Thank you to all my new groupies (hee hee). I really don't think of you that way I just thought it was cute. I have joined quite a few new blogs myself. Man, there are a lot of cool people out there! Maybe some of that coolness, sweetness and creativeness will rub off on me.

Wow! That's a lot of reading!

The very first thing I want to say is Welcome to my new friends! I feel so loved. I'm so glad you decided to follow along my crazy blog. Please chime in and often :) I love to hear people's thoughts and opinions! 

Well, I know those of you who are participating in OWOH are busier than a cat covering up crap on a marble floor! Cause I am!! First of all, I am proud to say I got listed as #29 in the blog list. I told you all I was a night owl. I stayed up till 2am my time to send that link. Second of all, this being my first time around for the owoh thing, I am just amazed at all the nice comments and sweet gestures made by everyone. If there are this many nice people out there, why the heck is everybody fighting all the time for?

I am a little embarrassed about my post for owoh. I think I took it to heart a little too much. Holy Cow! I wrote a dang book about myself, didn't I? I should've done some research first to see how much people were posting. I'll bet people see my post and groan... haha

Just a quick review here of a movie my hubby and I saw this weekend. It was "The Fighter" with Mark Walberg. What a great movie. Very entertaining and it's based on a true story. Brought back memories for me. I remember my dad and I watching HBO Boxing on Saturday nights. It's really the only sport I like. All the music through the movie, I knew well. It kinda made me feel old... haha

Have fun reading all the jizillion posts, I'm back at it.