As I Write It - A Creative Journal

Stencil 101

2011-09-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

Free Workshop I found this cool little workshop yesterday on Balzer Designs, which I thought would be a little bit of fun. I picked up a couple of stencils at the recent WA Craft, Quilt & Stitch Show. I've done a few pages using them, but felt some inspiration in the form of a workshop and mingling with other crafty, arty types might be just what I needed right now. Hope you'll join in, too.

Exploring Presence

2011-03-21T01:27:00.000-07:00

Since deciding on a word for this year I've tried to daily incorporate presence into my life. I've worked at enjoying the presence of my family, friends, my mother and other people I know. I've concentrated on the presence of God while in church. I've been present as much as I can with doing things for other people who need me. I've also tried to keep a regular presence in the online communities

Journal Stamps

2011-03-04T22:06:00.000-08:00

For ages and ages, well a long time at least, I've wanted to own a set of Teesha Moore's unusual, yet totally practical journal stamps. I've lost count of the number of times I've put them into the cart on her Land of Odd website, but sadly removed them again once I saw the total cost with shipping. But when I received a newsletter with the wonderful news about free shipping until March 15, well

Journal Spilling

2011-01-17T19:37:00.000-08:00

So, I've been playing and sketching in my journal every day. Perhaps I've missed a couple of Sundays, but most days I write in my handwritten journal and sketch something or someone, usually several someones. But I finally had a chance to read the book that arrived just before Christmas, Journal Spilling by Diana Trout. Well, I've got to say, you can't possibly read this book and feel

Generosity

2011-01-02T00:48:00.000-08:00

A sketch from my own journal If there is a word for the art journal community this year, it has to be generosity. I'm sitting here overwhelmed with the free stuff you can learn and be part of just by having a computer connection. Take a look at the Strathmore Visual Journal online course. With Pam Carriker kicking things off in the first month, Linda Blinn in the second month and Roz Stendahl

Word for 2011

2010-12-31T22:42:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I'm probably a bit slow when it comes to beginning things others do all the time. But perhaps I haven't been ready for choosing a word for my year until this year. I've been reading Christine Kane's blog. Whilst reading the list provided in Resolution Revolution the word presence leapt out at me. I finished reading the list, in case another word did the same, but, no, presence let me know I

A Sample of My Art Journal Pages

2010-10-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well, life likes to throw stuff at you just when you aren't expecting it, at all. A couple of weeks ago I took my husband into emergency at our hospital. His back pain had become completely out of hand. He was dragging his foot through the pressure and pain in his back. Enough was enough and we went and sat and waited for him to be seen. It's times like this I'm glad we have some kind of a health

How Excitement

2010-09-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm fully into this art journalling since starting the course I won with Juliana Coles. It's like a switch flipped and now I just want to draw and make art, again. There's something that excites the little kid in me when it comes to art. I can always remember the sheer joy of splashing paint around and seeing the way it stained the page. It's something I always treasure, yet forget to

Art Journal Fun

2010-09-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

Since winning a lovely little prize from Creativity Classes on Extreme Journaling with Juliana Coles I've been getting into my art supplies, old and new. It was time to pull out the stuff I haven't used in ages and to build up my supplies with some fun new things. I added paint pens to my stash, those are fun. I also purchased some lovely washi masking tape from a place on etsy called

Hey, I Won!

2010-08-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

How lucky can I get? I won the prize for yesterday's draw on Creativity Classes. I'm really rapt, too. The prize is a class with Juliana Coles called Field Notes: A Book of Reminders! It looks to be an exciting change of pace for me, as I've gotten out of touch with all my visual journalling habits. I'm sure this will be one way to excite those skills again. You can check out some of Juliana's

Cool Journal Course to Win

2010-08-10T23:28:00.000-07:00

I've been entering the draw each day just lately to win cool creativity classes from the new website Creativity Classes. You should check out the classes on offer, but don't forget to enter in the draw for prizes, too. Looks like loads of fun. Heather - Photo used with permission from stock.xchng Click here to visit Planet SARK.

Computer Problems

2010-07-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

One of the reaasons I haven't been getting to my blogs is simply because I have a problem with my computer. It won't turn on, more specifically. While this is frustrating, it's been kind of nice in a way. I've been using my notepad type of computer to access the internet. I get to sit all cosy in here with hubby with the heater on. I don't have all my usual tools on this computer, so I haven't

Finding Quiet Time

2010-06-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

One thing I find really difficult with my husband home all the time, is the ability to get a bit of quiet time in my own home. I often go to one of my favourite cafes to write in my journal, but what I really want is some place quiet I can do that here, at home, with no one else around. It seems to be asking the impossible.For one thing, he likes noise going, even when he's studying. I prefer

The Artist's Way, Again

2010-06-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

Just recently I became tired of not having much direction as far as my writing goes. I'd been getting little signals that I should go back and do The Artist's Way again, but had every excuse happening. The more excuses I made the more I realised I needed to do it. So, last week, Monday morning I rose early and got stuck into those boring old morning pages. The weirdest thing was it felt like

On the Hunt for Prompts

2010-05-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

I know many journal writers are constantly on the look out for prompts to use in their journals and in their creative writing. After a recent catch up with another writing friend I discovered she has over 600 writing prompts on her website. So, be sure to go check them out at Writing to Inspire.HeatherPhoto used with permission from stock.xchngClick here to visit Planet SARK.

Taking My Own Advice

2010-04-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been here very often. I've been quite ill, so that's my main excuse. Time gets away from me most days. I have yet to settle down to a regular routine now my little boy is in full-time school. But, one of the major things I have to share is that I've been using the keeping a food journal idea with much success. Since reading stories claiming this makes all the difference with

Fun Contest

2010-03-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

There's a fun contest right now that will encourage your creativity and give you a chance to use your journal writing skills. Check out Chris Dunmire's Amazing Creativity Tool Writing Contest. This is an instructional humour writing contest and giveaway, but it sounds like something fun and a good reason to go and reread some of your old journals just to find what your unique knowledge to share

Keep on Journal Writing

2010-02-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

I haven't been around much, I know and I'm sorry. I have been writing a lot in my journal, though. I hope you are writing in your journal, too. Whle blogging is good, I do think writing in your journal is about the best thing you can do for yourself as well as your family or those you share your lives with. I find myself telling people this advice when I hear they're going through something

My Necklace Revealed

2009-12-23T01:08:00.000-08:00

This is for all those who were keen to see the entire piece I created for the Use the Muse 3 contest, as recently revealed on Scarlet Lanson's blog The Beader's Muse. So, here's a close up of the part you couldn't see before with the muse revealed. I hope you enjoy:HeatherPhoto is my ownClick here to visit Planet SARK.

What is it about a Challenge?

2009-12-14T23:24:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if you're a creative type, other than using your journal, but I have always been into some kind of creative expression. Be it painting, drawing, making stuff or jewellery. Over the last few years creating jewellery has been the most satisfying expression of my creativity yet. I have found, though, that I respond really well to a challenge. I'm not sure what it is. Something about a

Don't Forget the Christmas Download Countdown

2009-12-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

Don't forget about the fab free Christmas downloads you can print off from Ten Two Studios. All you need to do is link to your blog or website so you can download the art journal goodies for free. Of course, you can use them for almost anything. Spread the word. HeatherPhoto used with permission from stock.xchngClick here to visit Planet SARK.

SARK Getting into the Holiday Spirit

2009-11-24T23:20:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of SARK you may already know about her fun holiday offer, but just in case you don't go check it out here:Sounds like a fun way to greet your friends over the holiday period. Make sure you check out the other cool things SARK has on offer, which are bound to make great gifts for your journal loving friends, or just for yourself. I hope you enjoy learning more about this

Christmas Printables Countdown Starts Soon

2009-11-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for cool Christmas images to download and print for free, you simply must take a look at this link at Ten Two Studios. As usual, they will be hosting some cool printables for you to use in your journals and art, but you must link to the countdown page, once it goes live. Sounds fair enough to me. I hope you enjoy the printables and share on your blogs and websites the cool news.

Win a Writing Book

2009-10-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

So, I had to share this little contest to win a book called Will Write for Shoes by Cathy Yardley. You can win just by leaving a comment on the ewritelife blog entry. Couldn't be any easier. Good luck. Heather Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Yeah, I've been quiet

2009-10-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

If you are following this blog then you'll have noticed I've been very quiet lately. I suppose all the pressures at home have built up. I needed some downtime and I've been grabbing that, just for me. It's not like I've got much time to myself at home these days. When I get online, for the most part, the family leave me alone, but I haven't had much online time of late. I've been just reading