More Lists

I'm still working on completing September's 30 Days of Lists. Better late than uncompleted!

Lists are such a fun way to art journal!

Autumn Break

I am at my sister's house with my daughter for a week to help with final preparations for my niece's wedding on Saturday. My sister and brother-in-law purchased a house on a lake this spring and one of the bonuses this week is experiencing autumn at the lake. Each morning's sunrise reveals the lake in a different state:

In the evening the lake has been like glass reflecting the colors.

I forgot how beautiful Autumn is in Michigan. It's even more beautiful on a lake!

I have been able to fit some art time in as well. I prepped some background pages in advance:

The journaling reads: Art journaling helps me focus and exercise my creativity. It restores my energy.It has also become another point of connection with God as I meditate on His Word and express it through art. It uses all of my senses as I play with paint, paper, glue, and color.

The bottom one was done as an exercise called Scripture Excavation for the Made Course. We picked a chapter from a book in the Bible, printed it our on paper, did inductive Bible study, making notes on the paper. We then used the marked up piece of paper with the chapter printed on it as the base for our art journal page and gessoed, painted, stenciled and collaged right on top of it. New meaning to hiding the Word in your heart! Then we journaled about what stood out in the chapter ~ a significant way God spoke to us through His Word. I chose Colossians chapter 1.

I hope, wherever you are, that you are enjoying the change in the season. Every day holds new things to see!

Finally...An Art Day

I finally had a day to play yesterday. There were so many other things I could have done, but I needed an art day. We have two family weddings coming in the next three weeks, my daughter will be in town for two weeks and we will spend one of those weeks at my sister's house. So my chance for some quality art time in the weeks ahead is very slim.

Yesterday I got the paint out. It's been a while since my hands were messy and it was so much fun! Apparently circles were on my mind.

I added a few pages to my 30 Days of Lists September book ...randomly. It looks like my book will travel well into October as well.

And a few more pages in my Altered Book Art Journal:

And this one I made with something in mind for work:

I also completed another altered book journal for my Etsy shop yesterday:

It was a very productive day! What have you been up to lately? Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!

Introducing...

After much thought I have decided to open an Etsy shop. My passion {obsession} for making altered book art journals and collecting old books and paper ephemera has overflowed beyond what I can use for personal use. Two things also helped me in this decision: the altered book art journal I made for my sister and the vintage paper pack I put together to giveaway on my blog back in July. I really had a blast making those items for other people!

So I have launched my shop: {found on brighton}! It was so hard selecting a name. I love vintage things and I especially love re-purposing them in my art - altering books into art journals, using book pages (especially from dictionaries!) and other paper ephemera on my pages and taking everyday "found" things and suing them in my art or as a tool to make art. Nothing is safe -  bubble wrap, my husband's drywall tape and our plastic paper plate holders have all been used as stencils or masks. Envelopes, book pages, receipts, clothing retail tags, and junk mail have all made their way into my collage and mixed media art. I use "found" items all the time! Brighton is simply the name of my street. So I just pulled this random name out of the hat and it stuck.

In addition to carrying altered book art journals and vintage paper packs I will also sell vintage items. Some books I run across at book sales are simply in too good condition for me to allow myself to rip them apart for art. I also run across and have collected a lot of vintage items over the years that I will be adding. A girl can only collect and keep so much! I will also be offering themed vintage paper packs, themed around items, interests, initials, names, locations, etc..

So I invite you to stop in and visit my Etsy shop! There's a little Etsy link over on the right side of my blog. Open the door, hear the little tinkling bell as you do, smell the old books and paper and glue as you explore the shelves of my "found" things. :)

Altered book art journal:

Vintage paper packs:

1 John ~ The Journey

Way back in April our church started a journey on Sunday mornings through the book of 1 John. This Sunday we will complete the journey.  I was impacted a great deal by my time studying through the book for our Creative Team meetings each week. As we journeyed I made art journal pages as different things stood out to me. John really focuses on our love for each other being our distinguishing mark as Christ-folllowers.

The last three are my most recent pages:

One theme I noticed throughout the book was John reminding his readers of the gifts God has given His children: His love, the Spirit, eternal life through His Son, insight to know Jesus.

Throughout this journey I have felt a deep conviction to look at how I love others; to examine my heart when my thoughts and actions are unloving, and most importantly, to embrace God's love for me and let His love be the driving force behind my love for others. Our love for each other must be expressed in practical ways ~ in action. In John's perspective, loving God and loving others are inseparable, for when we love others God is seen in us. May this journey through 1 John continue to impact me, and our church, to love others with the love I have received from God through Christ. Today may you know in your heart the great love God has for you.