Heavy on the Photos

We're making slow progress on getting the house sorted just the way we've imagined but I did manage to put this corner of our living room together for my husband to use as a desk. I'd love to knock everything out in one day but I've realized I like the outcome much more when I've given my ideas time to evolve and also taken the time to gather pieces that I love instead of just buying it all from one retail store and then unloading it thirty minutes later. Its just not my way.

Being on a tight budget has directed us towards pieces that are vintage or slightly used but we've been able to gather pieces that work together because we've had a strong vision of the colors and styles that work for us and also work together. I admit I'd like more pink in my house but I'm learning how to sneak it in without making it overwhelmingly girly. The boys appreciate it.

The desk is from craigslist and is over 40 years old. The industrial light is probably from a dental office or somewhere else commercial and was found at a flea market. The #3 is a gas station number from the Alameda flea market in California. The chair is from a flea market in Columbia, MO and the desk accessories are from the thrift store and JoAnn's dollar bin. The books were in a bookshelf that I had laid sideways under the window but when I needed it for fabric storage, I removed the books and they ended up stacked as seen here. I arranged it so the larger ones were on bottom and Sebastian doesn't seem to want to knock them over yet. We'll see.

On another note, these are four of the art journal pages from my first online class that was offered earlier in the month. I love the color palettes in both of them. You can see examples of what everyone did in the Steady Hand, Faulty Heart flickr group.




I have been thrilled with everyone's pieces and so impressed with the ways each of them have made it their own. I think sometimes all you need is to see the process through someone else's eyes to create new areas of creativity in your own life. I know there are a lot more that are still trying to manage making a few pages amidst the chaos of back to school season, etc. but I'm so happy that everyone has loved it so far. The second class with eight new tutorials will start on September 8th and last through the 22nd. Slots are available for purchase in the Red Velvet Art Etsy Shop. And for those of you who didn't take it the first time, you'll be sent a password and URL for the private blog on September 7th to access the class. We'll have the slots available for purchase through the middle of the class and will be offering .pdf files for everyone who signs up. (Done with the shop talk.)

This is a mini album that I made about a month ago and forgot to post. It was for the Love, Elsie Design Team so I used the 'Forrest' line of products as well as plain chipboard. Its bound with a ribbon and is designed like a sandwich. Its all about my favorite pieces of summertime. I used the owl stamp and covered the front with it but left one spot for the flower stamp and colored it in with an orange marker. I love the graphic effect it has. This would be a great way to make your own patterned papers to use if you didn't mind the tedious process.




You can view them larger if you look at them HERE.

I've got another mini album to finish up today for the first online art journal class. Its all about the collections I have around the house. AND I'd like everyone to know that I went jogging today! Its been about two months since I last exercised regularly so there was a lot of walking involved and my legs were itching like crazy! "LIKE CRAZY," I said!

Anyway, I've missed you guys and I hope posting can become regular again. Kind of like a bowel movement but prettier and without the smell. Let me know if you're still around. Leave a little 'I'm still here' and I'll do a drawing on Saturday morning for a free pass to the second art journal class. Its totally worth having to log in to blogger, I promise.

~Rachel