Hiya sistahs,

Sorry I was MIA yesterday.. I decided to have a retail therapy day with my friend Mary (shhh don’t tell my BOSS).  We had SUCH an amazing day shopping for shtuff we both love and adore.  It’s so amazing to go with someone who doesn’t say “take your time, I’ll just be waiting in the car for you”… or “really?  you NEED this?”… LOL.. I have plenty of friends and a HUSBAND who does that to me all the time.. so it is refreshing to have friends who love the same things you do! I love supporting local businesses, so here goes.. if you are in the Toronto area, I DEFINITELY recommend these shops.   So this was our route.. we went to WOOLFITS art supplies .. we went to THE PAPER PLACE. they have GORGEOUS papers for collage, and little japanese doohickis that I LOVE.. and tools and paper and paper .. OMG and paper.  Just GORGE.  We also went to another amazing stationery store which has EVERYTHING under the sun called MIDOCO.  I absolutely LOVE that store as it reminds me of my youth.   Being born and bred in Montreal, we are so used to European brands, European style toys etc… and this store just transforms me back to my youth.. I literally felt like a kid again.  They have SOOO many goodies, from TOYS to ART SUPPLIES, to STATIONERY to OFFICE SUPPLIES… I definitely recommend a visit. In the middle of our shopping, the fire alarm went off and we were escorted out and had to wait to purchase our goodies.  The “ME” who has Type A, and no patience, just wandered around outside, had lunch, went to the dollar store and then returned when the alarm was deemed false.   THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS LEAVING MY BASKET OF GOODIES there..LOL.  Then we ended our day going to a sweet shop called HANJI on Bloor st West.. Catherine, the owner was a DOLL and has such a beautiful shop filled with papers, and korean stationery/stamps/ and goodies.  It was an amazing way to end our adventure (Oh did I mention that Mary almost ran over someone?  LOL  we will leave that for another day)..

so if you ever have a chance to visit the above stores, I TOTALLY recommend that you do.. they are my favorites 🙂

Stay tuned for PART DEUX with Mary…. bwahahaha

Ok Now for ART JOURNAL TOOSDAY ON WEDNESDAY..

Only one contributor this week… where is everyone>??? HMMM?

well I decided to show a couple of pieces.  The theme this week is RUBONS.  Rubons are really an amazing easy thing to use in your work.  They add texture and dimension.. they fill gaps that may need a little “some’n some’n”.. they are great.  and I KNOW that everyone has to have SOME in their stash 🙂  from 600 years ago..LOL

I picked up some 5*7 canvas boards at michaels.. already gesso’d and pretty and a perfect size to send to someone.  I think of people like my mom who love the artwork on cards but then don’t know what to do with the cards..LOL… So I was thinking.. why not send a little piece of art to your friends or loved ones INSTEAD of a card?  This way they can stand it up in their studio, frame it and they have your inscription or message on the back of the board  from you to them.  I think that would be such a special gift.  NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG sistahs.. I LOVE  LOVE LOVE making cards.. and sending them to people who appreciate them.. But I also love my mixed media and stamps and using them in a different way.  I have people who ask me all the time for one of my pieces, and this is just an easy and FUN way to do it.  Doesn’t cost much to mail and really ready to hang up 🙂  What do you think?

 

So in this piece, I just painted and layered and glazed and smudged and had the bestest time.  I used CHRISTY TOMLINSON rubons I had as the scallop and the stitching element.  It’s still not finished but would be so much fun to receive no?

Here’s another one I did.. ALL WITH MY FINGERS.. my favorite way to paint and smudge.  It is quite “raw” and was intended to be that way.. I love the naivete of the marks and I was also able to incorporate some stamping on vintage speller paper.  I used the SQUARE FRAME from Teresa Mcfayden’s YOUVE BEEN FRAMED set and I also masked and used the butterfly from our NATURE SILHOUETTES set.. it became my focal point and I LOVE IT.  The saying came from my little bin of words I cut out from magazines.  *sigh*.. this piece incorporated my MARK MAKING, my PAINTING, and my COLLAGE passions.  It was fun.  Of course there had to be a little neon red in there for punch or it wouldn’t be ME! (oh and you will see the stitching and loopy rubons through the painting)

and Now Jennifer B made a beautiful page using our stamp IZZIE HAS A LETTAH lots of rubons and chipboard.. you can tell she had so much fun with this page!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on the last bellarific post for a chance to win $10 in bella bucks!

NEXT WEEK’S THEME:.. you ready?  I WANT YOU TO USE YOUR FINGERS.. finger paint, smoosh, draw and smudge.. water soluble oil pastels.. whatever.. just be free and use your hands

 

Mwah to da sistahs who aren’t scared.. LOL
Em