Paperarcheologist

Road block strong

2011-08-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have had my challenges....but I land on my feet. Going strong on my collage a day challenge. Have not wavered on that at all. It has been so great to see myself grow through my art on a daily basis. I am now doing my collages in a book like a journal, I was having so many stack up it was overwhelming. This is a much better solution. I am using up my paints and paper that I already had. I have decided to replace them with quality paints. The cheap craft paints dry fast but are too hard on my pens and markers. I thought that I would have a hard time with keeping my interest up for this, but it is the opposite! I love it and could work on it 24/7. I have been doing it now for four months. I will post pictures soon.

Namaste

2011-05-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Sunshine shadow

2011-05-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Still learning about posting Photos

2011-05-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

I am actually pretty proud of myself for sticking with this challenge. Making a collage everyday has been quite an experience. I know that they are not all really good but I am learning alot from the experience. I am coming up on the 1 month marker Yea!I keep wanting to do more and getting new ideas.

2011-05-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

2011-05-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

2011-05-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

Catching up on posting

2011-05-24T15:05:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the process

2011-05-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

I love color

2011-05-17T15:10:00.001-07:00

My Woods

2011-05-17T15:06:00.001-07:00

Blue

2011-05-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Keeping it going

2011-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Collage posting

2011-05-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Sharing spring

2011-05-17T14:54:00.001-07:00

Spring cleaning/overhaul!!!

2011-05-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have been working like crazy going through my art stuff. Gleaning what is worth saving and what is not... burning, giving away. Thank goodness I had help from a good friend. I have gone through 2 rooms and working on a third. Some of the stuff is important, like pictures of family that of course you save but when it starts to take over you really have to put a stop to it or sign up for the hoarder show!Stickers and rubber stamps from the 80's is not where I'm at now. Time to move on if I haven't used it in the last year it's out! It's bad Feng Shui to keep what no longer serves you. I want my house t0 be my sanctuary . It is worth all the work.

gretchen

I'm still going strong despite my inner critic

2011-05-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

2011-05-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

2011-05-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

5/3/11 I am going on a short vacation at least from one job... I will be back to posting next week.

First Drama

2011-05-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

My inner critic jumped in right away. But I am reminding myself that this is more about the commitment than the product. This week I am working with stencils. I finished my 2nd this morning before work. Thank goodness for hair dryers.
gretchen

Closer look

2011-05-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

Collage #1

2011-05-02T11:49:00.001-07:00

Bucket list /Collage Challenge

2011-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

A big birthday approaches! I want to celebrate the passage by challenging myself to be "creatively present" everyday. Do I think I can? No. That's why I need to do it. To step out of my comfort zone without an escape clause. I will do my best at posting. I am going to create a collage everyday, and keep a journal about it. OMG. I said it out loud! Not counting glue and gel medium, I will use items that I already have and that is a lot.

What do I get from this?

ask me in 365 days...

wow

gretchen

Juliana Coles' Favorite Journaling Supplies

2011-04-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

On the High Seas

2011-04-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

Juliana Coles took a High seas adventure. A travel journal class went beyond where there be dragons! Scroll back to the beginning and read the whole thing. If you think that journaling is boring be ready to be amazed at where it can take you! It's really fun!
If you like the salty wind on your face and spice in your life you might have found your tribe!

gretchen

The Trenches: Notes from the Field

2011-04-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

There back!!!

2011-04-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

Journaling from Juliana Coles class

2011-03-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

I am taking Juliana Coles online journaling class I love it and really getting a lot from the tasks. I thought I would share some of my pages.

No Wax

2011-03-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Please don't use wax to create your dreads!!! What a mistake that was. I found lots of people online that tried the same with poor results...Stay away from open flames!! it turns you into a candle.

So starting over again. I didn't take a picture I was too sad. It's kinda like putting your hair in a blender with wax. Not Good.

Enough said.

gretchen

Dread

2011-03-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have to get the WAX! it's the only way to control the frizzies. Adding the rubber bands helped. There is a way to split the dreads and use a crochet hook...no problem there I have the hooks! I think that's what we are going to try next.
Stay tuned!

Miracle from Japan a man on his roof 10 miles out to sea rescued!!!!

Japan 2011

2011-03-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

March really has come in like a lion this year in so many places.
Will the world see this as an opportunity to reach out to Japan? we all have the same addy in the Milky way. Share the love people!

Dreaming of warmer days

2011-03-07T16:46:00.001-08:00

A new Spring is coming

2011-03-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

Dreads

2011-03-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

I have wanted dreads for along time. I finally decided to go for it. With my daughter's help... we are doing the twist style of dreads. I am using Jamaican Mango and lime locking gel. My hair is really coarse and thick and its finally paying off. We started with flat ironing the twisted hair. No rubber bands. I was shocked when I washed it and it did not come out! Yea! So now at about three weeks the ends have rubber bands on them, that took 3 hours. I got new shampoo for them ( now I understand why people talk about their dreads like they talk about there kids). I have heard people say" yea they are 3 years old now.. "referring to their dreads. Weird. We did not rubber band at the crown of my head. I don't prefer that look, but there is a drawback because you get more little wild hairs. We are experimenting.
The best part is I love it. I put up a pic that is closer than you probably wanted to get...just look at the hair, its pulled back a bit.
Thanks...gretch

Baby Dreads

2011-03-07T16:10:00.001-08:00

Visual Journaling

2011-03-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

This is such a cool way to really express yourself. It is a transforming process. Just look up Extreme visual journaling on youtube.com Or click on Juliana's name on my page.

Online class with Juliana Coles

2011-03-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

My creative nest

2011-03-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

2010-06-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

June

2010-06-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Wow I got a new camera and I am having fun. I don't have a lot of time but I am managing it much better. I am learning how to take pictures in a new way with this digital stuff. It makes me a better photographer.

Joy on a rainy day

2010-06-09T14:44:00.001-07:00

2010-05-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Pages from altered book.

Altered book from Juliana Coles class

2010-05-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

Spring

2010-05-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

It's finally warm enough to say it's spring here. It is even sunny and I worked in my garden. I finally made the cover to my new Visual journal. I am pretty happy with it. I did a little hand sewing and added charms. I am trying to figure out how to do video's on my camera so I can put them on my blog. The techno stuff is moving so fast and I am trying to keep up at least a little.

I just finished Juliana Coles altered book class. Well really its still in process but the work that you do with her is on going...not really a beginning or an ending. As always very moving and dynamic. If you have checked her sites yet, click on her name. Its really worth the trip. Traci Bunkers too. Traci just published her first book!

When you work with mixed-media the way you organize your supplies should really be in tune with what inspires you. As I am creating a new art space in my house I am learning that I don't want everything put away. I want to see the colors, inks,papers and stuff! I found out by listening to myself. I have looked at all the magazines with great ideas some I liked some I didn't. But when I really thought about it I knew that I wanted to see my inspirations not have them buried in some drawer. I'm really happy about the changes, it's exciting and opens the creativity door even wider.

Namaste

Journal pages

2010-04-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Just a few pages from one of my journals. I am taking a online class from Juliana Coles. It's really fun actually. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I was afraid that it would lack the personal side doing it online. But happily I was wrong about that. I encourage everyone to check out her site. She also has some videos on Utube. There are some really fun journaling ideas on Utube I like to get new ideas. It's very sunny today here in the great Northwest my fruit trees are starting to bloom and it feels warm. Since I can really only appreciate it between jobs I try to be aware and let it fill me with warmth and the hope of the summer to come...yea that lasts about a minute and I am buzzing down the road. But I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and this time it's not a train!

2010-04-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Phoenix rising

2010-03-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

I am back. I loaded some samples of my mail art that I have been working on. I got a new camera and I am not afaid to use it!
I have been working with Juliana Coles retreat books they are amazing. If you are into Visual Journaling and and gaining self confidence they are worth it. I am in her yahoo group and we have been trading mail art. It's really fun actually getting snail mail.

There is a very nice article on the last page of the new Somerset Studio about when we share with others artwork or journal art that is close to our hearts, it can become healing for others. It's like giving away our medicine. What you create will help someone. That is an encouragement for me to put into form a struggle or illumination that I am experiencing. It doesn't come easy for all people to create but still they have those same feelings. If they can see how to work it out through art and visual journaling it may give them the courage to try.

Check out Traci Bunkers work. A great many are finding there way to visual journaling. I think we should be positive and supportive of each other. Leave your critic out and you may feel the medicine at work within you

gretchen

2010-03-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

2010-03-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

2010-03-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

Spring 2009

2009-03-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

I am imspired to connect more deeply to nature, myself, and a quiet sacred space. I have two days off from both my jobs. I am always yearning for more time with grandbabies but its really important to connect with yourself. The only way that happens is to make a plan. So I am taking the ferry to Whidbey Island to a place called "Earth Sanctuary". I will let you know.

Namaste

Steeped in Fog

2009-01-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

Everyday its thick and freezes on the road in case we forgot its winter. I am devouring new books an mags in my spare time. I just finished a crammed course in Excel MS and my brain is craving creative free form collage!
I went to the bookstore and looked through the array of Art mags. I saw such a wild variety of art I was inspired. I felt reaffirmed that art is very much about the unique way the creativity flows through me and is transformed into a piece that holds that energy. I love it.

Check out the Crafty Chica link ... really fun. Watch the calendar video!

Journal prompt...You could make a flow chart in MS Visio... and paste it in your journal,naw! how about writing with a color crayon about one of your most creative" Firsts " for me... it was a plaster cast with things we found in nature or one of my famous woven looped potholders! Then paint over it with dark watercolors. Looks kinda batik like. It's fun.

Winter White

2009-01-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

All the stories about the Northwest buried in snow are true! I got 3feet at my house 2weeks ago and still have 2 feet with snow forecast for today. There was a moment I had of winter wonderland driving through the snow at night. But when we were digging our cars out Christmas day the fun melted away...we made our visits (a Christmas miracle) and safely back home. I live in the woods on top of a big hill. I have really learned to drive in the snow this year! Tip... if you get stuck and your wheels are turned, straighten them and then try to go!

"Twilight" If you see the movie you will really some of the awesome beauty of the Northwest. I really liked it. Washington really is the most beautiful place. If you love outdoor sports and art!

Journal prompt...Two pages. on the left side draw yourself with your non-dominate hand and write or print some of your biggest challenges, just a word here and there. On the right side draw yourself with your dominate hand and write some of your biggest successes.

Journal prompt... Make a list of your favorite comfort foods ... Hot cocoa, mac and cheese, etc.

Winter coming

2008-12-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

The leaves are gone the skeleton shapes of trees are all thats left against a cloudy white back drop. But as night falls the colored lights appear to seemingly chase away the shadows of the past year. I am looking forward or at least trying to begin a new chapter. I am going to set some artistic goals for myself this coming year. I'm not sure what it's going to be. But I think there really is value in setting goals. I talked to one friend that set a goal of 1000 painting in a year! I can't imagine that. "Hope" has been very important to me this year. I want to surround myself with it like a warm quilt or a hug from a good friend. So it spills into my art. I have been working on several pieces to bring "Hope" into form and I am going to continue that until I get it.

I wish for everyone, that the light of Hope shines in all your dark corners.

Blessings, Peace, Love, Hugs, Joy and Namaste

2008-10-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Fall... its energy is rich in color and creativity. All shades of red and gold and the light is fantastic. The scent of apples and pumpkins. I love it all. It calls for bursts of creativity in celebrating change. The northwest is so beautiful in the fall!!!!
I have added new links check them out!

My not - so- lazy days of summer

2008-07-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

I am working like a honey bee... day and night. So I am learning new ways to squeeze in creativity. Like in the morning before I leave for my day job, I gesso a couple of pages in a spiral bound map book I am preparing for a juicy road trip... I hope. I have been reading books by "Sark" that are filled with inspiring creative ideas to free your spirit. I have giant fairy wings and I am thinking of wearing them to the beach!!!! At the very least a crown of flowers and ribbon the next time I go anywhere. Life is filled with challenges but we have a choice about how we act. We don't have to live in the muck and let it be who we are. We can have way more fun than that. So next time you go out with your friends order cake with out silverware, it'll be an instant party!!!
P.S. Off the subject...does anyone love "Torchwood" and "Dr. Who" as much as I do?
Enjoy Yourself

Inspiration

2008-05-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays failures are today's seeds that must be diligently planted
to be able to abundantly harvest tomorrows successes.

author unknown

U Tube

2008-05-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know....There are some great art videos on U Tube. Claudine Hellmuth has some fun ones, check it out. Sonific is gone for now so I lost my music. I am working on that. Re -loaded the link to Inspire me Thursday. For some reason it was going to an odd ball page. It seems to be okay now.

Stay in the light

2008-05-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

The process I go through with my art is amazing to me. Sometimes I start with an idea and it ends up going in a totally different direction. The piece takes on a life of it's own and I keep working with it instead of on it.
Just the sorcerer who brings the elements together until it feels "done".

The desire to share what I create is the desire to reach out to like minded artists who connect. We become a supportive community with like minded thoughts and ideas. It's positive. If you don't like what I do or what someone else does just don't go to our sites. This is my response to a negative comment that I got and to some that I saw on another site. I try to focus on the things we have in common that bond us together. What we share.
I will try to post new pictures this weekend.
Thanks

It's Edgy

2008-04-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

For about a week I released my edgy muse. It was messy, layered, sprayed, and a little wild. It did not turn out to be a new direction. It was more like a release I think. Because I moved right into a new piece that I love and feel very at home with. But I did have fun with my edgy muse, I worked on a clipboard, a leather bag, and what ever I could find even and apron. Sometimes you just gotta let it out!!!

2008-04-19T14:05:00.001-07:00

No Burden

2008-04-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to post tonight. Sometimes you need someone to talk to. I think that it's easy to overburden your family and friends. No gory details or anything like that. But I am finding that so many people are having a hard time right now. Every story is different, financial, health, depression, loneliness, loss, fear, etc. But everyone that I talk to seems so burdened and stressed out right now. Somewhere we learned that if we tell someone our story we become less burdened. It's as if we are letting it go as we tell our story. I think venting is healthy to a degree, I certainly do it. But as we are all putting our dramas out there I think somehow we are adding to the overall sadness. So I have decided to try something new. I am going to compliment people more, smile more, and respond to them with loving kindness instead of telling them my sad story. When I am kind, giving, and compassionate to others it lightens every one's heart.
Maybe it will transform some of my stress too. Really ...how hard is it to show kindness, send some mail art to a friend. I guess it comes down to just letting go of my own ego issues long enough to remember to be a better friend. Thanks for listening!

Phase ?

2008-04-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

When we talk about teens going through changes we often say that they are going through a "phase". When you talk about electricity some thing not working is "out of phase" It's the new question are you working from "out of the box" or in? I think we are trying to find our "spot". It's a way of identifying our selves. I feel like this really happens with art. I don't want to put myself in a category that limits me.
For a while now I have felt a quiet call in the background of my mind. Its like something a little out of focus. I have decided to explore it and allow myself to experience it. We're talking art of course. I am calling it my Edgy Muse. It's a bit wild and if I had to put it in to a catagory I would say Street art. I will put some pictures up as soon as I can. It might be a phase, part of the transformations of my path. But I think we shouldn't be afraid to explore art.
Namaste
Gretchen

Paris

2008-03-31T10:13:00.001-07:00

Do it on paper

2008-03-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

Starving artist mentality is highly overrated.

I think that working creatively is really working from the inside out. Some of us do that much easier when we have a "cause". I thought that I was a poet many years ago. Poetry just flowed out of me page after page fueled by lost love, lost job, yearnings, and a desire to put emotions down on paper.It was really more akin to journaling all I needed to do was add visual elements and I would have had it! Wild Abandon visual journaling! I needed a few more years of "becoming" before I could pull it altogether {and with the help of Juliana Coles}. Not that I'm done or anything. "I think the journey is the destination" If you have not tried visual journaling try it. Like dance like no one is looking...just do it on paper.

2008-03-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

A page from one of my journals. I was out taking pictures of graffiti. Tricky to do from the freeway.

Journal

2008-03-20T15:17:00.001-07:00

2008-03-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

2008-03-19T08:30:00.001-07:00

2008-03-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

Its Sunday night I added a new picture of a collage.Only half of it showed it self. There are actually four guys. I will half to learn about resizing in Photobucket.
You would think that by this age I would be more together. But really we keep learning about who we are. On the positive side I think its really a key element to staying young, that no matter how old we are we need to set aside the kind of fear that keeps you from your dreams.
Gretchen

Mutual Admiration Society

2008-03-16T20:14:00.001-07:00

2008-03-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

I added a link...Free rice.. you can play a game, feed people, and improve your vocab!

I have been working on background pages in my journals. Just playing with water colors and some drawing. I like using watercolors from the tubes and no water you get some bright colors. Then I ink the edges of the pages and add some rubber stamping. Just building the page up with interesting elements.

Then there is my wild abandon journaling that starts with a blank canvas and goes in all kinds of directions that I couldn't begin to explain. The process of bringing feelings and emotions into form and onto a page is part alchemy and part mystery for sure. Sometimes the result is art but mostly it's peeling the onion of the soul.
Gretchen

Gypsy Woman

2008-03-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

I feel very lucky that Stampington published this piece in one of there Gallery issues. I think that I have every issue of Somerset Studio magazine. I found a kindred spirit when that magazine started. A place where I actually fit. Once again I am feeling that way with blogging. I had no idea that there were so many wonderful extensions of creative energy captured into amazing forms. I am committed to updating links or the Pony express of the electronic air waves.

2008-03-07T19:24:00.001-08:00

2008-03-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all the blogs that have inspired me! To all the artists' out there taking risks for for all of us. This is my first posting. I couldn't have done it without you. I am really a novice but its fun figuring it all out.

I am a collage/mixed-media artist and Wild Abandon journaler. My new inspiration is to take pictures of my art while its in the process of becoming. Then use those pictures in my journals and to create another piece of art.

Spring is finally on its way to the Northwest and I for one am really happy to see the colors blooming out.They are so vivid against the remaining starkness of winter