Make a Letter Journal

Do you have a penpal, or can think someone you'd enjoy penpaling with? Yes, I know, email is easier, and I too send tons of them every single day, but be honest that feels more like work, doesn't it? Urgent and necessary. Whereas there's nothing like a handwritten letter (and even better when it's a parcel and there's goodies being exchanged!) Well my best friend and I have been writing each other letters for years, since we were 14 to be exact. Sometimes we'd send each other 2 a day (one through the mail, and another we'd sneak into each others bags as a surprise!). Well that's all well and good but 15 years later it kinda leads to this:

Boxes of letters, none in order (and given that I've moved house MANY times during that period I still find long-forgotten letters in unlikely places). 

So I came up with a plan: Make A Letter Journal! 

It solves a whole lotta problems; like the messiness of thousands of envelopes, and the confusion of not having them in chronilogical order!

 It is a simple one signature book. You can make one using any of these tutorials:

The idea is simple: send the journal back and forth, each filling in the next page.

Here's some of our pages:

It means in the future not only is everything in chronological order already for us, but that we will each have our own letters (as well as the other persons) to read back on...and this aspect I LOVE. It makes it much easier to know what on earth we were talking about and what was going on at that time in our lives. The person to fill out the last page in the journal just needs to remember to send a photocopy to the other is all. 

We even use the same jiffy bag to send it backwards and forwards, with whatever other goodies we also decide to send:

meaning all we really have to find room for after a ton of letter writing is one (non-confusing, chronically sound) journal, yippie!!

Go ooooooon, make a letter journal....I know you want to ;)

much love, Jennibellie xoxo

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Sooz Weissberg

Hello everyone, hope y'all having a great week. I've had a tough week with some of those life decision thingamajigies going on, one of them being an area our artist is going to talk about today: finding time in your life for prioritizing art. If I think about it, this moment in time is the best for me in terms of be able to do what I want; no responsibilities of kids/partners/grandkiddies to take care of, but that still doesn't mean that sometimes it doesn't come down to art over life, or life over art. And when you can put in some art time, but have a million and one ideas you desperately want to do, which on earth do you actually pursue? This alone this week has left me wobbling around questioning, and not actually doing! Ugh for this reason I'm glad Sooz is our featured artist on TAT this week:

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
My name is Sooz Weissberg. I work with books, and fabric. I alter books with paint and collage and I also create books from recycled and painted paper and cardboard. I quilt, too. I make greeting cards from collage and/or fabric bits. 

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I face as an artist is setting aside time from my husband, five household pets, maintaining a household, and making time to exercise and stay healthy. I work mornings from home, and afternoons are not only for housework and meal managing, but also exercise. I can only do art or sew on select evenings during the week, parts of the weekend, and holidays! Being a small business juggling a home means that you work pretty much every day, because you juggled your work to fit into the rest of your life. The only days I’m really, truly, off all day, are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. But I share what I’m doing on Facebook to hopefully encourage other busy women to try a little art, here and there!

What do you love most / least enjoyable about your art?
When I work with book-making, what I love most is getting lost in the moment, pulling pieces and themes from my stash and contemplating what can be added to a page. I love the complex and satisfying textural quality of various kinds of paper, especially when they’ve been painted, or torn. In my quilting, the thing I love most is designing the layout of the colors. I don’t design blocks, but I select my own colors and layout, instead of following someone else’ pattern. Since there is no way to charge enough to compensate for what it costs to make a quilt, I don’t sell them; I continue to make a quilt for each person in my family. I didn’t have children, but I have nieces and nephews. Sometimes, a certain type of design seems to call to me and I work with the colors and fabrics in my stash before I know who the quilt is intended for, but as the work goes along, I begin to see that it suits a particular relative, and then I tend to move into faster gear, because I get excited about giving this gift!

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?
If I ever lose my mojo I use that time to either organize, or to make “original supplies”. I will put away all the bits and pieces from completed projects and tidy up my workspace; fill new or more interesting organizational containers; post inspiration pages up on the walls of my studio; organize my fabric stash and consider donating or trading stash that might have gone un-used for too long. These types of “replenishing” activities never fail to make me feel invigorated to work again!

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
I am not a professional artist but you can find me on my Google Plus and my YouTube channel https://plus.google.com/108058048926782593631/about . 

Thank you so much Sooz =) one thing that struck me in your interview (but not because you didn't have a ton of good points, but because I am reeeeeeeally bad at this particular one!) is making time for exercise, to me if I do have time, I'm arting because I put a priority on my mental, but not my physical health. It's really bad, and typing this I'm realising that it's one of those things in the closet I try to ignore, but if I did occasionally choose half hour exercise and half hour art, then I might have more time and energy for art. So okay, pledge on here (eek! that makes it seem so 'must do'-able) I will, from now on, choose to look after myself in ALL aspects of myself, which means both creativity and health! If Sooz can do it with all she has going on, so can I! (So there excuses, don't let the door hit you on the way out!).

You up for a TATing???

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Much love

Jennibellie

DIY Recycled Stackable Pots Tutorial

Hey guys, I've a quick DIY tutorial for you today, Lord knows why I never thought to do this before, as I have saved pots of all kinds for years for my 'crafters obligatory' bits & pieces. However doing this simple DIY makes them soooooooo much easier to keep track of, especially as you can categorize them nicely. 

How to:

What you will first need is pots to recycle, of the same size and shape & with lids that will fit happily onto/into the base of another. I'm using pots my natural cosmetics come in as it's very strong plastic, however if you do not have pots like this here are some alternatives I quickly found in my bathroom & kitchen:

Condements pot from my local takeaway & facewash/moisturiser pot from Lush (if you can stand not getting you're free facemask that is!)

Take a look at what you or your friends/family members have; they'll definitely be something, somewhere you can use!

First wash & dry your pots:

remember to pull off any stickers

Next apply strong glue (if you have a glue gun I'd recommend using that) to the top of one pot, then the bottom of another:

Join them together, add as much pressure as possible to make sure any excess air is pushed out:

...obviously try to make them as evenly straight as possible.

While you're waiting for it to completely dry take a piece of scrap and cut a label for the top:

Luckily my circle punch is the *exact* fit for these pots, if yours isn't a hand-cut circle/shape just adds more of your own special touch to it =)

I then label what's in there, and I also like add a little inventory of my bits to the top too, so I can see at a glance exactly what I have in there:

and that's it! Super simple, eco-friendly craft storage. 

Happy weekend and ta-ta for now, 

love Jennibellie =)

Pet Project (A Video and What Went Wrong...)

Hey artybug =) I've been more prolific so far in the latter half of this week, yesterday I finished a project:

dat der behind Sweepiebum!

and today I made a video on it YAY =D if you just want the video, here it is...or if you want more info & advice (as it is just a fun video, not a tutorial video) continue the further reading underneath about it:

So A LOT of people tell me, once they've watched my videos 'you make it look so easy! I could not do that at all' - yeah I get that a LOT, but I truly believe it only ever looks that way on a video because (most often) it has been chopped and cropped! I STILL go through the same processes is my head 'is this working?', 'will that look rubbish?', 'what's missing here?' - that's why I did the 15 Minute Real-Time Art Journal Page Video, where I tried to talk through as much of the process as possible. 

So this Pet Project video seems really easy-breasy right? 

Nothing went wrong while doing this right? 

WRONG! 

Check out the still from the video below; this is where I painted all Sweepie's black bits, well black:

Well...it was the WORST thing I could have possibly done for this painting ---

Because I had already put the darkest colour down I spent the rest of the painting completely battling to make his features, shadows and light come forward. I used every kind of acrylic I had (I found glossy to be the best in the end btw, it added a bit more dimension), but this move could have completely ruined the painting. Did I let it? Hell no! Because I do not believe you can ever, EVER, ruin a piece of artwork to the point where it is impossible to make work again. Whatever you do, whatever mistakes you make, they are all tools to help you learn how to improve your work. Will I ever paint bulk black again? No, next time I'll build it up slowly. Am I sorry I did paint it bulk black, and probably got a lesser-version of the painting I could have ended up with? Not at all. I'm happy for every mistake I ever made in my art, this is why I'm sharing this in this post rather than focusing in more on Sweepiebum (sorry pup pup, you really are just the guinea pig today =( ), to try and share what I can in understanding that:

shedding your fear & making mistakes, makes you 100% a better artist!

Much love

Jennibellie (& Sweepie)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Malinda Kopec

Hey guys, how is you artful week going so far?? Mine has been pretty slow, I *want* to do so much, yet life just doesn't seem to want to play ball...always is the case when I've a million and one ideas whirling around in my head & a frustratingly slow pace at which they are getting done! Ugh! One thing I have done though for my arty life is join pinterest, where I'll be pinning everything artified ~ I know not much but at least it's something lol you can find my boards here! And secondly I'm doing this interview with the lovely Malinda! (yes I am counting it :p) so that's 2 arty points to Jennibellie lol over to Malinda...

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

I am a mixed media artist who leans toward acrylics. My interests are all over the place so one day I could be snapping photo's and doing digital work on them and the next I could be painting an abstract or creating a pair of earrings. I have always loved art and liked 'making do' - making something out of nothing ; ) I think mixed media allows for that passion in me. I also love to do semi realistic portraits, a lady with butterfly's for hair, that sort of thing. 

I have been married to a wonderful supportive man for 18 years now and we just moved to my homestate of Michigan from his homestate of New Jersey. He says "It snows EVERY DAY in Michigan" and I have to admit this year it just about has, lol! We have 2 cats and a dog that are our babies, no diapers for us, hehe!

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it? 

The biggest challenge I face as an artist is the self confidence! Am I really an artist just because I throw paint around and like to glue papers and paint over them? I overcome this by telling myself "Of course you are an artist! You are just an undiscovered artist whose art no one has found yet" hehe! I am lucky to have a great support system and when I get that hopeless feeling my family and friends quickly alleviate that by encouraging me to go on and assuring me that I DO have a modicum of talent. ; )

What other issues to you overcome to accomplish your art?

I have had a lot of issue to overcome to become an artist. Losing a job where I was allowed to work from home due to physical issues was very hard on me. I lost a lot but it did open the door for me to explore my creative side. I have fibromyalgia (I do find that a LOT of artists suffer from this disorder) so often I am working on what I can from my bed, also, I get new art supplies and promptly forget where I put them! It is maddening but i have to keep my sense of humor about it or I'd just probably be crying all day long! But, the shortcomings of my health have forced me to face the fact that I can no longer work in the 'world' so I have created my own world and art has brought so much joy and satisfaction to my life that I wouldn't trade that now.

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognisable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style? 

Have I found my style NO!! I LOVE everything! I see what other people are doing and I have to try it on like a set of clothes! I want to create beauty in every way possible! I'm all over the place and I think that is a hinderence to me because people can't readily relate to me or recognize my work. Then there is the always comparing myself to other artists, ack! I'm still a baby in this world of art so I'm hoping that before I hit 60 I have found my own way. A way that will satisfy me every day. I think that's why I'll always love mixed media most, you get to play with more stuff, hehe! 

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art? 

You can find art that I have put for sale at www.malindaj.com and also my blog features a lot of stuff I haven't yet listed - malindaj.com/blog. I've also just started using Fine Art America and am sooo impressed with their offerings! You can get a fine print framed and matted for less than what you would pay to have just the framing and matting done at a local framing store. They have lots of options as to how you can purchase art, on canvas, fine prints, greeting cards, etc. My work can be found here http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/malinda-kopec.html.

Thank you so much Jennibelllie for allowing me to share my thoughts and feelings with your readers, I've enjoyed my time here very much!

Thank you for sharing Malinda =) I'm sorry to hear about your health issues but it seems you have created something fabulous out of the fact you have fibromyalgia ~ I can think of many 'trial & tribulation make us who we really are' quotes here lol and I think you are right, there are many artists who have fibromyalgia, or other health issues or disabilities that mean they are confined to their bed (and I'm just thinking here about a great percentage of the ladies that have emailed me directly) but I think this has something to do with the beauty & wonder of what the internet has brought into our lives. Anyone, anywhere, can be an artist. And it has not only brought art in, but also comfort and connection to others, as well as the fact we can be learning new skills or just getting inspired whenever we want, or more importantly need, to. Excellent interview Malinda, would you like to be featured on Tell All Tuesday?? >>>>>>

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Much love

Jennibellie

Projects with My Collage Sheets

Hi guys, someone on fb said it would be nice to see my digital collage sheets in action, so I thought I'd share some projects I've made with them. First a journal page:

Banner from Labelled Banner collage sheet top right

Journal Spot with flower from my Positivity Sheet Set

And here's a full journal page view:

This journal page is one from the 'Bunch of Backgrounds' tutorial. I love how quickly and easily these projects came together; this one firstly because I already had a background started but also because collage sheets (I'm talking any here, not just my own...) instantly add 'art' to a project, effortlessly. 

Here's a super simple way to artify something in a pocket:

Tabbies!! This one is from my Labelled Tab Sheet

And a tag, made so easily with a scrap of cardstock & one of my tabs at the top to 'tag it up' a bit & a journal spot for journaling:

Journal Spot with girl from the Positivity Set

Finally here's my favourite image from my Positivity Digital Collage Sheet Set, my birdie with quote, sat on a cute border strip from the same collection:

 - I added a crown, some buttons (that also came from the same collage sheet set), stamping, a sticker, tiny bit of doodling & I've an *instant* page. Honestly love how easily collage sheets make creating, especially when you're in a 'I'm not sure what I want to create!' mood - you know what I'm talking about, I feel it often when I sit at my desk. Ding! Collage sheets are now my go-to answer =D

Hope this has given you some ideas if you have some collage sheets already or if you are interested in any of my sheets they are available in my shop (or if you like something in the pictures just click on it and it will take you directly to the correct collage sheet listing =) )

Much love, Jennibellie xoxo

Update: 

Here's some additional collage sheet ideas:

Upcycling: a scuffed up glasses case & an ugly day diary that I picked up for nothing (as the pages had ripped out of the cover). I put the two halfs back together and did a makeover v.quickly with collage sheets

They're awesome for anything and everything! Happy creating =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Janet Briggs

Hey guys, happy March already (wow!) hope you're having more sun wherever you are than what I'm having here, if not here's some virtual sunshine for us still stuck in winter with today's TAT =D enjoy Janet's work & interview xoxo

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

I usually find it difficult to talk about myself. I’ll just give you some quick facts. My husband and I have lived in southern California for the past 12 years. Before that we lived and traveled in our RV, mostly around the western half of the United States. I’m 69 years old; I love color and texture and always have. Purple has been my favorite color since I was a little girl but I seldom use it in art. I’m basically a self-taught artist although I've taken many, many online classes. I have a short attention span at times, and will jump from one art project to another. When I work in my art journal I may make one spread and then not return to my journal for months or I might make several spreads all in one day. I’m very sporadic. I would say I’m a mixed media artist…at least that’s the closest I can come to a real definition. I like anything and everything having to do with art.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

My biggest challenge is that I don't want my work to be boring...to look like everything else...and sometimes I think I fall into that trap. It's very difficult to be influenced or inspired by someone else's work and then to make it your own in some way. When I see something I want to try, I ask myself "how can I change this to be more like me"...sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't.

Another challenge would be space. I have a small 10’ x 10’ studio and it’s jam-packed with stuff. Sometimes when I want to do several pieces of art at one time it’s a challenge. I try to work on smaller things but there are times when I itch to work BIG! 

What inhibits you most from being the artist you want to be?

I think my habit of jumping from one thing to the next inhibits my ability to really learn one thing fully and completely. But there are so many things I'm interested in learning. I hope on the day I die that I'm still learning new things. Also I don't understand all the techie things like Photoshop and digital art. I see so many things I'd like to do with my own art in a digital program but I've tried to understand those programs and it's just Greek to me! I've even taken a couple of classes using Photoshop Elements and still didn't "get it"...so I stick to making art on a canvas or on paper.

What do you love most / least enjoyable about your art?

Most people tell me my art makes them feel happy and I love that. If something I create can bring a smile to someone when they're feeling down that's perfect. I hope I inspire others to make art, too. The least enjoyable part is that sometimes I wonder if I really have a "voice" of my own or am I just doing what everyone else is doing. I'm not sure if I have a style of my own. And that goes back to me wanting to try everything, and jumping from one thing to another. At times I think having a certain style would limit me and I don't want that. 

I love being able to spend the entire day in my studio happily splopping paint around. The time passes so quickly and I enjoy the peace and quiet of being alone with my art...but I do miss being able to make art with other artists. I have not found other artists in the area where I live so I always create alone. I would like to bounce ideas off someone else and would enjoy seeing how other artists work.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

You can find out more about me through my blogs… http://jkbees.blogspot.com (my main blog); http://jkbeesartopia.blogspot.com/ more of a scrapbook of my art; and at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkbees/ I don’t do Facebook or Instagram and I've yet to figure out how to do a video!

Thank you for sharing your lovely work Janet, I think your words are so relate-able for nearly every online artist I've ever met, but honestly to me it sounds like you don't need to worry so much about finding your own style - how will that happen if you don't try new things? I think we all feel like we must find our own style straight away, but as you say we are all learning all the time, so how would it be possible to even do that? We have to learn and evolve ourselves, and along with that I think our style with evolve with us naturally - I don't believe it's something any of us can force...it'll come when both we, and it, are ready for the merge.

Would you like to be featured on Tell All Tuesday??

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Much love

Jennibellie

In the Studio

Just a peek at what's been happening in my studio this week (other than the rolled flower tutorial I mean, which obviously took up a lot of my creating time but...) I have done a few things:

New journal pages:

Mandala page from my 'Bunch of Backgrounds' tutorial

The assistant:

'I WILL fit in this space, watch me mold myself in'

'you don't need any slippers, I'm the best foot warmer'

kiss kiss

The Shop:

I've been working really hard on trying to create fab new cute, fun & interesting things for my Etsy shop, here's a sneak peek at some progress:

Not telling you what it's going to be though ;)

so in the meantime I've also made some new colouring-in collage sheets (so they can be customised to match any project you like):

 you can buy in my Etsy shop here.

That's all for now folks, I've LOTS 'in the making-of' stage, including videos, blog tutorials, as well as the fabulous new things etc for the etsy shop so you'll probably be seeing something very soon I dare say, 
much love Jennibellie xoxo