Weather & Lace

Orange County got real weather last week! We even had to seek shelter in the bathtub 'cos of a tornado! I was so excited! Southern California meteorologists even made up a new word: tornadic. It replaced their favorite overused weather term of indeed, as in: "pray for sun the rest of the year, indeed."

Along with rain, hail, thunder and tornadic activity came a storm of creativity too! I decided to relaunch several BellaKarma art accessories that were quite popular (and profitable) several years ago. I'll go into more details in the coming days. It was while digging a basement in my closet searching for craft supplies that I came across an unfinished art journal sent to me from Los Angeles artist and instructor Linda Forrest (a.k.a."mi Tia Linda").

The journal is a gutted hardcover book, a staple in my crafty creations! The outside was painted white, a perfect blank canvas; however, what inspired me to use this journal is how the paper is held in place. I LOVE how LACE is keeping the papers together! Linda included scrapbook and hand-painted background papers, all of which can be taken out while working with it. And I love how I can add to it! Maybe it's my fear of commitment, but I have a hard time using any type of notebook or journal that is bound.

Linda also lined the inside covers with scrapbook paper -- a bright, geometric print. As I continued digging for shelter supplies, I came across an old art journal page I had torn out. It flowed great with the existing paper, so I decided to glue my page over the inside back cover. I'm far from being about matchy-matchy, but I do like to have a running theme, even if subtle. Anyways, I've always liked this background I made, and the idea that the woman (who sort of resembles me, if I were an alcoholic barfly in the late 1960s/early 1970s) has all these thoughts bubbling around her.

I actually started altering the front of the journal first. And started again. And again. All I can say is, lately acrylic paint is on Team Jacob and I'm on Team Edward. Finally I was, like, whatev, and I put away the acrylics and grabbed my Colorbox Crafter's Option Ink Pads I bought seven years ago and created a weathered cover (part of my artistic signature style) using ink pads I bought seven years ago. I also used mom's Crystal Dye Base Ink Pads, which she has had for about as long. Obviously, neither product worked as if I just bought 'em yesterday, therefore, I don't feel comfortable recommending them for stamping because I'm not that familiar with inks; however, I was able to get the end result I wanted with ink pads that have sat around for seven years.

I wanted the focal point of the cover to be the image of mom's artist trading card "Tall Tales" that I altered in Paint Shop Pro and printed as a photograph. Of course, I had to work my dots into the design as well. I have sworn off Vicodin attempting an art journal so many times, yet with this creation I find myself motivated to give it another chance.

I apologize for the crappy photos and lack of one showing the back. Once I start working in it, I will take more pictures. And I believe I will work in it, 'cos I feel this journal is a good fit for me, it feels freer. It is a very simple look, unlike most anything I usually create, but I'm happy with it! The simple truth is: it made me happy while creating it. And that's certainly a good thing to make happen.