One thing I wanted to do this year was to really push myself and explore my artistic side. Writing and photography have always been loves and comfortable, but drawing and sewing have been really pretty scary.
For the last 20 or so years, until this past year, I’ve spent my Christmas Eve with Marsha and Tony. I guess it started when I was alone and they didn’t want me to spend that evening by myself. Several years ago I started making photo books for Marsha of photos I took that night. I always gave her the book the following Christmas Eve. Since we decided to start our own tradition this year I’ve not yet given Marsha her book from 09. Marsha is pretty good at sewing so I really hate her to see this, but I’ll give this to her warts and all! I have signed up for a basic Sewing 101 at Joann’s this month to reintroduce me to my Elna.
So besides sewing, I decided on the urging of my new friend Kathy, to take two online classes. The first is a visual journal class through the Strathmore website. They make the neatest journals to play in. If you want to play along with all of us, check out that link and join in the fun. Our first project was to make a collage from pieces of previous art journal pages. I decided to take two of my pages from the A Life Made By Hand class I took last year from Kelly Kilmer. Here is one of the originals from Kelly’s class.
Here is my new page recycling the Dream Big page and another one from that class.
The next class I was really hesitant to sign up for. The name really scares me- Sketchbook Challenge. The first topic was Highly Prized. Well, when I saw the artist’s sketchbook who is facilitating this month’s topic, I almost decided not to do it. I can’t draw. I don’t want to collage through another class. Then I remembered that I decided on this class to stretch me – to get me out of that comfort zone. So what do I highly prize? I scribbled a little list with Dave and the cats at the top. I continued to mull it over and then decided I’d start with my irises. I really love them and maybe I could just try my luck at sketching one of them from a picture. So I printed out this picture of one of my irises.
I found my sketching pencils I had bought on sale a year or so ago and got them out. This is my sketch.
I was pretty excited. I printed “IRIS” so the group would know what it was. I am real encouraged with this and plan to sketch a few more of my highly prized possessions. If you’d like to get in on the challenge, I’m sure you can still sign up.
Lastly, I joined a 52 Photos in 52 weeks class. This seemed to me to be real doable. Our first photo was to be taken January 1 at 8:11 pm or around that time. I took this as Puddin was sitting on daddy’s legs. She was not at all happy with the flash.
Our next photo will be taken on Thursday. Again, this group is also free and open to anyone. Come on and join us!
I’m sure one, if not all, of these classes will push me out of that zone. Again, these classes are all free and all open to anyone. I’d love you to join us.
Your little book for your friend looks great, but hooray for you signing up for the sewing class.
It’s really fun seeing your original collage that you used in the new collage. And you did a great job on the iris. Surprised yourself, didn’t you?!!!
Kathy, I sure did!
I’m so glad to know that you’ve joined 52Photos. I’m excited, too, about learning more about photography and myself. Thursday’s almost here!
You’ll love learning to sew, it’s so much fun! I think your book looks perfect, she’ll be so happy to get it 🙂 I’ll be doing a Project 52 as well this year and looking forward to it a lot.
Monika, Glad to be a part of your group!
Kristina, I’ve struggled with sewing all of my life. Made a few things even took classes years ago on altering clothes since I wanted (and did) alter a jacket. But after working on Marsha’s book, I just want to know how to satin stitch and look good and just be not so scared of my Elna. My mom was a great seamstress, but she wouldn’t teach me. She said I just needed to learn on my own like she did. I’ve tried over the years and use my sewing machine when I was into quilting it’s been a while. I look forward to it being fun! I saw you were doing a different project 52. That also will be a fun project.