KNOCKED OFF COURSE ...

Attempting to persuade myself that I really do love paint, I'd made the above page background.  I didn't like it (except for the colours) so I left it for a bit, until one day the urge to draw on it with a big black pen overtook me.  When I drew that curvy line above I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do or say ... but I quite like it that way, and its interesting to see what pops out!  On this occasion I was feeling out of sorts, kind of "scratchy" you know?

Anyway, I love zentangly stuff so one thing led to another and before I knew it I'd filled in all the left hand space.  Then quite suddenly I wrote the big words along the length of the curvy line.  Who knew that I felt like that?  I certainly didn't, but out it came.  Its amazing how this art journalling lark works isn't it?

So after that I just set to and wrote about how I was feeling, and although I know it sounds like a cliche, when I'd done it I felt better.  Simples.  So I suppose the lesson here is - if you feel all itchy scratchy and out of sorts, look inside your own head and ask why.  Sometimes the answers will surprise you ....

Obviously the mildly hypnotic activity of drawing pretty patterns had nothing to do with the achievement of zen-like calm ... well it probably did actually.  Maybe thats another reason why I like doing it?  A little bit of Promarker colour crept in here, not much - but I like how it turned out.

Just noticed that this is my second purple post!  Funny that, and its not a colour I use a whole lot.  Perhaps its my "not happy about that" colour?  I've cheered up now anyway  and my normal smiling self is back at her post :)

ITS SO UNFAIR ....

There's nothing like a good old moan is there - clears the decks wonderfully so you can stop complaining and get on with whatever you should be doing.  In my case I'd seen an advert in a magazine which had prompted cries of "how could they?" and "its so unfair".  Well it is - very shortly after buying a boring beige car (and that was the best of a bad job believe you me) they brought out a purple model!!  Can you believe it?  Just thoughtless if you ask me.

So you won't be surprised to learn that I was sufficiently moved to record this gross miscarriage of justice in my journal ...

I don't have to explain why I chose the purple obviously, and yellow just sort of goes with it right?  As usual the background is done with the ever so versatile Caran d'Ache crayons, and I left that bald spot near the bottom because I'd already cut out a picture of the offending purple car to stick there.

Then I regret to say that I got so involved in indulging my inner child for a while, that I completely forgot to take my usual stage by stage pictures, so this is the final result.  The numbers and speckly bits are rubber stamps, and the rest is my usual doodly activities.

Quite a simple page for me, but I like to think I've made my point and that there's no more to be said.  After all, there's no point in going on about it is there?  It only makes my nearest and dearest say things like "give it a rest".  However, I do feel that the very least the manufacturers can do is apologise profusely and deliver a purple one to our drive without delay, or I shall be stuck with the beige one for another 2 1/2 years - not a pleasing prospect.

STUFF I LIKE ...

Back from our travels but still slightly jet-lagged, my brain seems to have holes in it into which certain words keep disappearing .... I hope its temporary!   Anyway, a while ago I saw a journal prompt to make a page about stuff you like - so I did, and this is it.

As you can see below, the background is done with my trusty Caran D'Ache crayons.  I never get tired of using these and they go such a long way that they represent very good value for money.  I am not being paid by the manufacturers to say this, but will accept graciously if they like to offer me some ...!

I was trying to draw shapes which might encourage me to write other than in straight lines - a besetting sin of mine - and as you can see below it did work.  I was quite struck by how simple the things that make me happy are - nothing expensive or difficult to find, just fairly ordinary everyday pleasures.  I guess that makes me a very fortunate woman?  I am however willing to try the champagne lifestyle if ever it comes my way ... just to see how I like it.

The rather jolly sunburst shapes I added next are from an unmounted set of rubber stamps that I've used such a lot.  It isn't easy to find interesting non-commital stamps to use for journal decoration - they all seem to be pictures of something, so I'm always on the lookout for this kind of thing.  I can't actually remember who makes these but they're mounted on green foam if that helps to identify them?

Another in the same set was used to stamp the orange shapes - which look a bit like fruit slices but aren't!  This is one of those pages I really like without really being able to explain why - it just pleases me somehow ....

Off now to eat some chocolate and persuade a cat to sit on my lap for a bit .....