Welcome November

"When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year."
-   Carol L. Riser, Autumn

I welcome this new month, on a Monday. It just seems almost magical when the first day of the month starts on a Monday. Somehow it seems like I can start a million new projects, have extra energy and be ready to take on the world when this happens.

I spent the weekend thinking about life. As you may recall last week was just so-so for me. As my good friend Leanne writes...I had landed in Crankville and was having a hard time leaving. Sometimes when we are sad or mad or gloomy we can make ourselves even more so by whining and complaining to those we love. Friday night I found myself almost making myself upset by just gibbering away to my husband for a whole 30 minutes about how cruddy my life is.

Pathetic.

So anyways, I spent the weekend and all morning contemplating my life and why I felt this way. I came to this conclusion...

This was the first year my kids didn't go Trick or Treating. They are growing up. I was so upset about this that it just affected every thought I had. My babies aren't babies anymore. There are no more discussing costumes for months and months, no more last minute "Mom can you come help me do my make-up?", no more sifting and sorting through candy for hours. No more.

I think I am okay now. Once I came to realize that this is what was eating away at me I could mourn a bit and move on. And I did. We ended up having a wonderful Halloween...enjoyed our dinner with Mom, pumpkin and apple pies {which I ate waaaaay too much of} AND we all watched "Halloween Town"...our favorite.

Keeping with the WORD from last week which was APPRECIATIVE...I did and do appreciate the time I have with my kids. And even though they are growing up we can still celebrate holidays just in new and different ways.

Speaking of the Word of the Week...let's move on to THIS week's WORD!

I am ready to stop procrastinating. Heck, you could call me Queen of Procrastination. If I don't want to do something I keep putting it off and putting it off...but not this week! I have crossed 4 things off my list this morning that I had been putting off for WEEKS! I intend on crossing 3 more things off by 3 today.

Our WORD is....

PROMPT

adjective, -er, -est, verb, noun

–adjective

1.

done, performed, delivered, etc., at once or without delay: a prompt reply.

2.

ready in action; quick to act as occasion demands.

3.

quick or alert: prompt to take offense.

4.

punctual.

I intend on getting my To-Do list done each day

I intend on doing those things I usually put off

I am gonna do everything with promptness this week!!

Are you like me? Do you tend to put things off? What kinds of things do you procrastinate on?

Exciting! {Day 22}

Happy Monday, girls. I love Mondays...time to start fresh. 

Well, only 9 days left of the 31 Days Challenge. Overall I am thrilled with what I have accomplished. So much creativity going on here;)

Here is today's Challenge...

Creative Challenge Day #22:Create a scrapbook layout or collage using the following prompts..."A turning point:To what or whom do you owe your position in life today?" "A class:Can you recall a course that took your career or interests in a new level?" "A hobby:How has your life been enriched by a decision to embark o...n a new pasttime?" (from CK magazine, April 2006)

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I want  you to make a "Daily Excitement List". It's from the article "How to Enthuse Your Muse" by Gail McMeekin. Here's what she says...

 

"Detail your passion and commitment to your creative project. What fascinates you and motivates your art? How does your art matter to other people or to the world? Read this list when you're stuck or stalled."

 

 

Have you ever even thought about creating a list like this? I hadn't till reading this article. I mean I have never detailed my passion or my commitment to what I do. Not even my writing which is passion number 1. 

 

So today, I'm gonna take out my journal and come up with something. I will be sure and share later in the week.

 

Let me know how you're doing.

 

Oh and one more thing. Check out my friend Leanne's Blog today. I LOVE her idea {and know you will, too}

Thoughts, an Interview and {Day 8}

Here is today's Creative Challenge...

Day #8: Make sure your list of 50 Things you Love is finished. If you haven't picked out a subject from that yet and created a scrap page...work on that today. 

It is hard to believe we are on Day 8 of the 31 Days-Wow! Thought I would share what I'm doing and learning on this creative journey and then you are in for a treat! I have an interview with published artist, Kristin!! Lots to share so settle in and let's get started.

 

**What I'm Learning and Doing** 

On Day one of the 31 Days I promised myself that I would so something creative everyday. It didn't have to be in my art space and it didn't have to be art or scrap pages or sewing or knitting or anything crafty. No, I wanted to begin changing my perspective on what creativity really is. To me it's about seeing my life, the world around me in a whole new way. Like everything is a possibility. Like something magical is just around the corner.

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral. " ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942

Here is a breakdown of what I've done everyday since the Challenge began last Monday.

Day 1- blogged, worked on a 6x6 album of Em's toddler photos

Day 2- I made my first homemade spaghetti sauce with tomato's from our garden, blogged, took photos, gathered my 3 words for my art project, made a list of art supplies that speak to me:), ventured to the Dollar Shop for funky, new tools to create backgrounds in my art journals and checked out 2 inspiring books at the library.

Day 3- Painted a bunch of new background pages. So fun! Played Monopoly with Jacks. I wrote this in my journal..."The thing is, thinking and doing all this creative stuff has me feeling so good. Like I can just keep doing more and more. I love my Life!:)"

 Day 4- Blogged about my background pages, shopped in St. Joe intent on finding something for our dresser. I am trying to spruce up our home during the 31 Days. I bought art supplies today and 2 art magazines. Also 2 small canvass's!!

Day 5- Played Monopoly with my kids. {hey, you gotta get pretty creative trading properties with Jackson!}, sat on the couch and wrote down 50 Things I Love.

Day 6-Em and I just hung out and shopped somewhere new in a tiny town near Maryville. We found the cutest clothes. I bought something totally different from what I normally wear! I am wanting to dress more "artsy":) Here is another excerpt from my journal..."Gosh, things are different. I feel more centered-more at peace. Like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Life is good. Heavenly Father sure does bless my life:) I love Him." Today I encouraged Em to make more of her cool bracelets and I spent a lot of time thinking about my blog and my Art. What direction I want to take. I also finished up my 3 Words sign.

Day 7-Blogged, looked at both of my new art magazines and wrote down stuff that inspired me in my journal. Also wrote down all the blogs and on-line stores that were featured in them. Checking them out this week. I also worked more on displaying various photos, trinkets and other stuff in my home. Trying to make it cozier:)

So there ya' go, girls. A sample of what I've been doing to live a creative life. I sure hope this helps you. Enjoy this Challenge!!!

Let's get on with our "Make My Monday Interview". Meet Kristin from "Twinkle, Twinkle". Kristin was recently published and is a wealth of creative inspiration!

***ALL photos and artwork throughout the interview are from Kristin's Blog "Twinkle, "Twinkle"***

I found you through the Artistic Mother's Group. From the first moment I found your blog I was like-WHOO HOO!! A collage/mixed media artist!!! First tell us about your blog and how long you have been posting.

First let me thank you for thinking of me - I'm honored to be a part of your Make My Monday interviews! To answer your question, I started Twinkle, Twinkle as a way to spread the word about our family's hope to adopt another child. We were looking to tell as many people as possible about our desire, and I thought that a blog could be a great way to accomplish that. The only problem was, I didn't know what to do with it! So I decided to join the challenge site Mixed Media Monday as a way to get people to see our plea for help. That was almost a year ago and I have been participating ever since. A few months back, I took on another challenge by joining The Artistic Mother's Group and have been overwhelmed by the support and camaraderie I've found in other artists and mothers who are also a part of the team. Of course, what I didn't know when starting a blog to find a baby, was how much my creative life would change because of it. Before the blog, I thought about creating. With the blog, I was actually doing it. And I have never felt more fulfilled, as both an artist and a mother.

What drew you to the art of Mixed Media and Collages? How long have you been creating your works of art?

I spent my career as a makeup artist. I did everything from selling behind a department store counter to, before our daughter was born, having my own on-location makeup artistry business. I loved what I did, but would never have considered myself a real artist. It wasn't until I started scrapbooking the birth of our baby that I discovered how much I loved paper and paint and how - surprise to me - all of those years working with color, contour and texture translated into a clear understanding of composition and color theory. I started reading everything I could about the subject of paper arts and when I found the line of Stampington magazines, including Somerset Legacy (now Somerset Memories) and Somerset Studio, I was hooked. I've been playing around with mixed media and collage ever since, but only on a regular basis since I started my blog. 


I know you were recently published in one of the Somerset Publications {my faves!!}. Can you share some details? Was this your first time being published? If not where else??

It is a first for me. One of the tasks of The Artistic Mother's Group (an online group of women who are completing the 12 projects outlined in Shona Cole's book of the same name) was to create an Artistic Vision Statement in which we were asked to write down our artistic goals and objectives. It was a dream of mine to be published, and I intended to submit some of the pieces I made in the last year to Somerset Studio, but it wasn't until I committed to doing so through the project (and shared it on my blog for all to see!) that I actually took the chance and did it. I sent in several pieces hoping that something would hit and was surprised to hear from the editor less than two weeks later. 

What does it feel like when a magazine editor calls? Share your experience with us!:)

I was checking my email one day when I saw "Somerset Studio" in my Inbox. I didn't know what to think and to be honest, my heart skipped a beat. I remember being alone with my 4-year-old in the living room and I started to scream. She looked at me with big eyes and said, "you okay, ma ma?" I told her that I was crying happy tears and that I was perfect. Turns out, not only was I going to be published in the next issue, but I was selected to be on the Last Page and was asked to write an article, of 100 words or less, about my discovery of mixed media. I spent the entire two days I was given writing page after page of I don't know what in an effort to write the equivalent of one paragraph! When the magazine came out (at the beginning of this month), I was honored to see that the box that I mailed my pieces in was also published on the Letters to the Editor page.



How do you mix your creative life with life as a Mom?

Depends on the day. Our daughter goes to pre-school 3 mornings a week, but as most of us know, a lot of that time is spent running errands or visiting my second home, Target. So I really work when and if I can. I try to incorporate her into what I do, creating art side-by-side as much as possible, but sometimes it is done when she is busy with other things, like watching Dinosaur Train on TV or playing with her Daddy. I know that I'm lucky to have a flexible schedule that allows me to do that. 

What 3 books have most inspired your creativity?

1. I have really been loving Shona Cole's The Artistic Mother. I'm exactly half way through the 12 projects and am so grateful for the push - through The Artistic Mother's Group - to complete them all. Shona Cole is an inspiration as an artist, poet and mother.

2. My newest purchase is Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts. I adore this book and have learned so much from her techniques, especially how to create luscious backgrounds.

3. Lastly, one of my all-time favorites is The Art of Personal Imagery by Corey Moortgat. It is a beautiful book filled with personal photos and symbols and one that I turn to again and again.

Anything else you want to add?

I appreciate the opportunity to share a bit about myself and want to thank you for your time. I would love to add that my husband, Kendra and I are still looking for a possible Birth Mother in hopes to build our family by way of adoption. If anyone you know would benefit from an open-adoption scenario as much as we would, we would be more than grateful if you could pass the message along. . .

Thank you so much Kristin!!

One more thing...what have YOU been up to?

Overjoyed {Day 2}

All I can say is Wow. 

I have been told throughout my life that if you just put yourself out there...your ideas, your truth, your passion, your whole heart...if you do that over and over and over again, that someday all that goodness, all that energy will come back to you ten-fold.

Yesterday I realized there is truth in that statement.

 I am so overcome with joy and happiness. This 31 Day Challenge has become so much more than I ever could have imagined {and it's only Day2!}

From reading your blogs, to seeing your projects to a phone call received last night from a friend taking the Challenge here in town...just seeing and hearing and feeling your excitement is nothing short of amazing to me.

It shows me that when you are passionate about what you do... When you sincerely give your whole heart to something good things do happen. It may seem silly to some people. Maybe even to you. I mean it's not like we're solving World hunger here or finding a cure for cancer. But we are trying to better ourselves. We are a community of women who are filled with passion and love and support for one another. If only we could take all this energy and bring it out into the world. Then, maybe we could, at long last "love one another".

Thank you girls for putting your whole hearts into the first day of the Challenge. Just think of the positive force you will be in your own lives by the end of 31 Days!!!

Speaking of positive force I would like for you to meet Soraya. I was fortunate to find her during Kelly Rae's e-course. She has become a good friend and mentor to me.

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Soraya, I was blessed to find your blog via Kelly Rae's Flying Lessons class. I fell in love with your art!! Just beautiful. Tell us what you do and can you share some of your work with us?

Thank you so much Leslie! I paint mixed media art (acrylics, oils, pen, collage). As you can see, my art is very female-centered and speaks of the many aspects of the female SOUL; empowerment, courage, wisdom, grace. Yet I also address the broken parts of ourselves-the fears and vulnerabilities-that make us human. I believe it is when we acknowledge and share all parts of ourselves and our journey ; therein lies the power .  I put my heart and soul into my art-every piece becomes a part of me. Nothing makes me happier than when I have touched another person’s heart with my paintings. I strongly believe in the power of storytelling; an ancient ritual found cross culturally. It is through our stories that we learn, share, grow, celebrate, love…live. Each one of my paintings tells a story of the deepest parts of ourselves. Of what it is to be fragile, vulnerable, joyful, hopeful…of what it is to be human.

How long have you blogged? What has the experience been like for you so far?

Leslie-I have an interesting blogging  story that I would like to share! I actually set up my blog about 2 and a half years ago but I only wrote my first post at the start of this year! Sure I had so much going on in my life-I had just got married and  my husband deployed to Iraq a few months later. Then we had our first baby and moved across the country. But the real reason I didn’t start blogging until recently is because of deep fears and insecurities. What would I have to say? Who would want to read it anyway? and on and on. Also, blogging seemed so…vulnerable and raw. I tend to be a private person and exposing myself in this way was pretty scary But at the start of the year, I decided to push past my fears and let go of those insecurities. So far, blogging has been such an amazing experience. It has encouraged me to be more creative in so many ways. It has also given me the opportunity to hone my writing and photography skills. However, by far, the most important gift that blogging has given me has been the gift of community. I have met so many wonderful, kindred souls that have been so kind, loving and supportive.  And I have been exposed to the most amazing ideas, photos, art, writing…it has been a gift and a blessing! I can spend some serious time reading blogs!

I know from reading your blog daily you have some exciting things planned. Can you share them with us? When can we expect to be able to purchase your work?

  Well, I have wanted to start a website, sell my art on Etsy etc for quite some time and after taking Kelly’s Flying Lessons I decided to just go for it instead of waiting for the “perfect time”. I am setting up my website (myself!!) on Squarespace and planning on selling my art (prints and originals) on Etsy. Hopefully I will have all of this set up for sometime in August. I will post it on my blog. You can take a sneak peek at my website here but please keep in mind that it is not complete yet!

Do you work outside the home? How do you manage your creative life with your day to day activities along with being a Mom?  

Great questions Leslie! How do I balance motherhood and painting? I will let you know when I figure that one outJ

No, I don’t work outside the home but I have 2 full time jobs! Taking care of Tara is priority #1 and then after she goes to sleep, I paint, blog, work on my business stuff! Sometimes I stay up until 2 a.m. and then get up again at 6!! It is very difficult, as we all know and I still have tons of  internal conflict over my decisions. Should I just put off my art business completely until she gets older? Should I stop blogging for now? Should I should I should I…But at the end of the day, I try to work it out. I strongly feel that it’s great for my daughter to see me following my dreams; hopefully one day she will follow hers as well. I go through overwhelm, mommy guilt, “how am I going to do all this?” and on and on…But I try to take small steps and plod on.  Some practical tips though-I don’t watch any T.V. at all , if I get 6 hours of sleep a night I consider myself lucky, I have a  really supportive husband and I really schedule my time ( can we say multi-task!!) . It really comes down to being committed to my art and putting in the time. Most days I am really aware of how lucky I am that I can be there for my daughter as well as paint. Both fill my heart with the most incredible joy.

You are so inspirational to me. So peaceful and a gentle soul. What are your 3 favorite inspirational books?

Thank you so much Leslie! My husband would certainly laugh at the “peaceful and gentle soul”-I have some fire in my belly let me tell you!! I have tons of favorite books but these top the list every time.

1. Women Who Run with the Wolves-by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I was blessed to read this book when I was about 21 and I continually look to it for wisdom, grace, empowerment. It is more than a book to me-it speaks to every part of my soul. It gives me strength, solace, wisdom, power, insight…every word is a prayer. Masterfully written from “one who knows”. It speaks to every aspect of a woman’s life and psyche.

2. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran –another book that is so powerful it cuts across all barriers and …is a soothing balm to the soul. Every word is truth, grace, wisdom. At times in my life when I have been broken wide open by joy or pain, this is the book I most often turn to.

3. Anything by Joseph Campbell…his work on myth and the hero’s journey speak to me deeply, deeply, deeply. I  fully believe that we are all heroes…on this journey of life. I think that life requires that we be courageous… that we have heart, kindness, compassion,  love and strength. His words speak of all these things and so much more.

  

What else would you like to add?

  I would like to thank you so much for giving me this opportunity Leslie. I really love your interview style-you ask questions that reveal the person as well as their craft. Thank you so much-you have been so gracious and supportive. This interview has been a lot of fun!

**Please stop by Soraya's Blog today!!! Here is the link:) 

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Yesterday I spent 30 minutes or so in my art space. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do until I got there and suddenly the inspiration to scrap just hit. First I gathered all my supplies...

A photo album with Em' baby pictures, a cute 6x6 album, brads, papers and letter stickers. Before I start any project I like to take time going through my supplies to get a feel for where I want the project to go.

Here are the pages I created...

Keep in mind whenever I work on mini albums I create very simple pages. The idea for me with these smaller albums is to just get the memory down not so much about design.

I also love using up all the bits and pieces I have laying around!!

I also continued working on this piece I'm creating as part of the "Artistic Mother's" Group.

I painted the background then attached the punched out butterflies to make an "L". I will show you the end result later in the week.

**A reminder**

Be sure and check the Words of Me Facebook Page for today's Creativity Challenge {or look below} and other inspiration.

Challenge #2:Pick out 3 words you love. Throughout the next few days let these words really sink their teeth in you. Take time to think about what they truly mean to you. then I want you to create "Word Art". Choose a canvas, a piece of cardstock, maybe a sheet of notebook paper, even fabric and CREATE a masterpiece us...ing your thoughts and feelings involving your word. Be sure and post in your own blog if you want!!

What are your plans for Day 2? What did you do on Day 1?

Today I am cooking, from scratch spaghetti sauce!! I better get to it!! I will have photos:)

Make My Monday Interview with Hope {and you can do it!}

Okay, so just to make myself clear...this 31 Days Creativity Challenge that starts one week from today?

You can do it!! Even if you are going on vacation or starting a new job or babysitting your brother's kids or training for a marathon...

you

can

do

it!!

I promise. 

You know why I promise?

Because just about everything we do can be creative if we look at it that way. 

Yes...

Saturday I went for a drive with my hubby out to the farm. He needed to put salt down for the deer. Now, just so you know...I'm not a farm kind of girl. Or a deer kind of girl. No I am not. However, I thought what the heck and went. I decided to make this all about becoming aware and being creative. I thought maybe being out in nature would inspire me.

Okay, just a side note...being out in nature when it's 99.5 degrees is anything but inspiring!! I did try my best to see the positive though and really looked at all the beautiful scenary {from the air conditioned truck of course}

Anyway...my point is anything can be creative. Truly! That is part of the 31 Days Challenge. It's to get you to look at everything in a creative way!! So even if you're on vacation, at work, cleaning house, etc...begin looking at your daily life with a creative eye. Try to get something inspirational out of it and see if you can use it in your writing or your art or your scrapbook pages. You can do this!!!

Today is Monday and I am so excited to have an interview!! Here is Hope. Enjoy!!!


Hope, first of all you must know how very much I ADORE your blog. I love journaling and your art journals are the BEST!! Tell us all about them...and may we see some samples please:)
Thank you - and thank you for interviewing me! I have so much playing in my journals - I work in Several types, depending on my mood when I start one. Ringed, stitched and moleskines are the three main types, right now working in a moleskine is my favourite. 

When and how did you begin art journaling?
I have kept a journal on and off all since I was a child, but they were usually written, or inspiration clippings. I started art journaling last spring when I was feeling a little disjointed. I wanted to work through some issues and also start a journal that was an inspiration, written and art journal all in one. Once I started mixing them together I was addicted!

How long have you had your site? Give us the details on it.
Paper Relics (my greeting card and ephemera company) has been around since 2004, and I used to blog as 'The Soul of Hope' but had stopped years ago. When I started journaling last spring, I also started blogging again, and that is when Besottment was born.

If there were three things you could have with you for the rest of your life to create your journals with what would they be?
Moleskine lined notebooks
Some pretty Japanese Masking tape
My pen case filled with faber castell Pitt brush pens and a pilot razor point extra fine pen

Top 3 books that have most impacted your creative life?
The Sweet Life by Laura Stoddart (Laura Stoddart's work has been an inspiration to me for over 10 years)
Style Statement by Carrie McCarthy & Danielle LaPorte
Graphic Style : From Victorian to Digital by Steven Heller


Top 3 movies that make you LAUGH till it hurts!! Make you cry? INspire you???
Penelope
Love Actually
Pride & Prejudice

Anything else you want to add?
It took a bit for my own journaling style to show up, so I encourage people interested in starting to journal to just start and watch your style develop, I promise you will have fun along the way!

Thank you so much, Hope for this interveiw. Your art journals are so inspiring to me!! I am currently working on my own...largely due to your work!! Thank you! Please check her blog out here.

Make My Monday "Collage Artist-Bev" & Handmade Tags Give Away!!

Oh Happy Monday! My heart is full of JOY as we start a fresh, new week!

"The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except they are so."  -William Ralph Inge

Oodles of stuff to share today...all good, awe-inspiring stuff. So let's get to it...

Today's "Make My Monday" interview is with my Bloggy friend, Bev. She is taking the same ecourse as me with Kelly Rae. I just know it was fate that brought us together:)

Bev, I found you through Kelly's Class and I am so happy I did!! I haven't had a blog speak to me like yours in awhile. I mean as soon as I began reading I was energized!!! Tell us about your blog...what is it's main purpose?

My blog's main purpose is to glorify God and encourage others, just as is my art.  i feel God has given me several gifts, one being the creativity gift, and the other gift of that of being an encourager.   The beautiful bonus is that i am encouraged as well...

When did you start blogging and why?

I started blogging in March 2009...and no one read it!  At the time i was doing it for all the wrong reasons..wrong reasons for me anyway.  After a couple of months, it really didn't serve a purpose, so i quit posting.  When i started making art for God, and opened my Etsy shop in March of this year, I resurrected my blog as i knew that it all kind of goes hand in hand...and I am meeting some amazing women, including yourself, through my blog...it's wonderful!!

I love how fearless you are about creating...you even have your own Etsy Shop!! How long have you been creating?

 I have been creating just about 9 months now.  I laughed to myself when you said the word fearless....it has taken me some time to develop that!  When I first started making art last fall, I was so full of fear.  God is removing more and more of it each day.  Yes, the inner critic likes to visit, but I have to push it aside and push through that fear....it can be crippling!  I think all artists deal with it...but i didn't realize that when I first started making art.  God has really spoken so much to me about replacing that fear and inner critic with His love, His critiquing of what i do...



Tell us about your art and your Etsy Shop. 

 I started making art because I had so much emotional distress that I needed to express, and art was the tool God gave me.  I have lost my mom and oldest sis to cancer, other family members have walked away from the Lord to drugs...my art comes from such a deep place in my soul...God whispered to me that He wanted me to make art for Him...maybe because of what I have been through, what I have to say and put on canvas can inspire and encourage someone else...to bring His love and grace to others. I feel my art is one of a kind.  None other like it.   Just know that my heart and soul is on my canvases!  

 

What other things do you do in your spare time?

I love photography, reading, gardening, quilting, spending time with our kids and grandkids, camping Oh, there is just never enough time... I love inspirational books and movies!! Please share a few movies and books that have touched and motivated you to become the person you are today!!

Alot of the books I have read that have helped me on my journey, other than the Bible, are self-help books, spiritual journey of others, memoirs...I like reading other people's stories...their walk of life.

Anything by Anne Lamott

Anything by Melody Beattie

"Messy Faith, Daring to live by grace" by A.J. Gregory

"Lost Boy" by Greg Laurie

"The Shack" by William Young

"Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren

As far as movies go, I love film that really makes you think and evaluate life and relationships, film that deals with the human emotion..the tenderness and rawness of it all...and of course, plenty of great chick flicks!!

Thanks to you Leslie, for letting me share a little about myself...

Thanks so very much, Bev:)

Be sure and drop by Bev's Etsy Shop!! Here is the link to her Blog!!

**I really enjoy my Make My Monday interviews and I hope you do to!! If you would like to be a part of these fun posts please email me at  leslieackman@yahoo.com 

Yesterday I enjoyed a much needed "art break" in my life. I hadn't done anything with my hands since Em and I painted our canvas's and I was in great need of some creative therapy. Here is what our kitchen table looked like until after midnight!! {who am i kidding? it still looks this way...i gotta get to work-LOL}

 I love it when we are getting all messy and the ideas are coming one right after another and we have ink all over our hands and paint and glue...

Here are some samples of the TAGS we created for my GIVE AWAY coming up NEXT week!! Remember we are still trying to get Words of Me Project to 80 Followers here and on FB!! We are now up to 73!! Check out these tags...they could be yours!

So what do you think? Do you want some?!!:) 


I am giving away 2 Collage gift packs and Jillian Michal's book "Master Your Metabolism". With EACH prize I will tuck several tags in along with 25 punched butterfly shapes to use on your scrappy pages, collage journals...whatever your heart desires!!!


To enter...


Become a Follower 1 entry
Like me on FB {go here} 1 entry
Leave me a comment below 1 entry

Lots of great stuff going on this week!! Have a WOnDERFUL dAy, GirLs!!

Make My Monday "Courtney Walsh"

We have a GREAT Make My Monday interview with the fabulous Courtney Walsh. If you're a scrapper then you might remember her from Memory Makers Magazine. Not only did her work grace several covers but she wrote inspirational articles and had dozens of projects printed. You can find Courtney here and her amazing book here.


Hi, Courtney!! I have been a fan of yours for quite a few years! From your scrapbook pages in Memory Makers Magazine to your book "Scrapping your Faith" I love your style and your stories!! Can you tell us about your experience creating for MMM??

I loved writing for MM. I loved all the editors (both in Denver and in Cincinnati!) and had so much fun working on the books and especially the magazine. Basically, I would brainstorm a bunch of ideas, submit them and wait. If they liked them, I would get to write the articles...but sometimes I wrote on assignment. For instance, I got to interview all the new Masters a few years in a row, and I wrote an article based on those interviews. I didn't submit that as an idea, they just needed someone to write it! I always felt so fortunate to have that wonderful opportunity. I think I grew as a writer.

I had the chance to pick up your book "Scrapping your Faith" at CHA in Chicago a few years back and to meet you!! How long did it take you to create all those pages and to write the book?I had a CRAZY deadline for that book. I think I only had 3 months total to write it and create 80% of the artwork! I did it over the summer, and yes, it was insane, but so, so worth it. I really do believe that text sort of poured out of me. It's easy to write something you're passionate about!

Obviously your faith is very important to you. Does it spill into all you do creatively?It really does. My novels have a faith-based slant, my paintings seem rooted in scripture or based on a revelation God's given me. I think it's my way to express myself, and I love it!

I can't remember now how I first found your blog...I may have just googled you {LOL!} but I am so happy I did. I love reading about your family. How long have you had your blog? Can you tell my readers what you write about? I would love it if you shared a few of your favorite posts with us!!!
I've had my blog since '05, I think! I started it as a way to get myself to write regularly. Now, I love it. I love sharing my stories and my photos--even if I only had a couple of readers (my mom and sister!) :) I have read that a blog should be focused on one thing--i.e. writing--and that no one wants to read about your life if you're not a celebrity. That may be true, but I haven't found that to be the case. I LOVE to hear about people's stories, revelations, their prayers, their hopes, their dreams, their creative journey...these are the things I write about. Everything!

I remember back in the hey day of scrapping and magazines and "getting published" that is all I thought about!! I actually did finally get a page published in the MMM Editors Choice special publication. Quite a thrill for me! How did you get started in the business? Do you have any tips for those of us who might still be trying to get noticed?

I just started submitting, but also, I read a LOT-- I studied design and photography. I really believe you have to be willing to learn to get better. I also had the good fortune to have some very successful, talented friends (Leah Fung, Renee Villalobos-Campa), who, just by talking to me about scrapbooking, taught me sooo much. I really think God brings me friends and mentors in the most divine ways. My advice would be to keep honing your skill, keep submitting, and keep learning! Scrapbooking is a FUN hobby, but if you want to work in the industry and get published, you have to learn good design, have great photos and be willing to keep improving! That said, I think there is something to be said for keeping your hobbies as hobbies. Once you start getting assignments, it becomes work. (Work I LOVE, but work just the same.) Be prepared to look at it all differently.

You have a new book coming out, right? Can you share a bit with us?
I am writing a 3-book series for Guideposts books, and I am really, really excited about it. Not surprisingly, it does have a bit of a scrapbooking slant. It takes place in a sleepy, lake town filled with clapboard cottages that are passed down through the generations. My main character finds an old scrapbook and begins to put together the pieces of her recently deceased mother's past...and then goes on a hunt to find her father--a man she's never met. Along the way, she finds new friends, new love and yes, a passion for scrapbooking. I am just starting book two right now! They'll be released in the Fall of 2011. :)

How do you find the time to manage it all, Courtney? I mean you are such an attentive and AWESOME wife and mom!! How do you fit all that creativity into your day?

I just finished a class for Big Picture Scrapbooking called "Permission to Live a Creative Life." This class was born out of my struggle to give place to my creativity. I believe with all my heart that when I take time to write or paint or scrapbook I am a better wife and mom because something inside me is fulfilled... a need has been met. I really think this is VITAL for creative people. I'm not going to lie, I tend to be a little busier than I want to be, but I would forego laundry before I'd let a creative impulse pass me by! :)

And finally a few just for fun questions....

Top 3 inspiring movies you can think of...

Good Will Hunting. It really made me want to write. I think because of the inspiring story of how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck got that movie made. It made me believe that dreams can come true.

Dead Poets Society. Are you kidding? O Captain My Captain! I get chills just thinking about it.

Anne of Green Gables. One of the greatest characters of all time. But more than that, Anne saw things her own way. She loved life and the beauty all around her, she lived in the world of her imagination and she wasn't afraid to be different. All things I admire.

Since you are a writer, what are your top 3 inspiring books...

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (Whoa. Just amazing. Amazing.)
On Writing by Stephen King
Frederick the Mouse. :) (I mean, saving up entertainment to get the other mice through the summer!? That's my kinda mouse!)
I'm also planning to read "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott this summer. I've heard amazing things.

What is the ONE place you'd rather be?

Hmm. This is a toughie. My husband and I always say we haven't found our perfect vacation yet. I think if I could go anywhere, I would go to Italy... but at the moment I'm sitting in Barnes and Noble--not potty training--not sorting garage sale stuff--and it's pretty darn near perfect! :)

Thanks again, Leslie!! This was so fun!

Courtney

This interview was sooooo inspiring!! Thank you so much, Courtney for taking the time out of your day to share some insight with us. Can't wait for your books to come out:)

I know you have all been waiting to see my space and mine and Em's canvas. Those will be posted either later tonight or in the morning along with the THREE prizes I'm giving out!!!

I want to get to 80 followers here and on my FB Fan page!!! I am giving away TWO different scrappy/collage prize packs chock full of STUFF you will love and be inspired to create with!! I am also giving away one of the latest books by Jillian Michal's called Master Your Metabolism. A truly inspiring and informative book on losing weight!!! Leave me a comment here for one entry, become a follower for another entry and "LIKE" me on FB HERE for another entry!!!

Winners will be drawn by July 8th 2010. Let's get Words of Me Project to 80 Followers!!!!

Have a wonderful Monday, girlies!!