Three Videos in Three Days

Hello Love

Hope you're having a fabulous creative weekend, if not here's some kick-starters for you. The last three days I've posted a video a day so here they all are together, enjoy.

The first one I posted is all about 'How I Organize & Store Scrap Papers':

If you want more Ask Jennibellie videos you can get them via signing up to my Monthly Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/BHv-1. When you do so you’ll also receive a free Creative Ebook, Exclusive Videos, Collage Sheets & other goodies *instantly* as well as the monthly news, articles, videos & other occasional gifts sent direct to your inbox =)

The second was the new monthly art challenge video on Journal Workshops, where we are exploring your relationship with creativity. Check it out here: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge 

The Monthly Challenge is a free group I host on my art community Journal Workshops. It is a monthly art date for us to stretch our art/journaling comfort zone. If you are not yet a part of this Group, come & join over 5000 creative comrades plus get new monthly art vids from me here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge 

The third video is from the Makers Meet-up is all about having yourself a 'Creative Spa Day':

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/makersmeetup/

The Maker’s Meet-up is another free group on my art community. A weekly meeting place where you can come and share, find support and be inspired (and where I give little extra creative assignment videos such as this one too) =D

So there you are if you follow all three you'll have an organized studio, be getting your creating groove on while improving your relationship with creativity and having a luxurious Creative Spa Day as you do it all. No excuses for a non-creative weekend around here, though in truth these are all 'regular' videos I create all the time (though obviously they are all on new topics each time) for my newsletter or art community - so just follow the links to get more ;)

Much love

Jennibellie

xoxo

My New Studio...so far (Daily Behind the Scenes Blog 3)

Hi love

This is my third daily blog behind the scenes post, you can view yesterdays here. I'm summing up what I've been up to lately all in one week! Today is all about my new studio!

This is going to be a quick post as I'm v.busy today (in the process of making videos and writing for my list the newsletter I'll be sending out later today, if you're not on my newsletter list you can join here & get lots of my art goodies immediately!). It's also going to be a quick post as I don't really have enough pics to make up a studio tour yet, but I'll share what I have.

So at the beginning of October I took out the insurance required and acquired a new studio in a 1800s factory where lots of other artists/creative businesses are situated. 

I cannot believe it has been nearly two months already. I have only managed to grab a couple of hours there here and there every fortnight or so, so it doesn't feel like it's been half that time yet. Still when I took it I knew I'd be using it more in the spring and summer months than the autumn and winter - it is a trek to and from the space (about a 3 hr round trip) and the rooms are VERY cold in the winter weather, so I'll be going more when 8pm isn't pitch black, cold and raining and feeling like a total drudge to get to and from it. I'm definitely a summer person, when it's cold and dark outside I just want to curl up and sleep lol.

So with that being said I haven't spent much time there making it mine yet, but I have done some, here is the before:

here's a bit more of what it looks like now:

 (though not exactly - I haven't taken pics the last couple of times I've been so it's a little more evolved now):

The view is AMAZING, you can see city, towns, forest, even a windmill. It stretches for miles and miles...

I have set up things to make videos - new tripod and daylamps etc:

though so far all I've managed to use my desk for is some admin work =/ :

This is a very difficult space to photo/film as it is v.high ceilings and box like, so it doesn't convey well the real size and dimension, but I will try at some point once I've decorated it more fully. Hope you have liked the makeshift tour though,

see's you tomorrow

Jennibellie

PS my new class 

'Rock Your Online Shop'

is at a crazy Cyber Monday Week price, but the week is going quick, so ensure you go and check it out now if you are ready to make you handmade or artist shop *rock*:

Direct link here:

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/rock-your-online-shop

Finishing Your Art Journal Pages #4 - The Art of Adding Words

Hi guys

Here is the fourth and final video in my Finishing Your Art Journal Pages Series, sharing a couple of pages from my Junk Journal and Altered Book Journal & focusing on the 'Art of Adding Words’ enjoy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCayXBYfJ0

Today I also signed on the dotted line to the new studio space woohoo!!

But the Blow Out Studio Sale is still on (though I don’t know how long for, so grab your new class or kit now) - http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/studio-sale

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/studio-sale 

The Studio Sale of 50% off All Classes, 40% off all items in my Etsy Shop. Check it all out here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/studio-sale 

Thank you so much to everyone who has purchased a new art class, or a new kit or digi product. I love you lots

Jennibellie

Marination and Videos

Hi!

I'm incredibly disconnected from online happenings right now and although my arty self just wants to chillax and say 'screw it' to turning the computer on and writing a blogpost, I wanted to hop on just to let you know where I'm at...as if you've been following me for any length of time you know I enjoy sharing the journey of being creative as much as all the glorious outcomes from it.

So the past couple of weeks I've been marinating!

Like crazy marination! If I were a chicken breast (or quorn fillet in my case) I'd be far too tasty and juicy for the taste buds to handle (and probably past my use by date now too lol). What I've been marinating in has been my creativity, my creative spaces, my future creative ideas, my current creative projects and my creative journaling.

The journaling I have been doing has been EPIC - I've done a lot of art journaling, junk journaling and spent a lot of time in my idea journals (video of how I capture and action my ideas is here). The kind of journaling that has been most useful, revealing and exciting for me though I've got to say has just been written journaling (video of me sharing my 'regular' written journal is here - there's two videos in this post, the written journal is the second one down) and gratitude journaling (I have a Gratitude Journal Kit which you can get here or by clicking on one of the sneaky peek pictures below if you would like a guide through the process) and I think both have greatly boosted all the work from the other journaling that's been happening - in fact I'd say they've turbo boosted it!

All this journaling has lead me to make a lot of decisions about my creativity and what I want to do/be doing in the future. I've found new areas of creative passion, from things I'd never thought I'd be interested in to new ways I want to get my hands dirty and it's just been great.

True, deep and meaningful marination though has required that I unplug from the internet. At the core of it it's been a re-connection to myself and I believe respecting your creative journey is all about listening to what you need in the moment. Sometimes being online is crazy inspiring for me and other times I need a hiatus (apologies for my hiatus from my Weekly Ramble - last week but I did see that I got a lot of visitors on Friday obviously expecting a blogpost, so I'm sorry for that but YOU are the reason I switched on this week, because I love you!). 

I'm still not ready to leave my delicious dish of creative juices just quite yet so here are some PRIVATE previous Weekly Ramble videos I have done (that you can only find if you go hunting through the archives). I'm sharing them here because all three kinda represent where I am right now - the first is about Relaxing in Projects, the second about a Creative Download and the third about Creating a New Space for your creativity to come through and right now I'm in a combination of all three. 

So grab a tea or coffee if you're feeling some creative chat time with moi and I can't wait to show you what it's going to be coming out of my marination, so exciting =)

Have a crazy great weekend!

Weekly Ramble's are blogposts I put out on Friday just to share whatever is happening in my art world, regardless of where I'm at in a process, or in my creative flow, or my studio etc the posts are more about capturing a glimpse of the middle than they are showing the shiny finish!

Creative Flow and Outdoor Show

Hello

I've not posted much here over the past couple of weeks due to life shizzle getting in the way, yawn! But Friday is my weekly ramble day so I’m eager to get back to it, as this week my creating has come back in spades too (not that I believe it ever goes away of course)

My 'Weekly Ramble's if you’re new here are for me to share whatever is happening in my art world right now, regardless of what I'm currently tinkering around with or where I am with it. These posts are more about capturing a glimpse of the middle process part than they are about showing the shiny finished product. This week has all been about getting a solid creative flow going again and opening my outdoor studio after it’s sleepy time over the winter.

I’ve missed being out here so me regaining my creative flow, and it waking up, collided and means most creativity has happened out here.

I spring cleaned and got it all fresh and lovely again, then I played around with my supplies and got it feeling really fluid and functional for me.

As I was rearranging, a shelf of my armoire opened up and felt really bare. Then I remembered these three tins I brought from the poundshop (dollarstore equivalent) that have been sitting in my indoor studio all lonely without a purpose. 

I had no idea why I wanted these so badly when I was in the shop, but I have learned when I get an impulse as strong as that to buy something, even when I have no need for them (and I don’t just mean the ‘they’re pretty, I want them’ feeling, I mean a REALLY strong desire to have them that’s undeniable) I just get them. The reason always becomes understood soon after buying, and needs or wants I never knew I had get met instantly by an odd, seemingly impulse, purchase. This has happened so often now that by the time I saw these I have given over the ‘it’s irresponsible to buy something when there’s no need’ inner critic voice…plus they were only £1 so what the hey, tins are always useful right?! and then voila…I suddenly needed something extremely thin to fill this awkward space. They also solved a problem of paper pieces that are now too fat to remain in my armoire paper slots, so the tins now neatly contain post-it notes, ephemera and journal spots. Look at that, an empty space that needed to be prettified and a storage problem solved by an impulse purchase….hmm just like magic!

Anyway enough of my law of attraction type thoughts about shopping haha here’s an iphone update vlog of me creating in the outdoor studio:

Spraying the watersoluable crayons with varnish to seal them.

Also if you haven’t seen this week a conversation was aired that revealed my journey as an artist for the 21 Secrets Series. If you want to join us in class there’s still time to jump in, click here for the details: 21 Secrets Spring 2015

or click the image below for the details to joining us in class this April

I hope you've had a great week in your creative flow
Much love

Living up to a 'Ramble'

Hi!

Happy Friday & end of month eeeek! already?

So I want to give an explanation as to why I've not been posting around here for the past week and a half...but first here's some journal pages:

Okay so, why I've not posted? In short, 

I've had such a crazy week!

A wonderful, but oh-so-crazy, week! As some people know it has been my birthday week this week, both my 31st birthday and my art community's 1st birthday, and on saturday we had a combined party =)

It was INSANE!!!

We art-party-ed on Journal Workshops until the sun came up...and then partyeeed some more...in truth the party's still going on, people are still making & sharing 

fab stuff!

Hundreds of us got together and it was AMAZING, the most incredible energy I have ever felt online EVER. We shared and did lots but we also had a community project (here's mine:)

but I won't go on about it too much in case you were there (in which case you'll know how awesome it was anyways!), but if you weren't then you are more than welcome to still join in - just click 'join' at the top of the Birthday Bash page here: 

Art Party Page

(if you are not a member of Journal Workshops but would like to join in that's awesome too,

simply sign up here first: 

Join Journal Workshops Art Community)

And as an add on to the fabulous party & to celebrate Journal Workshops first birthday tomorrow I'm offering a Birthday Bash price on a new mini class until then:

ONLY £7!!!! Craziness!!

This class is about connecting more deeply with your journaling, and if you’re wondering if this is right for you then please click an image below to watch the short video I prepared to see what to expect from this class:

This class is only £7, which is the absolute lowest I can ever offer it for, until tomorrow so why not take advantage now and come join us =)

I'm also getting the Monthly Challenge ready for the 1st, so Journal Workshops is kinda barmy on art right now (...which is the way it should be of course!). Here's a sneak peek:

So don't forget to come by the Monthly Challenge Group on the 1st, be there or be square...or round...or perhaps a pear shape, you'll have to see what the challenge to determine that lol

If you're still reading, bless your heart thank you, this post really lived up to it's name 'ramble' this week haha but hey, that's represents my week perfectly!
Much love & Arty Hugs

Make a Creative Mojo Box

Hello Gorgeous!

I have a little video for you today, it's about making yourself some beautiful creative energy that is personal to you for your studio space, most specifically for your immediate work space - your desk.

It's purpose is to fuel you, to support you, to encourage you and to assist you in anyway that you need so you may need to take a little time thinking about what means, and what would be most useful for you to put in your mojo box. There is no point just sticking a bunch of things in a box, for it to have energy you need to have a connection with the elements of the box and have an understanding of why X will help you deal with negative chatter of the inner critic, why Y will remind you to fill your project with love, why Z is encouraging more freedom in your creation etc etc. It's a project that may seem a little coo-coo or woo-woo, until you try it, and you realise it will make you listen to what you need to make your creativity flow more easily & address stumbling blocks or barriers you may not have realised were even there before. 

So, what do you need in your mojo box?

If you want to join me in turning your Inner Critic into your Creative Coach in my 21 Secrets Lesson then you can find all the details here: 21 Secrets Spring 2015

Have fun making your box, 

much love

PS have you heard it's my birthday and you're invited?

FREE EVENT!!

(you don't even have to bring cake!)

Click the image for details

Acrylic Storage Solutions

Hi Happy Friday!

This week for my ramble I thought I'd share my acrylic storage solutions after this picture of my paint wall -

got lots of interest when I posted it on my Facebook page

So I've done a little vloggy to show you all my acrylic storage including my faaaaaaaaavourite ever drawer - 

which I organise so neatly with...

you guessed it, recycled boxes!

I won't fool you though, I'm sharing a ramble focused on supply goodies rather than projects goodies because I'm planning on posting some of new goodies this weekend (so watch this space journal workshoppers ;) !) in the meantime here's my acrylic storage vlog:

Much love & happy arty weekend

Intuitive Studio Stuff... (aka Important Artist Work)

Hi Guys

Well after last weeks very rambly ramble I'm feeling a lot more myself hoorah! 

I've realised I've had a different way of creating this week.

I was chatting with my mum last night (hi mum!) & I was saying how yesterday I didn't feel like doing anything creative, but when I began expanding on that I realised I was still instinctively drawn to my studio for a decent chunk of time. As I expanded more I acknowledged that I did then intuitively start playing with things, like sloshing paint on a blank card or arranging things, like putting paint blobs on the top of some new paint tubes:

and that is how I've kinda been all week, just meandering around my space, but not committing to anything particular.

I have been updating my studio quite a bit over the last month, I brought a new 'daylight' studio lamp that helps artists eyes see colours correctly and not tire them (or give them headaches. woohoo - big plus for me!):

I have updated an area that was a complete mess, here's the before and after:

(I still have some of those large plastic drawers at the bottom to come, but the co couldn't get them all out on time ho hum, so in future it'll still look like this but with less boxes on top and more plastic drawers on bottom.)

I have invested loads over the past 4 or 5 months in new media, for example even after I did the pastels video last week I brought some lovely new pastel pencils:

I have dedicated whole drawers to products I didn't have enough of before to require a whole drawer, such as watercolour markers/pens and acrylic paint pens:

watercolour markers drawer
- still awaiting some new buddies from the states =)

I have a whole bunch of new drawing pencils that I have previously told myself were 'too expensive' for me to buy (especially the 120 Faber-Castell set, seesh, amen for sales!):

And I have invested a LOT in acrylic...trying all sorts of new brands, some are standard ranges, others extremely high quality, but it is my most used thing in my whole studio so it's all needed (right?! RIGHT!)

So the past week I have just been getting to know my new media, I have taken them to a relaxed coffee shop rather than a dressed up expensive restaurant for first date you might say...and I have been really enjoying myself. 

And you know, as I write this out; this identifying what I have been doing I suddenly realise HOW important it is to do this - to just chill out and enjoy your media, to not stick any exceptions onto anything and to treat yourself to something new when you feel stuck in a rut! For a big chunk of 2014 I brought hardly anything arty for myself, and I think my mojo & enthusiasm for my space waned because of it.

Now I know that new things aren't required to be creative (hello! JB here, my mantra is 'use what you've got'), but I think sometimes little boosts like a new media, or a new class (I have a new class available btw, just in cases you're looking ;) ), or a new technique, or a new environment...whatever, sometimes they are necessary so that we don't get stagnant and bored with our creativity. I know too that I have more new supplies than I could possibly get to know well, even in a year, but I have noticed over this week that my journal pages are containing 'a little bit of this', 'a little bit of that' so that a page may be made up of: 10% collage, 10% acrylic, 10% pastel, 10% pencil, 10% watercolour marker, 10% acrylic paint marker, etc, etc and I'm LOVIN' it. 

I feel no need to go through a 101 colouring pencils learning bootcamp, they are doing what I want them to do - allowing me to enjoy them! So I don't really care if it takes me years to get to know exactly how to work all of these materials, I'm just happy to have them right now to play with, and am more than happy to take my time over it. As a bonus through using the new media I have found a new love for my old supplies too, because they are suddenly being forced into new directions I haven't taken them before through incorporating these new items (I haven't felt this much love for Gesso in years lol!) And if there is one thing I know FOR SURE is it that many discoveries will be made by creating this way (because there always are; there would be in the 101 bootcamp route too, but I firmly believe you always learn more taking the route of your intuition, or creative instinct as I often call it). So I am looking forward to seeing what is going to be discovered, who know's what it'll/they'll be???

This is Important Artist Work

PLAY ON!