November 19 - A Day of Sharing Words

LK Ludwig at the Poetic Eye had the idea of making today A Day of Sharing Words. To know more, go here.

Today I choose to share these words with you. Read them slowly and let them in :

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Marianne Williamson : A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles )

About the words I chose to share :

Whenever I read these words, I feel a thrill rush through my soul. A thrill at the possibility of this truth. Don't hide that light. Shine that light. May we all shine on.

GPP Street Team Crusade #25 - Properties of Gesso

What I love about Michelle's GPP Street Team Crusades is that she encourages us to stop and take the time.

Sometimes it is to take the time to just to play, or to learn a new technique. Or sometimes, to take the time to ponder some of life's questions. I think the talented Madame Ward's best talent is just that...she encourages us to take the time and then to share what we experience. How cool is that ? ;-)


So this month, Michelle encouraged us to take the time to play with the properties of gesso. I think I used gesso for the first time about two years ago when I was lucky enough to go on an art workshop to Puerto Vallarta Mexico at the Hacienda Mosaico. The week long workshop was called "The Ultimate Painted Page" and was taught by Anne Bagby and Lynne Perrella. It was an amazing experience and I learned so, so much about painted backgrounds for two fantastic pros ! Strangely enough, though I would definitely take that workshop with Anne and Lynne again in a heart beat, I don't think I would ever do it again in a tropical or exotic locale. I was so caught up with the wonderful workshop fun that I saw way too little of beautiful Puerto Vallarta !!! It was an experience of a life time though !


Anyhoo, back to the Crusade...


When I saw Michelle's challenge to us, I immediately got out my journal from the workshop. I realized that I didn't do many gesso techniques other than to prime my pages with some brush stroke texture. One thing I did discover was that gesso comes in a variety of colors - white, black and even gold ! Yes, gold ! One participant had a jar of it and shared it with everyone. I thought it was from Golden but when I searched for it on line, I found that it was probably from Daniel Smith Art Supplies where they have several different colors of gesso. The gold was beautiful - metallic in a subtle way but a great base for more earthy tones of paint and lovely with Golden Fluids or acrylic washes of color on top. I added that gesso to my Christmas list - it is definitely worth trying out again with a jar of my own !

Here's one of my journal pages from the workshop with it - it didn't photograph well enough to show it's richness but you can get the idea :

While I don't have the gold gesso (yet !!), I did recently invest in a jar ot the Golden Black Gesso and I love it so much !! It is smooth and rich and creamy and does a beautiful job with stamps too. Here are some sample of my gesso play from this weekend :

Black Gesso with hand carved rubber stamps (yea again for Michelle's Crusades). Gesso was applied on bottom layer - stamped and resist.

White gesso as first layer - scribbled with edge of credit card for added texture. Magenta and blue paint wash middle layer. Black gesso on top with brush and through sequin trim. Hard to see but another wash of gold and red on top layer

close up showing the credit card scrapes

White gesso bottom layer, stamped with puzzle piece to add texture. Blue and gold acrylic coat over top. Golden Fluid Magenta and water pooled on top and left to dry. I sanded the gesso resist areas with a little sand paper to get the shapes to stand out more.

Ist layer on a chipboard kids book I am covering for a Xmas-gift to be - white gesso with leaf hand carved stamp

White gesso with hand carved stamps along the edges (leaves) and applied with a brush on the rest of the page on 1st layer. Orange monoprints (I used to call it blob painting with my kids - ;-)). See how the gesso gave my blobs cool texture from underneath ? Reminds me of topography or something.

So here what playing with gesso this weekend taught me :

Gesso is so fantastic for adding texture and depth to a background and it does amazing things with paints too.

I learned that I am impatient when it comes to letting things dry and it is hard for me to leave things overnight. I also learned that gesso can be sped up with a heat gun but not too quickly as it bubbles and makes a mess when it melts. Great stuff just takes time, Kim ! Get over it !

I learned that while you can always make things work with the cheaper, everyday stuff you have around, there is also a reason why luxurious stuff is great once in a while too. I am worth the champagne of gesso every now and then !!!!

I love to take the time to just play. Thanks, Michelle, for the encouragement to take the time to do just that.

Now get playing, Crusaders !!!

Shine your light....

Here's a tune for me, for my beautiful friend Darlene and anyone else who needs the reminder. Don't hide your light under a bushel....Light up, light up !!!

A Journal Giveaway To Die For and A Happy Hump Day for the Queen !

(photo from Debra's blog - A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk)

Go here and check out the beautiful hand made journal that Debra has to give away on her blog A Litte Imagination and a Pile of Junk. So very fine ! I want it to be mine ! (By posting this here, I get two chances to win ! Yay!)

Also, Lulu at my pink turtle TOTALLY ROCKED my world today with her post about what she did with the "Rock My World" rocks I sent to her. Talk about a Happy Hump Day !!! The project is now on two continents because of her ! Check it out here !

I hope you have the happiest of Hump Days !

My Blond has More Fun !

So usually I have photo posts of my favorite redhead, Miss Katie Cupcake :

(okay - had to slip one in - taken at my sister's place last weekend - Kate 6 1/2 months old)

But today I thought I would share some shots of my favorite blond, Miss Chica :

Today's trip to Hampton Beach, NH was all about Absolute Labrador Heaven ! The beach to run on, the ball to chase, and the waves to play in :

Oh yeah...and my favorite humans to splash on when it's time to shake !

I said, absolute Labrador Heaven !

There was a little time left over for some rockin'...

("Rock My World" rocks left on the shore wall - seaside love to share...)

David, Chica and I took the advice from one of my rocks on this Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day and decided to :

We did ourselves proud ! A truly beautiful day.

In some other exciting news, Sherry from Esprit d'Art included one of my necklaces in a Treasury on Etsy !!! Check it out here. My first treasury !!! Thanks for much for including me, Sherry !

Today, we should....

and be so very thankful for all we have.

November 11th - Remembrance Day (Canada)

Veteran's Day (US)

Seven is a Swan a-Swimming and Three Bags Full (of Rocks)

So I have been feeling a lot like this :

(Art Journal page - "I got off the train at the wrong station, and I don't think they speak my language here."

I even tried speaking another language but still didn't get a response I recognized.

("Excuse me, Miss, where is the station ?")

Then I visited Karin's incredibly beautiful blog, BEYOND WORDS, and learned that I need to give some special tender love and care to my 7th Chakra, The Crown Chakra, symbolized by this beautiful creature :

Art Journal Page - "Viola was a visionary Queen."- 7th Chakra

I plan to spend the day working on giving myself some loving and on building some strength of vision, just like Viola is doing for her babies...

In "Rock My World" News - I got Three Bags Full

So I am heading up to Montreal this weekend. Hard to believe but it has already been a month since my last visit. I have one little bag of Rock My World rocks for Andrea, my sweet and dear friend who was my first ever customer at the Queen of Arts Studio Etsy Shop ! She is an elementary school teacher and I know she will enjoy spreading the love around her school environment.

My mom also called and requested some more rocks. She is a receptionist and enjoys handing them out to the people she comes in contact with at work. My mom let me know that her friend/boss Shelly had put in a special request as well. Shelly really wanted some rocks, like a whole bag full - sixty or so, but she really insisted on paying me something for them.

So far I have not liked the idea of taking money for the rocks at all. The intention behind them is spreading the love and somehow putting a price tag on them didn't sit well with me. But since Shelly insisted, I have decided to go with the idea of donating any money I get from the sale of the Rock My World rocks to a cause that I feel could use some extra love.

For me, that goes back to my teaching roots. I know how hard teachers and students struggle to find money to fund interesting and worthwhile projects in their schools. That is why I have decided to contribute to the Once Upon A School Challenge, where the money I donate will go directly to funding a project designed by teachers and students together. Shelly and I will both be giving some extra love to a special classroom project !

Keep on Rocking Me Baby !